BrassCats

So was the orange sheet all there was?

What do we need to do to get the I&E comment sheets? All we got were an orange score sheet with a number on it. Bill Gullatt The Rocketeers

After seeing Mini Corps this weekend I am ready to take things to the next level. Who else in the South is ready to get started on a mini corps in your area. JUST DO IT!

Ed, I first thought you meant a mini-corps in Nashville and Atlanta but after talking this weekend I understand you meant people coming to the Rocketeers.

I noticed a corps with a brake drum and another with a freon tank. I was just curious what constitutes a percussion instrument? How about a banjo? It has a head! We do come from Alabama you know.

Please list everything you have available with prices. Several new corps are starting up. Pictures would be helpful too.

We don't have any jackets. Will a valid Alabama or Tennesse drivers license do? Might be able to swing tee shirts by then but we will see!

The Rocketeers are ready. Wish us luck our first time out the gate!

I'm looking for groups interested in forming an SDCA South region. Please contact me if so. Bill Gullatt rocketeersdbc@earthlink.net

The Rocketeers are at the Holiday Inn Express - Greece

What areas? Nashville? Birmingham?

Thought I would bring this back to the top. Just curious as to who thinks they have enough interest in their area to start a mini corps? We started with 3 eight months ago and are now at 14 horns!

They reminded me of early Southwind! Young and ready to tackle the world. Great job!

Here is The Rocketeers debut with the Star Spangled Banner.

Ed, You were just seeing a reflection of The Rocketeers in your bell! Except for 2 of our sops the rest of us are 40+.

Hey Big Ed, We are covered. CV had some at the 40. Bill

Registration (check) Money to Dick Pronti (check) Transportation from Alabama (check) Hotel Rooms (check) Uniforms (check) All Systems Go! The Rocketeers!

I emailed Dick the other day with our intentions and am sending the forms this weekend. We will be doing I&E this year rather than mini-corps (finances or lack there of). Thanks for the welcomes! Bill Gullatt The Rocketeers D&BC

Big, Phat, Red, Hack!

The Rocketeers current plans are Mini Corps, parade and ensemble. We will be a year round corps and hope to help our neighbor corps by encouraging those who want to be in a field corps to participate in Atlanta and Nashville during the summer season and still have a place to play during the "off" season.

The Rocketeers will have our inaugural performance on Aug 20 playing the National Anthem at the Douglasville GA show. Two weeks later we will be at I&E in Rochester! We had an awesome rehearsal two weeks ago with 6 sops, 2 mellos, 4 baris and 2 contras. We still have a ways to go but we are getting into the groove now! Wish us luck and see you there. Bill Gullatt The Rocketeers D&BC Huntsville, AL

It sure was. That was the best and most productive we have had yet. I am glad you were finally able to come down. It is interesting how things work out. We had a percussionist there checking us out and before we knew it she was directing. So much for percussion but I am looking forward to what is to come over the next few months and I think Cydney is a perfect fit to lead us. The new arrangements sounded great. Kudos to Martin Williams for the awesome work! Bill

Ed, Things are starting to click. Like I said I think there is room for more mini corps. When we have people coming from Nashville & Birmingham and inquiries coming from Chattanooga, Athens (TN), Dallas (GA) ... While there is and always will be a place for field corps of different sizes I think mini corps is a great way to make an impact at the community level. Bill

The Rocketeers will rehearse this Sunday, May 29 at Grace Presbyterian Church in Madison, AL. 2:00 - 4:00. We will have several new arrangements to go through. Hint: Our theme seems to be leaning toward space travel ... who would have thunk it? If you have questions please feel free to contact us at rocketeersdbc@gmail.com www.therocketeers.org

6 months ago when I started looking into minicorps I got a lot of encouragement but also got a lot of discouragement. I ignored the naysayers and pressed onward. It didn't take long just tossing the idea around to find a handful of alumni from various corps who were interested. The Rocketeers are up to 10 who have been to rehearsal and another 5 who will be joining us in the coming weeks. *Note that there has never been a corps in North Alabama. There have been corps in Birmingham (The Steelmen & American Legion), Montgomery (Southwind), Troy (Charioteers), Jacksonville (Spirit), Mobile (Magic of Mobile but nothing ever came of them). While we are still in a building phase I can't help but think that in other cities where corps may or may not have been before there should be enough to pull together a mini corps. It would be nice to be able to round up half a dozen or so and bring them together for a mini corps competition here in the North Alabama area. So where ever you are in the South if there is not a corps for you to participate within 2 hours consider rounding up others you know in a two hour radius of yourself. You might be surprised what you can pull together. Let's shoot for Mini Corps South 2012! Bill