STOP THE PRESSES!

Have you heard the news? 

We're totally famous, you guys. Well, famous-er. (I mean, let's be honest, Lancers was always been pretty famous, right? Right.)

Here's the latest bit of notoriety: KEYC came out the other day and brought us a little bump in attention in the community. Oh, and word has it The Free Press will be coming out as well, probably tomorrow morning (if my sources are correct.) You can look for that story in Wednesday's or Thursday's paper.

A decade ago, there had been a somewhat sour relationship between the Lancers organization and the media. But lately, they've been very good to us. A big THANK YOU to Erika Brooks for coming out last week, and to The Free Press reporting team for whatever coverage they can give us. 

One of the biggest thrills for the group is feeling like their hometown supports them. Getting this kind of coverage lets them know they're taken just as seriously as the football team.

Elsewhere in Spat Camp ...

■ Everything is working out very well at Mankato West High School. Having them closer to the downtown area has given the group better visibility. The horn honks and shout-outs from passing cars are a testament to how much this community loves its marching band. 

If you're free over the next few days, come down and check out the rehearsals! We're sure the kids would love the excitement that would come from a few more curious onlookers.

■ Our new photo sharing site is up and running! We'll soon have every photo Eric Bunde and Robb Murray have shot throughout Alpha and Spat camps available for your perusal, as well as all the photos we've shot from the previous three years.

If you bookmarked the site from last year, you'll want to update that URL to this: mankatoarea77lancers.smugmug.com. And when you get there, the password is 77lancers.

The switch was made because the old photo sharing site went out of business. Luckily, the new site is slick, has tons of features and is just as easy to use.

■ Sign up to CHAPERONE parades!

This is truly the best way to get a taste of your child's Lancer experience. And while you can't lug a tuba for them, you can lug water and first aid kits, and fetch Gatorade and forgotten reeds/gloves/shoes/sanity/etc.

Stop by the Parent Board room — just down the hall from the cafeteria — and sign up! Plenty of good spots still available.

And ...

Please remember to contact anyone on the parent board with questions. We know Lancers — and Spat Camp — is ... well, a lot. A lot of stuff to remember, a lot of money, a lot of sweat, a lot of pain. 

But it's worth it. In a few weeks when they've performed a dozen shows and are a happy, well-oiled marching machine, they'll be so glad they persevered. And so will you. 

Thanks!

-Robb