Band Day 2012 Follow-up: From the President

Hello to all and thank you for a great Band Day!!!  Here are a list of bullet points that we have addressed for you all. 

-  New ideas, Graphic design for the 50th

-  Suggestions/Concerns answered

-  Friday night activities

New ideas, graphic design contest.

Just wanted to send out a quick blast saying how we appreciate everything everyone does to make our day go so well.  We have had our post band day officers meeting and have discussed ways to make it better and have gone over some concerns/suggestions some of our members have had, in order to make our 50th Anniversary a memorable one for not only our members, but athletics, Texas Fans and Longhorn Band.    

Our officers have already started to think of great ways to make the 50th terrific with new LHAB 50th commemorative polos, hats, and other merchandise that can be purchased on Band Day and hopefully prior to.  On that note we would love membership participation to help with a graphic design for the 50th Anniversary to be put on our merchandise!!!  We ask that if any of our members are willing to create a graphic design, please send to me and there will be an award for the one that will be selected by our officers to represent the 50th!!!    

Also, I will be in meetings with DeLoss Dodds and others from athletics to discuss how we can work more together this coming band day to once again come out with a bang!!!  I know some of you are thinking, maybe our seats will be moved, but that will be hard to do (not saying we are not working on it, us and Directors), although our goal is to reach over 1000 LHAB members, so if that is a number we can reach then athletics would consider something different in order to fit all of us in the stands.  WOW, over a 1000 members would be amazing for this monumental day in our organizations history and I truly believe it a number we can all reach!!! 

Suggestions/Concerns

• Music Folders:  As we reach the 50th we are seeing more and more young people join the ranks of LHAB, so we will be keeping the music folders and making sure to add more music from the early days to the present every year!!!
• BBQ:  We will keep the same location.  Also,  I realized there might have not been enough when some came to eat or it might have been slow, we are going back to giving out tickets when checking in for BBQ.  This will make things faster and more cost efficient because we have had some members try to come back in the line a second time, which means we end up paying for more than actually purchased by members.
• Lighting Situation:  Athletics have said there are many compliance issues with adding lighting to our area of the stands.  It is not a money issue or not wanting to do it for us, but there has to be certain lighting guidelines they follow for the stadium, players, jumbotron, cameras, etc....To my knowledge and theirs, there has never been temporary lighting up in that area since we have moved up there even though some of our members seem to think so. We are still thinking of ways that we can help that situation out. 
• Enough Drinks for LHAB in stands:  Depending on our budget we are proposing to buy more drinks to have before the game and after halftime.
• Family members marching down with LHAB in block:  Due to liability issues, we ask that family members/children not march within the registered members of LHAB.  We had a lot of complaints from members with this as well, so to compromise we will allow family members/children to march down, but in their own block behind LHAB, so they can still follow us up to the stands. 
• Children at rehearsal:  We are trying to develop a way to keep children busy during rehearsal so we don't have them jumping/running on UT Athletic equipment- not a good way to keep a great relationship if we mess up their stuff.   If our plan doesn't work out, we ask that everyone please arrange a way to keep an eye on children during our rehearsal time.

Friday Night Activities  

• If you were not able to participate at one of our happy hour activities, be assured we will keep doing this and be adding more venues like Scholz!!!  Maybe even some sort of reception for the 50th, a lot of things still in the works.

Know we are doing our best to accommodate everyone and address as many concerns/suggestions that we can.  I know we will never be able to please everyone  in our great organization, but the officers are especially going to try to hit key points.  We are working closely with Directors and Athletics to make this coming year great for everyone and I hope y'all can call up as many of your LHAB friends and get them to march or just be with the band on this special day!!! 

Thank you, Take Care and May The Eyes of Texas Be Upon YOU!!!

