The Member Roster

Of all the questions I've been asked since I started working with Rocky on the Saints site, the one that's been most frequent is some variation on How did you put the member roster together?

Several years ago, I joined my sister Karen, Lisa Maloney (Wagner), Althea, and Linda (Andel) and Carole (Boyne) Burke at one of those local establishments in Woodbridge where we hung out so many years ago. It was the first time the 6 of us had been together for quite some time, and the conversation drifted far and wide the whole evening.

Early on, we decided to keep track of all the people whose names came up. I just happened to have a small notebook in my purse (for those who know me, this is no surprise), and I became the designated scribe. Several hours later, we had about 200 names on that list, 98 percent of which were marching members, instructors, or part of the adult support staff like the Board or various Booster Associations. The rest? Well ... let's just call them "friends of Saints."

When Pic contacted me back in March to say Rocky had started the site, it didn't take long for me to dig up the list, dust it off, and use it as the basis for what's now a 300+ member roster. It's taken on several different iterations, now complete with years marched, sections, and the rest. It got to the point where Rocky needed to give the roster its own page -- a testament to all us who were part of it.

So, just where did I get the rest of the info? In each of the Music in Splendor (MIS) and Flying Silks (FS) programs appears a member roster, by section, current at the time the program was compiled. Name by name, I entered or updated members, equipment, and years marched. I even found the names of all of El Khobar's Dancing Girls and the single year roster for Phase III! Karen also had a dues list for 1977, so that year is very complete.

Here's where we still need your help:

• 1967, 1968, 1969 -- For 1967 and 1968, the corps hadn't yet held an outdoor or indoor show, so there are no MIS or FS programs for those years. I also haven't gotten my hands on the MIS program for 1969.
• 1975 -- Althea brought the MIS 1975 (Seventh Annual) program with her to the Night at MPM, but there was some printing error in her copy -- and no roster.

Written records for any of those years would be WONDERFUL to get (especially the MIS 1975 with the roster in it). Next best thing: if you marched or were associated with us in any of those years, think about other members of your section. Name as many as you can, and send them in to joparente.saintsdrumcorps@gmail.com. We know there are more names to be added, and you're our best chance at doing that.

All for now -- corpsdially yours from jo!