PeeJay

Hey people: 2,146 views of this topic and 1214 votes....what's wrong with that huh? So go here and vote now: http://www.fuelinggood.com/rewardinggood?id=1298951

Remember: you can vote once a day! So please do so! THANK YOU!

* Bump *

When it comes to good, everyone wins. This is for the humble neighbor who inspires more neighbors to lend a hand, turning ordinary citizens into an extraordinary community of good. How better to reward them, than to give away $120,000 in gas prizes. This is the Fueling Good Program, where 24 charities will win gas throughout the year. Will one of them be your favorite? Pioneer can win a lot of free gas, keeping them on the road. PLEASE vote for them everyday. We have seen too many corps pull out of the tour for financial reasons lately. Pioneer keeps goign strong, but can really use your help now. It's simple.....thanks everyone! Click this link and vote: http://www.fuelinggood.com/rewardinggood?id=1298951

GO PIONEER!

I actually marched that year. It was our first Division I year and I think we marched 124. 1998 was the only year the corps was full (128 at that time).

So judging from the limited number of reviews available it feels like Pioneer has taken a good step up the ladder....anyone seen Pioneer yet?

Agree! But if we look at competitive you look at scores. I see surviving in this day & age as a great competition. And Pioneer is doing pretty darn good!!!!

Every post comparing past scores to this season.....wake up people.....we have a new judgingsystem!!!!

Maybe I missed her in previous postings.....but Julie Zerhusen (Dickmeyer) should be in this list. She marched Pioneer (Color Guard) 1996 till at least 1998 (but could have been longer). She passed away in 2009.

Pioneer was in South-Africa way before any DCI corps. Trust me, I have been there many years with Roman and even the year Dave and Brian where there. I guess the South-Africa story is not so much different. I mean, Pioneer is a welcoming organization. It has always been. This year it is 17 years ago I flew from The Netherlands to Milwaukee for my first season. The years have passed....I aged out as did many. The family is still there. Pioneer is about people and never forgets about their people. It does not matter where in the world they live, what value they were, are of can become for Pioneer....Pioneer is about lives, touching those and enrichment of those lives. I really cannot think of another reason. Plain honestly might be the word.....

Pioneer: The Gary Owen March / When Irish Eyes are Smiling

Congratulations Oregon! Well deserved! Keep pushing and growing!

Pioneer is one of the most afforable and has many ways of making the tour a lot cheaper (SOPY). Also a talk to them could offer you many options. Just call the office! www.pioneer-corps.org

I finally sat down to read the thread. As a former member from the 90's years I feel I am and have been very loyal to the corps ever since I joined them. I have worked with many staff groups and most with Roman. Roman to me is an example in many ways. His determination, his loyalty and most of all his love for the corps and members, I haven't seen anywhere else in my life. That being said I must admit I have questions and concerns too. I felt last year that Pioneer did not deserve that last place, when many years I could understand the outcome. This year is a whole different story. This Pioneer reminded me most of the small group of determined people that started the way up. It was like watching the 1993/1994 editions. However the competitive success is translated the wrong way in my opinion. Am I happy with the 27th place.....god no! I can seriously understand that some Open Class corps were better, but still feel this corps could have just make semi's. But as Roman tought us.....never blame the judges.....so I will not go that far at all. The 27th place is a fact. But look at it this way. Pioneer beat a very large amount of corps....corps triple their size. What needs to be done? - A new approach to the program? Maybe....although I felt the start of something great started this year. Why not give that a chance for a few years? - Moving into Open? No...why? The finance part was discussed here. Let's turn it around. Wouldn't it be much better to score Open Class corps on World sheets more often during the season? Like it was in DCM where we were Division II, but only participated only in a few Div II shows. It is much more exciting for everyone. And as a side note....wouldn't Cascades, Jersey Surf, Teal Sound, Mandarins, etc benefit from more competition during the year? I guess they will. So I think the problem is more the current way of dealing with the classes than classification itself. I remember how hyped we were beating Troopers for the first time. And they....they benefitted by fighting back and got better. - Fire Roman. Biggest nonsense ever. Maybe a shift in the responsibilities might help. But I say that more out of love for Roman. He's not the youngest anymore and the touring must wear him out. I can still see the two of us after the 1997 tour cleaning up Pioneerland. I was as tired as he was......but I was 21. - Deciding to win. YES. Blue Stars, Troopers, etc decided to come back. They laid out a plan, hired people, raised funds....they got there. Most important is to have a clear plan and have members stick with you instead of marching with Pio for one year and then move on. Remember that all other WC corps benefit from Pioneer. I know it is way easy to state all this on here.....but we need hands. Many....if the alumni step up and help the board of directors achieve this....we can do it. There is so much to say about this subject. There are so many emotions.....I want Pioneer to do well, but I feel that people are highlighting Pioneers flaws way too much. I have not read any discussion like this about Cascades & Jersey Surf....and they did not score that much higher with corps much bigger. That is great as the mentioned corps are great organizations and need to follow their own path. But it makes me wonder sometimes. Finally.....Pioneer 2011 members, be extremely proud. And if you want a spot to march in 2012....consider Pioneer. They are truly a fantastic organization!

No apology needed! We at Color Guard Netherlands are extremely proud of Beatrix' and want you to know we have 73 Indoor Percussion and Color Guard teams we are extremely proud of! There is more where this came from ;-) Please keep the reactions coming. We are going to compile them in an article for our members to enjoy. You responses so far and the warm welcome Beatrix' has received in the US are heart warming and we appreciate them a lot!

Well disagree....it had new information. Something you cannot say about some posts on this forum....

* BUMP * Beatrix made semifinals! Even on the edge of finals....

* BUMP *

Hello everyone, As you might or may not be aware....Beatrix' from The Netherlands are competing in the Independent World Class in Dayton. The members are far away from home and we at Color Guard Nederland (CGN), their home circuit, will try to update the home crowd as much as possible. For those that will see them, maybe you could write a short review and e-mail it to me (pj.dewerk@colorguard.org), so I can use it on our website. I would really appreciate your input. Pictures are very welcome too! Please support this great team!! Thanks much and best of luck to all the competitors!

Beatrix is AWESOME! Please support them in Dayton. They are far away from home and REALLY need your support. No matter what happens!

Don't count out Beatrix' yet. Really not sure where they will place....but they are AMAZING this year. Please cheer for them. As a Dutch team they will not have much support from their 'own circuits guards'. So please be kind and enjoy their Anne Frank show (how appropriate for a guard that is just 30 minutes away from the Anne Frank House). I LOVE this show!

Madison, Jersey Surf, Teal Sound, Cascades and Pioneer!

Wow.....I am so happy you've got it all figured out......there are so many things in this post that make no sense......and trust me; I am an insider.....

Lasted up until 1998? So you mean making semifinals in 1999 and 2000 was not a major achievement for the corps? Huh? And I totally know why the membership numbers went down. Anyone from that time can tell you! And it was certainly not the programming issue!