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Methuen
Ranger Band
Metuen
Councilor Kathleen Corey Rahme
 Methuen has had a high
school band for as long as anyone can remember. One of
the often overlooked components of a successful high
school band is the volunteers, particularly the parents.
Without them, I am hard pressed to imagine that the band
would exist as we know it today. Of course there would be
a Methuen High School Ranger Band, but it would probably
not be logistically capable of doing everything it does.
I would like to acknowledge the good works of the Methuen
Ranger Band Parents Association and share with you how
their various gifts of time, talent and treasure make our
band so successful.
The Methuen Ranger Band Parents Association
(MRBPA), formerly known as Methuen Parents for Better
Music, incorporated itself in 2003 as a 501-C3
organization to be able to obtain grants and other
benefits that would otherwise not be available. They
exist for the sole purpose of benefiting the band.
This is an all volunteer group, made up of parents,
relatives and friends. There is an elected executive
board as well as class representatives for every grade.
There is also a large, parent, volunteer base. They are
the ones who are responsible for the transport of student
musicians, color guard, and equipment. Annually they
travel over 2000 miles throughout Massachusetts and New
Hampshire. They also drive the busload of equipment to
Florida every other year, when the band is invited to
parade through Main Street USA, Disney World as
ambassadors of our city.
Enthusiasm for the band is reflected by their numbers.
Traditionally the band has had a compliment of around 130
members. It provides entertainment and enjoyment for
three annual parades in Methuen alone; Veterans Day,
Santa Parade, and Memorial Day. They also parade in
Haverhill and Salem, NH. When you see the band marching
down the street, be sure the Methuen Band Parents are
marching along side them to provide escort.
They are the ones wearing blue jackets and Khaki slacks
carrying the water or picking up the musician who
fainted.
The band plays at all the football games at home and
away. When they are at Nicholson Stadium playing the half
time show, parent volunteers assist the band, especially
the pit section in dragging out all the equipment, first
from the school to the bus, from the bus to the field and
then back again. There is never any commotion and unless
you knew better, you probably would never know this was
even happening. Ticket sales for 50-50 raffle are sold by
parent volunteers. Let me say this. When you have a child
join the band, YOU join the band.
In an effort to help defray the cost incurred by the
students when they go to Florida, several fundraisers are
held to benefit the band members all of which are
coordinated by the MRBPA. They sell candy bars and
poinsettias. Throughout the year, other events are
offered to the community to benefit both the band and
graduating senior scholarships, such as Beatlejuice (I
recommend it highly!), the Holiday Concert scheduled for
December 20 at 7:00 at MHS, and one of my personal
favorites is the Spring Concert featuring the Jazz Band
and Dirty Hands, Inc. (a group resembling Stomp or Blue
Man Group). The MBPA coordinates all the logistics and
construct an ad booklet to benefit the band. They obtain
sponsorship of the annual dinner before the concert from
local restaurants.
Annually, the MICCA (Massachusetts Instrumental Choral
Conductors Association) is held in Methuen. There are
upwards of ten school bands that come to Methuen to
perform in this prestigious competition. The logistics of
this event are awesome. Parking busses, unloading
equipment and students, food, first aid, performance
scheduling and assembling, ticket sales, tee-shirts,
programs, crowd control and so much more must be handled
by the MRBPA. I am certain that I didn’t even
mention the half of it.
The band is such an integral part of our community. We
have grown to expect them at our inaugurations, tree
lighting, and other special events. They are such an
asset to any occasion. The MRBPA is the group that makes
this happen. It is like the electricity you enjoy in your
home. For me, I don’t care where it comes from. I
just turn the switch on and I have grown to expect it to
be there. From now on, when you see the award winning
Methuen Ranger Band perform, know and appreciate the many
volunteers that make it happen.
The Neighbors in Need were assisted this past
Thanksgiving when the MRBPA delivered 140 meals to needy
families. This was done using the old, blue band
bus.
There is an effort by the MRBPA to get a new band bus.
Many of the volunteers currently serving may not even
have children in the band when they finally get one. This
is just an example of how giving these folks are. They
are forward thinking in their love of the band. Does
anyone have an extra bus? Does anyone have any ideas on
how to get one?
The MBPA will receive a well deserved City Council
proclamation on Monday, December 18, at 7:00 PM in the
Great Hall, Methuen City Hall.
I would like to invite all the band members, current and
former to come and acknowledge this special group.
To them, I say thank you on behalf of a grateful city.
Kathleen Corey Rahme is the former Central District
Councilor in Methuen and was elected as a city councilor
“at large” last year. She is also the founder
of the Methuen Youth Corps and hosts “Call to Serve.”
You can email her at kcoreyrahme @comcast.net
*Send your questions comments to ValleyPatriot@aol.com
The December, 2006
Edition of the Valley Patriot
The Valley Patriot is a Monthly
Publication.
All Contents (C) 2006, Valley Patriot, Inc.
We publish 10,000 newspapers and distribute in Andover,
North Andover,
Methuen, Haverhill, Chelmsford, Georgetown, Groveland,
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Beach, and Lowell.
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