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AAlluummnnii AAssssoocciiaattiioonn Southeastern Connecticut

Volume 9 – Number 1 December 2012

Drum Corps – You have to do it – to know it…

The 7th Regiment drum line showing the passion of competition at the

2012 World Class Championship prelims held in Indianapolis, IN Photo Credit: Kathleen Schassler

The 7th Regiment breaks new ground in 2012 with their first top 5 finish in the Open Class of the DCI Championships!

This makes four years in a row as a finalist, a true accomplishment to the corps members, instructors, and support staff of this fine organization.

It was said that even though the 7th was a smaller corps in numbers on the field, these kids could compete with any members of any corps. The musical score and field presentation is top notch!

Editorial…

Editorial Swan Song…

With this edition of the SAA Newsletter, I have completed 10 years of service as the newsletter editor. The hope when starting this newsletter was to capture the growth, progress, and events of the fledgling new drum corps sponsored by the alumni of the Surfers, Whalers, and Sword Excalibur drum corps whom had previously graced the parade routes and competition fields of yesteryear! Also to capture any news of the SAA Alumni itself. Our newsletter has seen this fledgling drum corps grow with talent and pride through these 10 years, to a corps that has been a DCI finalist the past 4 years, and a top 5 finisher this past year – a truly great accomplishment for all involved! With today’s electronic technologies, one may wonder why we issue the newsletter in a hard copy format. Well, as technology changes, things become obsolete – the days of floppy disks and 3-1/2” disks are history, new computers do not support those options anymore. The methods used today will one day also become obsolete, and sometimes the data created by it is also lost. The hard copy of the newsletter can be stored away as a keepsake of a special time for all involved and for future generations to read, and is always there to recapture the accomplishments of the past. It has been an honor to be of service to this organization, with the finest people and greatest corps members. This past year showed me that it is time for me to move on. The technologies used to track everyday moments of the 7th Regiment during the 2012 season were great to those who couldn’t be with the corps on a daily basis. My skills and hardware are not up-to-date with today’s capabilities, so I truly hope that whoever fills the newsletter editor slot will utilize new methods to provide the 7th Regiment “Nation” with the continuing storyline of the passions and accomplishments well into the future. Again, thank you for allowing me to serve the SAA in this capacity, I will always be a fan of the 7th Regiment and look forward to all the ground breaking milestones I know they will accomplish. I want to also thank those who contributed to the newsletter over the past 10 years, and especially to Barbara DeLillo, who was my eyes and ears, and provider of much of the data and news contained in these newsletter as I penned each issue from my keyboard in Florida. Go 7th Regiment…!!!

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Surfer’s Alumni Association P.O. Box 64

New London, CT 06320

Phone: 860-442-DRUM

Board of Directors

President: Birse Timmons

Vice President: Paula O’Neill

Secretary: Daisy Johnson

Treasurer: Edgar Frazelle

7th Regiment Director:

Tim Rall

Asst. Director 7th Regiment: Jim O’Neil

Media/Technology: Barbara DeLillo

Newsletter Editor: Open Letters to the Editor eMail: Pending…

Newsletter Staff: Barbara DeLillo

Visit your Web Site…

www.7thregiment.org This site has all the news and activities going on with the Surfer’s Alumni Association and the 7

th Regiment Drum & Bugle

Corps. Also, plenty of photos and links to other favorite Drum & Bugle Corps sites. Visit the guest book register and look up old friends – and don’t forget to sign your name!

The 7th Regiment competed in 11 competitions in June through August of 2012. The DCI Open Class Prelims and Final National Championships were held again at Michigan City, Indiana. As a 9th year corps, the 7th Regiment became a “TOP 5” Open Class Corps! Scores remained in the mid 80’s – another great year!

For the Record…. Official 2012 Corps Scoreboard…

June 29th, 2012 Glen Falls, NY

Open Class Score

1. 7th Regiment 59.40 June 30th, 2012

Lynn, MA Open Class Score

1. 7th Regiment 64.20 2. Spartans 64.00

July 1st, 2012 New Haven, CT

Open Class Score

1. 7th Regiment 64.70 1. Spartans 64.70

July 6th, 2012 Quincy, MA

Open Class Score

1. Spartans 67.60 2. 7th Regiment 66.95

July 15th, 2012 Manchester, NH

Open Class Score 1. Spartans 79.20 2. 7th Regiment 78.90 3. Raiders 71.80 4. Les Stentors 53.50

July 30th, 2012

Erie, PA Open Class Score

1. Org. Crusaders 88.50 2. Vanguard Cad. 85.00 3. 7th Regiment 81.30 4. Music City 76.90 5. Raiders 75.45 6. Blue Saints 60.60

July 31st, 2012 Johnsonburg, PA

Open Class Score

1. Vanguard Cad. 86.70 2. 7th Regiment 83.15 3. Music City 80.05 4. Raiders 74.35 5. Blue Saints 59.65

August 3rd, 2012 Avon Lake, OH

Open Class Score

1. Org. Crusaders 89.75 2. Vanguard Cad. 87.35 3. 7th Regiment 83.95 4. Music City 80.95 5. Raiders 77.25 6. Blue Saints 58.65

