I’ll never forget how much impact music had on me when I was young. As a sophomore in high school, I had left my home during the summer – and I was sleeping in vacant houses at night. But my School District had a strong music program – even in the summer time! And each day I showed up for my musical theater production rehearsal. Without music in my school system that summer, I might have simply disappeared.

Music changes us. And music stays with us for our entire life.

You probably don’t know that the music programs in Winters are in great jeopardy.   You probably don’t know how close to the edge the music programs are in our Winters Schools.

Our School Board members know the importance of music in our schools. Each year, even in the face of ever declining funds, they still work to keep music in our schools.   But they need our help!   We need to let them know how important music is!

You can do something this week to help save the music in our schools. You can choose to attend and support the Winters Music Boosters special USO Variety Show, this Friday and Saturday night.  You’ll love hearing the splendid music of the 1940s, the love ballads, upbeat songs and patriotic themes of the era.

But will you attend?

What does music mean to you? Does it have significance in your life? Does it add value or enjoyment to your life?

Music adds so much to our lives. It is part of the glue that holds our culture together – the ability to recognize a melody, share a beat, snap our fingers and hum a tune. Whether it is Brahms or the Beatles, the Back Street Boys or Beyoncé, or whether it’s drums or piano, the guitar or a sax. It’s music. It’s part of the human experience. And it does matter.

Perhaps you need more reasons to come to the USO Variety Show this weekend.

Fine.   You’ll certainly enjoy cameo appearances by Police Chief Bruce Muramoto, City Manager John Dunlevy and City Councilman Woody Fridae. And you’ll no doubt be pleased to briefly see on stage local real estate mogul Dave Mills, former Rotary President Dan Maguire and master builder John Siracusa.

But there are better reasons why you should attend!

Many of you know Lynne Secrist. She’s the music teacher in grades 4 to 8, a musician of incredible talent, who seems to have a reservoir of boundless energy and drive. Why should you attend this weekend?   Because you need to support this amazingly woman who, along with her colleague, Winters High Schoolmusic teacher Tania Mannion, brings music to your kids!

For several years, Lynne Secrist has produced the Note of Elegance shows to support music programs in Winters Schools.   This year, her friends are helping her present this USO Variety Show.  Lynne is the driving force behind this effort to keep the music alive in our schools.   You need to come to support her.

In 20 or 30 years, Lynne’s students may not remember many of their teachers. But they will absolutely, positively, remember Ms. Secrist. Why? Because years and years from now, the music that Lynne brought into their lives will still be a major facet of their life, still a source of joy, and still part of their very essence.

So this USO Variety Show is really for benefit of Winters students! Some of them are already making music, some want to add music to their lives, and some know nothing about music yet. But all of their lives can be improved, broadened, shaped and changed with exposure to music.

And that is why you need to join us this Friday or Saturday night.