Starting this weekend, and continuing for two weeks, the two corps will compete against each other in raising funds in support of their annual campaigns. The corps that collects the most donations within that time period wins the challenge. The Executive Director of the losing corps gets to wear a shirt and hat from the winning corps during the DCI Atlanta Regional on Saturday, July 31^th. As well, the pit cart of the losing corps will bear the logo of the winning group for the remainder of the season.

“The Crusaders and Scouts are the essence of “Old School” drum corps,” said Tom Spataro, Executive Director of the Boston Crusaders. “With generations of supporters and alumni, we felt the Scouts are probably the only corps that might even have a chance against us in this challenge.”

“I’m just looking forward to seeing Tom wear a fleur cap around the dome in Atlanta,” commented Chris Komnick, Executive Director for the Scouts. “To think Boston can generate more donations than the Scouts alumni…I’m not buying it.”

“The Old School Challenge is going to be a great way for each of our organizations to energize our fundraising efforts, give our alumni another chance to compete, and kindle a nice friendly rivalry at the same time,” added Spataro.

Both corps will benefit in the end,” said Komnick. “And we’ll take this opportunity to strengthen the bonds between these two great historic organizations.”

“The Old School Challenge” begins Saturday, July 17^th and continues through Friday, July 30^th. Each corps will promote the challenge to their alumni and fan base while keeping the latest tally of donations on their respective web pages.

To participate in “The Old School Challenge”:

DONATE NOW in support of the Madison Scouts

DONATE NOW in support of the Boston Crusaders

If you do not have a Facebook account, I encourage you to create one and vote for the Scouts through the link. The Scouts share a lot of information with our fan through our Facebook Fan Page. You can access it by CLICKING HERE.

Currently, the Scouts are in a good position to receive this grant, but we need your votes to assure the award.

The deadline to vote is midnight Sunday, July 11th.

The Madison Scouts’ annual Madisonic band competition returns to Whitewater, Wisconsin with a larger line-up and international flair, as three of the top bands from Canada will be competing. The show is set for Wednesday, June 30^th at 7:00 p.m. at Perkins Stadium on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater campus. This year the competition is co-sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

The three Canadian bands hail from Calgary and include the Calgary Round-Up, the Calgary Stampede, and the Calgary Stetsons. In addition, five other bands from the Midwest round out the field of competition, including Lutheran Vanguard, Renegade Regiment, Lighthouse Brigade, Shadow Armada, and the Sound of Sun Prairie.

A special exhibition by the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps will end the evening’s performances. Tickets will be available at the stadium box office, beginning at 6:00 p.m. on the day of show.

For further information please contact show chairman Gary Bakker at (262) 442-0962 or e-mail him at madisonic.macbda@gmail.com.

More to come!

And nowhere is that more evident then in the Madison Scouts. Our 72 year history is a story rich in tradition, adversity and success… all culminating in incredible life changing experiences realized by young men through the activity of drum corps.

It doesn’t matter how many valves you had, or whether you carried your flag in a sling, or if you wore white pants. The important element is that each generation of Scouts builds on that story and is afforded the opportunity to perform as a member of this unique brotherhood.

As the Executive Director I get to interact with Madison Scouts from all generations. What I find truly interesting is that while the equipment and the activity have changed, the experiences that one takes from being a member are incredibly similar.

Now is the time to make sure you are doing your part to see that the future of the Madison Scouts is secured by giving back to the organization through your financial support. We are certainly all excited by the upcoming season. But I am most proud watching our alumni rally and increase their support for the corps over the past several years.

This season we will be providing a special tour shirt to the 2010 members. On the front it will say “The Way We Were, The Way We Are” with a classic historical photo of the corps. On the back will be the names of all the alumni who have donated to the corps since November 1, 2009. But you need to make your donation by Monday, June 21st to get on the shirt. Wonder if you’re on the list, check here:

MADISON CORPS MEMBERS AS OF JUNE 4

A few select times during the season, we will ask the members to wear those shirts under their uniforms as a tribute to the shoulders on which they stand.

As an added incentive, for those contributing at the $250 level and above, you will get a special VIP Pass (with tour schedule) and woven lanyard. This will entitle you to free food & beverages at the Drums on Parade pre-show tailgate and 10% discount at our merchandise booth all summer. (again, this is retroactive to November 1, 2009)

You may donate online by CLICKING HERE

Or you can send a check to:

Madison Scouts
2935 S Fish Hatchery Rd #401
Madison, WI 53711

I thank you for your support and hope to meet with you on the tour sometime this summer.

Chris Komnick
Executive Director

Mail will be picked up periodically through the summer at post offices near our housing sites. While locations #1-#3 can accept other carriers, PLEASE NOTE that packages sent to locations #4-#7 MUST BE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE ONLY. UPS and other carriers will not be accepted at the Post Office.

