January camp info posted

Information for the January audition/rehearsal camp has been posted at colts.org. Or click here to go directly to the information page.

Don't forget. While you're at colts.org, be sure to RSVP for January camp. It makes planning easier and saves you money.

Merry Christmas, Colts!

Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

I hope you all got what you wanted for Christmas. Or, if you didn't get it, I hope it comes right after January camp.

The Colts Virtual Cooktruck Staff

David and Jody S., Bill, Rod, Jody G., Jim J., and Olaf

December camp video posted

There's a nice December camp posting over at colts.org -- which mentions a new camp video. Click here to see it.

David

Outside in December

You either have to love or hate the weather in Iowa. I do.

Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

December camp gallery

Pictures from last weekend's December audition camp are up. There's a December camp link under Photo Galleries in the right sidebar or click here to go directly to the first page.

There's also a mini-gallery of Colts December camp up today at dci.org. Look under the December audition camp briefs item.

David

Great camp!

Camp was fantastic with a big turnout of prospective Colts, great weather, and many old and new volunteer friends. I'll get to a more complete report and lots of thank you notes as soon as I can. But for now, here a picture from Sunday's premiere performance of the 2007 Colts, camp menus, and a weekend schedule to tide you over.

P.S. If you missed Sunday's performance, you missed a chance to hear this year's Colts play Freebird! and to see Gramma Mary leading the crazy volunteers in a real bleacher boogie!


Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Menu

Friday snack
Nachos
Peanut butter and jelly


Saturday breakfast
Pancakes
Sausage patties
Cereal
Peanut butter and jelly

Saturday lunch
Lettuce salad
Chicken breast
Mashed potatoes and gravy
Pudding cups
Peanut butter and jelly

Saturday dinner
Ravioli
Garlic bread
Corn
Peaches
Peanut butter and jelly

Saturday snack
Grilled cheese sandwich
Bowl of soup
Peanut butter and jelly

Sunday breakfast
Egg bake
Fresh fruit
Cereal
Peanut butter and jelly

Sunday lunch
Hamburgers
French fries
Green beans
Cakes
Peanut butter and jelly


Schedule
Friday, December 15, 2006
7:30 p.m. Registration begins; unload equipment and food
9 p.m. Full corps meeting in cafeteria
9:30 p.m. Rehearsal
Brass – cafeteria
Guard – multi-purpose room
Percussion – band room #163
Pit – hallway
10 p.m. Parents meeting
11:30 p.m. Snack; staff meeting
12:30 a.m. Lights out

Saturday, December 16, 2006
8 a.m. Wake/eat
8:15 a.m. Full staff meeting
9 a.m. All stretch in gym
9:45 a.m. Sections
10:45 a.m. Individual brass auditions begin
11:15 a.m. Snare visual in gym; bass/tenor/cymbal sectionals
12:30 a.m. Lunch brass
12:45 a.m. Lunch guard
1 p.m. Lunch percussion
1:30 p.m. High brass visual far gym; guard main gym; low brass cafeteria and individual auditions; percussion band room; front ensemble in hallway
3:30 p.m. Low brass visual far gym; high brass cafeteria and individual auditions
5:30 p.m. Dinner brass
5:45 p.m. Dinner guard and staff
6 p.m. Dinner percussion
6:15 p.m. Staff meeting
6:30 p.m. Full corps meeting in cafeteria
7 p.m. Guard (flags only) main gym; weapons auditions bus to Fulton Elementary; percussion sectionals; brass in cafeteria and auditions; pit in hallway
10:30 p.m. Bus departs Fulton with weapons
11 p.m. Snack
Midnight Lights out

Sunday, December 16, 2006
7:30 Wake/eat
8 a.m. Full staff meeting
8:30 a.m. Stretch
9:15 a.m. Guard multi-purpose room; brass cafeteria; percussion music wing; pit hallway
11:15 a.m. Lunch brass
11:30 a.m. Lunch guard
11:45 a.m. Lunch percussion; move personal items to cars during lunch as much as possible
12:30 p.m. Percussion music wing; guard main gym; brass cafeteria
1:30 p.m. Pit begin move to gym
2 p.m. Dog and Pony performance
3:15 p.m. Clean/pack/load. Those with long drives may leave at this time. Travel safely!
4 p.m. Dismissed

It's audition camp day!