Eddie Lopez

LHB '03-'08

LHAB President

Cell:  956-458-6162

UTexasLHB@aol.com

 

John Rizzo Memorial Golf Tournament

The University of Texas Longhorn Alumni Band

John Michael Rizzo Scholarship

In honor of John Rizzo and his dedication to Accenture and TMHP, we are holding the 6th Annual John Rizzo Memorial Golf Tournament at Forest Creek Golf Course on November 11, 2012.

Date/Location: Sunday, November 11, 2012 @ Forest Creek Golf Course (link to directions below)
Cost per player: $55 (includes green fee, cart and range balls, 2 drinks and burger buffet dinner)
        RSVP to Laura Dunnigan as soon as possible
Dues required by November 1, 2012
        Mulligans may be purchased for $5 each, and raffle tickets are available for $3/ea. or 2 for $5
        All proceeds go to The University of Texas Longhorn Alumni Band - John Michael Rizzo Scholarship 

Tournament type: 4 Man Scramble - Shotgun Start (we need a minimum of 40 players for this)
Registration opens: 12:00pm
Tee times begin: 1:30pm
Dinner buffet opens: After play is complete

REMINDERS: NO outside beverages or coolers are allowed on the course. A small cooler will be provided on your cart that you can fill with ice and beverages purchased from Forest Creek. 

Directions: Click Here
Forest Creek Info: Click Here

Proceeds will go to the Longhorn Alumni Band Scholarship in John Rizzo's name. 

Band Day 2012 Live Blog

Whether you can't make it or want family and friends to follow along, check out the LHAB Live Blog of Band Day and all of the alumni weekend festivities. You can watch below, at http://www.lhab.org/live and on our LHAB Facebook Page. We will provide updates as our connection from the stadium permits. You can also chime in from Twitter with the hash tag #lhab2012.

Friday Post-meeting Fun

Posse East and Crown and Anchor will both have happy hour specials for LHAB members following our business meeting and rehearsal tonight. Just show your LHAB name tag at Posse from 8-9 or Crown and Anchor from 8-10 to take advantage!

Parking - UPDATED 9/6

Parking on Friday will be in the San Jacinto Garage across from the Band Hall. Parking will cost $6 on Friday.  Parking on Saturday will be in the Speedway Garage and the cost will be $10.  Representatives from Parking Services will be at the Band Hall Friday night to collect parking payments for both days and you can pay by credit card.  

If you are not coming until Saturday, please pick up a coupon at registration or download one here to include with your payment in an envelope that you will pick up at the Speedway Garage office.  Please be sure to pay or you will receive a $25 bill in the mail.

There should be ample parking around the Music Building East and Law School after 5:45 PM on Friday evening for rehearsal and check-in, but please pay attention to signs indicating time and permit restrictions. 

UPDATE: We are working on getting parking at a reduced rate at the San Jacinto Garage directly across from the Band Hall for Friday night.  As it looks now they will have someone there to pay as you enter the garage.  Will send out an email when the plan is finalized.

Vehicles remaining in the garage after midnight will be towed to clear the parking garage for the game on Saturday. * LHB/LHAB ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR PARKING/TOWING FEES. 

---

Game day parking is always scarce. 

Again this year UT is offering us the use of the Speedway Garage located at 27th and Speedway. The parking fee is $10 for the whole day. (Parking is usually $15.) They will be reserving us spaces in the garage. 

There was some confusion last year about paying when the attendant was not at the exit at the end of the game. Here is what should be done when exiting when the attendant is not there. 

Anyone finding an envelope on their vehicle when they return to that vehicle should place $10 in the envelope along with your LHAB parking coupon and drop the envelope in the white "NIGHT DROP BOX" located at the exits on Level 2 of the garage (the exits nearest the garage office).  If there isn't an envelope on your car, drive to the exit floor.  Last year there were envelopes outside the closed office.  Take one of those envelopes and complete the information, especially the license plate portion of the form.  If the envelopes are not turned in with payment within the time frame noted on the envelope, you will subsequently receive a $25 citation in the mail.

We will be hiring a bus from Clark Travel again to shuttle us from the parking garage to the Band Hall and elsewhere we may need to go. 