1 – Bloomington, IN - Delivery from May 21st through June 21st and to be received no later than June 19th:

Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps

<Recipients Name Here>

500 W Simpson Chapel Road

Bloomington, IN 47404

2 – Whitewater, WI - Delivery for June 30th ONLY and to be received no later than June 29th,

Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps

Attn <Recipients Name Here>

2935 S Fish Hatchery Road #401

Madison, WI 53711

3 – Madison, WI - Delivery for July 12th ONLY and to be received no later than July 10th:

Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps

Attn <Recipients Name Here>

2935 S Fish Hatchery Road #401

Madison, WI 53711           

4 – Kansas City, MO - (U.S. POST ONLY) Delivery for July 19th ONLY and to be received no later than July 17th:

General Delivery – Hold For Pick-Up

Attn <Recipients Name Here>

Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps

Overland Park, KS 66223-9998

5 – Houston, TX - (U.S. POST ONLY) Delivery for July 23rd ONLY and to be received no later than July 22nd:

General Delivery – Hold For Pick-Up

Attn <Recipients Name Here>

Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps

Spring, TX 77373-9998

6 – Centerville, OH - (U.S. POST ONLY) Delivery for August 2nd ONLY and to be received no later than July 31st:

General Delivery – Hold For Pick-Up

Attn <Recipients Name Here>

Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps

Franklin, OH 45004-9998

7 – Bloomington, IN - (U.S. POST ONLY) Delivery for August 7th through August 13th and to be received no later than August 12th;

Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps

<Recipients Name Here>

500 W Simpson Chapel Road

Bloomington, IN 47404

During PHASE II, we are asking alumni and friends to assist our fund raising project in the following ways:

1 - Invite all businesses, civic organizations, religious groups and individuals to participate in the project by renting stall space. Our goal is to attract 325 vendors. These groups can also donate items directly to the Scouts and will receive a tax credit.

2 - We are also looking for items to be sold at the Scout stalls. We would prefer all items to be in good re-salable condition.  Examples may include: hand/electric tools, small appliances, housewares, jewelry, clothing/shoes/furs, automotive accessories, sporting goods and memorabilia, art and art supplies, gardening tools, office supplies, etc. Ask for donated items at places where you do business and they will also receive a tax credit for donating. All items can be stored at the Scouts warehouse facility in Madison.

3 - We need 10 volunteers to help clean, organize, and receive goods at the warehouse facility starting in June. We ask that all delivery of goods be done on Saturdays, unless different arrangements have been made.

4 - We are also looking for co-sponsors to help promote the event. These may include newspapers, magazines, businesses, television and radio stations, and individuals.  Co-sponsors are not limited to cash donations, we need advertising assistance in order to effectively get the word out about the project.

5 - If you are an alumni or friend outside the Madison area, please plan on attending and providing “sweat equity” by working the two-day event. We will need 40 volunteers per day to assist in the management of the project. Of course we will accept salable goods from you as well. Call to make arrangements to get items to the staging facility.

We need all alumni and friends to tell people about the project and promote their attendance. We need a large crowd of buyers to make this successful. We intend to build this into a large annual event in the Madison area, so we want to make year one a great success.

Please direct all questions to me at j.elvord@comcast.net or (312) 961-2707 and visit the project web site: www.thelargestgaragesaleever.com

MYNWA,

Jim Elvord

Currently four Madison Scouts alumni serve in the Marine Drum & Bugle Corps, but one in particular, James “Axel” Foley (’99-‘01), was recently promoted to Warrant Officer by Presidential Appointment, a highly distinguished honor shared by only a few throughout the unit’s history.

Since enlisting in the Marines in 2004, Warrant Officer Foley served in a number of capacities to include Drill Designer and Administrative Chief. He also served as the Mellophone Section Leader and was a soloist during many of the Drum & Bugle Corps’ musical selections. Since his appointment and subsequent promotion, Warrant Officer Foley has assumed a number of duties including the role of Operations Officer and Assistant Director.

“My appointment and leadership role in the Marine Drum & Bugle Corps has been a great honor,” stated Warrant Officer Foley. “And I’m quite proud that the Madison Scouts have such a strong representation in the corps.”

New to the corps this year is Lance Corporal Philip Black (’07-’08), lead soprano. “After four hard months of practicing, I finally nailed the audition and landed a spot. I did my time in boot camp, and now I’m here in Washington D.C.,” says Black. “Already in less than a year, I’ve been to Japan and soon to France. You could say I just followed my childhood dream.”

For Corporal Salvador Torres (’07), lead soprano, he knew he wanted to continue playing his horn after graduating high school and the Marine Corps offered a unique opportunity. “The Madison Scouts taught me to work hard, to move fast, and to think positive when times are tough,” said Torres. “It prepared me well.”

Rounding out the Scouts alumni is Staff Sergeant Ralph Galyean III (’93-’94), lead baritone and section leader. “In addition, we recently had Scouts alumnus Kory Beck (’00-’02) transition from the drum & bugle corps to the Marine Forces Reserve Band based in New Orleans, LA,” stated Foley.

