Last year, for the first time since I have been at Roslyn, we lost two phones during the season. One phone was taken from the hallway where we stored our equipment during an indoor rehearsal. We changed that practice and a few weeks later another phone was taken from the bandroom during an outdoor rehearsal. We went on to change our behaviors to keep all items with us, somewhere near where we are practicing at all times.
Then this year, we lost three items during the first two rehearsals. We lost a backpack with a phone in it last week. The whole backpack has still not been found. Then last night, we lost a backpack in the bleachers with a computer in it and an Iphone which was taken from inside a case placed on the track with all the other band cases (the car keys were left in the case). Obviously, this is a problem which is very serious and we are addressing immediately.
I am not sure if these are band members who are taking the phones and am looking at any school camera tapes that are available in the next few days to determine who took these items. As you know, there is almost nowhere you can go without some kind of security camera monitoring the area. When we can see who took these items we will act.
And most importantly, if these items are returned to the bandroom today or tomorrow there will be no questions asked.
Obviously, if these items that were "lost" in the past two rehearsals are not returned, we will have to totally restructure the entire season in terms of bus lists, itinerary, and everything we do. Our lives are totally open whenever we travel and the freedoms that we currently have will be monitored at a much different level in order to keep everyone's items from becoming stolen. Having something stolen from you is a terrible feeling, not to mention the loss of data on the phone. Nobody should have to walk around watching their backs and having to consume precious time worrying about their belongings being ransacked and taken from them.
THINGS YOU CAN DO
If you have a smartphone with a gps or tracking ability, activate it so that you can find the phone and know where it is after it is lost. I know that you can do this with Iphones, I found my wife's phone in my daughter's school by using the Find Iphone program.
Everyone, keep your phone with you at all times. Figure out a way that you can hold the phone and car/house keys with you. Make sure that you wear pants with pockets, or some kind of holder with your phone in it, or a sweatshirt with pockets.
NEW REHEARSAL PROCEDURE
We will pick a spot to put all of our items during rehearsal, backpacks, phones, bags, etc, by section, right in front of the field so that we can totally monitor where everything is throughout the rehearsal. Take everything with you to our rehearsal area.
Back up everything on your phone regularly, contacts, calendar if you use it, everything.
I will put further updates here on this blog.
