See you at Homecoming on October 27!

July 1, 2005

Dear Band Alums:

Well, you finally have it - information on Homecoming 2005 and the Alumni Band Reunion! As always, some of you wish you had gotten this months ago, but there is no real point in mailing out this information until it is complete and verified on the university level. Homecomings now involve the entire campus, and with the homecoming activities that take place on Saturday on the Engineering Mall, we need to make sure our schedule coordinates with everyone else's. The actual date of Homecoming has been out there for several months, and I am certain that if you are a band alum you know that this is your year to march, so I am sure you have made tentative plans by now. This mailing will give you the specific details of the weekend along with registration forms you need to complete for us. Note also that again this year the forms and information are also available on this web site, This will also be the location where we will post any last-minute adjustments or changes, so visit here often!

The enclosed schedule sheet gives you complete details on the series of events that will make up this year's reunion. The highlight, of course, is the last opportunity to participate in an alumni marching band that will be drilled to perfection by Bill Kisinger. Bill will retire at the end of the 2005-2006 academic year, and this will be his final performance as a conductor with the Alumni Band. We know that all of you who have known and worked with Bill over these past 36 years will want to be back for this special performance. Please read the information carefully, and note where there are changes to the normal routine. If you have any concerns or questions, please let us know. Contact information is listed on the schedule sheet. The most important thing to do right now is to make your lodging arrangements, as rooms will book up quickly due to the strong interest in our fine football team. Again, contact information is listed in the schedule sheet. If you are internet savvy, contacts are very simple and you can avoid the long distance phone charges.

Next, make sure that you understand the "uniform" that will be required for Alumni Band participation. This will create a basic uniform look on the field, and will also get you admitted to the game. We have a white "Alumni Band" ball cap, which is the same as we have worn before. If you do not have one, you can purchase one when you arrive. For the instrumentalists, the dress is black slacks, a white shirt (polo shirt or dress shirt will work), and black shoes and socks. You can bring your band jacket or some other similar dark jacket or sweater if you think you will need it in the stands. All auxiliaries should also wear black slacks or shorts, a white top, and you can dispense with the ball cap on the field.

Due to the large number of expected participants, we ask that you try to locate an instrument for your personal use for the performance. Local high schools or music stores are often a good bet. For the larger instruments, such as baritones, sousaphones, mellophones, and percussion, we will do our best to have as many instruments as possible available for your use, although our resources are limited. If you need to borrow an instrument from us, please get your form in EARLY, as we will fill requests on a first come-first served basis. Those requesting instruments will receive a confirmation form back from us so you know if we were able to fill your request. Percussionists in particular should keep an open mind as to instrument assignment, as we must have as balanced a section as possible. Dr. Nave will assign all percussion parts to best accomplish this, and we trust you will help her by accepting that assignment.

Only actual Alumni band members will be admitted to Ross-Ade Stadium without charge. Family members, guests, friends, groupies, etc. will all have to purchase tickets to the game. They can sit in the location of their choice, but not within the actual band block. Ticket orders can be accomplished either on line or via a toll-free number as noted in the schedule sheet. DO NOT ORDER TICKETS THROUGH THE BAND DEPARTMENT - WE DON"T HAVE ANY! Tickets will probably go quickly, so if you are interested, get your orders in as soon as possible.

Once they are gone, that will be it. The Alumni Band will be sitting in the South end zone on the west side, so request that general area if you want to sit near the band.

Some changes are in place for Friday night due to events that are being scheduled here on campus. Due to the noon game time, the Friday night rehearsal we eliminated the last time is back on the weekend schedule. We hope that most of you will arrive on Friday and check in between 3:30 and 6:00 p.m. in Elliott Hall. You may pick up your instrument, music and registration packet at that time in Room 30. There will be an important music rehearsal in room 15 from 6:30 - 8 p.m. Professor Kisinger will have a brief run-through of the show music and talk you through the performance charts. At the same time, the university is planning a Homecoming Parade- an "electric light" parade. The regular marching band will participate in this parade, which is set to step off at 7:00 p.m. Alumni band members will miss this, but family members might want to view it while waiting for you.

The Saturday morning schedule (see enclosed schedule form) will start this year with a very early marching rehearsal at the drill field. For those who did not pick up their registration materials and music on Friday, registration will take place from 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. at the drill field. The field rehearsal will be held from 7:30 - 9 a.m. Note that if you wish to march you MUST be in attendance for the FULL rehearsal on Saturday morning! It is going to be a long day, so don't wait until Saturday morning to limber up and get re-acquainted with your instrument!

Following the rehearsal, the alumni band will be free to grab some lunch at one of the vendors around the Engineering Mall. Folks can gather with friends and family and partake of the food of their choice. You will need to be finished and report to the front of Elliott Hall for the alumni band pregame concert by 10:15 a.m. The pregame concert we normally do at Slayter Center will be held on a special stage near the Civil Engineering Building on Stadium Mall Drive . The university has asked that ALL homecoming activities take place in this area and the Engineering Mall as they did the last two years, and we are doing our part to meet that request. The Alumni band will perform first, followed by the AAMB. Both bands will then parade to the stadium, leading the fans to their seats for a noon game start.

Of course, the big event this year is the retirement of Prof. Bill Kisinger and his last performance with the Alumni Band. To honor this special occasion, a very special testimonial dinner will be held at University Inn, 3001 Northwestern Ave. after the game. A buffet dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. with a social hour from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. The cost of the dinner is $30 per person. Seating is limited so make your reservations now!

I think that gives you all the information you need to plan for right now. Now you need to help us plan. We MUST have the enclosed Registration Form back from you just as soon as possible so we can get all the operational details in place for this event. I trust that those of you who were in the habit of showing up for the AAMB Workshop with your forms in hand have gotten beyond that little problem, and will manage to send the sheet back within a couple days of receiving it. "To be early is to be on time." as a famous pundit once said, so please be ON TIME with your form. Miss the deadline and you may miss an opportunity to march down the field "just one more time." Please remember to read the enclosed materials CAREFULLY and COMPLETELY, and give us a shout if you have any questions. Pat Newton, our Administrative Assistant, is the person to contact either at (765) 494-0770 or at panewton@purdue.edu . Remember also that you can take care of all of this ONLINE at the Purdue Bands website - www.purdue.edu/BANDS ! Watch the site for any alumni updates.

Thanks so much for your ongoing support and your involvement in this fun-filled weekend. I hope your plans include being here this Homecoming weekend. We are all looking forward to seeing you and having you with us again this year, or perhaps for the very first time!

Sincerely,

David A. Leppla

Director of University Bands