The United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps performs martial and popular music for hundreds of thousands of spectators each year. Comprised of 90 Marine musicians, dressed in ceremonial red and white uniforms, it is known worldwide as a premier musical marching unit.

In the tradition of their “field music” predecessors, these musicians in “The Commandant’s Own” are Marines in the truest sense of the word. Every enlisted member is a graduate of Marine Corps recruit training and is trained in basic infantry skills. Prior to enlisting, each Marine must pass a demanding audition for service in the Drum & Bugle Corps. Following Recruit Training and Marine Combat Training, the Marines are assigned to “The Commandant’s Own.”

“I am very excited to see the Scouts this season,” says Warrant Officer Foley. “I proudly have my Superman patch and corps photos displayed in my office for all to see!”

Ray Baumgardt is most remembered for his work with the Madison Scouts in the 1970s, but overall he was one of the drum corps activity’s most prolific music arrangers. At the head of early “concept shows,” Baumgardt arranged “Alice in Wonderland” for the Madison Scouts as well as the Cavaliers’ groundbreaking 1971 “Circus Show.” Throughout his drum corps career, Baumgardt created some of the most memorable drum corps arrangements of all time including “Slaughter on Tenth Avenue,” “McArthur Park,” “The Way We Were,” “Rhapsody in Blue,” “Ballet in Brass” and “Brian’s Song.” Also working with the Spirit of Atlanta, Cavaliers, Troopers, 27th Lancers, Colts, Capitolaires and the Erie Thunderbirds Senior Corps, his work influenced an entirely new generation of drum corps arrangers.

Baumgardt served as the Madison Scouts’ musical director from 1969 through 1979. Hall of Fame member James Elvord, credits Baumgardt for the corps’ revival from its “dark ages” in the 1960s. Paul Litteau, who worked as a visual consultant with the Madison Scouts at the same time as Baumgardt’s contributions to the corps, sums up Ray’s contributions to the activity stating, “The loud and long standing ovations still ringing through stadiums many years later give testimony to the audience appeal and accessibility of Ray’s work.”

Baumgardt passed away in Feburary 1998.

READ MORE AT DCI.ORG >

This years’ food operations program is headed by Chris Dally, mother of marching member Matt Dally. Chris has been actively involved with several drum corps over the past 6 years, primarily in food operations, and she has been doing a great job managing the food preparation for all the winter camps in Bloomington.

Chris is in need of volunteers for spring training (May 22 - June 21) in Bloomington, IN and on tour (June 21 - August 14). The Bloomington facility has an excellent and well-equipped kitchen, the building is air conditioned and volunteers typically house on the premises with the corps.

The corps will be touring with a newly leased mobile kitchen that is also well-equipped and air conditioned. As well, volunteers will be transported on an air conditioned chartered bus this year. Volunteers are provided meals on tour as well as passes to the shows.

No specific skills are required, but you need to bring a positive attitude and strong work ethic. The work is hard, but very rewarding as you help nourish 150 young men each and every day.

For the second year, the merchandise program is being headed by Andrew Irving, alumnus of the Scouts and senior lecturer of French at UW-Madison. Merchandise operations, “souvies”, is a critical revenue stream for the corps and generates over $100K of cash flow. As such it needs to be managed like any commercial store with a focus on customer service and quality products.

Under the direction of Andrew, volunteers in this area would be responsible for the daily sales operations at show sites. While selling at the show, this entails setting up in the afternoon, managing inventory, handling cash & credit card sales, working directly with customers, and presenting a positive image for the Madison Scouts. We will typically staff 2-3 in this area. Meals will be provided by the corps and you will have a great opportunity to interact with the many fans of the corps each evening. We need to staff from June 21 - August 14.

The corps will need drivers for two tractor trailers (CDL required), the souvie van/trailer (standard license) and an SUV lead vehicle (standard license). We have one tractor trailer driver committed for the entire summer and need to get the other vehicles fully covered as well. If you drive the souvie vehicle or SUV, you must be comfortable towing a trailer and recognize that you will be driving overnight in most circumstances. So you will need to adapt your sleep schedule when you come on tour.

The steps to volunteering are fairly easy:

1. If you are interested in volunteering please email us with your name and availability to:

FOOD OPERATIONS (Chris Dally): food@madisonscouts.org

TRANSPORTATION (Bill Leslie): transportation@madisonscouts.org

MERCHANDISING (Andrew Irving): merchandise@madisonscouts.org

2. At that point, you will be contacted and required to fill out some basic forms. This is required of all volunteers and assures the safety of both you and the members of the corps.

3. Once everything is in place, we will work with you on finalizing your time commitment.

Volunteers are required to supply their own transportation to/from the corps location in Bloomington or when meeting up with us on tour. We will work to get you to/from an airport if you are joining us mid-tour.

The Madison Scouts are dependent on a good strong work force of volunteers to make our season successful. By donating your time you’re providing an invaluable service to help us fulfill our mission. The 2010 season is already shaping up to be something special. I do hope you consider this opportunity to volunteer this summer.

Chris Komnick
Executive Director