As you may have read from my other blog posts, the quartet has performed the past 2 years at a home game of the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, which are the AAA affiliate of the Phillies.  That is always a special experience and, even though it is minor league baseball, is still a cool thing to be on the field by home plate to play.  When we performed in September 2017, I inquired to the events coordinator who booked us, what would we need to do to be selected to perform for the major league team.  He instructed me to wait until January and then check out their website for info about it.  Well, I found the site and it required me to fill out an application and more importantly, include several videos of us performing.  Well, considering we had a good video of playing in the previous September, I felt our chances would be ok.  To my surprise, on February 16^th I received an email from the Phillies congratulating us on being selected to perform.  I had figured this might be political and you more or less needed a connection or had to know someone to be asked to perform.  But, that was not the case.  They had liked our arrangement and sound and wanted us to be there.  Now, we needed to review the schedule and select find a date to play.

The Phillies required you to visit the schedule and select 5 dates. From these dates they would select your day and you would have to play for that game.  You couldn’t just send in one date and that was it. As I checked the schedule, I realized that this was the year that the Yankees would be going to Philly for a three game set (June 25-27).  So, I quickly selected our five dates with June 26^th being a favorite and replied.  A few days later I was pleasantly surprised to read the email that they gave us June 26^th to perform.  As you can probably assume, I was thrilled.  It has been probably 5-6 years since I have been to a major league baseball game let alone a Yankee game.  Going to the Bronx for a Yankees home game really isn’t an ideal situation. The travel to the Bronx, parking, food, etc. is just really costly and something I didn’t feel is worth the money to spend.  But, now it is much easier to travel to Philadelphia and as a perk, we are given preferred parking for free! We do have to buy our tickets, but, the parking alone is worth it. So, to have a chance to go see the Yankees in person but not have to deal with the cost and travel to go to New York is something I am extremely looking forward to.

It will definitely be a great experience for us.  I can remember being in high school when each year the band played the national anthem in the outfield at the old Veteran’s Stadium in Philadelphia.  But, that was always on a hot Sunday afternoon and our tickets were usually in the 700 level high up in the outfield’s nose bleed section.  We were told that most likely the anthem would not be live on television, only showed on the ballpark screens. But, we would be able to have a copy for ourselves. Who knows if we may be on TV at all or maybe even partially. But, it is still a great experience to perform as well as knowing that once that is over, I can sit back and enjoy watching Aaron Judge, Didi Gregorious, Gary Sanchez and the rest of the New York Yankees all thanks to the Phillies!!

Friday 12/22 7:15pm & 8:15pm

www.outletsatsandsbethlehem.com

As you probably may know from reading some of my other blogs, Ken Brader has been a long time influence and role model to me in my life. I was a student of his for many years as I was growing up and still to this day, seek his guidance on trumpet playing. One thing that bonds together all of Ken’s students is the Holiday Brass. Ken Brader’s Holiday Brass has been in existence for over forty years. Ken leads this brass collective of 35-45 musicians in concert during the Christmas season. It is always a joy knowing that this event is coming up and the enjoyment that comes with it. For the season is not complete without a performance by the Holiday Brass! The sound of a 40+ piece ensemble in a shopping mall is hard to put into words. The few that do come to mind are big, bold and beautiful, yet elegant and very magical.

One of the joys of playing in the group is to get a chance to see those you rarely get to speak with during the year. As a kid, this was great because Ken taught so many students it gave me a chance to meet new people from all over the region. Now, as an adult, I see so many faces from those years and now we catch up. But, instead of talking about school, classes and sports, we now talk about things like health, family and who is sick… Wow, I am getting old…LOL. However, it is still nice to see Ken’s students, those in middle and high school, who join us for the first time and the excitement they have for this experience.

