News from the Alumni Band Leadership Board
June 2022
Greetings Alumni, HMB and friends,
I hope your summer is off to a good start. First, I’d like to thank Kirk Phillips for his leadership as the Board’s President during our first three years. His passion and tireless efforts leave big shoes to fill and we are all thankful he remains on the Board. We also welcome two new members to the Board: Ben Bekel of Eldridge and Joe Judge of Des Moines, whose bios are in this newsletter.
Homecoming is closer than we realize (October 27 – 29) and plans are well underway. Look for an email with registration details in early July. Be sure the UICA has your current contact information to ensure you receive the homecoming notification. Also, follow the University of Iowa Alumni Band Facebook page. As you well know, band is family, and your alumni band family warmly welcomes our most recent HMB graduates and looks forward to getting acquainted and sharing traditions.
Would you like to have an opportunity to play the fight songs with fellow alumni other than at Homecoming or alumni basketball pep band? Perhaps you’ve always wanted to organize a pep band. Then you will want to read the Call for Musicians in this newsletter which describes the Board’s pilot efforts for regional pep bands.
Other updates from the Board since the last Roll Along include:
- Alumni pep band was a success and ideas for next season are being discussed.
- The Down and Off podcast produced 6 episodes in Season 2 and is preparing for Season 3. Follow hosts John Brown and Tim Clay as they spend time with current and past HMB members. If you haven’t listened in, you’re missing out. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1445449
- A panel of alumni representing the legal, IT and engineering fields graciously donated their time to spend an evening networking (virtually) with HMB members.
- We look for ways to engage with and learn from other alumni bands through participation in the National Association of Alumni Bands.
With both fondness and sadness, I can’t close without remembering Dave Woodley, HMB member, Drum Major, and Director. Dave was a dear friend to so many of us and will be greatly missed. His musical arrangements, drills, and most of all sense of humor and caring were one-of-a-kind. A remembrance of some sort for Dave at homecoming is being discussed.
See you at Homecoming!
Go Hawks!
Arlene Houk
Meet Our Newest Board Members!
Ben Bekel came to the University of Iowa from Muscatine, IA and was in the Hawkeye Marching Band/Iowa Pep Band from 2003-2007. As a member of HMB, Ben served as Section Leader for the Clarinet section in 2006, and got to see "The Catch" live and in person at the 2005 Capital One Bowl. After graduation, Ben attended law school at Drake University. Ben is the owner of Quad City Life Planning, a law firm which specializes in life and estate planning, elder law, and probate, and lives in Eldridge with his wife and 3-year-old son (the latter of whom tells Ben regularly that he "will play clarinet in the Hawkeye Marching Band and be on TV" when he grows up."
Joe Judge was in the HMB from 1996-1999. He graduated with a BA in Political Science & History, an MA in Social Studies Education and an MA in Educational Policy and Leadership for the University. Her serves as director for the Iowa State Education Association and currently live in Des Moines with his wife and two children. Previously, he taught Social Studies for 15 years for the Albia Community School District.
"The connection the HMB holds to the past, present, and future of the University is truly special. My interest in the board is based on helping maintain and grow that connection. I am forever a Hawkeye and one of my favorite yearly experiences is returning with my Sousaphone for the Homecoming activities."