Issue:  May, 2001

Carolina Crown Food Truck Receives “Face-Lift”

Teri Brinson, Food Service Coordinator

    Cleaning the inside was just the first step in renovations to the food truck this year.  New shelving is being installed in the front, thanks to Gail Hollon; the old linoleum has been removed to allow some much need repairs on the flooring and new linoleum; and the outside will sport a fresh new coat of paint after repairs to the side door and serving window. When completed, we'll have the best looking food truck on the road this summer! Everyone will want to come eat with us, at least until they taste my cooking!

    A special thanks to all those who pitched in and worked so hard to make all this possible:  Ben Brinson, Lisa Camann, Luanne Bialecki, Alan Whitney, Jamie Lawson, Angie Slatton, Moe Smith, Chip Smith, Kevin Smith, Brian Bambauer, David Whitesides, and of course, our trusted and wonderful Mr. Fix-it, Larry Gibson.

2001 Carolina Crown Percussion Faculty

Paul Rennick has a B.S. in Music Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a M.M. in Performance from the University of North Texas.  He is on the percussion faculty at the University of North Texas and also Texas A&M University-Commerce.  He has been director and arranger of the eleven-time national champion University of North Texas Indoor Drum line since 1989.  Paul has been percussion arranger and caption head for the Concord Blue Devils, Sky Riders, and Velvet Knights Drum and Bugle Corps. Paul is a member of the P.A.S. Marching Committee and works as a clinician/endorser for Innovative Percussion, Remo Inc., and the Avedis Zildjian Co.  This is Paul’s fourth year as percussion caption head and arranger for Carolina Crown.

    Allen Joanis has performed as a member of the 1993 DCI World Champions the Cadets of Bergen County Drum and Bugle Corps and the 1995 Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps. He has also performed as a member of the 1998 Percussive Arts Society College Drum line Champion the University of North Texas. He was the 1998 Percussive Arts Society's College Snare Drum Individuals Contest Runner-up. Allen served as the visual caption head for the 1998 Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps and as the percussion caption head for the 1999 Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. Allen has designed drill and written percussion arrangements for bands all across the United States. He is currently in his 8th season as an arranger, drill designer, adjudicator and clinician. He has served the past four years as percussion coordinator and designer for the Dobyns-Bennett High School percussion section. Under Allen's direction, Dobyns-Bennett finished as the 1999 Percussive Arts Society's High School Drum line Competition Runner-Up and as a WGI Scholastic World Finalist. Allen has served as a member of the Carolina Crown percussion staff from 2000 to present.

    Kurry Seymour is currently working on his Masters in Music at West Virginia University.  His experience with drum corps has been with the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps where he marched under Mark Thurston in 1993 and 1994.  In addition to teaching with Carolina Crown for what will be his second year, Kurry also enjoys teaching privately as a percussion graduate assistant for WVU and as a private teacher for his students in the Morgantown area.

    Teddy Holcomb joins Carolina Crown from Botetourt, VA, where he attended and graduated from Lord Botetourt High School in 1996. After graduating, he met up with Allen Joanis and moved to Lynchburg, VA to teach at E.C. Glass High School ('96-'97). That summer (1997) Teddy marched in the Bass Line for The Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps.  He then moved to Kingsport, TN to begin working with Dobyns-Bennett High School ('97-'01) and other area groups including Sullivan North High School ('00-'01) and the East Tennessee State University Bass Line ('99). Taking a year off from Drum Corps, Teddy went back to march and age-out in 1999 with the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps, marching in the Bass Line. He also marched with the WGI indoor percussion ensemble Music City Mystique out of Nashville, TN, ('99-'00). After Teddy’s inaugural year with Carolina Crown, he plans to move back to Virginia to work with area high schools.