Of course, the easiest ways to get to the area is by carpooling or have someone drop you off and pick you up in the area. 

Any changes to this will be announced at the Friday meeting.

Lighting in the Stands

If you came to Band Day last year, you probably noticed the darkness of our seating area.  We have requested additional lighting but do not know if this will occur.  One thing that might help is everyone bringing one of those little lights that you can clip on your music.  At least you will be able to see the music, if we do not get additional lighting.  Most music stores have these little lights for music stands and everything is available on the web.  In Austin, Strait Music has these lights available.

From the President

Well...here we are again!! Longhorn Football Season is upon us!! We are already preparing for Band Day weekend on September 7-8, 2012.  If you have not already put this date on your calendar, please do so. We need you to be there this year!! We will be playing New Mexico on September 8, 2012 at 7PM. PLEASE READ this entire edition of The Blast as it contains everything you need to know about our fun filled weekend with the Alumni Band. The current schedule is included and remember to check the website regularly for updates. You can also sign-up for our Twitter and Facebook updates to get the latest news about our Band Day weekend.

We are returning to rehearsal in the Band Hall this year.  Following the rehearsal, socializing time has been arranged at Double Dave’s, the Posse and The Crown and Anchor. This year’s officers are hard at work putting together a great weekend for our members. Here are a few other things for you to check out and consider for Band Day weekend:

• This year we are returning to the Band Hall Lobby for Registration and Check-In.
• We will have our business meeting and playing rehearsal in the Band Hall.
• If you are interested in the show theme for this year, keep reading!
• See inside for information about guest tickets and a seating chart. This year, you can buy guest tickets through registration. The guest seats will be in the section next to us.
• Also see inside for how you can join us for the game and halftime even if you are not able to make the Saturday rehearsal or are unable to march at halftime.
• Keep reading for information on uniform, instrument check-out, parking and anything else you can think of!!

Finally, do not forget to follow us on Twitter, friend us on Facebook, and generally keep up with LHAB through our social networking groups. For more information, check out www.lhab.org/groups. 

Please make plans now to come to Band Day weekend September 7-8, 2012 for the Texas vs. New Mexico game. We need you to attend so that we can break all attendance records this year! Start contacting your friends from your section and making arrangements to meet them on Friday night, September 7, 2012 at the business meeting and playing rehearsal. 

We can’t wait to see you on September 7-8 for a fantastic reunion weekend.

Hook ‘Em!
Karen Hanson
LHAB President ’11-‘12

A Message from Mr. D.

Greetings Again Alum Banders!!!!

Well once again I attended a spectacular Commencement here at UT! and look forward to welcoming graduating LHBers to OUR Alumni Band!!!!

It seems that even though the football team has "slowed" their National Championship contending the LHB keeps attracting and performing at the highest of levels as always!

As I note this will be my 57th year as Longhorn and Alum Bander and once again I look forward to seeing and greeting and even perhaps "Conducting" you all once again this Fall!

As you are all aware the conference is changing once again!!!  Damn!  I always liked the old battles with those Southwest Conference foes!    Except Ark of course!!! And now that the Aggies especially! have "walked" into the SEC lion’s den we will have to learn new lyrics to songs of different schools!

Nevertheless if you have the time! and I hope you do! and the funds?? which the economy dictates, I urge you to once again book Alum Band weekend so that I can shake your hand and thank all of you again for making this such a band life for all of us!!!! but especially ME!!!!!

AMORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and Hook Em!   Horns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

D

From the LHB

Dear LHAB Members          

            The past 10 years have simply flown by for me and, as always, I am extremely proud to be a part of an organization that means so much to so many people.  This sense of pride does not stop with the current iteration of the Longhorn Band, but extends to the thousands of alumni who have paved the way for our current and future members.

            I would like to express my sincere thanks to all of you who continue to support the endeavors of LHAB by participating in pep band performances around our state, contributing to our scholarship fund and/or by venturing to campus each fall to take part in our annual Alumni Band Day. 

