Biz Buzz

Music in Motion. The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame & Museum, Inc. (OMHOF) is launching a fundraising blitz, which will continue to raise funds to create a permanent state-of-the art children's music exhibit at the museum in 2011. OMHOF has until March 1 to raise $70,000 so that a $100,000 challenge grant can be released from the City of Muskogee Foundation to complete the project.

The board and staff at OMHOF has already raised $25,000 of the needed money, but the "Move that 'Boose!" campaign will secure the additional $45,000 in just 45 days.

The children's music exhibition will be housed in an old caboose, donated by War Memorial Park, which is currently located on the side of the War Memorial Museum in Muskogee. OMHOF will use the grant funds to not only physically move the caboose to the Frisco Freight Depot, where the museum is located, but to also renovate the interior into a hands-on, state-of-the-art music exhibit targeting the imaginations of the young and the young at heart.

The "Move that 'Boose!" campaign's three-prong approach allows donors of all financial means an opportunity to support the cause.

OMHOF is also offering two founding memberships to the exhibit, titled, "Fearless the Wonder Dog" ($500) and "Jeremiah's Tadpole" ($250), named after Oklahoma-inspired songs. Those who consider giving a gift of a founding membership can do so in the name of a child and that child's name will be placed on a permanent plaque installed at the museum, in addition to a host of other benefits.

For individuals and companies who would like to give at the highest level, there is an "All Aboard" sponsorship tier starting at $3,000. Patrons at this level will also be considered founding members of the children's exhibit with their names on the donor plaque as well as other benefits.

The "Move that 'Boose!" idea was inspired by the hit ABC show, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" where host Ty Pennington and the winning family yell, "Move that bus!" as a new home is revealed. OMHOF executive director Penny Kampf said the idea is a perfect fit for the fundraising campaign.

"We plan to literally move and then renovate this old caboose into a hands-on educational music exhibit for the children of Oklahoma. We want to reveal it on a grand scale in 2011 and we need everyone's help to get it done. No donation is too small--or too big!" said Kampf.

The board of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame feels children need to understand music comes from real people and real musical instruments, and not just from an iPod. The OMHOF would like to educate children about the rich history of Oklahoma music -- what it means, how it moves people, and its cultural significance. "The mission of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame & Museum, Inc. is 'to honor, preserve and promote Oklahoma music,'" said Kampf. "What better way to do that than to start with the state's youngest citizens?"

Supporters of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame & Museum, Inc. can find out more about "Move that 'Boose!" by logging on to omhof.com. Donations can be made online, mailed to OMHOF at P.O. Box 3221, Muskogee, OK 74402, or at the museum, located at 401 S. 3rd St in Muskogee.

Sportin' Ice. The Tulsa Disc Sports Association presents the 15th Annual Tulsa Ice Bowl, a charity disc golf tournament scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 22 come sun, rain, sleet or snow.

The two-round, 36-hole disc golf tournament is open to the public and takes place at Chandler Park, 6500 W. 21st St. Flexible tee-times are available: from 8-11:30am to start. All entrants play 36 different holes to compete. Entry fee is $15 cash; or five cans of food and $12 cash. And all additional donations are welcome. Participants are encouraged to register on site at least thirty minutes before tee time.

"The Ice Bowl is for all community-minded citizens who recognize and respond to our Food Bank's work," said Wayne Forest, the tournament director. "To make it entertaining, we add the Disc Golf tourney. Most all disc golfers in Green Country are gutsy, crazy or fun-loving enough to join together for a good cause. Our motto is 'no wimps, no whiners.' This takes place regardless of the weather conditions. The idea is to have fun, raise funds and food for the Food Bank, and dispel the gloom of winter."

The tournament offers several divisions and all players are eligible for the closest-to-the-pin and ace-pot awards. Additional contributions are raised by offering 50 cent mulligans, extra shot attempts due to errant throws. More information and details are available at tulsadiscsports.org .

Tulsa Public Schools is moving forward with Project Schoolhouse. The project will operate along side of the district's newly approved strategic plan through an all-encompassing initiative that will examine the efficiency and effectiveness of each and every school in the district.

Teaching Transformation. Over the next several months, Tulsa Public Schools will examine each of its schools to determine the best course for its future. A "blue sky" or think tank council will propose outside-the-box ideas to improve the school district as a whole. An advisory committee made up of board-appointed community members will help determine the feasibility of the new ideas. The board of education will be kept apprised of all activities and discussions along the way and will be the final arbiters of any actions or decisions.

William Corbitt will act as chair of the Project Schoolhouse advisory council. David Page will be vice chair and Michael Johnson will serve as a special advisor.

Both committees will be meeting on a weekly basis. The Project Schoolhouse team could present options to the board of education as early as spring of 2011. The board hopes to take the appropriate actions needed by the first of next school year.