Letters To Sisters....Anyone who will help.

Here is what is on the up right now; trying to raise money for my sister, going to NMSU to see what greek life is like there--- and oh yeah, I am so totally missing someone! (Like totally--is that valley girl enough???--TX must be rubbing off on me!) I hate not being able to talk to people! its one thing when you don't, it's another when you just can't! grrrr.  

Below explains last night and where I am at....Thank you to any sisters who have helped!!!!

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Dear Sisters,

 

I am writing to you as family and as sisters of an organization that believe in empowering young women. As some of you may know my 13 year old little sister is the most important person in my life. Over the past few months I have been “home” sharing a summer and room with her, and trying to simplify my life. Last night what I thought to be a regular “bonding” moment, I took her to go see a band competition held by Drum Corps International (DCI). To simplify, this is a competition between the nations best bands composed of students all over the country from age 12-22.  If you have seen the movie, Drum Line, you will understand the intensity of these competitions.

 

During the intermission of this competition, I took my little sister to look at souvenirs.  While looking, we observed a sign that one of the bands performing was looking for a Contra Tuba player, the instrument my sister plays. Timid, and intimidated at first, but motivated by her big sister, my sister Aleida informed one of the students selling that she played Contra and wanted to know if their was a waiting list in which she could put her name down. Well to be honest the girl laughed as my sister--she is only 5 inches taller, and thinner, than the instrument they were asking her to play. After informing her that my sister “really could play,” the girl called her program coordinator. Before I really knew what was happening my sister was auditioning between two noisy busses in front of the program coordinator, his assistant, the band director, the tuba section leader, and the drum major.  Needless to say they laughed, and then listened, and after hearing her play the Concierto, a piece not taught till college—they asked if she would be available to leave this Monday. This Monday!

 

My sister would be the only girl tuba in this band, one of 7 members in the band from Texas, the only student from El Paso and the first person in the band to have ever been recruited on the road for exceptional talent. While this is an extrodinary opportunity for her, of course there are expenses involved. The director estimates cost for her uniform meals, and travel expenses will be approximately $675, and this is only asking half. This I have learned is modest. The band she will traveling with tours across the nation in donated busses, sleeps on the floor of high schools, and have a modest but dedicated staff that sells t-shirts at each performance for funding. The money that is given by parents for their children barely covers the cost of a rigid ‘healthy’ diet they are all expected to keep and the gas for the busses. She will be expected to work 60-80 hours a week, all for the pride of competing to be the best.  While my family and I, truly wish we could pay for this remarkable opportunity for her, we just know it is not feasible. I have written to many stores here in El Paso to sponsor her, but of course sponsorship takes time and this is something we have little of. The band director has said he will be willing to work with us for payments, but even with this consideration, we are desperately looking for help.

 

So Sisters, as I’m writing to corporations and local business, alike, I realized, isn’t this something LTA should be encouraging and promoting? We are looking at a 13 year old Latina who has the opportunity to use her talent and travel the nation, and the only thing holding her back is the unfortunate circumstances of coming from a modest family income, that I knowwe all relate to.  But heres what I was hoping, thinking, praying? If I had at least 10 sister pledge 10 dollars, that’s 100 dollars less than what my mom and I are going to have to try to come up with by Monday.  And if that’s all I get then I know Lambda Theta Alpha really is everything I believed it to be. I know you ladies can help me, and I know you will. I believed in her, and told her to follow her dreams when I pushed her to audition last night, and now as her sister I want to show her dreams come true.

 

I’ll be setting up a website soon, to show appreciation of Sisters and companies, who wish to sponsor her, and hopefully a way to pay via pay pal, or something of the sort. Until then please just write me at lta_only_17@yahoo.com.

It’s all happening amazingly fast and I’m trying to keep up. But just so you know what I’m trying to encourage please listen to the following link…this is the message she wants to get through with her music. Also, should she be able to go her band is Esperanza found at EsperanzaArts.org.  Yes they are the BURGUNDY AND GREY BAND-- can you blame me for trying to get her in the colors early?

Thanks for listening. Thanks for caring.

Mandy