Amazing! - Staff

T h e O f f i c i a l T r oo p e r s D r u m & B u g l e Co r p s N e w s l e tt e r
Volume 9, Number 3 • Winter 2008
Amazing!
That’s the first word that comes
to mind when thinking about
the 2008 Troopers.
We had our highest competitive
placement in 13 years, finishing 16th
at the Drum Corps International
World Championships in Bloomington, IN. It was an outstanding accomplishment and validation for all
the hard work of the members, staff,
and volunteers. Of course, fielding a
world class drum and bugle corps
is not easy. There are hundreds of
people that work tirelessly to make
the Trooper dream a reality. To those
wonderful people who made the
2008 season a success, THANK YOU!
Without your hard work and dedication this year could not have been
possible.
While it is still fun to bask in the successes of the 50th anniversary Troopers it is time to look ahead. Plans are
well underway for the 2009 season.
We have an outstanding Board of
Directors, administration, and instructional staff, who are committed
to the Troopers and to this organizations long term success.
We now have a golden opportunity to build on the success of the
last couple years. It is time for us to
broaden our vision for the future, to
challenge ourselves to reach greater
heights. We need to solidify our place
in the drum corps activity and find
more opportunities to serve young
people.
We are now in the middle of revamping our original three-year business
plan. In many ways we have far
exceeded some of the goals of the
original plan, but we still have much
to do. There are seats on our Board of
Directors that need to be filled, there
are administration jobs to develop,
and there is fundraising that needs to
be maximized.
Although the Troopers are financially
solvent, the challenges of putting
the corps on the field every year will
not get easier. We will have to fight
harder year after year to find the
funding to operate this world class
drum corps. Rest assured the leadership of the Troopers is focused on
these challenges and on building a
bright future. However, we cannot
do it alone. It will take the dedication
of the entire Trooper family to ensure
success. There will be many opportunities in the near future to help.
Please keep an eye on your email and
on the website (www.troopersdrumcorps.org) for information on upcoming events. Working together, we will
achieve extraordinary results!
On behalf of the whole Troopers
organization, we would like to thank
you for your continued support and
commitment to the Troopers.
Mike Ottoes, Executive Director
Fred Morris, Corps Director
2
Troopers drum & bugle corps
Resurgent!
This has been an exciting year for the
Troopers; one of the most exciting
in years! If I were to use one word to
describe the status of the corps, it
would be “resurgent”!
Williams, this year saw an emotional
gathering of over 70 alumni in Cheyenne featuring marching members
from every decade of the Corps’ storied history.
The “Thank-you Cheyenne” show
played to another packed crowd
at Okie Blanchard Stadium and the
alumni joined the corps for rousing renditions of the “Ghost Riders”
closer and “Battle Hymn”. When the
alumni joined
the corps for the
On behalf of the organization, I invite
traditional singing of the corps
you all to play a part and get involved in
song, the circle
this exciting resurgence! Your support
was so big it
and involvement will be critical as we
almost didn’t fit
on the field! The
look to build on our success and keep
alumni committhe Troopers strong as they carry the
tee is dedicated
to building on
Trooper legacy into the next 50 years!
this momentum
and we look
drum corps community. What could forward to seeing a renaissance of
have been more fitting during the participation and involvement.
50th anniversary season!
Also resurgent this year was the
The corps placed 16th this year, their
highest placement since 1995. Our
thrilling, dynamic and crowd pleasing show, “The Iron Horse Express”,
earned the respect and admiration
of the judges, the fans and the entire
organization’s efforts in fundraising
and grant-writing. Thanks to the
generosity of two board members,
we were able to hire a consultant to
help us frame our “case” to the grantmaking community. The upshot was
a $7,000 grant award from the Wyoming Arts Council. More important,
we have identified government and
foundation grant-makers that are
a good match for our organization
and mission and have built a platTroop Whoop events were held form to build on.
around the country and, thanks to The second annual “Night with the
the energy and enthusiasm of key Stars” June fundraiser was a hit again
alums like committee president Joel this year and we are grateful for the
We saw a resurgence of Troopers
spirit in the stands this year, exemplified by the twirling yellow scarves
that brightened up the stadium
when the Troopers took the field
during finals week and all throughout the season. This was due to the
efforts of our dedicated corps parents who created the scarves, and
to the resurgence of the alumni as
an organized force in support of our
beloved corps.
generosity of the people of Casper
and the state in supporting our
unique Wyoming cultural institution.
