Drum majors reflect on time with band
After three short whistle blasts, six white-gloved hands flash through the air, transforming the organized chaos of a 380-member band practice into a harmonious swell of chromatic scales.These are the same white gloves that twirl thick, elongated batons called maces and conduct the nation’s oldest university marching band through daily practice, weekly marches and gameday performances. They belong to the drum majors, three seasoned band veterans who bridge the gap between its directors and members.Senior Leo Mironovich, former head drum major of the Band of the Fighting Irish, and senior assistant drum majors Betsy FitzGerald and Nicole McMillan spoke to The Observer about their journeys through high school and college band and the responsibilities and challenges of serving a group under so much public scrutiny, especially at the BCS National Championship Game in January 2013.Observer File Photo “The National Championship experience was surreal,” Mironovich said. “We were absolutely ready for it; we had some of the best rehearsals of the year. We had the best morning of rehearsal pretty much in [director Dr. Kenneth] Dye’s history at Notre Dame. And we put on a fantastic halftime show.“In terms of the professional product that we put out on the field, on this big stage, we nailed it. We did really, really well.”Talking about performing for 80,000 fans in Notre Dame Stadium left the band leaders at a loss for words. “It is really indescribable,” McMillan said. “It’s exhilarating; it’s a rush. … I feel very lucky to get to experience that.”The drum majors reflected on their time at Notre Dame and their tenures leading the band through a season that included six weeks of performances in a row, as well as trips to the University of Michigan, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and Yankee Stadium for the Pinstripe Bowl. FitzGerald said proving that she and the band had enough stamina to perform stood out as a highlight of this season.“We all had a really tough first seven weeks of school without a break,” she said. “… I was so proud of the entire band having that much energy and excitement for six straight weeks, and being able to keep up that energy and focus myself,” she said.McMillan said the freshman band members particularly stood out in those first seven weeks of practices and six weeks of halftime performances.“It was exciting to see the new members make the band and perform on the football field four days later,” she said. “This is no small accomplishment and it made me so happy to see the new members transform and perform so well just one week after starting college.”The drum majors said their responsibilities demand much more than performing in the traditional spectacle at football games.“A lot of times people only see the glamorous aspects of drum majors, especially on game day,” Mironovich said. “It’s such a humbling position and such a powerless position. You’re completely reliant on the respect of the band members.“If they don’t view you as their leader, if they don’t want to work for you, the band is going to crash and burn.”The drum majors said their main role is to facilitate dialogue. “We kind of serve as communicators between directors and the rest of the students,” FitzGerald said. “We facilitate rehearsal. We don’t run the rehearsal, we just kind of pull it all together.”Mironovich served as an assistant drum major in 2012-2013 but assumed the lead role for the 2013 football season. FitzGerald and McMillan joined him for their first time as assistant drum majors. All three endured a four-month audition process in 2012, which tested their marching, twirling and conducting skills.“It’s like waiting for your college acceptance letters,” McMillan said of the process.Mironovich said auditioning for a second time and for the lead role was a personal journey. “The second time around, it was extra nerve-wracking because I felt a great deal more pressure,” Mironovich said. “I felt I had to show how much I had grown. … I had to prove I could take it to the next level, go to the next step to be the head drum major.”FitzGerald and McMillan said their motivation for auditioning sprung from a deep love for and commitment to the Band of the Fighting Irish.“Being able to serve our 380 best friends is such a privilege,” FitzGerald said. “Deciding to make that journey, deciding to say, ‘Yes, I want to hold myself up to a higher standard because I love band, because I love all the people I get to meet. … I want to be the one to put in all that extra time and show how much I really deeply care about these people.’”Selfless leadership was a skill FitzGerald said she strengthened most through her work with the band.“It was so rewarding to see how much my friends could accomplish when they were all working together,” she said. “For every moment of the season that was hard, and for every moment when all I wanted to do was give up and complain, it was incredible to know that everything I was doing was for the band, not just for myself. “It was incredible to see how much I was able to accomplish when I was doing those things for the band. I love every single member so much, and I hope I was able to show them how much I loved them by giving them as much as I could.”Mironovich said the experience of leading several hundred students in front of crowds numbering over 80,000 and serving as a representative of the University helped him grow as a leader.“Personally, I accomplished so much,” he said. “I achieved a dream, and lived it. I faced many fears, and felt what it was like tackling them head-on. I’ve survived and learned from numerous failures and have experienced euphoric successes.”