A letter from the President
of the SCBDA, Robert E. Wertz, III.

Other Letters

South Carolina Band Directors Association

"Take A Deep Breath"

Inhale - exhale - take a deep breath - you deserve it - you did it, you made it through another marching band season. Ah, the falls of our lives. Do you ever think about what you'd be doing if you weren't riding on a band bus going to or coming from somewhere? And be totally honest in the other 8 months of the year, whenever you smell bus fumes, what do you think of?

Special thanks to Tommy Finigan and the members of the marching committee for yet another outstanding job with a seemingly impossible task. The logistics of running contests on 3 consecutive weekends are truly demanding. Don't throw criticism around unless you've tried it yourself. Deep breath.

To Connie and Randy Grantham - kudos for organizing and coordinating the "retreat" ceremonies at all the Finals. What a wonderful sight - what a photo opportunity. To see all those kids march out onto the field filled with pride and accomplishment was a tremendous experience. To see and hear the ovations from the audience, the respect for hard work, the appreciation of excellence, the understanding of the time and commitment involved by each band member was a "positive" experience for all involved. And what a splash of color - the blues, reds, greens mixing with the golds, purples, and whites. The tears, the handshakes, the hugs, the laughter, the feelings of "success" were everywhere. You, as band directors, have obviously done your homework - in your bandrooms, in your booster club meetings - you have made a sincere effort to improve "bandmanship". Are we totally there yet? No way. Have we made positive strides? Absolutely. Take a deep breath.

Finally, a very special word of thanks again to Donna and Jeff Thompson who continue to "chronicle" our growth and development. The pictures, the publicity, the contest schedules and results published on a daily basis are not only a tremendous source of information about our association but are the envy of every other band organization in our nation. Thank you for making SCBDA a big part of your lives. Deep breath.

Well that's it. Roll up the flags. Store the props. Put the trophies up on the shelf. Stick the drum major podium back in the closet. Collect all the "stands" music. Re-introduce yourself to your family and friends. Start thinking about next year. After all, what was it that General Douglas McArthur said? One last deep breath - you earned it - you deserve it. See you on the road.

Robert E. Wertz, III, President
South Carolina Band Directors Association