Parents Organizations Parents Organizations. Parents Organizations. Parents organizations, or...

Parents OrganizationsParents Organizations

• Parents OrganizationsParents Organizations..• Parents organizations, or booster clubs, as Parents organizations, or booster clubs, as

they are often known, can serve as a strong they are often known, can serve as a strong support group in the advancement and support group in the advancement and better understanding of the music program.better understanding of the music program.

• These groups can also provide increased These groups can also provide increased visibility and an improved image to the visibility and an improved image to the program.program.

• A booster organization’s main goal should A booster organization’s main goal should be to promote the education of students in be to promote the education of students in the field of music.the field of music.


• Benefits of a parents Benefits of a parents organizationorganization..

• Through participation in a Through participation in a booster organization, parents booster organization, parents gain a better understanding of gain a better understanding of music education.music education.• They learn the purpose of the They learn the purpose of the

music program and become music program and become involved to a degree in their involved to a degree in their children’s educationchildren’s education



• Through energetic involvement Through energetic involvement with parents organizations a with parents organizations a music educator has the music educator has the opportunity to get to know the opportunity to get to know the parents of their students to a parents of their students to a greater degree.greater degree.



• Parents organizations can be a Parents organizations can be a great source of assistance for great source of assistance for the busy music educator.the busy music educator.• They can help in supervising and They can help in supervising and

chaperoning chaperoning • Publicizing eventsPublicizing events• Provide financial assistance for Provide financial assistance for

fundraising.fundraising.


• Types of parent organizationsTypes of parent organizations..• The “The “one-shotone-shot” temporary parent ” temporary parent

organization:organization:• A booster organization that is organized A booster organization that is organized

on a temporary basis and is then on a temporary basis and is then dissolved when a particular project has dissolved when a particular project has been completed.been completed.

• Generally, the sole purpose of such an Generally, the sole purpose of such an organization is to raise funds for a trip, organization is to raise funds for a trip, concert wear, or some major instrument concert wear, or some major instrument or equipment purchase.or equipment purchase.


• Types of parent organizationsTypes of parent organizations..• The “The “one-shotone-shot” temporary parents ” temporary parents

organization cont…:organization cont…:• When a booster group is organized When a booster group is organized

temporarily, it must still be structured temporarily, it must still be structured with officers, boards, and committees, with officers, boards, and committees, the same as a permanent support the same as a permanent support group.group.

• The amount of administrative effort The amount of administrative effort required for such a group is by necessity required for such a group is by necessity more intense than an organization with more intense than an organization with a more permanent framework.a more permanent framework.


• Types of parent organizationsTypes of parent organizations..• The “The “one-shotone-shot” temporary ” temporary

parents organization cont…:parents organization cont…:• Some school administrations Some school administrations

prohibit the initiation of the music prohibit the initiation of the music booster group, but are more likely booster group, but are more likely to support such an organization if to support such an organization if it is to be active on a temporary it is to be active on a temporary basis with a specific goal in mind.basis with a specific goal in mind.


• Types of parent organizationsTypes of parent organizations..• Single-performing-group booster Single-performing-group booster

clubs:clubs:• Most of the music booster organizations Most of the music booster organizations

in the United States support only one in the United States support only one school performance, usually a school school performance, usually a school band.band.

• Those choral and orchestra directors Those choral and orchestra directors have not seen the need to establish a have not seen the need to establish a parent support group as part of their parent support group as part of their individual programs.individual programs.


• Types of parent organizationsTypes of parent organizations..• Comprehensive-music-booster Comprehensive-music-booster

organization:organization:• By far the most beneficial and By far the most beneficial and

educationally sound music support educationally sound music support group.group.

• Meets the needs of all music Meets the needs of all music education taken place in a given education taken place in a given schoolschool


• Types of parent organizationsTypes of parent organizations..• Comprehensive-music-booster Comprehensive-music-booster

organization cont…:organization cont…:• Membership includes the parents of Membership includes the parents of

many student musicians in the schoolmany student musicians in the school

• An organization of this type supports the An organization of this type supports the band, choral, and orchestra programs on band, choral, and orchestra programs on a basis determined by the needs of each a basis determined by the needs of each performing group.performing group.

Parents OrganizationsParents Organizations• Types of parent organizationsTypes of parent organizations..

• Comprehensive-music-booster Comprehensive-music-booster organization cont…:organization cont…:• It takes cooperative music educators to It takes cooperative music educators to

combine their talents and efforts in a combine their talents and efforts in a comprehensive support organization for comprehensive support organization for music education.music education.