            While LHB and LHAB are entities unto themselves and serve as icons for our great university, it is you - the individual - who make these groups what they are.  It is extremely important to me that you know how much I value your individual contributions for the good of the order.  In large organizations such as LHAB and LHB It is easy to think that individual efforts go unnoticed or are somehow insignificant.  Nothing could be further from the truth – we need you and your involvement to maintain the excellence of the past and propel us to an even brighter future.

            I sincerely hope your plans allow for a return visit to the 40 acres on the weekend of September 8, 2012 for Alumni Band Day, but if not, I hope you can find another way to contribute to the efforts of LHAB in the coming year.

THANK YOU and Hook ‘Em,

Robert Carnochan, D.M.A.

Director, Longhorn Band

Schedule

LHAB Alumni Weekend Schedule

The game time has been set for 7PM and you will find the latest tentative schedule below. Please keep checking the LHAB web site, www.lhab.org for updated information. 

Friday Night

5:00 - 7:00 pm          Registration Check-in

6:00 - 6:45 pm          Music and Instrument Check-out
7:00 - 8:00 pm          Rehearsal and Annual Business Meeting in the Band Hall

8:00 - ???                 Friday Night Social Activities
(Scholarship presentation has been moved to Saturday during the beginning of the joint bands rehearsal)

Saturday

10:00 - 10:45 am      Registration (water, juice, snacks) at Denius Field

10:00 - 10:45 am      Section Leader Meeting (Bubble)

11:00 am - 1:30 pm   LHAB Playing and Marching Rehearsal (Bubble)

1:30 - 1:45 pm         Transition from Bubble to lower Denius Field

1:45 - 2:15 pm         Special Presentations

                                    (scholarships, donor recognitions, and Invitation to 2015 London Parade)

2:15 - 2:45 pm         Combined Rehearsal with LHB (Denius Field)

2:45 - 3:00 pm         LHAB field entrance run-throughs (Denius)

3:00 - 4:00 pm         LHB Rehearsal in Bubble

3:00 - 4:15 pm         LHAB BBQ Meal at the Band Hall

4:15 pm                  LHB BBQ Meal at Band Hall

4:30 - 5:30 pm         Pick up Vests (must be in uniform)

5:50 pm                   Call-to, LHAB step-off for march-down to DKR-TMS

6:30 pm                   LHB Line-up and Step-off

7:00 pm                   Kickoff - BTHOONM!

Check-In

If you have registered online, checking-in on Friday evening will be a breeze.

Please note that check-in will be in the Lobby of the Band Hall this year

5:00-7:00 P.M., Friday, September 7th.

The check-in area will be set up as you enter, listed by last name. Sign and pick up your packet with all the information you’ll need for Alumni Band weekend, including information on meals purchased, instrument rental, and vest checkout. We’ll help solve any registration problems at a designated area, so if you have questions, just ask. Please pick up your own check-in packet. Anyone picking up your packet for you will be required to sign for your packet and will be responsible for getting it to you.

The business meeting and playing rehearsal will last about an hour, from 7:00-8:00 p.m. At this important meeting we elect new officers and share very important information about the next day’s schedule and show- and of course, play music!

For socializing, food, and beverages following the playing rehearsal, we have made arrangement to gather at several nearby establishments.

Friday Night Social Activities

Fun and Frivolity to Follow Friday’s Rehearsal.

The LHAB Officers are working with nearby establishments including

Double Dave’s Pizzaworks + Posse East + Crown & Anchor Pub

to arrange food and drink specials after LHAB’s rehearsal on Friday night (September 7, 2012).  Check-in and rehearsal will be located in the music building this year.  We hope you will join us off-site after rehearsal to enjoy the evening and catch-up with your friends and band mates.  More information will be presented online (lhab.org) in the coming weeks and at the Friday night business meeting and rehearsal.

