The Oakdale Music Boosters are looking to once again pack the Oakdale High School gym, fill some bellies and empty some pockets of generous donors as they host the annual Boosters Dinner and Music Showcase this Saturday, Nov. 4. The annual event will be hosted from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets are available at the door. Advance purchase is encouraged by e-mailing oakdalemusicboosters@gmail.com.
Attendees of the dinner can expect a tri-tip dinner, dessert, over 75 silent auction items, live auction opportunities and entertainment provided by the high school and junior high music programs. Dinner will be served around 5:45 p.m.
“We start it right away,” Booster President Susan Calvin said of meal service. “We’ve got a full program.”
Calvin shared proceeds from the event benefit Oakdale High School band, choir, jazz band and color guard, Oakdale Junior High band, choir and winterguard, as well as the elementary school band program.
“We raise funds to provide for the needs of the departments,” she said.
The Oakdale Music Booster is a 501c3 non-profit, as well as an independent entity of Oakdale Joint Unified School District. The group does, however, partner with the music directors when need arises. A notable recent occurrence came when elementary band teacher Julie Bolme learned her program would be short on instruments to provide for interested students. Thanks to funds raised from events such as the dinner auction, Oakdale Music Boosters was able to fill the need.
In her first year as Booster President and fifth year as an active parent volunteer, Calvin stressed the need for more parent volunteer support to sustain the needs of the group. There is currently a vacancy for Vice-President; Tony Albertoni serves as Secretary and Lorie Bolme is treasurer.
“People think that boosters is a very large group, when in fact we’ve very small,” she said. “We need help.”
Those interested may get started as soon as the dinner auction, as the group is still seeking help for the night of the event.
“Band parents who want to help can just come and find us at the door that night,” Calvin stated.
As for the hours of commitment, travel and work put in to support the students and their teachers, Calvin has no complaints, but rather gratitude.
“Seeing the progression of the students through the year,” Calvin stated, choking back emotion. “The teachers do a fabulous job at teaching these kids the basics and having them work as a group. Seeing the progression from concert to concert is really fulfilling.
“Watching students who might not otherwise be active in school activity, be engaged and enjoying it. That’s such a rewarding feeling,” she concluded.
