Greetings fossils!

The summer is flying by, Band 143 is getting ready for the upcoming season, and homecoming is less than 2 months away! This year the Alumni Band celebrates our 50^th anniversary since being formed in 1973! Jeff Sebille (Homecoming Chair/Alumni Band Director) and the Alumni Band Leadership Board are busy with preparations for a memorable homecoming weekend. Here are some highlights:

• Thursday, October 5, 2023 – Reception at Voxman Music Building. Time to reconnect with long-time friends, welcome new alumni to our Alumni Band family, and enjoy a performance by the HMB leadership.
• Friday, October 6, 2023 – Homecoming Parade in downtown Iowa City, followed by a family friendly picnic at the Iowa City Community Recreation Center and opportunities for alumni “pep band” in downtown Iowa City and Iowa River Landing (family friendly)
• Saturday, October 7, 2023 – Alumni Band “takes back the field” with a rehearsal in Kinnick Stadium, lunch, and a performance in front the Stead Family Children’s Hospital before we hear Lou Crist’s Golden Voice tell us to “get ready for the BOOM!”
• This will be the largest Alumni Band so far with 320 currently registered for pregame and some alums on a waiting list. THANK YOU to University of Iowa Athletics for allocating extra seats so we could increase the size of the Alumni Band.
• There will be over 600 musicians on the field playing the Iowa Fight Song in the “Super Hawks” formation! Tell your family and friends they won’t want to miss this pregame show!
• The new logos for Marching Herky and “50 Year of the Iowa Alumni Band” have been well received and have also received recognition from outside the Iowa/HMB community, including from the National Association of Alumni Bands. The new online store features merchandise, including a pullover jacket, with the new Alumni Band and HMB logos.
• Lindsey Koby, Rhonda Roskos, and their colleagues at the University of Iowa Center for Advancement have provided instrumental support in preparations to make this weekend a success. Homecoming weekend wouldn’t be possible without their strong support! Please thank then when you see them during homecoming weekend.

In other news:

• Check out the new Alumni Band page on the HMB website:  https://hawkeyemarchingband.uiowa.edu/iowa-alumni-marching-band  Thank you to Dr. Bush and Alex Bush for setting this up.
• The always super-sparkly Kathy Ford was the guest on the 25^thDown and Off Podcast, hosted by John Brown and Tim Clay. Check out the podcasts featuring alums at:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/1445449
• Be sure to like and follow the University of Iowa Alumni Band Facebook page to stay informed on the latest Alumni Band news:   https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092584807558
• Regional Bands – The Iowa City Regional Alumni Band, led by Steve Jepson, entertained May graduates and their families on the Pentacrest during commencement weekend in May and brought a festive mood to the Coralville Fourth of July parade. This group will also play at FRYfest on Friday, September 1 at the Iowa River Landing. The Dubuque Regional Alumni Band, led by Jeff Eagan, entertains Hawkeye fans during each football game at Gary Dolphin’s Iron Bar. If you are interested in joining the fun with either group, please send an email to the attention of Kirk Phillips at iowaalumniband@gmail.com and he will put you in touch with Steve or Jeff.
• Planning is underway for networking events between HMB and Alumni in the 2023-2024 academic year.

Ways to get involved:  If you would like to participate in a future networking panel, help with a Homecoming Committee or event, or help wherever it may be needed, please send an email to iowaalumniband@gmail.com.

See you at Homecoming! Go Hawks!

Arlene Houk, President
The Iowa Alumni Band Leadership Board