Published: July 06, 2008 01:14 am            

DODD: CHS volunteers band together

Many people who watched the Charlestown High School Marching Band of Pirates probably took for granted they would be a part of the bicentennial parade. What went on behind the scenes is not only a story worth telling, but two people who made it possible deserve public recognition and credit.

With less than two weeks to go before the parade the band was not yet certain as an entry. There were more than 50 kids (some past members, and more potential new members from the middle school) on a list that was left by the departing ex-band director. I am having trouble keeping score but I believe she was the seventh band director at Charlestown in the last six years.

Enter at this point the one Charlestown parent volunteer who is in my mind the one man who is singularly most responsible for keeping the marching band program alive during the last several years: Chris Peveler. On a regular band contest Saturday among numerous other tasks, Chris pulls the band equipment trailer with his personal truck and often fires up the grill to feed the kids throughout the day.

Until the June meeting, he was the president of the band parents group. At that meeting the sentiment among the small group of parents that has run the band support program for the last few years wavered between trying to fight it out one more year and just disbanding altogether. Finally a new president reluctantly volunteered and the group resolved to attempt to fund a marching band program again this upcoming school year.

Peveler then decided to take it upon himself to see that the band would try to march in the bicentennial parade. Needless to say the task was a daunting one and things seemed stacked against him. It was mid-June, there was currently no band director, and over half of the kids signed up had never been in a marching band before.

Chris Peveler has been fighting this battle throughout the reign of the past band directors. The support from the administration has been tepid at best. During an average school year a support group of 10 parents is considered a boom year for help. His first task was getting permission from the school administration for a band parent to organize and practice the kids. The affirmative answer came with a caveat. A current school system staff member would have to agree to sponsor the endeavor which also meant showing up at the practices and being present at the parade on their personal time and their own coin.

Thus enters our second saving grace figure in the story, Pleasant Ridge Elementary School Principal, Michelle Dyer. Further complicating the issue, Michelle was scheduled to be out of town on vacation through June 23. The parade date was June 28.

Undaunted by the adverse situation, Peaveler ensured an attempt was made to contact all 50 of the potential band and color guard members. A practice was scheduled for Tuesday, June 24 at 9:30 a.m. Twenty-eight students showed up as well as Peveler who took a personal vacation day to act as the parent volunteer band director and Michelle Dyer, who drove in from Georgetown for the initial practice (also the one additional practice on Thursday evening, the 26th, and for parade day on Saturday — all on her own time and at her expense).

Peveler held two two-hour practice sessions with a skeletal group of returning veterans and a large group of intimidated and nervous middle-schoolers who had never marched before. A CHS veteran band member, he was determined to uphold the pride of his alma mater in the biggest celebration of the city’s history. As if fate were against his success, on Thursday evening the band was forced to practice marching throughout the school’s hallways due to in climate weather.

Often to the cheers and applause of local residents lining the parade route, on Saturday the Marching Band of Pirates did themselves and the city proud. The unsung heroes from behind the scenes were Chris Peveler and Michelle Dyer. Without their personal sacrifices and support of the kids, there would have been no Charlestown band proudly marching and playing. When you see Chris or Michelle around town, please offer them your thanks and your gratitude (or feel free to send congratulatory e-mails to me and I will pass them along). It’s the everyday heroes that so often set about doing their deeds unheralded and without fanfare that keep things going. Every organization needs several Chris Pevelers.

Unfortunately, too many of them only have one or two. For every volunteer organization still in existence today, it is mandatory to have at least one.

Lindon Dodd is an Otisco resident who is a freelance writer and can be reached at lindon.dodd@hotmail.com.

        

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