Randy Lamon

Bump Does anyone know where Carolina Crown are rehearsing? Here are a where a couple of corps are staying: The Cavaliers Beech Grove Senior High School 5330 Hornet Ave. Beech Grove, IN 46107 Santa Clara Vanguard Taylor High School 3794 E. 300 S Kokomo, IN 46902 Does anyone have anymore?

This is a really well written show. The Crusaders have done a great job in transitioning into World Class. I have seen this show three times now, and it has really grown on me. There are a lot of layers that I missed the first couple of times. I just love the parade in the back field, during the ballad, it really make an interesting mix of elements going on at the same time. They are neck and neck with Academy, but I think the Crusaders will continue to pull ahead of them. The Crusaders show has grown on my, whereas the Academy show has not. I’m not saying that I don’t enjoy Academy, it just has not drawn me in the way the Crusaders have.

Does anyone know where the corps will be housed during finals week? Where do you find out.

Honestly, with so few corps, I don’t see a need for two different divisions. It would work out better for the corps, like the Cascades that have to perform after corps that, may be in Open class, but are bigger and performing at a higher level. You would perform in the order of your current placement, and not divided by division. I think it would be easier for the judges as well, since that are not comparing apples to oranges. All on the same sheets and judged on the same scale.

I have though this for the last two years. They would be a competitive corps in the open class. I really think that it is not in their best interests to remain in World Class, when they really can’t compete on that level. I’m not trying to knock them as a corps, I just think that they have clearly struggled, in the last few years, to get members on the field. I think it would be a better experience for the members to compete in a class that they can be successful in. Once they stabilize and get some numbers, they can return. The Oregon Crusaders have a tremendous recruiting advantage, since they have been getting better and better over the last few years, including winning the Open Class championships last year. Even while they had to completely start over, when, their director and majority of their staff, left for the Cascades a few years ago. They also had to deal with the members leaving, as well, to join their former instructors with the Cascades. Many people in Oregon were bitter with the Cascades, feeling that they took the Crusaders staff and members out from under them. I also believed that the former Crusaders staff, felt that I they could bring the Cascades back to be a DCI finalist corps. When they failed to crack the top 12, the members felt that they failed and did not return. Many felt that the, former Crusaders staff, wrecked the Crusaders and the Cascades. That is a lot of water under the bridge now and hopefully, people can let that go. Crusaders have since put together a strong team. The have a much better organization than they had when Mike Leone was in charge. Hopefully the Cascades will build in the coming years and emerge, once again as a Northwest powerhouse. The Crusaders and the Northwest could use some regional competition. We really have not had that since the seventies, when there was a couple dozen corps in the Pacific Northwest.

I can’t believe that people are disagreeing with this proposal. I’m very surprised that there is not more support for good old American values. Perhaps the activity has become so far corrupted that it has attracted a fringe element that quinces its wicked desires by attending or participating in drum corps activates. Maybe it’s too late to save this activity? How can people say no to the troops, children, America and mom?

