How to get Alumni Back for Homecoming

[bgmaggot00]

Other thoughts anyone?

Get me more than ten sick days, two personal days, and a flyer in the mail.

Come to think of it, who would I need to contact to let them know of my current whereabouts when it comes to FMB alum stuff? Anyone? Grazi!

[Rightupinthere]

Other thoughts anyone?

Get me more than ten sick days, two personal days, and a flyer in the mail.

Come to think of it, who would I need to contact to let them know of my current whereabouts when it comes to FMB alum stuff? Anyone? Grazi!

Change your registration through the alumni page on bgsu.edu.

[SaxyIrishTenor]

Just to be clear about the mailing this year, the band administration had nothing to do with it being late.

Whoops, I didn't clarify. You're right Jason. The alumni band knows why and how. It just MUST be corrected.

Fill the rest of us in!

[able1]

Well, it wouldn't really be right to call someone out here on the site about this. I just wanted to clarify that the band administration had nothing to do with the mailing being late. Basically one person within the alumni band board was responsible and dropped the ball...as I understand it. Mistakes happen and I sure don't know the circumstances, so I don't think they should be grilled in public for it. But that's the basic idea of what happened.

As far as relations between alumni and the school, let's face it. It comes down to the fact that for whatever reason, the alumni band and Moss have never had a good relationship. Personally I feel this has gone on long enough and someone needs to step up and bury the hatchet so to speak. I get the feeling that Moss had a hard time coming in and following Chief, as anyone would. I think he wanted to try to get out of his shadow and create his own era. I don't believe that's the best way to look at it. I think he could create his own while still embracing what Kelly had done before him. Let's face it. I don't care who you are, following Kelly could not be an easy thing to do. It seemed to me that he tried to eliminate alot of things that could be credited to Kelly. I think that's why the biggest rift seems to be between him and those of us who were around at about the time Kelly retired and he took over. He deserves credit for any part he had in bringing in Carol and helping her rebuild the band to what it is now. I would love to see relations between him and the alumni improve, I just don't know what the first step needs to be. Silly as it sounds, the buffo idea would be a huge gesture. I'm not sure what we as alumni could do if we were the ones to take the first step.

[Rightupinthere]

Just to be clear about the mailing this year, the band administration had nothing to do with it being late.

Whoops, I didn't clarify. You're right Jason. The alumni band knows why and how. It just MUST be corrected.

Fill the rest of us in!

It was nothing really. The person heading the newsletter for the past 16 years was not longer involved. A lot of this person's activities were taken for granted (or "granite" if you MACMAN). This year was uncharted territory for few folks and therefore, a hefty learning curve was experienced.

Again, no big deal. It still needs to be corrected, but I have all faith that it will be. I still believe the newsletter should get out in August and not the mid to latter part of September.

[SaxyIrishTenor]

Just to be clear about the mailing this year, the band administration had nothing to do with it being late.

Whoops, I didn't clarify. You're right Jason. The alumni band knows why and how. It just MUST be corrected.

Fill the rest of us in!

It was nothing really. The person heading the newsletter for the past 16 years was not longer involved. A lot of this person's activities were taken for granted (or "granite" if you MACMAN). This year was uncharted territory for few folks and therefore, a hefty learning curve was experienced.

Again, no big deal. It still needs to be corrected, but I have all faith that it will be. I still believe the newsletter should get out in August and not the mid to latter part of September.

Knowing the reason makes me less bitter. Thank you.

[MACAttackCat]

I hope you all have a good turn out of alumni band members this year! Every year, OU brings back at least 200 band alums; this year we had a little over 250 come back and march. Our alumni website has all kinds of communcation portals to keep in touch with everyone and let them know the upcoming events and such. Perhaps those in charge could work with you guys in setting up something similar. It's VERY important to have connections to old members, it's always been a great tradition with us - the ability for current members to mingle and meet the founding members of the band. That should be shared with EVERY band out there.

The address to our alumni site is: http://www.ohiou.edu/marching110/OUMBSAF/INDEX.HTML

Check it out, and see if you can find some ideas, or even email the webmaster - I am sure they would be more than willing to help you all out! Good luck and keep truckin'!

[Ohiogal]

thank you so much for the input! Great site too!

