News

Dear Member:

I hope this finds each of you healthy during this difficult time. I have updates that I would like to share.

It is with great sadness that I announce that the Board of Directors has voted to cancel Homecoming 2020 events. This has been a difficult decision and not one that any of us take lightly.  After many conversations with both Athletics and the band office, it was determined that hosting events this year is not possible. We won’t be able to host a party, be allowed on the field, or have use of the CAC at all. With the current orders in place by the Governor of WV, the parade is also highly unlikely. Also, seating availability at the stadium can’t be confirmed for an organization of our size.

We graciously ask that you consider applying monies that you would have used for Homecoming toward our Adopt-A-Dot campaign. The Pride isn't traveling this season, and the band office has assured us the travel fund is stable. Monetary donations would greatly benefit the new practice facility construction as well. For more information about the practice facility or to purchase a dot, please go to https://give.wvu.edu/pridepracticefacility.

Finally, if you haven't paid your 2020 dues, please do so as soon as you are able. We rely on that money to pay for our website, storage unit, insurance, and startup money for fundraising events, as well as 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 me at president@wvualumniband.org. 

Thank you! Stay safe and see you in 2021! 

Mary Lechliter King
President, 2019-2020 WVU Alumni Band, Inc.
Morgantown, WV 

Adopt-A-Dot

Pride Practice Facility Campaign

The Officers and Board of Directors have announced a new fundraising campaign called "Adopt-A-Dot" in support of the WVU Pride Practice Facility.  Please read the announcement on the homepage to learn how you can participate!  

 Please read the latest news concerning the Pride practice facility and upcoming fundraising opportunities.

Pride Practice Facility_Updates and Fundraising Opportunities_4302020.pdf

Please read the press release at WVU TODAY about the Pride practice facility.

https://wvutoday.wvu.edu/stories/2019/11/11/wvu-seeks-to-build-pride-of-west-virginia-practice-facility

Our 50th Anniversary Homecoming is a story of growth, evolution, diversity, inclusion...and most importantly Magic and Love. Some things NEVER change...and we are ALL uniquely blessed by that extraordinary constant.

The Pregame drill we all know by heart was written by Don Wilcox around 1975 to both accommodate a growing organization and as a gift of love to former students so they would continue to feel a dose of the magic. For over 40 years, the drill has not changed except to “amoeba” the pictures to accommodate larger numbers of returning veterans. Old folks run around with paper charts (GASP) and try to squeeze countless more bodies into the original wVu. It’s getting crowded out there.

Over the years, many folks have mentioned not just the need to tweak the traditional drill to accommodate our growth, but the wish we could somehow be even more integrated with The Pride during pregame. Both the Board of Directors and the Band Office have shared the same vision. For over a year, the BOD brainstormed ideas to make our 50^th Anniversary extra special at pregame.  After many discussions with the Band Office, we were all able to make that dream of performing with The Pride and perform Simple Gifts come true. 

Thanks to Dr. Scott Tobias, who took on the challenge of writing a massive drill for approximately 700 bodies, and Dr. Stephen Lytle, who collaborated with him and took on the challenge of modifying The Pride’s pregamedrill...and has the personal courage to believe we can pull it off and lead this massive effort with a little over an hour of Alumni Band drill setting and no joint rehearsal beforehand.

The Pride and the WVU Alumni Band will field a joint pregame show never seen before.  Friends, I’ve had a chance to see the drill...in motion...on the fancy cell phone app the kids use these days. It’s Brilliant. I’m telling you here and now...THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT!!!!!

As I’ve grown older these last few years, I’ll admit the thought of the run on and then having the ability to execute the downfield medley has given me pause. I know many of you share those concerns, but Wild Horses Could Not Keep Me Off The Field This Year.  So, my friends please take a second look at the music downloads on our website and make sure you have ALL of the tunes printed.

Contributed by: Ellen Ramey

Happy 50th!! What better way to celebrate our 50th Anniversary than by being together with friends who are now family!! We have come a long way in 50 years.  Here's to our next 50!

We have had a busy year.  We were invited back to march in the Pittsburgh St. Patrick's Day Parade.  Members had a wonderful time and we plan to attend again in the future.

Additionally, we have been working all year long on many projects. Wanda Hembree, Dave O'Neal, and I went to the Alumni Band Symposium in Seattle Washington. We were invited to share our experiences as being a long running alumni band program.  I went with the attitude that we have our stuff together and, look at us, we give The Pride $5,000 each year. Well, let me tell you, I was blown out of the water by what Ohio State, Wisconsin, Texas, Florida, Georgia and others give to their bands. They have budgets that are in the MILLIONS - yes, you read that right. I just couldn't believe it. So, if they can raise that kind to money, so can we!!

