Doors Wide Open For 2015 Scout House Recruiting Day Events

Scout House Band is throwing the doors wide open on Sunday, February 8 to welcome everyone interested in joining the group to sit in on section rehearsals, join in an ensemble performance and enjoy some refreshments and plenty of face to face social time.

Doors Open Recruiting Day events will begin at 1 pm at the Knights of Columbus building, the Scout House winter practice facility located at 333 Speedsville Road in the Preston section of Cambridge. The purpose of the event is to recruit and promote retention of new brass, percussion, guard and volunteer support staff members in a comfortable social setting.

Everyone with an interest in participating in marching arts activity as a performer or support person is welcome to attend. Prior drum and bugle corps experience is not necessary. Current Scout House membership includes men and women ranging from teenagers to older members well into their retirement years, who come from more than 20 communities across southern Ontario to participate.

In addition to Scout House Band, which performs about 25 concerts, parades and field shows annually, the organization includes a new 18-member competitive winter guard which will take the floor in its first performance on Saturday January 31 in Orchard Park, New York; a competitive mini-corps preparing now for contests and other performances throughout 2015, Silver Leaves brass ensemble and the Scout House Cadets youth drum and bugle corps for boys and girls from 10 to 18. The Cadets hold monthly recruiting evenings at Scout House building on Queenston Road in Preston.

Those attending the Doors Open afternoon program will be welcome to participate in rehearsals with instruments provided if necessary, watch guard and Band videos, obtain support staff and other volunteer information, enjoy a social interlude and perform together in the Band ensemble. Members of Scout House Cadets, in uniform, will serve as greeters with other Band reps at the registration table.

*Scheduling of the afternoon session will be as follows:
1:00 to 1:30 pm
Meet and greet. People will be paired up with a Scout House partner to provide assistance with instruments or direct them to guard or volunteer support staff reps. Activities coordinator Nancy Weiler will make short welcoming remarks and explain the afternoon format.

1:30 to 2:30 pm
Brass and percussion sections will warm up and play the same pieces separately. Candidates for traditional guard, spin squad, winter guard and volunteer support staff can attend info sessions in separate rooms.

2:30 to 3:00 pm
Social interlude.

3:00 to 3:45 pm
Ensemble: brass and percussion sections will play the pieces rehearsed earlier.

3:45 to 4 pm
Brief thank you remarks and testimonials by Band members.
4:00 to 6 pm
Social session continues with cash bar and snacks available.

For more information about Preston Scout House Band and all the special units within the organization, contact Activities Coordinator Nancy Weiler at telephone (519) 653-3376, email prestonscouthouseband [dot] adm [at] sympatico [dot] ca or visit the Web site at http://www.scouthouseband.com/