News Flash Sept 2, 2019

9/2/2019

Welcome to this week's News Flash! This is everything you need to know about Franklin Central Band right now.

Itinerary for Decatur Central Competition on Sept. 7th

On September 7th, our Marching Flashes will compete at the Decatur Central Contest of Champions Marching Band Invitational. The school is located at 5251 Kentucky Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46221. Allow at least 45 mins for travel and finding your seat. Here's what to expect.

The Spirit Committee is organizing a send-off for our students. Everyone is invited to the FC parking lot at 5pm to paint your car windows, honk and hold up signs when the buses depart.
Plan to arrive at Decatur Central around 8pm - the stands fill up quickly!
Come to the competition wearing your Marching Flashes gear or show logo merchandise or anything from Franklin Central H.S. Bring some noise makers too!
When you arrive at the stadium and you're searching for a seat, look for our logos and spirit gear - this is your band family and they will gladly welcome you to sit with them.

Click the Itinerary for the full-sized version!

Cheer for every band that performs, but cheer louder when our kids take the field. The band has been working so hard and this is your chance to let all of our students know how proud you are! GET LOUD!
Set up your cell phone number and cell carrier name in Cut Time to stay informed on exact times the school buses will depart the competition site and when they'll arrive at the school.
After the competition, when you come to the school to pick up your student, they will not be released until the trucks and semi trailer have been unloaded. If you are willing and able, please help unload. This means the kids will be released quicker AND you'll be a hero!

Who Wants to Push Props During Competitions?
The band needs about 10 - 12 or more volunteers to help move props from trucks to competition field & back. If we get enough volunteers, then we can take turns pushing, so you don’t have to push every competition. There will a prop pushing practice this week. Please get in contact with Jen Graf via Facebook message, email percussionliaison@fcbands.org, or text 317-507-5819. Thank You!

Housekeeping Items

IMPORTANT: Register cell carrier to receive Competition Texts.

This year, the Marching Band is using Cut Time to send text messages to parents on competition days. These messages will include arrival times back to FC, storm delays, cancellations, and last-minute changes to our competition schedule. It is essential that you have registered your cell phone carrier with Cut Time, or you will not receive these text messages. If you are receiving the Cut Time emails, that DOES NOT MEAN you will receive the text messages.

If you've given us your contact information in the past, you are likely already receiving our emails. However, if you want to receive text messages, you have to confirm your email, cell phone, and most importantly, your cell phone carrier. Without the mobile carrier listed in Cut Time, no texts will be sent.

Go to Cut Time Login page - https://cuttime.net/signin.cfm
Click "Forgot Your Password?" and follow the instructions

Please update your contact information, verify your cell phone number, and update your cell phone/mobile Carrier. When you save the screen, it will require a birthday. We do not need your actual birthday, so just enter 01/01/1980. The birthday tells Cut Time whether you're a child or an adult, then adjusts what features the account has access to use.

If you’ve already tried to login and did not receive an email, or you're unsure whether you're set up, please send an email to: cuttime@fcbands.org – and include the following information:

Your Name and the name of any other parent/guardian
Email addresses
Cell phone number and mobile carrier
Student name(s)
Birthday and Grade level
Home address

If you have any questions, please email: cuttime@fcbands.org

Fundraising

Trailer Donation Drive

What is the goal of the donation drive?
We have been given a semi-trailer for hauling our equipment to competitions for marching band and indoor percussion. To make the trailer usable and eye-catching, we have contracted with Clubhouse Trailers in Edmond, Oklahoma to install racks, stairs, ramps, power and lights, and to design and install a beautiful wrap (exterior graphics). This will cost $63,000. So far, $9,000 has been raised from the Test Drive/Car Wash on June 1 and the Golf Outing on August 10. We need to raise $20,000 with this three-week event.

Here are some examples of the graphics Clubhouse has created for other schools https://bit.ly/2L9sBlc

When is the donation drive?
The kick-off is Monday, September 16. The fundraiser ends on Monday, October 7.

How does this work and what happens next?
There are several pieces to the donation drive that will lead to ultimate success.

