Dear Band,
Greetings and salutations from your 'beloved' bandie alumni! I'm sure most of you are sitting here hoping that elections get over as quickly as possible so that you can go back to studying diligently for that exam you have next week and/or trying to get rid of your hangover. However, the matter of choosing who will lead the band throughout the next year is actually pretty important so we figured this would a good opportunity to address the band.
The Clarkson Pep Band is a perennial powerhouse in the ECAC, much like the hockey program has been and hopefully will be again soon. Many hockey fans view us as the best hockey pep band in the East, not only for our musical talent but for the enthusiasm that the band members put into every game they attend. This is a reputation that we as alumni are proud of and want to see continued throughout the future. During seasons like the one we've all just gone through, it is understandably tough to keep the band's enthusiasm at such a high level - that being said, some of us alumni that still hang around occasionally have noticed that this year's band had some tough times of their own
One of the biggest factors in continuing the excellence and tradition of the Pep Band is strong leadership. We need people in charge that understand the band and are committed to its future. In our experience (and let me tell you, we have lots of it!), these are some traits that make a 'good' officer:
~ Dedication: Officer should be present at most if not all events, whether it be practices, games, parties or intramural activities. Officers need to feel the pulse of the band and get to know the members. The more names that an officer can put with faces, the more successful the band community will be.
~ Enthusiasm: Regardless of how bad the team is doing or how obnoxious the opposing fans are, Clarkson fans look for the band to be the ones to get the crowd into the game. We represent the university and the student body, and we should be represented in a positive light (most of the time at least :).
~ Organization: Being organized has been one of those things that the band struggles with constantly - it's just the nature of being a drinking organization with a musical problem. Ultimately, the officers are responsible for laying the groundwork for practices, games, road trips, and other activities so that they all run smoothly. If the officers are on time for events, the band is more apt to be on time (especially younger members that look to them for guidance).
~ Lastly, officers should be 'model citizens' - probably the title that will draw the most laughter from the crowd, but also the most important. Setting a good example for the band is crucial to the success of an eboard.
Last time we checked, showing up to games and practices late or not at all, only playing your instrument when you feel like it, routinely hitting Club 99, or getting wasted beyond recognition before a game doesn't really fit into these categories. Think twice before you elect someone that does these things.
As you are undoubtedly starting to get bored out of your skull, we'll keep the individual officer stuff limited to a few key points:
President - Pretty self-explanatory. Needs to have all the qualities discussed above, plus the people skills to deal with arena directors, Clarkson administration, alumni, etc. Being a leader and a motivator helps too.
Vice President - Probably the position with the most time-consuming work on the e-board, and should be a good people person. The VP interacts closely with the band though taking attendance, SENDING WEEKLY NEWSLETTERS, and administers the band's e-mail account. A sense of responsibility is very important as well - the band really needs a VP who takes the time to do a good job and keeps everything organized.
Director - Very Simple…LOUD, somewhat musically inclined, and it helps to have a dominant personality. Needs to be able to command respect from the band during practices and games.
Business Manager - RESPONSIBLE AND ORGANIZED. This is a position where the officer needs to plan well in advance and work closely with the Prez to make sure that every detail is worked out before the bus even arrives at Cheel for departure. Having a big line of credit and a checking account is a nice bonus. Remember - this person is going to be mostly responsible for the finances of the band, don't choose someone who you wouldn't trust with your own milk money.
Historian: This position is actually much more crucial to us alumni than for the current band members. Making sure that the web page is updated FREQUENTLY (this means more than just once in September and then not again until March when someone else actually does it for you) and pictures taken at games and significant band events (this means owning a camera is usually a good first step). A digital camera is a nice perk, web programming and Photoshop - or at least knowing someone who can do these things - are a must.
