I recently received a note from Wayne Mounsey, who marched in the corps from 1938-50. He described a group of alums from his era (called their Corps Club) which meets regularly.

I'll show his report below, but I also wonder .. how many OTHER groups of alums do the same thing? How can we encourage more alums to do this?

BTW .. congratulations to Wayne and his group for keeping the corps spirit alive!
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" OUR CORP'S CLUB"


During the fall of 1955, many of Norwood's members began leaving the Corps to pursue a-college education, join the Service or to get married and begin a more normal life that did not begin with a " toot" or a "bang'. You get the idea!!!

Norwood brought so many of us together beginning in 1938, the 1940's and the early years of 1950. It was this time nucleus that have held out friendships together and our bond deeper than most groups or organizations can hope to achieve.

We may never know if the idea of a Corp's Club was the idea of the Ewald family or the Olsen family, but they uniformly take credit for putting this older and wiser group of dedicated followers together to enjoy drink, food and each others company for over 49 years this fall.

Our beginning was very modest, as most of us were broke or at least had limited resources for tripping the light fantastic. It was definitely a BYOB in the beginning with a group of big appetites, but very little food to enjoy. Believe me when I tell you that if you brought a quart of cheap beer to a gathering, you made sure you collected your bottle back so that you could get the five cent deposit back.

Eventually, things improved. Our group improved their standard of living over the years. Homes were purchased; children were born; grandchildren were born and to this day, we all remain friends. The drinks improved, the food definitely improved and our Norwood Family dinners have become quite spectacular. For many years, each family had a turn to prepare the entire festivity. We have tried to meet at least four times each year and the Xmas meeting has turned into a "White Elephant Present Fest.

Nothing in this world is free however. In the beginning of the " Club", each couple contributed $2.00 to the host. After many years of meeting, it was felt that $2.00 did not keep up with inflation nor the cost of fine drink and great food. This situation called for great debate, resolution and secret ballot. It was finally agreed to raise the fee to $3.00. That was some time in the 1980's if memory serves any of us any longer. Today, our group has decided to allow the host to prepare the main entree and call for the rest of the fixin's to be brought to the gathering. That's the way it is and that is the way it shall remain.

We as a group hope this little trip down Norwood's Memory Lane might encourage the Imperials to form a bond for the future as we did. The stories never end. The only thing that changes is that the stories get louder, someone forgets a punch line and no one moves quite as fast as we did when we left the Starting Line.

Those names of our group (noted with the *) indicates their positions in the Corps.

*Ron Ewald & Doris Ewald. Soprano Horn
*Rich & * Patty (Laurell ) Olsen. Soprano
Horn; Twirler & Drum Major
*Wally & * Betty (Laurell) Wilson. Snare
Drum. Twirler
*Ray & Mary Godzicki. Bass Drum
*Bob & *Jeanette (Olsen) Paster. Snare
Drum & Color Guard. Fife & Soprano Horn
*Gerri (Biver) Squire. Fife & Cymbals
*Margaret (Schuessler) Fiedler. Fife &
Cymbals
*Pat(Schuessler) Haase. Fife and Soprano
Horn
* Wayne Mounsey. Snare Drum
* Duke & Mary Lopata, Soprano Horn
* Bill & *Doris ( Wilson ) Cantwell. Snare
Drums


In addition to the above members, we added three non-Norwood families as they totally enjoyed our friendships, activities, corps contests and parades. They especially liked our dinners and the great drink, food and the price. And they really liked us as we enjoy them. Everything to this day.

We have lost q few of our friends along the way and those who have moved away have remained in touch. None are ever forgotten.

Wayne Mounsey
July 4, 2004

There are a number of great postings from corps alumni about the fun they have had at alumni gatherings. Check the "threads" by seaching for "alumni gatherings". :)

Here is a great one from Wayne Mounsey:

" OUR CORP'S CLUB"

During the fall of 1955, many of Norwood's members began leaving the Corps to pursue a-college education, join the Service or to get married and begin a more normal life that did not begin with a " toot" or a "bang'. You get the idea!!!

Norwood brought so many of us together beginning in 1938, the 1940's and the early years of 1950. It was this time nucleus that have held out friendships together and our bond deeper than most groups or organizations can hope to achieve.

We may never know if the idea of a Corp's Club was the idea of the Ewald family or the Olsen family, but they uniformly take credit for putting this older and wiser group of dedicated followers together to enjoy drink, food and each others company for over 49 years this fall.

Our beginning was very modest, as most of us were broke or at least had limited resources for tripping the light fantastic. It was definitely a BYOB in the beginning with a group of big appetites, but very little food to enjoy. Believe me when I tell you that if you brought a quart of cheap beer to a gathering, you made sure you collected your bottle back so that you could get the five cent deposit back.

Eventually, things improved. Our group improved their standard of living over the years. Homes were purchased; children were born; grandchildren were born and to this day, we all remain friends. The drinks improved, the food definitely improved and our Norwood Family dinners have become quite spectacular. For many years, each family had a turn to prepare the entire festivity. We have tried to meet at least four times each year and the Xmas meeting has turned into a "White Elephant Present Fest.

Nothing in this world is free however. In the beginning of the " Club", each couple contributed $2.00 to the host. After many years of meeting, it was felt that $2.00 did not keep up with inflation nor the cost of fine drink and great food. This situation called for great debate, resolution and secret ballot. It was finally agreed to raise the fee to $3.00. That was some time in the 1980's if memory serves any of us any longer. Today, our group has decided to allow the host to prepare the main entree and call for the rest of the fixin's to be brought to the gathering. That's the way it is and that is the way it shall remain.

We as a group hope this little trip down Norwood's Memory Lane might encourage the Imperials to form a bond for the future as we did. The stories never end. The only thing that changes is that the stories get louder, someone forgets a punch line and no one moves quite as fast as we did when we left the Starting Line.

Those names of our group (noted with the *) indicates their positions in the Corps.

*Ron Ewald & Doris Ewald. Soprano Horn
*Rich & * Patty (Laurell ) Olsen. Soprano
Horn; Twirler & Drum Major
*Wally & * Betty (Laurell) Wilson. Snare
Drum. Twirler
*Ray & Mary Godzicki. Bass Drum
*Bob & *Jeanette (Olsen) Paster. Snare
Drum & Color Guard. Fife & Soprano Horn
*Gerri (Biver) Squire. Fife & Cymbals
*Margaret (Schuessler) Fiedler. Fife &
Cymbals
*Pat(Schuessler) Haase. Fife and Soprano
Horn
* Wayne Mounsey. Snare Drum
* Duke & Mary Lopata, Soprano Horn
* Bill & *Doris ( Wilson ) Cantwell. Snare
Drums

In addition to the above members, we added three non-Norwood families as they totally enjoyed our friendships, activities, corps contests and parades. They especially liked our dinners and the great drink, food and the price. And they really liked us as we enjoy them. Everything to this day.

We have lost a few of our friends along the way and those who have moved away have remained in touch. None are ever forgotten.

Wayne Mounsey
July 4, 2004

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What can we do to keep this tradition of fun, friendship and camaraderie going?

Wow! NO (ZERO) response to ideas or help offers to do anything with corps alumni gatherings.

I guess that this means there is really no interest.

No ... pizza parties, reunions, etc.

But, it is still possible that certain "era" groups might do their own meetings!