   Jeremy Gomez, cymbal tech,  is currently studying percussion at the University of North Texas.  He is an active drum set player in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area as well as a performer with the North Texas Steel Band, Drum line, South Indian Cross-Cultural Ensemble, and Lab Bands. Jeremy also studies South Indian drumming and recently went to India to see the music first hand. He has been on staff at Crown since 1998.

   Sandi Sheuerman has a B.M. in percussion performance from the University of North Texas and is currently working toward her Master degree in music performance.  This is Sandi’s fourth year with the corps as the front ensemble instructor and mallet specialist.  She has studied with Leigh Howard Stevens, Ed Soph, and Hsin-Yi Wu.  Sandi spent much of last year performing with Star of Indiana’s “Blast” in London.

    Mark Teal, 22, is currently finishing up a music education degree from the University of North Texas after transferring from East Carolina University.  Mark has studied percussion from Paul Rennick, Mark Ford, Christopher Deane, Ed Smith, and Jon Metzger.  At the University of North Texas he has participated in the Wind Symphony, Percussion Ensembles, and the UNT Indoor Drum line.  He has also performed in master classes, concerts and clinics with Robert Van Sice, Bob Becker, Paul Wertico, Evelyn Glennie, and Janis Potter. Mark was a member of the Carolina Crown front ensemble for four years (96, 98, 99, 00) where he served as section leader for the last three of those years.

Carolina Crown Hosts 2nd Annual York County Middle School Honor Band

    On April 20 and 21, 2001, Carolina Crown hosted the second annual York County Middle School Honor Band.  Ninety-five seventh and eighth grade students from eight participating schools attended the two-day event. 

    Dr. Larry Marks, Director of Bands at the University of North Carolina Charlotte, served as the event's guest conductor and clinician.  The event culminated with a forty-minute concert on Saturday afternoon with nearly two hundred parents, friends, and supporters in attendance.

    Participating schools include Saluda Trail Middle, Harold C. Johnson Middle, Fort Mill Middle, Rawlinson Road Middle, Sullivan Middle, Gold Hill Middle, York Junior High, and Clover Junior High.

    Special thanks goes to the following people for making this event a tremendous success and Carolina Crown's largest Honor Band event to date:  Myra Amler, Deloris Benn, Brian Burkett, Mike Doll, Jocquin Fuller, Kirk Godbey, Mitchell Hopper, Danny Leonard, Martin Dickey (Ft. Mill High School Band), and Jeffrey Sligh (Rock Hill Arts Council).

Mark Your Calendars for NightBEAT 2001!

Keith Miller, Co-Chair

    As I sit to write this I'm amazed to realize that the 2001 season is almost here!!  That means that it is time to mark your calendars and think about your ticket orders for NightBEAT 2001, as the show is EXACTLY 97 days away!!

     Now in its 14^th year, NightBEAT has grown to one of DCI’s oldest, largest and most respected shows on the DCI summer tour. It has become a favorite of local fans and a benchmark show for other promoters across the country. 

     For 2001, we look to continue this pedigree of excellence and also provide a few new surprises that have not been there before!  Look for the return of the NightBEAT Marketplace and the BLASTZONE with some new and innovative additions this year!  We will also have other prize drawings and promotions.  We are also planning a special guest for pre-show and intermission entertainment!! 

     This years show is scheduled for Thursday, August 2^nd at 7:30pm.  Once again the show is at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte. 

    This years lineup looks to provide memories to take its place with those of years past:  Santa Clara Vanguard, Madison Scouts, Blue Knights, Glassmen, Carolina Crown, JSU Spirit – formerly Spirit of Atlanta, Kiwanis Kavaliers

     Ever since their memorable first appearance in 1997, the Santa Clara Vanguard consider Charlotte one of their favorite destinations.  The Madison Scouts have become another fan favorite that look forward to performing at NightBEAT.  Not to mention NightBEAT is the annual homecoming of our own Carolina Crown, which makes for an emotional evening every year!