Unfortunately, the price of food and
fuel were resurgent, too. These are
two of the most significant expense
items in this activity. We will end up
with a budget deficit as we come
to the end of our fiscal year. Even
though we will not incur any debt,
it’s clear the larger economic situation continues to deteriorate, and we
are doing everything in our power to
mitigate the impact of the economic
downturn. This is a serious matter not
only for the Troopers, but for the entire drum corps activity and it is one
that we are focusing on intently.
Obviously, fundraising in all its forms
is the key to our short-term and longterm success. Consequently, we have
identified hiring a part time development director as a major priority and
hope to be able to announce a hire in
the upcoming months.
Other priorities for the board at this
time are board member recruitment
and addressing the need to articulate, codify and protect the Troopers’
unique identity and values within the
organization’s by-laws.
Plans for the 2009 season are already
moving ahead full-steam! Corps
Director Fred Morris is finalizing the
staff and the design team has taken
off on what promises to be another
quintessential Troopers show that
will be sure to bring a unique thrill to
drum corps fans. Member retention
from last year looks very promising
and, in every way, we look to build on
last year’s success!
Sincerely,
Milward Simpson, President
Troopers Board of Directors
The Long Blue Line 3
The Trooper Alumni Association is pleased to offer a special discount on
these beautiful Alumni polo shirts. Few can resist the delightfully soft
hand and lightweight honeycomb knit texture of our 100% Pima cotton
sport shirts. Crafted with 100% Supima® cotton-one of the highest grades
of cotton in the world. The 50th Annivery Troopers logo is embroidered.
Visit the online store during the months of November and
December and receive a 25% discount on either polo when
you enter the following promotional code: LBLOH11
11th Chats
It was the summer of 2008. Alumni and parents were itching to know what was going
on out there on the field with the Troopers.
The time seemed endless…and then something miraculous happened—the Trooper
Chat Room came to life! Suddenly the time
flew by and we found ourselves making new
connections, reinvigorating old friendships
and coming together for a singular passion—The Troopers.
As the 2008 season came to an end, those of
us who were chat room participants found
ourselves already worrying about losing
the connection to each other and to the
corps. We found ourselves concerned that
the momentum of 2008 would be forgotten
and lost to the passing of time and the dayto-day grind of work and school. From that
concern was born “11th Chats.”
Join the Trooper Alumni Association today!
Get special emails about upcoming events, a discount on Trooper merchandise and be
proud knowing you are a part of the most active alumni association in all of Drum Corps!
Save the time and hassle of renewing each year by becoming a lifetime member of the
Troopers Alumni Association.
Annual Single Membership
Annual Family Membership
Lifetime Membership
Associate Membership is available for those, like staff and volunteers,
who were part of our corps, but didn’t march.
Associate Annual Membership
Associate Lifetime Membership
Purchase your membership today online at
http://www.troopersdrumcorps.org/store
Click on the alumni association tab on the left.
Or, you can mail your payment to:
Trooper Alumni Association Membership
PO Box 375 • Casper, WY 82602
4
Troopers drum & bugle corps
11th Chats is a monthly online chat devoted
to all things Trooper. On the 11th of each
month, moderators will open the Trooper
Chat Room for a gathering of members,
prospective members, families, alumni and
friends. Each chat will focus on a specific
topic or a constituency of our Trooper family.
11th chats are open to everyone no matter
the topic.
Topics will include:
• Reconnections: focusing on returning
marching members
• New Connections: focusing on new
and returning marching members and
alumni
• Q&A Sessions with Fred and Co.: a
chance to ask anything and everything
• Online Troop Whoops: a virtual tailgater!
• And more!
Times and links for each 11th Chat will be
announced on the Trooper Message Boards
and via email.