Since this ensemble has been playing, there has never been a professional quality audio or video recorded. It was never thought of or suggested to make something like this…until last year. After we played in December, the idea was born to make a CD. We do have videos of our performances, but, they are taken in a shopping mall. So, you have other issues to deal with while taking video in a mall. Plus, they are not of a high quality.

After months of planning in early 2017, we finally achieved the goal of getting the group together to record a CD. The CD was recorded on July 15th at the Bethel Memorial Baptist Church in Easton, PA. (www.bethelmemorialbaptist.org) by Sonlight Productions (www.sonlightproductions.net). Owner and engineer D Freeman, Rachel Ewaniuk, and Kris Ewaniuk donated their time and services to help make this dream a reality. We were also given financial support to make the CD’s from the Christmas City Veterinary Hospital (www.christmascityvet.com), Lisa Cawley, Proprietor. It was a great day!! You may have seen one of my previous blogs on this event.

Well, after a lot of mastering, fine tuning and over dubbing, our CD is finally ready and we are excited about it. The CD, titled REJOICE! is a compilation of all of our holiday music. With this blog, I am very happy to announce that our CD release event of REJOICE! will be at our holiday performance which is set for Friday, December 22, 2017 at 7:15pm and 8:15pm at the Outlets at the Sands Bethlehem (www.outletsatsandsbethlehem.com/specialevents/) These performances are free and open to the public. We usually play in front of the large tree on the bottom level close to the elevator. The Outlets always treat us so great that we felt this would be the right time and location to hold our release party.

This CD is a long time coming and I am very proud of everyone who gave of their time and efforts to make this CD a success. Only the Lord knows how long this group will continue. But, it is great to know that we finally have a great recording to last a lifetime.

If you can make it, it would be great to see you on Friday, 12/22. Come out to help celebrate a CD 40 years in the making.

I have a few photos, a behind the scenes video and some clips from the recording linked with this blog. Check them out.

Behind the scenes video clip…

In case you are not familiar with the festival, it was started to give local church choirs an opportunity to come together to share their talents with each other all while glorifying the word of the Lord.  It is usually held the Sunday before Thanksgiving. A free will offering is taken which benefits ProJeCt of Easton.  P of E is an interfaith initiative in downtown Easton that offers emergency assistance, a food program, community supportive services, and educational programs to over 5,000 disadvantaged children and adults each year. Information on ProJeCt can be found at http://www.projecteaston.org.   It is a great organization and I am happy to say that this year’s donation from the festival was over $1000.00.  Since it is called an interfaith festival, the choirs come from protestant and Catholic Churches, a Jewish Temple and this year there was a Muslim group that performed.  In addition to The Victory Voices, the festival was represented by the following church choirs:  St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church, First United Church of Christ, Trinity Episcopal Church, Temple Covenant of Peace, Lehigh Dialogue Center, St. John’s UCC of Farmersville, and the host church, St. Jane Frances de Chantal Roman Catholic Church of Easton.  We came together at the end to perform two selections together. They were “I Choose Love” by Mark Miller and “American The Beautiful”.  Having over 100 voices really made the conclusion of the festival sound tremendous.  I Choose Love was written in response to the Charleston, NC church shooting in 2015. A solemn but very emotional piece.

Since this was only our third time performing in public, you would think that we would have a few butterflies. But, this ensemble is a fun group to work with that is down to earth, relaxed and likes to have fun.  We got on stage and knew we were there to sing praise to the Lord and entertain the crowd.  There was no fear or worry, just excitement to be there!  As they stood there in their white shirts and red ties, I couldn’t have been more proud with how well they did.  They were strong, energetic and filled the room with sound.  It was very clear that what came out of the mouths of our musicians was widely enjoyed by the audience.

I was very pleased with this experience and even more happy of how well we did.  I can humbly say that we were a huge success by the way many of our members were treated after the concert.  I could hardly get to the refreshment table without someone stopping to say just how much they enjoyed the group.  I am very Blessed to be the director of the ensemble and thankful that we were able to make a joyful noise to the Lord through our song.

