Who are the West High Band Aides?
The West High Band Aides is a not-for-profit organization that exists to support the band program at Corning West High School. You do not sign up to be a member, and there are no dues. All parents and guardians of all students involved in the marching and concert bands, dance machine and majorettes are automatically members. Relatives and friends are welcome to participate in Band Aides activities.

What is the purpose of the Band Aides?
Band Aides provide much of the labor that is needed to “get the show on the field”.  Band Aides also help to provide for the financial needs of our students by staffing the Bandtoberfest concessions and the marching festival. Band Aides do not interfere with the band directors or the school administration in day to day activities.

How is the organization run?
Band Aides are led by an elected slate of officers who compose the executive board.  The executive board follows the by-laws of the organization.  The executive board typically meets prior to the general meetings.  Board meetings are open to any booster member.

My student has been given several fundraising opportunities. Who benefits from the profits?
Your student. Fundraisers are provided as a way for students to defray the cost of the annual band trip.  An individual account is kept for each student.  All profits from student sales go into their individual accounts and are subtracted from the student’s cost of the band trip. Many students in the past have earned 100% of their trip cost. 

What is a Marching Band Competition? Is our Bandtoberfest a required event?
Bands perform shows for a panel of judges, competing in categories based on their size.  Attending marching band competitions is excellent ways for our students to see other schools with strong band programs perform their shows.  Because of the outstanding reputation our Bandtoberfest enjoys, we usually have a large number of bands at the annual Bandtoberfest. It takes Band Aides and band students working together to do everything that needs to be done.

Band Aides raise significant funds through Bandtoberfest, wreath and fruit sales. What is this money used for?
Band Aides derives a portion of their funds from student fund raising and those funds benefit the entire marching unit.  Band Aides funds purchase instruments, uniforms, field props as they need to be replaced or added. We rent the trucks to move the band equipment for games and parades. We provide the refreshments to students at football games and parades. We also help with the maintenance and repair of school-owned uniforms as well as summer leadership/color guard/dance camp registration fees. We provide recognition awards at the annual band banquet.

How can I help?
The Band Aides always need your help. We need approximately 15-20 chaperones for every time the band board the buses. We need 30 people to staff the concession stand at Bandtoberfest. We need over 30 people to work at the ticket booths, bus controls and security at the Bandtoberfest. We need over 15 people to work bus controls and security at the Colonial Day Parade. To find out more about areas where we need your help and to volunteer, please come to the next Band Aides meeting.

How Can I Help?

Below you will find the various areas where we need your help during the band year. By clicking in the area as instructed, you will launch an email that will be routed to the chairperson of that particular area.  Please volunteer early and often and for more than one area.  Thank you for helping us make the West High Vikings Band one of the premier high school bands in the United States.

The Bandtoberfest
Bandtoberfest is one of the biggest fund raisers for the West High Band. All band members are asked to sell ads and tickets for this annual event.  It raises critically needed funds in a way that provides band members with a positive experience that develops character and skills. All proceeds support the West High Viking Band. This event is an important part of West High Band. This means profits goes toward the annual band trips, band instruments, special programs and services to benefit the band members. It takes Band Aides and band students working together to do everything that needs to be done.

Chaperones
Each time the Vikings Band board the buses, we need 15-20 chaperones to accompany them.  It is the chaperones duty to monitor the activities of the students while on the bus, assist in distributing drinks to the students, making sure the uniforms and instruments are in place prior to the band entering the stands, helping in “crowd control” in the band seating section, and numerous other duties. Chaperones are required for picture day, all football games, and all marching band and concert band events that are off of the West High School campus.  The job of a chaperone is not merely a free ride and admission to our events.  It is our responsibility to ensure the safety of our students while at the same time ensuring that our students are able to enjoy their band experience.

Equipment
When a band numbers well over 170 students, moving the equipment for the band is no small feat.  Each time the band performs away from the West High School campus, we need 10-15 people to move equipment for the band.  This position includes loading and unloading the trucks before and after each event.  We are also responsible for getting props into the stadium as well as on and off the field during football half-time performance and marching competitions.  While the need is not as great during concert season, we do need assistance for parades.

Fundraisers
Fundraisers are a means we use to offer the band students the opportunity to earn money to pay for their annual band trip. The number of fundraisers is generally determined by the costs associated with the band trip.  Regardless of the number of fundraisers, help is needed to assist in the packaging of merchandise and distributing it to the students.  Since most of the fundraiser merchandise is sorted for distribution during the school hours, volunteers for this area should have the flexibility in their schedules that allows them to be at the school during school hours.

Uniforms
The week after each event the Viking Bands attends, whether a football game, marching contest, or parade performance, home or away, a dedicated group of individuals meet in the band room to prepare the uniforms for the coming week or the next event.  This includes re-hanging the uniforms when they are delivered from the dry cleaners, ensuring that all uniforms are properly hung on the racks, checking for repair needs on uniforms, and, if necessary, altering the uniform as needed during the school year.  This group is also responsible for measuring the students for uniform fittings during band camp.  As all of the duties of this group are done during the school day, volunteers for this area must be available during that time frame.

Band Banquet
The annual Band Awards Banquet is held in May of each year. Planning and preparation for the banquet normally begins in January when school resumes from the Christmas break.  Assistance is needed in planning, set-up and clean-up, and everything else required making this a memorable event for all of our band students, staff and family. 

Thank you for helping us do our part for the

Pride, Spirit, Confidence and Excellence

that is personified in the West High Vikings Band!