Director's Updates

We Made It!

7/8/2022

And what a season it was!
Last year was a critical time in the 45 year history of Lutheran Vanguard. After 2 years off it was a make-or-break year for us, and the band came through with flying colors!

In some respects, this season was just as important. A solid foundation had been laid, and we needed to start putting a strong structure in place. The leadership was there, the kids were there, and it turned out to be one of our best—and most fun seasons—ever!

Here are a few numbers to give you some idea of what our year was like:

2021   2022
46   Band   68
2     Color Guard     9
48   Total Kids   77
4   Banner/Detail     8
5     Parades     9
2     Seniors   16

The number of kids and the number of performances this year seemed so right! We were big enough, with the right instrumentation, to look and sound really impressive in parades, yet small enough that everyone got to know each other…it really felt like a family.

Here are a few more numbers that really point up what it takes to make a Vanguard season possible:

Number of days together: 14
Number of director and staff hours put in: 1,708
Total number of volunteers: 60+
Total volunteer hours served: 1,134
Number of watermelons eaten: 36
Pounds of grapes eaten: 142
Pounds of bananas: 125
Eggs consumed: 39 dozen
Gallons of chocolate milk: 70
Total hours slept: Not enough!!!

On the “fun” side, I think it’s safe to say that Lutheran Vanguard was one of the most entertaining elements of every parade we were in. The crowds simply love this band! We saw military veterans rise to attention when the band played the Battle Hymn Chorale; the normally exuberant parade attendees listened in solemn silence to the Doxology; and you should have seen their faces when the band turned up the volume on Big Noise from Winnetka! People were literally dancing in the streets with our Color Guard leading the way!

But most importantly, as has happened every day of every year for the entire history of Lutheran Vanguard, this band Let Its Light Shine. Whether in a parade with the Cross of Christ proudly displayed on their uniforms, or in the quiet moments during evening devotions or the nightly singing of the Doxology, these young men and women represented their Savior in everything they did. I can’t tell you how many times during a parade people stopped us to ask, “Who are you?” and comment that they’ve never seen a group quite like ours.

It truly is a special organization, and it takes a large family to make it a reality. The kids, the directors and staff, the volunteers, and the parents and friends of LVW…we’ve been blessed beyond measure to be a part of this.

Thank you all for your support and encouragement this season. We couldn’t do it without you!

Have a great summer, and we look forward to seeing all of you next year!

LVW Apparel 2022

7/5/2022

LVW is holding an Apparel Fundraiser, with the help of Fan Cloth. The LVW Apparel Store will be open until Monday, July 18. More information is included in the flyers and catalog links below.

Be sure to note the special incentives for sales. If the LVW member name is included with family and friends' orders, that member will receive credit for those items purchased. There are some great prizes, so check those out!

The items available are all on the Online Catalog. There are lots of items from which to choose! In the catalog, you can click on each item for more information, sizing, etc. For some of the items, you are given the option to include your name, a number, or other message for the back of the item!

Fan Cloth FAQ

How do I submit my order?All individual orders are placed on your online shop https://fancloth.shop/DECVD. Once your campaign ends, we will submit and produce your complete order.

Can I extend my campaign?LVW has requested that the campaign ends on July 25. We will wait to see if that is granted.

Does my campaign accept cash or checks?Unfortunately, all orders will be placed through the online shop using a credit card. There should be no cash or check orders. This also means there will be no order forms.

When will I receive my order?Orders typically ship within 3-4 weeks from the closing date of the sale.

Can I view size charts and item information?Yes, you can view this information in the description of each item on your microshop.

Apparel Catalogs and Flyers - The flyers below include information on how to order, student incentive prizes, how to share, and much more!

LVW Product Catalog

Student Participant Flyer

Parent Information Flyer

The Whitewater Classic DCI Show - LVW Ticket Block Informatiton

7/5/2022

Lutheran Vanguard of Wisconsin will be ordering a block of tickets for The Whitewater Classic DCI show to be held on Saturday, July 16 at Perkins Stadium in Whitewater! The band members are not required to attend this show - the show is simply an opportunity for our LVW Family to gather once again at a fantastic Marching Arts Spectacle!

This show will include the Colts, Phantom Regiment, Blue Stars, Cavaliers, Bluecoats, and the Madison Scouts.

Use this form to indicate how many tickets you would like to order for The Whitewater Classic. (The Order form is NOW CLOSED)

To sit with the LVW group, you MUST complete this form by Friday, July 8 no later than 1:00 PM! After that time we will not be able to add tickets to our block. You will be on your own to order tickets after that time.

All tickets in our block will be $25. Tickets for this event range from $20 - 40, so the $25 tickets are not the premium seats, but you will have great viewing from our location! If you would like to purchase more expensive tickets on your own, you are certainly welcome to do so.

LVW will have the tickets for the show in our possession. When we get closer to the event, you will be updated with information about where and when you can pick up your tickets. Most likely they will be distributed outside the stadium gate in the pavilion about an hour before show time. You may pay for the tickets on the day of the event when you pick up your tickets if you have not paid ahead of time.

If paying by check, please make payable to "Lutheran Vanguard of Wisconsin" and indicate "DCI Whitewater Show" on the memo line. Checks can be mailed to James Neujahr, 5300 N Meade Street, Appleton, WI 54913.

If you have questions contact James Neujahr at jneujahr@fvlhs.org.

For more details about the show you can visit the DCI Website at https://www.dci.org/events/2022-whitewater-classic

Info for July 1 - 4: Rehearsal camp at KML,DCI Show, 4 Parades on July 3 - 4

6/14/2022

Things are moving quickly! I'm getting ahead of myself, but all needs to be posted before we leave for Germany.