Parents OrganizationsParents Organizations• Types of parent organizationsTypes of parent organizations..

• Comprehensive-music-booster Comprehensive-music-booster organization cont…:organization cont…:• The difficulty is trying to balance any The difficulty is trying to balance any

fundraising efforts among affected fundraising efforts among affected performing groups.performing groups.

• If the members are unable to effectively If the members are unable to effectively balance their support performing balance their support performing groups, they often turn into a booster groups, they often turn into a booster group with a single focus and purposegroup with a single focus and purpose


• Organizing a Parents Booster ClubOrganizing a Parents Booster Club..• Prior to organizing a parent’s booster, Prior to organizing a parent’s booster,

music educators should feel comfortable music educators should feel comfortable with the idea of working and associating with the idea of working and associating with parents and other community with parents and other community members.members.

• A music educator must feel that a booster A music educator must feel that a booster group will be a definite aid to the program group will be a definite aid to the program and that such an organization will provide and that such an organization will provide assistance in achieving goals and assistance in achieving goals and objectives established for the program.objectives established for the program.


• Organizing a Parents Booster Club Organizing a Parents Booster Club Cont…Cont…..

• Check with school officialsCheck with school officials• School officials need to understand the School officials need to understand the

purpose of a booster clubpurpose of a booster club

• Prepare a parents-organization proposal, Prepare a parents-organization proposal, • List the reasons a music parents organization List the reasons a music parents organization

is needed to support the program and the is needed to support the program and the potential benefits to the program by the potential benefits to the program by the development of such a parent group. development of such a parent group.



• Visit with parent leadersVisit with parent leaders• It is easy to determine the influential community It is easy to determine the influential community

leaders with children involved in the music leaders with children involved in the music program.program.

• Music educators would do well to visit several of Music educators would do well to visit several of these parents personally concerning plans for a these parents personally concerning plans for a booster organization.booster organization.

• Enlist their support because they will very likely Enlist their support because they will very likely be the early leaders of the booster club.be the early leaders of the booster club.


• Organizing a Parents Booster Organizing a Parents Booster Club Cont…Club Cont…..

• Visit with area music educatorsVisit with area music educators• Music educators from nearby Music educators from nearby

schools can often be of assistance schools can often be of assistance in providing information and in providing information and practical advice regarding practical advice regarding structure, format, and benefits structure, format, and benefits that can be of use in building a that can be of use in building a new parent support group.new parent support group.



• Write a letterWrite a letter• With the blessing of school officials With the blessing of school officials

and the support of several and the support of several parents, the music educator can parents, the music educator can now drafted a letter to be sent to now drafted a letter to be sent to all music parents and the all music parents and the community leaders who may be community leaders who may be potential supporters.potential supporters.

Sample letter:Sample letter:Dear Parents and Friends,Dear Parents and Friends,I have called a meeting for parents and music students and other I have called a meeting for parents and music students and other interested people to discuss the possibility of starting a music booster interested people to discuss the possibility of starting a music booster organization. I am sure that we all share the common goal of providing the organization. I am sure that we all share the common goal of providing the best possible music program for our students. Such an organization can be best possible music program for our students. Such an organization can be extremely helpful in achieving that goal. The purpose of a music parents extremely helpful in achieving that goal. The purpose of a music parents organization would be to promote and support the entire music program organization would be to promote and support the entire music program and its activities in the Bea Flat school system.and its activities in the Bea Flat school system.

Dates: Monday, September 14, 2007Dates: Monday, September 14, 2007Time: 7:30 p.m.Time: 7:30 p.m.Place: High School Music RoomPlace: High School Music RoomAgenda: Agenda: 1. Introductory remarks by superintended Smart1. Introductory remarks by superintended Smart

2. Need for and purpose of the music2. Need for and purpose of the music parents organization – Mr. Kleffparents organization – Mr. Kleff

3. Open discussion3. Open discussion4. Election of officers4. Election of officers5. Date, time and place the next meeting5. Date, time and place the next meeting

Come to the meeting and let us hear your ideas. Refreshments will be Come to the meeting and let us hear your ideas. Refreshments will be served.served.

Sincerely,Sincerely,

John C. KleffJohn C. KleffMusic InstructorMusic Instructor



• The meetingThe meeting• The extent to which the music educator The extent to which the music educator

plans the organizational meeting will plans the organizational meeting will have a direct effect on the outcome of have a direct effect on the outcome of the meeting.the meeting.

