Oak Park Band Parent

Association – BPA

825 NE 79thTerrace

Kansas City, MO 64118-1556

816.413.5300

Facebook: Oak Park Band Parents

Association

Instagram: oakparkbpa

Twitter: @OP_bpa

Director of Bands: Brandon McCoy BPA Co-Presidents: John & Nikki Wooten

Assistant Director: Mallory Mahon BPA Treasurer: Billie Johnson

Director of Percussion: Graham Deckard BPA Secretary: Joy Winkler

Color Guard Coach: Riley Wartick

BPA Meeting Minutes

Date: August 17, 2017

Call to Order : 7:01 pm

Welcome

Introduction of 2017-18 Executive Board

  • Co-Presidents: John & Nikki Wooten
  • Treasurer: Billie Johnson
  • Secretary: Joy Winkler

Treasurer Report: Billie Johnson

Motion to approve: Joe Fabac

2nd: Debbie Coats—Allapprove

Secretary Report: Joy Winkler

Motion to approve: Debbie Coats

2nd: Theresa Miller—All approve

Old Business:

  • Our BPA’s tax exempt status has been officially reinstated! Thanks to Billie Johnson for her countless hours of work over the summer to make it happen.
  • Summer Fundraisers:

Blues Fest parking and 2 carwashes brought in around $2000 for our band!

  • Popcorn Fundraiser:

-Deadline to turn in orders was the Tues after band camp. Our product should be in sometime next week and will be distributed to the kids. Be on the look-out for a text remind announcing the day your student will be sent off from school with deliciousness to deliver…

-Most of the students who participated are travelling to Hawaii—the proceeds will go directly to their trip accounts.

-Approximately $400 will go into the band account for the trailer fund

New Business:

  • Game Night Information for new parents:

-Students should arrive at OP for call time with instrument and in uniform (carrying jacket; hat & gauntlets in hat case) or change into uniform after loading trailer

-Students load trailer and board buses to head to the District Athletic Complex (DAC) at Staley HS. [For the past years our home games have taken place at Staley, as OP has few permanent seats and (until this year) no field lighting. Things are changing! Our homecoming game will be at OP in the evening for the first time, and our senior night most likely will be moved to OP as well.]

-BPA provides hot dog dinner at the DAC upon arrival (watch for SignUpGenius’ for opportunities to help with this!)

-Our Marching Northmen perform for pregame starting between 6:30-6:40

-Play from the stands during 1st & 2nd quarters

-Perform marching show either during halftime or postgame (halftime: Sept 1, Sept 29; postgame: Sept 8, Oct 13)

-Break during 3rd quarter to socialize, get concessions, etc.

-Finish the game, playing from the stands during 4th quarter

-All students are required to help pack up, ride the buses back to OP, help unload, then be picked up by parents (or drive themselves home). Look for a text remind for more accurate pick up time, as it is a little different each night.

  • Sign up for the parent text remind from the directors:

This keeps you informed about upcoming events, rehearsals, and late night pick up times after football games.

Text: @opband1718 to this number: 81010

  • Senior Night:

Date changed to Sept 8

Senior band students will be escorted by their parents during halftime for Senior Recognition.

This game will most likely be switched from the DAC to being played at OPHS (it is the 50th game between the Oak Park and Northtown and would be a good way to test out our new lighting).

Sept 7 (Thursday evening before): Senior Locker Decorating—Calling all senior parents! We will provide materials to help you honor your student by making his/her locker look great! Feel free to bring items to personalize—baby photo or current photo, decorations, etc.

Oct. 13 (Homecoming game)—Seniors will receive their senior gift bags (complete with walk-off socks) and will participate in the band shoe walk-off after their last post game performance.

  • Trailer Update: As we think about raising funds, purchasing a new band trailer is our top priority this year. We use this trailer to transport valuable instruments and equipment to all of our games at the DAC and to out of town competitions. Our current trailer is extremely old and is a becoming both a safety hazard and an eyesore. Let’s join together to raise the funds needed to replace our trailer--We’ll reap the benefits, and pass them on to the band for years to come!

