Bryan

Really? As an alumnus (as of this year), I can't believe how negative this is getting. I don't know what you folks consider "tradition", but I have learned a lot more about life and about myself from being a Cadet, and I wouldn't give up that experience for anything in the world. From sweating all summer in maroon and gold, I have learned that part of life is trying new things and taking a step outside of your comfort zone; if it doesn't work then you get right back up and try something else. I understand that drum corps had a different persona in its earlier days. I truly do. And if I were in your shoes I would also be a bit sketchy of the new uniform changes.(I wore the uniform with more pride than you can imagine.) But I'd invite any of you who think the Cadets have lost their "tradition" to sing Holy Name with the corps before a show, follow them to the stadium entrance before going on the field, and think back on your own time in the corps. Their eyes won't be wandering around. They won't be talking. They won't be goofing off, regardless of what clothing is on their backs. Being a Cadet is more than just being in a uniform. At least for members nowadays, it means much, much MORE than just being in the uniform. On and off the field, myself and the rest of the members work(ed) to bring only a good image to the corps and respect the past 76 years of Cadets who had come before us. I have never played a G bugle. I was never scored on 'ticks'. I never marched a timpani. So I'm not going to claim to know what your standards were "back in the day", because I never will. But it would make you cry if you even had an idea of how highly regarded the Cadets alumni are by the current members. We may not have been a clone of the 1934 corps, but we are all honored to be in the family. Let's show some support for the activity. With all the nonsense in the world today, appreciate the great things that us young folks take the initiative to do every summer. FHNSAB Bryan Cadets Baritone 2009-2010

I can understand if someone doesn't like a general show concept, or how it ultimately succeeds or fails to be a memorable show by Finals night. But for the people who complain about and belittle corps over their technical/playing/marching capabilities, I feel truly sorry for them that they never had the chance to march a drum corps show in recent years. There is a significant difference in effort between watching a drum corps show online and actually pushing the activity to the limit with mental and physical demands on that field for 12 minutes. Even now, with the beginning of the 2010 season around the corner, I look back on 2009 and think "How the HECK did we pull that off?" To the folks who complain about "brass book lite edition", "falls at finals", and "visual cleanliness": I'd bet you my ageout-year drill spot that you'd be changing your commentary if you attempted to march and play the book we did. To bccadet09, I agree with you 100%. It was a pleasure marching with you this past summer. FHNSAB.

Checking with vendors was the first thing I did, and the last thing I did that night. But I agree it's still worth a shot.

I'm honestly not nearly as depressed as I probably should be about it, but I think it's still worth trying to recover it. I've had a few thousand people in four weeks check out the two topics I've posted about it, so maybe it'll show up eventually. That sucks about the rolls of film though. What corps were you in (or what corps were you rooting for)???

I called DCI the week after championships and the woman I spoke to was INCREDIBLY kind and helpful. She said nobody had turned anything in, and that there was nothing around the office, but she gave me the number of the IU security/police force. I've tried dealing with them a few times and usually get hung up on, transferred to someone's voicemail or told to call back "when we're not as busy."

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Yeah, tried that already... my next chance is the IU police, but their "lost and found management team" won't be back in until tuesday.

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I'm assuming that message came from the DCI office on-site, which had set up some kind of lost-and-found. I had checked there throughout the night, and when I called DCI a few days ago they said they would give me a call if something turned up. Nothing from IU police either. I'm not really holding my breath anymore, but I'll keep this post up on here for as long as I can just to try and reach more people.

Thanks for the well-wishes, nothing has turned up yet though...I'm still hoping someone puts 2+2 together and sees Raiders photos, maybe will contact our director or something. But with my two posts on DCP so far it seems that about 600 people have checked it out...so that's a decent chunk of people who may be on the lookout. Trust me, i have some of the worst luck with everything, so comparatively this wasn't so bad. I still have two other memory cards which have most of the pictures from tour. I'm just filling in the gaps by saving photos other folks have posted online. Like Eric Idle says in the Monty Python tune "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life": "...worse things 'appen at sea, you know?"

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GOOD: I had an amazing weekend!! From the sides of both a performer and a spectator, I felt IU stadium was a pretty swell place to play and see some great drum corps. Plenty of parking. Helpful ushers/security...the Midwest is just more friendly than the East. BAD: Food selection and price was...."Box 3" at best. Extremely loud pre-recorded advertisements/announcements between Open Class corps were distracting to performers at the gate, and probably didn't need to be that loud given the small crowd size anyways. My digital camera had fallen out of a (massive) hole in my pocket somewhere in the souvie area just before World Class Finals. Did you, or any of your friends or acquaintances, happen to pick up a Sony camera and take it home? It was a CyberShot DSC-W70, in a small gray and red pouch. Contained a Red Cross blood donor card to protect the screen, as well as my Open Class Finalist patch that I had just gotten earlier that afternoon. The camera had nearly all my pictures from tour on it, which can't be replaced. If you have the camera and would rather take the "finders-keepers" approach, fine. I'll settle for the memory card. Honesty from the drum corps community and a lot of good luck is all I'm hoping for at this point... I am willing to reward anybody who returns it. Thanks, and congrats to everyone on an amazing year! Bryan Raiders 2007 Pit Raiders 2008 Baritone