Some members were so excited about the new plumes and were so busy admiring them, they almost forgot to put them into their shako. The plumes made the corps look taller and much more professional.
DYNAMITE SHOW!!! We without a doubt had the best crowd response to date! But now, after such a long wait and all that work, the show seems to be over all too soon. We have lots of time to kill before retreat, and during this time get a chance to view some of the open class corps.
There must be a rule written somewhere that announcers for ODCA shows have to stall as long as possible during retreat in giving out the final scores. Or as any drum corps member might summarize it - retreat - long and boring. A typical retreat: "I'd like to thank.... and now a few words from.... we'd like to show our appreciation to.... we'll have the scores in just a minute folks.... and a very special thanks to...... .. and this years draw winner is....".
Coming off the field one can see the look of victory in everyone's eyes, and once outside the stadium, loud shouts of relief and happiness explode from everyone. It was hard, keeping the emotions under control, once the Ambassadors were announced in first place. But here it is! What everyone was working for the past 9 months, the win that so many people have worked for during the summer, and we have been lucky enough to receive the 'National Championship' title for the second consecutive year.
Everyone is in full swing no, people shouting, slapping each other even members of the other corps mingling.
Watching some of the instructors is amusing and maddening. Some of them talk within themselves, giving a smile and a good word to any members who happen to say something about the win. But you can tell what's on their minds by the way they gesture at each other, and it's enough to make you throw your hands helplessly in the air and shout "My God!" Only 15 mins. after retreat and they're already talking about next years' show!!
It's been a long (but successful summer). Now for something that I hope becomes a tradition - the Nationals Party, at the Summers'. (As to what happened here, ask around; memory grows short as to what did happen!!)
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On the first day of the '79 season, the instructors explained to the corps what goals that they had set for us. With our taking up almost all of their time, the Ambassadors came very close to fufilling these goals.
Although the corps was not as tight as it could have been throughout the, year, the instructors were always at work trying to get a better feeling of togetherness going through the corps. Perhaps if the members scialized a little more during non-corps time (like they did in "the old days") things might have been that much better.
.....the corps now works toward its future and getting bigger and stronger every year.
Maybe next year!? We'll see........
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Ambassadors 1979 Yearbook © 1979 Dan Brooks and Garry Summers