    Please click on the NightBEAT section of the website for ticket details.  Call the office now to order the best seats in the house at (803)547-2665.  If you are not on our mailing list for ticket information, please let us know via email or phone so that we can add you.  We will do a mailing at the beginning of June.  We will also be selling advance tickets at Crown Preview night on June 22^nd.

 Look forward to seeing you this summer!!!

The Excitement Grows

David Roth, Drum Major

    Not that I'm counting, but there are only 53 more days until "move in"!  (As of when I'm writing this).  It seems that so much is happening, and that the excitement, the anticipation, the expectations - everything is growing as we head into the final stretch of the Winter camps (though it is most definitely Spring now) and start preparing for Everydays.

    We found out recently that the hornline will be playing on Bb horns this summer, we had our first public performance at the last camp (on March 31st), and the hornline received the first half to the closer, "Metal."  On top of that, new members continue to show up and express a desire to march with Crown this summer, and the quality of our rehearsals and performances continues to improve!

    So, as things continue to roll right along, and as the beginning of the summer nears, it is important that we as members continue to focus on improving ourselves and preparing ourselves (mentally, physically, musically, etc.) for the next few months.  In 53 more days, things are going to move incredibly fast, and the more we prepare now, the better off we will be.   Loraine and I are extremely excited (as, I think everybody is) about the upcoming year, and we look forward to seeing everybody at the next camp.   Keep up the good work!

See you on the field!

"The Crowd Was ON FIRE" - (as misquoted in the Charlotte Observer)

Volunteer Profile of the Month

    Isn't it funny how sometimes the simplest of things can make you remember something, or someone, and just smile?  Well, with the volunteer we would like to profile in this issue, there are a truckload of them!

   Doug Madar has been a driving force of the Carolina Crown organization since our initial meeting at Holiday Inn - Woodlawn in 1988.  Even at the initial meeting, many of us were amazed how he turned from being just one of the attendees interested in finding out what this new organization was all about, to the one who really ran the meeting, and the driving force behind getting things moving for us.  As fellow board member Andy Crews recently remarked, "I have always thought of Doug as one of the more powerful catalysts in the organization, especially in the formative years."

    "Doug is one of the few existing Crown volunteers whose involvement dates back to B.C. (before corps, that is)", remarks Crown's 1st President Bill Loelius.  "In the early days it was Doug's "shmoozing" that built a relationship with the City of Charlotte and its Parks and Recreation Department that was absolutely critical to our future.  In those days we had no product, no tradition, no reputation, no source of income (except the occasional garage sale), and nothing to offer but an idea...but Doug's passion and enthusiasm for the activity filled the void.  He was able to convince the City "big-wigs" to provide us with office space, storage facilities, practice areas, and Memorial Stadium--all free of charge."

    It was Doug who spent countless lunch hours wearing-out drum corps promotional videos on a portable TV/VCR to gain the support of local business leaders and politicians who were willing (or could be coaxed) to share the vision--and his efforts paid dividends.  It was Doug's gravelling at the Optimist club that provided the $500 seed money to buy Crown's first equipment...an abused set of drums from a defunct Florida corps.  And it was his connection at Ludwig that swapped them for a brand new set---all for no charge.

    And his ambitious efforts were not just externally directed.  Who could forget the 3-G's..."Give, Get, or Get-Out", which epitomizes Doug's no-nonsense style and approach to volunteerism, and a philosophy still followed by the organization today!

    Doug is, of course, best known for his involvement in NightBEAT, and rightly so.  After all, NightBEAT is synonymous with excellence and recognized year after year as one of the most successful drum corps shows in the activity.  Thousands of fans have been exposed and turned on to Drum Corps as a result of Doug's efforts and the success of NightBEAT.  From the all-to-important financial sense, NightBEAT has raised over a HALF MILLION DOLLARS for Carolina Crown and it's affiliated programs during its twelve years, and also serves as a nice shot in the arm to the local economy through motel rooms, restaurant patronage, stadium concession and parking fees, fuel sales, bulk food purchases by the corps, etc.  This is no accident; as although NightBEAT takes many volunteers to pull off, it has had the luxury of being lead by one very charismatic and dedicated volunteer!  And don't think Doug is also not afraid to get his hands dirty, as is evidenced by his annual NightBEAT "trial to the death", and his "Rambo-esque" bandanna that has become a tradition of  show day activity.

