Support Needs | Fundraising | Band Boosters | Sponsorships

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Links of Interest

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Gift Cards Wanted!

Want to help out the band but not sure what is needed?   Just about every store sells gift cards now and there are very few stores that are not on the "Band Needs Shopping List"."  This is a great way to support the band program!!

Support Through Fundraising

The South Meck Band Boosters are asking each marching band family to commit to raising a minimum of $500.00 profit in fundraising beyond the $500.00 band fee.   However, to meet a budget of $75,000 or more, we will need more fundraising dollars than $500 per marching family.   To ensure the continued success of the Marching Sabres, we expect everyone to aggressively participate in all fundraisers.

Some of the South Meck Band's fundraising efforts include:

• Bulb sales
• Car Washes/Autobell
• CitiPass/Coupon Book sales
• Customer Cards linked to band
• Discount Store Memberships
• Donations
• Drawing for Prizes
• Friends & Family Night (Winter Guard fundraiser)
• Fruit/Evergreen sales
• Matthews Alive booth
• Online Fundraising Store
• Panthers Concession sales
• Quail Hollow Golf Tournament
• Restaurant Nights
• Sabre Split at home football games
• Sponsorships

Fundraising Recognition

The top sales person in each area -- Sponsorships, Citipass Book Sales, Fruit Sales, Panthers Games (most worked per family) -- will be recognized at the 2011 Band Banquet.   Students who have met all major Fundraising goals in these areas will qualify for the Top Fundraiser of the Year award which is presented at the 2011 Band Banquet.   Each major fundraiser will also have reward and recognition incentives offered.

Car Washes/Autobell

Band students have a blast working as a team to wash cars for donations.   Every band member is expected to participate in two car washes throughout the year.

Coupon Book Sales

The South Mecklenburg Band is selling Citipass Coupon Books as a fall fundraiser.   The cost for each book is $25.   Citipass provides great restaurant and merchant discounts for the ENTIRE Charlotte region - from South Charlotte to Rock Hill to Lake Norman, Gastonia, and Concord.   Citipass truly gives you the best the Region has to offer and you can easily recoup the cost of the book by just using a few of the coupons.

Citipass books can now be purchased online throughout the year, so if you want to give one as a gift, or just need an extra one, you're in luck!   Books can be purchased directly from Citipass and will be shipped directly to you.   You can pay via PayPal account or credit card and the band will get credit for the sale!  

Questions

If you have any questions, contact our Citipass Fundraising Chairperson.

Customer Cards

Link your valuable customer cards to the band and a portion of the income from your purchases will be donated to the band throughout the year!

	Harris Teeter VIC Card organization code: 4551 - Click to open the Harris Teeter online sign-up page and follow the instructions.
	Bi-Lo Bonus Card - To sign up, download and print your enrollment card and take it in to the store to be scanned once.   This will enroll you in the program until May 31st, 2010 and the band will receive 1% of your purchases.

Discount Store Memberships

Sometimes we partner with stores like BJ's Warehouse to provide special offers for friends and family of the South Meck Band.   A portion of every membership or renewal sold is then donated to the Band program.  

Donations

Donations of both money and items are always welcome!

Matching Gift Program

An easy way to double your donation is to complete a matching donation form for your company to match!   Many companies support their employees by providing this as a part of their benefits package.

To see if your company provides matching gifts program, contact your company Human Resources department.   If you company does offer matching gifts, when you make your donation to the band program, request a receipt and follow the steps through your company's benefits department.   This list is continuously changing, so if you know of a company to add or remove, contact the Webmaster.

Drawings for Prizes

Sometimes businesses will donate all or part of the value of a desirable item to be used in drawings.   Tickets are sold for a period of time and then a drawing is made to find the lucky winner.   Recent items that have been given away are a scooter, an hour of massage, and a coupon for free sushi!   All profits go to the band.

Fruit/Evergreen Sales

The Band traditionally sells fruit every fall and it is one of our major fundraisers.   This year we have partnered with Florida Indian River Groves to provide you with the freshest fruit available.   Your fruit will be harvested the very same day it's shipped to us, ensuring that you receive fruit that is hours off of the tree.   Now that's fresh!

