ambassRMdip

TRUTH??? Will anyone ever know the TRUTH??? As I recall (and I know the history very well), if it were not for Tom Chopelas, the Guardsmen would never have made it out in their final year. As a matter of fact...there were several members from the 1979 Guardsmen that fled the corps in the middle of the year because of false promises of a DCI tour -- TRUTH -- the 1979 Guardsmen never made it on a tour that summer. As I recall, Tom was a huge presence in the running of the 1980 Guardsmen regardless of what you think his title was...I do remember him vividly talking to the drum corps after each performance and standing on the sidelines with his stupid suspenders. I also remember him arguing with several staff members on behalf of the marching members -- somehow I think that translates into more than just a Board member--however, I would never take away from what Mr. E contributed to the organization. As far as original families of the Guardsmen members putting up their own money -- I am sure that is true. Back in the day, that is how drum corps stayed afloat. However, I am pretty sure those monies were for the season of 1979 and not 1980. I know that my parents provided more than my yearly dues and tour fees in order to keep whatever drum corps I marched in afloat...very different from today's activities. I am sorry to hear about the passing of Mr. E -- he was definately a GREAT guy.

East Coast Jazz was a reviving / renaming of the Malden Diplomats. There was no merger involved. The Malden Diplomats history comes from the original drum corps called the Malden Ambassadors (1970 or 1971). They were originally managed by a couple of great men named Danny McDonald and Kenny Toomey. Tom Chopelas took over in the late 70's. As the Ambassadors moved up the Eastern Mass chain, they developed a feeder corps called the Malden Diplomats which was managed by Linda Chopelas. Eventually the Malden Ambassadors merged with the Arlington Heightsman to from the Royal Marquis (1979). Yes, Tom Chopelas was involved in this Management Team as well. This lasted only one year. Some members of the Malden organization went on to join the Middlesex County Guardsmen (1980) co-managed by Tom Chopelas and Bob Evangelista. And it was after this that the Malden Ambassadors (or some form of them) ceased to exist. Therefore, the Malden Diplomats grew stronger and Tom Chopelas took over the management of this corps from his wife. In the mid-to-late 80's, there were problems with membership and I can't recall the actual turn of events, BUT the Malden Diplomats were renamed EAST COAST JAZZ. Last year (Summer of 2007) was the first year since 1971 that the Malden organization did not put out a marching unit -- how sad Proudly, I was a member of every organization above and am deeply saddened by the current state of drum corps in Massachusetts.

Yup...Marched Royal Marquis in 1979 and then Guardsmen in 1980 -- I'm sorry to hear about Mr. E -- I wish I would have known sooner -- do you know if they were still living in Wakefield? Definately lots of memories back in the big Eastern Mass, CYO and Mayflower days -- remember the TRIPLE CROWN -- definately remember Dilboy and always brings tears to my eyes as that is where we competed when Patty Gangi was killed driving home...horrible time for the Guardsmen! Wasn't it the Simplex Minutemen show where the GE box was on top of a bus -- LOL -- MEMORIES...too bad that there are almost no more existing drum corps in Massachusetts! quote name='dckid80' date='Dec 11 2007, 06:34 AM' post='2096877'] Looks like we marched together in 1980. Mr. E passed away just before Thanksgiving. You list brings back some memories... Arbella kicking everyone's butt in '78. Us, Queensman, Cavies and Ambassadors duking it out for 2nd place. Odyssey wearing those aluminum foil overlays in '79. Dilboy field being a dustbowl every year. Going out to Gardner for the Simplex Minutmen's show and feelig like we were on th other side of the world. I think they came out wiht a huge corps in '79 but the hornline had no punch at all. Am I the only person that remembers Charisma? The first and only all-girl merger. Still can't believe that the Jeannettes and Socialites did that...

What about the Eastern Mass Circuit from the 70's including: Pembroke Imperials Arlington Heightsman Defenders of Rockland Amvet Brigadiers and Amvet Lancers Malden Ambassadors Burlington Citations Winchester Queensman Braintree Braves White Eages from Haverhill North Star Guardsmen Chuting Stars Jeanettes of Lynn Socialites of Saugus Charisma of Salem Arbella of Salem Princemen of Melrose Fitchburg Kingsmen Somerville Cavaliers Joanetts of Leominster Sancians of Weymouth It is unfortunate that "back in the day" there used to be a drum corps in every other city throughout the State...today is a sad state of affairs...

Wo, wo, wo...don't believe everything you hear -- the business about Tom pulling a salary before paying staff members is pure bullsh** -- he may have tried to get some of what he put into the organization, but he lost more than anyone will ever know...stop hatin' -- he is a man that loves the activity and he has touched more lives than your average joe -- there are not many people around that have the kind of people that have stuck by Tom through 30+ years -- there are many, many, many people that still work with him and don't even have children marching! This discussion literally makes me sick to my stomach. It shouldn't be a venue to bash people, all this he said / she said sh** is intolerable. East Coast Jazz is trying to make a run at putting out a strong unit -- let them try without all the negativity. Anyone that marched with the organization was touched by it one way or the other (both good and bad), but it made them stronger it the long run -- put the past behind you and move on!

For all of you people who want to put the blame on a single person -- you tend to forget that he had a support staff. However, i don't like to call them a "support" staff because that was the last thing they did -- support. The only thing I see they did was point a finger and put the blame on a single person then bad-mouth to make themselves look better. Not to mention when the going got tough, the tough took what they could and jumped ship!!!!! GET THE FACTS... It is amazing to me that people that say they LOVE the activity can be so negative. ECJ is trying to do a good thing and keep drum corps active in a state that used to have a marching unit it every other city. Some of the posts are absolutely correct, managing a drum corps is like running a business these days. It is not easy, however, with some positive reinforcement and people that would like to VOLUNTEER it could be made easier. Stop being part of the problem and make yourself part of the solution!