And I'm not ashamed to admit that I, for one, am really pumped.

I could go on and on, but most of you know how excited I am -- and I'm figuring many of you are too -- so on to business.

REMEMBER TO CHECK colts.org before leaving home. There may be last-minute information posted there that you need to see. DON'T CHECK HERE. We're leaving home mid-afternoon, so updates will not be here. They'll be at colts.org. So check there. That's what we'll be doing.

David

Where are we today?

At Camp (Randall)


Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

More camp info at colts.org

There's some important camp check-in information on this page at colts.org. The new visual book is there too. Prospective members should print that out and bring it with them to camp.

David

Cooking, painting, etc.

Hi Colts volunteers!

Get ready for a big weekend as the Colts kick off 2007 on Friday with their first audition camp. (Go to colts.org for times and location and a map.)

As volunteers, we've got lots of jobs to cover this weekend. First priority is about 2000 meals to be cooked to feed all the great prospective Colts. (Nearly 300 had signed up by Monday.) You don't have to be a cook to cook. We need people to portion, serve, wash dishes, carry out trash, and clean tables too. Trust me, you have the skills to do this. Let us help you find YOUR spot with the Colts.

In addition to meals, we're also planning to paint the corps hall this weekend, so bring work clothes that you don't mind getting a little (or a lot of) paint on. Also, bring any tools you might have -- brushes, rollers, paint trays, drop cloths, etc. -- you think might help out.

Parents of first-time Colts: Please come to see what this crazy thing called drum corps is all about. If you don't, you'll miss a chance to share at least a small part of what could be a peak experience for your son or daughter. If you're not there, you won't really get what they're talking about when they come home excited, exhausted, and energized -- all at the same time. Don't miss this. As the corps says: No regrets.

If you do decide to come, please meet and talk to as many volunteers as you can. They are your best source of information about what drum corps will mean to you and your son or daughter.

And as long as you are here, you might as well pitch in and help. Wash a dish. Paint a wall. Stick on a Band-Aid. Make a new friend. All you really need to do to help is show up and say, "What can I do?"

See you at the parent/volunteer meeting Friday night at 10.

Thanks,
David and the rest of the Colts Volunteer Team

Slightly revised look

Some of you may notice that the Virtual Cooktruck is now sporting a slightly revised look. (Or maybe not. Or you may not care...)
Anyway. We are in the process of migrating to the new, improved (?) Blogger and some small changes may show up as we do.
Please let me know if features stop working or don't work the way you would like them to.
I'm trying to get ready for 2007 before it really starts getting busy.

thanks,
david

2007 Galleries now open for business

Photos from the 2007 Colts kickoff meeting are up for viewing. Click on the "2007" link in the right sidebar. Come on up next weekend and help us start filling up the new gallery list.

david

Banquet photos posted

I've posted a selection of photos from this year's Colts banquet. Click on "2006" in the right sidebar and look at the bottom of the list for the banquet link.

david

Also, some people have said they are having trouble finding an email address to contact me. Send to speer.david (at) gmail.com. Thanks.

Camp details posted at colts.org

Details for December camp are posted at colts.org. Click on this post's title to go to the details page.
david

Colts 2007 Show Announced

The Colts 2007 show announcement is on their home page.

To get the inside information, go to Colts.org or follow this link: http://www.colts.org/news/news.cfm?news_id=147

Happy New Year!

It's 2007.

It was a bittersweet blast to say goodbye to 2006 on Saturday night. (The best New Year's Eve party that I attend every year.) Hugs from just about everyone. Nic's great video. (Be sure to order one.) And a banquet program just the right length. Nice night.

There'll be pictures (just from the banquet, not afterwards. Discretion is best, I think.) but for now, I'm just sitting here contemplating how great 2007 is going to be.

The musical program sounds very interesting. I'm trying to imagine what Chris will come up with for the arrangement. Seems challenging to me, but I'm challenged by the kazoo. Jude's description of the visual program was intriguing too. Just enough mystery there to make me really, really eager to see this show come together.

Oh, you want to know more? Like what the music is or the theme or the visual plan? Show up for December camp.