Tom & Linda Cutlers: work for “8760,” a company that auctions items, including industrial grade trailers. There is an auction on Sept 20 in Sedalia (with preview on Sept 18), both 10am-4pm. This may be an excellent lead in the process of obtaining a new trailer.

  • Royals tickets sales—deadline is Sept 6th

Band students tickets are already provided—don’t buy another one for them!

Some parents will opt to stand down closer to where the band performs (by back gate at right field), but the better view is actually from the purchased seats, watching the JumboTron—they are good about panning over the whole group!

Students collect orders and payment. When turned in to Mr. McCoy, the student will be given consecutive tickets that they can then distribute to their list of purchasers.

  • First home game tomorrow:

Brad Bowers inquired about doing a 50/50 raffle. McCoy checking on approval from the admin. This has been a successful and fun fundraiser in the past. It is best to have volunteers to help “man” the raffle table, collect money, tear tickets, etc. (White board helpful to have for a sign).

Thanks to Damon for committing to another year of pulling the band trailer for us!

  • Spirit Wear—last chance to order is tonight. Spirit wear ordered on the night of the Ice Cream Social is in! Pick yours up tonight, or it will be sent home with your student.

Mr. McCoy’s News:

  • Staff Introductions:

-Mallory Mahon – Assistant Director

-Graham Deckard – Director of Percussion

-Riley Wartick – Color Guard Coach

-Ashley Silvara – Intern Assistant

  • Mattress Fundraiser: Sunday, Sept. 24

-The Basics: This is a wholesaler who sets up a mattress showroom in school gyms for a day. The mattresses for sale are all recognized brand name mattresses. Prices are much lower than available at mortar and brick stores because there is no overhead involved.

-Advertising is key! Mr. McCoy and parents main job is getting the word out to everyone we know. There will be fliers, yard signs, doorknob hangers, social media links (ie. Facebook) made available. This company provides all the wording and literature, simplifying the process.

-This is a “test-run” year for the OP Band. This wholesaler is so successful, he will not continue offering this fundraiser to us if it does not go well. Let’s give it all we have!

-$8,100 = Projected earnings for the band!

-Each student gets credit for a sale when the student’s name is mentioned and recorded at the time of the sale

-Delivery is provided for a fee

-Mr. McCoy will inquire if there is old mattress haul-away. (Unlikely)

-Mr. Mccoy will inquire if having a “Kid’s Corner” in the gym during our sale is allowed. Heather Anderson proposed the idea and offered her professional face painting services for the day.

-MANDATORY PARENT INFO MEETING!

Thursday, Sept 7, 7:00pm

The wholesaler has agreed to give the band $5 for each individual who attends this meeting, up the $500! That’s some pretty easy fundraising, right there! Come learn how easy and successful this fundraiser can be. (There will be a Hawaii trip meeting to follow)

  • We have 3 football games before our next BPA meeting. Be on the lookout to sign up to help prepare and serve food for our students!
  • Check out the band calendar at All events are there.
  • Competitions coming up this fall

-Smith-Cotton Invitational: Sedalia, MO, Sept 23

-MO Western Tournament of Champions: St. Joseph, MO, Oct 10

-Because this competition is on a weekday (Tues), students are permitted to ride home with a parent if requested.

  • Hawaii

-Any adult going on the trip will be considered a chaperone, and will be expected to take on chaperone duties. “To go is to be a chaperone!”

-It is district policy that any adult going on the trip complete a background check and be fingerprinted. Our ultimate goal is to keep kids safe! Parents will be contacted by the district with instructions about how to proceed (Mr. McCoy is checking to confirm this).

-Approximate numbers travelling to Hawaii: 55 students, 30 parents

Upcoming Events:

  • First Home Game--DAC (District Athletic Complex) at Staley: this Friday!
  • Mandatory Parent Meeting: Thursday, Sept 7, 7pm -- Important Hawaii trip and mattress fundraiser information!
  • Smith-Cotton Invitational: Sedalia, MO: Sept 23
  • GladFest Parade: Sept 30
  • Tournament of Champions at Missouri Western, St. Joseph, MO: Oct 10

Adjourn

Motion to Adjourn: (not recorded)

2nd: Brad Bowers