Hook ‘em

Tadd Lanham (LHAB Treasurer)

LHAB 2012 Scholarship Donations

Step Off and Step Up!

This is a good time to be planning your 2012 tax-deductible donation amount to the LHAB Charitable Fund.  The LHAB's annual scholarship awards to deserving current LHB students has grown to over $40,000 per year - - an amount that has a huge impact on the overall financial aid picture for LHB students.  We receive many donations from LHABers in a year, most of which come in as part of the Band Day registration process.

If you are one of those who contribute annually on the Band Day registration form with a minimum $100 donation, bravo for you and keep it up!  Not only do your annual contributions play a BIG role in increasing our fund corpus (now over $800K!), they also are accumulating towards a major donor award for you!  (See details at www.lhab.org/scholars/scholars.cfm)

If you give annually to the LHAB Charitable Fund at a level below $100, you are still a hero to the LHB and us, but your donations are not accumulating towards a donor award for you.  If you are one of those in this category, and you think you could start giving annually at the $100 level, this would be a great year to start doing just that.  Think about it - - 3,000 members giving $100 a year is a whopping $300K per year!  We would easily cross $1 million in our Fund balance this year alone!

If your overall annual giving level to all charities is $1,000 or higher, you should really look into contributing to the LHAB Charitable Fund at the Maestro ($1K), Burnt Orange ($5K), Script Texas ($10K), Grandioso ($25K) or perhaps even the named-scholarship level ($30K).  At the Maestro Level and above, you receive a numbered award and your name appears in perpetuity in the annual LHAB Band Day Program.  How cool is that!

We and the Longhorn Band members greatly appreciate any and all donations, so choose your giving level, step off and step up!

Hook ‘em!

Mike Haecker

President - Board of Trustees

LHAB Charitable Fund

Clarinet, ’67-‘73

Instruments

It’s time to dust off those horns again! Anticipating another great turnout, here is the general info on instruments. First, please make sure you REGISTER EARLY to reserve an instrument if you need one. If you wait until Friday night, we cannot guarantee you your correct instrument. Reminder: we do not have woodwinds to check out, so please bring your own. Also, if you can borrow an instrument from a friend, family member, or local school, PLEASE DO! We are looking into getting more mellos and percussion but please anticipate us being in short supply!

This year on the registration section of the website, we will have a specific number of instruments available on first come, first served basis. Instruments will be handed out between 5:00 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. at the loading dock behind the band hall (look for the U-Haul truck) on Friday, September 7th. Please show up early because those who do will be given priority when selecting their instrument. If by chance you still have an instrument from last year, please contact me so I can update our inventory. If you absolutely cannot come Friday night for checkout and you cannot have someone else pick up your instrument for you, please contact me.

I look forward to seeing everyone again this year! And please, BRING YOUR OWN INSTRUMENT IF POSSIBLE!!! TUBA!s and mellos, if you are checking out an instrument, don't forget to bring your mouthpiece!

Hook ‘Em!
AJ Landeros
LHAB Vice President Equipment
Trumpet, ‘05-‘11

If you have any questions, send an e-mail to ajlanderos@me.com

The LHAB Uniform

Remember to bring the following to wear with your

burnt orange vest at halftime.

BLACK SHOES - COMPLETELY BLACK - No white or colored trim, shoestrings, or soles.
BLACK SOCKS - COMPLETELY BLACK - Not dark gray or navy.
BLACK PANTS - WEST TEXAS CRUDE BLACK - No faded, dark gray or navy.
BEWARE: cotton pants (denim, Dockers, etc.) are seldom truly BLACK! After one or two washings they fade fast. Pants must be LONG, no shorts or capris pants.
WHITE shirt or blouse - WHITE, not ivory or off-white. Either long or short sleeves are OK but your shirt must have a collar.
NOTE: Hats & caps may be worn in the stands only - not during halftime!

YOU WILL NOT BE ISSUED A VEST UNLESS YOU ARE IN UNIFORM!