Please monitor the NHS Eagle Pride Band website for the most current information and forms. Select the Rose Parade link at

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1 Frequently Asked Questions about NHS marching in the Rose Parade Current as of Dec 13, 2015 Please monitor the NHS Eagle Pride Band website for the most current information and forms. Select the Rose Parade link at Please submit any general questions to Brett Verzwyvelt at Question: What are the details of Niceville s trip to the Rose Parade? Answer: The Niceville High School Band has accepted an invitation to march in the 128 th Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA. The parade will step off at 8:00 a.m. (PST) on Monday, January 2, Please note the parade is on the 2 nd in 2017 since the 1 st is a Sunday. There will be about 700,000 spectators along the 5 ½ mile parade route and about 81 million TV viewers around the world. Students will march about 6 miles with their instruments from the staging area to the finish at a pace of about 2 ½ miles per hour. Visit the Tournament of Roses website, for more information about the Rose Parade. Question: What are the overall dates of the trip and the itinerary? Answer: The overall trip duration is planned from Thursday, Dec 29, 2016 to Tuesday, Jan 3, The itinerary is still tentative, and we hope to have it finalized by mid-january In addition to band rehearsals and marching in the parade, the following activities are being considered. - Los Angeles Tour: Hollywood, Farmers Market and Chinese Theater - Beach Visit: Santa Monica Beach and Pier area - Band Fest: View Rose Parade float barn, band exhibition, and Rose Bowl band photo - Theme Park: Visit a theme park such as Knott s Berry Farm - Live Theater show: Multiple options under consideration - Dinner/Dance on the Queen Mary Question: Is Tuesday, Jan , an excused absence for students? Answer: Yes. 1

2 Question: How much will the trip cost? Answer: The trip will cost approximately $2500 per student. This price is all-inclusive with the exception of 2 lunches, souvenirs and snacks. It will include airfare, lodging, entertainment fees, food, transportation, and apparel. The apparel will probably be a light jacket, T-shirt, and commemorative pins. We are currently negotiating the final prices and hope to have it finalized in the January timeframe. While the final price is not finalized, the estimated $2500 price will help families start saving and determining their fundraising goals. Question: Will a trip deposit be required? Answer: Yes, there will be trip deposit of $200,which will be due along with a signed letter of intent to make the trip. This deposit is due by Jan 15, The letter of intent form should be posted on the NHS band website. Question: Will there be a payment plan for the trip? Answer: Yes. After the $200 deposit is paid, our tentative plan is to set up monthly payments of approximately $230 over ten months, from Feb 1, 2016 to Nov 1, Recommend families start setting aside money with anticipation of the first payment tentatively planned to be due on Feb Question: Will credit card payments be accepted? Answer: Yes. The initial deposit of $200 is required by cash, check or existing funds in student accounts. Once the $200 deposit is paid, the remaining payments can be made by cash, check, or credit card. Please note, there will be a 3% service charge for each credit card payment. Question: Will there be a cancellation/refund policy? Answer: The initial $200 deposit is non-refundable. There will be a refund policy for the remaining balance of approximately $2300, in the event a student cancels their planned trip. The details are in development and will be provided in the January-February 2016 timeframe. Question: How will the students travel to Pasadena? Answer: The plan is to travel on a direct charter flight from the Destin-Ft. Walton Beach Airport to Pasadena, CA. During the trip, students will be transported on charter buses for all activities. Question: What hotel will be used for lodging? Answer: The hotel arrangements are in development and we hope to know the location in the Feb 2016 timeframe. 2

3 Question: Will there be fundraisers? Answer: Yes. There are several fundraisers being planned, and many others being considered to provide students an opportunity to raise funds for the trip. Details of the fundraisers will be provided to students in early 2016, once they are finalized. Fundraisers currently in development are a golf tournament, a cruise raffle, and a NHS band cookbook sale. Question: Will there be scholarship opportunities for those in financial need? Answer: Yes. There will be partial scholarships, based on the availability of donated funds. Recipients will be required to submit an application. Selection will be based on attitude, character, scholarship, financial need, and their active participation in fundraising activities. The scholarship form will be posted in early January at the NHS Band website. The forms will also be available in the band director s office. All scholarship forms must be hand delivered to the band director by 1 March Donations to the scholarship fund can be made by downloading the sponsor form, which is posted on the band website. Please select the Rose Parade link at Question: Will there be corporate sponsorships? Answer: We are reaching out to all local businesses and corporations to see how we can team up for business and corporate sponsorships. Question: How can I make a donation or sponsor a student? Answer: All donations are graciously appreciated and are tax deductible. We will have three options for donations as follows: - Red Rose Sponsor: This donation is applied to the general Rose Parade fund to offset overall trip costs. This donation benefits all students. - Yellow Rose Sponsor: This donation is applied to the scholarship fund to defray the cost of students with demonstrated financial need. - Pink Rose Sponsor: This donation is applied to a specific student s account to fully fund or partially fund his/her trip. If you or your business would like to make a donation, please download the sponsorship form at the NHS band website. Please select the Rose Parade link at Question: How and when will chaperones be selected? Answer: The district policy requires we have at least 1 chaperone for every 10 students. We estimate approximately 300 students will make the trip, resulting in about 30 chaperones, as a minimum. Niceville High School is blessed with a significant amount of volunteers and chaperones. Chances are we will have more chaperone volunteers than spots available. The chaperones will be selected based 3

