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Just watched the video from a few days ago.....GREAT WORK. This group has come a long way since a year ago. They will start to compete with some of the groups they have looked up to in the last few years. This is a more mature group, obviously fuller and more presence on the field and just keep ironing out the rough spots and this will be a crowd favorite for sure. Great writing and once the performance comes up to the writing, they'll see much success. as an alum and fan, i'm super proud! Go Cascades!!

Nate, Shawny Shawn here....you better wish us success! I am also working on getting The Ascent off the ground. We are working to support Cascades and all corps in the NW by offering a price point that is much lower then the full costs that the 2 World Class Corps currently offer. We hope to be a competitive group right out of the gate and we feel that with our Tri-Cities staff and support that this will be very successful. Again, Dan mentioned that we are not a drain on Cascades as we are responsible for our own fundraising and resources. We have some of their reserve equipment and they help with the insurance. We are confident that we can put a solid group on the field this coming summer. Shawn

I was at the show tonight! BK did awesome! Scades are bigger then last year(just a little), much more talented group of members (another year of maturity on the vets), great designed show and a chance to place better gun last year! Can't wait to see what they keep doing with this show as te kids get more comfortable with the poduct. It's going to be great season for the Cascades members, family and alumni!!! Shan

World Class: BK 78.90 Troopers 73.70 Cascades 67.20 Open Class: SCVC 75.40 OC 71.90 Thunder 61.30

I'll be there in the lot with Scades. I'll try to post scores as soon as I can.

This is a great addition to the Cascades team! As a Scades alum, Scades supporter and a friend, this is great news!!! Can't wait to see how things turn out!!!!! Great things are yet to come!!! Shawny Shawn

pearl, adams! pearl, adams! pearl, adams! pearl needs another top corps BAD!!! Shawn

What was open, and now known as world......troopers had 61 members one year. The minimum for open class at the time was 61. I think they even added an honor guard to make that number. On a side note, troop is back stronger then ever this year!!!!!

Interestingly enough, volcano score is owned/managed by the corps director of Oregon Crusaders. Would have like to have had scores though. OOH well, I'll get scores live tomorrow night at Hillsboro. Need to see where Scades and OC fit in nationally. Also, I've been to all but like 5 states through 6 years of drum corps. I live here in Vancouver, WA/Portland, OR area. This area is BEAUTIFUL!!! Wes, we marched together. BK 97. I played cymbals. Shawn

Hello DCP community! My name is Shawn. I am an alumni of the Seattle Cascades, from the late 90's. I also helped the Oregon Crusaders move base of operations from Medford to Portland proper in 2001 with the help of many dedicated individuals at the time. I am also an active educator in the Portland area and have been for several years. I am glad that people are taking about the Thunder/Cascades merger . As many have said already, there are good things and bad things with the merger. I hope that more good comes of it then bad. I am hopeful that the turnout will be as good if not better then expected and the Cascades will field a competitive World Class unit that will represent the Cascades of the past (recent and distant) and represent the NW this summer. In my opinion, the success of Drum Corps in the northwest depends on Cascades getting on the field and doing well. If Cascades fold and loose their "World Class" status, I don't feel that DCI will support any shows in this area any more. This will KILL the marching arts in the NW. Every single marching band has taken a hit in this area the last couple years. Without the exposure of the shows and marketing the kids to the shows and to the corps, we could be dead in the water here. In my opinion, I think that Cascades may be on the pathway away from the negativity that has surrounded them in the past. I just hope (as an alumni and drum corps fan) that potential members take a leap as so many of us have done in the past. Most of my fondest memories come from Cascades while at camps/tour or with my drum corps friends. As far as the "new" corps that may be started and Thunder working to field next summer, these are risky things, but with the support of the local communities band programs and alumni where they are based, this can happen with huge success next year. So, good luck Cascades, Good luck Thunder and good luck potential new corps. Thanks for Listening!

So what did Cascades announce at the show tonight? I wasn't in the stadium when they announced something about their future before BD's Performance...???

