The Uniform Team Needs You!!!

Have you ever wondered about the uniforms that your child wears during Marching band season and Concert band season? Who sizes the uniforms? Who orders the shoes? Who makes sure that the uniforms are never wrinkled, never musty, always clean, and that the purple and white plume stands up sharply? Who cleans the hats after each show? Who puts the uniforms away after the end of each season? And who gets the uniforms prepped at the beginning of each season? And, how DO the students always know which uniform is theirs?

This is the important job of an entire team of parents lead this year by Head Uniform Mom, Elaine Turner. Elaine is the parent of a graduating senior baritone & trombone player, Ted Turner. Her day job is the Associate Dean, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at UF. She’s been a “Uniform Mom” for the past eight years, and will sadly be leaving us this year.

Elaine wrote a very detailed description of her experience as a Uniform Mom. I hope you will read it, and consider volunteering for this vital key position or as a uniform team member.

What your Booster title or role is:

Uniform Mom – I guess I’m the ‘head uniform mom’ this year because I have the key to the band room and storage area. We call ourselves "The Mommies" (although we have had a dad or two help from time to time), and we’re the group of parents who take care of the band uniforms.

How many years you have volunteered for this role & if your student will be graduating this year:

This is my eighth year as a uniform mom; and the first that I’ve been ‘in charge’ – one might assume took me 7 years of training to catch on, but in reality there has always been more experienced uniform mom to be in charge, and I’m very good at taking direction! My uniform mom mentors include Sarah Vandergriend, Pat O’Connor, and Cyndi Griffin. This will be my last year as a GHS band parent.

A recap of what your job duties include:

The uniform moms handle all aspects of the band uniforms: organizing, fitting, altering, distributing/collecting on game days and competition days, airing out and reorganizing after performances, cleaning, and, most importantly, admiring how good our students in their uniforms! Typically we have 4-6 ‘regulars’ and then other parents who help with alterations, laundering pants, and pitching in on hectic competition days. This is a year-round function – we have responsibility for the Symphonic Band jackets and skirts.

What some of your challenges and successes were:

One of the more challenging times was the football game in 2008 (Mr. Pirzer would remember which one) when the skies opened in a downpour just as the band took the field for pre-game. There’s always some anxiety among the mommies when rain is in the forecast, especially for our gorgeous plumes! Well, on this night, the plumes were soaked, and because they are made from real ostrich feathers, they looked like sad wet birds as the band came off the field. The mommies collected the plumes and went back to GHS to figure out what to do. We found out a way to hang them upside down in the uniform storage room, and, just like real feathers, they dried out nicely and all was well. But, it was the first time we had has these plumes soaking wet, and we didn’t really know what to expect.

A major success each year is to get all the marching uniforms fitted! We work hard to get everyone looking their best; but typically the last few freshmen who get fitted aren’t in their ideal size. For me, personally, a major success was the helping fit students into the ‘new’ uniforms. They debuted in the 2003 season, and really make the band look sharp. We definitely have the best looking plumes in the state. Another major success was convincing Ms. Sickon and some of the long-time parents that the boosters should invest in garment bags. This has made transportation of the uniforms so much easier!

When you begin to do the things that you do -- summer camp I, summer camp II, some other time?

Band camp: Sometime in the summer, we’ll get the marching uniforms organized so that we’re ready for fitting during band camp II. The last few years we’ve done all the fitting on the Saturday of band camp II (partly to accommodate schedules of those mommies who work full-time). It’s a long, sweaty day, but we get all members of the band outfitted with bibbers, jacket, hat, and garment bag. Guard members have two uniforms (pregame and halftime/competition) and a garment bag. Then, between band camp II and the first football game, we complete any needed alterations.

Football games: students carry their uniforms and hats to the game, the plumes and ponchos go on the instrument truck. We hand out and collect plumes for pregame and half-time, and then after half-time, load the hats and bagged uniforms into a parent vehicle for transport back to GHS. After the game, the uniforms are laid out in the auditorium to air out and we return on Sunday afternoon to re-bag and alphabetize for the next event.

Competitions: Uniform racks, hats, plumes, and ponchos are loaded onto one of the trailers or for state competition, loaded under the busses. We distribute and collect for each performance and then air out the uniforms in the auditorium when we return to GHS.

Cleaning: We typically have the jackets professionally dry-cleaned twice during the fall. When the jackets go to the cleaners, the bibbers are distributed to parents for laundering at home. Then, everything has to be matched up and reassembled for the next game/competition. Often, the second cleaning is at the end of the season, so at that point, the uniforms can be put back in their storage room (which is above the band room).

Concert Season: Students in Symphonic band are provided with either a tux jacket (males) or black skirt (females). We arrange these by size prior to fitting (usually in late January or early February). Students take their skirt or jacket home. After the last performance, these are collected, laundered and stored.

We do work hard – but we also have fun. Anyone who is interested in helping is welcome – you don’t need to be available for every game or competition, but just willing to work hard (sometimes in tight spaces and sweaty conditions). It’s a great way to get to know the students and form close friendships with other parents. Sewing ability is not required (although it is quite helpful!)

A little background on yourself: Your child is in what year and plays what instrument or role in the band/color guard, and what you do outside of the band:

My younger son, Ted, is a senior baritone (marching)/trombone (symphonic) player. My older son, Mitchell, was a trumpet player for GHS and graduated in 2006. I’ve been involved with GHS band since Mitchell’s freshman year, which was 2002-2003. I’m a second generation uniform mom – my mother, Roberta Curry, was in charge of the band uniforms at my high school, Wooster High School, Wooster, Ohio for the six years that my brother (tuba) and I (clarinet) were in band. Band provided me with many opportunities including travel to Europe, marching at professional football games, an appreciation for the value of teamwork, confidence performing in public, and lifelong friends. I’m so pleased that my sons chose to be in band. My day job is Associate Dean, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at UF.