north state di

Way to go, Govies!

Thanks for the pictures...I got to see some of my old pals in the pit, guard and hornline :-) PROUD of all of you!

So proud of my friends in Renegades. You wanted it bad and you made this season happen!

good to know...course that wind sure plays havoc with guard equipment.....that is just the way it is. Wish I was there to enjoy it live...better yet, wish I was performing :-)

yikes! I just saw the sky in the background...would someone text the powers that be to hold off on liquid clouds n rain please?

I am one of these people wondering, and hoping, for a new Sac based all-age (welcoming Sr. aged people) corps. It is good for everyone to have competition locally and there are many who have a heart to belong and perform and the options are not always worth it. sigh

I'm a guard member but I appreciate your specific comments about each corps musical contribution to the show. I really enjoyed performing to our music this year. The theme was chosen and we were out to win hearts or eat ya alive...there is no other option :-) I must say that my favorite moment was off the field before prelims...all of these folks that are intense, rough and tough singing My Immortal to the guard.......tears flowing from many of us. Thank you to all DCA performers and audience members for allowing the 2007 Renegades to be a part of the season.

Hey Mrs. Thang. Thanks for being one to take care of misc. e-mails. Now, the question looms. Are you going to be in Rochester LIVE to greet your friends? I know you will be there at Family Day but that ain't the question. About the props - they almost glow eerily in the stadium lights that we finally get to experience again! woo hoo!

Trevor - it was someone earlier that seemed to infer that Renegades thinks they suffer for being on the older side - I was just saying "whatever" - not about you brudder...not at all. I just think world is an amazing thang - I just got thru watching DCA Semi's last night and it took me back to the days when I was that young and disgustingly FIT. I'm working on it but the joints are 19-20 any more. My step son asked me how long I have "been doing this" I realized that I have been marching, teaching, judging and now performing again since 1976....wowowow

First flaw I see is that someone would assume this is just about Renegades because the idea of analysing age/placement comes from one in the corps. It is just a valid idea worth evaluating by someone someday - perhaps. I don't tend to hear many of us oldsters complaining about being old - except when it is time for a long drive home after rehearsal. I am proud to be in the way over 40 group of the Reneguard and I am sure that anyone that has hit 40 and is still able to do this activity (in any corps) is proud of themselves. I take pride in being able to build a cohesive group with people of various ages, abilities, locales, etc. whatever - I just am glad I can still be out on the field learning and participating. Each year when we line up for retreat at DCA it hits me anew of the youth of many involved and my pride in personal achievement grows...hey, my Mom couldn't do what I am doing at the age of 48....I don't put down anyone for being young - I was in high school band and then Blue Devils. I am just celebrating things for myself as a wonderful contrast to what many do - turn into couch potatoes. May we have a Drum Corps United over 40+ guard group celebration? Diane - Renegades 3rd year 48 yrs young

I'm sure there are valid reasons - but I sure wish Renegades would have been invited to perform at the DCI West/Stanford show. It would have been a wonderful way to show those currently in corps that there is a way to keep their love of music and performing drum corps going in a valid, exciting way.

I never thought about it - Renegades in August CA competition. Let's go on, be strong and remember we get so little time to share this show with others....I don't like that part - 3 more competitive performances plus Family Day.

Take the emotions that are less than productive into a private discussion so that you are not part of the problem. Anything that pulls off the focus just hurts the group and ummmmm was it Spock..."the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few ... or the one." Anywooooo can't someone close this thread and let us all move on to something that is beneficial?

