January 12, 2021
Greetings fellow Alumni Band members!
We hope each of you had a nice holiday season. Whether you celebrated with family or stayed close to home, we wish each of you the best in 2021.
Past Events
The 2020 Annual WVU Alumni Band, Inc. meeting was held via Zoom on Tuesday, October 13, 2020. The following are highlights from the meeting:
1. Dr. Cheldon Williams spoke to the membership about the WVU Marching Band and how things have been going in dealing with the challenges faced with COVID-19 restrictions during football season.
2. The President, Mary Lechliter-King, gave an update about what the board has been working on since the 2019 homecoming event.
3. The Chairs for Merchandise, Becky Campbell, and Bylaws, Theresa Smith, were announced.
4. Membership voted to approve an increase in membership dues. The new amount is $35.00. Anyone paying their dues by March 31, 2021 will only pay $20 with an early bird discount.
5. 2020-2021 Officers were elected.
President - Mary Lechliter-King
Vice President - Angelia Barnett
Secretary - Hope Poole
Corresponding Secretary - Dave O’Neal
Treasurer - Wanda Hembree
Website/Membership - Sarah Bennett-Harper
Equipment Manager - John Sinsel
Pep Bands - James Burkhamer
Adopt-A-Dot Campaign Updates
We continue to raise funds for the new Alumni Band Practice Facility. We have currently sold over 185! Thank you to those who have already participated. Former Pride Assistant Director, David Satterfield, has shared with us his support for this new facility.
Being the Assistant Director of the Mountaineer Marching Band has been one of the true honors and highlights of my career. Each and every year, the Pride of West Virginia touches literally tens of thousands of West Virginians with a visible display of State tradition, pride, and excellence. More importantly, this iconic group provides life-changing experiences for the 300+ members each and every year.
2020 marks the 40th anniversary of new Mountaineer Field ---- Mylan Puskar Stadium. During that time, our athletic facilities, programs, notoriety, and our place in football history has evolved significantly. Sadly, the same cannot be said for the rehearsal facilities of the Mountaineer Marching Band. It is time for a new practice facility and I applaud the efforts of everyone involved in this heroic undertaking.
A new practice facility will assist with recruiting as well as provide a rehearsal space fitting the excellence which continues to be a hallmark of our program. It is well past time for a dedicated, modern, and versatile rehearsal facility for the Pride of West Virginia. I am proud that our institution has seen this need as a priority for investment and support. I hope you join me and consider supporting this effort as well.
Sincerely,
David Satterfield
Director of Asset Development and Associate Professor of Music
Former WVU Marching Band Assistant Director, 1983-1992
Former WVU Marching Band Percussion Coordinator, 1981-1982
Former WVU Marching Band Percussion Instructor, 1980
For more information about the practice facility or to purchase a dot, please go to https://give.wvu.edu/pridepracticefacility. For a more economical option, please remember that you can purchase your dot with a monthly payment plan.
Upcoming Events
Auctions - The WVU Alumni Band, Inc. will be launching a new auction fundraising event at the end of January. More information will be provided in the coming days about the first auction item.
February Membership Meeting - Members are invited to attend our February meeting tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, February 9, 2021. Registration information will be provided around February 1, 2021.
2021 Membership Dues - Event Payment
Membership renewal for 2021 will be processed as an "Event" from our website. Starting Friday, January 15, 2021 you will need to go to the website and login to process your payment. You will find the 2021 Membership renewal under the Event tab or on the homepage under Upcoming Events. More information will be released on January 15th about paying dues.
We rely on membership dues to pay for our website, storage unit, insurance, and office supplies, to name a few. Without your dues, we will not have an organization. Fees for homecoming only pay for homecoming events and do not fund our general operating costs.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at info@wvualumniband.org.
Stay safe and Let’s Go Mountaineers!
Sincerely,
Officers and Board of Directors, WVU Alumni Band Inc., 2020-2021
WVU Alumni Band, Inc.