Here is the information for July 1 - 4 in condensed form:

Friday, July 1
The band will meet at KML for a day of rehearsal. Rehearsal begins at 10:00 AM. Bring a Bag Lunch!

Saturday, July 2
This day will begin with rehearsal at KML, and then culminate with the band's trip to Sun Prairie for the Madison Scout's home show Drums on Parade! The LVW block will have 130 excited drum corps fans!

Sunday, July 3
The band will march in two parades today - the Kenosha Civic Veterans Parade and the Menomonee Falls Independence Day Parade! This is also PICTURE DAY at KML! Parents are invited to come take pictures of their students. Pictures will start at 9am and must be done by 9:45. We will take a full group photo, section photos, school photos, and senior photos. All pictures taken by our staff will be shared with parents.

Monday, July 4
Happy Birthday, America! LVW will be celebrating our Nation's Birthday with two parades - the Wauwatosa July 4th Parade and the Hales Corners July 4th Parade. In between the two parades, LVW will be having a picnic hosted by Wisconsin Lutheran College at their athletic complex. More on that later in this post!

What to bring with you:
LVW members should pack clothing for four days of rehearsal and performance. Please remember your personal uniform items, which include the black shoes/socks, gloves, and black compression t-shirts. By this time, all band members should have received two compression shirts. With four parades in two days, you will want to have them both!

Check back on the Post from May 17 for a detailed packing list - just to make sure you don't forget anything.

Pack a bag lunch for the first meal on Friday, July 1. All other meals for the weekend will be provided by LVW.

Times and Transportation for Friday, July 1
LVW will run a bus from FVL to KML on Friday. It will stop at the FDL Kwik Trip (Hickory Street Exit). Students from our other schools should check with your schools' transportation coordinator, or simply meet at KML at 9:30 AM.

Friday, July 1 – One Bus departing from FVL
7:30 AM               Arrive at FVL (East Entrance) Load bus
8:00 AM               Depart for Kettle Moraine LHS
8:45 AM               Pick Up students at Kwik Trip #242, 980 Hickory Street, Fond du Lac, WI 54935
9:30 AM               Arrive Kettle Moraine LHS - Unload
10:00 AM LVW Rehearsal Day Begins - Times for the rest of the day TBA

Rehearsal will begin at KML at 10:00 AM. We will use a "normal LVW rehearsal schedule" for both Friday and Saturday. Wake up times, meals, rehearsal sectionals, lights out, and so on will be announced to the band each day.

Much like the prior weekend, LVW will view a live streamed church service at KML. There is also a chance that a KML area pastor will provide LVW with a service - the date and time will be determined by the LVW Staff and Directors.

Saturday, July 2
7:30 AM LVW Rehearsal Day Begins - Times for the rest of the day TBA

DCI Show Schedule
Buses pick up at Kettle Moraine LHS, travel to Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium, 155 Kroncke Dr, Sun Prairie, WI 53590, USA. This will be for a Drum Corps International show Drums on Parade.
4:15 PM Buses Arrive Kettle Moraine LHS, load buses
4:30 PM               Depart for Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium
6:00 PM               Arrive Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium, eat supper, attend show - the band will be allowed to watch corps warm up!
10:15 PM After scores are announced - Load buses and depart for Kettle Moraine LHS
11:45 PM            Arrive KMLHS
12:00 AM Devotion, lights out

Sunday, July 3
7:00 AM Wake Up/Shower/Stretch
8:00 AM Breakfast/Devotion
8:30 AM Change into halves, load truck
9:00 AM Pictures in the auditorium or outside PAC - PARENTS ARE INVITED!
9:45 AM Buses Arrive KMLHS, load buses
10:00 AM Depart KMLHS for Parade Line Up near Pennoyer Park, 3601 7th Ave, Kenosha, WI 53140
11:30 AM Arrive Kenosha Parade Line Up.
1:00 PM Kenosha Civic Veterans Parade begins
3:00 PM               Time Approximate – Parade ends near 60th Street and 8th Avenue
3:30 PM               Depart for Menomonee Falls - Bethlehem Lutheran Church, N84W15252 Menomonee Ave, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
5:00 PM Arrive Bethlehem Lutheran Church, unload, eat supper
7:00 PM Menomonee Falls Parade begins. Parade ends at Menomonee Falls HS, N80W14350 Titan Dr, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
9:30 PM               Fireworks begin – we will watch from the parade dispersal area at the High School Parking Lot.
10:30 PM             Board Buses for return to KMLHS
11:00 PM             Arrive KML – unload
11:15 PM Devotion, lights out

Monday, July 4
6:00 AM Wake Up, Shower, Eat, change into Halves
7:00 AM               Buses arrive at KMLHS, Load
7:15 AM Depart for Wauwatosa Parade line up. Line up area, if the same as the last time we marched: Main Area will be the Wauwatosa Civic Center parking lot at Wauwatosa Ave (76th Street) and North Ave. The parade proceeds West on North Avenue between 80th Street and 104th Street. Distance of the Parade is 1.7 miles.
9:00 AM               Wauwatosa Parade begins.
11:00 AM            Parade ends – time approximate. Parade pickup will be at the end of the parade at 104th & North Avenue (Mayfair Shopping Center.)
11:30 AM            Load buses and depart for Wisconsin Lutheran College
12:00 PM             Arrive Wisconsin Lutheran College – Krauss-Miller-Lutz Outdoor Athletic Complex for relax time, lunch (1401 N Swan Blvd, Wauwatosa, WI 53226)
2:30 PM               Load and Depart for Hales Corners Parade
3:00 PM               Arrive Hales Corners Parade Line up near Cliffords Supper Club on W Forest Home Avenue (10418 W Forest Home Ave, Hales Corners, WI 53130)
4:30 PM               Parade ends near Hales Corners Village Hall, 5635 S New Berlin Rd, Hales Corners, WI 53130
5:00 PM               Load Buses and return to KMLHS
6:00 PM               Arrive KMLHS, eat, load gear, clean facilities
7:00 PM Two Buses Depart KMLHS for Appleton
7:45 PM               Arrive Fond du Lac Kwik Trip
8:30 PM               Arrive Fox Valley Lutheran HS

Special Invitation to the Family Picnic on Monday - July 4
In between the two parades on July 4, LVW will be having a family picnic at the WLC's Kraus-Miller-Lutz Athletic Complex located at 1401 N Swan Blvd, Wauwatosa, WI 53226. The band will have a few hours to relax a bit and enjoy some down time.

