FINANCES

WINTER CAMP FEES

The 2009 camp fee is $30 each camp. This non-refundable fee covers administrative, facilities, food and instruction costs for winter rehearsals. This fee is separated from the summer tour tuition so members would not be paying for camps that they might not attend due to conflicts.

SUMMER TOUR TUITION

The tuition to participate in the Seattle Cascades for the 2009 season (December 2008 – August 2009) is $1999 plus a mandatory auction surcharge of $100 (see below). Tuition helps to defray the cost of running the entire program, including camps, rehearsals and the summer tour. Tuition is more than just a tour fee. It helps pay for the cost of facilities, instruction and supplies incurred at monthly camps and individual section rehearsals. There are additional fees and costs, which are explained below.

Please note that the real annual cost per member is over $3500. The reason we can keep the cost lower is due to the proceeds of our annual auction, golf tournament, Portland show, grants and DCI performance fees.

If you are accepted into the corps on audition weekend, you will be able to take a horn home if you pay the first tuition installment.

Musician Tuition Breakdown

Guard Tuition Breakdown

TUITION POLICIES

1. Any member who has not paid his/her tuition in full by the deadline will not be able to perform with the Cascades until all payments plus the late fee have been paid.

2. Tuition may be paid by cash, check (preferred) or credit card (MasterCard or VISA).

3. If you miss a monthly installment at a camp, you must pay the current installment plus the installment missed by the end of the following camp. Members will not be able to participate in rehearsals until the amount owed has been paid in full.

4. If a member joins the Cascades after the January camp, you must pay for each installment missed plus the current installment.

MANDATORY AUCTION SURCHARGE FEE($100)

Our annual auction is one of our major fund-raisers to help pay for your cost of participation that is not covered by tuition. In order to have a successful auction, we must have donated items and auction attendees. Since all members and parents are expected to support this auction, the mandatory surcharge will be waived if the member procures donated items with a retail value of at least $100 and sells two tickets to the auction event. However, off a member chooses not to procure the items or sell the tickets, the member will be assessed the $100 surcharge. This fee must be paid before the member can attend all-day rehearsals.

ADDITIONAL FEES & COSTS

1. Registration Fee: A $50 one-time registration/audition fee for all member tryouts. This fee is non-refundable.

2. Camp fee: $30.00 per camp, which is due at the beginning of each camp. You must pay the full fee even if you arrive late or leave early.

3. Gloves: (TBD). We provide the first set of gloves at no cost. The member will purchase all additional sets of gloves, if lost.

4. Black crew-neck t-shirt: (cost TBD) for three.

5. Black socks: (cost TBD) for three pairs.

6. Gauntlets: (cost TBD). Since gauntlets are custom-fitted, each member may keep them.

7. Shoes: Approximately $30. Information will be supplied as summer approaches.

8. Rifles: Members of the Color Guard will be required to provide their own rifles.

9. Other corps apparel: Optional. Many members purchase a corps jacket and other corps paraphernalia.

10. Spending money: Optional for souvenirs, CDs, photos, etc.

11. Food: The corps will provide each member with 95% of your food during the summer tour. The other 5%, if you choose to eat at a show or at a stop on a long ride between destinations, will be each member's responsibility. Food will not be provided by the corps on the way home from Indianapolis.

REFUNDS

1. Since tuition helps pay for the cost of rehearsals and camps, tuition is nonrefundable for any reason including personal injury, family emergencies, or any other unforeseen act after February 28 (Brass/Percussion) or May 10 (Color Guard) unless a member does not qualify for a position. In such a case tuition will be refunded in total.

2. No refund will be made to members if dismissal is due to nonattendance, nonpayment or misbehavior.

3. If a member quits for any reason prior to February 28 tuition will be refunded less an additional $50 fee per camp attended.

4. All corps equipment must be returned within 14 days of the date you are no longer a member of the corps or by the date of the next camp. The corps reserves the right to retain any fees necessary to recover the equipment.