FOWM Meeting – November 2009
Date: November 2, 2009
Present
Margaret Sandvig, Co-chair
Asha Wadhwa, Co-Chair
Kelly Barr-Clingan, band
Rebeccah Graham, secretary
Laureen Kelly, parent
Sue Shindele, parent
Laura Gardner, orchestra liaison
Amma Anang
Edwin Obras
Janet Jones
Chuck Sawyer, treasure
Steve Yamasaki
Terry Thompson
Kathi Webster
Amy Vance
Marnie O’Sullivan
Old Business
Reverb went really well. We raised $1500.
Jazz combo and String quartet played at Voltarre, and Italian restaurant and the
kids had fun.
We should thank the Seattle Weekly for bringing WMS into the venue
The Jazz combo and string quartet played last Wednesday at the new
Starbucks.
Laureen brought up the Beat Walk in Columbia City as a possible venue for the musicians.
She will look into how we would connect with this and see if there is some financial remuneration.
Senior Trip Proposal
San Francisco Heritage Festival May 20th-May 23rd.
(Department has decided against Chicago trip.)
There are two options for the San Francisco trip:
Option 1: Day trip to San Francisco $950.00
Option 2: Day at Great America Theme Park $852.00
Cost Includes
Airfare
Festival fee
Activities
Bus transportation
Per Diem for admin and teachers
Group breakfast and one lunch
22 chaperones are needed
Cost for Chaperones
San Fransico: $750
Great America: $690
Concerns
Need 2 administrators to go
Need to have kids in confined space
Total of 84 students
Chaperones are not asked to contribute to cost of administrators and instructors.
Beth and Kelly are interested in looking at more educational festivals.
Laura made the point that there needs to be a trip coordinator and fundraiser coordinator. Also need to make sure there are enough chaperones.
Discussion about cost of trip and whether parents will step up to the plate and volunteer to fundraise and participate in event.
Make sure that letter that goes out to parents includes the roles the need to be filled.
Fundraising will bring down per person cost.
Margaret moved to present above proposal to Halfaker for his approval
Rebeccah seconded the motion
Vote passes 16/2.
Treasurer’s Report
Chuck distributed budget.
Donations from parents for class materials exceeded expectations.
Instructors have purchased reeds for students and have been getting small amounts from students to cover the cost.
Director’s Report
Dec. 16th and June 17th at Garfield, senior ensembles
Dec. 10th and June 10th at WMS, all others
Winter concert with have guest performer, Dr. Jovino Santos-Neto
Working on funding for Spring concert with Wayne Horowitz
Things are going well in music classes.
Field trip with intermediate orchestra and band this Wednesday.
Orchestra goes to Eckstein this Saturday.
Jazz band has registered for Reno festival.
Retention has been good. Neither band nor orchestra has lost any students.
Beginning band is 76 students.
Beth’s beg. Group is 45.
There have not been volunteers to help with beginning groups.
Chuck made the point that any accomplished musician can help with beginning band and orchestra.
Amma Anang reported on steel drums instruction
Orig. applied for summer program grant, didn’t get funding.
Lots of issues in east African community with crime prevention. Amma went to Dept. of Neighborhoods for grants with crime prevention.
There are lots of students of color but not enough in the music program.
Applied for $15,000 grant and went to Dept. of Neighborhoods and grant was approved. $15,000 is one time commitment and need to look at ways to make this sustainable.
Original plan was to have three programs, important to have person of African descent be part of the program.
Jembe drums
Steel drums
Drumline
All programs would be after school.
If FOWM purchases equipment and it is used by students, then there is an issue about them becoming district property. There is a way around this but need to make sure process is followed so they remain property of FOWM.
Great job, Amma, on getting this grant!
Fundraising
Concerts
Gypsy Jazz
Banda Vagos
(Concert with Mexican band Kelly is part of.)
Sell tickets and get wider audience.
Need a good venue with dancing.
Laureen mentioned Southpark community center
Seattle Music Partners suggested:
Childcare at FOWM meetings (place to do homework)
Coordinate rides to concerts
Buddy system for kids (partner senior and beginner groups)
Social events/networking for parents
Terry reported that we have a credit of over $1000 at Trading Musicians from donations.
There are some instruments that belong to WMS that are hard to play and worth about $600 now but should be worth more like $1200-1500. Decision to hold it until market returns. Too good to let students play.
Meeting adjourned at 9pm
Next meeting
December 7th, 2009.
Minutes taken by Rebeccah G.
