PARENT
HUB
VOLUNTEERS
IT TAKES ALL OF US
The PTBPA runs entirely on parent volunteers. There's a role for every schedule and every skill level. Signing up doesn't commit you to everything, but every bit helps.
Not sure where to start? You are not alone. The PTBPA has organized every volunteer opportunity into a menu, grouped by how much time and presence each role typically requires. Some are a single morning. Some are a weekly commitment. Some can be done from home. Browse at your own pace and find what fits your schedule.
Start with Starters to ease in, jump to Main Courses if you are ready to commit, or head to Dessert if a board role interests you. Download the PDF or view the menu below to see all your options before deciding.
PA CLEARANCES - WHAT YOU NEED
ACT 34
PA Criminal History Clearance
ACT 151
Child Abuse History Clearance
ACT 114
FBI Fingerprint Clearance
Clearances must be obtained within one year of when you begin volunteering and are valid for 5 years. Submit copies to Mr. Cornelius even if you have previously submitted them elsewhere in the district.
PTBPA VOLUNTEER MENU
PTBPA VOLUNTEER MENU
STARTERS
Want to meet some people and find out more about the PTBPA? These are the lowest-commitment entry points.
STOP BY ONE OF THE MARCHING BAND PRACTICES AND MEET SOME PARENTS
NO COMMITMENT
SIT WITH OTHER PTBPA PARENTS AT FOOTBALL GAMES AND COMPETITIONS
NO COMMITMENT
ATTEND A MONTHLY PTBPA MEETING
NO COMMITMENT
JOIN A COMMITTEE
FLEXIBLE
BECOME A COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON
FLEXIBLE
VOLUNTEER AT A PTBPA SPONSORED EVENT
FLEXIBLE
HOME SHOW VOLUNTEERS
The Emery Toth Jr. Memorial Marching Band Classic will be on Saturday, September 12th. We need a lot of volunteers to make this show run. Whether you can give a little time or a lot, make food for concessions, a baked good, or donate a basket, we couldn't put on the show without you! Please consider volunteering in some capacity.
PTBPA VOLUNTEER MENU
TAKE OUT OPTIONS
Most or all of the work can be done from home. These are great for parents with busy schedules who still want to contribute.
SARRIS CANDY FUNDRAISER
SEASONAL
Held at various times of the year, but it is normally a spring candy sale fundraiser.
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Coordinate the candy sale, collect orders, place order with Sarris, and be at school to distribute the candy.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Help distribute candy once orders come in.
PITTSBURGH PIEROGI FUNDRAISER
SPRING
Spring fundraiser (NORMALLY BEFORE LENT)
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Coordinate the pierogi sale, collect orders, place order, and be at school to distribute.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Help distribute pierogis once orders come in.
BINGO FUNDRAISER
SPRING
Spring fundraiser
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Coordinate the BINGO details, reserve location, create a flyer, sell tickets, and send out a SignUp Genius for volunteers on the BINGO Day.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Help sell tickets and/or whatever other help the committee chair needs.
COORDINATE BUSINESS SPONSORS
MOSTLY SUMMER
Obtain sponsorships to support the marching band season (typically 14 or more)
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Contact local businesses, or businesses that the PTBPA purchases products from, and see if they are willing to sponsor the marching band for the season (shirt sponsors, program sponsors, trailer sponsors, etc.)
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Contact businesses to see if they are willing to sponsor the marching band and provide
information to the committee chair.
HOAGIE SALES FUNDRAISING
MONTHLY
Monthly fundraising event that directly benefits your child and the entire band. Your responsibilities will be to pre-sell hoagies (you can do that by going door to door, asking family and friends, putting something on social media, etc.), help to build the hoagies on a Saturday morning (it normally takes 1 hour), and then deliver the hoagies to your customers on that same Saturday.
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Collect the hoagie orders from all participating PTBPA members, order the necessary meat, cheese, bread, lettuce, tomatoes, and salad dressing to fill the orders, and run the hoagie build each month.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Help at the hoagie build each month starting at 6AM to cut tomatoes and setup; assist the committee chair in any other way necessary.
MARCHING BAND HOME SHOW PROGRAM
FALL
Design and format the marching band program for that year’s home shows.
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Obtain necessary information – including parent ads/shoutouts to be included in the program and business sponsors, input it into the correct format for the program, and make sure it is ready to print.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Help to print up the program and get it ready for the home shows.
MARCHING BAND T-SHIRT ORDERS
FALL
Coordinate the marching band t-shirt/sweatshirt orders.