If you want to hear the Victory Voices again, we are singing for the Christmas Eve service at the Bethel Memorial Baptist Church on December 24^th at 6:00pm.   You can find the church at http://bethelmemorialbaptist.org.

Check out some of the video and pictures from the event and our other public performance.

For many people, November 11^th means the remembrance of Veteran’s Day.  It is a solemn day to remember those who fought and gave of their lives to serve in the United States Armed Services.  From the American Revolution to our conflicts of today, it is a day to honor those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms.  This year, I have the joy of celebrating Veteran’s Day with a Thanksgiving Cantata held at The Resurrection Center in Wilmington, DE.  This year, the theme will be honoring all the branches of the military and is called “Spirit of a Grateful Nation”.  The Cantata begins at 5:30pm and is held at the church, which is located at 3301 N. Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19802. http://www.trclive.org/Events?fldMonth=11/1/2017&fldEventID=505345&fldOccuranceDate=11/11/2017

I began a relationship with this church in 2015.  I was contacted by Dion Lemond, music director of the cantata and asked to come down to be the lead trumpeter.  I had never been to the church and had no idea what to expect.  In 2015, they began hosting their Thanksgiving Cantata to give thanks to the Lord for all that we have.  I was honored to perform in their first ever event and it was an incredible experience.  The choir and soloists, consisting of almost 30 voices are incredible singers and perform with such great passion and joy to the Lord.  But, I had no idea when I got there that in addition to the great singers was a 20+ pc. orchestra to back them.  Wow, the only word I could describe the experience was Awesome!  It began as a gig I had to go to in Delaware to a very rewarding musical experience with great people who were there to give their praise to the Lord.

After this experience I was asked to perform in a Christmas Cantata in Dover Delaware in December.  It was another great experience.  I only wish it was a little closer to home so I could invite everyone to experience it.  I was also fortunate to be asked to perform in the cantatas again in 2016.  When you play in something like this, you can’t help but to meet great people.  One of the musicians I met is a saxophone player and vocalist named Chip Bailey.  Chip is a great guy with an even greater attitude on life.  He always had a dream to record his own live album.  Well, that came true on March 4, 2017. I traveled again to Wilmington to be a part of his project, a live CD and DVD recording for Chip’s first album.  I was so proud to be there to help him realize his dream and I cannot wait to hear the CD when I meet him again in November.

A cantata glorifying the Lord is always worthwhile to me. But, with this years cantata honoring those who served in the military it can only make it that much more special.  The arrangements we are performing are full orchestrations many of which come from the library of The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.  They include America the Beautiful, You are Worthy, Faithful to the End and Spirit of a Grateful People to name a few.

Although the travel is too far for most locals to attend, if you wanted to be truly moved by a great experience, this would be it.  I am glad for experiences and opportunities to improve who I am and help to make me a better person.  I hope to share my thoughts and experiences from this event in the near future.

Once I got the approval to go ahead, I began soliciting members to sing.  To my surprise, it wasn’t a difficult thing to do.  Excited men came to me wanting to be a part of it.  Maybe it was just because it was something new, but, whatever it was, the addition of a new group appealed to many people.  I also decided that we would tie in the first performance of the group with our upcoming coffee house on October 28. I knew if we began and already had a performance to prepare for, we would have a goal and something to work towards right from the beginning.

We began rehearsals on Thursday, September 7^th and had 13 men in sign up!  I had hoped we would get maybe 6-7 but never thought 13 would want to sing. And, on top of that, no one has dropped out! Everyone seems like they are having a great time.  Like all choirs, we have a mix of members with a musical background and some who have never sung in public before.  I have never had the opportunity to direct a men’s choir before, but, I am really enjoying my time so far.  My goal has been to create a fun learning environment where the men can come on a Thursday night and put whatever stress they are dealing with on hold and just enjoy the rehearsal.  I’ve always believed that if someone is giving up time with his or her family to come to a rehearsal I am directing, I know it has to be productive. I want them to leave with a sense of satisfaction and that it was time well spent.  I also want to inject humor and laughter.  I believe when someone is relaxed, they can absorb more instruction and perform better.  I want the men to want to come to the rehearsal and look forward to our time together.

