WVU Alumni Band News

Save the Date - Homecoming 2012

Sarah Bennett — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:38:27 GMT

WVU Homecoming will be the weekend of September 28-29, 2012. Plan to join the Mountaineers as they kick-off their Big XII Conference season hosting the Baylor University Bears.

WVUAlumniBand.org Now Live!

Wesley Nugent — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:41:39 GMT

The new WVU Alumni Band Website (http://WVUAlumniBand.org/) fully launched today, Wednesday, September 1, 2010, at 9 AM (Eastern) with an online Webconference announcing and showcasing new features for the benefit of interested alumni and friends.

As the site went live, dues paying members became eligible to register and pay for various Homecoming events, like the parade, party, and Homecoming game.

The new site includes functionality permitting members to facilitate business like dues, events, merchandise and donation transactions, but also includes other member-oriented features like:

Fully search enabled alumni directory
Downloadable music parts
Event attendee lists
Member forums
Member profiles

Additional content and features will be rolled out to members in the weeks leading up to the 2010 WVU Homecoming Weekend, with more planned after Homecoming.

The WVU Alumni Band Website Committee, an advisory body charged in early 2010 with helping the Board of Directors explore and help with implementing and developing the new site, will continue with the ongoing leadership responsibilities of carrying forward this initiative and further planning for the long-term.

Three 30-minute Webinars intended to help educate members and interested alumni about the new WVUAlumniBand.org Website and facilitate general membership questions will be held on Wed., Sep. 1, at Noon and 3:00 and 6:00 PM (Eastern). Anyone is welcome to register free online for any of these Webinars.

Should you have any questions, please contact:

Wesley Nugent

President, WVU Alumni Band

304-291-3403

North Central W.Va. Papa John's Pride Travel Fund Fundraiser

Wesley Nugent — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:36:17 GMT

The WVU Marching Band has partnered with Papa John's Pizza in the Morgantown, Fairmont, and Clarksburg areas to host a fundraiser supporting the Pride Travel Fund tomorrow (Wednesday, September 1, 2010).

If you, or anyone you know, has a desire for pizza tomorrow, just call one of the local Papa John's stores, place your order and tell them you want to support the WVU Band - and Papa Johns will make a donation.

Board of Directors Approves Modest Price Increases for 2010-2011

Wesley Nugent — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:45:52 GMT

The WVU Alumni Band Board of Directors approved modest price increases to cover new expenses and rising costs at its August 29, 2010 meeting.

Full member dues for the 2010-2011 season are set at an annual rate of $17.00. Member game tickets will cost $16.00 and guest game tickets will cost $47.00. Other fees, like rentals, will increase on average of $1.00 per service.

In 2010, several new operational expenses have been incurred, including the implementation of a new Website and processing fees associated with conducting online transactions, as well as securing an umbrella insurance policy to protect WVU Alumni Band assets, such as instruments, merchandise, and memorabilia housed at the organization's storage facility.

Other costs associated with ongoing operations have also increased over the past few years, precipitating the need for action now.

The WVU Alumni Band Board of Directors is sensitive to price increases, and chose to implement a modest increase, rather than running a deficit which would ultimately require larger price increases later. Keeping the organization and events like Homecoming as economical as possible is important to the Board of Directors given other costs associated with traveling to attend and participate in Homecoming Weekend.

Active membership with the WVU Alumni Band continues to represent an outstanding value, when compared to other similar alumni and charitable organizations. Funds from Homecoming not required to cover ongoing operational costs are donated to the WVU Band Endowment and Pride Travel Fund Endowment.

One positive outcome is the implementation of the new WVU Alumni Band Website. This initiative provides members with a tangible product associated with membership dues, in the form of a fully functional private online member community. Dues paying members will receive year-long access to the Website that will enable them with the capacity to communicate via member forums, share personal media, and reconnect with alumni via a searchable directory. Members can also renew and pay for annual memberships online, as well as register to participate in various events. Ultimately, the new Website enables the WVU Alumni Band Board of Directors to more easily keep in touch with the membership and keep alumni better apprised of ongoing business.