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Create an order form for the marching band t-shirt/sweatshirt orders and send it out to the families, compile the orders into one spreadsheet, order the shirts, and distribute the shirts to the band members.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Check the spreadsheet before the order is placed and help to separate and distribute the shirts once the orders come in.
UNIFORM WASHING
FALL
Wash uniforms as needed throughout the season and at the end of the season.
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Determine which uniforms need to be washed, take them home, wash them, and return them to the school in time for the next game/competition.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Help the committee chair with the washing process.
BAKE SALE
FALL
Fundraiser held at football games and home shows.
VOLUNTEERS
Donate baked goods to be sold at football games and home shows.
PTBPA VOLUNTEER MENU
LIGHTER FARE
Events held once or twice a year. These are meaningful but not a long-term commitment.
CANDY GRAMS
HOME SHOWS
Group that sells candy, snacks, and well wishes during home competitions.
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Purchase supplies for candy grams (candy, snacks, small toys, stickers, paper bags, markers, etc.), run the candy gram table at the home shows.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Assist the committee chair as needed
SENIOR PEOPLE PAINTING
ONE FRIDAY NIGHT
The seniors will paint their wooden people that will later be displayed in their yards.
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Pick a date and time (one of the nights during the first week of band camp) for the people
painting, advertise the date and get a count of who is coming, make sure there are enough wooden people (if not, make more), make sure there is enough paint and brushes for all the seniors (if not buy more), order pizza and have drinks, and be on hand to help as needed.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Be on hand during the painting to help as needed.
SENIOR RECOGNITION NIGHT
PT SENIOR NIGHT
Starts at the football game and ends with a family dinner at school.
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Invite all the senior parents and grandparents to the Senior Recognition Night (make invitation), make the corsages for all the parents, coordinate the family lineup on the track before the football game and pin the corsages on each parent, order food (or get some donated) for the family dinner, setup the dinner before the game and/or before the parents come up after the game, serve the dinner, and cleanup.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Help the committee chair as needed to run the night’s events.
BAND CAMP VOLUNTEER
JULY / AUGUST
Two-week period during the summer when the band practices their show routine.
VOLUNTEER
All volunteers must be approved by Mr. Cornelius; you do not have to be there every day; various events that you can help with include:
-
Chick-fil-A Lunch – create an order form and distribute to students, collect Chick-fil-A orders, place order, pick up order, and distribute food to those who ordered lunch
-
Kona Ice – contact Kona Ice and setup a day for them to come to school during lunch break; let the students know what day Kona Ice will be there (no pre-order)
-
Set up tents and water coolers on the football field in the morning
-
Take down tents and water coolers in the afternoon
-
Set up sprinkler for the students to cool off in
-
Distribute popsicles each day as an afternoon snack
-
Design and construct the props for the season
-
Senior Walk Off – invite parents to come and watch their child(ren) walk off the football field after their final day of band camp; order balloons
-
Preview Show After Party – coordinate food, drinks, DJ, Kona Ice, volunteers, etc. for a dance up at the school after the Preview Show
PTBPA BAND BANQUET
SPRING
Banquet held at the end of the school year (normally around Mother’s Day).
COMMITTEE CHAIR(S)
Reserve the location and date, book a DJ, choose the food, send out invitations, collect
RSVPs and money, coordinate desserts and gifts, decorate, etc.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Assist the committee chair(s) as needed.
MIDDLE SCHOOL/FRESHMAN/SENIOR PARTY
SUMMER
Each year a middle school/freshman/senior swim party is hosted to help the new members to feel comfortable and get to know the seniors.
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Typically a senior parent will host the event at their home; they will be given a budget for food and drinks.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Help the committee chair as needed.
MARCHING BAND PICTURES
SUMMER
Individual and group photos before the season officially begins.
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Help the photographer with taking the pictures; order the senior banners for the football
games.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Help with picture taking as needed.
MEMORIAL DAY PICNIC
SPRING
Picnic held after the Memorial Day parade.
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Plan and execute a picnic for the marching band families to enjoy after returning from the
Memorial Day parade; purchase food; to keep costs down, coordinate a potluck with attending families.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Assist the committee chair with setup, cooking food, serving food, and cleanup.
WATER SALES AT PTHS GRADUATION
SPRING
The PTBPA sells water at graduation since it is normally very hot.
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Setup a tent and chairs along with coolers, sell water, and cleanup after graduation.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Assist the committee chair as needed.
VARIOUS FUNDRAISING EVENTS
YEAR-ROUND
The PTBPA changes the fundraisers that are used from year to year.
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Advertise, communicate, and execute the fundraiser as necessary.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Assist the committee chair as needed.
