Colts Move In & Spring Training Reminders

May 5, 2017

Summer will be here before you know it! Please be sure you are up-to-date on all details for Move Ins and Spring Training. RSVP one last time before the start of summer to be sure we have all of your travel plans and arrival detials. Make sure you (and your parents!) have signed up for our email list. Important information will be sent out throughout the summer via our email list.


EARLY MOVE-IN FOR GUARD AND PERCUSSION
We will be staying at the Dubuque Armory again this season and bussing to fields. The address is 5001 Old Highway Road, Dubuque, IA 52002. Please plan on arriving at 6:00 PM on Sunday, May 21. Sunday evening will run just like a typical camp, with a brief meeting, rehearsal, and a meal at the end of the day. If you are arriving in Dubuque prior to 3:00 PM, please come to Jefferson Middle School and we will move to the armory as a group at 4:00 PM. If you are driving your car, we will have you take it to the Armory with us, but once you move in, assume you will not be using it. The cost of $15 per day ($75 for the week) has been added to your bill earlier this season. Please arrive with all missing paperwork and final payment for the season. You can save time by paying in advance online.

When you move in with us, you are moved in for the summer. Be sure to bring everything you will need for the summer - clothes, rehearsal supplies, bedding, etc.

If your parents are able to volunteer for a day or two during this time, we would be VERY EXCITED to have them with us! Please have them contact Vicki to help.


FULL CORPS MOVE INS
Full corps move in will be on Friday, May 26 at Roosevelt Middle School. Timelines will operate like a normal camp - unloading and check in will begin at 6:00 PM with rehearsal starting promptly at 8:00 PM. We do not have accesss to the school until 6:00 PM - if you need to arrive to Dubuque earlier in the day, please head to the corps hall, located at 2300 Twin Valley Drive.

On Monday, May 29, the Colts will perform in the annual Memorial Day celebration in Downtown Dubuque, including a parade at 1:30 PM, standstill performance at 2:30 PM, and reveal of the new 2017 uniform. Following the performance, we will head to Loras College in Dubuque for the week. A detailed schedule for Memorial Day weekend will be posted closer to the date.

When you move in with us, you are moved in for the summer. Be sure to bring everything you will need for the summer - clothes, rehearsal supplies, bedding, etc.


SPRING TRAINING AIRLINE PLANS
On May 21 and May 26, flights will be treated like a normal camp day. We provide ground transportation anytime to and from the Dubuque Regional Airport (DBQ) or the bus station in Dubuque. MLI (Moline) and CID (Cedar Rapids) are very close to Dubuque and reasonable in fare. ORD (O'Hare) travel MUST land prior to 3:30 pm. MDW (Midway) travel MUST land prior to 2:30 pm. If you plan on using either of these airports, please let colts@colts.org know prior to booking flights.

On any other day of Spring Training, if you plan on flying, you must communicate with Vicki or Jason prior to booking a flight. We will work with you to ensure your flight plans work well with the corps travel plans.

Local students with schools still in session during Spring Training are asked to attend evening and weekend portions of rehearsal so you don't fall behind. Attendance and communication is critical.


AUGUST AIRLINE PLANS
For those who will be flying home after finals, please note: You should purchase a plane ticket home no earlier than 6:00 AM on Sunday, August 13, from the Indianapolis Airport (IND). We will run a bus from the stadium to the Indianapolis Airport after finals early Sunday morning. A fun-filled overnight at the airport awaits you with about 2,000 other corps members!


SUMMER TOUR PAPERWORK
A reminder that the following paperwork must be turned in prior to you moving in with the corps. You can bring the paperwork with you when you move in or email it ahead of time to colts@colts.org.


CAR PARKING OVER SUMMER
If you are driving your car, you will park it for the weekend at Roosevelt, and then take it to the corps hall prior to us leaving the school Monday morning for the parade. Your car will be kept throughout the summer at our vehicle lot at the corps hall. The lot is not secured. We prefer that you do not leave a car in Dubuque for the summer. If you have no other alternative, please contact Jason in advance of the weekend. Please only leave your car in Dubuque if absolutely essential. Although we do our best to keep everything safe, the Colts accept no responsibility for cars left in Dubuque.


PERSONAL UNIFORM PARTS
These parts have been added to your bill and will be emailed with your statement. The parts will be handed out at the Memorial Day camp. Each brass and battery member receives a new plume, member shirt, mirror triangle, and marching shoes (brass/cymbals/DM also purchase gloves). Prices for Brass/Cymbals/DM will be $100; Battery $80 (no gloves); Front Ensemble will be $55 (no plumes). Guard members pay $150 for personal uniform parts that will be supplied, including shoes, earrings, flag bag, under uniform garments, warm ups, uniform parts bag, and other necessary personal items.


