March Moments 2009: March 44 - 1975, Chapter 1

March 44 - 1975, Chapter 1
by Jack Bodzas

(Editor's note: March Moments is winding down - just two more entries to go.)


In conversation with Jo about March Moments, I believe I told her I could effortlessly come up with about ten years worth of recollections. Cinch, no problema. If I had to narrow it down to a year's worth, my favorite is by far ‘75. I liked the Ellington charts, the drill, the shows we entered, places we went ... good times!

I recently purchased a recording of the 1975 Dream. The drums were cooking; if there was a caption for “trying hard” we would have surely taken it. I thought just to be on the same field with that horn line (my favorite ever, in the history of the world) was magnificent city. Never knew what tricks they were going to pull out of their bag next. Sometimes they were so powerful you would think they were going to straighten their horns right out.


The only drag about a CD is you couldn’t hear / see our color guard, equally as spellbinding. Not to mention they did a stellar job of intimidating judges, keeping them afraid and from getting too close to any of us.


The Nineteen-Hundred Seventy Five Saints, like a fine wine ... an extraordinary vintage.


Comments or questions about our March Moments series? Click here to submit, or if that doesn't work, send them to joparente DOT saintsdrumcorps AT gmail DOT com.

March Moments 2009: March 29 - Memories from 1976, Chapter 2

March 29 - Memories from 1976, Chapter 2
by Mary Cassidy Ryan


1976 - a great year! And, always have a Plan B.

One of my best thoughts was our stop at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater. What a difference it made to be off the gym floors and in actual beds! I recall that the practice field was great as well as the laundry room (luxury items when on the tour)! My roommate was Diane Markowitz (hope spelling is right). I would love to hear from her!

When the season concluded in Wildwood, it taught me how important it is to have a "Plan B" in place. Although I practiced with you all over and over, I had limited time with Duke E's Jitterbug+++. When called upon to do it alone in Wildwood, I really messed up! My right arm went into denial. I did a poor job! With much thanks to all of you, the performance was great! Afterwards, Mr. Kadash picked me up and you all applauded! I recall putting my shako over my face, wishing I did a better job! Thanks!

Last summer I moved back to San Antonio, Texas, after a one year venture to Louisiana. Our city will host the DCI southwest regional contest on July 18th. If you plan a visit anytime, let me know, I would love to hear from you. Cell: 210-632-3848 email mmc_ryan @att.net.



Comments or questions about our March Moments series? Click here to submit, or if that doesn't work, send them to joparente DOT saintsdrumcorps AT gmail DOT com.

March Moments 2009: March 23 - Memories from 1974, Chapter 1

March 23 - Memories from 1974, Chapter 1
by Jim Piccolo


The World Open

As I sit typing this and listening to our corps from 1974 Dream, it brings back so many memories.

One in particular was at the 1974 World Open. It was the first time the corps had an extended overnight trip; President Nixon had resigned while we were in there also. We were staying in Lynn, Massachusetts for the World Open which was actually being held in Lowell which was about 30-45 minutes away. The Manning Bowl in Lynn was a mess! They were repairing it as I recall.

Anyway, we placed 1st in Prelims (remember changing the drill down to 8 1/2 minutes for that?) with a score of 70.150. Our nearest competitor was the CW Townsmen with a 68.45. After we performed at finals the corps felt we did a good job and had a great chance at winning.

We are on retreat and the scores were announced. We come in 2nd place with a score of 63.3 to the Keystone Regiment. The future Crossmen, who placed 3rd in prelims with a 66.650, won the finals with a 65.65! We dropped almost 7 points from prelims. We were shocked to say the least!

The night was a clear but dewy night and you could see the moisture build-up on the instruments. Keystone was standing next to us in retreat and suddenly I had noticed that one of our tymp players was writing on the head of his tymp and leaning it in the direction of Keystone so that they could see what he was writing. I am sure it wasn't pleasantries of congratulations. One of our Drum Majors saw this also and told the tymp player to stop and he graciously did.