The Fatty Patty from Milwaukee will be catering the meal at the athletic complex. We are inviting LVW family members and friends to join us! LVW will pay for the meals for the LVW members and staff for the day. Additional family members, friends, and volunteers who would like to join us will be paying on their own. The cost is $10 per person for the meal.

So that the caterer knows for how many people to plan, we are asking that you RSVP using the Google form (link below). Please complete the form by June 26 so that plans can be made accurately. You will then receive a form to select your main meal.

Click here to RSVP for Monday, July 4 Family Picnic

Parade Information - follow links for more information

Kenosha Civic Veterans Parade “America the Beautiful” is the theme for the 2022 Kenosha Civic Veterans Parade, set for Sunday, July 3 at 1 p.m. Continuing its community generosity, Snap-on, Inc. is again the lead sponsor for the parade. The parade is organized by the City of Kenosha.
ROUTE: The parade route begins on Seventh Avenue at Washington Road, then heads south on Sixth Avenue through downtown to Library Park. The best areas for viewing the parade are along Seventh Avenue and Sixth Avenue before the parade reaches Library Park and prepares for disbanding. Library Park is not a good viewing spot, as the parade will begin to disband at 6th Avenue and 59th Street. View Map

Menomonee Falls Independence Day Parade
The Optimist Club runs the Independence Day Parade which is always held on the evening of July 3 at 7:00 pm. The parade route starts on Appleton Avenue at Elm Lane and proceeds southeast to Woosencraft Drive, finishing on Titan Drive. A Google Map of the route is at the end of this post.

Wauwatosa July 4th Parade
Join us for the parade on North Avenue. The celebration is one of the largest parades in the state. The parade proceeds west on North Avenue between 80th and 104th Street.
The parade starts at 9:00 am on Monday, July 4, 2022.
Fireworks will be held on July 4 at 9:15 pm. The fireworks will be launched from a different site (near 63rd and River Parkway) compared to previous years. We invite the public to watch from Hart Park.

Hales Corners July 4th Parade
The parade starts at Scharles Avenue and Forest Home Avenue and ends at 116th and Godsell Avenue. Follow the link for much more information, as well as a map of the parade route.

Transportation Home Following the July 4th Parades
LVW will be busing the band to Kettle Moraine LHS on Monday following the two parades. The band will be changing out of uniform, eating a meal, and cleaning the KML facilities. Two buses will then return to FVL.  For all other schools, check with your transportation coordinator for arrival times following the parade.

If you will be picking up your LVW member following the July 4th parades, the pick up point will be Kettle Moraine LHS, 3399 Division Rd, Jackson, WI 53037.

Checkout Procedures
If you are going home with parents and are not returning on the bus or with your school’s transportation, the following procedures MUST be followed:
1. Your parents must pick you up where we are changing out of uniform. For this weekend, that will be on Monday, at Kettle Moraine LHS. If you are picking up your child at KML, you must be there when the band is ready to leave. If you are not there when the band is ready to leave, your child will come with the band.
2. Your parents must check you out with the attendance chaperone from your bus. This must be done with you and your parent present.
3. If your parents are not there when the band is ready to leave, you will come with us. We leave no one behind – EVER!
4. You may not ride home with anyone else other than your parents UNLESS you have a written permission signed by your parents, and UNLESS that written permission is put into our hands. DON’T FORGET THE NOTE AT HOME, because there are NO EXCEPTIONS!

Information for June 24 - 26: KML Rehearsal, Eagle and Hartland Parades

6/10/2022

You may have noticed that Posts and Schedules are being released a bit earlier than in past years. There is a reason for that! From June 16 - June 28, I (James Neujahr) will be on a tour to Germany with my wife Julie, Wes Schmandt's German class, and other family members. Two of our LVW members (from Mr. Schmandt's German class) will also be on the trip. Julie and I are so much looking forward to this wonderful opportunity! We will finally be able to go on this trip, which was originally planned for 2020, then moved to 2021, and now it will finally happen

During the time that I am gone, general LVW questions and concerns can be sent to Tony Kubek, our Head Volunteer Coordinator, at ackubek@gmail.com. LVW members from the various schools should try contacting their local band director first. For FVL, you can contact Elisabeth Wagner at ewagner@fvlhs.org. MLHS questions should be directed to Charis Scharf at cscharf@mlhslancers.org. LPS, KML, and WLHS students can first try Angela Hohenstein at angela.hohenstein@kmlhs.org. LHS students can contact Jonathan Witte at wittjona@luther.k12.wi.us. WLA students should contact Abby Kurth at akurth@wlavikings.org.

What to bring with you:
LVW members should pack clothing for three days of rehearsal and performance. Please remember your personal uniform items, which include the black shoes/socks, gloves, and black compression t-shirts.

Check back on the Post from May 17 for a detailed packing list - just to make sure you don't forget anything.

