The following is some information for you all to help our Mt. Rushmore weekend from March 22 - 23 go as smooth as possible. 

 

MARK YOUR DRUMS!!!!!

PRIOR to arriving at Mt. Rushmore, please mark every single piece of your equipment with your name and color-coded ribbon as listed below. 

I'd also like your drum bags to be marked with your name, as well as the appropriate color ribbon.  Last year each state had their own color of ribbon on their drum bags/cymbal bags/stands/drums/cowbells/and anything that doesn't fit in a bag, and it made it so much easier for sorting out drums when we could group them by state.  Please do this BEFORE coming to Mt. Rushmore.

 

Ribbon Colors (kept the same as last year with a few new additions for new states added this year)

Minnesota - Pink

Iowa - Green

Wisconsin - Orange

Missouri - Blue

South Dakota - Red

Kansas - Yellow

Nebraska - Purple

Colorado - White

Utah - Yellow

Ohio - Light Blue

 

Super Mega Lessons

Saturday, March 22 from 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Set-Up at 12:15 -- we will begin promptly at 1:00 p.m.

Douglas Middle School

401 Tower Road

Box Elder, SD

It is just off of I-90 at Exit 63 or 67

Please eat before you arrive as there will be no dinner break!!

 

What to Bring to Lessons

Energy and a Positive Attitude

Drums if you have them

Belt Pack Receivers (if you own a set), headphones and spare batteries

Comfortable Clothes and Shoes - be prepared for Turbo Jam :)

Extra drumsticks and drum heads

A pack of bottled water and/or a bag of snacks to share during breaks if you are able

Gently used shoes for the "Share Your Soul" national mission project

Camera to take pictures of all your new friends!

 

Site Items for Sale

If your site currently has something that you sell at your show tables for a fundraiser for your site, etc. you do have the option to bring those along and set up a table for other members to see and perhaps purchase as "souvenirs" to take home with them.  We will need to limit the times that the kids can visit your table however.  Sales can only happen before and after the mega-lesson, or during a scheduled break.  Last year it got a little distracting when some parents were walking around the room peddling their sites' merchandise, kids leaving their drums to check out the tables, etc.  We will have some tables set up in the hall -- away from the gym where practice is going on.  It is not required that you bring items for a table either so no need to hurry up and have something made up...only if you already have something that you currently sell.

 

Professionalism Required At All Times:

All members (and family members too!) are expected to act professionally at all times throughout the entire weekend, whether it is at lessons, at the Easter service, or at your hotel/lodging facility.  It is important to remember that we represent a national organization and need to be respectful of others and the facilities we are in at all times.

 

Lodging:

It is up to each family to decide where they want to stay.  It is also each family's responsibility to pay for your lodging, meals and travel expenses.  There are no arrangements with any specific hotels as far as group rates go.  I tried, but the group rate I was quoted was actually higher than their rate on the internet -- go figure!  There are a couple of hotels right in Keystone, and many more down in Rapid City.

 

The Placerville Youth Camp that some people stayed at two years ago will have lodging available.  If you are interested in staying there, the minimum donation is $10/per person, and you need to make your requests through Kent Wells (kwells@dsdk12.net).  The address is: 13801 W. Highway 44, Rapid City, SD 57702.  You will need to bring your own bedding.

Directions to Placerville Camp:

As you enter Rapid City from either direction, take Exit 57 off I-90.  Follow for two miles, take a right at the first stoplight onto Highway 44.  Follow Highway 44 through Rapid City.  You will come to a small town called Johnson Siding.  Continue two miles and you will see a Placerville Camp highway sign on the left with a green mailbox.  Follow the gravel road two miles into the camp.  It is a long, windy, road but Never Give Up!  You will get there!

 

The UCC Church in Keystone will also be open for lodging in the church basement.  They have a nice bathroom, and they will provide juice and rolls Sunday morning.  If you'd like to stay there, please make your requests also through Kent Wells (kwells@dsdk12.net).  Remember your sleeping bags, etc.

 

Logistics Into Mt. Rushmore

Show Time -- 7:00 a.m.

Set-up -- 6:00 a.m.

Details are still being worked out for getting into the Park, however we will have a trailer and possibly a pick-up/SUV or two that can be used for transporting many of the drums into Mt. Rushmore to the stage area.  We will have more directions on how we're going to do this at the mega lesson.  We are assuming it will work similar to last year.  We will need to rely on some of you willing to transport your own drums from the parking lot to the amphitheater as I don't think there will be enough room in the trailer for as many drums as we will have this year ;)

 

Attire for Easter Sunrise Performance

Appropriate church attire should be worn.  If you wish to wear your SR t-shirt, that would be fine.  It's possible that the morning with be rather cold, so a long-sleeved shirt under your t-shirt might be in order.  Bring a jacket if it's really cold.  NO blue jeans should be worn for this event.  It is Easter Sunday after all!  Let's pray that it is NOT as "chilly" as last year.  6 degrees was just a bit cold!!  Just remember that the weather in the Hills is very unpredictable...please plan and dress accordingly.

 

Tours of Rushmore Caverns

One of our SR families that owns Rushmore Caverns has again graciously offered to provide tours free of charge to all SR families that will be there on Easter Sunday.  They would like to have people come as soon after the Sunrise Service as possible so that they can have the rest of the day with their family.

 

I think this is it for now.  If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.

 

Mary Kapustka

SR Board President