Speaking of the message boards, if you
haven’t visited recently, drop by! It’s fun and
friendly, and it only takes a moment to register. Go to:
www.troopersdrumcorps.org
and follow the link to “Forums and Gallery.”
Mark the 11th of each month on your calendars now, and join our growing online community! See you there!
Terri Everett
Pit 1985-86, 1988, Pit arranger/instructor 1992,
Fan forever!
America’s Core Is A Winner
By Michael Boo
Michael Gough has captured a moment
in time when the seemingly impossible
became possible and all drum corps fans
could rejoice that the Troopers Drum and
Bugle Corps came back from the dead.
In “America’s Core,” he chronicled how the
Troopers fought back after the inactivity
of the 2006 season, refusing to give up on
the ideal that Jim Jones had in 1957 when
he founded the corps. For the 2007 season, 50 years after Mr. Jones introduced
the corps to the citizens of Wyoming, a
dedicated group of optimists introduced
the new Troopers to the world of drum
corps fans.
someone who was put on this earth to be
where he is today.
You’ll see in the film how a scant 22 kids
showed up for the first camp for the
2007 season. Rather than regret the small
numbers, the staff and management
took it as a challenge to work tirelessly
and recruit. The kids they found to fill
the corps seemed to understand how
important it was that they be in Troopers
to help “celebrate the return of a legend,”
(a line heard at the pre-season gala that
attracted some of the biggest names and
most important people in Wyoming).
But the new Troopers was very much a
continuation of all the Troopers corps that
had hit the field since 1957, as exemplified by the love and dedication of director Fred Morris, who never marched the
corps but sure seems like he grew up in
the organization.
More than anything, “America’s Core”
drives home the point that the Troop
is more than just a corps…they are an
epitome of good old-fashioned American
values. The corps is a barometer of the
health of the drum corps community and
the American society as well. If the Troopers are doing well, so is everyone else.
I had the pleasure of knowing Jim Jones,
and in “America’s Core,” Fred’s soul…his
very demeanor, strikes me very much as
if the soul of Mr. Jones had been reincarnated in the latter day Trooper disciple.
Watch the film and you’ll be filled with a
sense of awe and gratitude that here is
The dedication and devotion of the
members as they made it through the
season, often having no idea what to
expect, is something that is in true evidence throughout. Each day presented
new challenges for the staff as they took
a large number of drum corps rookies
and taught them the pride of being
members of the corps. Things as simple
as forcing the members to stay hydrated
took on increased urgency as the season
progressed.
There was an indescribable amount of
work that went into putting the corps
back on the field, but there was also some
pressure-releasing activities that reminded the members of their carefree youth,
especially the hysterical episode with a
large number of water balloons.
In “America’s Core,” drum corps is more
than the competing. Drum corps is a
vital contributing force to the American
culture we have come to know. It is a dynamic force that lifts us up from our seats
and fills us with a joy we can’t explain to
those “civilians” on the “outside.”
It takes—in the recorded words of Mr.
Jones—”a lot of time and a lot of love.”
Michael Boo is the Staff Writer for
DCI and writes extensively for other
pageantry organizations, including BOA (Bands of America) and
WGI (Winter Guard International).
His contributions to these activities
have earned him the nickname,
“The Pen of Pageantry.” Visit Mike
at: www.michaelboo.com
America’s Core: The DVD
For 50 years the young men and women of the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps traveled the
nation, entertaining Presidents, celebrities and audiences that range into the millions. They have
won eleven National Championships and are a founding member of Drum Corps International.
In 2006 severe financial problems paralyzed the organization, forcing them to dissipate, possibly
forever…or so we thought. After one full year of restructuring and immense support throughout
the country, the Troopers returned to the competitive field in 2007 with it’s most successful
season in over twenty years. This is the story of what Honor, Loyalty and Dedication truly mean.
Add this truly remarkable DVD to your collection today!
This is quite possibly the best drum corps movie ever produced.
Limited Time Holiday Special!