Pack a bag lunch for the first meal on Friday, June 24. All other meals for the weekend will be provided by LVW.

Times and Transportation for Friday, June 24
LVW will run a bus from FVL to KML on Friday. It will stop at the FDL Kwik Trip (Hickory Street Exit). Students from our other schools should check with your schools' transportation coordinator, or simply meet at KML at 9:30 AM.

7:30 AM               Arrive at FVL (East Entrance) Load bus
8:00 AM               Depart Kettle Moraine LHS
8:45 AM               Pick Up students at Kwik Trip #242, 980 Hickory Street, Fond du Lac, WI 54935
9:30 AM               Arrive Kettle Moraine LHS - Unload
10:00 AM            Bus departs for return trip to Appleton. Don't leave anything on the bus!

Rehearsal will begin at KML at 10:00 AM. We will use a "normal LVW rehearsal schedule" for both Friday and Saturday. Wake up times, meals, rehearsal sectionals, lights out, and so on will be announced to the band.

We will view a live streamed church service on Saturday night at KML. There is also a chance that a KML area pastor will provide LVW with a service that night.

Times and Transportation for Sunday, June 26
7:00 AM Wake up, shower, eat
7:45 AM Pack and Load truck. Clean up and organize personal gear. Change into uniform.
9:00 AM Buses Arrive at KML. Load Buses
9:15 AM               Depart Kettle Moraine LHS for Eagle, WI
10:30 AM Arrive Eagle, WI (Parade Line Up area TBD, area is North of Main St and Highway 67
12:00 PM             Parade Begins (Eagle Parade Route)
12:45 PM             Parade Ends: Main St and Markham Rd. This is near Eagle Village Park
1:00 PM               Depart for Hartland, WI (Hartland Staging Area and Parade Route).
1:30 PM Arrive Hartland. LVW is #78 of 84 units in the parade (Hartland Parade Line Up). The Hartland Parade Committee knows we are arriving after the completion of the Eagle Parade. So we will be arriving in Hartland at about the time the parade begins. LVW is near the end of the parade line up, so we will have adequate time to prepare.
1:30 PM               Parade Begins
3:30 PM               Parade Ends – Load buses and return to Kettle Moraine LHS.
4:45 PM               Arrive Kettle Moraine LHS. Change out of uniform, eat, clean up facility
6:00 PM               Depart for Appleton and other schools. The two buses will both return to FVL.
6:45 PM               Drop off at Fond du Lac Kwik Trip – Hickory Street Exit
7:30 PM               Arrive at FVL - unload

Link for more information for the Kettle Moraine Days website

Link for more information for the Hartland Hometown Celebration website

Transportation Home Following the Hartland Parade on June 26
LVW will be busing the band to Kettle Moraine LHS on Sunday following the Hartland parade. The band will be changing out of uniform, eating a meal, and cleaning the KML facilities. Two buses will then return to FVL.  For all other schools, check with your transportation coordinator for arrival times following the parade.

If you will be picking up your LVW member following the Hartland parade, the pick up point will be Kettle Moraine LHS, 3399 Division Rd, Jackson, WI 53037.

Checkout Procedures
If you are going home with parents and are not returning on the bus or with your school’s transportation, the following procedures MUST be followed:
1. Your parents must pick you up where we are changing out of uniform. For this weekend, that will be on Sunday, at Kettle Moraine LHS. If you are picking up your child at KML, you must be there when the band is ready to leave. If you are not there when the band is ready to leave, your child will come with the band.
2. Your parents must check you out with the attendance chaperone from your bus. This must be done with you and your parent present.
3. If your parents are not there when the band is ready to leave, you will come with us. We leave no one behind – EVER!
4. You may not ride home with anyone else other than your parents UNLESS you have a written permission signed by your parents, and UNLESS that written permission is put into our hands. DON’T FORGET THE NOTE AT HOME, because there are NO EXCEPTIONS!

Information for June 18-19 Camp and Chilton Father's Day Parade

6/8/2022

I want to first congratulate everyone for a job well done during this first week of camp! Thanks to Holly Kubek and our army of volunteer support staff for making sure the kids were fed, to Tony Kubek, Elisabeth Wagner, Kim Page, Abby Kurth, and the rest of our uniform crew for helping them look awesome, to those with the band on the parade routes, and to Chuck Adrian, Tim Klemp, Tony Kubek, Kyle Needham, and Steven Koch who prepared the truck, and made sure that we have everything in place for our first two performances. Also thanks to those volunteers for their work with preparing bins and supplies for the beginning of our season! Without our support staff, our members would not be able to accomplish the things they do.

Thanks also to our director staff for their attention to detail and providing our kids with excellent instruction! In just a few short days, they steadily brought the band from a collection of inexperienced students from many schools to the entertaining group we know as Lutheran Vanguard of Wisconsin! The transformation is truly remarkable, and will continue throughout the season in a forward direction.

Last, but certainly not least, thanks go to the members of LVW! The members have taken on this responsibility of carrying on the LVW traditions with an enthusiasm and a desire to be the absolute best that we can be. And that will be AWESOME by the end of the summer! We always knew that LVW was a "Crowd Favorite" on the parade route, and this year we hope to be even more so.

CAMP #2 INFORMATION
Rehearsal will begin on Saturday, June 18 at 10:00 AM, and will take place at Fox Valley Lutheran HS. Times for Saturday and Sunday are listed below. The short weekend will conclude following the Chilton Father's Day Parade on Sunday afternoon.

Transportation to FVL on Saturday, June 18
Students from WLHS, KML, LPS, and WLA will be riding a bus which will begin at KML. The pickup points will be the same as the first camp week.

