The drawing for our CAR RAFFLE is Wednesday, July 30th at the MANDATORY BAND CAMP MEETING. Those of you who have not turned in your tickets or money, PLEASE DO SO NOW! We need to have all the money in so that we know where we stand. We hope all of you sold your tickets as we need to sell 1800 just to cover the cost of the prizes. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL OF YOU WHO SUPPORTED AND HELPED WITH THIS VERY IMPORTANT FUND RAISER!!

All candy money should also have been turned in by now, and if you still have money out there, please turn it in.

The MANDATORY BAND CAMP MEETIN IS WEDNESDAY, JULY 30TH AND WILL BEGIN AT 7:30 SHARP!! Please plan to attend this very important meeting, which will be for the parents only from 7:30-8:15, when Mr. Cook will come in with the students for his portion of the meeting. We will be discussing and bringing you up to date on the Fiesta Bowl Trip. You will want to attend so you know what is going on, and you will also receive statements of your students account.

Please bring your personal calendars with you to the meeting as we will have sign up sheets available for you to sign. We are in need of a lot of people to fill slots for things such as chaperones for bus trips, concession workers for football games, sewing flags and costumes for this years field show, construction of sets for the field show and other committees that need workers to help out.

It seems the "same people" are always doing everything, and many of these "same people" that have been doing these jobs are either no longer with the band or they are just plain tired out. We are all in this together. We are all parents of students in either the band or the guard and we all want our "Tribe of Pride" to do their best. In order to do their best, we, their parents, need to be there to do all the little extra things that give our students that extra oomph. We are all busy and we all work, but many of us still find the time to support the boosters, and be there for our kids too.

If everyone would just pitch in and do a small amount of work, the jobs would not only get done quicker and easier, but would not be such an enormous burden on just a few. So please sign up and help where you can.

Scratch off cards will be distributed and explained at the meeting. The students ordered what they though they could sell, and money from the cards after a certain amount, goes into their account.

Orders for "booster attire," (i.e. T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and jackets) will be taken after the meeting on the 30th (Bring your checkbooks). In order for you to have your "attire" for our first field show, your order must be placed by August 15th.

After the regular meeting Mr. Cook will be discussing Band Camp and will pass our information sheets to all parents. He will also answer any of your questions.

The officers want to take this opportunity to wish Mr. Cook the best of luck at his new job. We are all very sorry to see him leave and will miss him as much as the students will. We know he is doing what is best for him and Alice. We also wish them the best of luck as they prepare to become new parents and hope they have a healthy and happy baby. John, please let us know if it is a boy or a girl.

There will be a reception in the commons area outside the west entrance to the LGI room for Mr. Cook immediately following the Mandatory Band Camp Meeting. Please plan to stay and say your "good bye's." There will be punch and cookies.

The will be TRIBE OF PRIDE car flags available for purchase at the band camp meeting. Cost of a flag is $15.00. These hook onto your side windows for your car and will look great going down I-65 on our caravans to the competitions we will be attending this fall. Buy early.

The construction crew works every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6 p.m. till dark, and can use any able bodies to help. Come out and join in helping making our sets for this years show.

From the Desk of John Cook:

I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for making the Lake Central Band and Guard such an outstanding organization. Because of everyone's dedication we have been able to reach many outstanding achievements and goals.

In a short five years we have purchased new marching uniforms, two incredible equipment trailers, been accepted to two of the most prestigious bowl games in the country, been in state finals marching band and color guard, won state finals in dance and pom, received nothing but 1st division ratings in concert and jazz band, performed with some of the greatest musicians in the world, and have been featured on the TODAY SHOW.

Along with these accomplishments, we have won so many invitationals and been in finals in so many contests that it takes ten typed pages to recall them all!!

The booster budget has grown from $6,000.00 a year to a projected $88,500.00 for this year. The band and guard enrollment has gone from 117 members to over 230 in the band program for this year.

These are just a few of the things that have happened in the short time that we have been together. But none of this would have ever happened if we didn't believe that what we were doing was a positive worthwhile activity for each of us. You have been the greatest people to work with. I could always count on the parents for anything that needed to be built or bought, or even if I needed some feed back on something out on my field. And the greatest thing was to have a group of young men and women that would work to do whatever was asked or needed of them to make this program what it is today. Thanks, and I will miss you all.

Sincerely, Mr. Cook

From the desk of Mr. Dallas:

Things are moving along nicely for our 1997-98 show. We have most of the music passed out and it is starting to actually sound close to what I had written. Hopefully, we are all looking forward to band camp where we will get a lot of the show finished. our staff at camp and throughout the year will include: Tim Murphy, Bob Brannock and an occasional visit from Eric Wood.

I would like to thank Mrs. Bonnie Wells for sewing the covers for the percussion equipment in the band room. There are still covers to be completed and if anyone can help her with sewing please let me know.

I haven't have the opportunity to meet all the new parents in the band and the percussion section. If you haven't introduced yourself, please come in before or after rehearsal and say Hi. we have a lot of things planned for this year and hopefully you will have an opportunity to participate in some way.

Mr. Dallas

From the desk of Kevin Mathis, Centralettes Director:

Hey, What's up? It's past the middle of July and we have so much left to do. It seems as if the summer is flying right by and band camp is just around the corner. Long rehearsal hours, a tireless sun, mosquitoes and an overpopulated mash unit are just some of the special things we have to look forwards too at band camp. The good news is that this year we get the air-conditioned dorms. Hey, maybe we can place a group order for sun screen, bug spray, and a new band director. Don't forget your sense of humor!

Like all of us, the Centralettes are still digesting the recent resignation of JC. We wish him the best in his new position and if he needs a recommendation on a good dance studio for his baby girl (I'm hoping for the best), in the Indianapolis area, give me a call. In memory of years gone by, maybe we should all wear a circular Band-Aid at band camp. Just kidding!!!

Unfortunately, we are also experiencing some unrelated resignations in the band and guard. This seems to occur every year and this year is no different. If it were not for these challenges, we would not develop the experience we need to separate ourselves from the underachievers. The rumors are true. The opener drill needs Centralettes and it will undoubtably set us back a minimum of one week. I hope to have them marching in the opener the week of the 28th. Hopefully, we can dedicate some of the newly appropriated sectional time to moving forward in the equipment book. Well that's all for now, but before I sign off, I'd like to leave you with this little though from my favorite sports personality. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

ON COMMITMENT

"I approached practices the same way I approached games. You can't turn it on and off like a faucet. I couldn't dog it during practice and then, when I needed that extra push late in the game, expect it to be there. But that's how a lot of people approach things. And that's why a lot of people fail. They sound like they're committed to being the best they can be. They say all the right things, make all the proper appearances. But when it comes right down to it, they're looking for reasons instead of answers. If you're trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I've had them.

"But obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up, Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it."

Michael Jordan

Our new chaperone coordinator is Karen Kidd and the concession coordinators are Laine Whiting and Sandra Pyle. Thanks to all of you!!

Another BIG thanks to all those who worked the car washes!!! Plus, a BIG, BIG, THANKS to all the parents who chaperoned all of the car washes. Your help was greatly appreciated.

Please continue to send in your payments for the Fiesta Bowl Trip. There is a small mailbox in the band room where you can deposit your envelopes if Mrs. Saker is not around.

You must also have your band camp fees paid before you will be allowed to attend band camp. The cost is $185.00 for band camp. Make checks payable to Lake Central High School.

Next Band Booster meeting is Wednesday, August 13th at 7:00 p.m. in the band room.