We came off the field and we really showed our class! The horn line picked up our horns as if we were marching in a parade and when we stopped, we picked up our legs as if we were competing! Putting the instruments away and riding on the bus back to Lynn was very sobering experience. It was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop! Everyone went to bed as soon as we got back.




Interested in submitting your own favorite memories for March Moments? Click here to submit, or if that doesn't work, send them to joparente DOT saintsdrumcorps AT gmail DOT com.

March Moments 2009: March 12 - A Favorite Marching Memory, Chapter 1

March 12 - A Favorite Marching Memory, Chapter 1
by Jim Piccolo


It was the summer of '74 (ah, my favorite!). We were at a Friday night competition somewhere in South Jersey - Haddonfield I believe.

We were 'bout half-way through the show and all of the sudden I blanked out! I didn't know where I was in the drill. I finally caught my bearings and finished the show.

When we got off the field, Mr. Fair was standing there waiting for me. Boy did he give me an earful! Luckily, we won the the show over the 507 Hornets (now the Crossmen).

This is one of many of the wonderful Saints marching memories I have.

Mr. Fair, I still love you!

Jimmy Pic


Interested in submitting your own favorite memories for March Moments? Click here to submit, or if that doesn't work, send them to joparente DOT saintsdrumcorps AT gmail DOT com.

All for now - corpsdially yours from jo!

Tuesday Trivia: Pre-Corps, Post-Corps, and all-round Corps

Four members responded to last week's question ... thanks!

Pete Crafts: Pete came to the Saints from the Silver Lancers (Middlesex NJ). Pete made the trek south on 287 to join us along with fellow Lancers Jimmy Pic, Marty Straka, Darlene Stover, Alfie Hankerson, and Lorraine Porowski (Lorraine, we're still looking to connect with you!). While Pete did some roadie stuff with rock bands post-Saints, he didn't march again.

Judy Stewart Sgammato: The Saints was Judy's first corps, but definitely not her last. She headed north to march with the Garfield Cadets and Bushwackers, and eventually served on the Board and as a Business Manager for DCA Corps Carolina Gold. These days, she considers herself a proud Crossmen parent.

Pete Chez: While late with his response, it still is notable. The Saints was also his first drum corps (he claims to only have been 8 years old at the time, yet he carries on like he's older than me these days ... I digress). After 1977, he joined the Marines Corps (yes, Pete, I'll also count it towards marching!). Starting in 1982, he marched with Reading Bucs with both Mickey and Goober (the last time the Chez brothers marched together). He currently plays with Melrose Blackhawks with a bunch of other Saints, and also appears as a guest lead baritone for Brooklyn United, Lambertville Volunteers, and St Lucy's Cadets Alumni Corps.

Jackie Bodzas: Here's his response, intact:

The Saints was my first and last drum corps.
Blue and Gold satin to wool cadet to orange and black polyester. Hmmm.
First day to last, Stout Hearted Men to Send in the Clowns.
First Fords parade to our last gig in Wildwood,
with a gazillion shows in between.
Ludwig to Ludwig.

I could sit here and name first and last instructors / directors.
It sure is a boatload or busload, as the case may be,
of simply fantastic people.

Started out too young and ended up too old.

Thought about Senior corps, kept putting it off:
College / rock band / more college / bluegrass band x6 /
more college / wife / demanding career / 1st kid / new job/
2nd kid / world golf tour (just kidding) /
little league coaching and so it goes ...

Thought about Senior corps, kept putting it off.
If there was a Saints Sr Corps, my heart my have been more in it.
In other words, I would have joined in a second!

And now for Jackie's Trivia questions:

What senior corps did some of our instructors march in,
and for bonus points, what junior corps did they march with?

Click here to respond to this week's Trivia questions ... remember our slogan: Prizes, prizes, we have no prizes!

All for now - corpsdially yours from jo!

Tuesday Trivia: From Where, To Where

As a warm-up to some new Trivia questions submitted during the Christmas break, here's an easy one:

What corps did you march with pre-Saints? How about after?

This is more data mining that real trivia, truth be told. I could start the list, but because I never marched before or after my blue-n-gold years, it just didn't seem right for me to be telling your stories ...

