The Importance of Joining OUBAA and Registering for Homecoming

Fundraising Efforts Help All Bands

For many within our OUBAA family, the group exists to organize homecoming activities in conjunction with the marching band.  However, if you look closely at our name, we are not the OU Marching Band Alumni Association, but the OU Band Alumni Association.  This means we support and are obligated to help ALL the OU band programs.

Some of the things we have helped with in the past few years include bringing in clinicians, guest directors, guest speakers, and conducting workshops.  When the OU Horn Ensemble needed additional funds to travel to Europe to perform, we stepped in and helped.  We purchased music for the OU Jazz Band.  When The Pride needs help, we step up.  We help with the end of camp pool party, goodie bags for Texas weekend, help KKY and TBS, and help with other needs they have at times. 

Naturally, alumni of the Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band make up most of our membership.  We are all passionate about the football Sooners and the marching band. In turn, we have a lot of support for our organization from not only band alumni, but from former coaches, players, and fans alike. 

Support, however, comes in many forms and we need YOUR support.  We became an independent 501(c)3 organization so we could get additional donations from individuals and corporations to advance our mission. Money raised is not solely for homecoming weekend, but for covering actual expenses to keep registration costs low while giving members and attendees the best we can while still helping the OU band programs.

For homecoming alone, we provide the tent that everyone loves, meals, t-shirts, drill charts, laminated music, a rental truck, GAs to travel around the state to pick up and return the large low brass instruments we borrow, and more, which totals thousands of dollars.

To get through the costs for the year, we need to bring in approximately $46,000 to break even.  These costs include our obligations to help all the band programs such as clinics, music, etc.  as well as homecoming activities.

For this reason, we have set our goal of registering 250 people at homecoming each year.  It is important to reach this number PLUS another 250 people in addition paying yearly dues for us to break even for the year.  For every person under 250 that does not register for homecoming, we need to add an additional three people paying yearly dues.

As of today, we have 202 people signed up for homecoming, 48 under our minimum.  This means that instead of an additional 250 we need an additional 394 paying yearly dues to reach the break-even point for the year. This is why we push so hard to get people signed up for homecoming and to at least join if they cannot attend.

If you will be at the game anyway, PLEASE support the group you loved so much years ago and register for homecoming, even if you do not play or march.  You are part of the family, and we need you.  If you absolutely cannot attend, please at least sign up and pay your dues.  Any extra donations you wish to make are fully tax deductible.

Thanks and Boomer Sooner.