7:50 AM - Arrive KML to load
8:00 AM - Depart KML
8:40 AM - Arrive Kwik Trip in Fond du Lac, Hickory Street Exit
9:30 AM - Arrive FVL
NOTE - there will not be a bus for the return trip following the parade in Chilton.

Students should pack a bag lunch for Saturday. All other meals will be provided by LVW. The members will again stay overnight at FVL. Students should remember to pack everything needed for two days of camp. The packing list for this past week will be a good reference for this week as well, with the main differences being we have only two days together, and one parade instead of two.

Worship Service
LVW will be viewing a streamed worship service on Saturday night. No special dress is needed for this service. We would much prefer to attend a service in-person on Sunday morning, but with the early departure for Chilton we will not be able to.

Don't forget to bring the following as well:

Sunscreen
Hat and Sunglasses
Large water jug

SPECIAL ACTIVITY INFO
On Saturday night, the band will be treated to an outdoor movie experience! We will be setting up one of those giant inflatable movie screens. Move title TBD! We will have plenty of popcorn! So the kids should bring along a blanket if they wish to watch in comfort. A light jacket or sweatshirt and jeans/sweatpants to wear if it is a chilly night would also be a good idea.

Students should also make sure to take care of themselves before returning to camp. They were instructed to drink plenty of water so they can be fully hydrated. We had relatively nice weather this first week, and next week looks like it will be warmer. So weather (other than the rain!) cooperated pretty well during our first camp. Be prepared for warmer weather! Students should also remember especially to bring sunscreen (at least SPF 30), sunglasses, and hats as we will be spending the majority of our time outside.

LVW's next parade is Sunday, JUNE 19
The Chilton Father's Day Parade is Sunday! Parade start time is 11:00 AM, and will begin near the county fairgrounds at the corner of Madison Street (Hwy 57) and Chestnut Street. If the route is the same as in previous years, it will proceed north on Madison, west on Main, north on State, east on School, south on Madison, and east on Main where it will end near Adams Street. There are a lot of corners in the middle of the parade, since it goes around a block in the downtown area. This has been a great parade for us in the past. Lots of parents, groupies, and family members are on hand to cheer us on! In addition, it gained a reputation as a “CANDY” parade, so if you have little ones going along (or big “Kids” at heart), bring along bags and buckets! There is no reviewing stand in this parade, and no judging, so if you want to gather with other LVW family, I would suggest somewhere along the beginning of the route on Madison Street, since it is nice and wide, and very straight. Once there, find the groupies! Here is a map of the Chilton Parade Route (This is from previous years - sorry for the "low tech" look to the scanned map - I'm hoping it is still the same route!).

The Father's Day Parade is the culmination of a four-day festival in Chilton. If you would like to experience a great family event, check out the website for the Chilton Summer Festival. .

TRANSPORTATION HOME FOLLOWING THE CHILTON PARADE
LVW will be busing the band to Chilton on Sunday for the parade. The buses will be returning to FVL following the parade by approximately 2:00 - 2:30. For all other schools, check with your transportation coordinator for arrival times following the parade. All of our non-FVL students are either riding with parents or will ride home with others from their area. There is NO KML BUS following the Chilton parade. If you will be picking up your LVW member following the Chilton parade, the pick up point will be St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, 717 Memorial Drive, Chilton, WI 53014.

Checkout Procedures
If you are going to be picked up following the parade, and are not returning on the bus or with your school’s transportation, the following procedures MUST be followed:
1. Your parents must pick you up where we are changing out of uniform. For this weekend, that will be on Sunday, at St. Martin Lutheran Church, Chilton. If you are picking up your child at St. Martin, you must be there when the band is ready to leave. If you are not there when the band is ready to leave, your child will come with the band.
2. Your parents must check you out with the attendance chaperone from your bus. This must be done with you and your parent present.
3. If your parents are not there when the band is ready to leave, you will come with us. We leave no one behind – EVER!
4. You may not ride home with anyone else other than your parents UNLESS you have a written permission signed by your parents, and UNLESS that written permission is put into our hands. DON’T FORGET THE NOTE AT HOME, because there are NO EXCEPTIONS!

LVW Group Tickets for DCI Show "Drums On Parade"

6/8/2022

UPDATE - the 40 tickets are all reserved. The link will stay open in case some need to cancel their reservation for tickets.

Lutheran Vanguard of Wisconsin has reserved 110 group tickets for the Drums On Parade DCI show to be held on Saturday, July 2, 2022, 7:00 pm CST at Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium at Ashley Field! The band will attend the show as a group, as they will be together for that weekend's parades in Eagle and Hartland. We want to make more tickets available for others to attend.

This show will include a Soundsport group and the Green Beret Marching band in exhibition, followed by the Colt Cadets, River City Rhythm, Colts, Phantom Regiment, Blue Stars, Cavaliers, and the Madison Scouts.

Since the band members and staff will be using 90 of the tickets, there will be 20 available (was increased to 40) for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis. We will use a Sign Up form, so that everyone will see when all of the tickets are reserved.

The tickets are $25 each if you wish to sit with the LVW group. We will be asking the LVW members to pay $15 toward the ticket purchase. LVW will cover the remaining balance for member tickets.

Please note - LVW members and Staff should NOT use this sign up form! Their tickets will be reserved for them.

Follow the link at the bottom of this post to the Sign Up form. Or follow the link to the Drums on Parade Sign Up.

To sit with the LVW group, you must fill out the form. Please don't send emails, texts, or phone calls. Once the twenty available tickets are gone, you may still purchase tickets on your own, but you may not be able to get tickets in our group's section. For your information, we have tickets in Section G, lower section.

The tickets for current LVW members and all others (including Banner/Detail members if they attend) will be $15.