Well, I am very happy with where we are right now and the progress we have made.  There has been a noticeable difference from the first rehearsal to now.  I am seeing the men show enthusiasm and excitement about singing. Singing for the Lord! We even have decided on an identity.  We are now Victory Voices.  A great name suggested by our most senior member, Sam Boddard.

If you cannot attend our coffee house on Saturday, October 28^th, we are also singing the next day in church at 10:30am.  Come out to hear us, you won’t be disappointed.

Here is the address of the church if you are interested in coming to hear Victory Voices.

Bethel Memorial Baptist Church

715 Chestnut Lane

Easton, PA 18045

You can always call me if you have any questions.  I can be reached at 908-619-4502.

I have seen the success of “Coffee House” events and strongly believed that if we held our first, it would be a great success. So, I began to spread the word about hosting one and looked for those interested in serving on a committee.  Through word of mouth and prayer, the vision was established and we had a group interested in organizing it so it was now time to approach the leadership for approval.  I was very pleased to receive an email from our pastor telling me that the idea was approved and to begin planning an event.

Our event is upon us and is going to be held on Saturday, October 28 at 6:00pm in the multi-purpose room downstairs in the church.  The vision of this is to create a cozy atmosphere within the church where people can come without having the stress of having to bring something.  I wanted a night out that would be social and rewarding yet still deliver a good Christian message. We can be with friends and church members sharing good food and music.  I noticed that after each of the three events at the Pilgrim Church, there was a noticeable surge of enthusiasm and energy within the church.  Each of the events was held on a Saturday so the next day in church there was a great feeling of camaraderie.  It is a great recipe of success for the church.  Whenever a church can bring people together socially and they have a great time, it is a great thing. But, when you add into that a strong Christian message it will actually draw people closer to the church and ultimately God.  Two great things to happen any church and anyone!

Although leading this charge has been a tremendous amount of work, lots of phone calls, meetings and decisions to make, I am Blessed to have a great committee to work with and a growing spirit for this event within the church.  We have a floor plan design to really transform our multi-purpose room into a quaint, yet classy restaurant feel with a stage.  We have 16 great performances lined up over two sets.  Plus, what has really been a big hit in our other events has been the trivia contest.  During the intermission, the audience gets to be a participant.  I created a trivia contest mainly of pop culture, TV and movie questions from yesteryear that definitely create a nostalgic feeling.  I also added an audio section so everyone gets to hear some great sounds of the past.  Again, this will be a great time for everyone.  In addition to the entertainment and trivia, we have a lot of great refreshment available. The best part of it all is, it is free and there is no admission to enter.  Anyone can come.  If you are reading this and will be around on the 28^th, please come over and check out this event. It will be fun.

I want people to feel like they can come to church for events other than just a Sunday service. To be able to know that there is so much more than just one hour a week! An opportunity to come to an event that does not have a sermon yet is still very spiritually rewarding. I really believe this event will do that. We have been working hard to advertise and share the word of this event.  If you are able, I would love to see you attend.

Here is our address:

Bethel Memorial Baptist Church
715 Chest Lane
Easton, Pa. 18045

If you need directions or have any questions, please feel free to call me (908) 619-4502.  I would be only too glad to assist you.

Blessings to you all!!

