Choir fund-raising brings new garb close; next up: marching band pants
By Per Peterson
While hopes were high for a strong fundraising output for new choir robes and stoles at Tracy Area High School, no one could’ve predicted this.
Members of the Tracy Area Music Boosters addressed the District No. 2904 School Board last Tuesday evening to update board members on fundraising efforts and seek some financial help in pushing them over their goal earlier than had been expected.
Student Katlyn Wieme modeled the new robe and stole for board members. The robe is black, with white interior lining, while the stole is white with red and blue trim and “TAHS” embroidered in red lettering on the front.
Noting the current robes are about 40 years old, TAHS choir director Wendy Johnson reminded the board of the need for replacement — and a much-needed update on the fabric and style fronts.
“We thought, ‘it’s time for a change,’” Johnson said. “We formed the boosters at the beginning of the year and the ladies just went to town. They started getting some meal fundraisers going before the concerts, then larger donations started coming in, and some smaller donations.”
Johnson estimated the cost of the robes and stoles would be about $150 apiece with a grand total just passing the $16,100 mark. That includes a bulk discount and a reduced shipping cost.
Booster Denise Hoek said the overall fundraising goal was set at $50,000 for robes and band uniforms. Currently, they have $10,000 to put toward the robes/stoles. In addition to the $10,000, donations were also given to the Tracy Area Foundation in memory of longtime history teacher Bill Bolin, who died in 2017. There was also a significant donation from the Johnston family. The total in donations was about $5,500.
For more on this article, see this week’s Headlight-Herald.