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Post by ArrangerNCAT on Sept 18, 2015 10:36:48 GMT -5
My question to ArrangerNCAT and the Band Staff is why was the alumni not notified about this situation with Elon? Or any monetary shortfall that is going on. I've see the FB posts and on here , but why had the Alumni Association not received a letter? Respectfully, I'm not the one that can answer that great question. Of course, Doc is the point of contact for something like that, but I will say this--remaining as objective as possible: the A&T band's funding issues are nothing new. It is public knowledge and record that the band's budget was cut this year, so combine that with the fact that we already practice in a run-down warehouse and on a dirt practice field, and one can start to make a connection. I'm not privy to prior interactions, so I am not sure as to whether or not the Alumni Association was made aware of our practice conditions well in the past. We have made so much noise about it in prior years and even this year on the heels of Coach Broadway's comments that I can presume that--in a big picture sense--many people have already known that funding has been an issue for this program. On a personal note, I'm just really concerned for the kids. We all are...
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Post by marchingband1969 on Sept 18, 2015 10:44:42 GMT -5
My question to ArrangerNCAT and the Band Staff is why was the alumni not notified about this situation with Elon? Or any monetary shortfall that is going on. I've see the FB posts and on here , but why had the Alumni Association not received a letter? Hey I've been on this site talking about the crappy band facilities and lack of band funding for a while! But most folks don't pay any attention until the band doesn't show up to entertain them. And by the way, not going to Elon should send more of a message to A&T Alumni than to Elon. Folks, our band has been running without adequate funding for decades. Never mind the drafty rundown warehouse they have been housed in for years or the muddy pothole parking lot they use for a practice field. Last year Dr. Ruff scheduled a half dozen "outside" events throughout eastern US to try to raise enough money to keep the band funded. So the band students miss time studying to help raise enough money so they can travel to away games to entertain alumni. When we played Delaware State in Dover last year, the band packed up immediately after the game and performed for a pay for play event that night and the next morning. By the way, the Alumni Association neither has the political power or money to worry about the band. This is a matter for us, the diehard alumni that support athletics and other non-academic organizations.
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Post by The Professor on Sept 18, 2015 10:47:19 GMT -5
I understand. I also know because I marched from 99-02 that these problems are nothing new. Its the same field we practiced. We were packed in Frazier like sardines. We have always been short with money.
I will say that if there is a particular issue that you or the staff would like to address , our alumni are where u need to go. We are a proud group. And we might not be able to build u a multi million dollar facility , I'm pretty sure the alums would have got you to Elon if you desired to go.
I am willing to help in anyway. Just inform me of what you would like for me to do or my ideas.....
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VA's Finest
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Post by VA's Finest on Sept 18, 2015 11:13:22 GMT -5
Hey folks a good gesture now would be to set up a "gofundme" or "kickstarter" account so we can get the BGMM to Elon in 2 days. There have been enough posts here and publicity in the past 7 days about the BGMM to garner enough attention to get these kids to Rhodes Stadium. Let's go Aggies, lets put our money where are mouth/typing fingers are.
I got $25 for it, just post the link, please
Aggie Pride
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oleschoolaggie
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2009 Poster of the Year, 2009 Most Knowledgeable Poster
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Post by oleschoolaggie on Sept 18, 2015 11:22:21 GMT -5
might be a little too late to fundraise for the elon game being that it takes place tomorrow night. but in the future, its a very good idea. we’ve had a few “successful” independent fundraising efforts here at bdv, no reason we couldn't do something for the bgmm. i donate to the aaf, but i’m willing to donate a few more dollars for the bgmm as well. that performance in chapel hill makes me appreciate the bgmm even more than ever now. i gotta gut feeling that the bgmm may see several more new “white band members” in our near future...
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Post by ArrangerNCAT on Sept 18, 2015 11:25:02 GMT -5
We have tried to set up outside funding sources in the past, but they were nixed by admin. Last year, a few students set up gofundme accounts to help defray the cost of band dues. They were told to cease and desist.
The only problem with a link is that we don't have a properly maintained band website that can centrally accommodate all of our needs (media and otherwise, a one-stop shop for all things BGMM). Moreover, the process of donating funds directly to the band is not streamlined at all. Ask any student how a person can make an online donation to the band, and none of them will be able to tell you, in addition to not being able to tell you the band's current website.
These are simply facts.