Hey OC Euph, I believe Travis Moddison, Todd Zimbelman (sp) and some other folks are working with the brass. Mabe even Mr. Quillen still!!! They sounded AMAZING? Nice! Go OC! Todd's a great brass guy! Is this Chris? Shawny Shawn

Mr. Keith Hall, Did you need to include your sarcastic comment on how corps are judged in your reply? I didn't think so. I don't know why it matters where I'm from, but I am from the Pacific Northwest. Specifically I live in Vancouver, WA (we used to have a Spartans here too). I also ran the Oregon Crusaders for a few years, the man who originally created the Southern Oregon Crusaders was a veteran of your Rochester Crusaders. That's where the name came from (the Southern was later dropped when moved to Portland from Medford). What do you call the Blue Devils, Cadets or Cavies during their multiple championships? Cavies "dominated" the corps activity for the early 2000's. Isn't that one way to explain their success? Spartans "dominated" my corps (as previously posted) during 98 and 99 summers. Spartans won multiple titles in multiple years. What would you have had I used instead of "dominance from years past" Mr. Hall??? Again, I know that organizations go through changes and go down different paths. I've already stated I hope the Spartans have an amazing season! Many corps have come back strong from major changes....Cascades have done it, Troopers have done it, Madison has done it, and so has Spirit. Shawn

So many ways to reply to the posts to the topic that I created just 2 short days ago. 1st) I'm sorry I haven't been paying attention to Div 2/3 forum over the last few months. Not exactly a high priority considering I have a 5 month old son at home. 2nd) I wasn't being sarcastic. I was being serious and I wasn't trying to be mean. I didn't do a search to see old topic's, so sue me. I was asking a question about an organization that I highly respect from the years and years they beat my corps (the Seattle Cascades) in the mid and late 90's. 3rd) I know that corps aren't judged on their successes of the past. Give me a break. Most organizations that have sustained success, sports teams and marching units alike, normally have tendencies to stay successful over the long term. As I stated in my original post, I figure there had to have been a change in the organization. I figured someone would have a short answer. Also if you look at some of the other topics since mine, I'm not the only one that noticed something was different. 4th) I know that organizations go through restructuring - Cascades 2008, Cascades 1997, Cascades 2000 (sometimes for the better, they won div 3 that year), OC 2007. Look, yoz, I know how drum corps works, it was a simple question. Since nobody want's to answer my question and waste their time by replying lame posts, then I end my post with this: Good luck Spartans! I know you are working hard to achieve all of your goals! Keep fighting the good fight and heres to a great season!!!!! Shawn

I don't know if it's been discussed on the forum yet, but why are their scores so low? Why aren't the scores reflecting the dominance from years past? It seems that there has been a major change here, and not for the positive (as far as scores go). Shawn

Amazing the staff that is being compiled in Portland! Nice work Crusaders! Keep pushing! Have a GREAT Summer! From: an old guy PS: 'Sko Bass Go Jess!

As an alum of the Seattle Cascades, it make me very sad to see this transpire. I just hope that the financial base is able to be solidified so that fees could be lower for the 09 campaign. I also hope that the instructional base they have stays in tact and they are able to add a brass caption head that is able to pull members in. I know that since Lewis Norfleet had been taking the season off due to a child, it probably hurt the momentum of the brass program. If Lewis is not back next season, I sure hope they are able to find someone that can run the brass program. I know that the staff put so much work into this season as far as the show, but the numbers just didn't pan out. Per the original news release from the Cascades website, I was aware that they had some debt, but wasn't aware they had as much debt as was posted. I also was not aware they were able to raise the $ that they stated they had. For that "KUDOS" Mike. Someone prior posted that it was interesting that the Cascades had 20 less marching brass members then the cross town Oregon Crusaders, but they have an established Caption Head, and most of their brass staff are band directors at local schools. This makes it much easier to pull kids from their existing band programs. OC is doing many things right, and if Cascades don't play their cards right, OC may be looking at applying for World Class Status in the near future. (this is just my opinion). As far as the membership that was at Cascades prior to the announcement Friday night at camp, I have heard that many of the Percussion kids have removed themselves from the organization. They had a talented group for the percussion section and would could have seen a huge jump in placements come the competative season, but most are going to move on. This new venture for the Cascades doing the abbreviated tour and smaller tour fees shows a commitment to the members to continue something, but will leave a sour taste in the mouths of these members if and when the Cascades hold their Audition camps in November 08 in preperation for the 09 season. I was part of the Cascades last time they took some time off the field for the 97 competative season, and I went to Denver and marched BK. AMAZING EXPERIENCE!! But I went back to Cascades the next year in 98 as it was too expensive to travel to Denver and I wanted to go back and be a part of helping the Corps get back on their feet. A few short years later, they won div 3, placed 2nd in div 2 (17th at Quarters) and then 12th place in Open Class Finals in 2002. This was due to some of us key members coming back after the rebuilding in 97. I just hope that some of the current members of the Cascades make those sacrifices and rejoin the corps in 09 to help it get back on it's feet like some of us did in 1998. Good Luck Cascades and Good Luck to it's members who seek membership with other Corps across the country. shawn c. anderson

