News

WVU Homecoming will kick off in Morgantown Friday, October 16, 2026! As part of the weekend, we will be holding our Annual Membership Meeting after our Saturday pregame rehearsal. This is your official notice for the meeting and marks the official record date for membership for those eligible to vote in the annual meeting and the upcoming Board of Director election. 

BOD Elections

In keeping with the election procedures set forth in the bylaws, the elections for Board of Directors (BOD) will be held electronically the week following the Annual Meeting. The BOD will consist of nine (9) members (four (4) positions to be filled during this election). Officers are elected by the BOD members.

Some expectations of the BOD include:

• Paying your membership dues as determined at the January BOD meeting
• Attending BOD meetings
• Attending membership meetings
• Serving a two-year term

• Committing to at least ten (10) service hours per year to the organization

Qualifications for running for a Board position includes:

1. being a voting member of the Corporation; and 

2. having volunteered in any capacity (at least 10 hours of service - see volunteer hour guidelines below), served on a committee, or served as an Officer of the Corporation.

Volunteer Hour Guidelines

1. Committees

• Productive contributions such as setting up and tearing down events, contacting vendors or donors, working at the Pride Picnic, assisting with registration at homecoming, working the equipment truck, etc., can be applied from September 1, 2025 - August 31, 2026.

• Only 2 hours of service from meeting participation can be earned, if you attend at least 4 meetings (for example working meetings for committees, Board, or officer and chairperson meetings).

       2. Performances

• Non WVU performances such as Children’s Hospital, American Heart Association, festivals, funerals, etc. will count.

If you are interested in being a candidate for the Board, you should complete the candidate form by 5pm, Tuesday, October 13. Nominations from the floor will be accepted during the Annual Meeting. Anyone nominated from the floor will need to complete the candidate form within three (3) days of the Annual Meeting to be considered.

Would you like to serve in another way? Join one of our many committees! You do not have to be a board member to serve. Please click here to complete the sign-up form to participate with the committees.

EVENT DETAILS:

The Board of Directors will meet on Sunday, October 4, 2026 at 7:00pm. Registration is required, and attendance is limited to paid 2026 members. All registrants will receive login details by email on Sunday, October 4, 2026.

Homecoming Weekend is October 16–17. Registration is open for all membership levels! Visit Homecoming 2026 for more information.

If you have not yet paid your 2026 membership dues, click here to submit your payment. Please Allow up to 24 hours for your payment to process.

Once your account is updated, you will be able to register for Homecoming 2026 events here. The correct registration for your membership level will automatically appear once your membership status is updated.

Questions? Email info@wvualumniband.org.

Wine Tasting Membership Event

Join us for an afternoon of wine, conversation, and community at Antietam Creek Vineyards. This event is open to all members and their guests, including alumni who may be reconnecting with us this year.

• Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026
• Time: Noon – 4:00 PM
• Location: 4835 Branch Ave, Sharpsburg, MD 21782
• Cost: Each person is responsible for their own costs and fees associated with wine flights, traditional tastings, or other purchases. The Alumni Band is not collecting any payments or fees for this event.

Tasting Options

Guests may choose from two tasting experiences offered by the vineyard:

• Wine Flights ($15–$17) Includes three 3‑oz pours of your choice. Flights may be taken to your seat to enjoy at your leisure.

• Traditional Tasting ($13) Includes six 0.5‑oz pours of selected wines. Traditional tastings are conducted standing at the bar.

Food & Beverage Guidelines

• No outside alcohol is permitted on the property.

• Guests are welcome to bring a picnic lunch or snacks of their choosing to enjoy during the event.

Staying Overnight

For those interested in making a weekend of it, here are a few nearby lodging options:

• Inn at Antietam - https://www.innatantietam.com/
• Jacob Rohrbach Inn - https://jacob-rohrbach-inn.com/the-inn/
• Bavarian Inn - https://www.bavarianinnwv.com/

Please complete the registration form to reserve your spot. We look forward to sharing a relaxing afternoon together at the vineyard.

Friday, September 4, 2026

6:00 - 10:00pm

Erickson Alumni Center

1 Alumni Drive

Morgantown, WV 26506

Proceeds Support The Pride of WV

Ticket Link: https://bit.ly/4wTipC0

Buy your tickets today!

Get ready for a night of fun, food, live music, and fantastic prizes all in support of The Pride of WV! For $85, your ticket includes a buffet dinner and entry into our $1,000 reverse‑lottery elimination drawing. Our online auction kicks off August 11th (https://bit.ly/3UdC5St), and we’ll have raffles and giveaways happening throughout the evening.

Plus—you won’t want to miss our surprise guest emcee!

Remember: in an elimination dinner, the last ticket drawn wins the $1,000 grand prize. Attendance is not required to win.

This is a 21+ event. Don’t miss your chance to be part of an exciting night for a great cause.

We’re excited to launch this year’s fundraiser to provide a special catered meal for the 2026 Pride members during band camp. Donations will cover Colasante’s Ristorante & Pub catering, drinks, desserts, and all supplies. Our goal is $5,000.