The Jack Furlong Orchestra is a talented 12pc. big band that was formed in 2014. Although still relatively new to the scene, they have entertained audiences throughout Central New Jersey for concerts, weddings and private shows.   The band is comprised of some of the top musical talent you will find.  They play a diverse selection of music from the world of jazz, classic standards, and even a hint of pop and favorite television theme songs.  I know this is shaping up to be a great concert as there will definitely be something for everyone. It will be a great way to spend a summer night in August.  More information about this concert can be found at www.jackfurlong.com/orchestra

I have had the privilege of knowing Jack for many years.  I met him while he was a music major at Lafayette College.  I was hired, at the time, to full out the trumpet section for a few semesters.  I then hired Jack to be a member of the Vince Pettinelli Orchestra and have enjoyed his music and friendship ever since.  In addition to this ensemble, Jack is well known for the award winning Jack Furlong Quartet.  Since 2006, the quartet has recorded 3 albums (And That Happened, Jazzeration, and Bunnies in Limbo.) His most recent recording, Charity, is a duet with Sean Gough, piano and features Christian hymns performed in a jazz setting. The title of Charity was chosen because all the proceeds from the CD sales were donated to 3 local charities.

Music is not the only way where Jack spends his time.  He is an avid baseball fan and local baseball umpire. In 2013 he founded the OSIP Foundation.  OSIP stands for Outstanding Sportsmanship is Paramount.  Its mission is 1) To provide financial aid and assistance to those affected by acts of aggression due to poor sportsmanship and/or fanship, and
2) To raise awareness of the need for better sportsmanship in all capacities throughout sports.
Jack ultimately believes that all sporting events and competitions in life can be held without malice and with respect for all involved.  A very noble desire and foundation created by Jack.

The Howe Commons (www.howecommons.com) is a beautiful place to listen to a concert.  The property is made up of five spacious buildings with plenty of off-street parking that blended with the quaint Colonial feeling of the town. The finished product squared off the Commons, creating a dramatic town square that accentuates the historic center-piece of the property, the Abey Building – originally a residential mansion. These common areas heightened the aesthetic appeal and provide a beautiful backdrop for any performance.

I know the concert is going to be great and a fun way to spend a Sunday evening in August. If you are able to come, it is advised to bring a lawn chair.  If the weather is iffy that day and you are unsure about making the trip, give me a call and I can let you know if it is postponed or not. You can reach me on my cell at 908-619-4502.  I hope to see you there!!!

Steel Stacks, Bethelehem, Pa. (www.steelstacks.org)

In the historic South Side of Bethlehem, the Steel Stacks building and Levitt Pavilion have really grown to offer a lot of choices and activities to any person or family.  By clicking EVENTS on the subheading on the home page you can see a wide variety of free and ticketed events.  Events such as Arlo Guthrie, Matthew Morrison and comedians Ben Bailey and Rob Schneider, to name a few, are slated for this summer and fall. But what is so nice about Steel Stacks is the amount of other non-musical entertainment available.  From tours, to family programming, any visitor or even local is bound to find something they will enjoy.

Sands Event Center, Bethlehem, Pa. (www.sandseventcenter.com/events/)

Located within walking distance of the Steel stacks property is the Bethlehem Sands Casino and event center. The event center has planned some eclectic and diverse entertainment this summer and is certainly worth checking out.  Or, you can go to the Molten Lounge in the Sands Casino and check out their weekly slate of free entertainment. (www.pasands.com/nightlife/molten.html)

MusikFest Bethlehem, Pa. (www.musikfest.org/lineup/)

I would be neglecting probably one of the biggest music festivals in the country if I did not mention MusikFest. With over 500 concerts in a 10-day festival, MusikFest offers a wide range of performances both free and ticketed for just about any musical taste. Click on the website and you can clearly see where and when your favorite act will be performing.

www.lehighvalleymarketplace.com/the-sounds-of-summer/

This website is a good general site which offers you a lot of choices and information for each choice and venue.  It is worth taking a look at.

www.mcall.com/entertainment/mc-summer-band-concerts-lehigh-valley-20170506-story.html

If you are into local bands of all types, there are a lot of choices for that too.  Click on the link above and you will find from Easton to Catasauqua, Bethlehem to Macungie, a large list of venues and scheduled performances.  This alone is enough to tire anyone out!

www.discoverlehighvalley.com/events/major-events-festivals/

If fairs and festivals are your thing, discover Lehigh valley has a list of 21 different events, which offer great food, music and activities for family, friends or just yourself.  This is a great resource for activity in the greater Lehigh Valley.

