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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-05-23, Page 11News Technology helps marching band contact alumni for June 9 reunion Marching band prepares for 50th anniversary weekend Aaron jack 1 i n 011011 New technology is helping an old• organization get the word out about its upcoming 50th anniversary cele- bration. Penny Breen, of the Seaforth and District All -Girls Marching Band, says the popular online social net- working site Facebook factored into their publicity campaign. "We tried to get the word out in all the papers in Ontario that we could think of," she said. "And also Facebook, that the kids use? Well, it seems like a lot of adults use it too." Breen said that when the band got back from a recent trip to Nashville, some of the girls in the band posted pictures from the trip to Facebook and mentioned the reunion. "It's funny what the connection has been," she said. "At first it only seemed to be people under 30, but in the last few weeks it seems like there are even more people getting on there and asking questions about it „ The band even has its own Facebook group, a collection of Facebook members who have essen- tially joined an online club that allows them to post photos and talk to each other online. To date, there are 106 members of the Facebook group. Some are current members of the band, while others are past members. Since they haven't been asking people to RSVP, Breen isn't sure how many people will be at the band's 50th anniversary reunion. "But as we speak, I'm baking birthday cake for 500," said Breen. The reunion will start offically at about noon on Saturday, June 9 at Seaforth Public School, according to Sharon Thompson from the band executive. "I have absolutely no idea how many people will be there," she said, noting that they hope that 300 to 500 people will show up. Contacting former members is a larger challenge than it otherwise might have been. "A lot of the old records were destroyed in a flood," said Thompson. John Bezaire, Deputy Reeve of Central Huron and owner of Willy's in Clinton, will be flipping burgers and roasting hot dogs with some of his staff in a food booth. "We'll also have ice cream and popcorn and candy floss," said Breen. Senior band members will look after children, running three-legged races and other games. "We're going to have one of those inflatable castles for the kids to jump around in," said Breen. She also said there will be a "huge silent auction in the gym" with items donated by businesses and families from all over Huron County. "The star prize we have for the silent auction is a porcelain doll dressed in the traditional Lindsay tartan the band wore," Breen said. Joyce Whitten from Goderich is donating the doll. "She's able to copy things down to the last detail," Breen said. "She hand knit the socks for this doll." The doll is dressed in a kilt, band jacket, tam and tie. "It's beautifully done," Breen said. She said the last doll Whitten donated to one of their silent auc- tions sold for over $500, and this one may sell for enough to purchase a trumpet. "There's always a need for new instruments," she said, noting that so much of their fundraising goes into buses and trips and just keep- ing the band alive, that sometimes the instruments get overlooked. Thompson said they'll also set up a memory wall with photos, memo- rabilia and a video. Breen said the video will have clips of parades the band has been a part of dating back to the early 80s. Some of the memorabilia came from the town hall and some of it came from band members with fam- ily who have been in the band. Fittingly, Seaforth will also get to see the band in action at the reunion. "There will be a parade of past and present members at about 2 p.m.," Thompson said. While both Breen and Thompson said the parade route will include Main Street, the final route hasn't been finalized yet. Thompson said that if past mem- bers have instruments, they're wel- come to bring them on the parade, but they're also welcome to just blend in without playing. Getting a hold of former members when a lot of their records don't exist anymore wasn't the only chal- lenge the band ran into. "We were hoping to put together a committee of past and present band The Huron Expositor • May 23, 2007 Page 11 members to get their ideas of what they wanted, but that never really worked," Thompson said. "It's too bad," she said, noting the executive is kept busy enough try- ing to get the funding to keep the band running. "That's okay, it'll be what it is and we will certainly recognize it (the 50th anniversary)," Thompson said. KENNETH J. VAN RIESEN CFP CLU CH.F.C. CHARTERED FINANCIAL CONSULTANT INTERGLOBE Financial Services Corp. 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