In addition to all the people who were thanked at the banquet Saturday night, I'd like to thank everyone who called in daily reports or contributed comments or pictures to the Colts Virtual Cooktruck in 2006. I get all the credit, but you guys are really the fuel that keeps this thing on the road. I especially want to point to the contributions and assistance of Rod, Bill, and Jody S. in getting things posted over a pretty hectic summer (especially when we all ended up on the road at the same time). If not for them, we would not have gone all summer WITHOUT MISSING A SINGLE DAY.

I also want to thank my regular comment posters and contributors: Jim J., Jody G., Luba, Lori, and of course, ALF -- our resident alien life form and the Colts' biggest booster east of the Atlantic Ocean.

I could not do this without every single one of you.

Rod and I posted photos. Thanks, also, for pictures from Jody G., Jim J., Bobbie and Mark T., Peter H., Steve B., Bill F., Mandy I., and John R.

David

Order Your Banquet DVD

Greetings Colts!

I was excited to see the positive response to this years banquet
video. I just wanted everyone to know that what you saw is only part
of what is included on the DVD you can order from the Colts office.
On the DVD you will see...

More than an hour and a half of content including:
Colt Cadets Banquet Video
Colt Cadets 2006 Finals Performance
Even more Colt Cadets pictures and music than what was shown at banquet
Colt Cadets Indy Show
Colts Banquet Video
Freebird!
Slideshow of pictures submitted by members
Portions of the brass quarterfinals warmup
Portions of the drumline semifinals warmup
The final run though (which is an excellent performance btw)
And some other Colts extras!

It's also worth noting that the semis performance on the Banquet DVD
is a different edit than what is on the DCI DVD.
I encourage you to purchase a Banquet DVD from the office asap!

The banquet video is available from the Colts office by emailing
Vicki at colts@colts.org.

Thanks, and I'll see you at camp.

Nic Champagne

Banquet time

Let's party...

Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Where are we today?

Headed for banquet!

Everybody have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a safe trip to Dubuque on Saturday!

David and the Virtual Cooktruck staff

Cesario joins Colts

Michael Cesario has been named Program Consultant for the 2007 Colts. Click on the post title to read the entire release at colts.org.

"The other homeshow"

I like that description. We had two correct responses in quick succession -- CT and an anonymous one. It is a photo from Indy by Rod.
Congrats.

david

Where are we today?

Easy one....


Photo by ????? (identify the photographer and earn extra points.)
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Where are we today?

Photo by ????? (identify the photographer and earn extra points.)
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Chris J. got it right

Breakfast in the Wal-Mart parking lot after a loooooooooong bus ride and more miles to cover before we got to Alabama. Ya gotta love drum corps. And it was Jim J. that got this picture from a memorable moment from 2006.

david

Where are we today?

I'm posting this one late at night again. (And actually I'm posting it from Fayetteville, Arkansas, but I'll explain that when I see you at banquet...) Go ahead and post your guesses as comments, but don't expect to see them show up until Thursday morning when I wake up and publish them. I'll make sure to keep up with who got the right answer first and give proper credit.

This time, just to make it more interesting, let's give the town name. Do you know it? I do.



Photo by ????? (identify the photographer and earn extra points.)
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Winnah!

CT (Chris Tanner) correctly identified the school we stayed at outside Wichita Falls. The school was Windthorst. And indeed, as CT says in his comment, the fields were right by a cemetery. I tried to get a shot (I took the one in the basketball court, by the way) of the cemetery and the corps, but it didn't work.

I remember a lot about this place. Something about the way the land was shared meant that the school district owned the land during the week and the church owned it on the weekends. Or something like that.

I walked down to take a picture of the bank sign that said 100 degrees and realized that I'd been back on tour for like 5 days then, all of them over 100 degrees and all of them in Texas. I remember thinking, "I don't mind being hot for another day, but I'd sure like to be hot somewhere other than Texas for a change."

david

Where are we today?

OK, so all the daytime visitors to the Virtual Cooktruck have been having all the fun with our version of Where's Waldo? this week. To even the playing field for our nightowl visitors, it's Late Night With The Virtual Cooktruck. This will serve as our posting for Wednesday.


Photo by ????? (identify the photographer and earn extra points.)
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

A Winner

Jack correctly identified the school in Prattville, Alabama, as the one where the tenor line was pictured by Bobbie and Mark T.

And yes, we had to leave the site early and move to the stadium. Where we were then run off the field by lightning. I was down on the field taking pictures and jumped about two feet in the air when Mike Grimes yelled "Clear the field" because of the lightning. I know, just a taste of what the kids get.

