If You're Ever in Texas...

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Crossmen Volunteers,

Can it be that time again? We are a few days away from the February Camp for the Crossmen. On February 2nd until February 4th the Crossmen will continue to molding the 2007 Crossmen.

As always if you are thinking about coming out to help please do so. If you are alumni from the San Antonio area please come by and help out helping prepare a meal or help wash pots and pans. A little goes along way during these camp weekend. Thanks to Gabe Escobedo for representing the 1996 corps.

If you joined us in volunteering during the January camp, of course we thank you very much. We look forward to seeing as many of you once again as possible. If you missed the chance and are still looking to volunteer a few hours we are always looking for help. For others please keep us in mind as we move towards spring training and the summer tour.

The January was a little trickier than the past camps with the weather being what is was. The mix of new volunteers and seasoned vets keep everything running smoothly.

So I hope everyone is ready to do it once again.

DRIVERS: We will need drivers for airport runs with people at the airport starting @ 4:15 on Friday. Please let me know ASAP if you are able to assist in the airport runs. We need to add couple of more drivers to spread the responsibility.

FOOD TRUCK: Food truck volunteers you know the drill here. Leslie Tucker will be in cracking the whip. If you know Leslie a whip is the last thing in her bag of tricks. This is the time to get your feet wet if you are thinking about helping out and want to check out how things work. Please contact me so I know how many volunteers to count on.

SET UP: The truck needs to be set up Mike and Chris did a great job last camp, if anyone can help out here that would be a great help as well.

CLOSE UP: We could use a little more help at the end of camp for the kitchen truck this time, everyone is tired by the time the trailer needs to be closed up and the more volunteers to help the better. We were a little light in January.

REGISTRATION: We will need registration help as always, those of you who have been coming out are doing a great job. Anyone wanting to help please do so, it’s a great way to meet the Crossmen members. The more folks involved the better we are. With the flights seeming to be later for some folks and some people arrived as late as 11 pm we really do need help all night long.

SOUVIE SALES: Souvie sales starting with registration. We have had a great crew handling this very important facet of the organization. Please feel free to lend a hand. There times slots to be filled although the weekend.

It is once again important that the students be able to focus on the responsibilities asked of them by the various staff evaluators. Our job as volunteers is to ensure that the students register in a timely manner as they have the past three months. Of course they can rest assured that there will be plenty of food during the meals with which they have become familiar. Every aspect of running the last camp will need to be attended to as well for this camp.

We are hoping the generosity those volunteers who have so graciously given their time will continue to do so. There is no doubt that with out your help camp would not be the success it has been. FOR ANYONE THINKING OF COMING OUT PLEASE DO SO THE MORE THE MERRIER. There really is something for everyone. Come out talk to the folks on the food truck, grab Megh or Fred they will find something for you to do.

If you are an alumni from the San Antonio area please consider coming out and become a regular. But any time you can give is really a big help even its it just to stop in to help prepare a meal or wash a few pots and pans or help serve during mealtime. The regular volunteers would greatly appreciate the help. Come prepared to meet new friends and laugh a lot.

It’s important that you contact Fred or myself so we know how many volunteers we are looking to have on hand. I thank you in advance and I am sure the drum corps does as well.

February 2007 Camp Schedule- Reagan High School San Antonio

February 2-4

We will need help in the following areas:

Registration - 6 PM Friday (Arrive 5 PM for training)

Souvie Sales- Same as Registration, plus throughout weekend

Food truck- 7:30 PM for Friday night snack, Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner/Snack

Saturday and Breakfast/Lunch- Sunday

Airport/bus station runs- As needed

Please drop Fred a line at vprace@msn.com or myself at xmenvolunteers@aol.com with your availability or with any question you may have as well.

Thank you in advance for another great weekend,

Rick Reedy

Crossmen Volunteer Coordinator

mailto: xmenvolunteers@aol.com

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Crossmen will add to show music repertoire

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

By: Caryn Goebel

Baritones, mellophone players still sought

It will be a terrific start to the month this weekend in San Antonio, Texas, as the Crossmen add another two minutes of music to their 2007 program "Metamorphosis" while, at the same time, staff continue auditioning baritone and mellophone players to fill out the hornline.

The Crossmen will meet Feb. 2-4 at Ronald Reagan High School for its fourth rehearsal camp of the season and one that will likely finalize membership of the corps that will make its historic and memorable debut season this summer from Texas.

Corps' Director Mark Chambers said the brass staff is still seeking skilled and competent players to fill positions in the baritone and mellophone sections. As rehearsals come to a close Sunday afternoon, the corps will be very close to being determined, he added.

The Crossmen brass and percussion sections will also continue learning music for its parade and encore performances. Selections include "Semper Fidelis," and "Russian Christmas Music," Chambers said. Music included in the program has yet to be released by the Crossmen Creative Team. But be assured, this program title personifies the incredible feeling among members as they prepare for their exciting 2007 adventure from the Lone Star State.

Drum major auditions were completed during the January camp and Chambers expects an announcement this weekend on who will stand alongside Crossmen veteran and Drum Major Jarrett Lipman. The duo will lead Bones on a journey these members will never forget as only three camps remain before the Crossmen move in for several weeks of intense Spring Training. Then, it's tour time with their first DCI competition on June 23 in Toledo, Ohio.

Since the corps' first camp in November 2006, the talented brass and percussion players that have come out to audition is generating great excitement among staff and supporters of the corps. Interest in the Crossmen now hailing more than 1,700 miles from their birth home on the East Coast has been astounding, proving that this legendary corps will not only flourish, but come out of the gates in June with much fanfare.

For Chambers, the camps just keep getting better as the Crossmen learn more music and start utilizing the technique and advice offered by a truly gifted staff. This weekend will be no exception. There's plenty to do, he admits. But as the corps gets set in membership, music is taught and mastered, and confidence builds, the results will be more than ever imagined for this splendid drum corps.

The Crossmen meet Feb. 2-4 at Ronald Reagan High School in San Antonio, Texas.