Organizational Changes

ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES

The band started as an informal group with the assistance of Nick Rail Music.

By the spring of 1997, because of the band size, an Advisory Committee was added to assist and advise the director. The first committee consisted of five band participants. In 1999, two additional members were added in anticipation of an organizational change.

In late 1998 it was decided that a more formal structure was needed, and work was begun to become a nonprofit corporation. It was also decided to shorten the name to Prime Time Band.

Don Bennett, Chair of the Advisory Committee, led the effort to achieve this new status. This occurred officially on July 2, 1999.

With the official change in organizational structure, the Advisory Committee became the Board of Directors.

The new Board of Directors appointed J.B. Vander Ark to the position of Executive Director of the band.

J.B. Vander Ark retired from his position as Executive Director effective January 1, 2005. With his departure came an organizational change. The position of Executive Director was eliminated and, in its place, the new position of Band Manager was added. The Band Manager is responsible for running the band. This means coordinating and scheduling concerts and other activities associated with both bands. It's a big job with the two bands having over 100 participants and about 10 concerts annually. The first Band Manager was Kathy Bartkowiak. She took over her responsibilities on January 1, 2005. On January 1, 2006, Toni Straka became the second Band Manager.