Tau Beta Sigma – Theta Chapter Report for NDC Convention 2000

Service Report:

The sisters of Theta have really focused on service both to our band at the University of Cincinnati and to the general Cincinnati Community. While we tried to think of new projects to try this year, we also kept some of our old ones that just keep the band running smoothly. These include helping to move pit equipment before and after practices and games, and keeping our band lounge area clean. We also set aside one Sunday to do a major cleaning of the band lounge, with out brothers of Upsilon. Another old project that we do is to buy flowers for our alumni during the Homecoming game. Each alumnus gets a corsage from the band and the sisters are always in charge of making sure that process runs smoothly.

Our biggest project this year was accomplished with the help of our brothers. Theta and Upsilon organized and moved the UC band to our new band room. Both the old room and the new one had to be cleaned, the instruments and other equipment moved, the shelves reassembled and some minor reconstruction took place. This was a great project that had us all working together and we managed to get it all done in one day!

Because bands need music, an area of great focus for Theta is the band’s music system. This year the candidates have successfully reorganized our music library to make the finding of music more efficient for our director. They also catalogued what pieces were complete and what scores had missing parts. Along with the new music system, Theta helped the music librarians prepare for this year’s season. This summer, members of Theta and Upsilon spent many hours assembling flip folders and making copies of music, so that all UC band members could take home their music during our first summer rehearsal. All of these efforts have definitely paid off and we now have a very efficient music library.

The last type of service Theta did this year involved the community. We tried a new project called “Bears and Bunnies” in which we made stuffed animals to take to the local police station. Officers were then able to take these animals to scenes where small children might be present. These animals offer a sense of calmness to often very upset children. We also continue to help keep Clifton clean by doing “Adopt-A-Block” once a month, and by participating in “Into the Streets”, where volunteers are sent to different sites in the Cincinnati area to help clean up. Another new project was volunteering at “Dress For Success.” With the sister of Delta Epsilon at Miami University, we went to downtown Cincinnati and helped to collect business clothing for low income women who will be interviewing for a job soon. This agency provides suits at no cost to the women, so that they may have a better chance of getting a job. This last project that we are starting is working on music badges with local girl scout troops. We have worked wit one brownie troop and have more set up. The sisters prepare the station for the girl scouts and in one meeting help them to accomplish their badge.

Overall, our projects have been very successful. Attendance has really increased this year and we have been able to accomplish service in a variety of areas.

Finance Report:

As an active chapter whose main purpose is to provide service to the UC band, the Theta chapter must raise money and use it wisely. Each year, we provide the band with a significant amount of money to operate as well as keeping our chapter financially stable. The funding we use is provided by two main sources: chapter dues and fundraising.

Chapter dues provide money for the day to day operations of the Theta chapter, the executive committee issues a budget for the year. An example of items included in this budget may include office supplies, retreat, committee funds, and membership activites. The amount of money that was needed this year was total of $38 per active member.

The candidates of 2000 are also required to pay dues to help us fund all of the activities. This year, the candidates were asked to pay $120. This amount included the national dues, chapter dues, and miscellaneous items that were purchased by the chapter during the membership quarter.

Fundraising is done each quarter when active member of the Theta chapter participate in many different fundraisers proposed by the Fundraising Committee. Oktoberfest is held in late August at Germania park and counted as a Summer 1999. This fundraiser allows the chapter to sell bingo tickets to the people attending. This year, we made $250. This is a fundraiser that we are asked to do every year by the Germania Society. The majority of the chapter attended and allowed for another great year.

Fall of 1999 included three different fundraisers. The Crown is a sports arean in the Cincinnati area that hosts lots of programs for the Greater Cincinnati area. At the Crown, the chapter works the concession stand for some events such as hockey games and concerts. This fundraiser is a reoccurring event that we do every quarter. Depending on the days that the events are happening determines our participation because the chapter has a busy schedule. This is the second year that we have been a part of this program. Currently, we have made $300. We plan on continuing this fundraiser throughout the year, and increasing our knowledge and ability to work concession.

A new fundraiser in the chapter was the sale of Mighty Ducks tickets. The Mighty Ducks are a hockey team who reside in Cincinnati. We sold tickets to family, friends, and fellow band members for a great night of social engagement. The profits earned on the fundraiser were less than $50. This fundraiser was not as successful as we would have like it to have been, but we have learned a lot from this fundraiser and will hopefully be able to try again.

The recruiting of students to fill out credit card application was the last fundraiser that we did fall quarter. Cincinnati’s cold weather did not help us out. The chapter decided to solicit to friends and classmates instead of recruiting outside. The organization of the company we worked with was not the best, but we still made a profit of $50. We hope to try this again in spring, if the rain holds up.

Winter of 2000 was the time for penny wars, which is a great fundraiser to get the band and chapter involved. The way that penny wars work is the section with the most pennies in their jars will be able to put a pie in the face of their section leader at the last band practice of the quarter March, 1, 2000. The trick is, other sections can put silver coins and dollar bills into a sections jar and take away points. It is a fun contest to get the band involved and promotes section spirit. The profit of this fundraiser will not be determined until March 1, 2000, but at the present moment, the Trumpets are winning.