Be sure to pick up a box of Navel Oranges that are sure to be bursting with flavor or a box of sugar-sweet, Indian River Red Grapefruit.   And don't forget your friends, family, and coworkers.  Everyone loves Fresh Fruit From Florida!

We need your help to make this successful.  

Conveniently, orders can be placed directly on-line using this link: http://www.fruitorder.com/orderFundraising.asp?OrgId=329144

In order for your student to get credit for the sales, the purchaser needs to select the student name from the drop down box during checkout.

Fruit sales begin on October 10th and end on November 13th.   Please make sure all order forms are turned in by Tuesday, November 8th.   Online orders may be made until November 13th.   Fruit will be delivered to the school in December.

Please use the attached flyer to email or give to your neighbors, friends and families.   Make sure you either hand write or type in your student's name so they get credit for the sale.   Color copies will be available in the Band room.

 Matthews Alive

Matthews Alive is a family festival held during Labor Day Weekend in downtown Matthews.   The South Mecklenburg Marching Band is fortunate to have the opportunity to earn money by manning a children's game booth.   This is a great opportunity for the younger kids to be involved with helping our fund-raising efforts, as there is no minimum age for the volunteers.

Friday, Sept. 2nd through Monday, Sept. 5th, 2011

Please consider signing up for a shift.   We need two adults and two students per shift.   For anyone interested in early sign-up, there are all-day ride wrist bands for Sunday available for $15.00, if you notify us before July 28th.   We are limited to 30 wrist bands, and they must be paid for in advance.

The work is easy - our booth is already set up, just show up and have fun.
If you have any questions or are interested in signing up, please contact Bob and Becky Johnson at bbjnz@aol.com.   We look forward to working with you for this great event!

Online Fundraising Store

We hope you will help support our organization by visiting our online stores.   You can order band wear and mementos or renew your favorite magazine subscriptions online.   Be sure to share our store sites with your friends and relatives.   With your help, we are sure to earn the funds we need this year!   We appreciate your support.

Panthers Concessions

NEW THIS YEAR!!!

There is a new prerequisite for all volunteers: you must complete the Food Safety Training course.   For each person that completes the training, the band will be paid $5, whether that person works a game or not!   Parents and students may complete the self-training online in only 20-25 minutes.   Don't wait!  Do it now!

(NOTE: If you need assistance or wish to arrange for alternate means of completing the training, please contact your Panthers Chairperson .)

Panthers FAQ

Bank of America Stadium now has a Web site with tons of information for volunteers. Their Game Day Insider should answer most of your questions. Check it out!

www.stadiumfoodandbeverage.com/

Click on one of the Questions below to toggle display of the Answer:

How do we sign up?

Online sign-ups are available through CHARMS where you can view the volunteer needs for each game and sign up for the position of your choice.   Parents, students and friends of the band can follow these steps to sign up:

1. Go to the Charms site by clicking here (This will open a new window so you can come back to these instructions)
2. Enter smecklenburgband for the school code
3. Click on the Volunteer Needs tab (You don't need the Student Area Password to volunteer!)
4. Select the game you are interested in and click Show Volunteer Needs
5. Add your name and contact information and then click Sign Up

OR...
Send an email directly to the Panther's Chairperson (click the link below) with the following information:

1. The date(s) of the game(s) you are interested in
2. Your first and last name
3. Your date of birth
4. Your email address (if different than the one used to send the message)
5. Your phone number
6. Indicate whether you have completed the mandatory Food Service Training
7. Preferred position or type of work at the game
8. If you want to sign up other people, please include their names, birthdays, email and phone as well

Sign Up By Emailing Your Panthers Chairperson...

Understanding there are still a few folks who have no desire to do things online, you may call John Formica at 704-965-4090 and sign up for a particular game, or all of them!

How old do you have to be to work in a booth?

According to Stadium Food & Beverage (the Panthers front office) you must be 15 in order to get in.   They will require that you provide a birth date when you sign in.
Mom and Dad, just because your child is not yet 15 does not mean you may give up your responsibility.   Your kids will have plenty of opportunities to work at games when they are 15 or older.   We still need, expect and appreciate your participation!