I think this was the toughest photo of the contest batch I've identified (so far). Another tomorrow.

david

No guesses?

OK, here's a clue. It's significant that they are in the courtyard of the school and none of them are wearing shirts.

david

Where are we today?

Photo by ????? (identify the photographer and earn extra points.)
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

We have a winner!

It's C Osborne, who correctly identified this photo as one from KU stadium in Lawrence. Sorry, but since the Virtual Cooktruck operates on a budget even lower than the real cooktruck -- zero -- any prizes will have to be virtual ones.

The photo was from Peter H. (CORRECTION: The photo is by Peter H., not Peter K. as originally posted. Peter K. is a photographer we use here at work. Sigh) I thought the Jayhawk blue on the stadium might give it away. But Carol got it because she remembered that Kansas was HOT! (And from what I heard, hot was an understatement.)

Thanks for playing. Another one tomorrow.

david

I got it

It's that favorite drum corps tour game called, "Where are we today?" And here's the first entry. (Guesses are welcome. The correct answer will be acknowledged.)


Photo by ????? (identify the photographer and earn extra points.)
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Hmmmmmmmm?

What's the theme going to be this week....

david

Camp is coming!!!

Photo by Rod R.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Camp is coming!

Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Camp is coming

Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

New Colts percussion caption head

It's Tyler Dempsey. Click on the post title to read the whole announcement at colts.org.

david

Camp is coming

Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Camp is coming

Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Pumped!

There's a 2007 recruitment video posted at colts.org that features the end of the 2006 show. Think Ride. Links to the video are under the "Join the 2007 Colts" box at the right side of the colts.org homepage. Or click HERE to go directly to the smaller-size version of the video.

After you've watched it, come back here, 'cause I want a show of hands of who is as pumped as I am. That show still makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck.

I'm assuming Nic did the video. Dynamite job, man.

david

Colt Cadets

Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Cooks (in Alabama, just before the lightning hit, I think)

Photo by Jim J.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Grillman

Photo by Jody G.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Snareline fashion

Photo by Rod R.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

I Miss the Truck; Even the Chaos

Maybe, especially the chaos...

Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

And now for something completely different

Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Yes, that's blood

These guys really do leave their blood, sweat, and tears on the field.

Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

2007 percussion arranger announced

Jeff Queen? Cool!

Click on this post's title to go to the announcement at colts.org.

Oh, and have you RSVPed for December camp yet? Sent back your order for banquet tickets? Invited somebody to come to tryout camp with you? Get busy!

The Virtual Cooktruck Staff

Ready

Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

In the wind

Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Colts picture featured on DCI.org

Click the link above to see a cool picture of the Colts from Madison, WI, courtesy of DCI.

Colt in dci.org feature

Jennifer Cooper, a member of the Colts 2006 color guard, is pictured in the Forzato feature at dci.org. Click on the title of this post to go directly there.

LeAnn wants to hear from you!!!

Scooter has heard from LeAnn, and he asked me to pass along the following.
Rod


This is the mailing address for LeAnn who is currently one month into her basic training for the Marines. She asked me to put up her mailing address on the cooktruck so that anyone can send her a letter.

It is very important that you copy this address exactly on your envelope in order for her to receive it. Also, it is extremely important that you send ONLY A LETTER. It is the military, and they take that kind of thing very seriously (she asked me to stress that). No pictures, no care packages, just a letter!

She is doing very well and was put into a leadership postition. Send her a letter; I am sure it would mean alot.

Rct. Splitter, LeAnn R.
PLT 4038 4BN NCO
Box 14038
Parris Island, SC 29905-4038

Colts abroad

Got this from Olaf today by email. Had to share.

At the moment Harrison Rowland is staying with me after his marching with “Pips” corps (37th Kingswood) for 6 weeks in England

(His family originate from the Netherlands)



Coincidence doesn’t exists but after 16 years a 2nd banquet was organized for Drum corps members who marched in DCI corps.

It was organized by the “Dutch in DCI” foundation ( http://www.dutchindci.com/ ). Founded last year to support people who want to march in DCI.

One of their goals is to hand out scholarships to support members who are going to march in a DCI corps.

Looking at the list of people who have marched so far makes me realize that I officially getting old.