[Rabbit]

I think an alumni band site would be fun...especially a place (forum/whatnot) to reconnect with old friends. There are a million people from the old FMB I'd like to say hi to and find out what they are doing now...and would make me more likely to come back for alumni band if I knew they would be there.

[Falcon30]

I think an alumni band site would be fun...especially a place (forum/whatnot) to reconnect with old friends. There are a million people from the old FMB I'd like to say hi to and find out what they are doing now...and would make me more likely to come back for alumni band if I knew they would be there.

Boy - an RSVP page would be a great idea!

If the 1998 flag line ever came back....

[Rightupinthere]

There is a website which is being worked on as I type this. The university has agreed to host the site.

It's only a matter of getting with the University's IT department and launching it. I imagine there will be something in place by spring, but that's only my guess.

[Falcon30]

As an alum, I would love to feel welcomed back. I don't want to be a nuisance, nor do I want to feel like one. Don't have an alumni band just to have one. Use it as an opportunity to enhance the connection we alums all feel about BGSU.

You touch on something here. I didn't really feel like a nuisance. I felt more like my presence was an "inconvenience."

I wonder how homecoming is explained to the current band. It's not about the alumni - as it may be billed. It's about the Bowling Green State University Falcon Marching Band, it's legacy and the effect it's had on THOUSANDS of people. THAT is what it's about, friends.

I am wondering if there can be an effort made to ease the "alumni arrogance" emily likes to talk about and give an olive branch to Dr. Moss. I think Dr. Hayward is in good standing, but Moss is no chief, and it seems like people like to let him know about it.

I was in chief's last conducting class. I am very lucky to have been in it. There is a lot of him in my conducting (I used to get compliments all the time from other directors.) But I don't think bitching about Moss is productive. I think alumni and moss working together (even though the alums are from the chief era and Dr. Moss is still Dr. Moss) could be good.

I think both sides should actively try to make the relationship better.

[bgmaggot00]

Well, for whatever its worth, I always liked Dr. Moss. He's a great director, that produces great music with the ensembles that he is given. I've always admired his program choices, with a healthy blend of new pieces and "the standards"... even if there was too much Grainger.

When you sit through years of his rehearsals, you realize that he knows the music he's conducting as well as anyone else, as in rehearsals or performance, conducting mistakes were extremely few and far between. I really think that a lot of people need to stop complaining about how he's not Mark Kelly, and gawking at his sometimes erratic conducting, and start to realize that he's continued the fine name of BGSU. Lets put it this way, you don't get to be President of CBDNA (College Band Directors National Assc.) by doing poorly in your profession.

[Rightupinthere]

I don't know of ANY alumni who even likened him to Chief. Why? The comparison would be impossible. I would liken it to comparing snowflakes. I believe the alumni were more than fair with Moss at the beginning. I know of alumni who have been disenchanted with assorted activities of the band's administration since Chief left, but I don't look to that as "comparing the directors."

I also know alumni who no longer refer their students to BGSU's music education department because of the 'degradation of quality' of the band program. Again, I don't see that as comparing directors. I see that as professional opinion of the music program. That is purely subjective and I imagine it has a lot to do with the music selected and the performance of that music. I would like to point out that these conversations were happening 3-4 years ago. I don't know what their opinion is now-a-days. I'll have to ask.

In other words, don't revise history with assumptions, kids.

President of the CBDNA? Are you sure? Please verify for accuracy. I believe you meant to say "President Elect of the NORTH CENTRAL DIVISION of the CBDNA. That's only a SLIGHT difference.

Finally, I've never had a personal problem with Dr. Moss. I can only go off of what I see and have seen. I saw a band program which was in SERIOUS DECLINE in the late 90's and early 00's. Alumni band directors were very displeased with the band program and stopped attending the sight reading clinic. I felt a certain disdain for the alumni and witnessed our being shunned during homecoming.

I give credit for Dr. Moss for bringing in Dr. Hayward. She has been the brightest spot in this band program in the last nine years. I was also very pleased with the "pulling off" of this past year's homecoming on behalf of the regular band. Are the times a-changing? God, I hope so. I would love nothing better.

That's my opinion. Deal with THAT.

[Falcons4Life]

What is the policy on Public Enemies Number One (yes that is the correct plural form)?

One of these years when I am not a poor grad student I will make my triumphant return....at which point all will be well with the world!!!

Maggots Rule!!!

PS A maggot breakfast of sorts would get me back!!!

or Maggot Vu night!