Friends of Music at Hamilton International (“FOMAHI”) is an organization of parents and guardians of Hamilton music students, whose mission is to support Hamilton’s concert and jazz bands, choir and orchestras, by providing access to music education and performance opportunities to students. We also provide volunteer assistance to music teachers, in a combined effort to help strengthen and build Hamilton’s music program. Volunteers support student participation in daily music classes, and in a variety of concerts and festivals. To this end, FOMAHI also provides financial support for Hamilton’s music program through its fundraising activities.
FOMAHI is a Washington corporation that received nonprofit status (under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code) on November 13, 2009 and is authorized by the State of Washington to solicit charitable donations. It is governed by a Board of Directors (“Board”), and most of the parents involved in organizing FOMAHI, and serving on its current Board have previous experience on PTA boards and with music organizations at Eckstein, Washington, Roosevelt and Garfield.
Background
FOMAHI was formed after the Seattle Public School District (“the District”) decided to relocate approximately 240 Washington Middle School (“Washington”) students to Hamilton beginning in September 2009. Many of these students were active in the Washington’s music program, which is an integral part of the school’s daily curriculum. In comparison, at the time of the decision Hamilton’s music program had been maintained solely as an after-school, extracurricular program.
The District resolved to support the development of a music program at Hamilton equivalent to Washington’s, with multiple ensembles (from beginning musicians to advanced), daily music classes and two full-time music instructors. In response to the District’s commitment, FOMAHI was organized to support Hamilton’s expanded music program and to provide continued assistance in the future.
What do FOMAHI volunteers do?
FOMAHI is an organization made up of parents and guardians of Hamilton music students, who volunteer to support music education and performance opportunities for student musicians. Our planned and future activities may include the following:
- helping to organize music performances and concerts at Hamilton
- assisting music teachers with arrangements for student music trips including transportation, travel and festival arrangements and coordination of chaperones
- arranging performance venues, competitions and workshops
- preparation of “first day” packet materials for music students and their families
- communicating with music students and their families regarding the music program and upcoming events
- aiding music teachers in communications with the general school population concerning auditions, rehearsals, concerts and recruiting new students for the music program via communication links
- outreach to elementary schools in an effort to encourage new students to participate in Hamilton’s music program
- aiding music teachers in drafting, distributing and collecting permission slips for field trips and other forms
- assisting music teachers with the transportation of equipment and instruments for off-site performances
- helping with set-up and tear-down of chairs, music stands, risers, sound equipment and other items for performance venues
- aiding in the production of sound and video recordings of performances and the distribution of recordings to students and their families and friends
- tracking instruments on loan from Hamilton to student musicians
- arranging food donations and volunteers to serve refreshments at school performances
- organizing merchandise sales of such things as tee shirts, sweatshirts and bags
- fund raising to support Hamilton’s music program including the cost of some or all of the following:
- purchasing or renting sheet music
- purchasing and repairing musical instruments
- providing need-based financial assistance to students (to participate in trips, competitions, workshops, performances and for private music instruction)
- providing instrumental coaching for sectional rehearsals
- funding for music teacher reimbursement of membership fees for professional associations
- funding for substitute teachers allowing music teachers to participate in professional development and recruitment activities
- payment of festival fees
- other support as requested by the Hamilton music teachers and/or school staff and administration and directed by the Board
FOMAHI Board and Chairs, 2011-12
Attached is a roster for the FOMAHI Board. For more information, or to volunteer, contact Co-Presidents Cindylynn Fenbert and Alison Cullen at fomahi.music@gmail.org or contact specific volunteers through the "Contact Us" tab on the main menu.