As a Dutchie I was the 12th person to march in the U.S. way back in 1988, by now 123 people marched in a DCI corps.

Fun part of the whole ordeal was to learn that so far 10 people marched Colts and 5 of them were present that night.





In the front from left to right:

Paul (‘88), Trinette (’86), Marco (’00) and Selcuk (’96)

in the back just fitting in the picture me Olaf “Alf” (’88 & still cooking ’04, ’05, …)



A Colt family reunited from through the years brings back many stories and great memories.

Being still involved even if it was this year only virtual I could tell them together with Harisson the latest stories and developments with Colts.

The recognizing of people who are Colts legends and are still with the Colts whom we almost all knew became a nice “game”

Greg (who doesn’t know him), Beth Wilson (maybe even longer than Greg), Kent, Bob, Frank, Marry, Vicki …. etc.



During the evening we were privileged to watch the Quarter finals DCI 2006 Theatre show.

Of course cheered by the curious “family” for the 2006 Colts show.



A great night with the intention of making this a yearly event to raise money for future Dutch in DCI members.







Dutch in “Colts”

Trinette Trotta-Norden 1986 Colts Mellophone

Frank Ranzijn 1988 Horn line instructor

Paul Doop 1988 Pit writer / instructor

Olaf Nahon 1988 Colts Baritone

Marcel Dekker 1988 Colts Soprano

Andy van Waveren 1988 & 1989 Colts Baritone

Bart Parlevliet 1989 Colts Baritone

Marcel Mos 1989 & 1990 Colts Baritone

Selcuk Erhan 1996 Colts Baritone

Edward van Gent 1996 Colts Snare

Marco van Asch 2000 Colts Baritone

Stijn Braun 2001 Colts Soprano





Hi to everyone



Olaf “Alf” Nahon

Excitement

Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Alignment

Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Baris

Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Morning

Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Can you yodel?

Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Field of Dreams

Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Colts at dci.org

Colts in the UK are featured today at dci.org. Take a look by clicking here.

The clock

Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Up

Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Spin

Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Rod gallery

Rod's gallery of pictures from finals is up. Look under the '2006' link in the right sidebar.
(I thought I had done this before, but I couldn't find the link. Sigh. Sorry, Rod.)

david

Wait

Since I've posted a bunch of galleries, I can start posting daily pictures again! (We'll see how long this lasts...)
david



Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Hey Olaf

I tried posting the Lynard Skynard video of Freebird that you sent, but it kept crashing the blog. So I deleted it.
Sorry. But thanks for thinking of me and sending it along anyway. Great to hear from you!

david

Everything's bigger in Texas

The distances. The heat. The bugs.. Even the gallery.

There's a new gallery today. All my pictures (80 of them) from Texas. From Dallas, through Natalia and San Antonio to Windthorst and Wichita Falls. Click on '2006' in the right sidebar and look for the 'Texas' link.

david


Photo by David S.

New Thursday gallery

Click on '2006' in the right sidebar and look for the Thursday Finals link.

david


Photo by David S.

Battery

Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Galleries and such

I have (finally) posted one of my galleries from the end of tour. Click on '2006' in the right sidebar and look for the Friday Finals link. There are other galleries there too, but not Rod's yet. I thought I had done that one but -- if I did -- I can't find it. Soon, though.

david


Photo by David S.

Flags

Photo by Rod R.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Look, here I am...

Sorry, David. I couldn't resist!
Photo by Rod R.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.


On second thought, just call me...
Photo by Rod R.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

JB

Photo by Rod R.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Reminder about sending pictures to Nic

If you have not yet, remember to PLEASE send any Colts pictures you have taken to Nic Champagne for the banquet video. Time is running out.

His email is Nicholas-champagne@uiowa.edu.

Send digital photos in whatever format you have. He said to send anything you've got and he'll pick the best assortment. He'll take video too.

Please send him an email with your images today!

Thanks!
Rod

Emotion

Right after the last full run-through of the season.
Photo by Rod R.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Catch

Photo by Rod R.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Section "shorts"?

Photo by Rod R.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Hats off to Ben and the 2006 Colts!

Photo by Rod R.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Intense

Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

New gallery

Jody Glow has contributed more pictures. Click on the '2006' link in the right sidebar to see the latest.

Thanks, Jody!

Sublime

Photo by David S.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.