TITLE OF PROPOSED CHANGE: Show theme requirements. 1. Positive message 2. Love of country 3. Support of the troops 4. Christian values 5. Defending our nation's children DESCRIPTION: Shows must promote a positive message. PURPOSE: (why make this change-what are the benefits.) Everyone loves to be inspired by a positive message. We all share a love of our country, support our military and their families, live by our Christian values and are on a constant guard to protect our nation's children. Drum Corps shows must promote these core values. In the past, there have been shows that challenge our collective wholesome values and have left the audience damaged. When you look at our social media sites, like Facebook, you will find many posts that promote positive values such as troop support and love of country. This is one of the most important and needed expressions that is lacking in our drum corps activity. By including these wholesome positive values, we are insuring the youth of tomorrow don't become violent antisocial law breakers. With the rise of moral depravity and values that have been universality rejected becoming embraced by our youth, we must rise up as an activity and battle the demons of political correctness. When we present audiences with shows that uplift their hearts, we are ensuring our activity will be supported by all those who are good. Drum Corps will still have the freedom to choose the type of show they would like to present, but a portion of the show must include the five required themes. EDUCATIONAL IMPACT: (How does this benefit the students educationally?) We all battle wickedness throughout our lives. Our youth are the most venerable to the influence of wickedness. Including positive moral values in our shows, we are educating the adults of tomorrow what is good and wholesome. We will be giving them the weapons to battle the lure of evil in their everyday life. They youth often get the wrong messages from their non-drum corps peers, we can present them with positive wholesome messages in a controlled environment with their drum corps peers. CREATIVE IMPACT: (How does this affect the creative aspects of the activity?) Drum corps has become stagnant. Over the last few years we have seen many changes, with the introduction of amplification and keyboards, the level of performance has peaked. Something needs to be done to force the activity to improve to the next level. Mandating high levels of performance through control and tracking devises will help to achieve this goal. Bringing the activity to the next level, will result in better executed shows and improve the overall effect. When corps are on tour, they are isolated from outside influences and this moral education can really take hold. We will have educated a large number of youth every summer to live a moral life and spread the word to their non-drum corps peers. FISCAL IMPACT: (How will this financially affect individual corps and the DCI organization?) There will be no increased costs for drum corps. There should be a positive fiscal impact, due to an increase in audience sizes. When the word gets out that morally objectionable themed shows will be discouraged, upstanding patriotic families will return to our shows. We can increase our outreach for sponsorship, when we promote all that is good. AUDIENCE IMPACT: (How will this affect our audience and their perceptions of the activity?) When we have themes that are universally supported by all audience members, we can ensure that they will enjoy the activity without reservations. Audience's members will no longer have to seek counseling after experiencing shows that challenge their moral compass. The audience can cheer, yell and clap without guilt, when they are expressing support for god and country. SHOW PROMOTER IMPACT: (How will this affect the show promoters-financially and logistically as it relates to contest production?) Shows can be attended by all ages, and not restricted to those under the age of 18. LOGISTICS IMPACT: (How will this impact the operations of the individual drum corps and the DCI organization?) This proposal will have on logistic impact. JUDGING IMPACT: (how does this impact the adjudication process and individual judge?) There will be the need for an additional judge to monitor the show theme requirements. The scoring system will have to be changed to address the changes needed to implement this new rule. Submitted by: M.O.R.A.L.S Musicians Offering Righteous American leadership supersonically

The Oregon Crusaders had a great well rounded show. It was entertaining, visual and kept my interest from the start to the end. Vanguard Cadets also had a great show, but I will have to give my nod to the Oregon Crusaders. They really stepped it up this year.

They listed Open Class prelims and finals on the fan network and then didn't not have them. It's one of the reasons that I signed up. They didn't even explain why, as far as I know. Not sure if I will even sign up next year.

Good luck Oregon Crusaders in your epic battle to secure the win at Open Class finals. Go Tubas

Wow, I thought I was the only one that picked up on the hidden messages. I was watching the live broadcast last weekend and my feet began to tingle. My dog suddenly looked directly at the T.V. As the color guard was meandering in on the field, like a sloth hedging for nap, I saw something I couldn’t explain. Once the music from the pit captured my attention, I lost all sense of time. I was hypnotized into a trance that lasted for several days. This isn’t the first time the Oregon Crusaders have used such tactics. I remember the show they called Metal something with mirrored cones that reflected light. Someone should really investigate this corps. I have read other post in previous years that point out many mysterious unexplained tactics the Crusaders have dabbled in. I remember some post from a mole within. That mole is strangely silent these days. Mysterious?

I’ve been following drum corps for the last 30 years. There are some classic shows and some not so classic shows. I went through my Blue Devil period. I went through my Vanguard period. I went through a short Cadet period. The last few years I hate the Blue Devils and the Cadets. I’m bored with the Vanguard. I still can crank my 1975 Madison Scouts and smile. The last couple of years have been all about Carolina Crown. Things have changed. Nothing stays the same and sometimes you just move on. I used to like punk rock, but now I’m in my 50’s, life is pretty good and not much discontent to fuel my love of punk rock. I still love my drum corps, but maybe you have really had enough, and that’s what is really so sad.

It will be interesting to see who comes out on top, this Saturday at Paw Paw, MI. It will be the first time the Mighty Oregon Crusaders and the Mighty Blue Devil B are at the same show this season. Having watched both shows on the Fan Network, I'm betting on OC, but let's see what the judges decide.

I personally believe that having two a different competing class doesn’t make much sense anymore. It did at one time, but now there is so few corps left. When you look at the bottom ranks of world class, they are not even competitive in their class. It’s really kind of sad. The mighty Oregon Crusaders will have their chance to compete with the big boys, when they get to Indy. I’m really looking forward to tonight’s Odessa show. Hopefully they won’t have any penalties and show some improvement. I would imagine that the color guard issue caused some performance issues. Let’s hope they come out tonight strong and jump to the top of open class. It really has been fun watching the Crusaders improve over the last few years. It would be great to see them take home the gold this year.

I thought that it was because of the bus company. I really feel sorry for the kid that forked over the money. I wonder how many other corps floats their members without paying. If there are checks and balances, why would this not be apparent? I have helped members is the past with their tuitions, it would make me mad if I knew that I scrapped money to help someone while others just don’t pay.