“I am most proud of representing the greatest student organization on the campus of Notre Dame,” Mironovich said. “On many occasions, especially away games, I considered myself an ambassador of the University, and people looked to me as an example to how Notre Dame should act and/or react in certain situations. I was very proud of this, and always strove to represent Notre Dame to the best of my ability, in a way that would be pleasing to all of those who came before me.”The three seniors said they missed playing their instruments with the band, but Mironovich said he had found his niche with the drum majors. He said he learned to focus on the “mission” of the group, which included giving selfless attention to the band’s newest members.“I found the right spot for me within the band,” he said. “… I’ve learned to be bold, be courageous and to be yourself. “It is so difficult being in such a highly-exposed leadership position. Everyone looks to you for advice, for a role model, for someone to compare themselves to. … All in all, I guess I’ve learned what to focus on and what to work for in a high leadership position, and I am so glad to have had that experience.”Tags: 2014 Commencement, band, Betsy FitzGerald, drum major, Leo Mironovich, Nicole McMillan
Boardwalk Empire alum Ben Rosenfield and Sound of Music Live!’s Sophia Anne Caruso will take on the roles of Woodnut and Iris, respectively, in the New York premiere of The Nether. Written by Jennifer Haley and directed by Anne Kaufman, the show will star the previously announced Merritt Wever, Frank Wood and Peter Friedman. The MCC production will play at off-Broadway’s Lucille Lortel Theatre from February 4 through March 15. Opening night is set for February 24. Rosenfield launched his career in the leading role opposite Carey Mulligan in the off-Broadway play Through A Glass Darkly and featured in the final two seasons of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire. His other screen credits include Greetings from Tim Buckley, A Most Violent Year, Song One, Affluenza, Louder Than Words and Jamesy Boy. Caruso has appeared off-Broadway in Ruthless, the Musical. She played Brigitta Von Trapp in The Sound of Music Live!; other screen credits include Jack of the Red Hearts, Smash and Celebrity Ghost Stories. The Nether follows a young detective who investigates an online network where those who plug in are coaxed into acting out their darkest fantasies with seemingly no consequences in the real world. Across the pond, the drama ran at London’s Royal Court Theatre and will transfer to the West End later this year. View Comments The Nether Related Shows Show Closed This production ended its run on March 29, 2015
Want to soar through the trees? Enter our Go Ape Treetop Adventure Giveaway!Enter to win two tickets to the Go Ape Freedom Park at Rock Creek Regional Park in Rockville, Maryland or Freedom Park in Williamsburg, Virginia.Scramble up cargo nets, traverse across rope bridges, and take-off on zip lines 40-50 feet above the ground. Go Ape is a highly interactive treetop adventure that caters to all skill levels. Participants receive a 30-minute training session before they are turned loose into the forest canopy for a 2-3 hour fun and exciting outdoor adventure.This contest is now closed. Thanks to all who entered!Be sure and check out our other contests and giveaways here.Rules and Regulations: Package must be redeemed within 1 year of winning date. Entries must be received by mail or through the www.blueridgeoutdoors.com contest sign-up page by 12:00 noon EST on April 12th, 2013. One entry per person. One winner per household. Sweepstakes open only to legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia, who are 18 years of age or older. Void wherever prohibited by law. Families and employees of Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine and participating sponsors are not eligible. No liability is assumed for lost, late, incomplete, inaccurate, non-delivered or misdirected mail, or misdirected e-mail, garbled, mistranscribed, faulty or incomplete telephone transmissions, for technical hardware or software failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connection, or failed, incomplete or delayed computer transmission or any human error which may occur in the receipt of processing of the entries in this Sweepstakes. By entering the sweepstakes, entrants agree that Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine and Go Ape Freedom Park reserve the right to contact entrants multiple times with special information and offers. Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine reserves the right, at their sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Sweepstakes. Winners agree that Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine and participating sponsors, their subsidiaries, affiliates, agents and promotion agencies shall not be liable for injuries or losses of any kind resulting from acceptance of or use of prizes. No substitutions or redemption of cash, or transfer of prize permitted. Any taxes associated with winning any of the prizes detailed below will be paid by the winner. Winners agree to allow sponsors to use their name and pictures for purposes of promotion. Sponsors reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value. All Federal, State and local laws and regulations apply. Selection of winner will be chosen at random at the Blue Ridge Outdoors office on or before April 30th, 6:00 PM EST 2013. Winners will be contacted by the information they provided in the contest sign-up field and have 7 days to claim their prize before another winner will be picked. Odds of winning will be determined by the total number of eligible entries received.