Only $18
(regular price: $25)
Purchase at: www.troopersdrumcorps.org/store
Highlights From 08
Writing this summary of the 2008 season
has been a difficult task. As anyone who
has been involved in any drum corps season knows, there are so many events that
happen that to write about each of them
would be to compose a thick book. So, in
an effort to be concise, I will write about a
few highlights that I personally feel made
this past season a great success.
the highest quality. These leaders are helping make this corps what it is becoming
and much is owed to them for the Troopers’
success.
The second highlight is the remarkable
growth that the corps experienced this
year. I remember the “all-days” in frigid
Douglas, Wyoming when the battery was
only half size. Slowly
through the all-day
rehearsals we had the
percussion rebuilt and
they developed very
quickly. We also were
shor t a number of
guard members. It was
very tough to recruit
members but those
that we had made it
work, and through the
season we were joined
by a number of new guard members. The
horn line also was in perpetual recruitment mode, even though they were the
largest line in Trooper history. Throughout
the summer, each of the members worked
extremely hard and strove to excel in everything they did. From the first to the last day
of the season this corps showed its dedica-
A single act of generosity like this is
something that I hope happens in
every other corps in DCI, but it’s a
great encouragement to know that
it is happening in our corps.
The first highlight that stands out is the
number of members that returned to the
Troopers from 2007 and previous years.
Our veteran members have been keys to
our success. They set a high standard at the
beginning of the season and continued
to push and persevere through the entire
summer, leading the way to make our show
6
Troopers drum & bugle corps
tion and perseverance. It took a great deal
of maturity to overcome the challenges
they faced. That’s why, looking ahead, I see
great potential for the future.
The last highlight that I’d like to share is very
personal—an event that explains why this
organization is so special. One night on the
bus we started talking about corps jackets.
A second-year low brass member named
Alex Hubbell was talking about people who
order jackets before the summer, but then
for various reasons go home without finishing the season..
This upset a lot of us. The reason was very
simple: Alex had personally had a difficult
time getting tuition money the last two
years. He is a music education major at
Michigan State and works diligently to
pay his bills with limited income. He had
worked very hard to pay his dues to make
the marching with the Troopers a reality,
but was unable to afford a corps jacket.
Hearing this story, a group of us got together and decided resolve this problem. The
plan was to ask the horn line if they could
each spare one dollar towards the “Alex
Needs a Corps Jacket Fund.” It was easy
math: One dollar multiplied by 66 members, and we’d have enough to purchase a
jacket for Alex. The first bus to hear the announcement was the horn bus. By the time
we got the hat to the back of the bus we
had over $80 and didn’t need anyone else
in the corps to donate.
This selflessness has shown me that the
Troopers are heading in the right direction.
A single act of generosity like this is something that I hope happens in every other
corps in DCI, but it’s a great encouragement
to know that it is happening in our corps.
We had an amazing show that started from
a great design. The design team gave us a
phenomenal product which was taught by
an excellent staff. Many times a fan would
approach me after a show and be in tears
about what they had seen and heard.
They’d say things like “You should have
won tonight!” and “Best Troopers show in
years!” Those comments are what made my
season. Sure, we ended up in semi-finals for
the first time in 13 years, and had our highest score since 1986. But it doesn’t matter,
because I know that we entertained audiences around the country with a quality
production.
Here’s to remembering a great season and
wishing the best for the upcoming 2009
season at the Troopers!
Honor, Loyalty, and Dedication.
Kyle M Trader
Soprano, 2004 & 2005, Horn Sergeant and
Trumpet, 2007, Drum Major, 2008
Teamwork
On October 4th, the first annual University of Wyoming/Troopers Invitational
High School Field Show, Contest and Clinic was held at War Memorial Stadium
in Laramie, Wyoming.
There were seven high schools from around the region competing for first,
second, and third place in class AAA and AAAA, as well as caption awards and
a grand champion award. The competing schools included: Hershey (NE) High
School, Douglas High School, Lander Valley High School, Riverton High School,
Cheyenne East High School, Cheyenne Central High School, and Kelly Walsh
High School. The University of Wyoming Western Thunder Marching Band performed an exciting exhibition before the awards ceremony.