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DECKS
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Post by DECKS on Sept 18, 2015 11:35:20 GMT -5
What about that "donate now" button I asked about for the booster club website?
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Post by scaggie09 on Sept 18, 2015 11:40:00 GMT -5
So if a group of Alums wanted to raise money to get the band to Elon or any game that's not in the budget what would be the proper channels to do so?
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VA's Finest
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Post by VA's Finest on Sept 18, 2015 12:02:15 GMT -5
Yeah my suggestion was to have maybe a bdf member start the gofundme or kickstarter since i know its so much red tape with a state school having someone on the inside do it. Come on aggies i know we can do it. Its never over til the clock reads 0:00.
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Post by ArrangerNCAT on Sept 18, 2015 12:08:39 GMT -5
Well, a large portion of the band is out of town to visit their families or down here in Louisiana for the Southern vs. Jackson State game.
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oleschoolaggie
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2009 Poster of the Year, 2009 Most Knowledgeable Poster
Posts: 24,207
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Post by oleschoolaggie on Sept 18, 2015 12:11:15 GMT -5
Yeah my suggestion was to have maybe a bdf member start the gofundme or kickstarter since i know its so much red tape with a state school having someone on the inside do it. Come on aggies i know we can do it. Its never over til the clock reads 0:00. hey, i'm willing to give it try if everybody else is! according to the article, we'll need to raise approximately $10,000 to cover the expenses for the bgmm to go to elon. if we can get 100 aggies to donate $100 each, then we're there! i'll be the first aggie to pledge a $100 donation if my fellow aggies will match. however, how do we know if all the band members will still be in town tomorrow...
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Post by oldschool on Sept 18, 2015 13:21:50 GMT -5
It's not practical at this point in time , like ArrangerNCAT just said ,most of the band is out of town already .I remember MB1969 stating that the band was not going to Elon around the first of the week ,if we were really sincere we would have done something before now . I'm sure these decisions were made before the season even started , we have to be proactive rather than reactive . We all know the old saying "you don't miss the water until the well runs dry" , we need to be monitoring our water and have a plan in place to insure we never run out of water .
Much has been made about their last performance ,but I'm willing to bet those same people have never supported the BGMM financially .Instead of fussing about one game we need to be concerned about the overall health of the BGMM , "Money talks ,Bulls**t walks".
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tony
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Post by tony on Sept 18, 2015 17:28:59 GMT -5
Hey folks a good gesture now would be to set up a "gofundme" or "kickstarter" account so we can get the BGMM to Elon in 2 days. There have been enough posts here and publicity in the past 7 days about the BGMM to garner enough attention to get these kids to Rhodes Stadium. Let's go Aggies, lets put our money where are mouth/typing fingers are. I got $25 for it, just post the link, please Aggie Pride Thanks for the intent, although there's no way the Elon game is going to happen at this point. This isn't new, though. I remember hearing a month or two ago that the band may not be going to the Elon, Norfolk, or FAMU games. I'm not surprised at all about FAMU, but Elon and Norfolk were kind of unexpected. Anybody know if there's any possibility of the NSU trip happening? If you do want to donate, you can give directly to the band at www.ncat.edu/giving/give-now.html. Click "online donation right now", enter your information, then choose "Music/Band Instruments" if you want to donate for equipment, "Johnny B Hodge Jr Loyalty Endowed Scholarship" for scholarships, or any other fund you want to give to. One thing I would ask of the staff is a little more direction to alumni on how we can help out. I'd love to know who I can thank for our wonderful band web site at www.marchingmachine.com. Or our first class dust bowl I mean practice field. I know, I know, nobody wants to PUBLICLY put their boss on blast, but...' Has anybody priced an observation tower? That's probably the most immediate thing I can think of we could help with. Or maybe a study on paving the practice field. I haven't heard that mentioned, but that could be great if we came up with a plan and got the university would okay it.
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Post by ArrangerNCAT on Sept 18, 2015 19:07:53 GMT -5
Doc made a detailed proposal years ago, and he continues to update it to reflect the changing needs of the band.
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Post by marchingband1969 on Sept 18, 2015 21:17:19 GMT -5
Dr. Ruff is an exceptional executive. He puts an innovative show on the field every week and does a fantastic job stretching the budget. He has submitted a detailed report on the needs of the Band but I'm sure every department on campus has submitted a needs report too. He doesn't expect the University to write a blank Check but would like to know what the plan is to address these issues.
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