truenorthdc

Well that's another "one man's opinion."

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I'm in the process of putting together a proposal for our federal Govt. in Canada re: starting "One" corps as a "Pilot Project" and proving it will not only grow and prosper but the benefits would be such that the govt. would "Sponsor" the cost of setting it up initially as a 50 member corps. With the proof in, the govt. would then "sponsor" an additional 36 corps across Canada. This would be either 12 a yr. for 3 years or the preferred method seeing 36 all the same fall. Sounds crazy right. Well Steve Jobs once said "The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones that do." We'll see. I have a scheduled meeting with my member of parliament on June 26 and the next step would be the final proposal being turned in. It's been a lot of work but might just happen. Show the govt. (In the U.S also if you really are serious)) how their "One Time" investment of 11 million to start 37 new 50 member corps can put 20 to 25 million onto the national economy "ANNUALLY" and you get their attention. Part of the program would be to document and share with all interested parties how we set up the new corps "ORGANIZATION" an a business plan to bring in the necessary funds to build it to 150, add a feeder corps of 9-12 yr olds and a third corps of 13 - 21 when the original one is ready to change its age limits to 17-21. With a lot of hard work I think this could all happen within 10 years. The new corps temporary website is at www.wix.com/truenorthdc/temp-website . It's set up now to supply information to potential new members and their parents/guardians. If you want, you can send me an email address to the one posted on the site and I'll send you additional info. Rick True North Drum Corps

I came across this on the internet and just had to share it! You can download this FREE publication at this site. Enjoy. http://gettingattention.org/nonprofit-marketing/nonprofit-marketing-wisdom-guide.html EVERY DRUM CORPS, EVERY PERSON WORKING WITH DRUM CORPS WILL GET LOTS OF GREAT TIPS FROM THIS FREE "ANNUAL" PUBLICATION.

Your getting a preview here as the article is running in Mondays paper so the meeting time will be fresh in everyone's mind. You can read the article at the following url: Visit My Website

If we could get all the equipment sitting in garages, basements and storage, we could probably equipt. several corps.

Emailing with Steve Vicekers re the new "rookie" type corps being formed and some rebuilding corps, He is hopeful that someone will step forward with a plan to get all these divergent groups organized and he will help all he can through his newspaper. From th July issue of DCW a group of 9 from NY, Conn & Penn are wanting to make contact with other like minded groups re forming some type of assn. to organize this new "Regional" type assn. The contact person is Roger Exposito at 484-240-4686 or roger@starcrossdbc.org I would ask the new Quebec corps formed last year and this to contact him to get involved, in Ontario, new corps in Sault Ste Marie and one in Orillia hopefully starting Sept 2010, and Conquer II in Hamilton plus St. John's in Brantford re-building. This would bring together a group of 20 new or rebuilding corps in the NE U.S., Que, and Ont. PLEASE! At least send you contact information to Roger and see what kind of arrangements can be made to benifit all corps involved. Hmmmmm? The CanAm Drum & Bugle Corps Assn? Let's hear the feedback and suggestions on this project.

News of the Bb horns was fantastic. CrunchyTenor, I can't thank you enough. Fingers crossed it all works out. Still looking for about 4 snares, all the same color if possible but we can march with practice type covers on them or find a talented parent to recover them.

If you know anyone with b horns to lend we'll be glad to take them. I don't think there are any out there yet. Actually the Blue Saints went to b horns and that is why they offered their g's to us to help get us started. Who knows, IF everything goes perfectly, we might just might have our new b flats for the summer. Building up the lips and wrists is the time consuming part. Plus when we start the competitive corps next fall we'll have this base of 40 with some experience as a base to build upon. We would certainly appreciate any assistance St. John's can offer and would return the favour next year when you start rebuilding again. When I started playing in the Artillery Reserves Band we were on g horns. After 2 1/2 years I transfered to the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Bugle Band and was on b flats. I really didn't notice much difference. Remember, back then we played with one valve and a half tone rotor. Ask your grandfather what that means. lol Hope to hear from you soon, my email is on our web site.