CAR WASH, JUNE 10, 2017
This is a critical project for us, and the only fundraiser for which we expect everyone's participation. We ask that you collect a minimum of 20 pledges or donations, with a total potential value of $175. If you start now and get one per day, you'll have over 40. If you wait until the last day, you'll have a problem. Please make sure your sheets are legible!

The vast majority (90%+) of Colts and Cadets do a great job, but we do remind you that this is a requirement of your membership, agreed to in your membership contract. The car wash will be held Saturday, June 10.

As in all facets of membership, we need people who are committed to the success of the Colts. When everyone does their share, we can make more than $45,000 in our one-day event! It's important to all of us, and it beats having to sell cookie dough, magazines, candy, pizzas, and whatever else. Our one and only fundraiser for members does the same thing as many small ones. The money raised from this project helps with tour expenses, especially food and fuel.

As a guideline, set a goal of an average value of $10 per pledge or donation. If someone asks the value of a penny per car, the typical pledge will end up being around $7.50. If we wash 750 cars at approximately 20 locations, that amounts to $7.50 per pledge. Some pledges will be more, some less. Remember, although you may collect money in advance, you are not required to. You do not need to collect pledges. After the car wash, we will mail letters from the office to the commitments you received. We collect these payments through the office by mail or online. We prefer to not bill for anything less than $5.00. Please keep in mind the total goal to raise $175 personally. Twenty donations of a dollar each is not satisfactory.


DCI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS HOTEL & TICKETS
Finals Week is August 10 - 12 in Indinapolis, Indiana. There are still great seats and great rooms available for the best week of the summer! Please note that the Colts WILL perform August 10 and 11, but are not guaranteed a spot in finals on August 12. Plan accordingly. We have seats available for all three shows. You can purchase your tickets online at the Colts Mall. If you need assistance, you can contact the Colts Office at office@colts.org.

The Colt Cadets have their prelims and finals in Michigan City on Monday and Tuesday and will also be performing in prelims on Thursday in Lucas Oil Stadium. The top 15 corps at Thursday prelims will be shown live at Star Cinema theaters throughout the country beginning at 5:00 pm. Go to www.dci.org to find the location nearest you. If you can't make it to Indianapolis, this is the next best thing!

Hotel accomadations are available at the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Indianapolis. Please call the 2017 Drum Corps Housing bureau at 317.262.8191 to book your room(s). Make sure to mention that you are with the Colts Drum & Bugle Corps and provide the code DCICOLTS2017 for a discounted rate. You may also reserve your rooms online. Reservations must be made by June 27, 2017. Any unsold rooms will be released to the public at that time.


MEMBERS FACEBOOK GROUPS
Please make sure you have joined our Facebook groups for your section! We will also be distributing information through the Facebook pages throughout the summer.
2017 Members Group
Brass Members Group
Percussion Members Group
Guard Interest Group


SUMMER TOUR HELP!
We are scheduling summer volunteers. Check your schedules and let us know. Even just a few days during Spring Training or summer tour would be incredibly helpful! Remember, we can be very creative in getting you in and out of tour. Cooks, Van Drivers, and/or Those Who Sew email colts.cooks@comcast.net. Other Tour Drivers email colts@colts.org. Parents, be sure you have also joined the Colts Parents Facebook Group. We will be posting updates throughout the summer on both the Facebook group and the Colts Virtual Cooktruck.

Most parents purchase their own airline tickets, if necessary, to get in and out of tour, but if you volunteer two weeks or more, we can furnish your air travel upon request. Even one day helps! Come as early as you can to give us a hand (and bring fresh fruits or vegetables!).

COLTS WISH LIST FOR IN-KIND DONATIONS
Your time on tour with us!
Cereal
Medium weight plastic silverware
Gift certificates for fuel and office supply
An RV
Coffee - definitely caffeinated!
Paper towels
Fresh Fruits or Vegetables
Did we mention, a week on tour with us!

For a detailed list, CLICK HERE


COLTS OFFICE
2300 Twin Valley Drive
Dubuque, IA 52003
Phone 563.582.4872
Fax 1.844.347.5323

Vicki MacFarlane, Director
vicki@colts.org
Cell: 563.564.9016

Jason Schubert, Colts Tour Director
jason@colts.org
Cell: 630-666-7489

David Alford, Colt Cadets Director
david@colts.org
Cell: 773.308.6710

Jeff MacFarlane, Executive Director
jeff@colts.org
Cell: 563.599.8553

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