On Monday, House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, wrote to CFPB Director Richard Cordray asking about his motives behind the reported rush to finalize the CFPB’s payday lending rule and his future at the bureau. He asked Cordray to respond to his letter by today.NAFCU has expressed concern about CFPB’s proposed payday lending rule. If implemented, the rule’s complexity and scope could impede consumer access to credit and have a particularly negative impact on the credit union industry, as it would affect almost all covered loan products provided by many institutions.In the letter, Rep. Hensarling alleges that Cordray’s rulemaking efforts are influenced by his political ambitions. It is rumored that Cordray plans to resign as director of the CFPB later this fall so that he can enter the Ohio governor’s race. 26SHARESShareShareSharePrintMailGooglePinterestDiggRedditStumbleuponDeliciousBufferTumblr continue reading »
Press Release, Statement Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf issued the following statement in memory of Sergeant Mark Baserman, who died one year ago while working at the State Correctional Institution at Somerset:“Tuesday marks the one-year anniversary of the death of State Correctional Institution at Somerset Sergeant Mark Baserman. He died of injuries suffered from an assault by an inmate. One assault on an officer is one too many.“While there are not enough words to honor his life, his sacrifice, and his service to his fellow citizens, I am asking all Pennsylvanians to honor his memory by observing a one-minute moment of silence at 12:47 p.m. Tuesday in memory of Sgt. Baserman and his ultimate sacrifice.“Corrections officers, like first responders and our soldiers, serve quietly and behind the scenes. The act of willingly going to work every day to protect the safety of others is an act of heroism. These men and women in uniform are joined today by hundreds more, everyday citizens, who appreciate the unwavering service of public servants such as Sgt. Baserman.“We are committed to the safety of all staff and to providing corrections officers and other staff with the tools and training they need to protect their health and safety. The Department of Corrections will continue to use all of the resources available to reduce violence in prison with the goal of ensuring that every staff member returns home safely each day.”Employees at SCI Somerset have created a Baserman Memorial Scholarship fund with $25,000 raised so far toward endowing a $50,000 scholarship for a student to attend the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. SHARE Email Facebook Twitter February 25, 2019
Governor Wolf Calls for Moment of Silence in Memory of Sergeant Mark Baserman
The pension fund of the Dutch financial group ING has outsourced the lion’s share of its €26bn in assets, awarding investment mandates for its nearly €20bn matching portfolio to AXA Investment Management and BlackRock.The two asset managers will each take on half of the matching portfolio, involving around €10bn in assets.It is the largest institutional contract win in the Dutch market this year, according to AXA IM.Hanneke Veringa, head of the client group in the Netherlands for AXA IM, said: “Pensioenfonds ING was facing the same material challenges of most Dutch institutional investors in optimally hedging its interest-rate and inflation risks with the fixed income portfolio.” Julien Fourtou, the firm’s global head of multi-asset client solutions, said AXA IM was now busy helping other institutional investors benefit from its balance sheet management experience. “We will further expand this service to those facing similar constraints, where both funding and regulatory objectives must be met in a cost-efficient manner, while ensuring the boards of the pension funds remain in full control,” he said.The ING mandate applies to the closed-end defined benefit (DB) pension fund, AXA IM said.The ING Pension Fund said it conducted an extensive selection process before signing deals with BlackRock and AXA IM.“Outsourcing allows for further improvement and expansion of knowledge, expertise and continuity,” the pension fund said.While this outsourcing concerned the matching portfolio, the pension fund said its return portfolio – which focuses on creating an adequate return for pensions indexation – had already been outsourced. Reporting on the investment and currency risk management is outsourced to the pension fund’s strategic partner Cardano, it said, adding that the treasury portfolio continues to be run by Florint Capital.Stressing that investment policy was not changed by the outsourcing, and that the pension fund itself retained control, the ING Pension Fund said it was, “looking forward confidently to a fruitful collaboration” with BlackRock, AXA, Cardano and Florint Capital.AXA IM said pension funds and insurance companies were now facing the challenge of a low-yield environment where inflation was low but expected to rise. This meant the firm’s management of both the nominal and inflation-linked instruments in the Pensioenfonds ING portfolio would be critical in protecting pensions over the long term, it said.Back in August, the ING Pension Fund said that, as part of a strategy shift, it would increase its inflation cover to 25% from 8.5% of real liabilities over the next four years, and expand its matching portfolio allocation to 75% from 70%, at the expense of investments in its return portfolio.