What kind of ID is checked?  What if I don't have my license yet?

The official word in the official manual is "proof of age is required".   Frankly, I don't know what this means.   If you have a photo student ID, learner's permit or driver's license, please bring it.   It is always a good idea to have some form of ID on you at all times anyway.

Do I have to have any special training?

Yes.   Stadium Food & Beverage now requires all Panther's concession volunteers to complete a brief Food Service Training session.   Watch for opportunities to complete this training in group settings.   You may also obtain credit for this training on your own by going online at http://stadiumfoodandbeverage.com/concessionsvolunteers/volunteertraining.html.   The site provides a quick reference overview, a short food safety presentation, and a quiz/acknowledgement form you can print, complete and mail in.

How many hours do we work for one game?

The short answer is around 4 hours.   Call times are the same as before, so there will be some help in setting up the booths.   However, since we are not in charge of a booth, we no longer are responsible for taking inventory, counting money and staying late for clean-up!

What do we wear?

We will provide you with the following items to wear while you work:

• a classy black and white striped referee shirt (must be tucked in)
• a South Mecklenburg Marching Sabres cap (or you can bring your own)
• a stadium apron

All of these can be retrieved from a container just outside our booth on game day.   You will be required to wear all of these all the time the booth is in operation. Do not leave the booth with your apron on (especially to go to the bathroom).

In addition, the following rules of attire must be observed:

• Do NOT wear anything or bring anything into the stadium advertising another NFL team, even on a jacket that will be taken off.
• No body or face piercing is allowed to show. Exception: Females may wear ONE set of post or stud earrings.
• Hair must be pulled back away from the face and restrained if needed.   Hair may not be unnaturally colored (blue, yellow, red, green, etc.).
• Face painting is NOT allowed.
• Shoes must have a closed toe and closed heel with rubber, slip-resistant soles. No flip-flops (yes, rainbows are flip-flops).
• Pants (no shorts, denim, spandex or cargo pants allowed) must be clean, BLACK or KHAKI, and FULL-LENGTH.
• A belt must be worn with pants that have belt loops.
• You may wear a plain, black shirt under the provided referee shirt if desired.
• Hoodies, sweatshirts, and personal jackets are NOT allowed.

For more detailed information, check out the Stadium Food and Beverage's Game Day Information For Volunteers.

Which booth are we in and what is it like?

We will be given assignments when signing in.   We will be assigned stand locations in groups.   No student/parent will work alone or work outside the concession stands; they will always be with parents or with other South Meck adults.

Is there a carpool?  Where does it meet and when?

Yes, there is a carpool.   If you need a ride or have extra space in your vehicle, meet at South Meck High School and plan to leave the school one hour before stadium check-in time for the game.   As an example, for a game with a stadium check-in time of 9am, you'd need to be at the school ready to leave by 8am.

Where do we park?  Do we have to pay to park?

Parking is free to volunteers who carpool (at least 2 people in the car).   This parking is off of Penman Street, which is off of South Mint Street.   Click here for the Google Maps location....
During the Pre-season Games you will have to pay to park IF you show up by yourself.

Do we get free food to eat while there?

Yes, the good part is we get to eat for free!   The only cost is you must write down what you eat on a "Gratis" sheet.   We are not allowed to partake of beer or wine at any cost while we are working.

What if I have to cancel at the last minute?

It is your responsibility to find a replacement if you can not attend.   Additionally, please call the booth captain (you will be notified who that is for each game) and let us know.   If someone does not show up, we will be forced to replace him with 'outsiders' and pay for the extra help out of our profit for the day.

What if I can only work half of the time?  Can we work in shifts?

Unfortunately, we cannot work in shifts.   The logistics of getting people in the stadium do not permit folks to come in later than the designated arrival time (of course, if you really want to come in later you can buy a ticket!)   If you have physical limitations, we can still use your help!   Let the captain know, and we'll put you on cooking or money detail.   There are occasions when people must leave early.   "Early" is defined as after the game is over.   The captain will do his/her best to work with you in this case.   Please let us know.