So, how about it? Click here to respond.

Thanks!

All for now - corpsdially yours from jo!

Tuesday Trivia: 1976 DCIs

So, for this week at least, Tuesday Trivia is back!

I was going through some of my leftover vacation change earlier, and I came across a Bicentennial Quarter (remember them?).

Here's the question: Besides the Bicentennial, what was the big thing going on in Philadelphia while we were marching in DCIs (August 1976)?

Hint: If memory serves, it was SO big a deal that some of the parents didn't want their kids to march.

Since we're not using the e-mail account for reunion planning right now, send your guesses by Monday, August 25th to saintsreunion@gmail.com. Remember ... prizes, prizes, we have no prizes!

All for now - corpsdially yours from jo!

PS - As always, suggestions for future Tuesday Trivia questions are appreciated. Send them along with your answer to this week's question!

Weekend Wonderings: The Morning After ...

Man, oh, man, where to begin?

Just some disconnected ramblings for today ...

First, some shout-outs ... the Reunion Committee (what a crew you all are!), Mike the Caterer at Sewaren (not to be confused with Warren) Park, our ever-supportive family at Post 471 (extra thanks for bailing us out on the need for ice at the picnic!), and on a personal note, to Leslie and the staff at Somerset Medical Center for sewing me back together in time to see all of you yesterday.

Sometime over the next couple of days, I'll compile a list of everyone who joined us over the weekend. For now, I just wanted to make sure I had something out here for all of you to read (especially you, Mickey, when you get back to work on Monday!).

Someone asked me last evening what could be done to pay back the Reunion Committee in some way for all the work that was done - if I wasn't clear about it then, I will be now: HELP PLAN THE NEXT ONE.

Finally, a bit on legacy passed down from one generation to the next ... we had the privilege to honor Ray "Mr. C" Chmieleski, Uncle Tony Fastuca, and Alvina "Mrs. Chez" Chesnovitz last evening for their "actions (which) served to foster a corps family which still enjoys, over 40 years later, the days when the Saints came marching in." Among the many lessons they and all the other supporting parents shared, we learned generosity of spirit.

To those of you who kicked in some extra cash to make it possible for others to join us, as well as helping out one of our Saints siblings who lost everything in a fire last week, I am humbled by your actions. You challenge each of us to do more, living out our mantra in being Saints for one another, even 40 years later, because that's what family does ...

Love to you all!

All for now - corpsdially yours from jo!

Tuesday Trivia: Registrations by Sections

Here's the Saints Summer Reunion Registration Roster by sections ... the list is current and in order of sign-up through 6:30 am on June 12th.

Yes, I know some of you marched in more than one section ... if you want me to move you around, let me know.

Corps Support (board, instructors, parents, friends, etc.):

• Ray and Joan Chmieleski (whole day)
• Lillian Stratton (whole day)
• Tom Swan (whole day)
• George Lopez (whole day)
• Alvina Chesnovitz (whole day)
• Gary Sattur (whole day)

Color Guard:

• JoAnne Parente (whole day)
• Denise Normandia Dune (whole day)
• Valerie Fair (whole day)
• Allison Pehlert Knapp (dinner)
• Kim Mega Trimblett (whole day)
• Dawn Fair (whole day)
• Denise Lopez (whole day)
• Jill Fair Shelley (picnic)
• Lorraine Fastuca Ravino (whole day)
• Maureen Fastuca (whole day)
• Priscilla French Lyons (whole day)
• Janet Matelski (whole day)
• Barbara Jackson Piccolo (whole day)
• Terri Moon (whole day)

Drum Line:

• Danny Dube (whole day)
• Debbie Reybert Bartlett (whole day)
• Bob Matelski (whole day)
• Jack Bodzas (whole day)

Horn Line:

• Mark (Rocky) Chiocchi (dinner)
• Donna Stratton Ellis (whole day)
• Mike Matelski (whole day)
• Mike Fastuca (whole day)
• Sue Brady (whole day)
• Jim Trimblett (whole day)
• Tom (Mouse) Noel (whole day)
• Chris Karol-Miller (picnic)
• Althea Mazar (whole day)
• Rene Meyer DeLucia (dinner / possibly earlier)
• Mickey Chez (whole day)
• Pete Chez (whole day)
• Wayne Fair (whole day)
• Jimmy Piccolo (whole day)
• Dave Brady (whole day)
• Mike Wargo (whole day)
• Alan (Goober) Chez

As mentioned last week, many of the folks above are bringing main squeezes, family, and / or friends to part of the day's events at Sewaren Park and Post 471, Iselin.