We will collect money ($15 LVW ticket fee) from the LVW members during the next two weeks. They can bring the money next week to rehearsal if they so choose. If you would like to pay for additional family tickets ($25 each) ahead of time, you may also send that with your LVW member.

LVW will have the tickets for the show in our possession. When we get closer to the event date, you will be updated with information about where and when you can pick up your tickets. Most likely they will be distributed at a designated location at the stadium. You may pay for the tickets on the day of the event when you pick up your tickets if you have not paid ahead of time.

If paying by check, please make payable to "Lutheran Vanguard of Wisconsin" and indicate "DCI Show" on the memo line. Checks can be mailed to James Neujahr, 5300 N Meade Street, Appleton, WI 54913.

If you have questions contact James Neujahr at jneujahr@fvlhs.org.

For more details about the show you can visit the DCI Website at https://www.dci.org/events/2022-drums-on-parade.

Reserve your tickets
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LVW 2022 - Follow Up Food and Volunteers

6/1/2022

LVW veterans - welcome back!
LVW first timers - welcome to the family we are so glad you are here!

My name is Holly Kubek and this will be my 6th year heading up the kitchen crew! My first son started LVW in Summer of 2009 and Kurt will be our last season in 2022.
LVW is on the grow and I have no doubt will continue on after our family "ages out" this summer. It has been pure joy (and some hard work) to be involved with the band all these years. Think about your kids' future with the band and how you can get involved this year and in the future. My husband Tony Kubek has been the head chaperone for many of those years and he too will be "aged out" after this season.

Next summer LVW will need new moms and dads to head up the kitchen and be the head chaperone/volunteer coordinator - if anyone wants to be a little deeper involved this year to "learn the ropes" let us know and we can bring you along behind the scenes a bit.

A few notes about the meals, we do our best to accommodate a large group of students and adults. We are all just moms and dads who are cooking for the band. We are not formally trained in food service. But we'll do our best to safely prepare & serve good food, balanced nutrition, and have a little fun too. We cannot do this without broad participation at both school locations - FVL and Kettle. Thanks to all those who have signed up to help in the kitchen thus far! We are off to a great start at filling those slots! No experience is necessary - we'll teach you as we go - we encourage you to raise your hand and come along!

Here is the link:SIGN UP HERE

We'll be planning for about 100-125 servings when considering band members, staff and volunteers! That's alot of hungry mouths to feed - so we did increase the number of slots per meal and the length of the shifts. When you volunteer in the kitchen, your shift will be done in time to ensure you can participate/view the parades - we won't leave anyone behind.

A few NEW things this year with the kitchen/food:

1. Designated dishwasher spot - this shift starts a little later than the meal prep slots, we'll train how to use the commercial dishwasher and wash sinks, you would help guide the student helpers on "kitchen clean up duty". With the larger group we'll need a little more focus in this area to keep up with the timely cleaning and ending of each meal shift.

2. Breakfast/Chaperone extended time - the chaperones who stay overnight are responsible for breakfast in the AM, with the size of the band we know the clean up will take a bit longer than last year, so we extended the time to ensure that clean up of breakfast takes place before the lunch crew arrives.
3. Donations - we know not everyone will be able to volunteer a shift in the kitchen and not everyone will be able to donate, but we ask those who can and are able to make a food donation - please bring to the first day of camp at FVL on 6/7.

Please consider any off the list below:

watermelons - we go through many many watermelons; we always need more watermelon, the kids love watermelon, did I mention watermelons?
powdered lemonade mix - regular and pink lemonade
desserts - the kids always LOVE a dessert at lunch & dinner, these can be homemade or store bought
- NO nuts or peanut butter ingredients of any kind please (we have multiple members with nut/peanut allergies)
boxes of jello - any flavors/colors
frozen treats of any kind - popsicles, freezy pops, ice cream, sherbert, sorbet, diary and non dairy options appreciated
sundae toppings - fudge, sprinkles, whipped cream, cherries, chocolate chips, etc (no nuts or peanut butter ingredients of any kind please)

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to reach out to us and we are happy to help!
Looking forward to the season kicking off in just a week!

Tony & Holly Kubek

LVW Summer Camp and First Parades Information

5/17/2022

The LVW 2022 summer season gets underway in a just a few weeks! We are extremely excited about the beginning of the first summer Camp and all that it brings - complete staff and membership together for the first time, lots of great focused rehearsal time, marked improvement every day, lasting friendships beginning to form, and the bonding of the LVW family into a Christian family that is so much larger than a marching band! LVW will once again be marching in parades with the Cross of Christ foremost on our minds and firmly fixed to our uniforms, as we strive to do all things to His glory!

First - a word about our uniforms. As you know, LVW wore our brand new uniforms last summer. They are shared with Manitowoc Lutheran High School. When they were purchased, 65 uniforms was plenty to outfit both LVW and MLHS. Last summer, LVW had 49 members, and the uniforms fit us with few to none to spare in the common sizes. With our efforts to purchase more uniforms (mattress sale, etc.) we wanted to ensure that we would have enough to last into the near future. However, the band grew much larger than we anticipated in just one year! That is a good problem! So even with additional uniforms - we do not have enough to outfit the band. So for one more year, we will be wearing the LVW uniform from 2007 - 2018. Then, over the course of the next year, we will purchase enough uniforms for this much larger Lutheran Vanguard of Wisconsin.

This post contains LOTS of information! Please take the time to read through EVERYTHING, as there are important details for both MEMBERS and PARENTS - so make sure members and parents read through this. It would be a great idea to sit down and do this together, so that nothing is left to chance or missed.