We got so many great ideas from all the Universities that attended. Fundraising was a topic of interest for us as The Pride begins its journey to erect a new practice facility.  We received great tips for forming area pep bands to play for hire at parties, tailgates, weddings, birthday parties, and funerals. You name it, we can play it! We will be in need of many people to help coordinate this project as we want to have groups prepared to play all across the country!  More information will be coming out soon about how you can participate.    

We are also in the early stages of planning a WVU Alumni Band, Inc. Gala event.  There will be so many new ways for members to volunteer in support of The Pride while enjoying time with our extended band family.  Watch for email announcements and updates on our website as new events develop (www.wvualumniband.org). 

If you have any other questions, please feel free to email me. I'm looking forward to seeing all of you at Homecoming!! 

Sincerely,

Mary

Mary Lechliter King, President (2018-2019)

WVU Alumni Band, Inc.

president@wvualumniband.org

Greetings and welcome to the 49th WVU Alumni Band, Inc. Homecoming!

We have had a busy year. We participated in the Pittsburgh St. Patrick's Day Parade, WVU Alumni Basketball game and a group went on an International Tour.

We have been invited back to the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Pittsburgh for 2019. If there is something that you would like to participate in, please let us know. We have found that events over the holidays don’t work for our members, so please keep that in mind.

I would like to welcome our new band director, Steven Lytle, to our Pride Family.  I have had the chance to meet him in person. He is very excited to have an alumni band to work with and has some ideas for us.  We are looking forward to working with him more in the future. We will keep you posted on any upcoming projects/ideas.

Registration for 2018 WVU Homecoming events will open Monday September 3^rd.  Please be sure to read the official notice that will be sent out by email announcing registration.

I can't wait to see all of you for our Homecoming Weekend! Safe travels to all, and see you October 5^th & 6^th, 2018!

Mary Lechliter King, President (2017-2018)

WVU 2018 Homecoming weekend will begin Friday October 5th with the annual parade.  Saturday, Oct. 6th the Mountaineers take on the Kansas Jayhawks.  Time to be determined.

The Big 12 Conference has announced that WVU’s Saturday, Oct. 14, Big 12 Conference football game against Texas Tech at Milan Puskar Stadium will be televised on ESPNU at noon ET.

SCHEDULE -  Game is NOON Kick-Off 

• 7:00-8:00 AM- Pick up your registration packet, and music at the CAC, across the road from the WVU Coliseum. Breakfast will be available (scrambled egg bar, home fries, muffins, fruit, and more). If you plan to register on Saturday, please arrive early. Cash and check only for registration payments. A $35 late fee applies to late registrations.
• 7:15-7:45 AM– The equipment truck is open on the practice field. Don't be late; volunteers arrive on time.
• 7:45-8:00 AM- Practice Field - Brief meeting with the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Alumni Band members in attendance.
• 8:00-9:30 AM– On-field marching and music rehearsal with drill. Don’t be late and be prepared for a fast-paced rehearsal; those who’ve not checked in by 10:30am are subject to losing their spots and tickets may be reassigned if needed.
• 9:30-10:00 AM– Members are encouraged to stay for brief awards presentations; we’ll also sing the Alma Mater and make last minute announcements about the stadium before breaking prior to pre-game. Unclaimed tickets will be redistributed at this time.
• 10:00-11:00 PM- Eat lunch and walk, take the shuttle bus, or hitch a ride to the football stadium following rehearsal. The Shuttle Bus is an economical and reliable way to get to and from the stadium. Enter the stadium via the Southwest tunnel gate.
• Please be prepared to enter the field starting at 11:00 AM. The Southwest tunnel entrance (Press Box Side) will close at 11:30 AM. Remember you will be checked for ticket, wrist band and there will be a bag check. NO CASES ARE ALLOWED.  Game time kick-off is at NOON.
• 11:45 AM - ?- After performing pre-game, we’ll watch the WVU Band perform from the sidelines. Please remember to move out of the team bench area as soon as the National Anthem and Alma Matter conclude. Move off the field immediately and into the Southwest tunnel to exit to go to your seats. WVU athletics wants us off the field as soon as we finish.  During the game, we’ll help the WVU Band play fight songs and short tunes from the stands.

If you have not paid your dues and need the paper registration, please email the Webmaster at webmaster@wvualumniband.org.