The new True North might be a little short of equipt come Jan. After checking stock Blue Saints didn't have as much to lend as previously thought. I should have kept closer contact with them to confirm what we were borrowing. My fault! Any way looks like we may need to borrow 6 or 8 g soprano g horns and 4 snares untill fall or spring 2010. We'd like to march the parade corps summer of 2010 with 10 sop, 2 mello, 4, bari, 2 contra, 4 snare,4 bass, 2 multi, 2 cymb, 1 DM. If any corps operating or folded has g horns and snares to lend, please notify me of what you have to lend and we can arrange to pick up or have shipped what we need in late Nov or early Dec. We really don't want to be buying as we intend to start purchasing new b horns next fall as soon as we qualify for the Ontario Trillium Foundation Grants. Just a though, if there are a number of folded corps with equipt to get rid of, if you can't sell it, please consider passing it on to a group that we can set up to gather such equipt and divide it up into lots big enouth to start a decent parade corps and ship it out on loan to qualifying groups that wish to start a corps. Having this used equipt to get started is a terrific finanacial cost taken out of their start up finances. Just a thought, well OK, I'd like to see this set up. I certainly wouldn't be able to be going ahead at this time without the equipt I am being loaned to start up. Interested parties contact me and we'll see what can be set up. P.S. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE G SOPS AND SNARES I STILL NEED TO BORROW BY JANUARY! Contact information is here http://www.wix.com/truenorthdc/truenorth-save-file THANKS Rick Director True North

Many thanks Mike. I'm not even going to ask how you did it. Thank you!

This is frustrating but I need help. I want to change my screen name from bandettedriver to another name. I just can't find anything on the site that explain how to do this. I tried to re-sign up but it won't let me because my email address is already in use. (Scratching my head) How do I do It?

Thanks for the information and suggestions. I REALLY appreciate it. The g horms were getting from Sudbury Blue Saints are on load, As soon as we are operational we can start applying for grants from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to replace the borrowed equipt with new b horns. Our problem now is when Sudbury checked their inventory of old equipt they founds the don't have many sopranos and no snare drums to lend. WE must appeal to any organization out there with g horns or 3 or 4 snares that can be spared. We think we can have all the borrowed equipt back by Christmas of 2010. Thanks to everyone for your encouragement and support, it does put an extra spring in ones step when going about the many task. Let me know if any corps out there has equipt they are willing to lend. Rick Moxon Director

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That's great news. Check around and I think you'll find lots of St. John's AND St. John's Girls alumni willing to get involved and bring back a corps. My first DCI tour was with St. John's Girls to Denver back in...well back then..... Was supposed to be helping with equipt but the visual guy recognized me from Guelph Royaires and I finished the summer helping with marching and colorguard. Well if I can offer any assistance, don't hesitate to email me at the new corps address. Good Luck!

Which corps? Steel Town Brass or True North. It's been clearly stated that True North is a new organization forming to start a new corps from scratch. I'm a little confused about Steel Town Brass still being active as all their equipment was sent to Don in Michigan to start a new corps there and it was made totally clear that the new corps could not use the Bandettes or Steel Town Brass names. If you have further information about a corps still active in the Soo, I would love to hear about it. We would stop our plans immediately and go help them build up. Officially though and I was there at the board meeting, last September the Bandettes organization of which Steel Town Brass was affiliated, was disbanded and arrangements made for the equipment to go to Don in Michigan to start a new corps there. But to clearly state it publicly, True North is a completely new organization with no affiliation whatsoever with the Bandettes or Steel Town Brass..We are presently incorporating as a separate organization and will operate as such. Some confusion may have arisen due to the fact that I am still using bandettesdriver as my screen name. I'm not sure but thinking about it now I will change it since Bandettes no long exist and I owe all my allegiance to the new corps. Hope this clears things up Jenny and sorry if I caused you any distress. We published our new web site today if fact and the only reference to the Bandettes is on top of the site pages where there is a picture of a retreat in Wisconsin with Bandettes lined up in the center of the picture and above it are the words "always in our memories." The website url is in another forum topic started today. I hope you keep involved with drum corps as your kind of dedication and work ethic will help any organization be better.

Thanks for the support. By next Christmas we should have our own equipt. I'm sure the Blue Saints would be very happy to see this used equipt. go to Brantford to start another corps.

True North Drum & Bugle Corps of Sault Ste Marie, Ontario (home to the now gone Bandettes) is please to announce the publishing of out new web site. The site can be accessed at www.wix.com/truenorthdc/truenorthdc-save-file The site will be very valuable dispensing information to the new rookie members and parents and also reporting on progress of the corps. Our enthusiasm is growing as we begin this journey and hope to share our experiences through our site. There is a form on the home page to get on our newsletter list.Click here to visit our site.

