sunbari1

How about banners for DCA and Alumni Corps? I'd love one for the Sunrisers and Bayonne Bridgemen.

Actually Frank, the reason Sun didn't go out wasn't because of lack of membership, yes we did have some low numbers, around the same we did last year at that time, but the main reason was 90% financial and only 10% membership. As for the championship recruitment factor, we did gain many new members this year, but unfortunately lost an equal number of veterans who couldn't march again for one reason or the other, plus the alumni who jumped in line last July to fill out our ranks. The reorganization was greatly needed to make the corps stonger for years to come. If the corps had gone out this year, it would have killed the corps. I will be looking forward to seeing Sun's return to the field in 2009. Though I will not be able to march with them any longer, I will be with them in spirit. God speed Sunrisers on your return to the field in 2009! I'll be rooting for you!

Oops, Accidental double post.

That's the dumbest thing I ever heard! The first Class A corps that gets screwed out of a championship because of this rule will immediately push to have this rule changed, mark my words. Personally I'd rather have a championship than come in last place in Open Class. In my case, it took me 16 years to finally win my first championship with Sun last year, I would have really been p.o.'ed if I had gotten screwed out of it by a dumb rule such as that. I understand why directors want the vote, but they are doing a disservice to the members by that. I agree with an earlier poster that the Class A champion should get a vote too, especially if they are an established corps who faithfully supports DCA such as Sun for example. Why do Class A corps get disrespected by not being allowed to vote? If I'm not mistaken, in 2007 there were more Class A corps competing at the DCA World Championships then there were Open Class corps.

...with a dirty coat hanger!

I actually thought that was an effective use of narration as it added effect to the moment.

The top 3 he is talking about are BD, Cavies and Cadets. they have combined to win every title (sans the ties in 1996 & 1999) from 1992 to 2007. You should throw out 2000 as well as that was a tie too. 1992 - Cavies 1993 - Cadets 1994 - BD 1995 - Cavies 1996 - BD & Phantom (Tie, doesn't count) 1997 - BD 1998 - Cadets 1999 - BD & SCV (Tie, doesn't count) 2000 - Cadets & Cavies (Tie, shouldn't count either) 2001 - Cavies 2002 - Cavies 2003 - BD 2004 - Cavies 2005 - Cadets 2006 - Cavies 2007 - BD

Brian, How did the corps do at the show?

Who gave you that misinformation Terri? You could have just asked me and I would have told you what was going on.

Yeah, and let's hope the parade announcers can correctly pronounce our corps' names, unlike the Salute to Isreal parade.

Sun will be at the Persian Day parade as well. Looking forward to seeing you guys and some old friends too.

I resemble that remark!!! I intended on checking out a few DCA corps after I aged out of junior corps. I just happened to go to Sun's Open House first and I never left! 2008 will be my 17th year in the corps. Just goes to show you what a great organization the Sunrisers are! It's a place where the friends and memories will last a lifetime!

"The Quest" continues on Sunday!

Hey Chris, Does lost income from not being able to work the 5 hours of overtime on Saturdays during the spring and summer like I normally do during the rest of the year count? That cost me $2,000 alone! The rest of last season cost me approx. $1,000 more. Also, does fronting money for gloves for the corps (which I later sell to the members) count as well? If I do march this year I will take you up on it. I would do it anyway so I can deduct those expenses from my taxes.

If you think the Beatles rights are expensive, you haven't seen Disney's. A few years ago we were thinking about playing "Pirates of the Caribbean", until we found out the rights cost $10,000!!! :sshh: :sshh: :sshh:

w/Stp: I'll second that motion Chris! ^OO^ Having DCA Finals 4 miles from my house would be awesome!!!

In no particular order: Hearing Fran Haring announcing us as we were coming onto the field at Finals. I knew it was a good omen! Billy Di Paolo bringing his uniform hat that he wore at in the 1977 DCA Championships for some championship mojo. We rubbed it for luck before Prelims and had it on the podium at Finals. It worked! Marching with some old friends one last time. All the support from the other corps, class acts all around. Singing songs in the back of the bus on the ride home, just like the good old days! WINNING THE 2007 DCA CLASS A CHAMPIONSHIP!!! The first title in my 16-year career with Sun.

Thanks to everyone for your congratulations! We did work our butts off this year and as you can see, it really paid off. It was so nice to hear all of the support we got from the other corps during the weekend. I especially remember Renegades (who were next to us) cheering loudly for us at retreat Sunday night each time they announced us winning an award. Thanks to the Govies for giving us one heck of a fight for the title and the rest of the Class A corps for giving us a good fight just to make Finals. I'll admit I was a little nervous after our performance when they announced Alliance and SoCal Dream got 81's in Prelims. It was also pleasant surprise to hear my friend Fran Haring announcing us at Finals. I knew it was a good omen.

Of course winning the Open Class Championship is our ultimate goal, it may take 4 or 5 years to build up to the level where we can compete for that title. It has taken me 16 years to win this championship but winning the Open Class title is the last mountain that this old vet has yet to climb (got as high as 4th in 1997). With this staff, administaration, support staff, and nucleous of hungry members I know we can achieve this ultimate goal! Winning the Class A Championship is the first step on the road back to glory. Should be great for our 2008 recruiting efforts as well. I may very well defer my retirement until we win that ultimate prize.

Sun had 108 pages of drill.

I've been marching with Sun for 16 years consecutively (1992-Present) and marching in the activity (junior & senior) non-stop since 1987, that's 21 consecutive years. Darn, where have the years all gone?! Another guy in my corps marched Sun 1974-1999 and came back this year. That's 27 years for him.

Thanks for the vote of confidence! We're gonna work our butts off this weekend to try and make your guess a reality. Should be a real tough tussle up in Rachacha this weekend, can't wait!

You'll be missed this weekend Tex!

I'm not crazy about this new rule. If the highest scoring Class A corps places 10th or higher DCA would in essence deny that corps the opportunity to compete for the Class A Championship which in my opinion would be more valuble. While a corps' management may covet the vote that comes from a Top 10 finish, I think a championship on a corps resume would be more valuable in other areas, especially for next year's recruiting efforts. If you never marched drum corps before and didn't know about the class distinctions, who would you rather march with, a champion or a 10th place corps? Something to think about. Speaking for me persoanlly, I am retiring after this season without having won a major championship in my 21 year drum corps career and I would prefer to go out as a champion.

As Sayre said before, we are marching Class A this year. It wasn't our intent at the beginning of the year, but our reality now turned out to be different than our hopes in the winter and we decided to make a smarter choice this year. For some strange reason, we never publically announced it, not even on our website.