    We at times tend to take NightBEAT and the success of the drum corps for granted, but without Doug you can believe we wouldn't be in the same excellent position as an organization we are in today.  He has maintained uninterrupted support of Carolina Crown, at times even at potential personal and professional risk.  For that, we are all both amazed and very, very thankful!  Who knows, the Marion Cadets, whom he at one time directed, might have been 3-time World Champions by now had Doug never moved to Charlotte!

    Whether its speaking to potential sponsors, overseeing NightBEAT, "merchandising" a garage sale, hawking raffle tickets, working concessions at Blockbuster (or Lowe's Motorspeedway, or Ericsson Stadium, or...), or pouring beer at Center City Fest, Doug Madar is the man (even if he's alittle later than he promised when he gets there!).  Simply stated, anything that Doug can do to help Carolina Crown, Doug does!  From the very beginning, Doug has done, and done, and continues to do--and the BEAT goes on.

Doug Madar... one "Faaabulous!" volunteer!

(Compiled from the fond memories of fellow board members and close friends Andy Crews, Luanne Bialecki, Bill Loelius, Carol Srdar and Kevin Smith.)

Why B Flat?  The Makings of a Major Organizational Decision...

Kevin Smith, Executive Director

    Some of you may be wondering why Carolina Crown recently made the decision to purchase a new set of brass instruments keyed in B flat (i.e., trumpets) and F, rather than G bugles that have been the traditional instruments of our activity for as long as any of us can remember?  And, why did we decide to do it now?

    Any of you whom have followed our organization since its inception 13 years ago have undoubtedly figured out that this was not a decision that was taken lightly, or without many hours of careful analysis.  I would like to take this opportunity to share with you why we think this decision was in the organization's best interest.

    Some reasons why changing to B flat/F instruments makes sense include:

- the activity is moving in this direction as evidenced by the two Division I corps who played these instruments last year (I bet you couldn't tell the difference!), and the fact that as many as 6-8 will be playing them in 2001

- easing our members' ability to transfer from their band activities to
Carolina Crown... no more Friday night "trials and tribulations" at camps trying to get use to the conversion to G bugles after a month of being back home playing on their band instrument

- being able to have plenty of horns for crowded early camps since members can bring and play their own band instruments

- increased life span of our horns due to less wear and tear because we no longer will have any need to send home the horns to practice on

- expanding our partnerships with bands by 1) filling their requests for using our horns during marching band season (we already have requests for baritones and mellophones, and we don't even have our horns yet!), and 2) being able to do more joint performances with local bands, like the Fest-i-Fun Parade on May 5th that we will be performing in with the Ft. Mill HS Band

    So why did we choose now to make this move?  For three very simple reasons:

- we needed, and were scheduled to replace our oldest low brass horns plus G-converters for tubas (yes, they're actually tubas converted to bugles through the use of these very expensive, and flimsy converters) at a cost approaching $10,000.  The question we asked... does it make sense to spend this kind of money on horns, and parts of horns that in the matter of a couple of years may be "extinct" in our activity?

- financially speaking, 1) we were blessed with enough donations from our always great donors to make a down-payment on a new set of horns; 2) President Chip Smith negotiated a very favorable loan on the remainder of the cost of the set from our new banking partner National Bank of York County; and 3) similar to the way percussion companies have stepped up to sponsor corps over the years through low priced (or better) equipment, Dynasty USA stepped up with a great deal for Carolina Crown on the 54 new instruments (and they're even throwing in a loaner set until our "Tune-Any-Note" models arrive).