Check Back to this Site OFTEN!
This website is the main method of communication for LVW. Important updates, such as weekly itineraries, travel information, and weekend-specific information will always be posted on the "Director's Updates" page. We will also send periodic notifications via email and Facebook (this is LVW's general Facebook page), but those messages will almost always direct you to this page. Important links will also be posted to the LVW Homepage, but again, those links will usually direct you here.

Volunteering for LVW - A Great Opportunity to Let Your Light Shine!
We are again be using "SignUp.com" to indicate when, where, and how you would like to assist. For more information about Volunteering, go to our VOLUNTEER INFO. MANY spots are still open! We are especially in need of helpers for the kitchen during Camp #1 week, and lots of other tasks throughout the summer.

Updated June and July Calendar
A Google Calendar for LVW 2022 events has been posted to our "Schedule" page. You can click on individual events for more detailed information, including times, locations, and maps!

Important Band Camp Information:
Dates: Tuesday, June 7 – Saturday, June 11
Beginning time: 2:00 PM on Tuesday (arrive by 1:30)
Place: All camp activities will take place at FVL in Appleton, with a parade in Brillion (Friday) and Appleton (Saturday).

Camp Transportation
We will be running a bus from KML to Appleton, with planned stops along HWY 41 (possibly the Allenton Park and Ride) and in Fond du Lac at the Hickory Street Kwik Trip. More details will follow as soon as plans are finalized. This bus is provided for WLHS, KML, LPS, and WLA students and staff.

Housing during Camp #1 and Camp #2
All LVW Members will be staying overnight at FVL during the first two camps of the season.

LVW Staff and Members should bring a bag Supper for Tuesday, June 7.
All other meals along with all beverages will be provided during camp. Please bring something healthy, such as a sandwich, fresh fruit/vegetables in addition to chips/dessert items. LVW will provide beverages for the meal.

The best liquids to drink at rehearsals are products such as Gatorade, PowerAde, lemonade and other fruit juices, or plain cold water. Please do not bring POP (soda) to drink on rehearsal days for your lunch.

LVW Code of Conduct Form and Payments:
The Code of Conduct form and all payments must be turned in by the start of band camp. The Conduct form is available on the bands’ website on the "Join" page. If you are not sure of your balance for fees please check with Tammy Fick in the FVL Business Office at tfick@fvlhs.org

You can also access the LVW Code of Conduct form at this link. Please note - this is a new Google Form. If you have previously filled out a paper form, please also fill out this form. Thank you!

Camp schedule:
Tuesday, June 7 2:00 - 9:00 PM
Wednesday,June 8 - 8:30 AM until 9:00 PM
Thursday,June 9 - 8:30 AM until 9:00 PM
Friday,June 10 - 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM; Brillion Electric Parade begins at 9:00 PM
Saturday, June 11 - 8:30 - 11:00 AM
Appleton Flag Day Parade 2:00 PM - LVW's spot in the parade is still TBD out of 105 units in the parade.

LVW members will be dismissed from FVL following the parade. We will be changing out of uniform and making sure the school is clean and in order before departure. The expected time of departure will be approximately 5:00 - 5:30 PM on Saturday, June 11.

PLEASE NOTE - since almost all of the LVW parents attend the Appleton Flag Day Parade, we are not planning on a return bus that day. Your school director can help to arrange for rides home for students whose parents are not able to pick them up at FVL following the parade. Please plan accordingly.

First Performances of the Year:
Our first performance of the 2022 season is Friday, June 10. We will be marching in the Brillion Electric Parade. The parade will begin at 9:00 PM. A few words of caution for this parade: bring mosquito repellent, rain slickers and umbrellas (if past years are any indication of what we can expect)! The parade travels right down the middle of town on Main Street (South end and travels North) through the business district. As of this writing, LVW’s position in the parade is not known.

Then on Saturday, June11, LVW will appear in the 71st Annual Appleton Flag Day Parade, the “largest and oldest Flag Day Parade in the United States.” This parade begins at 2:00 PM. The route begins at the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Oneida Street, travels west on Wisconsin to State Street where it turns south. It continues on State Street to College Avenue, where it travels east to Drew Street where the parade ends. There will be a reviewing stand where many, MANY LVW parents and fans like to congregate. The stand is in the block just before the end of the parade at 321 E College Avenue. Much more information can be found at APPLETON FLAG DAY PARADE. The website MAY be updated with a map of the parade route. A complete Parade Line Up may also be available in the near future by clicking the link.

WFRV TV 5 will likely videotape the Parade for rebroadcast on WFRV TV 5. At the time of this writing it has not been announced when the parade will be broadcast (live and/or tape-delay).

What to bring with you to band camp:
LVW members should pack clothing for five days of rehearsal and performance. Please remember your personal uniform items, which include the black shoes/socks, gloves, and t-shirts. PLEASE NOTE – gloves and the special Uniform Compression Shirt will be handed out at Camp. There is a more detailed packing list for band camp following so you can make sure you have all of the necessary items.

Shoes and Shirt sizes were recorded when you registered for LVW. The shoes and shirts will be ready to hand out at camp. Returning members - please don't forget your shoes if you did not order new ones!

If you have not yet purchased shoes, shirts, or the color guard personal items for 2022, please go to our JOIN page and click on LVW Store. You can purchase the items there. We will be ordering by the end of this week (May 20) so please do this ASAP!

We will be staying at FVL on Tuesday through Friday night. All members should bring a sleeping bag/pillow/air mattress and personal items (deodorant/towel/soap/shampoo/etc).