August 4th, 2012 Niles, MI

Open Class Score

1. 7th Regiment 84.45 2. Genesis 82.90 3. Music City 81.90 4. Gold 81.60 5. Legends 80.95 6. Raiders 78.45 7. Colt Cadets 71.55 8. Les Stentors 63.05 9. Blue Saints 59.45

Rained Out:

X. Revolution X. Spartans X. Vanguard Cadets X. Blue Devils B X. Oregon Crusaders

August 6th, 2012 Michigan City, IN

DCI Open Class Prelims Open Class Score

1. Org. Crusaders 93.95 2. Blue Devils B 92.00 3. Vanguard Cad. 92.00 4. Spartans 90.00 5. 7th Regiment 86.20 6. Genesis 84.65 7. Gold 83.85 8. Legends 83.45 9. Music City 83.15 10. Raiders 79.45 11. Revolution 77.40 12. Colt Cadets 73.20 13. Les Stentors 63.90 14. Blue Saints 60.90

August 7th, 2012 Michigan City

DCI Open Class Finals

Open Class Score

1. Org. Crusaders 95.25 2. Blue Devils B 93.85 3. Vanguard Cad. 93.80 4. Spartans 91.15 5. 7th Regiment 86.35 6. Genesis 85.50 7. Gold 84.30 8. Legends 83.95 9. Music City 83.85 10. Raiders 82.00 11. Revolution 78.50 12. Colt Cadets 75.40 Exhibition:

X. Blue Saints

X. Les Stentors

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Donate to the 7th

Regiment through your United Way Campaign If you contribute to the United Way at your job, then you have the opportunity to help out the 7th Regiment! When filling out the paper work for your donation, you can check off “Other” and write in the Surfers Alumni Association. Your contributions would then go directly to helping out the corps. There are several people doing this and what a thrill it is to know that your monies would be going to such a worthwhile cause.

Visit the 7th Regiment Website and click on the link “SUPPORT” on the left side and you will see other opportunities to help out with the corps… Thanking you in advance…!!!

The 7th Regiment held their Annual Banquet on October 28, 2012 at the Elks Lodge with over 120 in attendance. Guest

speaker for the evening was Andrew

Mastronunzio, A drum corps and band activist since 1995 as a player and an instructor for the 7th Regiment

Andrew gave a motivational speech on why we do what we do in drum corps was very moving and how it relates to life in general.

For those 7th members who aged out this year, presentations were made to them to thank them for all their hard work and dedication to the corps. The annual “Superlatives” – a tradition amongst the corps members is as follows:

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2012 7th

Regiment Banquet

Best Smile Guy – Tony Madore Girl – Lesley Snay

Best Attitude Guy – Will Stocker Girl – Dana Brown

Most Spirited Guy – Mike Vita Girl – Alexis Waller

Most Talkative Guy – Nate Thaller Girl – Nancy Killoran

Corps Clown Guy – Mike Zajac Girl – Hayley Fitch

Most likely to put their kids through the corps Guy – Gage Brown Girl – Nancy Killoran

Most Accident Prone Guy – Nate Gomes Girl – Natasha Ethel Berg

First in Food Line Guy – Sean Rahusen Girl – Dana Brown

Next Super Instructor Guy – Mike Vita Girl – Caitlin Kenney

Cutest Couple Jon Bailey & Grace Valley

Best Bromance Gage Brown & Mike Vita

Most Improved Guy – Will Simms Girl – Jordan Kaiser

Rookie of the Year Guy – Jon Bailey Girl – Chrissy Nadeau

7th

Member of the Year Guy – Jamil Jorge

Girl – Caitlin Kenney

2012 7th Regiment Banquet Group Photo

2012 – A Year to Remember…

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“Do you ever wonder why we’re here? I don’t

mean here on this planet, but of all the possible

ways to spend a huge amount of time, why in the

world would we pick drum corps? Performing is

fun, but 99% of the time spent with the corps is

not performing. There must be other reasons to

do it. I’ve been asked many times why I do it, so

I’ve had lots of time to think about it. Eventually I

realized- Everything I need to know in life, I

learned in corps.”- Andrew Mastronunzio, 2012

7th Banquet Speaker

“7th Regiment is amazing,

loved the show!” – Barbara

McAleer Whetstone

“That was so amazing, 7th

you Rock. So very proud of

all of you.” – Cindy Stocker

“7th Regiment continues to

exceed expectations…” - Ken Mason - Drum Corps World

“The growth and maturity of

this corps over the past few

years is most impressive…”

- Michael Carlson - Drum

Corps World

“The brass line has a lot of power even though

they are a smaller size. Regiment’s percussion

line really came to play this season and these

guys have a pretty cool stage presence…” - William Aldrich-Thorpe - Drum Corps World

“I didn’t get to see you but my heart was

with you! Love to all and thanks for the

terrific season!...” – Marianne McQuiston-

Hood Champagne

“A little sad the last

performance is

done. They looked

fabulous!...” – Polly

Pimentel Zajac

“7th, you were

BRILLIANT in

Indy!!!...” – Trish Hanlon

Teel

“Amazing Job!