- the bugle resale market is about to drop through the floor given the number of corps switching to the B Flat/F instruments, and when it does, our bugles will be worth much less than they are today

    Based on all of the above, the Executive Committee of Carolina Crown voted unanimously that it would be in the best interests of our organization to make this move for 2001.  We hope, after reading this, you understand how we came to make this decision!

Calling All Volunteers!

Dear Crown Parent,

    For those of you I have not had the pleasure of meeting yet, let me introduce myself.  My name is Teri Brinson and in essence, I will be the closest thing to a mother your child will have with them on tour this summer. 

   All three of my children have marched with Carolina Crown and my daughter is starting her 4th year.  Over the years I have witnessed the positive changes that being in Crown has made in my children's lives and many other young men and women just like them.  I started volunteering for short periods 5 years ago, and for the past 3 years, I have traveled with the corps for the entire summer tour.  I am the person your children will be talking about when they call home and talk about how bad the food is...I am in charge of feeding them.

      Feeding, attending to medical needs, washing and repairing uniforms and sometimes, just giving a hug for encouragement, or a shoulder to cry on, is all part of my "job" description.  I have never done anything more rewarding in my life.  These are some of the finest young men and women in our world today, and giving my time is the least I can do. Yes, I have a job, a husband, and a "real life", but what is 7 weeks out of 52 if I can be a part of making a difference in one child's life?

    Unfortunately though, I can't do it alone.  Carolina Crown is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers to provide this experience for these young men and women.  We need your help.  Now I know that most of you don't have bosses like mine that will just give you 7 weeks off, but most of you probably have a week's vacation stored away. Why not spend it this summer with your child and volunteering for a good cause.  I promise you, you won't regret it.  You get to travel to many different cities and see some great shows, all at no cost to you.  We affectionately call our summer tour the "Bed and Breakfast Tour".  You bring your bed, we'll let you cook breakfast!

    A few weeks ago, a mailer went out requesting help for the summer.  To date, we have two volunteers.  The quality of the experience your child will have this summer is directly proportionate to the number of volunteers on tour.

     I've made all the excuses myself, I can't get off work, I can't leave home for that long, I can't sleep on a floor in a sleeping bag, I can't sleep on a bus, I can't cook, etc., etc. and I overcame all of them and you can too.

   We need your help.  Your child needs your help.  Please, review the following dates again and see if you can't find a few days to give us and email your form to the corps office, crown@carolinacrown.org. If you have any questions concerning volunteering or tour, please feel free to email me or call me during the day at 912-489-8621 or in the evenings at 912-739-4611.

    I am looking forward to spending the summer with your child and to working with you!

Teri Brinson,
Food Service Coordinator

If interested, please cut-and-paste this form and email to crown@carolinacrown.org or print and mail to Carolina Crown, 227A Main St., Ft. Mill, SC  29715.

NAME:
ADDRESS:


EMAIL ADDRESS:
HOME PHONE:
WORK PHONE:

What would you like to do?

____    Food Service
____    CDL Driver
____    Mechanic
____    Seamstress
____    Nurse/Trainer

Please indicate your first and second choices of the following weeks:

____    Block 1 - Ft Mill - June 22 to East Rutherford - June 30
____    Block 2 - East Rutherford - June 30 to Hershey PA - July 7
____    Block 3 - (2 weeks) Hershey, PA - 7/7 to San Antonio - 7/21
____    Block 3A - (3 weeks) Hershey - 7/7 to Winston Salem - 7/30
____    Block 4 - Winston Salem - July 30 to Philadelphia - August 4
____    Block 5 - Philadelphia - August 4 to Ft. Mill,SC - August 12

IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO PARTICIPATE FOR AN ENTIRE BLOCK WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO ACCOMMODATE YOUR AVAILABILITY!  ANY AMOUNT OF TIME YOU CAN DONATE WOULD BE APPRECIATED!