Pioneersop98

11th place

Ok, I'll add a little bit to the thread... I marched with Pioneer in 1998, my ageout year, and had one of the best summers of my life. I came back and taught there in 2000 and 2001. Once again, some awesome experiences and I loved giving back to the organization that gave me so much. In the time since then, I have recruited for Pioneer down here in Florida and sponsored a few members too. Right now, I am not as involved because of my work situation and lack of a whole lot of income and am focusing on my two small children and family. Also, living in Florida makes helping out with the corps somewhat difficult. With all that being said, I will say this...Pioneer is a class act organization, Roman is a great man who has done so much for so many. There are those people who think he needs to go, is holding the corps back, etc. Well, you are entitled to your opinions and if that is what you think, well, ok. I am just glad that the corps is still around after 50 years. My first corps, Southwind, is likely gone for good, and the last corps I marched with, the Brigadiers, has been out of the competitive circuit since last year. Running a corps is a difficult job, but Roman knows how to do it. Pioneer, good luck on the 2011 season. No matter what place you finish, I will be proud of you guys.

I like cymbal lines. Fun to watch and they have loud crashing noises, subtle scraping noises, etc. More cymbal lines please!

Is David Veda the guy that got a new car and Gail Royer gave him the keys at a banquet or something...Does anyone know what I am talking about. He was in a car accident....There was a vignette on a DCI broadcast many years ago...am I crazy? Yeah...I'm crazy...

Alright, I don't watch TV...what is Glee about? A high school choir?

I understand where John is coming from....if I didn't have a wife and two small children, and live in Florida, and have to work all the time just to make ends meet....I would be right there with Pioneer as a proud alumnus helping out in any way possible to get the corps back to where it was (and better) in the late 1990's and early 2000's. I do what I can from a long distance away and try to recruit for the corps as much as I can. It would be nearly impossible for me to leave for any extended period of time in the summer to go teach, but boy, would I love to! When my girls are older and our finances are more stable I hope that I can begin giving back more to Pioneer for all that it did for me. In the meantime, Murray, Roman, if there is anything that I can do to help...please let me know and I'll see what I can do. You guys have my number.

For what it is worth, I marched and taught there and had a great experience. I also sent ten of my high school band students there and they also had good experiences. I had the opportunity to march my age out year at a couple of Top 12 corps, but chose Pioneer because I liked the atmosphere when I attended a camp. I have never regretted my decision to go to Pioneer.

No, no I know you meant no offense. I am just saying things have apparently changed a lot. When I marched and taught there the placements reflected that too, I guess. 1998 18th place, 1999 17th place, 2000 16th place, 2001 18th place with the highest score by Pioneer in WC.

1. Madison Scouts 2. Cavaliers 3. Bluecoats 4. Phantom 5. Crown 6. Cadets 7. Boston 8. SCV 9. BK 10. Blue Stars 11. Glassmen 12. BD

Things must have changed a lot since when I marched and taught there....We were always fed well back in 1998 and when I was on staff in 2000-2001. We didn't have many bus problems besides the AC breaking sometimes. We got a fair amount of floor time. We had very efficient rehearsals and got lots done. In fact, if we accomplished our goals for the day ahead of time, we would end early. The staff when I marched and taught were not lackadaisical at all. They(we) pushed every minute of every rehearsal to get the most out of the show and if something sucked we certainly were not praised for it. I guess things change....

A little bump back to page 1.... Go Pioneer, keep pushing and getting...."Better Every Day!"

Thanks to the graciousness and awesomeness of a friend I will be attending!!!!!! Thank you Jim Wesson and family!!!!!!! Any of my drum corps friends that will be at Championships, get in touch with me and let's meet up. I will be there for Quarters, Semis, and Finals....

I don't particularly like the hats either. And finally, you have your opinions, I have mine, everybody has theirs. I will just have to respectfully disagree with you about most of what you have said in this thread. In the grand scheme of the universe, this conversation and drum and bugle corps is such a small thing...let's not get our undies in a bunch over it. There are a lot more important things to think about... And, Go Pioneer (and Bluecoats!)

Winning means different things to different people. It could mean winning DCI and beating every other corps, it could mean being your personal best and maxing out your show, etc. I would much rather see Pioneer be in a financially good place, teaching kids and giving them an opportunity to march drum corps, than see them fold for whatever reason. I have had members of Top 12 corps talk crap to my face because I marched in Pioneer, and always hear last place, blah, blah, blah. I used to defend Pioneer to those people, but you know what, it really doesn't matter. My Pioneer experience was awesome, I learned a lot, made great friends for life, and performed my butt off to audiences and got standing 'O's. Giving the crowd all I could give was the best thing and having people come up to me afterwards and tell me how much they enjoyed it was probably the best part about marching. Pioneer doesn't need to finish in the Top 12 to be a "winner". They are winners everyday by simply taking the field and performing. Drum corps is about more than your placement or score. And, the kids at Pioneer know that. Some people (like the guys that used to talk crap) will never understand that. Can't wait to see Pioneer next week!

Glad Pioneer is back into the 70s.... And, whoo hoo Bluecoats!!!!

LOL at the Crossmen guard girl.... I have a few of those of me in my photo collection...

Pioneer's highest score in Div. 1 was a 79.30 in 2001 at DCI Quarterfinals.

Come on Pioneer! I know you guys and gals are probably getting frustrated...just keep working smart and hard and enjoy your time performing for the crowd. Let the numbers fall where they may!

Upon first arriving in World Class I wouldn't say was a slump, but a push onwards and upwards up till 2002... 1997 19 76.800 1998 18 77.200 1999 17 75.300 2000 16 77.600 (Highest placement in WC) 2001 18 79.300 (Highest WC score, missed Semifinals by 5 hundredths of a point)

As a former member of this corps I am so happy to see them doing so well this year. I wish that I could get to Atlanta to see them live, but don't think it is going to happen. I have always been proud to be an alumnus of this organization and am even more proud now. Better Every Day!

Bump to page one... GO PIONEER!!!!!!!!!

How about having more corpse? Ok, I got nothin'...

Great to see Pioneer headed back to where we were in the mid to late 1990s and up through 2001! Hope to see you in ATL....

Just wanted to say good luck to all of the corps tonight! Especially Pioneer and the Scouts!

Yes, there are...Lee Walton and John Wagner...and plenty of my former North Port and Lemon Bay kids too. I am very proud of all of them.