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10-14-03 Another month has passed, and the Pep Band continues to
thrill and amaze with its resilience and fortitude under challenging
circumstances. Friends of the Virginia Pep Band (FVPB) is also playing a
significant role boosting the Pep Band's activities. Here's the latest:
*** FVPB SPONSORS PRE-GAME EVENT AT UVA'S HOMECOMING ON OCT. 25 ***
Prior to the UVA v. Troy State game in Charlottesville on October 25 (UVA's
Homecoming), FVPB is hosting a pre-game get together for all Pep Band
alumni and supporters near Scott Stadium! The event will be from 12:00
p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 120A Harmon Street. (Harmon Street is directly off
of Stadium Road. Go to
www.mapquest.com and type in the address to see how close this is to
Scott Stadium!) We will have plenty of beverages and some food (burgers
and dogs). Come meet current members of FVPB as well as other Pep Band
alumni and supporters who drop by!!! Plenty of Pep Band stories will be
shared, old friendships renewed, and ideas discussed about what we can
do to get the Pep Band back into Scott Stadium! For a modest donation,
you can also receive the official FVPB t-shirt!
If you love the Virginia Pep Band, this is the *only* place to be at
Homecoming!!!
Plus, the Pep Band will appear and give us an exclusive performance!!!
Important: There will be *no* parking near 120A Harmon Street. You'll
have to park at the designated areas for football games. However, 120A
Harmon Street is only a block or two from Stadium Road near Scott
Stadium. Also, if inclement weather occurs, the event will be canceled.
If you want to come (and we hope you do), PLEASE RSVP by sending an
e-mail to friends@orangevest.org
by October 21, 2003. (We need to know how much food and drink to
procure!) Thanks to FVPB Board member Bryan Smouther for spear heading
the effort to organize this event.
Pep band alums are encouraged to wear their vests to the game.
*** PEP BAND PERFORMS SHOW AT UPENN!!! ***
Many said that it could not be done, but we have kept the streak alive!
For the 29th consecutive year, the Pep Band has written and performed a
scramble show at halftime of an intercollegiate football game. Thanks to
a gracious invitation from our friends at the University of Pennsylvania
Band (a scramble band like our Pep Band), the Pep Band put on a TERRIFIC
show at the Penn-Bucknell game in Philly this past Saturday. Pep Band
members were thrilled to stretch their legs and roam the open plains of
the gridiron. The show was well received by the Penn audience.
To review the script and check out some pictures, go to the Penn Band
website at
http://dolphin.upenn.edu/%7Epennband/. Click on the link about the
Pep Band's October 11 appearance.
The Pep Band's appearance at Penn would not have been possible without
the efforts of FVPB Board member Ed Hardy. By sheer coincidence, Ed
moved to Philadelphia in August for an internship at a public relations
firm. He then joined the Penn Band and laid the groundwork for the Penn
Band's extraordinary invitation to the Pep Band to both write and
perform a show. Thanks, Ed!!!
*** WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE FEATURES PEP BAND ***
The Washington Post ran its long awaited article on the Pep Band's
efforts to survive and thrive in the aftermath of the $1.5 million
dollar donation to start the marching band. The full page article
appeared on page B3 of the Post's Metro section on October 11, 2003, and
featured three pictures of the Pep Band playing in the parking lot of
Scott Stadium before the UVA v. Duke game earlier this year. One of the
pictures appeared on the first page of the Metro section and directed
readers to the article inside. The article depicts the Pep Band as a
scrappy and resourceful student organization doing what it takes to
stick around and mentions that FVPB is raising funds and advocating for
the Pep Band's return to Scott Stadium.
If you missed the article, go to FVPB's website (orangevest.org) and
click on our "Press Coverage" link (where we have every article written
about the Pep Band since April). The Washington Post article is at the
top of the page. [A HUGE thanks to Amy Forestell (another FVPB Board
member) for making our website look *awesome* and keeping it
up-to-date!!!]
