Spartan marching band to join Chicago parade

The band usually makes a trip to a national parade venue each year.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Some of them have been working to raise money for this trip since last May, and, on Wednesday, the Boardman Spartan Marching Band will be off for Chicago to march in the McDonald's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Thomas Ruggieri, director of bands, said 235 of the band's 247 members, along with 24 parent chaperones, will board six motorcoaches bound for Chicago on Wednesday morning.
They'll return Saturday.
Those not going have other arrangements with their families, Ruggieri said.
It's not the band's first trip to the Chicago parade. It's been there at least four times before, Ruggieri said, noting that the last time was four years ago when the parade was sponsored by the retail giant Target.
The band tries to take a trip to march in some national event every year, he said. Past trips have included parades in New York City as well as events in Virginia and both the Orange and Citrus bowls in Florida.
There's already discussion about making a trip to Florida next year.
"It's a great experience for the students," Ruggieri said. It also offers terrific exposure for the school, the community and the band program.
This year's parade will be broadcast live from 10 a.m. to noon and local ABC affiliate WYTV will carry the event, he said.
In addition to marching in the parade, the band has tickets to see the Blue Man Group perform, and will have a Thanksgiving Day dinner at its hotel and be treated to a dinner-dance by the parade organizers.
There will be time for shopping on Michigan Avenue and the Navy Pier as well as visiting the John Hancock building, famed for its observation deck.
It's an expensive proposition and each band member has to pay 600 to participate.
The band has been holding a variety of fund-raising activities, starting with the sale of spring flowers last May, to help raise the cash. There have been candy, fruit and food products sales as well.
"The kids pay pretty much the whole thing," Ruggieri said, adding that the Boardman Band and Orchestra Parents Inc. help organize and run the fundraising.
The chaperones get a price break with the Boardman Band and Orchestra Parents picking up half of their costs. The group also pays for a truck to haul the band's equipment to the event.
Ruggieri said the fundraising effort has a financial assistance component to help families that need assistance in meeting the 600 cost.
Contributions are still being accepted and may be arranged by contacting the high school band office at (330) 726-3420 or the school Web site at www2.boardman.k12.oh.us/band.