Gentle reminder: Have you registered yet? What are you waiting for? Is your name missing from above even though you think you registered?

To register, click here for the Survey Monkey link, or visit the Saints home page at www.saintsdrumcorps.com. Any Saints, family of Saints, and friends of Saints are welcome!

Questions about the reunion or willing to help out? Contact us at saintsreunion@gmail.com.

All for now - corpsdially yours from jo!

Tuesday Trivia: Reunion Registrations

Here's a quick list of those who have registered so far for our July 19th reunion (updates through 10:45 am ET on May 29th):

• Ray and Joan Chmieleski (whole day)
• Mark (Rocky) Chiocchi (dinner)
• JoAnne Parente (whole day)
• Donna Stratton Ellis (whole day)
• Lillian Stratton (whole day)
• Mike Matelski (whole day)
• Denise Normandia Dune (whole day)
• Danny Dube (whole day)
• Mike Fastuca (whole day)
• Sue Brady (whole day)
• Valerie Fair (whole day)
• Allison Pehlert Knapp (dinner)
• Kim Mega Trimblett (whole day)
• Jim Trimblett (whole day)
• Tom (Mouse) Noel (whole day)
• Chris Karol-Miller (picnic)
• Althea Mazar (whole day)
• Tom Swan (whole day)
• Rene Meyer DeLucia (dinner / possibly earlier)
• Dawn Fair (whole day)
• Mickey Chez (whole day)
• Pete Chez (whole day)
• Denise Lopez (whole day)
• George Lopez (whole day)
• Wayne Fair (whole day)
• Jill Fair Shelley (picnic)
• Debbie Reybert Bartlett (whole day)
• Lorraine Fastuca Ravino (whole day)
• Maureen Fastuca (whole day)

Many of the early registrants have also indicated they're bringing main squeezes, family, and / or friends to part of the day's events at Sewaren Park and Post 471, Iselin.

Have you registered yet? What are you waiting for? Is your name missing from above even though you think you registered?

To register, click here for the Survey Monkey link, or visit the Saints home page at www.saintsdrumcorps.com. Any Saints, family of Saints, and friends of Saints are welcome!

Questions about the reunion? Contact us at saintsreunion@gmail.com.

All for now - corpsdially yours from jo!

Weekend Wonderings: Dream Jobs

If you're already making money "doing" corps or something related to the skills you picked up back then, think of this Scribblings entry as some sort of validation if you'd like.

For the rest of us, here are two questions for you: If someone told you at this moment that your ideal job in corps / guard is available to you for the asking, what would it be? Also, do you take it, or keep doing what you're doing right now?

Here are some revisionist criteria to consider, if needed, to help you to dream a bit and decide if working in corps or guard is for you:

• You're physically / mentally healthy enough, and have all the skills needed to do the work.
• If you'd like to do it full-time, you can afford to do the work without pay, or they're paying you more than enough to do it.
• If you're interested in part-time work, the schedule around everything else that you want or need to do will accommodate the gig with no problem.
• Corps and guard culture (for lack of a better term) is exactly what you want it to be - like we remember it from the mid-70s, as it progressed during the 80s, as it is now, etc. (This item was added for those who just don't like what corps and guard have become.)
• The important people in your life are fully supportive of your decision to take the gig.

If I've left something off the list that poses a potential barrier for you, feel free to add it as you consider your career change ...

I haven't thought about this topic in quite awhile. Time spent over the past few weeks has brought me back there, and I find myself wondering. If you're looking for my answer, you'll have to wait a bit - I want to savor the possibilities for just a tad longer before making my decision.

