Band Boosters! What is a teacher to do to maintain an active, "controllable" group of parents dedicated to supporting the music program and the band director?
MENC members on the band forum recently visited that topic and offered some excellent suggestions:

• State a purpose. If people are going to volunteer their time, give them a specific expectation of how they can contribute and what needs to be done.
• In the same light, when you can, state a specific reason for why you are raising funds (uniforms, travel, instrument repair, etc.).
• Open a line of communication. Get as many email addresses as you can and email about all sorts of things (concerts, grades, auditions, etc.), so they hear from you for reasons other than just when you're looking for volunteers.
• If appropriate for your locality, use an interpreter, so non-English speaking parents can be included, too.
• Talk to parents one at a time, look them in the eye, and ask them when they're available and what they are able to do? (Then keep good records.)
• Enlist other family members (aunts, uncles, grandparents) who would love to do something to help.
• Find one consistent fundraiser - like a concession stand or 50/50 raffle at a sporting event for example. Your volunteers only need to show up for a "shift" and not every time.
• Limit the number of fundraisers depending on your needs and the size of your community. Too many will burn out your volunteers and the people you're selling to.

Share your own ideas and suggestions!

-Becky Spray, August 28, 2008, © MENC: The National Association for Music Education (www.menc.org)