It's too bad all this time spent complaining isn't used more constructively like starting more corps! Had another email last night and a 19 yr old getting ready to start a new corps in Orillia, Ontario as soon as next season is over. He is still marching. Seems were having a "baby boom of drum corps." And on another happy note, I'm glad to announce after a weekend of work, we now have a temporary site up and running. To tell the truth I think I like this one better that the other. Of coarse I've been awake about 20 hours now, even the cat deserted me last night. The site is up on a free builder and the url is http://www.wix.com/truenorthdc/truenorthdc-save-file. I have no idea how that save-file got into the title but it was a long day. All comments and constructive critisizm appreciated. But for now...I'M GOING TO BED! Good Night.

A challenge! You start a "kids off the street" rookie corps and then in 2011 your corps and mine can meet in Michigan City at prelims and see what kind of reception old style drum corps can get? We could probably get a dozen or so of the other new "kids off the street" corps there also, they should be ready by then.

Just to add to previous post: I'm fairly sure some or many of these new rookie corps WILL grow and the join in the DCI tour as OPEN CLASS corps. But the thing I really appreciate is that these corps are giving the activity back to the "kids off the Street" Join, learn, mature, move up. OR stay old time and provide entertainment to that "other type of drum corps" market. We'll watch the attendance at these new "Div III" corps shows.

My friends in old drum & bugle corps. I spent a year deciding to start a new corps in Sault Ste Marie, or not, yes I would, or not etc. etc. etc. I'm not happy with the way things are now. I also don't like rap and much of that other "music" the kids are into now. but that's the way it is. I can turn the radio to an oldies station and enjoy again. Now I can join with the newly forming "kids off the street" corps in NE U.S. and Quebec and others springing up across the country. I though I was done with drum corps, but it seems a lot of other people were also and now drum & BUGLE corps are growing again. At my count the should be around 20 new none DCI competing corps by next summer and with that many in mostly the same area of the continent, I'm sure a pretty good tour can be set up for these corps that will be less expensive to take part in and much more enjoyable. True North here in Sault Ste Marie sent out it's first newsletter yesterday and already the Sault Star is after me for an interview.BEFORE MONDAY! I was up at 7 this morning because I had several places to go, it's now 5:30 and I'm still here. The phone calls and emails to answer along with other corps (that doesn't legally exist yet) business has been none stop all day. All you people that are upset at the direction DCI is taking the activity, just give them credit for achieving "their" goals and divert your support and attention to these new corps starting up. I would love to have more people with the passion that many of you are displalying supporting True North right now. And if any of you want to cut a cheque well: True North Drum & Bugle Corps (New rule in Canada, must be made out to FULL NAME or it can't be cashed) 519 Boundary Road, Suite 203 Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. Canada P6A 5Z2 P.S. If you'd like to get on the Newsletter emailing list send me your First Name and email address and I'll add you and send you a copy of the first one also. OK kids, play nice now!

P.S. Regina is with an "e", Grimsby is correct.

We are located in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. Replacing the void left when the Bandettes shut down. Tried to get going last Jan. with a site up and running like other open class corps, competition, touring etc. but realized fairly quickly that I really didn't want to get into all that at that time and put on the breaks to reconsider other options. News of the new "off the steet" corps forming in NE US, Quebec, and other areas re-kindled the flame and now it's going again to start in the spring and march around 40 off the street kids in a parade corps in 2010 then expand the next year and hopefully be part of tour in NE US and provice of Quebec where a dozen or more similar corps are underway. Three to five years down the road we can and will take a good look at getting on the DCI tour but will stay true to our roots and continue to bring in 12 yr. olds and up and heavily promote and perform whenever possible locally. Also long term plans are to run 2 corps for 12 to 16 (and older for those who don't want the big tours) and 16 to 21 for an Open Class touring corps. Dream would be a World Class corps furthur down the line but finances will determine if that becomes a reality. Got to be positive and believe it can/will happen some day. Think it and you become it. I want as much as posssible to make the corps totally local kids so they will all be at rehearsals and camps and we will always have a full corps to do local gigs year round. If you have contacts in the Grimsby, Ontario area I suggest you pass on that information to HYPE (Conqueror II) in Hamilton, Ontario. They are growing and would be very happy to receive any help or information you could provide. http://conqueror2.ca/