Norwood Park Imperials Alumni Forum
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Jim Snyder replied to the "traditional drum corps" VS "modern drum corps" topic with an important thought.
In the past, the discussion was about the style of PROGRAM .. the music, field shows, instruments, dancing, costumes and the like. That is a good discussion and the choice is really one of personal preference. 
But Jim, along with others,has raised the issue of the DCI "mindset", which does not support local drum corps and favors the "big" corps. It seems that money is the real god for DCI here! 
So .. how can normal folks help support the rebuilding of community drum corps?
I don't know all the answers, but supporting DCM sounds like a good first step! 
David,
I totally agree that supporting DCM and DCA and ANY other association would be a step in the right direction toward reestabishing the 'local' drum corps movement. DCI has done NOTHING to support the smaller corps except attempt to fill their shows with them, since they can't fill the show themselves because they killed off all of the medium range corps with their unreasonable travel schedules. There is no way that the 'average' drum corps could meet those requirements and their aren't enough local shows to sustain a program. Obviously the competitiveness of two or three decades ago is not there anymore because of their short sightedness and their attitude toward competing organizations that could help sustain the Non DCI corps. DCI has been like a vampire and has sucked the life's blood out of every other organization from their inception. It is my belief that it has been their intention to remove all competition and any organization that could possibly stand in the way of their utter dominance and control of the activity. I still remember Illinois Association, Badgerland, DCM, VFW, American Legion plus countless state organizations for the activity. DCI has systematically destroyed each one of these organizations through their incideous, selfcentered, monopolistic philosophy
Never has it been more evident than now as to DCI's 'Real' intent and philosophy. They have become MUCH WORSE than the organization that was the reason for their organization to begin with. VFW protected the smaller organizations so that they would survive, can DCI say the same thing? Absolutely NOT! What was VFW's major sin? Controlling the score sheets so that individual performance actually meant something? Doesn't in hindsight seem like they were that far off does it?
Any talk by DCI of support for the smaller corps is just that...talk. They would seem to be happy to have 10-12 groups that all have shows like Blast. Unfortunately they haven't taken a good look at Blast, because in the Blast show is alot of crowd appealing music.
Time for people to take notice of what is happening in Chicago with RA and in Racine with the Kilts. Now, the trick is, instead of turning them into senior corps they should find a way for their alumni to band together and create junior corps and also create their own association to compete in that is SEPERATE from DCI.
My 2 cents for what it's worth.
Regards,
Jerry
What did you do in the Corps? Brass Instructor, Arranger & Corps Manager
How to help local corps ...
some alums have indicated a desire to help local corps. Besides doing something to start or support a corps in your community, here is another idea:
Contact DCM and offer your help! Some have marketing skills, some have Internet skills. Whatever. Give them a call!
The DCM director, Roman Blenski, would welcome your call. (Note too, that Roman is also an Imperial alum ... marched baritone 1958-63!)
DCM
4601 W. Holt St.
Milwaukee, WI 53219
414-327-2847
website: www.drumcorpsmidwest.com
e-mail: dbcpmilw@execpc.com
DCM is "up against the wall" right now and needs suppport in many ways.
I think everyone is of the same mindset in regard to the situation. What Dave said is right. Support DCM in whatever way you can.
Willingness to volunteer and/or just go to shows would be a plus and would help. But Jim is also right when he said that DCM needs people, shows and corps. It might be in the best interest of the future to float this idea of a seperate organization to the smaller corps who are struggling. Just maybe, they would be willing to take the gamble and throw their support to DCM.
Like I said in an earlier post. DCI needs the smaller units MORE than the smaller corps need DCI! They just need an alternative.
I would be willing to volunteer for anything that would help the cause. I can arrange music still and I can judge and I still have considerable instructing chops. Would be willing to sshare that if there is an effort by others to do the same.
Regards,
JD
What did you do in the Corps? Brass Instructor, Arranger & Corps Manager
My God, what a memory you have. 
I can still remember laying down under that bus in Springfield and replacing the entire break line. People drove me all over to get the parts and then it took me like forever to install it and bleed the breaks before we could get the corps on the bus and leave for wherever else we were headed. I havve to tell you that I was one grubby and greasy dude that night. At least we won the show, so I was in a good mood. How the heck did you remember that? LOL
JD
What did you do in the Corps? Brass Instructor, Arranger & Corps Manager
Jim,
You indeed have a great memory. Mine has become somewhat faulty at times. So many years of competition with both Drum & Bugle Corps and competitive bands will somehow all melt together and mesh into mush. LOL
When thinking about the repairing and such, I have to think of Mr. Ruchalski. He kept that thing together, along with the busses, through sheer will and mechanical ability. John is also a fantastic human being. He taught me so much about fixing things and about life through his infectious smiles, patience and wisdom. I am glad to hear that he is still with us, as I was given some bad information that he was no longer with us. I am so glad to hear that he is still attending Imperial functions like the presentation of the corps history to Norwood.
Mr. Ruchalski led by example and never wanted anything in return. He even helped me repair my car on more than one occasion. When I think of the 'White Whale', I think of him and how welcome his family made me feel in their home. During his time with the corps, he was a great role model for all. Mr. Ruchalski is a man that all of us looked up to and cherished his friendship.
As for the rest of the repairing of busses and trucks, I really think it was just part of belonging to an organization. When something happens, like a truck or bus breaking down, we all just pitched in and helped where we could. Imperials were like a very large extended family. All of the management staff and instructors did so much more than just teach and manage. I remember, managing the corps, writing the music, teaching the music, helping with drill when they were short handed, fixing horns, fixing buses and trucks, driving buses and trucks, etc., etc., etc.
That was normal for many people who belonged and worked with corps back in those days. Seems like alot in today's terms, but we all considered it normal fare. Mr. & Mrs. Ruchalski both wore many hats for the Imperials and should be thanked for their efforts and kindness to everyone who worked with the corps.
Hopefully this, in some way, brings into light WHY it was possible to field so many corps in the 60's. 70's & 80's. I am not sure you would find as many people who would give so much of themselves today. The managers, instructors and support staff in many DCI corps command salaries that equal, in many cases, a full time job's pay. That forces up the cost and dues for the kids who now participate in the activity. Many of the kids that we worked with would never be able to afford the type of dues structure and committment that is demanded today. With that said, there would have been many corps that would have not survived as long as they did without the volunteer efforts of so many people who did it for the right reasons.
Sorry, I know this is long winded, but leads toward the point in WHY local drum and bugle corps dissappeared. It can be simply traced to the pre-baby boomer generation. They went through so much that they wanted their kids to have activities that represented and reinforced their beliefs and principles. They were very patriotic because of their experiences with world war, thus they wanted an activity that promoted and fostered that patriotism. Thus, the reasoning behind the Color Prentations in the shows. I highly doubt that they EVER thought that a full show concept was more important than exhibiting some creativity in showing some reverence and pride in our country. They also were not too busy to roll up their sleves and pitch in to help. To them, it was more important than sitting on a couch and becoming a couch potatoe. It added meaning to their lives and the lives of the people that they worked for.
Regards,
Jerry
What did you do in the Corps? Brass Instructor, Arranger & Corps Manager
Hmmmmmm .. sounds like Jerry Davidson doesn't care for DCI and it's approach to "helping" local corps! 
I'd guess that 99% of our alums agree with that!
The corps kids are great and they work really hard at what they do ...
but the overall drum corps activity is dying .. and morphing into something like "super bands".
What did you do in the Corps? drummer 1958-63, asst. instructor 1964-71; quartermaster 1964-66
What years were you a Corps member? member 1958- 1963