So glad to see

you guys throw

down, simply

Amazing…” – Elizabeth

Brayman

Pictures from Bambi Rowland’s Gallery

Photo from The Day paper

* * S.A.A. 2012 Member Spotlight * *

Caitlin Kenney, a member of the color guard, spent the last five years with 7th Regiment, two of those as color guard captain. She participated in Open Class Individual and Ensemble competition in 2010, 2011, and 2012, winning first place in the Flag Ensemble category with fellow color guard member Lesley Snay in 2012. Caitlin also aged out in this 2012 season. She spent four years in her high school marching band in North Attleboro, MA. She is now helping teach the Central Bucks High School South Marching Titans. Other than color guard, Caitlin has also played the oboe for 12 years in various ensembles throughout the Northeast. Today, Caitlin is studying Animal Biotechnology and Conservation at Delaware Valley College and will receive a B.S. in Wildlife Management and Conservation in May of 2013. As a part of her degree, Caitlin spent her summer weekdays interning at the Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford, MA where she was able to participate in daily activities with over 50 of the zoo’s animal species, including the two Asian Elephants, Emily and Ruth. Caitlin plans to attend graduate school, ultimately pursuing a career in field research. In her spare time, she loves reading, baking, hiking, and taking pictures.

CAITLIN KENNEY

Our 7th

Regiment

“Age Outs”

There are always mixed emotions when drum corps members age out. This year we honor from left to right: Caitlin Kenney, Jamil Jorge, Erick Mancebo, and Ray Smith. We thank you for your dedicated service and wish you all the best in the new chapters of life you will write after your days with the 7th Regiment.

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The 7th Regiment ran a super successful Open House on November 18, 2012 in New London, CT, with the following count: Horns 46, Drums 24, PIT 8, Color Guard 24 – total 102! Two more Open Houses are scheduled for Dec 2 in New Bedford, MA, and Dec 9 in Wethersfield, CT.

7th Regiment staff, instructors, old members and new prospective members, parents, and volunteers all shared in another exciting day of drum corps.

The DCI schedule shows 15 competitions on line for 2013, with 9 shows in the last 11 days of the schedule! This will be a big test for the veterans and the newcomers of the 7th Regiment. But for those of us who have followed this corps, there is no doubt that 2013 will bring on a bigger, better version of the Proud 7th Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps from New London, CT. 2013 season here we come…

7th

Regiment 2012/13 Camp, Rehearsals and Competitions

Schedules Camps:

December 14-16 January 11-13 February 8-10

March 8-10 April 5-7

May 3-5, 24-27

Rehearsals: Every Friday evening and

weekends when not performing. Weekdays – (Dates to be

announced)

Competitions: June 29 – Quincy, MA

June 30 – New Haven, CT July 3 – Bristol, RI July 5 – Lynn, MA

July 6 – Jackson, NJ July 20 – Manchester, NH

July 27 – Paw Paw, MI July 29 – Rice Lake, WI July 30 – Mason City, IA

July 31 – Spring Valley, IL August 1 - Niles, MI

August 2 – Johnsonburg, PA August 3 – Avon Lake, OH

August 5 – Michigan City, IN (DCI Open Class Prelims)

August 6 – Michigan City, IN (DCI Open Class Finals)

August 7 – Indianapolis, IN (Open Class Individuals)

Note: Additional dates for rehearsals, parades and other activities will be added – check the 7th Website, Schedule tab at the top of the home page for further information.

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Surfer’s Alumni Association P.O. Box 64

New London, CT

06320

7th Regiment - 2013 Instructors

VISUAL

Drill Designer/Program Coordinator: Stephen Lyons

Visual Caption Head/Designer/Staff Coordinator: Mark Maguire Visual Consultant: Johnny Amos Visual Instructors: John Ambrose Tegan Bryand

BRASS

Caption Head: Ray Fallon, Jr. Arranger: Jack Tully Brass Consultant: Aaron Goldberg Brass Instructors: Julio Cruz Joel Meltzer Kyle Thompson

PERCUSSION

Percussion Caption Head/ Front Ensemble Arranger: Michael Blancaflor

Percussion Instructors: Scott Daley Brendan Mason Colin Mason Tim Miller Dan Schack

Battery Coordinator/Arranger: Jeff Bickford

COLOR GUARD

Designer/Caption Head: Eric Schrader Guard Instructors: John Dooley Alicia Gorman Janell Moore Katie Racki

The 2013 SAA Membership Dues are Due Yearly membership costs are $20 per individual Life membership is $100 – make payments to:

“Surfers Alumni Association” and remit to: P.O. Box 64, New London, CT 06320

Your continued support is MOST appreciated

7th

Regiment Corps Merchandise for Sale

Order your 7th Regiment T-Shirts, cinch bags, hoodies, and hats today!!! Contact Leta Madore at Camps, Rehearsals, and DCI Competitions or email Leta at Psalm381@gmail.com