We need your voice on Oct. 13

Since 2010, ecARTS, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, has been committed to building a performing arts center on the campus of El Camino High School. Our goal is to have a facility that meets the visual and performing arts needs of all elementary, middle and high schools in our district. Our architectural design includes an art gallery, multi-use performance space, and seating for 600. The journey towards this dream has had many ups and downs. The bottom line is there is a need, the El Camino faculty and staff are 100% in support of this, and through Bond Measure N, there is money currently available.

The San Juan Unified School District has now scheduled a community forum on Monday, October 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the El Camino cafeteria.  The purpose of this forum is to seek input from our school and local community about this theater project. This forum is different than the forums held last spring.

I am making a plea to our El Camino community to attend this forum in full force and show the district that a performing arts center is truly needed in this district and a worthy expenditure.  I hope to see a packed cafeteria with past, present and future students and families to support this project.

Please share this post with everyone you think would be interested.

For the sake of the arts and the good of our student artists, please try to attend the forum at El Camino on October 13.

Kevin Glaser
Band Director, El Camino High School
President, ecARTS, Inc.

Remembering Jeff Rogers

On January 29^th, El Camino Band parent Jeff "Mitch" Rogers passed away after a long and courageous battle with brain cancer. Jeff was diagnosed three years ago, and fought the devastating odds through spirit, determination, and strength. He was a wonderful parent, husband and human being. A remembrance for Jeff appeared in the Sacramento Bee, and says in part: "Jeff believed in giving back to his community and did so in numerous ways...He was also passionate about the El Camino High School band program, of which his [twin] daughters are members. Watching the Pep Band in action at Friday night football games gave him great joy."  

In accordance with his wishes, the family requests that donations made in Jeff's memory be sent either to El Camino High School Performing Arts (ecARTS, Inc., Kevin Glaser, President, 4300 El Camino Avenue, Sacramento, CA, 95821 or the Fremont Presbyterian Church, 5770 Carlson Drive, Sacramento, CA 95819.

We thank Jeff and his family for their generosity in remembering El Camino and the performing arts center at this sad time. 

Please join us as we keep Jeff’s wife and daughters in our thoughts.

A Note from Our President, Kevin Glaser

As we begin the new school year, many wonderful things are on the horizon for ecARTS. Our primary purpose and goal remains the same; to build a 600-seat state of the art performing center and art gallery on the campus of El Camino High School that will benefit all students in the San Juan Unified School District and the community at-large. At this time we have two projects we would like to share with you and encourage you to participate in.

Founders Campaign
Our current fundraising effort is the formation of a Founders Club. ecARTS invites you to become a member of our Founders Club with a donation of $1,000 to be used for conceptual drawings and an environmental study of the proposed site. All contributors to the Founders Club will be recognized by name on a permanent display to be placed in the lobby of the new arts facility. Individual, family, or business donations are all welcome. This campaign will run through December 31, 2010 with the goal of raising $100,000.

Click the Founders Campaign link above our video for our letter and donation form. We encourage you to share this campaign letter with everyone you know and join us in this project that will have a direct effect on the education of our youth, inspire their talents, and enrich their lives through the arts.

Showcase of Talent
On November 20, 2010, ecARTS will hold a "Showcase of Talent" fundraising event in which SJUSD performing and visual arts students will have the opportunity to perform or exhibit their work to folks who would be interested in supporting this project through financial donations. The goal of the event is to impress potential funding sources by showing how strong and vibrant the arts programs are the San Juan Unified School District. The Citrus Heights Community Center has been booked for the evening of Saturday, November 20th for event, which will include catered food and drink and, of course, our own students showcasing their wonderful talents. This event will provide an excellent venue for supporting our Founders Campaign.

We encourage you to visit our blogspot at www.performatec.blogspot.com to stay informed and up-to-date about our progress. If you have questions, need additional information or would like to be on our ecARTS mailing list, please contact Kevin Glaser at the is email address below.

Kevin Glaser, Band/Choir Director
VAPA Department Chair
El Camino High School
(916) 971-7449
performatec@yahoo.com
View the Eagle Band/Choir Website at:
http://www.sanjuan.edu/webpages/kglaser/