I hope you'll share your dreams with us - feel free to use the Comments area below, the Guest Book on www.saintsdrumcorps.com, or get in touch with me directly at joparente.saintsdrumcorps@gmail.com.

All for now - corpsdially yours from jo!

PS: In case you're wondering, right now there are 47 people registered for the November reunion. About 20% are members who are coming in from outside the greater Jersey metropolitan area. The first wave of people who registered can be found in last week's Tuesday Trivia (scroll down below). An updated list will be posted here as part of the October 16th Tuesday Trivia, so stay tuned!

Sharing Wisdom

There's a book I've used both in business and ministry titled Sharing Wisdom by Mary Benet McKinney. It's a great tool for anyone who does organization effectiveness work - I highly recommend it.

This Scribblings entry, however, is SO not about the book! It's about spending a couple of hours over lunch earlier this week with Darlene Stover, Jimmy Pic, and Tom Swan ...

They were already at Friday's when I arrived, and I got there in the middle of a hard-pressed recruiting effort by Tom to add two more horns to the Melrose Blackhawks line. "It's just like the Saints - you'll see!" was repeated in various and sundry ways over the course of the next couple of hours. Every once in a great while, I have some pangs of shoulda-coulda when it comes to playing a horn or drum ... not during this lunch! No offense, Bucky ...

It's probably been 25 years - a quarter century - since I last saw the person forever linked with the success of our horn line. In a pattern repeating itself over and over lately, it seemed we were each able to pick up where we left off all those years ago. It was probably the longest amount of time I ever spent chatting with Mr. Swan ... and what fun!

Feel free to validate this with Pic and Darlene: There were probably no less than a few dozen stories Tom started which he cut off at their mid-points, choosing instead to save them for "at the bar, after the reunion." Tales about our successes and failures (self-imposed or at the hands of judges), personalities galore, other experiences - the master weaved his way through them all non-stop.

What's one more thing I need to do before the reunion on the 9th? Run out and pick up a new digital recorder ... I'm not going to miss one word of the wisdom he - or any of you - will be sharing that night!

All for now - corpsdially yours from jo!

Monday MatchUps - Bottoms Up pt 2

Mondays like this are fun for me -- Tom (Mouse) Noel, Donna (Stratton) Ellis, and Lori Deren found their way home this week! Mouse was featured in our August 20th Monday MatchUps and found out about the site from a co-worker who also was involved in drum corps. Mouse paid it forward by calling Donna Stratton yesterday (Monday MatchUps, July 30th), who has already posted info for the Where Are They Now page out on www.saintsdrumcorps.com. Lori found us through Gary. Welcome Home Lori, Donna, and Mouse!

We're jumping back to the Bottoms-Up approach this week. Using the existing roster, these folks have not made their presence known yet on the site. Just like the last Bottoms-Up, their names are in reverse alphabetical order. If you know how to find them, let me know at joparente.saintsdrumcorps@gmail.com. Thanks!

• Rose Ann Wolff (twirlers)
• Tim Stead (horn line)
• Sam Spann (drum line)
• Suzi Silagyi (twirlers)
• John Sherry (drum line)
• Jim Schneider (drum line)
• David Russo (horn line)
• Susan Roberts (color guard)
• Lynn Rivas (color guard)
• Karen Reilly (color guard)

All for now -- corpsdially yours from jo!

Insistence, Persistence, Ownership

Yesterday brought a bit of insight to me about something that I don't think I truly understood before about the phenomenom we know as the Saints.

As part of other conversations we were having, I asked Jimmy Pic what it was about the Saints that attracted him when he joined. Since I signed up for the Saints as an original member without a lick of marching experience, I was curious to see why someone would leave another corps to be part of us -- especially since getting to Fords and Woodbridge for rehearsal wasn't exactly a walk around the block for him [Side note to Pic -- please don't walk along 287 to get to Fords anymore!!!].

Pic was very free and open about sharing his experiences with the Silver Lancers, a corps which was a valid competitor of ours for many years. His primary reason for coming to the Saints was to be on the field -- we were competing that summer, while his first corps was only marching parades.

