Instrumental Music

Each year, the LPAC membership elects a board consisting of a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer for one-year terms. The board also consists of multiple members-at-large who serve in various capacities. Their main purpose is to ensure the success of LPAC and maximize the opportunities for LHS instrumental music students.

If you have questions regarding the instrumental program, volunteer opportunities, or LPAC feel free to contact anyone of the board members.

• Jodi Rueschhoff, president, Lpacpresidentco@gmail.com
• Kelly Vallone, vice president, Lpacvicepresident@gmail.com
• Marcy Garramone, treasurer, Lpacways@gmail.com
• Martha Gerdes, secretary, Lpacsecretaryco@gmail.com
• Jane McCray, bingo, Lpacbingo@gmail.com
• Jessica Nichols, Big Cat coordinator
• Karin Knickerbocker, member at large
• Ben Hensley, member at large

LPAC has many volunteer opportunities and encourages anyone to participate. Contact any of the officers to learn how to become more involved.

Bengal Regiment volunteers

More volunteer hours are spent helping the marching band than with other instrumental music activities. The marching band needs parents with expertise in the following areas:

• Food crew – Help feed the students by coordinating with other parents to provide fruit, desserts and beverages.
• Bengal Backers – Organize groups of parents to help move pit equipment (the large instruments at the front of the marching field) at competition sites.
• Prop coordinator – Schedule a regular crew for each performance to assemble and disassemble props, move them around at competition sites, and load and unload them in a truck.
• Truck drivers – On competition days, drive the regiment trailer or volunteer to lend a trailer for instruments and props to competition sites and back to school. No special license is needed.
• Event coordinators – Help with special marching band events, such as the Tiger Prowl, homecoming picnic and Bandcoming.
• Big Cat Marching Invitational – Volunteer to help in various capacities to make the show run smoothly.

Non-marching volunteers

• Concert representatives – Sell music gear and King Soopers cards and represent LPAC at concerts.
• Empty Bowl – Silent auction coordinator, soup competition coordinator, event organizer
• ROARchestra volunteers – Check-in table, group guides, judge runners

The bingo program is LPAC’s biggest fundraiser. Since beginning in March 2005, Bingo has raised over $400,000. To continue that success, volunteers are needed to keep it going.

Bingo supports all aspects of the program, including orchestra, band, winter guard, jazz band and Bengal Regiment. The money raised from Bingo helps to cover the extra costs that cannot fit into the budget provided by the school, including instructors, clinicians, sheet music, transportation, food, instrument repairs and new instruments.

Bingo sessions are held on Thursdays from 6:30 to 9:45 p.m. at Slammers Bingo, 1878 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood, CO 80232. Email lpacbingo@gmail.com with questions or to volunteer.

The bingo program doesn’t work unless there are people to run the event – selling cards, calling bingo, pickles, being runners and a lot more. Each bingo session requires about 10 people to be successful.

Why work bingo?

1. Money raised from bingo is used directly to benefit the LHS Instrumental Music Program.
2. This is not a go-out-and-sell-stuff fundraiser. No need to go door to door and parents don’t need to buy $30 worth of chocolate bars for the program to net $15. This is a donation of time that raises money for the program to make students' music experience better.
3. Meet other parents. Many of the people who work bingo become friends and often work together. This is a great way to meet new people while supporting your student. It is also a great way to spend some time with your student by working bingo together.

Volunteer positions

• Floor workers – Volunteers of any age can work floor positions, but they are generally reserved for students under 16. These positions roam the floor selling special games (Progressive, Double Action, Horse Race), raffle tickets, or selling pickles at the Pickle Bar. There are five of these positions available each session – no experience required.
• Caller – This position is available to adults or students with a confident, pleasant voice who can lead the bingo game. New callers will shadow with an experienced caller for a session or two before going solo. The caller also controls the computer system that runs the games.
• Cashier – These positions run the cash registers. Someone will help guide those with no experience. There are two cashier positions available per session.

Adult-specific positions

• Games manager – This position is responsible for troubleshooting any issues that come up during the game. In most cases, this is the easiest job of the night. This position does require a certification; LPAC will pay for the certification class.
• Bookkeeper – This position calls for someone who is organized, good with numbers and can stay after the session to complete the numbers from that night. Workers new to this position will shadow current bookkeepers to learn the process. No experience required.
• Head cashier – This position keeps track and records the winning pickles and is responsible for the payouts at each game. This position requires a bit of experience, so volunteers will train with another head cashier before taking over.
• Head pickles – This position manages the students working the floor, as well as keeping track and recording sales and balancing money for the night. Workers new to this position will shadow with another head pickles worker before being able to work on their own.

Alumni, parents or community supporters of the performing arts – LHS students need your support. It takes approximately $100,000 per year to run the Lakewood band and orchestra program. Band student fees make up around half the budget; the rest comes through fundraising and sponsorships. This year, the program needs to raise approximately $40,000. Below are a few ways to contribute.

Individual sponsorships

• Explore a Lakewood Individual Sponsorship

Corporate sponsorships

• Explore a Lakewood Corporate Sponsorship

King Soopers Card

Raise money for the program every time you shop. Signing up is easy.

Create an online account by visiting King Soopers Community Rewards, then register for the Community Rewards Program.

1. Sign in to your digital account
2. Select "My Account" from dropdown menu
3. Select “Community Rewards” from the left hand side under “Account Summary”
4. Click on “Community Rewards”
5. Under “Find an Organization” enter: Lakewood Performing Arts Council or the NPO number (BU477).

Staff Directory