The event, a joint production of The University of Wyoming Bands and the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps, was a remarkable moment in the history of marching
pageantry in Wyoming. It was the first marching band competition held in the
state since the Wyoming High School Activities Association converted their state
marching championship to a festival format over 15 years ago. It was also the first
competition hosted by the University of Wyoming since 1986.
The competition was created and led by Chris Nicholas, who is the director the
Western Thunder Marching Band and also a member of the Troopers Board of Directors. “I know that I speak for the entire Department of Music and the Troopers
Drum and Bugle Corps in expressing our excitement to have hosted some of the
very best bands from throughout Wyoming and Nebraska,” Nicholas said. “The
bands that performed are truly among the best in the region. This was a great
accomplishment for each of the schools.”
“One of most exciting things about the event,” said Mike Ottoes, Troopers’ Executive Director, “was the true partnership between The Troopers, the University
of Wyoming, and regional music educators.” One of the key goals of the 2005
Troopers business plan is to increase the participation of the corps in the Wyoming area arts education communities, Ottoes noted. “We really look forward to
working with the University and our regional arts programs again. This has been
a very important milestone in the development of the Troopers.”
The Class AAA competition saw third place going to Hershey (NE) High School,
while Douglas High School captured 2nd Place and Lander Valley High School
took the championship. In AAAA, Kelly Walsh High School placed 3rd, Cheyenne
Central High School took 2nd, and Cheyenne East High School was 1st. Cheyenne East High School also was named the Grand Champions.
Editor’s Note: This year’s UW Western Thunder Marching Band is one of the largest
in the history of the University. With a membership of 180 members including
the band, color guard, drum majors, and student staff, it is the largest and most
dynamic student organization on campus. The Western Thunder Marching Band
(WTMB) has earned the title “the Best Band in the Land” for its innovative programming, high-energy precision marching, and exciting pre-game and halftime
performances for as many as 125,000 Cowboy football fans each year.
The Long Blue Line 7
A Weekend To Remember
By Joel Williams
I want to share with you my recollection of
the Troopers Alumni Association’s 50th Anniversary celebration weekend in Cheyenne
and Denver. It was nothing short of incredible.
I arrived in Cheyenne with Susan (Hohstadt)
Russell (1987-89) on Thursday evening. We
met up with Rick Rice (1966-1970), John McCoy (1980-81) and Galen Flint (1992) and had
a great time quenching our thirst, enjoying
some food ($.39 chicken wing nite!) and telling tales of “back in the day.”
Friday was a blaze of fun and glory. The
weather was perfect as over 70 Trooper
Alumni met at the home of Amy and Milward
Simpson. BBQ was served, old friends were
seen, and new friends met.
At 3 p.m. it was time for the alumni to get
down to business and begin rehearsal. The
color guard went to learn their work as the
horns and drums went into sectionals. The
horns rehearsed with Jamie, one of the very
capable staff members. Fortunately for us,
Jamie was very understanding and patient.
We “arced it up” for some ensemble rehearsal
and ran through the Ghost Riders closer several times to the delight of…well…ourselves!
I enjoyed watching the alumni and staff that
were standing on the hill by “skylar” (even
though it’s not called skylar anymore) as they
were clearly enjoying themselves.
The rehearsal ended and the alumni were
treated to a few minutes of the Corps’ rehearsal and a complete run-through of the
2008 show, The Iron Horse Express.
8
The performance was followed by the ageout
ceremony. Each of the 14 ageouts wrote a
short paragraph about what it means to be a
Trooper, what their future plans are, and what
one of their favorite memories from the year
was.
After this, the Alumni joined the Corps on
the field for the performance. In classic fashion, the alumni color guard marched out,
executing sharp maneuvers and slams as
they reached their positions on the field. The
Alumni horns and drums joined the ranks of
the “A Corps” for a peformance that will go
down as one for the ages.
The Alumni were dressed in blue jeans and
long sleeve navy mock tees which, earlier in
the day didn’t seem like such a good idea with
the summer sun beating down. However, by
show time, it was clear that it was a stroke of
genius as the night temperatures became
unseasonably cool.