Mt. Airy Casino & Resort  (www.mountairycasino.com/entertainment/)

The Poconos are about 30 miles North of the Lehigh Valley and also feature a wide range of activity both indoors and out for you to take advantage of.  Perhaps my next blog will focus more on the Poconos and the treasure trove of great things the region offers. In the meantime,  Mt. Airy Casino and Resort is a hot spot with a lot of activity and entertainment nightly and including special event concerts.  If you are thinking family or doing something with friends, check out this website: www.poconomountains.com/things-to-do/adventure-bucketlist/summer/  The summer bucket list for the Pocono area gives you a list of cool activities available to you.

There is so much more I could list here. The greater Lehigh Valley and even a little further out, it is just filled with so many options of things to do.  If you ever say, “there is nothing to do tonight”, you probably aren’t looking because with just a little amount of searching, you can really open up a ton of possibilities. Plus, this is without mentioning any of the many shopping areas, food choices and parks.  Phew, I am tired just thinking of all these possibilities!

Best of luck in finding what you are looking for this summer!!

The group is comprised of myself on trumpet, Rick Case on drums, Joe DeMaio on bass, Oscar Duarte on auxiliary percussion and Jennie Tielman on piano.  Jennie was unable to make it so Linda Pettinelli (my sister) filled in quite ably for her. We played “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” and “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder”.  This was the first time that our jazz quintet has performed outside of Bethel.  When the coffee house date was set, I thought it would be great to include this group to have an opportunity to perform for a different audience away from the church campus.”

The members of the group beside myself mainly only perform with the praise team at the church.  So, when this opportunity came along, I knew it would be a great chance to get out of our comfort zone. I’ve always believed that anytime an ensemble or performer has a chance to play outside of their regular spot, it can only strengthen them. When you go to a venue that is new, there is a sense of uncertainty and you don’t always know what to expect. It actually draws everyone closer because the only thing that you can rely on initially is each other.  It is natural if you are in an unfamiliar place to cling to what you are comfortable with.  So I thought from this aspect it would be a nice bonding experience for all of us.  Then, when you begin to perform you know it sounds a little different and that forces your ears to be even more focused to what is going on.  This is always my favorite part.  When you begin to hear your music and it sounds a little different than the way it usually does, it allows you to take more chances and develop more creativity.  I believe the members of the quintet did just that on Saturday.  I felt Oscar was playing more unique rhythmic patterns and whether he recognized it or not, was branching out and expanding on the parts he normally plays. The same was true with Rick. I felt his drumming had a different vibe to it as he added some neat new grooves to both songs.  Both added a nice touch to the music allowing us to really feed off of one another.  All of these experiences I believe, will help us in the future as we continue to grow and build on the success we are having. Overall, we are most happy to be able to Glorify the Lord through our music! We were very grateful to have the opportunity.

In addition to performing, I also had the privilege of running sound and lights.  I had recently purchased some new LED lighting so I was excited to be able to use them. Memorial Hall, which is used for Sunday school, the boy scouts and an occasional covered dish was transformed so nicely with the ambiance and feel of a real coffee house.

The night was awesome. Everyone had fun, loved the entertainment and enjoyed reminiscing with the trivia contest.  As I said, “It was a great night for the church”!  The mission aside, the fact that it was a miserable rainy Saturday and yet still drew a record crowd is a great sign of strength and growth occurring within Pilgrim.  As of now, there is talk of wanting to schedule another coffee house in October.  I am already looking forward to it with plans to grow the event even more.

