Band Commission

HQ WHEATON BAND COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES WHEATON CITY HALL, 303 W WESLEY STREET, WHEATON, ILLINOIS 60187 Monday, November 17, 2025 5pm Gamon Meeting Room, Wheaton City Hall Call to Order Chair Dottie Mackie called the meeting to order at 5:00pm. Commissioners present were: Susan Brinkman, John Dalby, Dottie Mackie, Dave Wesolowicz, Don Westlake; Guest Don Cavalli, Band President, participated in the meeting via Zoom from his home in Florida to report information from the WIVIB Board’s most recent meeting. Public Comment None Approval of Minutes Minutes of the July 22, 2025 were approved as presented. Old Business a. Old Band Uniforms (John Dalby) The People’s Resource Center is interested in receiving the concert black trousers from the band’s previous uniform. John will ask again about their interest in the blue blazers. New Business a. American Bandmaster’s Association (ABA) (Don Cavalli, Band President) TheBand has the distinct honor of having been invited to perform at the annual meeting of the ABA. Members of the Commission are invited to attend via bus or on their own. Details: Thursday, March 5, 2026 Harris Bank Theater, Chicago, IL Bus departure from Wheaton (parking lot TBD) 11am Band rehearsal & sound check 1:30pm 45-minute Performance (free) 7:30pm or 8pm Return to Wheaton via bus approximately 11pm $15 lunch stipend will be provided to all band members & commissioners (& spouses) who attend & travel on the bus. BAND COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES November 17, 2025 Band attire will be tuxedos for men & all black for women. Program music is very advanced: levels 5 & 6 on a scale of 1-6. RSVPs for bus reservations or traveling on your own are needed by mid-January 2026. At the meeting, Dottie Mackie and Don Westlake said they can’t attend; Dave Wesolowicz & spouse Debbie will attend; John Dalby & spouse will attend but may travel on their own; Dottie’s husband, Kevin, may attend. Susan will RSVP soon. Rehearsals with Dr. Moss and guest conductors will be held at Bloomingdale Junior High/Middle School in January and February 2026, with dress rehearsal on March 1, 2026. Watch for an email to come. Les & Mary Wiberg, Friends of the Band, who previously provided funds for the new uniforms & tympani, have once again generously donated $35,000 which will cover all expenses for the Band’s participation at ABA. Don Cavalli will send a thank you letter on behalf of the Band. Dave Wesolowicz suggested that the Commission also send a thank you note, which was agreed by all. b. Summer 2026 Band Program -— Celebrating America’s 250th anniversary (Don Cavalli, Band President) Opening Night for the 2026 Summer season of the Wheaton Municipal Band will be Thursday, June 11, 2026. This is the Band’s 97th season. The July 4 Independence Day concert will be Thursday, July 2, 2026. Programming ideas include playing Stars & Stripes with 250 piccolos (& possibly 76 trombonesl). This might set a Guiness World Record. John Philips Sousa IV has also been invited to attend but is not yet confirmed. The Board would like other ideas for celebrating at that concert: little flags for all? Ice cream social supplied by local ice cream shops? The Mayor would like to have an activity to draw people downtown for three days: o Thursday, July 2 evening concert o Friday, July 3 TBD before 9pm fireworks o Saturday, July 4, morning parade John Dalby reported that the Mayor has tasked Lions and Kiwanis service clubs with planning the Friday event (perhaps a street sale), but ideas are very welcome. The season will also feature a return to the ever-popular Dancing under the Stars, including free lessons. BAND COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES November 17, 2025 The Board would like to have a Color Guard at all 9 summer bandshell concerts but not at the Edman Chapel concert for logistical reasons. Possible color guards include American Legion, VFW, Boy Scout Troops from First Presbyterian Church and Gary Methodist Church. Wheaton College has an ROTC program but the students may be away from campus during the summer. Suggestions welcome. Band budget (Don Cavalli, Band President) Don has offered to present a Zoom from his home to interested Band Commissioners on the process for determining the Band’s annual budget. No date was set, but Thursday nights won’t work for Don. Chair Dottie Mackie will attend the City Council’s Annual review of Boards on Monday, November 24, 2025, to present the WMB budget recommendation for 2026. The Band is requesting a 2.6% increase in the amount of $3,191. This includes increased costs for livestreaming concerts, professional photos, preparations for the Band’s 100th anniversary in 2029, increased stipend to Dr. Moss, increased stage crew costs, increased stipends to principals (1“ chair) of each section, increased stipends to marchers in the Wheaton July 4 parade, etc. Don will provide Dottie with the necessary documentation for the request. Don proudly reported that the Wheaton Municipal Band is one of the reasons Wheaton ”Governor’s continues to receive the Illinois Hometown Award”. In fact, the livestreamed concerts are now being watched in 5 continents! Dave Wesolowicz asked if band members have difficulty parking for weekly concerts. ”Fourth Don responded that parking doesn’t seem to be a problem except for the of July” concert. Dave also asked if the band needed water bottles backstage on concert evenings. Don replied that Friends of the Band is already doing that using two coolers on stage. Don thanked Dave for his concern for the performers’ well-being on concert nights. Don Cavalli’s retirement (Don Cavalli, Band President) Don told the Commission that he intends to retire as Band President when his term expires in 4 years. That coincides with the Band’s 100th anniversary in 2029. The Board plans to create a new Board position called President-Elect so that person can be trained by Don between now and 2029.  BAND COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES November 17, 2025 VI. Next meeting (Dottie Mackie, Chair) The next meeting of the Wheaton Municipal Band Commission will take place in the Gamon Meeting Room at 5pm on Monday, December 1, 2025. VII. Adjournment Chair Dottie Mackie adjourned the meeting at 5:46pm. Respectfully submitted, Susan T. Brinkman Susan T. Brinkman, Secretary Wheaton Municipal Band Commission