Capital Regiment to Troopers?

[StickTrick]

I think there's probably way more Capital Regiment kids going to Bluecoats, Cavaliers, and Cadets than Troopers. Why would you not want to try a top corps in the immediate area than fly all the way out west to a corps that hasn't made finals since like 1986 and was inactive last year?

[prodigal bari]

No... I aged out (quite) a few years ago, but was around Capital quite a bit this summer. Stevens does great work on the field. However, off the field his decisions aren't always well thought out. I was witness to several instances where the instructional staff made very poor choices and set VERY bad examples for the members. I got the feeling that this was their way of letting the administration know they weren't happy. I don't know what anyone else thinks, but vocally bad mouthing the administration to the members is pretty tacky and immature. Especially when many of the problems resulted because you refused to do what the administration asked. Like what, you say? Let's see. How about the infamous heat stroke incident? The parents were upset that the members only got a fruit break that day. Everyone blamed the administration when in fact, the caption heads set the daily schedule - including the fruit break. But don't take it from me. Why don't you ask the Colorguard staff? They were subject to the same administrative decisions as everyone else, yet the only thing I ever heard them ask was why the other sections had so much drama. Sorry, this became a rant, but in the past it's been mostly propaganda from the other side. You'd have to be a fool to believe that it was as cut and dry as some would have you think.

On a more positive note; there are many positive things going on at Capital Regiment now. All sorts of people have come out of the woodwork and are dying to help Capital make their return in 2008. Many great things are happening. I can't wait to see the end result.

First, let me apologize to you...your first statement caught me offkilter.

I suspect there were a lot of problems with the CR situation that led to the folding for this season; and this was symptomatic of the problems...I can tell you that if administration was adamant in their expectations to the staff a situation you describe would not have happened. I do not know this situation firsthand; but there was probably a lot of sides pulling on each other to create the situation the CR is facing right now.

I do hope CR can get its act back together...it can be done. :)

[Caveman28469]

I think there's probably way more Capital Regiment kids going to Bluecoats, Cavaliers, and Cadets than Troopers. Why would you not want to try a top corps in the immediate area than fly all the way out west to a corps that hasn't made finals since like 1986 and was inactive last year?

Because maybe making finals is not eveyone thinks about. Maybe they do the activity to build lifetime freindships and gain some music knowledge. I don't know, I may be wrong. Yes, performing on Saturday night was AMAZING, but I know that I took more away from the entire summer and winter camps than just perfroming in finals. Another thing, how about supporting the Troopers for making the come back that they have. Like stated before, not many corps after they go inactive for a season are able to come back. Just my thoughts.

[dannyboy]

I think there's probably way more Capital Regiment kids going to Bluecoats, Cavaliers, and Cadets than Troopers. Why would you not want to try a top corps in the immediate area than fly all the way out west to a corps that hasn't made finals since like 1986 and was inactive last year?

Because they are The Troopers.

And to add a layer of depth to this, understand that I was a volunteer with Cap Reg all the way back to the 1997/98 winter drum line seasons, and was employed, full-time, by Cap Reg January-May of 2006 as Director of Marketing and Development, until I had to have re-do surgery on my leg in April, and was not going to be allowed by my doctor to tour -- and so resigned.

Troopers are a class act. They are "an original." They are survivors. I think its part of that frontier/wild-west never-give-up ethic that lingers in places like Wyoming. They INVENTED "touring" for drum corps (the closest contests were how far?) DCI might not have been without Jim Jones and the Troopers.

The Troopers ARE drum corps.

What am I looking forward to most this season?

The Troopers, Madison Scouts, Kilties, Southwind, Capitol Sound, Racine Scouts (oldest continuous drum corps) and Pioneer together at Historic Horlick Field in Racine this summer. That day has “The Big Circle" on my calendar. Not a big “competition” by any stretch, but certainly a great “show” if you get the history and tradition. I am told the Troopers/Madison/Kilties lineup at Horlick Field has not happened since the 1960s?

Go Troop!

BTW, for all the issues at Capital Regiment, which I believe Rick grasps, I think there is some of that same "never give up" over there and one way or another, in whatever form, Capital Regiment will be back. Financially, they are in FAR better shape than several current Finalist corps (who flirt with huge debt burdens), and organizationally, I believe Capital Regiment has learned the hard lessons and will make corrections to how a tour would be managed and staffed in the future. As for the comments above about Brian, I think in the Trooper's environment, Mr. Stevens will be just fine. Let's just say that 2006 was a very difficult season between managment and instructional/tour staff, and it is unfortunate that it affected the kids. I want to personally say that I think Gustavo did a stellar job with the guard. One year ago, he and I manned the Cap Reg recruiting booth at Texas MEA and so we got to spend a lot of time talking. Anyone that can get him on their staff would be lucky.

Edited for typos.

Edited February 12, 2007 by dannyboy

[loudandproud]

Great post, thanks for the info. and thanks for all of your time you have volunteerd over the years. Nobody can do it without a great group of quality volunteers.

[Jami]

There is the CR/Cadets connection due to brass personnel who taught with CR in '04, and also the CR/Bluecoats connection because of guard personnel who taught with CR in '02-04. (all awesome at what they do, BTW) :)

[tubamann]

I think there's probably way more Capital Regiment kids going to Bluecoats, Cavaliers, and Cadets than Troopers. Why would you not want to try a top corps in the immediate area than fly all the way out west to a corps that hasn't made finals since like 1986 and was inactive last year?

I know that there are 3 or 4 in Carolina Crown this season, representing all sections.

[BASTimpanist]

i know that a couple people from the pit plan to march with the troopers. the pit techs from capital are following brian as well.

BTW, for all the issues at Capital Regiment, which I believe Rick grasps, I think there is some of that same "never give up" over there and one way or another, in whatever form, Capital Regiment will be back. Financially, they are in FAR better shape than several current Finalist corps (who flirt with huge debt burdens), and organizationally, I believe Capital Regiment has learned the hard lessons and will make corrections to how a tour would be managed and staffed in the future.

let me get this one straight...capital is in better shape than "several finalist corps"? sorry man, but i'm just not buying that one....financially or otherwise

and you can schedule all the lunch breaks you want to, but they don't mean diddly until you can put food on the table. by the way, brian didn't schedule that day. but i'm sure you had that all straightened out a long time ago right? ::wink-face::

i mean c'mon, you guys that only spent a few days volunteering know exactly how bad it was, right? the colorgaurd was asking, "why all the drama" right? the colorgaurd? fo real? the section that saw several people fall over, shake and get carted off to a hospital was asking "why all the drama"? i'm not buying that one either.

Edited February 13, 2007 by BASTimpanist

[jjeffeory]

Hi,

I didn't want to start a negative thread. I was simply curious as to how many CR members were going to Troopers this season. If not there, where? I was thinking of a possible, loose parallel of this situation with the one Star had their first year ( Pride of Cincy members going to Star)... There seemed to be some staff movement between CR and Troop, so I figured some members might go with staff that they know and liked with Troop since they can't march with CR this year. Come on people let's keep things positive. Please! 8-)

Edited February 13, 2007 by jjeffeory

[AzEuph]

I'm sure a lot of brass people who are marching are going to Boston, Wayne Dillion is their new caption head and their mello tech went with.

And just because you are in finals doesn't mean you are finicially stable. Sure it helps but nothing is garuntee.