Corps Newsletter

Hello Everyone

I hope you all are enjoying summer – BBQs, family & friends, vacations, the cottage, the beach, etc.

We have had a break from events in July and our batteries are charging up for upcoming gigs starting with Simcoe's Friendship Festival parade.

There are a few things I would like to mention this newsletter. There are times when we plod our way through life and seem uneventful. Then there are times that come at us with a barrage of emotions. Such was the case when we were asked to play at Allan Wickham’s funeral. From our drum line that played at the funeral home to our horn line and colour guard at Oakwood, my sincere thanks. You all performed with perfection and such feeling. You’ll Never Walk Alone was amazing. This corps always comes through when called upon to play with heart. I was very proud to be a part of this organization.

A week later, we celebrated our 10 year reunion with a great stand-up performance, dinner, and dance. It was a fun day thanks to the volunteers and organizers Ed and Joy Pow and Joe and Karen Neault for their hard work that made it a success.

As if that wasn't enough; the next day we were fortunate enough to be invited to Teresa Marinuk-Eller and husband Rick’s beautiful yard again this year to a relaxed practice and family day picnic dinner. The weather was very cooperative and it was truly a pleasant afternoon. Thank you Rick and Teresa.

On to July 1st. Our corps picture coming to a theatre near you soon. Primping, posing, smiling and squinting at the moment the picture is snapped or scratching your nose ["it wasn't a pick, it was a scratch"]. We warm up, have a few laughs and our number in the parade comes up. We immediately go into drum corps performance mode and off we go. Well, the crowds seemed bigger than I can remember and with the day a perfect picture of sun and puffy clouds accompanied by a welcome breeze off the lake.

Our flamboyant drum major Len Addley or as I like to call him "Mr. Schmoooozze" gets the crowd stirred up [and us in the bargain]. Sometimes in a parade the crowd is passive and subdued, which doesn’t bring out the best in the performers. NOT THIS DAY!!! They were with us and we gave it back. It was a great parade. They should all be like that. Oh and weren't the colour guard spiffy, showing us a new move on the corners.

It was a roller-coaster 12 days of emotional highs and lows. It goes down in my memory banks as great times to remember.

Over the past ten years United Alumni Senior Drum and Bugle Corps has gone from base ball caps and T shirts to professional uniforms and Stetsons. We have gone from only marching local parades to traveling over night to Montreal and places within United States. During our recent anniversary/reunion someone came up to me and asked “You have come a long way since 1998, how long can you keep it going?” I thought what kind of question is that.

While driving to our last rehearsal in July, Joy and I looked at each other and said “so I wonder how many people will show up for rehearsal tonight?” As some of you may know, our midsummer rehearsals have not always been the best attended. The weather was threatening rain and the humidity was at its highest. But for those who attended that rehearsal know, we had one of the largest baritone turn outs we have had for as long as I can remember, and we still had members missing. The turnout was great with well over 20 horns, as for the drums; well they always have good numbers. It was great to see so many people out. I can hardly wait to hear that new song as we are marching down the street.

Over the past ten years there have been 3 previous Corps Directors for United Alumni, Jim Chapman, Tom Logan and Barry Smout. I am sure during their stint as CD there was times when they wondered if it was really worth it. During my past three years as Corps Director there have been some good times and some not so good time. But one thing is for sure, I have never been so proud as to say “I’m Corps Director” than this year. Our trip to Montreal was certainly one of the best and we proved that by bringing home “Best Marching Unit”. And the Bands Played on IV, well I don’t think I have to say too much about that, it was simply great. As with any organization it takes more than one person to keep the ship running and we are no exception, everyone works hard. But one thing is for sure; our ship is full speed ahead.

We have come a long way since 1998, how long can we keep it going? I am here for good time, if the long time comes with it – all the better!

The fourth annual “And The Bands Played On” concert took place on May 10^th with a bigger and better line-up of entertainment that was presented to a much larger crowd of attendees. The show took on a new twist this year with the addition of a Junior Corps and a pipe band. By all accounts, the show was a great success and the finale with a unique and very moving version of Amazing Grace performed by the combined brass line of United Alumni and the bag-pipes of the Paris/Port Dover Pipe Band under the direction of United Alumni’s Drum Major Len Addley, brought tears to many in the audience as well as to those who were performing in the finale.

Thanks to all the musicians, their families and friends for participating in this outstanding event which is, we believe, the only indoor show in Canada that features such great showmanship.

And special thanks to the Simcoe Lions Club for organizing the venue, selling tickets, and providing the food and beverage throughout the day and after the evening performance. The post-show party is always a great way of meeting old friends and finding new ones!

Our corps is becoming more and more filled with families and it’s great to see. Welcome to the following new marching members:

We’ve had a great year in attracting new members, due in large part to the sound of a great drum corps! Thanks to all our members for making this happen and don’t forget to invite your friends or family to come out and join us!

Here's a listing of where we've been invited in the coming months, as of the writing of this newsletter. If there are changes, we will distribute revised schedules at rehearsals and also put them on our website.

Please give Ed the consideration he deserves by letting him know if you can or cannot attend a function so that he knows what the turnout will be. It is very frustrating to show up with just a few members and makes it difficult for the corps to continue to perform at our best.

Ladies and Gentlemen presenting the Best Marching Unit in the 2008 Montreal

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

That’s right – Simcoe United Alumni Senior Drum and Bugle Corps placed First out of 60 marching units at the 2008 St. Patrick’s Day parade in Montreal.

And What Did They Do to Prepare for Such an Event?

Not ALL that happened in Montreal stays in Montreal!!!

10^th Anniversary Reunion Dinner and Dance

When Ed suggested that Karen and I look after putting something together for the “10^th Anniversary” I knew it would be a lot of work as any event like this is. We first thought, “Where do we start?” “How do we find all the past members?” Then I started fishing….. I dug out old Simcoe Golden Lions Drum Corps lists and old Brassmen Drum Corps lists and grabbed my laptop and started searching – then I decided to check out facebook (I even set up an event site where people could join) and see who I could find on there, what an amazing tool. I reconnected with members that I taught from Golden Lions days and it is funny how you have this image in your head of this “10” year old and now they are married, have kids – but hey, I did not get any older right!! Anyways, it was a lot of fun and I have to admit a lot of work – Karen and I decided on an open house, a dinner and a dance with an evening buffet. The dinner was put on by the ANAF ladies and was delicious (especially those homemade pies). We believe that everyone that attended had a lot of fun, friends were reunited, the corps sounded wonderful (even got a few past members thinking about coming out again) and the sound of laughter filled the building throughout the day with old stories of days gone by. Thank you to everyone that came out to enjoy the day, thank you to everyone that helped with set up, take down, the afternoon snack, the evening buffet, and to those who brought in old pictures, uniforms and memorabilia. Thank you to Carl for sharing the Scout Band uniform with us! These past ten years have been wonderful……. Marching onward to another ten!!

Joy Pow

United Alumni T Shirts for Sale

Black United Alumni T-Shirts are available for family or friends.

S – L – XL and 2XL - $15.00 each.

Please contact Ed Pow (ejpow@rogers.com) to order

IN MEMORY

Alan Scott Wickham

1963 – 2008

Sadly missed by your family, your drum corps families and your many friends

You’ll never walk alone

Walk hand in hand with me

A Tribute to Alan Wickham

Please feel free to share this newsletter with anyone who is interested in the drum corps movement