• Parents are willing to give up of their Parents are willing to give up of their time in support of a program that is time in support of a program that is guided by an individual who is excited, guided by an individual who is excited, and can show a degree of leadership and can show a degree of leadership through their organizational abilitiesthrough their organizational abilities



• The meeting (cont…)The meeting (cont…)• A short tape of a recent or A short tape of a recent or

proposed trip would certainly be in proposed trip would certainly be in order as would a few words of order as would a few words of support from a school support from a school administratoradministrator



• ConstitutionConstitution• Music parents organizations must draft a Music parents organizations must draft a

Constitution or charter that outlines the Constitution or charter that outlines the function, structure, and intent of the function, structure, and intent of the organizationorganization

• Check with colleagues for ideas Check with colleagues for ideas regarding this important facet of a regarding this important facet of a booster club.booster club.



• Parents groups and political pressureParents groups and political pressure• It is the right and perhaps the duty of It is the right and perhaps the duty of

parents to be involved in some manner parents to be involved in some manner in the policies established by the school in the policies established by the school district.district.

• It is parents tax dollars that support, to It is parents tax dollars that support, to a great extent, the daily operation of the a great extent, the daily operation of the school.school.



• Parents groups and political pressure cont…Parents groups and political pressure cont…• It is a great error, however, for any music It is a great error, however, for any music

parents organization to officially become parents organization to officially become actively and politically involved as a pressure actively and politically involved as a pressure group to affect change in school policy.group to affect change in school policy.

• The booster group can serve as a forum for The booster group can serve as a forum for discussion of school philosophy and policy, but it discussion of school philosophy and policy, but it must refrain in all but the most dire of must refrain in all but the most dire of circumstances to act as an official source of circumstances to act as an official source of pressure for political change within the school pressure for political change within the school system.system.



• Parents groups and political pressure cont…Parents groups and political pressure cont…• A well organized, active, and viable music A well organized, active, and viable music

booster organization can send a strong and booster organization can send a strong and positive message to school officials regarding positive message to school officials regarding the degree of parental and community support the degree of parental and community support for a music program.for a music program.

• Only when a situation becomes life-threatening Only when a situation becomes life-threatening for music program is the active involvement in for music program is the active involvement in the booster club as a pressure group justified.the booster club as a pressure group justified.



• Membership Membership • Booster club membership does not Booster club membership does not

necessarily need to be restricted to necessarily need to be restricted to parents and student musicians.parents and student musicians.

• Businesses associated with the music Businesses associated with the music education program should be invited education program should be invited and encouraged to become involved.and encouraged to become involved.



• Structure Structure • The usual panel of officers is The usual panel of officers is

elected and they in turn select a elected and they in turn select a board of at least 30 members who board of at least 30 members who indicate a willingness to become indicate a willingness to become actively involved in the actively involved in the organizationorganization



• Structure Cont… Structure Cont… • Various project committees are made up of the Various project committees are made up of the

members of the organization at large and are members of the organization at large and are chaired by a board memberchaired by a board member

• Separate standing committees can handle fund Separate standing committees can handle fund raising, publicity, concert attendance, awards, raising, publicity, concert attendance, awards, membership, and community events.membership, and community events.

• The 30 to 40 member board concept is offered The 30 to 40 member board concept is offered because of the low percentage of parents that because of the low percentage of parents that are willing to be involved on a long-term basis in are willing to be involved on a long-term basis in such a project. Most people are willing to give a such a project. Most people are willing to give a little of themselves over a short period of timelittle of themselves over a short period of time



• Activities Activities • Activities of the booster organization Activities of the booster organization

can and should include printing and can and should include printing and distribution of a newsletter to the distribution of a newsletter to the membership three or four times membership three or four times annuallyannually• Should include calendar of eventsShould include calendar of events• Individual school activitiesIndividual school activities• Feature activitiesFeature activities• Club projectsClub projects• News of the other innovative projectsNews of the other innovative projects



• Determining a nameDetermining a name• The title of the group provides a The title of the group provides a

degree of identity to the group.degree of identity to the group.


• Final notesFinal notes• Music educators often overlook a Music educators often overlook a

tremendously important asset to any tremendously important asset to any booster group, that is, the fathers of music booster group, that is, the fathers of music students.students.

• Music educators should make every effort Music educators should make every effort to solicit and promote the involvement of to solicit and promote the involvement of the male members of a community’s the male members of a community’s musical families. They often possess the musical families. They often possess the carpentry, banking, business, publicity, and carpentry, banking, business, publicity, and promotional skills necessary to the promotional skills necessary to the successful operation of a music parents successful operation of a music parents organization.organization.

Parents Organizations Parents Organizations. Parents Organizations. Parents organizations, or...

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