The haunting strains of chorale battle hymn
lifted up to fans seated behind drum major Kyle Trader and rose with power as the
beautiful ballad came to a close. I got goose
bumps playing it! Then we played the ending
to Ghost Riders with the members. All in all,
it was a great memory and a whole lotta fun!
The evening concluded with Alumni and
members making a circle that encompassed
nearly the entire field and singing the Corps
song—“right over left.” What a great feeling it
was to perform with the Troopers again.
The “ Thank You Wyoming” show started
shortly after 7 p.m. with the singing of our
national anthem by a near capacity crowd at
Okie Blanchard Stadium at Cheyene East High
School. Thank you to Scott Miller (1984 -1985)
for doing a wonderful job of being our Master
of Ceremonies.
Saturday dawned much too early for many of
us who had reminisced late into the evening
with each other and with the corps staff at
Old Chicago’s in Cheyenne. I noted a 50’s–60s
table and 70’s–80’s table and then a big mix of
staff and other alumni. It was so fun to meet
many new people, share stories, and sing
whatever was playing on the speakers.
Former Drum Major, Mark Crimm, then introduced the various sections of the Corps. The
guard went first showing flashes of brilliance
and radiant smiles to the audience—in a very
strong wind. The front ensemble performed
a segment featuring all sorts of train sound
effects, followed by the drum line which
played the drum feature in the opener. Then
the horns played through “Krypton” the main
theme from Superman. The evening continued with a run-through of the show in its
entirety. The crowd loved it.
On Saturday morning, we arrived at the movie
theater and had a delicious breakfast from
Chick-Fil-A who graciously donated chicken
biscuits and juice. We were then treated to
the movie, America’s Core by former Trooper
Drum Major Mike Gough (2002-2004). The
film is a work of art. It captures the history of
the Troopers and the raw emotion of 2006,
when the Corps took a year off, through by all
the steps of the Troopers’ rebirth during the
2007 season. It climaxes in the Corps’ great
performance in Pasadena, California.
Troopers drum & bugle corps
A quick trip south to Denver in the early
afternoon brought us to Invesco Field, the
beautiful home of the Denver Broncos and
the annual Drums Along the Rockies Show.
This year’s 50th Anniversary Troop Whoop
DATR tailgate was a roaring success. Through
the course of the afternoon I estimate that we
saw around 200 people and heard from Board
President Milward Simpson and Executive
Director Mike Ottoes.
As we made our way to our seats a few of us
had a chance to visit with Blue Knights Executive Director, Mark Arnold—a man with roots
in the Trooper organization. It never ceases to
amaze me to see the affect the the Trooper
organization has had on drum corps. We see
it in the folks that have moved on from the
Trooper organization and in the ways drum
corps perform today. We all are a part of this
great drum corps heritage!
We were wowed by the Troopers performance at Denver as we stood and cheered
and waved our yellow Trooper towels. The
show, called The Iron Horse Express, left the
station with a roar and built up steam as it
headed down the tracks to an amazing closer!
What a fantastic finish to an already great
weekend. As we waved good bye to the Corps
as they drove out of the parking lot, headed
for Lincoln, Nebraska, I realized I was as proud
of the 2008 edition of America’s Corps as I was
of any of the years that I marched.
I want to thank everyone involved, especially
Linda (Molker) Feezer, Lauren Ryals, Julie Eslinger, Milward and Amy Simpson, Cyndi
(Brubaker) Henderson, Susan Russell and
Laurel (Jones) Lunstrum for their immediate
help. Special thanks to Thoro Constantinides,
Shannon Brown, Mike Ottoes, Fred Morris,
and the Troopers’ staff who took time out of
their valuable rehearsal time to indulge some
old gnarled Troopers from the past.
As a final thought. I can’t tell you how much
of a good time it really was. The Troopers are
a family. I felt right at home with the charter
members and the great current Troopers
(What a fantastic bunch of young people!).
Until we see you next, rest assured that our
drum corps is heading down the right track,
with the right people driving the train. Our
motto of Honor, Loyalty and Dedication is
being upheld even as it was, “back in the day.”
We’re Proud. We’re Proud. We’re Proud!