I can hardly wait to be back on the field at DCA...more fun for me in the Renegades guard than my years in BD. That is our focus. This is my priority; to bring a show that y'all love or hate - either way is ok by me. I just want to pour my heart into that show with my fellow performers. Can we return to that focus and not let anything jeopardize that goal? Especially those in leadership and the combo leaders/performers have worked too hard to be derailed in any way. It is not that long before we are seeing a zillion shows with everyone working their heart out but we get only TWO performances back there - sigh. But maybe that challenge is part of what makes us Renegades. laser focus calibrated anew - onward and upward Diane

Just gotta say it - we all have our right to speak out but for the good of US don'tcha think PM or phone calls or face-to-face is the best option for this discussion Lisa and Lee? You are both passionate people with strong opinions and I respect that in ya both. Just think hashing family stuff is better away from DCP. Meant with the utmost respect for you both concerning your thoughts and feelings. Diane aka dinosaur of the guard :-)

Ya know, sometimes it is just best to skip reading DCP but I like to hear about all of the activity in the rest of the country...then I read about someone just bashing Renegades and the 2007 show. It is easy to focus on your anger or frustration with a single person and lose sight of the fact that there are a lot of people pouring their heart into a show they love. Stop bashing a whole group of people that love this activity - just PM the one person you seem to hate. We are all in the same boat - just shut up, do your show and let us fall in love with the efforts of every show out there. Best to put up AND shut up because otherwise all you are doing is tearing down an activity. That is not helpful to anyone. I am like the next person....trophies and the acknowledgement are great - been there - done that and will do it again in areas of life. I will say this - my time performing with Renegades is more freeing and fun than most realize. We are serious about trying to put out a quality show that is also really entertaining. If I can be a part of making the crowd cheer, bop to the beat ---- then I have succeeded. I am going to shut up and just put up a good performance but at least I am not tearing down any one else's show...I challenge any negative people to do the same. This is supposed to be fun! I don't travel hours and hours to a rehearsal with this 48 yr old body and work it with a great guard without the above stated goals. I wish all corps a great experience this summer.

I really enjoyed the finessing (is that a word) that happened with the '79 show. It was a great, emotional show to march. 84 was amazing to behold even if not on the list. Not all great shows win the big prize.

I've been gone for awhile and then have been able to return to the Reneguard and lemme just say.......I am so impressed with this mixed bunch of people. Older people AKA the 40 & up group, the new people that come with amazing skills, staff like Mark that are so creative and musical with the ability to keep this crazy bunch working effectively...ok, so I am just very impressed and thrilled to be a part again. I have always been proud to be able to be over 40 (soon to be 48) and still spinning - moving - and running. It is nice to not have to walk away from the activity just because you are over 21. I wish everyone would share that the fun and performing can continue for as long as you desire. It keeps you flexible, young thinkinking and hey, the tan lines are so very attractive! I can hardly wait for the crowd to get the chance to enjoy this new theme - be afraid and don't look them in their eyes.

Question: gotta ask what hotel we are using while in Rochester? making plans and thrilled about it!

"Yeah, but think about it. They have taken away the incentive to do DCA shows. A corps from outside the NE shooting for DCA's top ten can do one DCA show in August, and then stay close to home and do DCI shows the rest of the summer for all they care." I wish we had the chance to do more DCA shows. It is invaluable to be in front of DCA judges early and often in order to groom and adjust your show in preparation for championships. West coast corps would all love to be able to attend multiple shows if finances allowed. Your crowds are very receptive to the non-DCI show and taking time off work would be worth it - just too costly. If you are in this activity for the opportunity to perform, you have shows fairly close to you (4-5 hrs away or so) why would you not jump at the opportunity to really shine out there? Seems silly to ask that but I didn't get into the activity just to rehearse....I like the chance to get the crowd going and also to prepare for the best possible placement at the end of the season. Just my opinion. Diane

Really looking forward to scores so I can post them on Renegades forum. By the way, sounds like great performances by all corps....way to go! Diane

Every corps has it's obstacles to perfection...it will not slow down the performance but hey, there are corps that drive farther, fly farther etc. to get here and we just judge them on the performance....onward and upward!!

It can be a big hype....definitely got the crowd going right before them...almost like the fireworks are FOR them...just another way to view the fireworks.

Diane Bledsoe guard member 03-05 and getting married in about a month so that is where my $$ and time went...maybe back next year with hubby in tow. Next alum roll call person