As we continued our discussion, though, the difference between the corps was much more than a decision to be on the field. To summarize everything Pic explained, it really boils down to three words: insistence ... persistence ... ownership.

I thought the things he described about us happened in all the corps we competed against -- I was wrong! I just know how much the three concepts were such a big part of how we created our excellence ...

Insistence is all about the getting-in-your-face attitude we had when it came to what we did. Be it musical notes, cadence, equipment position, or whatever, we challenged each other to do it right, or to do it better. We weren't afraid to tell each other when things needed to be fixed.

Persistence is when we got together to hold our own rehearsals outside of regular practices. How many of us gathered at each other's homes to go over some particularly difficult piece of music or equipment work? Most of us. Were the instructors there to help us? Probably not.

Ownership is each time one of us suggested something better, something extra we could be doing with drill, equipment work, or whatever. We weren't soley dependent on the powers in charge to create who we were. Our unique stamp as members was found in every part of what we did when we performed.

What a lesson ... thanks, Pic!

All for now -- corpsdially yours from jo!

Tuesday Trivia - September 25, 2007

It's Tuesday again!

Before we get underway, here's a Tuesday Tribute ... about 7 months ago, one of our members had an extraordinary idea -- to set up a tribute site to all the members of the Saints. Today, we pay tribute to Mark Chiocchi as he celebrates his birthday -- best wishes Rocky!!!


Now, last week's question and answer ...

• One of the songs in our repertoire that was NOT used in field competition was the Theme from the Mickey Mouse Club. Why did we learn it to begin with?
  
  The Woodbridge Center management requested it. They were bringing in Mickey Mouse as part of a promotion, and as our sponsor, they wanted us there to provide additional entertainment. It was such a hit that they repeated the promotion several times over the years.
  
  Another regular Woodbridge Center gig for us was playing just before their July 4th fireworks show (held a day or two before since the mall used to be closed for the holiday). That usually involved performing our field show while climbing over spectators who refused to stay behind field markers that were set up.

Winners?

• In first place, Rich (Ferd) Ponik: Wasn't it that Mickey Mouse was coming to Woodbridge Center?


• A close second was Mark (Peanuts) Scotto: If I remember correctly the Mickey Mouse song was played at some function in front of Woodbridge Center Mall. I remember being there, it was 1976 or 77. I also think I had a picture of that day which is posted in the photo section or it may have been someone else's.


• Most creative answer was Billy Meyer: To make fun of the National Judges Association, for their inability to recognize the greatness that was The Saints as compared to some lesser competitors. We played it each time we got sc**wed.
  [Side note from jo: While this really did happen, it wasn't the reason we added it to our repertoire. It just came in very handy for those types of situations, and not just in NJA!]

Now, for this week's question, compliments of Goober Chez:

• Name all the rooms in the Annex.
  [Side note from jo: Goober just wanted a count. That was WAY too easy! If you don't have a name for the room, a description of where it is and how it was (or is) used is acceptable.]

Submit your answers to joparente.saintsdrumcorps@gmail.com. Please use TRIVIA in the subject line or I may miss your response when it comes time to name the winners!

All for now -- corpsdially yours from jo!

A Night at the Annex

What a blast!

Whoever said you can't go home again?

A total of 29 of us gathered in the Annex last evening to do some reunion planning and catching up with each other -- 30 if you count Bob Matelski who happened to call Joyce Skibo while we were gathered. [Private note to Bobby -- see, I called you Bob, just like you asked!]

First -- for those in the greater New Jersey metropolitan area (or can be here) ... KEEP NOVEMBER 2ND (OR 3RD) OPEN!!!

In a nutshell, here's the plan ... full meeting minutes will be posted out on the Alumni Page of www.saintsdrumcorps.com later this weekend.

A suggestion was made and accepted to plan 2 reunion events -- regional mini-reunions this year, and a big bash reunion weekend in 2008 (yes, that's next year already!).

We chose the weekend closest to All Saints Day since it seemed appropriate (for those of you lacking access to a liturgical calendar, All Saints Day is November 1st). Main squeezes are invited (spouses optional!). Line up babysitters now -- while children will be welcome at the reunion weekend next year, the dinner in November is, by request of all present, just for the adults.