Decades
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
The Long Blue Line 9
True fanaticism shows up when you take your favorite logo
and carve it into pumpkins, tattoo it on your body, or make
a meatloaf in the shape of it. This five pound beauty is nothing less than a work of art. After you craft one of these loafs
it will be bitter-sweet when you have to eat it. Just be sure
to have an ice-cold beverage to wash it down and more
importantly, some antacid so you can sleep that night.
11th Ohio Meatloaf
Warning! Eat Responsibly. This is man-food and very
delicious. Any attempt to eat by a child or adolescent without
adult supervision may result in serious abdominal pains which
may last for days.
5 lbs Hamburger
2 Eggs
2 cups bread crumbs 10 cloves garlic (chopped)
1 whole sweet onion (chopped)
Pepper to taste
Onion powder
Seasoning to taste
Lowery’s Season Salt
Mix ingredients well. Form and shape with care.
Bake at 365° until internal temperature of 160° is reached.
Optional: Baste with favorite gourmet bbq sauce or fancy
ketchup toward end of cooking time.
Reflections on Finals Week
I had the priviledge of attending DCI Finals in
Bloomington, Indiana this past August with
my wife and other family members, including
my brother-in-law, Joel Williams. It was a great
opportunity to get “up close and personal”
with the Troopers in their historic 50th year of
existence.
After arriving on Wednesday evening, Joel
and I met up with fellow Alumni Committee member Jon Beerman (who lives in Indianapolis) and with whom he and I had both
marched in the mid-‘80s. We met up with
Jon at the Corps’ school housing. I’m amazed
how the passage of time—25 years, in our
instance—does not dull the warmth and
special connection that the drum corps experience forges between people. There were no
handshakes with Jon or other Trooper friends
we ran into during this week—only hugs.
A specific moment I remember was hearing
the first musical impact of the show’s opener
during horn line warm up. All I could say was,
“Wow!” The quality and volume of sound was
literally breath-taking, and gave all of us listening the unique “Trooper Goosebumps.” My
benchmark of a quality Trooper sound has always been their 1983 semi-finals show; at that
moment, that benchmark gave way to 2008.
Thursday’s Quarter-finals show finally provided us an opportunity to see The Iron Horse
Express show, which was by all definitions one
10
Troopers drum & bugle corps
of the strongest shows the corps had fielded
in well over a decade. After watching the
show it was clear the Troopers’ mystique and
crowd appeal are as strong as ever! We are still
very much “America’s Corps!”
We left Quarterfinals early to attend a Troopers Alumni and Supporters reunion organized
by Jon months earlier at the nearby Colorado
Steakhouse. At least 50 people showed up to
reminisce, catch up on each others’ lives, and
discuss the excitement and pride of the Corps’
“re-birth” under the leadership of Fred Morris
and Mike Ottoes. We also talked of the corps’
accomplishment of reaching Semi-Finals for
the first time in 13 years.
Of special and significant meaning to me that
evening was the opportunity to spend time
talking with and getting to know legendary
Trooper Drum Major, Jim McIntyre. Not only
does Jim have an amazing memory and gift
for story-telling of the “old” Trooper days with
Mr. Jones, he is also a driven and fierce supporter of the corps today.
One of the great experiences of the week was
running into so many people on the streets
and in the restaurants wearing drum corps
attire! Here where I live in Boise, Idaho, spotting a drum corps shirt on the streets is like
spotting Bigfoot! During Finals week, about
every other person was wearing corps attire.
It was especially meaningful on the sidewalks
to walk by a total stranger wearing a Troopers
ball cap or shirt, and hear them confidently
say “Go Troopers.”
I thoroughly enjoyed talking to various fans
of the activity. While talking with them it was
exciting to hear them share their good wishes
for the Troopers.
True drum corps fans love not only their
corps, but the activity as a whole, and want
every corps to reach their targeted pinnacle
of success. When that happens, of course, the
biggest winners are the fans!
Of course, the Semi-Finals show on Friday was
an incredible opportunity for the Troopers to
shine, and they did just that. The crowd loved
the show and our pride in those kids was immense. We all felt pride as we walked around
the stadium wearing our “Trooper Alumni”
t-shirts.
