January 27, 2021 at 5:59 p.m.
Seeking spirit
Jay County High School band program turns to its alumni to fill funding gap caused by COVID
Seeking spirit
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has limited income for many.
The Jay County High School band program is no different.
In an effort to bridge that gap, the group turned to its alumni.
Launched with a video on the “JC Marching Patriots” Facebook page and at jcmarchingpatriots.com, “The Spirit of ’76” is a fundraising drive focused on those who have been involved in the school’s band program over the decades.
“Like everybody else, when COVID hit March 13 and this place shut down, so did our revenue coming in,” said JCHS band director Kelly Smeltzer. “The money we usually spend is not there. …
“We’re not at zero, but we knew if we didn’t take action that this next year is going to be not good.”
The challenge of raising funds for the band program is a daunting one, Smeltzer said, given that just last year it solicited $100,000 for the purchase of new instruments. That’s why, rather than tapping local sources again, the program decided to seek help from alumni far and wide.
The format of the fundraiser is fairly simple. The band program will be releasing a series of videos on its Facebook page and website over the next few months. Attached to each will be an invitation to alumni to donate via PayPal at jcmarchingpatriots.com/spiritof76.
Smeltzer and auxiliary director Emilie Garringer kicked off the fundraising effort with the first of those videos Jan. 13.
Videos that follow — the goal is to release one each Thursday — will feature Marching Patriot drum majors from across the decades. The lineup includes Larry Harris, the drum major from the school’s first graduating class in 1976, Vince Beck from 1989, Laurie (Miller) Christman and Ernest Jutte from the school’s first Indiana State Fair win in 1992 and Kate (Strietlemeier) Homan from the only other state fair win in 2001. Another will feature longtime staff members Dave Humbert, Bev Arnold, Pete Vogler and Smeltzer. They will share stories about their experiences and memories with the Jay County High School band program.
The initiative will also feature videos from various Jay County Marching Patriot state fair performances. And alumni will be encouraged to post their own pictures and memories from years past on the band’s Facebook page.
“We want to have fun with it,” said Smeltzer. “And people look back it with some nostalgia and say, ‘Yeah, I’d kick in some money.’”
The goal is to bring in $20,000. As of this morning, $1,100 had been donated.
“We believe we can do this because we have 45 years of alumni here with the Jay County band program,” Smeltzer added.
Like many activities, the summer marching band schedule was thrown into disarray because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Central Indiana Track Show Association announced April 13 that it would not have a summer season. Indiana State Fair held out hope for a contest, but it ended up being canceled as well. Smeltzer estimates the band missed out on about $5,000 in prize money last summer.
The band program also had to cancel its spring concert, dinner and silent auction, as well as its mattress sale fundraiser. And, with crowds limited at football and basketball games this year, income from running concessions has plummeted.
In all, Smeltzer estimates the band missed out on $25,000 to $30,000. That’s a big chunk of money that would typically go toward things like uniform cleaning, summer transportation, staff salaries and music and drill design for the Marching Patriots’ show.
“The Patriot band has been proud to give kids great experiences,” said Garringer in the introduction video. “This summer and fall, Jay County and students lost their opportunity to make great memories with friends as most of you experienced during your time here at Jay County. We would like to continue providing these moments for our current students and future band students.”
In an effort to create some friendly competition, there will also be a contest for which class donates the most money. Buttons will be made for the winning class to be worn on the Marching Patriots’ uniforms at the state fair contest this summer.
The fundraising campaign will continue for about three months, with a goal to have it wrapped by the band’s spring concert April 18.
The Jay County High School band program is no different.
In an effort to bridge that gap, the group turned to its alumni.
Launched with a video on the “JC Marching Patriots” Facebook page and at jcmarchingpatriots.com, “The Spirit of ’76” is a fundraising drive focused on those who have been involved in the school’s band program over the decades.
“Like everybody else, when COVID hit March 13 and this place shut down, so did our revenue coming in,” said JCHS band director Kelly Smeltzer. “The money we usually spend is not there. …
“We’re not at zero, but we knew if we didn’t take action that this next year is going to be not good.”
The challenge of raising funds for the band program is a daunting one, Smeltzer said, given that just last year it solicited $100,000 for the purchase of new instruments. That’s why, rather than tapping local sources again, the program decided to seek help from alumni far and wide.
The format of the fundraiser is fairly simple. The band program will be releasing a series of videos on its Facebook page and website over the next few months. Attached to each will be an invitation to alumni to donate via PayPal at jcmarchingpatriots.com/spiritof76.
Smeltzer and auxiliary director Emilie Garringer kicked off the fundraising effort with the first of those videos Jan. 13.
Videos that follow — the goal is to release one each Thursday — will feature Marching Patriot drum majors from across the decades. The lineup includes Larry Harris, the drum major from the school’s first graduating class in 1976, Vince Beck from 1989, Laurie (Miller) Christman and Ernest Jutte from the school’s first Indiana State Fair win in 1992 and Kate (Strietlemeier) Homan from the only other state fair win in 2001. Another will feature longtime staff members Dave Humbert, Bev Arnold, Pete Vogler and Smeltzer. They will share stories about their experiences and memories with the Jay County High School band program.
The initiative will also feature videos from various Jay County Marching Patriot state fair performances. And alumni will be encouraged to post their own pictures and memories from years past on the band’s Facebook page.
“We want to have fun with it,” said Smeltzer. “And people look back it with some nostalgia and say, ‘Yeah, I’d kick in some money.’”
The goal is to bring in $20,000. As of this morning, $1,100 had been donated.
“We believe we can do this because we have 45 years of alumni here with the Jay County band program,” Smeltzer added.
Like many activities, the summer marching band schedule was thrown into disarray because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Central Indiana Track Show Association announced April 13 that it would not have a summer season. Indiana State Fair held out hope for a contest, but it ended up being canceled as well. Smeltzer estimates the band missed out on about $5,000 in prize money last summer.
The band program also had to cancel its spring concert, dinner and silent auction, as well as its mattress sale fundraiser. And, with crowds limited at football and basketball games this year, income from running concessions has plummeted.
In all, Smeltzer estimates the band missed out on $25,000 to $30,000. That’s a big chunk of money that would typically go toward things like uniform cleaning, summer transportation, staff salaries and music and drill design for the Marching Patriots’ show.
“The Patriot band has been proud to give kids great experiences,” said Garringer in the introduction video. “This summer and fall, Jay County and students lost their opportunity to make great memories with friends as most of you experienced during your time here at Jay County. We would like to continue providing these moments for our current students and future band students.”
In an effort to create some friendly competition, there will also be a contest for which class donates the most money. Buttons will be made for the winning class to be worn on the Marching Patriots’ uniforms at the state fair contest this summer.
The fundraising campaign will continue for about three months, with a goal to have it wrapped by the band’s spring concert April 18.
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