The reunion committee will be gathering in the Food Court at Menlo Park Mall on Friday, September 28 from 7 pm until they evict us. All are welcome -- come prepared to work! As they secure a site for the November festivities, more details (as well as a confirmation of the date) will be shared.

Pictures from last evening, as well as some treasures from Mike Wargo's collection, will be out on the site soon, so keep watching.

BTW, we checked out every unlocked nook and cranny of the Annex for any leftover Saints stuff -- the only thing we found, believe it or not, were all 9 of our flag line stanchions ...

Here's who joined us:

• Patty Antol
• Jackie Bodzas
• Linda Burke Andel
• Stoney Comprido
• Goober Chez
• Pete Chez
• Pete Crafts
• Gary Ragu Chiocchi (and wife, Lisa)
• Pebbles Chiocchi
• Rocky Chiocchi (birthday boy!)
• Karen DeAndrea Aldiero
• Terry Gyorfy Wooding
• Priscilla French Lyons
• Bobby Matelski (by phone)
• Billy Meyer
• Rene Meyer DeLucia
• Denise Normandia Dube
• JoAnne Parente
• Karen Parente
• Jimmy Piccolo
• Ferd Ponik
• Kathy Ponik Donnelly
• Debbie Reybert Bartlett
• Mark Peanuts Scotto
• Tom Seeland
• Joyce Skibo Andrechick
• Darlene Stover Dziowgo
• Red Wardlow
• Mike Wargo

From left to right ...
Standing: Wargo, Peaches, Kathy Ponik, Denise, Goober, Priscilla, Rene, Patty, Red, Karen DeAndrea,
Pebbles, Joyce, Terry, Karen Parente, JoAnne, Linda, Debbie
Sitting / Kneeling: Stoney, Mongo, Ferd, Tom, Ragu, Pete Crafts, Darlene, Peanuts, Rocky, Pic, Jackie

A larger version of this picture can be found out on www.saintsdrumcorps.com, Photo Gallery 8, page 8

All for now -- corpsdially yours from jo!

Tuesday Trivia - September 4, 2007

This week's Tuesday Trivia is something just about anyone who ever marched with the Saints should be able to answer, at least in part. First, last week's questions and answers:

• What was the Saints Spring Festival of N.O.I.S.E?
  A member-run individuals / quartet competition (rifle, sabre, horns, drums)
• Where was the first one held?
  Our Lady of Peace School Cafeteria
• How many times was it held?
  Twice
• What did N.O.I.S.E. stand for?
  No one individual sounds ensemble ... we actually came up with NOISE before we had a meaning for it.

We had one contestant, and one winner ... Jackie Bodzas's response was:

• N.O.I.S.E. - No One Individual Sounds Ensemble
  (Although I always thought it should stand for: No One Individual Sounds Equal)
• It was an individual and quartet competition for Horn/Drum/Harmonica/Rifle/Saber
• was at Our Lady Of Peace Church Cafeteria on April 20,1974
• I think there was only one held.

Jackie, you were close -- the second one was held in 1975 ... do you still have the sample score sheets for the harmonica competition?

This week's Tuesday Trivia ... while mostly everyone should get at least some of the questions right, there's enough of an additional challenge for our veteran Tuesday Trivia competitors!

The weekend after Labor Day was, back when we marched together, the end of the summer season for corps in NJ. The question, in nine parts:

• Part 1: In what city were the competitions held?
• Part 2: What was the name of the field where the competitions were held?
• Part 3: What two field competitions were held that weekend?
• Part 4: Who was the weekend's sponsor?
• Part 5: Who was our first sponsor?
• Part 6: Who was our last sponsor?
• Part 7: What were you required to do on Saturday afternoon?
• Part 8: Besides the reviewing stand, what was one required "stop and play" location for the parade?
• Part 9: Where did most of us go on Saturday evening?

Send your responses by Monday, September 10th, to joparente.saintsdrumcorps@gmail.com. PLEASE use Trivia in the subject line ... thanks!