Packing List
1. Instrument and/or other necessary equipment
2. All music and warm-ups—memorized as much as possible!
3. Enough comfortable clothing for five days of camp, especially comfortable shoes!! (Note that no sandals of any kind will be allowed for any marching or music rehearsals) Bring clothes for very warm or cool weather.
4. Sunscreen or sunblock (SPF 30 or higher) – and be sure to use it! A WIDE-BRIMMED hat/baseball cap is also a MUST. We will be outside for much of camp.
5. A one gallon (or other large size) water jug LABLED WITH YOUR NAME
6. Reeds, valve oil, slide grease, cork grease, etc.
7. Sunglasses are a definite bonus!
8. Tennis shoes for use indoors—the shoes used outside may not be allowed on the gym floors if they are too dirty.
9. Frisbees, cards, cribbage boards, chess sets, etc. for any free time that you may have (NOTE: Frisbees and balls or any other throwing device will not be used at any time inside any building – this rule applies to the entire summer.)
10. Your black marching shoes (some members will be receiving these at Band Camp)
11. BLACK SOCKS for all members, including guard
12. Black Spandex or Bike shorts for under your uniform
14. Anything else that you will need for your marching instrument, equipment, uniform, and performance
15. LOTS OF ENTHUSIASM AND A STRONG DESIRE TO LEARN!!

Color guard members are to make sure that you have all of the needed uniform items, which include black socks, black spandex shorts and other parts of the uniform (which will be supplied to you before our first performances). Guard instructor Angela Hohenstein may send an email to all guard members with more information.

Uniforms:
We will be wearing our former LVW uniforms for all performances this summer. These uniforms become the visual representation of who and what we are. Wear your uniform with pride and respect, and take care of it in the same way! Guidelines on how to take proper care of your new uniform will be given to you during band camp.

All wind and percussion players are to bring along black shoes, black socks, and black shorts as outlined above. Everyone will be given a pair of PERFORMANCE gloves, which will be worn with the uniform. The first pair will be free. For all extra gloves that you may need for the summer, the cost will be $3.00 per pair. Be sure to have your money with you. It is a good idea to purchase an extra pair, just in case. Also, for extended weekend trips with several performances, the second pair will come in very handy. If anyone loses their gloves, a new pair must be purchased. Take care of this very visible part of your uniform!

Special notes on your appearance for our performances:
1. No jewelry is to be worn during performances. This includes rings and watches. Ladies may wear earring posts only if they are covered by Band-Aid material. If your ears were not already pierced, it would be wise to wait until after our season is done!
2. Guys are allowed to wear earrings for rehearsals or other non-performance times while with the band. The following guidelines apply to guys – you are permitted to wear one post or stud earring per ear. You are not permitted to wear dangling or hoop earrings, or more than one earring per ear lobe.
3. Hair must be worn up in the hat. There are to be no bangs allowed to hang down in front, or curls down the side. If the hair reaches over the collar of the uniform, it must be worn under the hat, either pinned up or contained in a hair net. This includes gentlemen whose hair is long and/or unkempt. Gentlemen, it is best if your hair is cut short for the summer.
4. Gentlemen must be clean-shaven for all performances.

Attire when with the band:
As we head into the summer season, we would like to remind you to use good taste and judgement in your choice of what to wear. Remember that we are all witnesses for our Savior, even in rehearsals! Please follow these guidelines:
1. Extremely short shorts, bare midriffs, nearly-bare midriffs (if your tummy shows when you stretch up), spaghetti-strap tank-tops, or the very loose-fitting sleeveless-style tops are not acceptable for any of our members, male or female, as these could detract from the image and purpose of our band, and could possibly prove to be a stumbling block for others.
2. Gentlemen must wear a shirt at all times, for the same reasons as in #1.
3. Shirts, caps, or other clothing with logos of rock groups, alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, or objectionable slogans are not to be worn, as they detract from the image and purpose of our band.
4. Shoes must be worn at all times, except when sleeping. Shower flip-flops should be worn to and from the showers.
A good rule of thumb in choosing clothing for any LVW activity is this: If you have to ask, don’t wear it!

Emergency phone numbers for camp:
FVL - 920-739-4441
Mr. Neujahr mobile phone - 920-740-3924

Help needed with uniforms during camp – ESPECIALLY Tuesday!:
We are looking for a few parents to help with uniform tasks during the week of camp. No real skill is necessary for fitting uniforms – only a willingness to help LVW members look their best! We will begin fitting members already on Tuesday, so any and all help will be GREATLY APPRECIATED!

Volunteer for LVW 2022

5/17/2022

Hello Family and Friends of Lutheran Vanguard,

After an incredible comeback year last season, we have almost twice as many parades this year, almost twice as many kids, and definitely twice as much excitement for the 2022 Vanguard marching season...and we'd love for you to be a part of it!

Included in this post, as well as on Facebook, you'll find links to sign up to volunteer to help throughout the season. We simply couldn't conduct a successful season without your help, and there are many opportunities for you to do so! If you're a returning veteran...welcome back! If you're brand new to the band and still not quite sure what you've gotten yourself into...don't worry! It's an incredibly friendly group of kids and parents, and we guarantee you'll have a blast. No experience necessary, so sign up for as many slots as you can (and bring a friend along to help!).

Details can be found right in the sign up link, and there's always more information under the Director's Updates tab on the Vanguard website. Rest assured that no matter what you sign up for, you'll always be done in plenty of time to see every parade. And the best part of helping is you get to be around this amazing group of kids during their days of rehearsal!
Thank you again for your willingness to help, and we're all looking forward to a great year!

https://signup.com/go/PUSrMns

We're using SignUp.com (the leading online SignUp and reminder tool) to organize our upcoming SignUps.

Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:

1) Click this link to see our SignUp on SignUp.com: https://signup.com/go/PUSrMns
2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.
3) Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on SignUp.com.

Note: SignUp.com does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually.

Click to View Volunteer Opportunities on SignUp.com