Danish labour-market pension fund Industriens Pension has revamped the structure of its listed investments department, creating separate teams for equities and bonds. As part of the change, the DKK183bn (€24.5bn) Copenhagen-based fund has made two new appointments from within its ranks, naming Morten Rask Nymark as head of listed equities and Anders Ellegaard as head of listed fixed income.Ellegaard, who will lead investment in sovereign and corporate bonds, money market and currency, has been a senior portfolio manager at Industriens Pension, with a focus on external managers.Rask Nymark, meanwhile, has been the pension fund’s European equities chief. Until the beginning of November, the listed investments department had a single leader in Peter Lindegaard.Lindegaard was then promoted to the role of CIO to replace Karsten Kjeldsen when Kjeldsen was poached by the Danish Teachers’ Pension Fund, Lærernes Pension, to become its new chief executive.Industriens Pension said it was Lindegaard who made the decision to change the organisational structure of listed investments, “due to a desire to bring together the expertise within the large asset classes in focused teams that cross external and internal management”.Lindegaard commented on the new promotions, saying: “Within Industriens Pension, Morten has achieved very good results in European equities, while Anders has worked with great success in selecting external managers and establishing a new asset class, other credit.”Industriens Pension has DKK125bn of listed investments, including some DKK75bn in different types of bonds from high-yield and emerging markets bonds to Danish mortgage bonds, and about DKK50bn in listed equities.
A new report delivered by RenewableUK has revealed that a high number of UK companies are involved in the development, construction and operation of offshore wind farms in Britain.The study shows that 48% of the expenditure in planning, building and running offshore wind projects in the UK goes to domestic companies.This means the offshore wind industry has almost hit its long-term target to source 50% of its work in Britain, to be achieved by 2020.The previous UK content report, published in 2015, showed that 43% of contracts surveyed had been awarded to British companies – a 5% increase.This latest report was delivered by RenewableUK on behalf of the Offshore Wind Programme Board, a body of experts which includes The Crown Estate, the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department of International Trade.It analysed data supplied by eight major UK offshore wind farms, which reached a Final Investment Decision between 2010-2015. The findings show that UK content has grown at every stage of a wind farm’s lifecycle: development, construction and operation.British companies did especially well in the development stage with an average of 73% of work being awarded locally, the report shows. This represents a 16% increase in the previous report’s figure. The development phase includes all the major licensing, planning and surveying work which has to take place before a wind farm can be built.The sector is investing GBP 11.5 billion in the UK economy over the next four years, which is greater than the amount of spending in the aviation sector. It also surpasses the amount the country is spending on broadband and mobile network infrastructure.“The offshore wind industry is growing at a rapid pace, with £11.5bn of investment in new UK offshore wind farms due to take place over the next four years,” the UK’s Minister for Energy and Industry, Richard Harrington MP, said.“This report demonstrates the strength of this growing sector and the positive impact it is having on the UK supply chain. We will continue to support offshore wind developments through our Industrial Strategy, helping to reduce carbon emissions while growing the economy.”
After a tough fought battle with cancer, Michael Allen Fasbinder, age 49 of Napoleon, passed away Wednesday, September 14 surrounded by his family and friends. Mike was born on October 26, 1966 in Greensburg, IN, the son of the late Robert L. and Sharon Fasbinder.He attended Batesville High School and was a proud graduate of the class of 1985. It was during this time, he achieved one of the highest honors a teenage boy can receive, the honor of being an Eagle Scout. This went on to be displayed in his perfection in what he set his mind out to do and his willingness to always lend a helping hand.He met the love of his life, wife Kathy Moore, and they were united in marriage on June 15, 1996, in Gatlinburg, TN, celebrating their 20th anniversary this past summer. To this marriage was born his everything, daughter Mikaela Lynn Fasbinder. In everything he did, she was his true pride and joy. He enjoyed mostly his weekly daddy-daughter date nights that might dinners out, a movie, or build-a-bear. Mike was owner/operator of Southeastern Truck and Trailer located in New Point, IN. He previously was a mechanic for Bedel’s Marathon in Batesville, was owner/operator of a Marathon station in Batesville, worked as a mechanic at Koch Auto and Truck Repair in Batesville, employed as a customer service representative for Wood-Mizer in Indianapolis, and was a heavy equipment operator/mechanic