How many adults (18 and over) are required for one game?

The quick answer is as many as possible!   The reality is that there are no restrictions now that we are providing back up staff.   We need a minimum of 10 volunteers at each game; both parents and adults are acceptable.   We ask that every parent works a minimum of one game during the season.

How many students (under 18) are required for one game?

The requirement is simply that we must have at least 10 volunteers at each game (both parents and students 15 or older).   The more volunteers we have, the more money we get, so come as often as you can!   Each student is required to work a minimum of one game during the season.

What if we don't have enough people?

If we don't have enough people we could lose this fundraiser altogether.   Only 10 people are required at each game.

How does this fundraiser help?

All of the money earned goes to the band to pay for the myriad of costs including sheet music, competition fees, travel expenses, equipment, maintenance, copies, supplies, etc.

Quail Hollow Golf Tournament

General Information

South Meck has the privilege of earning $30,000 working at the tournament as the ecology ambassadors.   While this is just a fancy name for garbage staff, it is still a privilege, as they could ask any high school in the area to help with this great opportunity.   The money and workload are divided three ways between athletics, PTA, and fine arts.

We typically need to have a larger ratio of adults than students and lots of dads to help with the heavy work.   All workers are provided with t-shirts, water bottles, and a food voucher for a meal at the tournament.   If you work an early shift, you may stay at the course to watch the rest of that day's tournament.   PLEASE consider this great volunteer opportunity.

Restaurant Nights

Join us after every home football game this season at CiCi's Pizza (for teen food) and Monterrey Restaurant (for real food), and get to know the rest of the band team.   CiCi's and Monterrey have partnered with the South Meck bands to provide a portion of the proceeds back to the band.

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California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) has joined with us in a flavorsome fundraising event.   CPK will donate 20% of your purchase to the band if you produce the attached flyer on select nights.  

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The Sabre Split

The Sabre Split is a 50/50 split of all donations received during football games.   Tickets are sold during the first and second quarters of the game and a winning ticket is selected during half time.   The winner claims 50% of the money we raise and the Band Boosters get the other 50%.   Easy!

Game	Date	Arrive By	Game Starts	Sign-Up
vs. West Meck	Friday, September 2nd	6:15 PM	7:00 PM
vs. Providence	Friday, September 23rd	6:15 PM	7:00 PM
vs. Rocky River	Friday, September 30th	7:15 PM	8:00 PM
vs. Meyers Park	Friday, October 14th	6:15 PM	7:00 PM
vs. East Meck	Friday, October 28th	6:15 PM	7:00 PM

Sabre Split FAQ - (Click the Question to toggle display of the Answer)

Why is this the job for those afraid of commitment?

Because you're coming to the games anyway; now you get in for free!   It is about a 2 hour job - and you get fund raising "credit" - no, not on your account; You get the credit and satisfaction of being part of the booster team.   We will publicly recognize those who participate.

What do I have to do?

Simply stand at one of the station points (ticket gates) and enthusiastically ask people to purchase 1 ticket for $1 or 6 tickets for $5 (and that goes for ticket blocks as well: $20 gets you 24 tickets).

How do we make change?

The Boosters will provide the "seed" money for you to start with.

When do I have to be there?

Before the game starts (usually about 45 minute to an hour before).

How long do I work?

Until about halfway through the second quarter.   We carry the money all over to the stands where it is counted while one lucky volunteer sells to the band parents (yes, we have won the pot a time or two).   Another volunteer helps to count the money to ensure an accurate count.

What else do I have to do?

That's about it.   Occasionally someone else will be asked to "take the lead."   That will add the responsibility of being in charge of the split buckets and tickets, keeping up with the seed money, getting the winnings to the announcer for half time and having the pleasure of giving the winner their loot.

Is this "job" worth it?

You bet!   We more than doubled our projected fund raising goal last year because of the great people (like YOU) who volunteered.   AND you get to meet wonderful people just like you - I started several great friendships working the split!

How do I sign up?

Send me an email by clicking on the Sign-Up link in the list above for the game you are interested in.