It's time to really turn up the heat on our planning!

Our next meeting for planning the PMEA District 2, 3, 5 Orchestra festival will be Thursday, September 8 at 6:00 PM in the JH Orchestra Room.  I'll keep it short, but I really will need "all hands on deck" to get our planning moving, now that school has started!

I didn't run this date past anyone, as I'm "running" myself today, so I hope it works for a few of you.

I am so GRATEFUL for your support!

See you there!  Please don't hesitate to email me if you can't make it, or if you have questions!
jlaird@iasd.cc

Next Meeting - Tuesday, May 24 6:00 PM in the JH Orchestra room

Thanks to all who are helping to plan for our big festival next year!  Please try to make this meeting as we plan for summer projects.

Meeting for tonight is CANCELLED!

Thanks so much for your support.  Plans are progressing nicely, but there isn't enough to report to merit a meeting.  Please email me if you would like more information!

Next planning meeting is Thursday, April 7 from 6 - 7 PM in JH Orchestra Room

Hope to see you there!

Here are the leadership notes from the last meeting, provided by Bev Mastalski:

Bev Mastalski:  Program, Fundraising, Grantwriting

Linda Zheng: Paperwork

Rachel Schiera:  Student Social Event, Stage Logistics, Grantwriting

Laura Herrington:  Gift/Tote Bags



These roles can be fluid for now, until we see how much work each role takes.  I don't want anyone to feel overwhelmed! I applied for a Walmart grant last week, and should hear about it within 90 days.  I asked for $2500, which was the maximum available for a Walmart Community Grant.  I outlined the snack/water needs, the academic scavenger hunt/social opportunity, and the gift/tote bag requests as well as pencils, erasers, and notebooks for the bags.  I am really hopeful that this will come through.  If it doesn't, we can apply again, or consider applying through Sam's Club.

Sharon and I are going to work on a Costco grant, also. 

I have signed a contract with Park Inn for housing/breakfasts, and we have security lined up through our school security guards.  I am working on a couple of other contracts, and will be meeting soon with Eleanor Sherry to discuss our cafeteria meals.

The whole process is a little bit daunting, but with your support, we are moving forward, and the plans are going well.  Many schools are noticing that we are working ahead, and are pleased with our progress!

I'll have more to report at our meeting on April 7.

Thanks so much, everyone!!!!

We are off to a great start!

We had a very successful trip to Regional Orchestra last weekend, and we've come back with some new ideas.  I'm including pictures here to demonstrate ways that we can prepare for next year's festival.

The director's food table was amazing at this festival.  One person ran the whole thing, and it was very fancy.  I don't think ours needs to be so elaborate.  There were finger sandwiches and cheese the first afternoon...

...with plenty of coffee and tea.

Friday morning we found a beautiful breakfast table, and 

Friday afternoon, there was an amazing dessert buffet.  

At the concert, there were numerous tables.  This one was for parents to sign that they were onsite to pick up their children after the concert.  I have not seen this before, but it was a GREAT idea!

I have also never seen PMEA teachers selling tickets, but that was the case here.  Instead of purchasing "tickets," the concert program served as the ticket.  They ran into a snag when they ran out of concert programs...something to keep in mind.

Most festivals have an introductory time when a school administrator speaks, then a PMEA person, and then the guest conductor.  I will work to keep this "talking" time to 5 minutes or less!!!!  However, we will need the podium set up somewhere.

Please help me remember to bring up the "school posters" in our next meeting.

More on that soon...

If you missed the meeting last night...

...here is the slide presentation that gives all of the info you need to help out.

If you are interested in serving in one of these listed capacities, please let me know!  We have a few chairmen of these committees now, but will always need more volunteers and help!

Also, don't forget to go to the IASD website for volunteer clearances.  These will be due to me by the fall so that I can turn them into PMEA.

Thanks so much for your help!  This will be the best festival ever!

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1b-I0IQfXA7M5kvyzpKaQXpOtxOd3yZxefwh2fjv8JSU/edit#slide=id.g1011d63d31_2_75

1st Planning Meeting, February 18, 2016 from 6-7 PM

It's time for us to begin planning!

Our address for this blog is http://pmeadistrict235orchestra2017planning.blogspot.com/.  This is an excellent way for us to stay in touch and make plans together.

You can always reach me at jlaird@iasd.cc.  As I get better with Blogger, I'll open this up so that we can all communicate here.

Thanks so much for being on board with this monumental project!