Some features of the new Website will go live on September 1, while others will be implemented after Homecoming and based upon committee feedback.

Other site features to include:

Real time list of registered event (parade, party, game) participants.
Download of the choral arrangement to the WVU Alma Mater for members to be able to sing parts with the group.
Tentative Homecoming pregame drill charts and instructions from Don Wilcox, our resident tenured Emeritus Director (after September 24).
Online donation form to contribute to the WVU Alumni Band drive for various WVU Band endowments.
Online pre-ordering of new WVU Alumni Band merchandise for Homecoming pick-up.

The WVU Alumni Band depends upon the active participation and generous contributions of its membership to enable our success. The Board of Directors greatly appreciates the ongoing support of our "Alumni Pride" in the form of our members time, talents and treasures. With your help, the WVU Alumni Band will continue to grow and offer more and better products, services and more.

Questions or comments about WVU Alumni Band price increases, should be directed to:

Wesley Nugent
President, WVU Alumni Band

304-291-3403

Live Help Webinars to Accompany the WVU Alumni Band Website Launch

Wesley Nugent — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:58:32 GMT

WVU Band alumni interested in learning about the new WVU Alumni Band Website (http://wvualumniband.org/) can take advantage of three 30-minute Webinars on the day of the launch.

The three interactive sessions with President Wes Nugent will be held Wednesday, September 1, 2010:

12:00-12:30 PM (Eastern) - Register for this session
3:00-3:30 PM (Eastern) - Register for this session
6:00-6:30 PM (Eastern) - Register for this session

An online help channel will be open beginning at 9:00 AM (Eastern) for alumni to login and ask any general questions. DimDim Webconferencing will be used and members can use this easy and free software to chat online or via a phone connection (standard connection rates apply.)

If you're interested in learning about the new WVU Alumni Band Website or have questions about paritcipating with the Alumni Band or Homecoming in general, feel free to participate in this live session and get answers to your questions.

Each of the sessions has a 20-guest limit. Register online to participate in any of these free help sessions.

Alumni with questions in general can use the contact form or e-mail the Webmaster at:

webmaster(-at-)wvualumniband(-dot-)org.

Horns A-Plenty Requests Used/Unwanted Instruments for Donation at Homecoming

Wesley Nugent — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:07:03 GMT

HORNS A-PLENTY is a Morgantown-based program that distributes band instruments to needy school band programs. Conceived by band alumnus Dave Ornick, Horns A-Plenty was adopted by the WVU Alumni Band executive board as a service program in 2009.

Through the generosity of our WVU marching band alumni, 18 instruments were provided to two Preston County schools last year. In some cases, WVU band alums purchased used instruments outright, then donated them to the cause.

You probably know of unwanted band instruments that you could obtain for donation to Horns A-Plenty - in your attic, maybe? Or from a sibling who once thought trombones were cool?

In addition to usable instruments, Horns A-Plenty also accepts incomplete instruments or those needing repairs like repadding or soldering. The only restriction is that it be a marching band instrument. Instruction books are also needed, along with mouthpieces, lyres, and supplies (reeds, grease/oil, swabs, sticks/beaters/mallets).

If you have musical items to donate to the Horns A-Plenty program, please bring them with you to Homecoming Weekend 2010 and deposit them with the WVU Alumni Band at registration in the WVU Shell Building.

Should you have any questions or want to help with Horns A-Plenty, contact Dave Ornick to obtain more information about the program.

Together, with your help, music students in need will be able to share in the marching band experience.

Save the Date: October 22-October 23, 2010

Wesley Nugent — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:10:27 GMT

Note: Homecoming registration information will be published at the end of August 2010. The WVU Alumni Band is also transitioning to a new member-oriented Web system that should come online at the same time. Read the Homecoming mailing in its' entirety to learn how you can pay your dues and register and pay for Homecoming online at the same time.

If you've not participated before with the WVU Alumni Band or are not receiving mailings from us, we may not have your current personal information on file.

Please submit an online Membership Form to ensure you'll receive Homecoming information when it becomes available.