The President's Report

It is my second year as President, and I never stop being amazed at the process that ensures that our performances on and off of the field run smoothly.  The amount of time dedicated by students, staff and parents shows how dedicated we all are to making sure that we have another successful season.  We have marched forward, backwards, twirled, spinned, dipped, and slid, and list can go on, to be certain that we looked and sounded terrific.  Our main season performances and competitions are completed and we have shown what the Long Orange Line is capable of – EXCELLENCE!

  I would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to specific events and people that have gotten us through another successful season. Starting out with band camp, Marie Mascio and her volunteers did an excellent job making sure we had refreshments for sale every day.  Keith Poinsett put together an informative “Band Buddies” meeting in August for all of the incoming freshman parents. The uniform committee at the helm of Kathy Watson made sure that all students were fitted and sized up for uniforms and Dinkles.   Liz Luciano has done a tremendous job in getting our Street Beat on the website, making sure all parents, students and alumni stayed informed with what was going on with the marching band. Deb Vorsanger and Vicki Principi did a great job again compiling and providing the staff and myself with wonderful databases. The phone chain and email distribution are up and running thanks to Cindy Lynes and Ezi Algazi, respectively.  Our website is becoming well known – thanks Ezi! If you haven’t checked it out, look us up at www.pennsburybands.org. Renee Donahey’s family, and additional volunteers, provided us with our annual band picnic in September. The pavilion was spectacular, games energizing, the food very tasty and we once again had excellent weather.

Our 7^th Annual Marching Band Festival, headed up by Dave Willard and committees, took place on October 13, 2007. We were very happy to entertain five outstanding local bands  – Council Rock North, Council Rock South, William Tennent, Neshaminy and Bensalem. The marching band festival has always been and always will be an exciting and wonderful evening. Once again we had 100% participation by all families in the marching band to help with our largest fundraiser. I also want to extend my many thanks to the alumni that came back to help us.

I could never forget our dedicated staff being lead by Mr. Mazzeo. They continually demonstrate their ability and talent to make sure our students complete the entire marching band performance by the end of band camp.  And how about those new color guard uniforms – you students look terrific. It just goes to show you that hard work and dedication does provide you with success. My sincere thanks to all of the marching band staff, booster committee chairs, and booster volunteers.

We are in full swing with all booster committees active and doing their jobs.    Fundraising is and has been a strong anchor for the booster organization, being led by Stan Gursky. The Fundraising Committee is making sure that all of our students have many products to sell and activities to participate in to help them achieve their Hong Kong benchmarks. The Receipts Committee is continually monitoring, logging, channeling, all the necessary funds to make sure our Hong Kong Trip becomes everything we all want it to be, a once in a lifetime experience.

So, what is coming up? Some fun practices for the marching band to make sure that our success on the rugby field in Hong Kong is another excellent performance. Let’s not forget that the marching band will be watched by over 40,000 spectators and viewed by an estimated television viewing audience of over 50 million people throughout Asia, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Our Pennsbury Concert Jazz Band and Pennsbury Lab Jazz Band are practicing for their upcoming season. We will be sure to get all performances and competitions listed on the website as soon as they become available.  Please be sure to mark your calendars to attend. We will also have the Symphonic Winds and Concert Band performing at the Kimmel Center on May 22, 2008. This will be truly a new experience for all students, parents, family, and staff.

I will conclude this newsletter addressing the marching band students. Every time you entered the fields, I knew that I was going to be entertained. I watched you with each and every performance getting better time after time. My eyes teared with joy, excitement and extreme pride – thank you for another great season and the opportunity to share in your in experiences.

Sincerely,

Deb Alleva

President, Pennsbury Instrumental Music Boosters