Eau Claire Boys
In 1959, the Scouts changed their name to Eau Claire Boys Drum & Bugle Corps. For the next 10 years, the ECB traveled throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and Iowa, with trips as far as Ohio, Pennsylvania and Canada.
The uniforms & Aussie-style hats were picked out by Walt Brown, apparently influenced by the Scout House Bugle Band of Preston, Ontario. In addition, the ECB marching style - incorporating an exaggerated arm swing - was influenced by Scout House.
THE EAU CLAIRE BOYS’ DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS
N E W S L E T T E R
JUNE 1966
THE FOLLOWING LETTER HAS JUST BEEN RECEIVED: “The Eau Claire Service League is most happy to send the enclosed check for $150.00. Please use this money to further the fine work you are doing with the Drum and Bugle Corps. Because we have just completed the most successful year, financially, in the history of the League, we wanted to share our profits with you and tell all the boys how proud we are of them. - Mrs. George Orendorf, President-Eau Claire Service League.”
Such unsolicited letters of encouragement as the above are most welcome. The fact that this organization displays much confidence in our program makes our determination to be of further service to the youth of our community that much stronger. Naturally, with our annual budget problems, the check is most welcome.
It costs about $195.00 to outfit one boy with an instrument and uniform. Along with the upkeep of equipment we are also committed to the upkeep of our headquarters and other incidentals necessary to good operation of our program. Is it worth it? Letters such as the above, plus letters we annually receive from communites where the boys have appeared, prove that our efforts are not in vain. In looking over the roster of former members and realizing what they are making of their lives makes us very proud to be part of the Eau Claire Boys, Inc.
Each mail brings further invitations for the boys to appear in other cities. Unfortunately, most communities seem to feel that certain dates are most important, as a result we have over ten invitations for certain dates. In all, we have received over 100 requests this season. Many choice appearances fall on identical dates. Too bad we cannot accept them all.
W.E. Brown
There are many who work closely with the Corps who feel that we now have a corps with a nucleus of young talent that has national competition talent. This talent we hope will blossom in 1967 at which time we hope to enter that type of competition.
The Prep Corps boys have been selling buttons for the Alice in Dairyland events. The money and remaining unsold buttons must be turned in immediately to Mr. and Mrs Joseph Koehn, 314 W. McArthur. By the way, our hats off to the Prep Corps and their director, Mike Brown, for their fine showing at the Doll and Pet parade and in the Memorial Day parade. Some of those drums and flags were pretty heavy, but they did beautifully! Keep it up, Little Brothers.