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In just a year and a half and in spite of a pandemic, the Chisago Lakes Band Boosters raised enough funds, in conjunction with the Chisago Lakes High School Activities Department, to enable the high school Marching Band to purchase 110 new uniforms for the Marching Wildcats. At a total price of $32,442 the new uniforms include a pair of bib slacks, an overlay jacket, an Aussie hat, and garment bag. The Band Boosters raised a total of $16,500 through various fundraisers and direct contributions. The last time the band purchased new uniforms was in the early ‘90’s.

Rich Frankson is the band boosters’ fundraising coordinator.  He spearheaded numerous fundraising activities, including a community garage sale, mattress sale, and grocery store bagging, as well as securing numerous donations from area fire departments, American Legions, and businesses. Donations came in from generous individuals as well as almost $1000 being raised from a challenge Mr. Boal put out, which resulted in him coloring his hair purple!

Without the incredible support of the Chisago Lakes community the new uniforms could never have become a reality.

Many of the old uniforms were in serious disrepair after serving the band program for more than 25 years. Some students found themselves wearing the same uniforms their parents wore when they were in the Marching Band.  The old uniforms were made of wool which made the garments very cumbersome and difficult to launder, not to mention being extremely hot for the students on all but the coldest of high school football evenings.  The new uniforms are made of a polyester gabardine fabric, are very lightweight, much easier to clean, and sport a more contemporary design reflective of the Band today. The Band plans to debut their new uniforms this Saturday at the Karl Oskar Days parade.

The boosters originally hoped to purchase 150 uniforms in varying sizes to meet the projected growth of the Band but with the onset of the pandemic, that growth rate slowed, making a purchase of 110 uniforms more realistic and achievable, in a shorter amount of time.  

In the future, Band Boosters hope to raise more funds to purchase uniforms as the need arises.

The Chisago Lakes Band Boosters were formally organized in June of 2019 with the purpose of helping and supporting the middle school and high school band programs.  This is done through several means including providing volunteers for various band activities, coordinating volunteers who assist the Marching Band during parades, building community amongst the families of band members, and of course fundraising. Any current or former Band student as well as their parents, are welcome to be a part of the Band Boosters.

The Chisago Lakes High School Wildcat Marching Band is 65 strong this summer and will participate in 11 parades and performances before school resumes in September, including our local Karl Oskar Days parade, the Ki Chi Saga parade, Wannigan Days parade, and Harmony in the Park.  The Band will also march at the State Fair on September 3 as well as the Minneapolis Aquatennial Parade on July 21.

CLHS football season begins August 27.

The Band is directed by Joe DeLisi and Stephen Boal, High School and Middle School Band Directors respectively, and assisted by Moriah Jensen - a 2019 CL graduate and Music Education student at Gustavus Adolphus College. The Band Boosters are led by an eight-member leadership committee co-chaired by Dione Thoma and Jen Jensen.

The boosters would like to thank the Chisago Lakes community for their generous help and support in the raising of these funds. Fundraising for a new project is already underway – assisting the band with the purchase of new school owned instruments that are in need of replacement, including but not limited to a new set of timpani concert drums for the high school’s percussionists. For more information about the Band Boosters or to donate, visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/CLBandBoosters. Donations also can also be mailed to CLBand Boosters, P.O. Box 239, Lindstrom, MN 55045.

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