All for now -- corpsdially yours from jo!

Wednesday Wishful Thinking ... the reunion

Well, I'm starting to notice yet another pattern in my blogging. About mid-week, I start to get into the wishful thinking mode. The theme is usually focused on something I wish I could do, or change, with little to no effort.

I embraced change long ago -- kind of a prerequisite for the type of work I do these days. I have to admit, though, that sometimes my stamina for the journey can lag my mental enthusiasm ...

Anyway, getting back to this week's theme -- the reunion -- I really wish I could just snap my fingers and be able to attend it, with all of you present, before the end of the year. As optimistic as I am, I'm not delusional! Well, not totally ... I do believe the Yankees still have a chance to snag the AL East flag this year, but that's another story that has to do with my Uncle Chubby (we'll save that one for October!).

What could almost make the reunion happen as easily as snapping our fingers?

• If you're in the area, attend the reunion planning meeting on September 21st. Just having the chance to be back in the Annex should be enticement enough!
• Second, whether you'll be at the meeting or not, watch for the agenda next week. There will be questions to answer and some research to be done before we gather. The more pre-meeting work we take care of, the quicker we can get the reunion nailed down.
• Third, go through the Monday MatchUps out here in Saints Scribblings (tech hint: click on the 2007 to the right at the top of the Articles List, and you'll be able to scroll down through all the blog entries for the year). If there's someone on the list you know how to contact, go ahead and do it! Shy? Let us know and we'll contact them for you (we won't even disclose your name if you don't want us to!).
• Finally, keep watching the Home Page, Guest Book, and Alumni Association pages out on www.saintsdrumcorps.com for updates.

Thanks!

All for now -- corpsdially yours from jo!

Tuesday Trivia - August 28, 2007

Hey There Tuesday Trivia Fans!

First, last week's question and answer ...

• Chris Quadt, one of our first drum majors and member of our horn line, was not an original member. As a matter of fact, one of the membership rules had to be changed to allow her and others to join. What was the rule?
  
  The rule was that our members had to be parishioners of Our Lady of Peace Church in Fords. Chris wasn't a parishioner.

We had two winners this week: Priscilla French Lyons and Althea Mazar ... prizes, prizes, we have no prizes for our winners! Another submission came from someone I'm choosing to leave nameless -- the guess had something to do with hair color ...

Now, for this week's question:

Music in Splendor was the name of our summer competition, and Flying Silks was the NJA show we held each year. Here's a four-parter:

• What was the Saints Spring Festival of N.O.I.S.E?
• Where was the first one held?
• How many times was it held?
• What did N.O.I.S.E. stand for?

For those who weren't marching then, most of the answers are available on www.saintsdrumcorps.com ...

Send those cards and letters in with your answers by Labor Day!

All for now -- corpsdially yours from jo!

Monday MatchUps - Bottoms Up!

It's Monday MatchUps time again!

A quick couple of words of gratitude, first, goes to all of you who have asked about members not yet featured here, have sent in suggestions on how to track down people, or have gone out and done it yourselves! You're all Saints for helping out ...

Today's list was created by going through my spreadsheet from the bottom up to identify members who still haven't been in touch with www.saintsdrumcorps.com. They're also listed in reverse alphabetical order because, as a tall kid throughout my days attending OLP, I know what it's like to always be told that the short kids (or, in this case, the beginning of the alphabet) get to line up first. Pass along your suggestions on how to find them to joparente.saintsdrumcorps@gmail.com.

• Susan Zygmond (color guard)
• John Whyte (drum line)
• Dale Whealton (drum line)
• Andy Vescey (horn line)
• Mike Torio (drum line)
• Tom Thomas (horn line)
• Charlie Stroppel (horn line)
• Brian Sterling (horn line)
• Art Stephens (the Art Stephens who was NOT the brother of Robin and Cheryl)
• Craig Stephens (horn line)

For those of you who are local to Fords, don't forget -- meeting at the Annex on Friday, September 21, 2007, from 7 - 9 pm to plan the reunion!!!

All for now -- corpsdially yours from jo!