More information regarding the Presbyterian Coffee Project of Equal Exchange and Fairly Traded Coffee can be found on the website http://equalexchange.coop/pcusa

Educational Institutions, like many public entities are constantly dealing with new laws and regulations on what information can be disseminated and the methods used to collect it.  Gone are the days of just filling out a form and sending it in with your child. Today, there are so many consequences that could arise from not being able to read the form, improperly filling it out out or even worse. However, these issues can all be alleviated with one product from a very reputable and growing company.  SRC Solutions of Center Valley, Pa, is the innovative leader world wide in creating registration software to help facilitate proper record keeping in all areas of a students’ school career.  I certainly can speak from an area of experience in understanding why school districts could benefit from this product.  As an educator in a public school, one thing many music programs do is travel.  As great as a trip or competition can be, it requires a mountain of preparation before it can happen.  Unlike many teachers who just work according to the school day, music teachers have to spend a great deal of time after school preparing and maintaining accurate files for every kid to be permitted to go on a trip.  This includes permission forms, medical forms (including doctor’s prescriptions), as well as emergency forms.  Regularly communications with the main office and nurse always have to occur to coordinate the large task of compiling the mound of paperwork.  Then it all has to be sorted through and organized.  It is a task that has nothing to do with the job of preparing student musicians and can be very frustrating to complete.  A teacher can never assume that every parent took the time necessary to complete the hand written forms accurately.   One has to review and go over every form making notes of potential issues.   Also, a visit to the nurse’s office with a full list of students attending on a trip is required. The nurse then will have to also go through every student to make alerts of those who have medical issues or require medication throughout the trip.

This whole situation is always tedious and energy draining.  Not every parent fills out his or her forms in a timely manner.  It is usually last minute when the teacher is trying to finalize the preparations for the trip that one can go crazy trying to get forms turned in as and making plans for any medical issues that could arise.

As you can see, a lot of time can be spent handling forms.  You want to make sure there aren’t errors or issues that could come up.  The first concern always is for the students and their safety.  If a mistake is made along the way, it could be a problem and ultimately would come back to the teacher who is stressed from all this additional work.  The nurse and main office secretary who are involved with this process all have their regular jobs to do.  Requesting for personal attention to help with a trip needs was something above and beyond their workday.  They have to fit it in when they can to complete the task.  This can lead to an error or typo somewhere along the way.

If I were an administrator examining this situation I would be concerned. Due to this process, there are several potential red flags that would go up in my mind.  Detailed personal info being passed around through several channels, the potential of miscommunications between staff of students issues, sloppy and illegible writing causing a concern just to name a few. Overall, a lack of efficiency existed which could easily lead to a potentially unwanted negative situation.

If a district has the use of Registration Gateway Products, I believe some benefits to this process would include:

-increased accuracy of information/records

-be streamlined to accomplish in a much faster time

-provide privacy for every student

-lack of excess paperwork

Throughout these benefits, I believe efficiency is the thread tied to each of them.  A lack of efficiency can easily be the opening for a major problem to develop.

If I were again that administrator, I am naturally concerned for my students and staff at all times.  If I am allowing a group to go on a trip and the preparation for it includes paperwork that is rushed or hurried, is this best for my students? No!  This single situation alone is worth the price of improving communication through the registration process.  I am ultimately responsible for the safety of every child.  Why would I let this archaic way of handling paperwork throughout the district continue and possibly lead to a problem under my watch? The benefits moving forward for everyone throughout the district are significant.  In the time we live in with contempt felt for public education, who would not want to improve the accuracy of record keeping?

Although cost is a factor for everything in public education, investing in a program like this will vastly improve the overall efficiency throughout the district leading to better production and accuracy proving just how valuable this will be! SRC Solutions and the products they offer can be found at  www.registrationgateway.com .  A truly innovative approach to streamlining paperwork for any school district!