Hello Fellow Alumni,

I hope the holiday season finds you all doing well and staying safe. At this time of the year, the Crossmen kick off their annual Holiday Campaign. This year, the campaign is focusing on instruments for the hornline and front ensemble. Last year's campaign was for transportation. Those donating to the transportation fund were recognized with their names being displayed above the windows on the buses. This year, you can once again become uniquely recognized for your support for the corps. If your donation to the Holiday Campaign is of at least $500, you will have your name (or in memory of a former member, their name) engraved on a plate, which will be installed on either a horn case or the pit instrument framework of your choice.  Alumni may also pool their donations together and make one collective donation. Assistant Director and Crossmen alum Jarrett Lipman explains all the details here.

As with everything Crossmen, I am asking everyone to get involved. It doesn't matter if you marched one year or ten years, if you aged out with the Crossmen or somewhere else, please think about contributing back. Many do, and I thank you for your ongoing contributions. However, many have been waiting for a change so they can give directly to the Crossmen...well, that change is here. Every penny goes directly to Crossmen Productions for the sole purpose of helping the Crossmen. I can guarantee it 100%.

I also often hear former members mention how much the Crossmen have influenced their lives. Here now is an opportunity for all of us to show the new crop of Crossmen what your time in the corps really meant to you. There was always someone there for you when you marched. You may never have seen him or her, but they were there. Please consider being there for the 2008 Crossmen and beyond.

I would like to challenge all former marching tympani's to contact me at crossmenalumni@aol.com so that we could contribute together by pooling our resources. I also throw the challenge out to all other sections of the corps. Whether you marched in the hornline, drumline, auxiliary or performed in the pit. There's no reason your section can't donate and get your names and sections displayed on a horn case or two.  

In closing, if you have contributed in the past, thank you! If it was not said much in the past, I believe you will be hearing "thank you" a lot more now.

If you were waiting for the corps to be independent again for them to benefit from your generosity, wait no more.  Now it is time to take action in order to do what you have been talking about. It can only get better with your support.
 

And remember, all donations to the Crossmen are tax deductible under our 501(c)(3) non-profit tax number.

I hope the New Year is a great one for you, your family and the family of Crossmen.

Sincerely,

Rick Reedy
CAA President