Hello friends,
 
The Crossmen Alumni Association is very excited to welcome you to the kick off of our new website!
 
Before getting to the business at hand, we'd like to send a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the Crossmen over the years, through whichever means. Foremost, thank you to the CAA membership.
 
It's been about a year since the Crossmen moved operations to San Antonio, and although I was as disenchanted as many others at knowing the Crossmen were no longer in my back yard, I soon understood that the corps was going to be in good hands. If I did not believe that the corps would be fine, I would not be saying so. It's been a year now and I'm here to say the foundation has been laid to allow the Crossmen to stand on their own. To that end, there are a few things to remember as the CAA moves along--

The major mission of the Crossmen Alumni Association is the development of charitable contributions exclusively for the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps.
 
The secondary mission is the social interaction of alumni marching members, administration and staff to support and preserve the heritage of the corps.
 
The Crossmen are now standing alone after eleven years being under the YEA umbrella. Say what you want about the past eleven years, good or bad, YEA did keep the corps alive. For this, the CAA is truly appreciative. One can play the Monday morning quarterback all one wants; it does not change anything and it's time to move on in so many ways.
 
CAA Update
In 2007, the CAA, with the help of alumni, parents and old friends, contributed over $4000 to the returning vets in helping them get down to Texas to rehearse with the corps. Plus, we were able to purchase a Long Ranger, sponsor a pizza party in Kansas, as well as offer six members $200 scholarships for a total of $1200. When the request went out for contributions to get new silks for the color guard during the summer, the response was most impressive and our goal was met in just three days!
 
Crossmen alumni continue to volunteer their time and efforts during the season in many ways, whether it's working the food truck during camps and tour, to driving to and from airports, to making a 600 mile trek through the desert, to popping in for a weekend to tech on the field.
 
A few facts I'd like to share:
 
- Fact: We need the alumni to continue to contribute and volunteer now more than ever.
- Fact: We need move involvement from alumni all over the country, not just in southeast Pennsylvania.
- Fact: We need people with solutions to their ideas. You know how it works by now, you have a great idea, and you need to be able to support it. We are all full of great ideas; we need people to carry them out.
- Fact: We need to make Allentown a true homecoming for the corps. The only people that are going to do that are you. Someone out there needs to step forward.
- Fact: The CAA needs more alumni to be personally involved at our meetings. We meet the third Wednesday of every month at 7pm (directions). If you are in the West Chester area, please consider attending. If you are not in the West Chester area and want to be involved, please contact me at rick@crossmenalumni.org.
- Fact: The corps needs help from alumni all over the country when they are on tour. You've been on tour you know how it works. When the corps pulls into an area near you, they could use your help.
- Fact: There is a grass roots effort to form an Alumni Chapter in San Antonio. If you're in the area and wish to get involved, please contact me at rick@crossmenalumni.org so we can continue to move forward.
- Fact: Some alumni have been sitting by with the "wait and see" attitude for quite a while for numerous reasons. For some, the obstacle that many said was preventing them from contributing is now behind us. Please join us now as we move with the Crossmen into the next chapter. For we truly need to move on.
 
In the coming months, we will be looking for people to take on some leadership roles in the CAA. There is so much to do that the few who have held us together now need additional guidance from those willing to be a factor. As we look to ask for assistance in the future, please consider making a difference.
 

The Past Year
For the past year, Fred and Maureen Morrison along with Mark Chambers have been building a very dedicated group in San Antonio whose sole purpose is to ensure that the Crossmen organization is successful. They have changed their careers such that they are dedicated to the Crossmen 100% of the time, ALL the time. You see they need to be dedicated. Period. They promised they'd see this corps back to DCI Finals and I believe they will. For the past year, I have come to know Fred Morrison and Mark Chambers and I know that they have an enthusiasm to continue to propel the corps with the constant upper management and vision that so many have longed for the Crossmen to be able to adhere to.
 
Looking back at the last eleven years for one quick moment to recognize all those who served under Jim, Jeff, Dean, Larry, Scott and Mark as past directors, a BIG THANK YOU for your dedication in guiding the organization not knowing what really lay ahead. I'd be remiss if I did not recognize the efforts of the leadership starting with Robbie and continuing on with Steve, Scott, Carl, Ester, and Jim as well.
 
Thanks to all the administrations. There are thirty-three years of experience from which Fred and Mark can draw insight.
 
But it is the members of the past thirty-three years that are to be thanked even more so. You are the Crossmen. The Crossmen are not here if you are not here. Please support your corps, more so now than ever before.
 
As for the next eleven years, who knows what will happen? One thing is for sure is that there is still a Crossmen, and as long as there is, the CAA will continue to do just what we have set out to do-- To develop charitable contributions exclusively for the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps and to make available the social interaction of alumni marching members, administration and staff to support and preserve the heritage of the corps.

With all that said, please continue to support the Crossmen. I am convinced through the actions of the current administration over the past year that the Crossmen will remain "the Bones" and will continue to assist young people on the path to becoming wonderful human beings through their participation in the arts.

Enjoy the new website and please come back and visit often!

Sincerely in the Spirit of the Crossmen,

Rick Reedy
CAA President