The Antwerp Marching Band Uniforms are officially on ORDER!! This is exciting news for the band members past and present … and future. The order was placed on September 13, 2018. The purchase has been a long time coming for the Antwerp Band department.
The current marching band uniforms were new to the Antwerp Band in 1993 … yes I said 1993. If you do the math, the students have been using these same uniforms for 25 years! That is one and a half times past their life expectancy as usually schools replace their uniforms every 10 years. Every summer, the band director coordinates schedules with the Music Boosters appointed seamstress, at present it has been Tracey O’Donnell, for appropriate alterations and repairs to the uniforms. More and more often mending to the aging uniforms has become impossible as the fabric is getting too weak to hold up with the constant movement of the band members.
In the spring of 2016, band director, Andrea Newell began doing research for new uniforms. This venture brought about surprises — each part of the uniform is priced separately. For example, the plume for the hats are priced apart from the hats themselves, and even the metal plates for the front of the hats is charged separately! A few contacts of Newell’s was consulted in the quote seeking process as well as conferring with the companies’ representatives.
Once the style of uniform was chosen, the price quote was requested, and then the work began. Mrs. Newell spear-headed all of the fundraising campaigns for these new uniforms with the support and help of the Music Boosters. The spring flower sales and silent auctions at the spring Arts Festival as well as the Donation Drive brochure that was sent out into the community businesses and residents were the driving forces that has earned the Band the $30,000 to pay for the new uniforms.
Since the order has been placed, the current band members have been measured and a total of 55 uniforms were ordered. New raincoats, complete with the school name, were also ordered for the band members. The new uniforms should be delivered just in time for the Marching Band’s trip to Disney in April 2019 that has been on the calendar since their last trip in 2015.
This project could not have been accomplished without the overwhelming support of the community at large. Newell is so thankful for the support she received in this project. “The community support on this project has been phenomenal. For a school this size to raise $30,000 in 2 years… it just goes to show the kind of support we have here.” stated Newell. The members of the Music Boosters were also a large contributor to executing the fundraiser organization – ie. set up, soliciting, and collecting Silent Auction donations and sale; and the pick up day for the flower sales.
The Antwerp Marching Band and Mrs. Newell would like to recognize the businesses, organizations, and individuals who contributed to the purchase of the new band uniforms.
Platinum donors ($500+) – Antwerp Community Band Inc., Antwerp Community Development Committee, APT Manufacturing, Dooley Funeral Home, Ronald D. Eschbach-Antwerp Exchange Bank, Paragon Tempered Glass, VFW Post 5087, Joseph Wenzlick, 2018 Senior Class
Gold donors ($250-$499) – Bob & Doris Hawley, Mounty Calvary Lutheran Church, Sarah J. Mowery DDS, Roger & Sandy Sanders, Wholesale House Inc.
Silver ($100-$249) – Antwerp Academic Boosters, Steve & Susan Arnold, Black Swamp Arbor, Don & Jeanine Leckrone, Donna Miller, Marsha & Don Oberlin
Bronze ($10-$99) – Farnsworth Silkscreening, Genesis House, H&H Cleaners, Chris & Normal Hounshell, K&S Tumblefit, Attorney Floyd A. Ramsier, Angel & Bryce Steiner, Max & Marilyn Zuber
