Band parents Maria Diaz, Kathy Callahan and Jennifer Thielen going over plans for the golf tournament and 350 Alumni Marching Band with WHS Band Director Patrick Kennedy. (Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD – The Golf Committee and Band and Orchestra Parents (B.O.P.) met with WHS Band Director Patrick Kennedy last week to continue plans for the Westfield 350 weekend celebrations.
On Saturday, May 18, is the B.O. P. inaugural golf tournament at East Mountain Country Club. Registration begins at 10 a.m. with a shotgun start at 11 a.m., followed by a banquet at 5 p.m. that non-golfers are welcome to attend.
WHS B.O.P. Vice President and Golf Tournament Coordinator Jennifer Thielen said there are still foursomes available, and people may now sign up online for the tournament at https://app.eventcaddy.com/events/whs-band-alumni-band-golf-tournament. Thielen said people can also go to the banquet, which is included in the golfing packet, even if they aren’t golfing. The banquet starts at 5 p.m. and costs $30 as a standalone, with live music performed by the WHS Jazz Ensemble. She said they need a head count for the banquet by May 10, so they are encouraging people to let them know that they’re coming, by emailing [email protected].
“We are interested in having people come to the banquet even if they don’t participate in the golf tournament,” Thielen said, adding, “It’s going to be an exciting event, and we have a lot of community support.”
B.O.P. is also seeking a Composer-level sponsorship, the only one missing for the tournament of $1,000 or more. The Composer sponsor will have the name and logo on the Rules sheet, signage on all of the Par 3 holes, name and logo on banquet centerpiece, large signage access at the banquet, and a complimentary foursome in the tournament. Interested businesses or individuals may email [email protected].
Kennedy said any WHS Marching Band Alumni interested in participating in the Westfield 350 parade on Sunday, May 19 may join the WHS band at two upcoming practices on Monday, May 6 and Monday, May 13 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the band room at WHS, where the drum line will also work out who’s going to play what.
There will also be some practice before the parade on Sunday, May 19. He said the parade will be a nice, easy 2-mile march downhill, from Stanley Park to Park Square Green.
Sheet music for the parade is available to download at WHSAlumniBand.com, where Kennedy is encouraging people to sign up on an interest form.
The band “uniform” for the 350 Parade is white top and black pants, black socks and comfortable black footwear. Also now available to WHS Alumni Band are WHS 350 Band Polo Shirts for $20, cash or check payable to WHS BOP. This shirt is a short sleeve white polo with WHS Band logo on left chest and Westfield 350 on the right sleeve. Email Tracy Lacas at [email protected] to place an order.
Kennedy encouraged alumni coming back for the parade to join them for golf and/or dinner on Saturday. “It’s a nice way to get people together,” he said, adding, “Even if folks can’t come to the parade, we would like them to fill out an interest form and keep in touch.”
