SOQ

Sounds to me like you remember Star getting booed several times in 91 for after beating the Cavaliers. Then dealing with the summer of 92, when it seemed that most everyone was rooting against them. Then 93 happened. By then they were sick of it and just picked up and moved elsewhere...pretty successfully too. But, I want to be an optimist here. I don't know a lot about what is going on here, as I live on the other side of the planet now, and have just started reading about this. BUT, it seems to me that if the worst (or close to the worst) happens, which I think, to me, would be a separation of the G7 and DCI, let's all remember that some of the G7 corps wouldn't have been in the G7 as recently as a few years ago. A few of the others probably wouldn't have been in a few years before that. The reason that they are in, is because they stepped up. IF the G7 leave DCI, it will hopefully allow other corps to step up to being "elite level". Some of those corps probably would have been in a "G7 Year 2000". The idea of "elite DCI Corps" will change for a couple of years, but it is possible for great things to happen to other corps. If this gets worse, I do hope the above happens. Incidentally, I have a hard time believing that this proposal has taken this long. Seems like it has been what Hopkins has wanted for probably around the last 15 years. It's not like he hasn't experimented with things like this in the past.

3. "Aussie Rules Football Goal". VK 95 2. "Death Finger" Sky Ryders 93, VK 95 1. "Booger Shooter" University of Texas at Arlington 1995

No, but Nick is on myspace. If you search for him and can't find him, then try searching his name in the Music section. Don't know if this will be any help or not. He is a nice dude, I am sure he will help you out.

Is Drillwatcher who I think he is? I always thought it was Roman Jr. Although am not too sure why I think that. If I am wrong, my apologies. If I am correct...well, maybe my apologies too. On one hand, that is crazy...but on the other hand, I could completely understand.

Khaki pants!!!! Oh no. Maybe bring back the spats too! Then pray that you are not on the visual staff, because that is just asking for trouble. Not knocking your opinion, just feeling for anyone that would have to clean feet with that look. I do miss the pimp feathers in the old hats (3 hats ago, the ones up to 97). Those things had to be at least 2 feet long. My favorite part of the old uniform. Very cool, but fell out of the hats a little too often.

Living half way across the country, I still always knew that I would run into or hear of Jen Lee again someday. We marched together in 94 and 95. I never imagined it would happen like this. Even though it has been 10 years, there is such a great sense of loss. My thoughts are with her family. Rest in Peace, Jen.

Let's face it. You are older and have more experience than lots of people who will march drum corps. So I am asking that you give Pioneer a shot if you are looking to march this summer. I know that the corps has a reputation for some younger members, and that is exactly my point. If you and a number of other older, more experienced people come out, the results will be something to behold. I have no questions about the staff, and yes, I am on it. There is a lot of experience on this staff, and we are committed to teaching people TO DRUM, not just to drum this book. And speaking of the book, I believe the dudes name who wrote it is Rennick. There are lots of people who marched Rennick lines on the staff. I have been involved with his projects since 1993, and you could even say 1992 if I wanted to bend the truth a little to serve my purposes. The bottom line is, it will be a great experience, but the more talented and experienced players we have, the better the experience is going to be for everyone. I am not downing high school aged drummers. We will have those in the line, and they will do great things for us and for themselves. If you are that age and interested in coming out, I hope you do that. If you are a vet (but younger), don't think I am down on you either. I know that there is nothing like drum corps experience. You are our nucleus, our past, and the biggest part of our future. That being said, STRONGER DRUMMERS WILL MAKE A STRONGER LINE FOR ALL OF US. If you don't know whether to buy into it, email me. If you want, I'll give you my number and you can call me. I was the caption head there years ago, and I hired Stuart Spoon, then new caption head now, as my bass tech back then. I believed in him then, and I believe in him even more now. That is why I am going back to tech quads. I will get you in touch with him and you can start to believe. I hope to hear from some of you. YOU can make this happen.