OK, so we've run a little long-winded…it happens when you become as old as us! On a side note, we wanted to let you know that band alumni are in the process of getting more organized so that we can be of more help to the e-board and the band in the near future. We are confident that the groundwork is being put in place for a successful year to come, so best of luck with finals and CU in the fall (or at the BBQ for some of us!).
The Clarkson Pep Band is a perennial powerhouse in the ECAC, much like the hockey program has been and hopefully will be again soon. Many hockey fans view us as the best hockey pep band in the East, not only for our musical talent but for the enthusiasm that the band members put into every game they attend. This is a reputation that we as alumni are proud of and want to see continued throughout the future. During seasons like the one we've all just gone through, it is understandably tough to keep the band's enthusiasm at such a high level - that being said, some of us alumni that still hang around occasionally have noticed that this year's band had some tough times of their own
One of the biggest factors in continuing the excellence and tradition of the Pep Band is strong leadership. We need people in charge that understand the band and are committed to its future. In our experience (and let me tell you, we have lots of it!), these are some traits that make a 'good' officer:
~ Dedication: Officer should be present at most if not all events, whether it be practices, games, parties or intramural activities. Officers need to feel the pulse of the band and get to know the members. The more names that an officer can put with faces, the more successful the band community will be.
~ Enthusiasm: Regardless of how bad the team is doing or how obnoxious the opposing fans are, Clarkson fans look for the band to be the ones to get the crowd into the game. We represent the university and the student body, and we should be represented in a positive light (most of the time at least :).
~ Organization: Being organized has been one of those things that the band struggles with constantly - it's just the nature of being a drinking organization with a musical problem. Ultimately, the officers are responsible for laying the groundwork for practices, games, road trips, and other activities so that they all run smoothly. If the officers are on time for events, the band is more apt to be on time (especially younger members that look to them for guidance).
~ Lastly, officers should be 'model citizens' - probably the title that will draw the most laughter from the crowd, but also the most important. Setting a good example for the band is crucial to the success of an eboard.
Last time we checked, showing up to games and practices late or not at all, only playing your instrument when you feel like it, routinely hitting Club 99, or getting wasted beyond recognition before a game doesn't really fit into these categories. Think twice before you elect someone that does these things.
As you are undoubtedly starting to get bored out of your skull, we'll keep the individual officer stuff limited to a few key points:
President - Pretty self-explanatory. Needs to have all the qualities discussed above, plus the people skills to deal with arena directors, Clarkson administration, alumni, etc. Being a leader and a motivator helps too.
Vice President - Probably the position with the most time-consuming work on the e-board, and should be a good people person. The VP interacts closely with the band though taking attendance, SENDING WEEKLY NEWSLETTERS, and administers the band's e-mail account. A sense of responsibility is very important as well - the band really needs a VP who takes the time to do a good job and keeps everything organized.
Director - Very Simple…LOUD, somewhat musically inclined, and it helps to have a dominant personality. Needs to be able to command respect from the band during practices and games.
Business Manager - RESPONSIBLE AND ORGANIZED. This is a position where the officer needs to plan well in advance and work closely with the Prez to make sure that every detail is worked out before the bus even arrives at Cheel for departure. Having a big line of credit and a checking account is a nice bonus. Remember - this person is going to be mostly responsible for the finances of the band, don't choose someone who you wouldn't trust with your own milk money.
Historian: This position is actually much more crucial to us alumni than for the current band members. Making sure that the web page is updated FREQUENTLY (this means more than just once in September and then not again until March when someone else actually does it for you) and pictures taken at games and significant band events (this means owning a camera is usually a good first step). A digital camera is a nice perk, web programming and Photoshop - or at least knowing someone who can do these things - are a must.
OK, so we've run a little long-winded…it happens when you become as old as us! On a side note, we wanted to let you know that band alumni are in the process of getting more organized so that we can be of more help to the e-board and the band in the near future. We are confident that the groundwork is being put in place for a successful year to come, so best of luck with finals and CU in the fall (or at the BBQ for some of us!).
