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Racine German Catholic Drum Corps Racine Roma Lodge Drum and Bugle Corps
Racine Sattley Drum and Bugle Corps Racine Belle City Drum and Bugle Corps
Racine Beaver Queens Drill Team Racine New Day Drum and Bugle Corps
Racine Dokies Drum and Bugle Corps Racine Pioneers Drum and Bugle Corps
Racine Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps Racine Elks Marching Club
Racine American Bugle Band Racine Armenian Drum and Bugle Corps
Racine Liberty Belles Color Guard Racine Regals Color Guard
Racine Ambassa"Dears" Drum and Bugle Corps Racine Royalaires Drill Team
Racine Holy Name Drum Corps Racine Elks Youth Band
Racine German Catholic Drum Corps Racine Roma Lodge Drum and Bugle Corps
Racine Sattley Drum and Bugle Corps Racine Belle City Drum and Bugle Corps
Racine Beaver Queens Drill Team Racine New Day Drum and Bugle Corps
Racine Dokies Drum and Bugle Corps Racine Pioneers Drum and Bugle Corps
Racine Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps Racine Elks Marching Club
Racine American Bugle Band Racine Armenian Drum and Bugle Corps
Racine Liberty Belles Color Guard Racine Regals Color Guard
Racine Ambassa"Dears" Drum and Bugle Corps Racine Royalaires Drill Team
Racine Holy Name Drum Corps Racine Elks Youth Band
Racine Ambassa"Dears" Drum and Bugle Corps.
Brief History of the Racine Ambassa"Dears" drum and bugle corps:
In 1963 Kay Poulsen organized and directed the first all-girl drum and bugle corps - the Ambassa"Dears." Cheryl
Johnson was co-founder of the corps.
When first organized the corps was called the Ambassadors by a vote of the Parents Club. Some members
dissented and the drum corps was later called the Ambassa"Dears" which some felt was more appropriate for an
all-girl drum and bugle corps.
When the corps began membership was just 15 girls. By 1970 this number had grown to 100 members.
The corps growth was slow as it takes time to establish a "grass roots" organization.
The sum of $1.87 was the working capital of the Ambassa"Dears" when it was founded.
In 1963 the corps bought drums from the Racine Junior Boy Scout drum and bugle corps and played 39c metal
fifes. The corps purchased its first bugles in 1964.
The first uniforms adopted by the girls were designed similar to those worn by "Gussie Moran" a famous female
tennis player. The corps members made their own uniforms.
According to Kay Poulsen the Ambassa"Dears" were organized because the sisters of members of the Racine
Kilties and Racine Explorer Scouts drum and bugle corps "wanted to be in drum corps so badly they couldn't
stand it."
The Ambassa"Dears" traveled extensively and competed successfully in its class until after the 1972 season when
the corps was reorganized as the New Day drum and bugle corps.
In 1963 Kay Poulsen organized and directed the first all-girl drum and bugle corps - the Ambassa"Dears." Cheryl
Johnson was co-founder of the corps.
When first organized the corps was called the Ambassadors by a vote of the Parents Club. Some members
dissented and the drum corps was later called the Ambassa"Dears" which some felt was more appropriate for an
all-girl drum and bugle corps.
When the corps began membership was just 15 girls. By 1970 this number had grown to 100 members.
The corps growth was slow as it takes time to establish a "grass roots" organization.
The sum of $1.87 was the working capital of the Ambassa"Dears" when it was founded.
In 1963 the corps bought drums from the Racine Junior Boy Scout drum and bugle corps and played 39c metal
fifes. The corps purchased its first bugles in 1964.
The first uniforms adopted by the girls were designed similar to those worn by "Gussie Moran" a famous female
tennis player. The corps members made their own uniforms.
According to Kay Poulsen the Ambassa"Dears" were organized because the sisters of members of the Racine
Kilties and Racine Explorer Scouts drum and bugle corps "wanted to be in drum corps so badly they couldn't
stand it."
The Ambassa"Dears" traveled extensively and competed successfully in its class until after the 1972 season when
the corps was reorganized as the New Day drum and bugle corps.
ABOVE PHOTO: This photo of the Racine Ambassa"Dears"
appeared in the Sunday, 07-05-1964 edition of the Racine
journal Times. The caption stated "The Ambassa-Dears, a new
all-girl Racine marching group, joined more than 33 other
marching units in parade down Main Street Saturday. The girls
added the music of fifes to drums and bugles."
appeared in the Sunday, 07-05-1964 edition of the Racine
journal Times. The caption stated "The Ambassa-Dears, a new
all-girl Racine marching group, joined more than 33 other
marching units in parade down Main Street Saturday. The girls
added the music of fifes to drums and bugles."
ABOVE PHOTO: 1965 Racine Ambassa"Dears" Drum and Bugle Corps.
BELOW: The article below on the Racine Ambassa-"Dears" Drum and Bugle Corps
appeared in the November, 1965 issue of Drum Corps Digest magazine.
BELOW: The article below on the Racine Ambassa-"Dears" Drum and Bugle Corps
appeared in the November, 1965 issue of Drum Corps Digest magazine.