4 on the needs of the band, a female to male ratio, skills, experience and service to the band. Please note chaperoning a trip of this magnitude will require patience, the ability to work very long hours, limited sleep and the unique opportunity to spend New Year s Eve with about 300 students, and no alcohol! We are several months away from selecting chaperones for the trip. We will start accepting chaperone applications once all participating students have been identified. There will be an application and selection process, which will be announced at a later date. Selected chaperones will be required to be finger-printed and should expect to pay a discounted rate for the trip. The chaperone application will be posted on the NHS Band website in the Feb-Mar timeframe. Please select the Rose Parade link at Question: Can parents and other family members travel with the band and attend events? Answer: Yes. Our travel agent is preparing a family and friends tour package. This will include a couple of travel packages to select from with and without airfare. These packages will also include reserved Rose Parade grandstand seating with band chaperones and guests. We will post Friends and Family information on the NHS Band website as soon as it is available in early Question: Can I just fly with the band to take advantage of a direct flight to LA? Answer: Yes. If there are any seats available, we plan to offer up a fly-only option to fly on the same flight as the band to Pasadena. We will pass on this information as it develops. Question: Will there be a discount if I keep my child in Pasadena and travel back separately? Answer: No. There will be no discounts, since the trip is based on round trip airfare. Parents who choose to check out their student after the Rose Parade will still pay a full fare. Question: Can we check out our children during the trip to visit relatives who live in Pasadena? Answer: No. Due to safety, security, and logistics reasons, students cannot be checked out during the trip. Parents may choose to check out students permanently after the Rose Parade and have the student travel back separately from the band, but the student will still pay the full fare. Question: Will new color guard & majorettes participate in the trip since tryouts are typically in April? Answer: Both the color guard and majorettes are a key component of the band, and they are expected to make the trip. The band director is planning to have an early tryout in 2016 to allow the color guard and majorettes time to plan for this trip. 4

5 Question: Will new transfer students be allowed to go on the trip? Answer: Yes. New transfer students who join the band and want to go on the trip must begin payments as soon as possible upon arrival in the NHS Eagle Pride. New students will need to work directly with the treasurer to make payment arrangements. Question: Can my current 8 th grader who will be in the Eagle Pride Marching Band in the Fall of 2016 participate in fundraising activities with the NHS Band? Answer: Yes. High School Charms accounts are being established for each current 8 th grader who may join the Eagle Pride. Trip payments and fundraising profits will be posted to this account. Please direct any questions to your respective middle school liaisons. Cathy and Curtis Erickson, cathy.erickson@cox.net, are the RMS liaisons. Anthony and Brenda Briley, myantdot@hotmail.com, are the LMS liaisons. Question: How do I notify the Band Directors I want to march in the Rose Parade? Answer: All students who want to make the trip and march in the Rose Parade are required to pay the $200 deposit and fill out a letter of intent. The form is posted on the band website under the Rose Parade link at Question: What are the committees, and how can I help? Answer: The committees are listed in the table below and all committees will need help. In addition to the committees, there are several subcommittees, such as individual fundraisers, requiring volunteers. Please do not hesitate to contact the committee chairman with any questions. 5

6 2017 NHS Band Rose Parade Committees Committee Chairman Vice-Chairman Steering Committee Brett Verzwyvelt Travel Coordinator Laura Anderson Treasurer-Operations Melody Coon Treasurer-Student Elaine Johnson Stacy Herr Accounting Chaperones Konnie Glaze Tammy Williams Equipment Steve Jensen Fundraising Mary Hencinski Stella Verzwyvelt Uniforms/Accessories Sharon Jacobs Connie Jones First Aid Sara Vasquez Publicity/Website Patti Wolfrom Sponsorship/Grants Cathy Erickson Debbie Mason RMS Liaison Cathy Erickson Curtis Erickson LMS Liaison Anthony Briley Dorothy Briley TOR President Visit Steve Wolfrom Joan Freeman 6