*** FVPB NOVA RALLY FOR THE PEP BAND A SUCCESS ***
Despite the fact that it was held two days after Hurricane Isabel hit
the D.C. area, FVPB's Northern Virginia rally for the Pep Band was a big
success! Even though the entire area (including the house where we had
the event!) was without power and water, more than 70 people attended
the event and FVPB raised more than $550 for the Pep Band. A contingent
of the Pep Band drove more than two-hours from Charlottesville to share
in the festivities and play us some tunes (they sounded GREAT!). Thanks
to Bruce Swenson (a Pep Band alum and FVPB supporter) for donating the
use of his house and pool for the event. Bruce: You are a true friend of
the Virginia Pep Band!
*** NEW MARCHING BAND DIRECTOR MEETS WITH PEP BAND DIRECTOR SCOTT HAYES
***
About two weeks ago, Scott Hayes, the current student Director of the
Pep Band, met with Bill Pease, the new faculty Director of the Cavalier
Marching Band recently hired by UVA. Mr. Pease will be coming to UVA
from Western Michigan University at the conclusion of the football
season. Mr. Pease said that he was open to the idea of the Pep Band
playing at future non-revenue sports (which is a lot more than the Band
can do now). The Pep Band has been asked to consider working with Mr.
Pease in the role of a faculty advisor. Nothing has been finalized. This
meeting was the first of many that will surely follow. In the meantime,
Mr. Pease was in town to recruit for the basketball band that he will be
directing this winter at UVA basketball games.
*** FVPB TO MEET WITH ATHLETIC DIRECTOR LITTLEPAGE ***
In response to an FVPB request, UVA's Athletic Director Craig Littlepage
has agreed to meet with us in Charlottesville on October 17. We will
introduce Mr. Littlepage to our group and make our case for the
continued presence of the Pep Band at future UVA athletic events. We'll
let you know how it goes.
*** FVPB TAX EXEMPT UPDATE ***
In early September, FVPB submitted its application to the Internal
Revenue Service for status as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. We
have received correspondence from the IRS that our application has been
received and is being reviewed. We expect to hear from the IRS in
another two-to-four months. If our application is approved, all
donations made to FVPB since June 1, 2002 (including donations received
now!!!) will be tax deductible. We are maintaining a list of all
contributors, and we will contact you once we hear from the IRS.
*** FVPB AND PEP BAND ENTER AGREEMENT REGARDING USE OF FUNDS ***
The Pep Band and FVPB have reached a written agreement establishing
procedures to be followed when the Pep Band requests a grant of funds
from FVPB. The agreement includes mechanisms intended to ensure that all
FVPB grants are used to fund approved performance-related needs of the
Pep Band, such as travel to performances, instrument repair and
replacement, uniforms, and music.
*** ANY QUESTIONS? DROP US A LINE! ***
If any of you want to know where FVPB has been or where its going,
please feel free to drop me a line. You can e-mail me at
president@orangevest.org.
I'll be happy to respond to any comments or questions you may have.
*** THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT ***
Finally, *thank you* for your continued interest in and support of the
Virginia Pep Band. The Pep Band is doing great things under extremely
difficult circumstances for any band, especially one that relies
entirely on student leadership. We have been told several times by the
Band's leaders that they are glad we're behind them and that they are
motivated to carry on the Pep Band tradition that so many of us have
participated in or enjoyed since the 1970s. They appreciate our
financial support, which is enabling the Band to travel to New York City
for a performance at the Columbia-Harvard football game on November 8th.
In short, WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE!!!
If you know any other Pep Band supporters (it doesn't matter if they
were in the Pep Band or even went to UVA), please tell them about FVPB
and encourage them to join our list of supporters by e-mailing
friends@orangevest.org.
We hope to see you at the pre-game Homecoming event on October 25th. If
you want to attend, don't forget to send us a one-line e-mail RSVP to
friends@orangevest.org.
Viva la Pep Band!!!
--Dave Black
President, FVPB
Pep Band '91
www.orangevest.org
president@orangevest.org
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