Randolph Music Boosters

My Giving Story begins thirteen years ago in 2003 when our elementary music program was cut from our local school district's budget. My own children were too young to even be a part of the music program at the time.

It took one year to destroy it, It's taken us thirteen to get to where we are now. I began this journey driving around town with "SOS" (Save Our Music) posters taped to my van. I became a Town Meeting member and eventual School Committee member to ensure that, when and if, we ever got the music back, it wouldn't happen again on my watch.

When my sons were in 7th and 8th grade, there were 8 and 9 students in the band respectively.
In 2006, the town passed a Property 2 1/2 tax override which allowed the music department to hire an additional instrumental instructor. He and our other instructor split the district. One had three elementary schools, the other the other three schools, one elementary and the middle and high school. When the high school band director brought back a pep band for football games, there were nine students in the stands.

From 2006 - 2009, we added a grade back until we were able to have instrumental instruction beginning in fourth grade again. Throughout these years, I was a music booster and eventual president of the organization and have been for the past six years.
We now supply $7,500.00 in scholarships district wide, given to our elementary students for our Summer Music Program, middle school students to attend the University of New Hampshire's SYMS program. We send our drum majors to the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy, supply $500 for students to attend a summer program of their choosing which meets the appropriate criteria and supply three high school seniors with scholarships. We also support financial need by providing $500 annually for students who can't afford, for example, marching shoes, festival application fees, and the like. We supplied both marching ($37,000) and concert band ($10,000) uniforms for the high school.

I personally don't have the financial means to give in large amounts, but as you can hopefully see our organization gives hours, weeks, months, and years of our time to our students. It may sound odd, but we are also extremely thrifty. My philosophy is to never pay for anything we don't have to. Therefore, we do the legwork. I will ask anyone for anything we may need. Whether it's a donation of black socks, tubs of hot chocolate, and, yes, coat hangers from five local dry cleaners to hang those uniforms.

Together, with our teachers, we continue to grow the program. We continue to add news opportunities each year. We now have Show Choir, Jazz Band at both secondary levels, auditioning choral groups.
In February of 2017 our percussion students will participate in Indoor Percussion competition. This is where your $10,000 award would be focused.

Our district is comprised of:
African American - 51.9%
Asian - 16.7%
Hispanic - 11.9%.
First Language not English - 35.5%
English Language Learner - 12.7%
Students With Disabilities - 23.3%
High Needs - 60.5%
Economically Disadvantaged - 38.5%

Thank you for your kind consideration.

Anyone who knows me well knows talking about #MyGivingStory is uncomfortable for me. As is the case I'm sure for all the people telling their stories you do it because it's simply the right thing to do no matter what organization you support. My Giving Story begins thirteen years ago in 2003 when our elementary music program was cut from our local school district's budget.

It took one year to destroy it, It's taken us thirteen to get to where we are now. I began this journey driving around town with "SOS" (Save Our Music) posters taped to my van. I became a Town Meeting member and eventual School Committee member to ensure that, when and if, we ever got the music back, it wouldn't happen again on my watch.

When my sons were in 7th and 8th grade, there were 8 and 9 students in the band respectively.

In 2008, the town passed a Property 2 1/2 tax override which allowed the music department to hire an additional instrumental instructor. He and our other instructor split the district. One had three elementary schools, the other the other three schools, one elementary and the middle and high school. When the high school band director brought back a pep band for football games, there were nine students in the stands.

From 2008 - 2010, we added a grade back until instrumental instruction began in fourth grade again. Throughout these years, I was a music booster and eventual president of the organization and have been for six years.

We now supply $7,500.00 in scholarships district wide:
Ten elementary students attend our Summer Music Program
Middle and high school students attend the University of New Hampshire's SYMS program.
Our drum majors to the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy
$500 for students to attend a summer program of their choosing
$1,750 for three high school seniors
$500 set aside annually for students with financial need for marching shoes, festival application fees, etc.
We supplied both marching and concert band uniforms for the high school. From 2010 - 2013, the Randolph Music Boosters raised $125,000 to support music in Randolph.

I personally don't have the financial means to give in large amounts, but as you can hopefully see our organization gives hours, days, weeks, months, and years of our time to our students. It may sound odd, but we are also extremely thrifty. My philosophy is to never pay for anything we don't have to. If you don't ask, you don't get. Therefore, we do the legwork. I will ask anyone for anything we may need whether it's a donation of black socks, tubs of hot chocolate, and, yes, coat hangers from five local dry cleaners to hang those uniforms.

Together with our teachers, we continue to grow the program. In February of 2017 our percussion students will participate in Indoor Percussion competition. This is where your $10,000 award would be focused to purchase much needed equipment, transportation, rent equipment trucks, and purchase apparel and materials for props.

Our district is comprised of:

African American 51.9%
Asian 16.7%
Hispanic 11.9%
First Language not English 35.5%
English Language Learner 12.7%
Students With Disabilities 23.3%
High Needs 60.5%
Economically Disadvantaged 38.5%

Thank you for your kind consideration.