There will be a webpage that will state the purpose and giving levels from $25 to $1000. Donations can be made by credit card or sent directly to the band office deposit box. Businesses will receive sponsorship benefits for their contributions.
The webpage will feature a video of the student and photos that have been taken during practice, football games and competition. You’ll know why these donations are needed.
The band directors will work with the students to collect email addresses of friends, family, and other contacts with the purpose of sending these contacts an advertisement with the above information.
Donation advertisements will be posted to social media for band families to share with their Facebook friends.

Will this work?
We think so! In 2018, the band used a fundraising company called Snap-Raise to conduct the donation drive for new uniforms. The event took in about $14,000 and the band received $11,000 or 80%. With this current fundraising campaign, the only overhead is the credit card processing fee of 3%. This is the perfect fundraiser. You know exactly what the money is going towards and the majority of your contribution is supporting the purpose. And the bonus? You’re not stuck with a useless book of coupons or something else you only bought out of obligation.

Christmas Ornaments Fundraiser - Coming in November
For a second year, we will sell holiday ornaments.

We will sell 4 different ornaments
We will sell using order forms and a web store
Multiple events for selling - Sign-ups begin in October
Samples will be displayed at the September 19 Band Parent Meeting

See the 2018 ornament

Craft Fair - November

The craft fair committee has been accepting vendors for the 2019 Holiday Craft Fair. You can take a sneak peak of what some of the fair will offer in the slide show below.
We are accepting applications for vendors. If you or someone you know is interested, visit https://bit.ly/2ZeM5st for more information.
If you have you have questions, contact the craft fair committee at craftfair@fcbands.org for more info.

Volunteers Needed for Mums Pick-up

There are still a few open slots that need to be filled, so please sign up to unload trucks and help organize orders for pickup on Tuesday, September 10. Click here to sign up.

Volunteers Needed To Help Sell Raffle Tickets At Events
We are looking for a few parents to assist veteran parents sell raffle tickets at events such as the Friday night tailgate parties. This is an excellent way to get involved and meet other members of our band family! Reach out to Travis Sears, vpwaysandmeans@fcbands.org, if you are interested.

Marching Flashes Spirit

Bus Send-Off For Saturday's Competition
The Spirit Committee is organizing a send-off for our students. Everyone is invited to the FC parking lot at 5pm on Saturday, September 7 to paint your car windows, honk and hold up signs when the buses depart!

Band Buttons
Band Buttons are coming and you can pay for them now! Download Now
Note: Color Guard is waiting for uniforms before taking photos. Also, the design is still in progress.
Orders are due by September 14.

Show Merch
The first PepWear order will be delivered on Thursday, September 5. Parents or students can pick up your orders Friday, September 6 after practice. The store will reopen 9/5 - 9/10.

Bandcoming

The Marching Flashes will be competing during the FC Homecoming Dance, so Bandcoming is a time for our band students to have fun together!

The Bandcoming will be held on Sunday, September 29th from 1-4 PM at Southeastway Park. More information will be coming soon. Save the date and watch your current news flash for updates.

Mark Your Calendars

Pep Wear Pickup - Friday, September 6 @ FC
Band Competition - Saturday, September 7 @ Decatur Central HS
Mums Pickup - Tuesday, September 10 from 5:30pm - 7:00pm @ FC
FOOTBALL GAME and Tailgate party - Friday, September 13 @ FC
Band Competition - Saturday, September 14 @ Lawrence Central HS
Trailer Donation Drive Kickoff - Monday, September 16
Band Parent Meeting - Thursday, September 19 at 7:30pm @ FC
Band Competition - Saturday, September 21 @ Avon HS
Fall Band Concert - Wednesday, September 25 at 7:30pm @ FC
Homecoming Parade - Thursday, September 26 @ Downtown Wannamaker
8th Grader Night/Football/Tailgate - Friday, September 27 @ FC
Band Competition - Saturday, September 28 @ Fishers HS
BANDCOMING - Sunday, September 29 @ Southeastway Park

We value your opinion! Please send comments or suggestions to NewsFlash@fcbands.org