Each year Theta sells some type of love for Valentine’s Day. This year we sold candy. The fundraiser is not a big money maker, about $30, but it is a fun way to “treat” our fellow members.

For the last three years, the Joint Fundraising committee (JFC) has been working hard to provide money for the joint bank account between Upsilon and Theta. This account is used for the moneys needed to supply both Upsilon and Theta support to the UC band. This account is a purely fundraising account and no one pays dues. This year there are two fundraisers that the joint chapter will perform.

With the joint efforts of Upsilon, we sold LaRosa’s Buddy Cards. These are pocket size cards that offer people a buy one gte one free deal. We sold these from the beginning of the school year until October. With the hard work of both chapters, we made $400.

Mulch is the biggest fundraiser for the joint chapter. This annual fundraiser provides us with hard work and good profits. Last year, it provided over $1000 to the joint account. We were able to us this money to help pay for the new Tubas and to allow the band dues to be cut by $10 making them $35 for the year. The delivery date for this year will be April 14 and 15.

Social Report:

Before this school year even began we were planning things to do for the UC Band. One of the first social activities we plan is lunch! The UC band usually has tow mini-band camps before the big band camp. These mini-camps are on campus and are usually the first time the new members have ever been to Cincinnati. So, instead of just setting them free for lunch in an unknown city, we provide lunch for the entire band and this not only allows us to get to know them better, but it gives them a sense of comfort around us. Another social help is that most of us house out-of-towners, since the dorms do not open by the time our band begins, and we all pick a night to go bowling. Although this is not a Tau Beta Sigma only activity, the participation lies largely with Tau Beta Sigma and kappa Kappa Psi. Once the school year begins we get a head start on membership socials. These membership socials are announced to the entire band at least a week ahead of time and some of the past themes of these socials are Hot Fudge Night, Potato Pig Out, Noon Tea, Bring Your Own Dessert, etc. These socials are Tau Beta Sigma sponsored and give any new members who are interested in joining our chapter the opportunity to ask us any questions they may have about us. Ths one social that is done jointly with Kappa Kappa Psi is Monty Carlo Night. No real money is involved, it is just a time to get together and play cards and other Vegas games for poker chips and door prizes. A great project that keeps the social waves open between Tau Beta Sigma and the band is Birthday Cards. We have someone that is in charge of writing birthday cards to each and every member of the UC Band. The recipients of these cards are always a surprise and very thankful and in some cases it really does open up the social communication waves in individuals who are a little shyer. Something else that we have done just recently was a service project called “Dress for Success” in conjunction with Delta Epsilon. After the initial contact with them face-to-face we have decided to up relations with them, especially since they are so close, by planning luncheons and inviting them to spring retreat.

Communication Report:

To start, we keep up with chapter letters to more than just our district. We have each of our members write an update letter to whatever chapter they choose and send them out at the end of each quarter. The fall set of letters was mailed, but the winter set, at press time, aren’t even due yet, so chapters can be expecting those in the near future. Another item that gets sent out every quarter are the Quarter Notes. This is a Theta and Upsilon joint publication for the inclusion of our alumni. We like for them to participate as much as possible and the quarter notes give us a special opportunity to keep them informed. Our web page is an excellent vehicle of communication. It has recently been changed and continues to be updated with information about our chapter and a copy of our calendar. Football season allowed communication to the visiting team’s bands and to school’s that we visited with the team. The Miami University game was in Miami this year and communication was great between us. They gave us a lovely frame with their chapter picture in it and room for our chapter picture too. In exchange, we made a little stuffed bear for them with a Theta and a Delta Epsilon stitched into the back. I’m sure everyone is aware that we also got to travel to Ohio State for a game. For this we bought a plain glass cookie jar and decorated it with blue puffy paint, including the year, and a Theta and a Chi to mark this special date. To any visiting bands that come to us, which included Indiana University (go Rho girls!) and University of Alabama-Birmingham (Eta Lambda ladies), we always give them food because we know how long road trips can be! We have also recently created a list-serv that will help everyone get contact with anyone in Theta quickly.

Expansion:

The Theta chapter focuses mainly on recruiting for our bands, internal chapter retention, and just recently the development of other musical organizations on campus besides TBS. With band recruiting, members work along side of band council to send out mailings, make visitations to local high schools and help in the production of a new recruiting video. In matters concerning our own active retention, members are permitted to miss two meetings a quarter to work on multiple obligations. Chapter pride is also a concern. In order to increase this, Show and Tell was started at every meeting. Run by the History and Traditions committee, an object is brought in from our archives and a question asked. The question can cover: Theta history, procedures, National history, Band history, etc. This has allowed members to make more of a connection with the past and the importance each of them has on the future of the chapter. Theta has worked with a local chapter, Phi Mu Alpha. Once successful, this will be a music sorority for professional musicians. In the fall, we communicated with this chapter to help them set their priorities and establish exactly what they want the organization to be about. Our next involvement will be in the spring to help organize social and fund-raising opportunities.