August 25, 2025 Minutes

Alton Band and Orchestra Builders Executive Board Meeting Minutes Date: Aug 25, 2025

Start: @ 6:03 AHS Orchestra room 

Attendance: Laura Plummer, Math Chesner, Chuck Willard Kirsitna Imel, Jackie Ridgley, Louise Haar-Chapman, Yvette Paris, Laura Hardin, Jason Chapman, Jodi Baum, Mark Hilgert, Katie Young, Abigail Knoche, Sally Pierce, Ed & Cathy Gray, Dawn Humphrey 

• Introductions of people in the Room

• Meeting Minutes from May 19, 2025

  • Posted on ABOB.net

    • Motion to accept:

      • Yvette Paris gave the 1st

      • Jodi Baum gave the 2nd

      • All in favor: pass

      
      
    
    
  
  

• Treasurer’s Report

  • Mostly the usual beginning of the year stuff.

  • June/July

    • Instrument repair

    • Show music

    • Kick off items

    • Some Craft Fair fees

    • Band Camp expenses

    • Band Competition fees

    • Paid for the audit ($800)

    • Money from Zeffy for band camp meals

    
    

    • Color Guard has a carry over of $2700 on top of the usual $5500 line item

    
    

  • Motion to accept

    • Jackie Ridgley 1st

    • Laura Plummer  2nd

    • All in favor: Pass

    
    
  
  

• Teachers Reports

  • AHS Orchestra

    • Off to a great start. Some groups are smaller than normal

    • TNI concert Sep 26, 2025- Stories in the Woods is the theme

    
    

  • AHS Band

    • Mr. Chesner thanked everyone for helping until he could arrive and is grateful and thankful to be here.

    • Music camp was successful

    • Band camp was successful despite the weather.

    • First home football game is in two weeks

      • Band has been asked to provide a more pep band feel during the game

      
      

      • The first competition is in 3 weeks in O’Fallon.

        • There are 6 evening rehearsals left to get ready.

        • Band has learned 70% of the show already

        
        

      • Props for the show are in process

      • Color guard silks are being ordered

      • Percussion has competition on September 6

      • Music has been selected for concerts and Mr. Chesner hopes to add some new combos and the Marching 100 to the list of performers this year.

      • Mr. Willard praised the students for their outstanding leadership this season in the Marching 100

      
      
    
    
  
  

• AMS Orchestra

  • All is going well

  • Numbers have increased

  • Elementary recruitment night is 8/26 at AHS

    • All elementary schools orchestra numbers are up

    
    
  
  

• AMS Band

  • All is going well

  • Elementary recruitment night is 9/3 at AMS

  • Working on concert and parade music

  • Question asked about the large numbers coming to AHS soon and Mr. Willard assured that the AHS band is ready for them.

  • Question was asked by Laura Hardin about using the marching bells for percussion and Mr. Willard will look in to it.

  
  

• Committee Reports

• Hospitality: Brad via emai

  • Coffee concert coming up

  • On track to be on or under budget

  
  

• Ways & Means: Jackie R.

  • Olga’s

    • Turn out not great

    
    

  • Looking into dine out nights with Roma’s, Bread Co, and more with Olgas.

  • Working on Button Days for the Marching 100

  • Directors asked to be notified with dates for dine outs

  • Elaine Kane asked that Stacy Lawson and Kara Twichell be notified of dates as well.

  
  

• Communications: no chair

  • No Report

  
  

• Technology: Jason

  • Looking at other possible hosts for the website to save money

  • Square space was recommended by Yvette

  
  

• Craft Fair: Amy & Brian via email

  • 192 booths so far

  • Xmas in July post made

  
  

• Virtual Auction: Jodi

  • Looking for containers

  • Not much to report

  
  

• Old Business

  • Nominees for Communication Chair

  • Kristina Imel nominated herself and was seconded by Knoche

    • Motion passed

    
    
  
  

• New Business

  • Marching 100 Uniforms

    • Phillips 66 is willing to donate to ABOB for this, but nothing more than the promise of funds has been made.

    • Still waiting on information from Mike. Mr. Chesner will reach out.

    • Still waiting on the third bid.

    • Suggestion was made to add a line item to the budget for uniforms moving forward.

    • In the past the district has funded the uniforms and ABOB reimbursed the district.

    • $10,000 is set aside for uniforms from unused lines and there is a CD of $7000 that could be used.

    • Further discussion was tabled until September

    
    

    • Other items tabled until the next meeting

      • A line item for senior nights for roses and the like

      • Marching 100 Letters

      • Scrimmage announcements made equal for the band at Red and Gray games

      • Credit card and its uses for ABOB

      
      
    
    
  
  

• Next Meeting— September 29 , 2025 @ 6pm

• Adjournment @ 7:02 Motioned by Knoche and second by Paris