SVHS RANGER BAND BOOSTER
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
It takes many people to make sure that the band and color guard have all the support they need to stay healthy and focused for a fun and successful experience. This page has descriptions of many important roles and an idea of what to expect. Some areas only need a few hours here and there, and some require long hours, but let’s help share the load and the experience! The more you volunteer, the more you learn, and this ensures continuity for the future of the Mighty Ranger Band Booster Program.
First and most improtant step to become a volunteer:
Every volunteer has to be cleared/approved by COMAL ISD. You will need to fille out the Volunteer Background Check at https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/MjMwMDplbi1VUw==. Once you have been approved please share your approval email, that you will receive from the district, to our secretary, Casey Rendon, at svhsbandboostersecretary@gmail.com. Please proved your full name and how you are associated with the band in the body of your email.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
Call times for these committee volunteer opportunities will differ depending on the event for which you are volunteering. When volunteering for football game, committee call times are normally around 4:00–4:30 p.m. for home games, while away games could start earlier depending on travel distance. For other away events, call times will be determined by student departure and arrival needs, as well as travel distance. On early travel school days, students will be released early from class to go to the band hall to get ready, load equipment, eat, and board the bus. Competition days can start as early as 6:00 a.m. and return after midnight. Even if you can only squeeze in a little time here and there around your schedule, we appreciate any time you are able to give!
Chaperones:
Generally, 2 parent chaperones per school bus (5 last year) for each event we attend away
from the school. Chaperones prepare snacks and water for trips, check students onto buses before each departure and monitor that students follow the code of conduct. If necessary, notify the Chaperone Committee chair to discuss directly with the Directors. Ensure students remove their belongings and remove any remaining garbage from buses upon return to the school.
Feed the Band:
This committee organizes and serves meals prior to home games, away games and has meals available at competitions as well. The “Pre-game/Competitions Meals” fee paid at registration covers this. You will be notified through the directors if there is an event where your child needs to bring their own food. This committee needs typically 4 to 6 people to help set up, serve, and clean up after the students are fed.
General Fundraising:
Our general fundraising chair along with her subcommittee chairs plan out all fundraising efforts throughout the year. We hold many different fundraiser but three of the main fundraisers that we hold and need volunteers for are:
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Flamingo Fundraiser- This normally starts within the first couple weeks of summer band. The students mainly run this fundraiser. Each section gathers homes that are willing to participate and be flocked by our sections. The sections compete to see which section can raise the most money. This fundraiser requires parent help in driving the students around to the homes. Students are not allowed to drive themselves or others for this event.
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Fajita Dinner Fundraiser- This event is held in conjunction with a silent auction. It is a fun night for our band families, friends, and community members to come together and enjoy a nice fajita dinner at the school, prepared by our talented grill team. The dinner is paired with a stadium performance of the marching band's UIL program. Volunteers are needed to help serve the meal to attendees.
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Silent Auction Fundraiser- Held in conjunction with the fajita dinner, this fundraiser features themed baskets and items donated by band families and local businesses for guests to bid on. There is also a live auction for more valuable items at the end of the night.
Grill Team:
This volunteer group provides and operates grills for various events, including Meet the Band, the Student Pool Party, the Stadium Dinner/Silent Auction, and TCGC concessions. Each event requires a team of 6 to 10 volunteers. The standard call time is 2 to 3 hours prior to the start of the event.
Health and Safety:
This is a role for a volunteer Registered Nurse to accompany the band on away events. The nurse ensures timely assistance with issues like dehydration and minor injuries, and administers over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics as needed with consent. Additional EMS staff is on-site at events to transport patients for urgent concerns triaged by the nurse. On out-of-state band trips, the nurse will secure and administer any maintenance medications your student needs to take. The chair is responsible for ensuring stock (ice packs, bandages, and OTC analgesics) is maintained in the nurse backpacks, which are kept in the band kitchen when not in use.
Staffing requirements:
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Home games: No nurse required
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Away games: 1 nurse
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Competitions and parades: 2 nurses
Pit Crew:
This is a dual-purpose group that needs many volunteers for all performances and games. This group also helps design and develop any props related to the show that are not already purchased from vendors. The Pit Crew Chair will coordinate volunteers to meet as needed for any props that must be built early in the season, likely on weekends and after work or school hours.
“The Pit” will coordinate with the Directors, SLT Load Crew, and Prop Crew at each performance to load and unload equipment and props into “Big Blue” (the 18-wheeler) or “Little Blue” (the box truck). We may also need volunteers to tow the flatbed trailer, depending on the size and number of props. (You are a rockstar if you have a CDL and are willing to drive Big Blue—this saves us a lot of money!) At the event, the Pit Crew will meet in a designated area (usually 5 minutes before halftime at games) to help the band move Front Ensemble, Percussion, and sound equipment to the front of the field, as well as move all props to their designated areas.
Please note that this process must be done very quickly. At halftime shows, we need to be efficient so both bands can perform within the allotted time. Speed is even more important at competitions because setup timing is part of the score. We have exactly 2 minutes to get onto the field and set up, and 2 minutes to clear the field after our performance! The more volunteers we have to expedite this process, the better we can avoid penalties.
This group requires at least 50 volunteers, and possibly more depending on the number of props at each event.
Calling all parents:
Join the Ranger Band Pit Crew
Spirit Merchandise:
To help raise additional funds for the Booster Organization, we sell merchandise at home football games and other events, such as Registration, Meet the Band, and the Winter Color Guard competition. Call time is 5:00 PM to set up before gates open for home football games. Four volunteers are needed: two for payment and two to handle merchandise.
Uniforms:
This group starts at registration by getting kids into the appropriate sizes for the marching and concert season uniforms. Volunteers log each disbursed item to track them. At the end of the year, items are checked back in and taken to be dry cleaned.
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Registration: 10 volunteers
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Post-Concert Season: 6 volunteers to check in items
Water Crew:
This committee fills large containers to keep water on hand and keep students well hydrated during football games and band competitions. Volunteers fill water coolers with ice and water so students can fill their hydration backpacks as needed. Each event needs 4 to 6 people, and large water containers require at least two people for safe lifting. Work usually starts between 3:30 PM and 4:00 PM to get everything ready.