Seattle Cascades worked with Urban in Seattle the next night. What a FUN experience! GO OC!!!!! Shawn

Who needs more brass players or colorguard? let's hire another tech for all corps and put a plate line in there. Truly, I marched plates with BK in 97, the 2 years they brought it back. even though they raised the numbers from 128 to the 135, i hoped and prayed they'd bring the lines back. no. too bad. Bring on the plate lines! shawn

here's my penny and a half on this...... the old model of having the top 5 div 2/3 come up to quarters won't work again because the div 1 corps in the bottom that used to get upset by the div 2/3 corps would beat them out of the top 21 or top 17 and then the open corps would get less apperance money the next season because their status would drop falling out of the top 21 or 17. after Mandarins and Scades did that in 2001, it was stopped. I think there was a rule created in like 97 or 98, but not enforced till 2002. also dci enacted or enforced a financial review of any corps that applied for open status, no stability, no div 1 status. I have felt for some time that there also should be a yearly review to bump corps back down if they can't get the numbers or placements or can't keep the financials up. the div 2 numbers are down this year, as noted by a prior post. Some are gone and some moved down to div 3 (hopefully they can get their numbers back up next season, wink..wink..OC!). I know this is a whole other can of worms......... one of the main questions we need to ask is how can we get these corps to have a stronger financial base so they don't keep dying? How can we start to build the numbers back up? We gain a few, we loose a few. Gained Academy and Troopers back this year, but lost Magic and Cap Reg and KK. How do we get these corps back off the ground? How do we make it easier to start corps? More scholastic ties? Cheeper equipment? More shows raising $? More visionaries like the Academy people that built a great template for a solid organization. Shawny Shawn

N8, SOC in the House! Just Kidding! What I've got................... I've heard good things out of Spokane, not sure on numbers/size, but should be a competative group. OC should also do very well, I heard from a parent they are doing very well and should see much success this season. Now, how the 2 NW representatives in the 2/3 classes compare to the other Div 3 groups should be interesting. Citations, Fever, Revo, Dutch Boy and Memphis Sound all seem going strong this year. This should be One of the better years for competition in Div 3. Too bad there are smaller numbers in div 2 this year. Some returning to Div 3 and Academy going up. I'm glad to see that Spartins have some competition with Surf and maybe one of the other div 2 corps can step up and have a great run at the top of 2. Should be a great Northwest Tour. Followed up a few days later by the big boys batting cleanup. N8, you coming down for the Hillsboro show Thursday? Should be GREAT! Shawny Shawn

any pics with the instruments in hands and on bodies? ooh, and more show stuff too!!! shawn

Cascades used Imagine in their 1996 Beatles show, Ryan Braun (sp?) from spokane, wa area, who later marched crossmen and was the trumpet soloist there for 2 years. Heck of a brass player. As an alumnist and drum corps fan, Cascades are doing just fine up here in the Pacific Northwest. Putting together a very nice show. Not too many vets, but full of talent. Shawny Shawn 94 Marauders 95, 96, 98, 99 Cascades 97 Blue Knights

$$$ and pride mostly $$$

Go where your heart tells you. Crusaders will be a completely new experience for all, even vets, but it's a few dedicated individuals that can take this corps to new heights under the new management. I marched in Cascades in the times they don't talk about much anymore (pre 2000) and the corps took the summer off to "Restructure" or something like that in 1997. I went and marched Blue Knights in Denver. Amazing experience. I went back to BK auditions the next year with no fear of not making it, i was a section leader the year before, but I could not afford the fees and trips from Seattle to Denver as many times as I would have needed to go. I learned that Cascades was getting going again, and I decided to go back. Had a few of us key vets had not gone back for 1998, I feel that the corps may not have come back at all, and not been able to have the successes it has seen since. I'm not saying I helped save the corps by any means, but Vets certainly helped it continue to grow and have a chance to survive. I would love to see more vets go back to Crusaders, and for that matter, same with Cascades right now also. Both corps futures are uncertain, but it is clear that both are pushing forward and working on solidifying themselves to continue well into the future. May both corps flourish and grow as both are very near and dear to my heart. Shawn C. Anderson