What became evident to me during my time
hanging out with the corps that week was
that the kids who are marching in today’s
Troopers are fiercely proud of and loyal to
their corps and its heritage. Every one of
them knows the corps song, understands the
Trooper heritage they possess and how this
corps transformed the activity through the vision of Mr. Jim Jones. I have never been more
proud to be a Trooper Alumni.
Jeff Cates
Troopers, 1984-85
Are you Interested in Marching?
Alumni Nominations
Would you like to receive more information about becoming a
member of the Troopers? Go to:
The Alumni Association is currently holding the floor
open for nominations for the 2009–2010 seats on the
Trooper Alumni Association Committee (TAAC).
www.members.troopersdrumcorps.org/interest.htm
There are three seats up for election. The seats are
currently held by Julie Eslinger, Linda Feezer, and Joel
Williams.
Simply fill out the online form and a member the Troopers
administration team will be in contact with you once our recruiting efforts begin to discuss your membership interest in
America’s Corps.
Nominations will be open until Midnight December
7, 2008 and TAAC elections will be held December
9–21, 2008.
Any current member of the Alumni Association may
nominate other Alumni Association members for the
two–year seats. There is no limit to the number of
nominees.
2009 Audition & Winter Camp Schedule
If you membership has lapsed you can go to the online store and the alumni section and make it current.
Date
Location
Notes
November 28-30, 2008
Laramie WY
Audition Camp
December 13, 2008
Boise, ID
Belton, TX
Knoxville, TN
Brass Audition / Clinics
December 13, 2008
Belton, TX
Guard Audition
Please email your nominees to Joel Williams, TAAC
President at:
January 2-4, 2009
Cheyenne, WY
Winter Camp
[email protected]
February 6-8, 2009
Cheyenne, WY
Winter Camp
March 6-8, 2009
Cheyenne, WY
Winter Camp
April 2009
Cheyenne, WY
Spring Training
May 2009
Cheyenne, WY
www.troopersdrumcorps.org/store
Dues are $25 annually or
$250 for a lifetime membership.
The TAA sponsors social activities for alumni and
provides limited scholarships for marching members.
Would you like to host an event in your area? Are you
interested in getting involved with the Alumni Committee? Do you have a great idea you would like to
help promote or feed back to give? Email alumni@
troopersdrumcorps.org for more information.
For more information please go to:
www.members.troopersdrumcorps.org/schedule.htm
Phone:
Email:
Mail:
(307) 472-2141
info@troopersdrum
corps.org
P.O. Box 375
Casper, WY 82602
We are on the hunt for photos that
display every aspect of drum corps life.
Whether you have photos of the show
or candids (or even food creations), we
are looking for your help.
If you have photos you would like to
share, you can either mail the original high
resolution files on a CD to:
Shannon Brown
4424 Tullocks Wood Tr. • Rockford, IL 61101
or you can email the files to:
[email protected]
Who knows, maybe your photos
will be part of the next issue of
The Long Blue Line.
With the Holiday Season rapidly approaching,
why not purchase a truly unique gift for
your family, friends and colleagues?
We’re thrilled to introduce our custom Wyoming gift baskets.
You can choose many luxury and gourmet items to put in your
basket, ranging from sauces to sage candles.
Here are just a few of the unique Wyoming products you can
include:
• Johnny Midnight steak sauces; home-made jams and jellies
• Wyoming Buffalo Co. buffalo summer sausage and jerky
sticks
• Chugwater Chili mix and red pepper jelly
• Soaps, lotions and candles, including sage candles.
You choose the items you want in your basket and
we will ship it to you in time for the holidays!
Check the Trooper web site or call the Trooper office at
(307) 472-2141 for ordering information.
Go online to find more great Christmas gifts and remember that every purchase helps support the Troopers!
www.troopersdrumcorps.org/store
P.O. Box 50563 • Casper, WY 82605
NON-PROFIT ORG.
US POSTAGE
PAID
CASPER, WY
PERMIT NO. 165