HOME SHOWS
FALL AND WINTER
Competitions that are held at PTHS and run by the PTBPA (marching band and indoor seasons).
VOLUNTEER
To operate properly these are “All-Hands-On-Deck” events; sign up via a SignUp Genius to work a
specific spot during the show; note that all PTHS parents will be able to see their child perform (all
positions close to allow parents the opportunity to watch the show).
PTBPA VOLUNTEER MENU
MAIN COURSES
Recurring roles that run throughout the year. These are the backbone of what makes the program function.
CONCESSION STANDS
FALL & WINTER
Concessions at home football games & home shows; main source of PTBPA income.
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Plan, purchase, and prepare all food that is sold at any PTBPA event throughout the season.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Help weekly to prepare and run the concession stands.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Help man one of the concession stands; take and/or fill orders.
BAND NURSE
YEAR-ROUND
Be around at practices and band events to tend to injuries or illnesses.
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Stock nurses’ bags with medical supplies, attend to injuries and/or illnesses, purchase snacks for football games and competitions, be on hand or make sure someone is on hand in the case of an emergency, maintain medical forms for each student.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Be on hand to medically support the students.
UNIFORM FITTING
FALL
Students will be fitted for two uniforms each marching band season.
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Coordinate measurement days to ensure each student has uniforms that properly fit, modify/hem uniforms as needed, fix broken uniforms as needed, periodically check each student throughout the season to see if their uniform needs additional modifications due to growth spurt, etc.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Support the committee chair as needed.
LOGISTICS CREW
FALL AND WINTER
Move equipment to and from games and competitions.
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Coordinate volunteers and the schedule necessary to move all the instruments, flags, rifles, water, snacks, props, and drum major stands; oversee setup and tear down for all home shows; pick up and drop off Enterprise trucks for all away games and competitions.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Support the committee chair as needed.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
YEAR-ROUND
Advertise in local media venues.
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Contact various organizations or update social media to advertise PTBPA events.
CHAPERONE
YEAR-ROUND
Chaperone students during football games and competitions.
VOLUNTEERS
Must be approved by Mr. Cornelius; you will ride the bus, walk with the students, and sit
with the students.
PHOTOGRAPHER
YEAR-ROUND
Take pictures of all PTBPA events.
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Take pictures of all students at football games, competitions, and events; distribute those
pictures to the band parents or to someone who will distribute or post them somewhere.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Support the committee chair as needed.
FEED THE BAND
FALL
On competition days, a group of parents feed the entire band after the morning rehearsal and
before leaving Penn Trafford high school.
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Plan a meal, purchase all the food, setup, cook, serve, and cleanup before each
competition.
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Assist the committee chair with setup, cooking, serving, and cleanup.
PTBPA VOLUNTEER MENU
DESSERT
If you still want something more. These are executive board and elected board member positions.
PTBPA EXECUTIVE BOARD
YEAR-ROUND
PRESIDENT
Runs all PTBPA meetings, communicates between Mr. Cornelius and PTBPA, oversees
PTBPA events.
VICE-PRESIDENT
Runs all PTBPA meetings with the president, oversees PTBPA events, coordinates and runs the home shows.
RECORDING SECRETARY
Records discussions held during the PTBPA meetings and issues meeting minutes, responsible for knowing details in issued documents.
FINANCIAL SECRETARY
Assists the treasurer with making payments and tracking expenses/income.
TREASURER
Tracks all payments, fundraising income, and expenses due for each student; sets
and tracks the budget for the year.
PTBPA BOARD MEMBER ROLES
YEAR-ROUND
CLASS REPRESENTATIVES
Responsible for disseminating information to the parents of his/her appropriate class and being the main point of contact for those parents.
GUARD REPRESENTATIVE
Responsible for disseminating information to the color guard families during both the outdoor marching band and indoor guard seasons.
PERCUSSION REPRESENTATIVE
Responsible for disseminating information to the percussion families during the indoor percussion season.
FUNDRAISING CHAIR
Responsible for finding new fundraising opportunities, overseeing the implementation of those events, and being the point of contact for all fundraising questions.
CONCESSION REPRESENTATIVE
Oversees and controls the operation of the upper and lower concession stands during football and outdoor home shows and the concession stands during indoor home shows.
LOGISTICS REPRESENTATIVE
Oversees the movement of all instruments, flags, and rifles for football games and competitions; designs, develops, and moves all the props used for shows; oversees the setup and cleanup of home shows; assists the band director as needed.
COMMUNICATIONS REPRESENTATIVE
Updates the website, sends out weekly emails with important information, oversees methods of communication.