for Schutte Excavating and Johannigman Excavating in Greensburg.Mike had a driven compassion for the Pontiac vehicles. His first car was a ’71 Pontiac Firebird. He and his good buddies Chris “Buckwheat” Hooten and Lance Smith enjoyed many car events, including the Street Machine Nationals in Duquesne, Illinois, and drag races at Edgewater in Cleves, Ohio. Because of his love of Pontiacs, Mike became a proud member of Pontiacs of Southeastern Indiana (POSI).Another passion of Mike’s was creating and building. He designed both homes the family lived in. He preferred doing the work himself and had a difficult time near the end of his life accepting the fact that others had to finish some jobs. For his daughter, he created and built a one of a kind fort that his little girl Tater could enjoy for years.At the end of November 2015, money was raised by friends, family, and strangers through Go-Fund-Me so that Mike and his family could spend what would be their last Christmas at Disney World. When Mike found out about the trip provided by others, he broke down and said no one had ever done anything like that for him before. The money was well used on a lasting experience for Mike and Tater to enjoy the rides and festivities in Florida.When Mike came to terms with the fact that his time on earth was limited, he decided to fulfill one of his bucket list wishes—take a trip to Paris, France. Leaving the rest of the family behind with not a care in the world, on May 13, 2016, Mike joined a Rick Steves European Travel group for a two-week tour of various places in Europe. Mike was preceded in death by his father Robert, maternal grandparents Leonard and Mae Kohlman, paternal grandparents Clarence and Elsie Fasbinder, cousin Karen Cain, and father-in-law Tyler Moore.He is survived by wife Kathy and daughter Mikaela at home; mother Sharon; brothers Doug (Debbie) Fasbinder of Cleves, OH; Jason (Claire) Fasbinder of Sarasota, FL; nieces Pamela and Meagan; and nephews Christopher, Matthew, Joshua, and Zaile.A gathering of family of friends will take place on Monday, September 19 at Neal’s Funeral Home in Osgood from 4-7 p.m., followed by a memorial service at 7:00 p.m. also at the funeral home.Memorials may be made out to the Mikaela College Fund in care of Neal’s Funeral Home.
Premier League clubs have agreed to use neutral stadiums to finish the season once the Government gives football the green light to resume. Premier League fixtures are currently suspended until April 30 due to the coronavirus crisis ( Brighton were among a number of teams who had wanted to preserve home advantage when games returned behind closed doors. But after a 3½-hour video meeting of the 20 “shareholder” clubs, plans to use “eight to ten neutral stadiums” were given the thumbs-up. Clubs confirmed their target of starting general training from May 18, with the first Prem fixtures now pencilled in for Friday, June 12 — the same date Euro 2020 would have kicked off. SunSport first told you about plans to use neutral venues to play out the season on March 18. The grounds, all of which will be current Prem stadiums, will be confirmed in the next two weeks. But police concerns over using congested urban areas and fans converging in the vicinity of the stadiums — and potentially causing coronavirus-spreading clusters — will mean grounds includingAnfield and Stamford Bridge being ruled out. SunSport of UK understands the strongest candidates for the eight grounds in the Premier League are: Loading… Promoted ContentThe Highest Paid Football Players In The WorldWho Is The Most Powerful Woman On Earth?6 Ridiculous Health Myths That Are Actually TrueYou’ve Only Seen Such Colorful Hairdos In A Handful Of AnimeWhat Is A Black Hole In Simple Terms?The Story Of The Small Italy Windows In The Walls Is Rather Grim11 Strange Facts About Your Favorite TV ShowsThe Very Last Bitcoin Will Be Mined Around 2140. Read MoreTop 10 Most Romantic Nations In The World8 Scenes That Prove TV Has Gone Too Far7 Truly Incredible Facts About Black HolesWhich Country Is The Most Romantic In The World?
But no club will play in their own stadium, to try to ensure a degree of equality in the unprecedented circumstances. And while six clubs are understood to have voiced some significant doubts over whether the desire to finish the campaign is wise, the majority view was to push ahead as long as there isclearance from the Government. It also means that when Liverpool seal the title — as seems likely with a 25-point lead over second-placed Manchester City — it will NOT be at Anfield. A Prem insider said: “It’s pretty clear we will have to play behind closed doors when we come back — including, probably, into next season. “Nobody wants that but we cannot deny the reality. “This is seen by everybody as the best option in the circumstances and we recognise that we must choose venues where we can ensure only those authorised to be there will be in and around thestadium. read also:Arsenal named fifth most valuable club in EPL “Of course, there are a range of views around the League and clubs. They all have their own stances and positions. “But it was generally agreed that we should do everything we can to try to finish the season.” FacebookTwitterWhatsAppEmail分享 