This year’s fundraiser is also part of our Band Section Challenge—every donation counts toward your section’s total. Encourage your section to participate and help win the 2026 bragging rights!

How You Can Help

• Make a monetary donation (any amount helps!) at: https://2026-pride-band-picnic-copy.cheddarup.com
• Donate drinks or become a business/organization sponsor (contact Rebecca Campbell at RebeccaCampbell@wvualumniband.org)

To keep donations secure and convenient, we’re using Cheddar Up. Please note that credit card processing fees will be passed along to donors so all contributed funds go directly toward the meal.

All funds raised support this event, and any remaining balance will help cover future meals for The Pride.

Volunteer Help Needed

We’re looking for volunteers to assist with the 2026 Pride Band Picnic on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at the WVU Innovation Corporation (781 Chestnut Ridge Road, Morgantown). Help is needed between 4:00–7:00 PM for setup, food service, and clean‑up.

• Amount Raised by CCAM - $27,500
• Participation Leaderboard - $17,500
• Most Gifts 12am - $2,000
• Most Gifts 9am - $2,000
• Most Alumni Gifts 10am - $3,000
• Most Gifts 1pm - $2,000
• Largest Gift 2pm - $3,000
• Most Faculty and Staff Gifts 3pm - $3,000
• Most Alumni Gifts 5pm - $2,000
• Most Gifts 6pm - $1,000
• Most Friend Gifts 7pm - $2,000
• Most Gifts 9pm - $1,000
• Most Gifts 10pm - $3,000
• Most Gifts 11pm - $2,000

Challenge bonus total: $71,000

Because of your strategic giving, we turned our $42k in donations into $113k! This means every $1 donated turned into $2.69!

The February membership meeting of the WVU Alumni Band, Inc. will be held virtually (Zoom) on Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 7:00pm. Registration is required and you must be a paid 2025/2026 member with one of the following memberships to attend:

• Hail West
• Fight Mountaineers
• Country Roads
• Don and Kaye Jean Wilcox

An email with login information will be sent to all registrants on February 15, 2026.

Guest Presenter: Andrea "Andi" Hasley, Assistant Director of Development at the WVU College of Creative Arts and Media, will present information about the 2026 WVU Day of Giving in March and various ways alumna can provide financial gifts to WVU. 

To our WVU Band Alumni:

We're excited to announce the 2026 membership year launch. The Board approved the 2026 budget and membership dues on January 11, 2026. Please be sure to review the details.

We have some exciting events being planned for our members in 2026! Visit our website and regularly review our Event Calendar to stay up-to-date on all of the organizational activities this year.

For 2026, we offer five membership levels and membership prices remain unchanged from last year:

• Pep Band: $10 plus the purchase of the official Navy Pep Band T-shirt ($29.95 Merchandise Store). This level is for those interested in pep band performances only. It does not include voting rights or participation in member events, such as homecoming.
• Hail West: Free for first-year members who participated in their final season with The Pride during the fall of 2025. Includes pep band events, voting rights, membership meetings and committee participation, exclusive content, and a name badge with your membership level at homecoming.
• Fight Mountaineers: $50/year ($40 if paid by March 31). Includes pep band events, voting rights, membership meetings and committee participation, exclusive content, and a name badge with your membership level at homecoming.
• Country Roads: $100/year. Includes Fight Mountaineers benefits, $20 merchandise refund, member event discounts, early homecoming registration, and a $10 donation to Pride Fundraising.
• Don & Kaye Jean Wilcox: $150/year for two members at the same address. Includes Country Roads benefits for one member and Fight Mountaineers for the second, plus special couples packages.

For details, see our member benefits page. A Q&A session about the membership levels is coming soon. To join and pay dues, please click here. Login required for payment access.

Membership dues cover our core operating expenses, such as storage, insurance, IT services, accounting, and office supplies. As a reminder, event fees, like those collected for homecoming, are used exclusively for event-related member costs.

You can pay dues electronically or by check (see mailing address below). For questions about your membership, contact info@wvualumniband.org; for payment issues, reach out to the Bursar at TheresaSmith@wvualumniband.org.

We look forward to a great year with the WVU Alumni Band and hope to see you at upcoming events! If you have questions, ideas, or want to get involved, connect with any Board or committee member (listed under “About Us” > “Board of Directors” or “Committees” on our website). To join a committee, please click here and fill out our form. A committee chairperson will be in touch.

Sincerely,

Officers and Board of Directors, WVU Alumni Band, Inc., 2026.

WVU Alumni Band, Inc.

WVU Alumni Association

PO Box 4269

Morgantown, WV 26504

The Officers and Committee Chairs will meet on Sunday, January 11, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The purpose of this meeting is to review monthly reports and address any matters arising from the committees. Following this, the Board of Directors will meet at 7:00 PM for their annual budget meeting. 

Registration is required for both meetings, and attendance is limited to paid 2025 members. All registrants will receive login details by email on Sunday, January 11, 2026.