Last month we put the spotlight on our valued equipment and uniform endorsers. This time we take a look at several businesses and organizations that have been long-time boosters of the corps.

Phantom Regiment Booster Club

The Booster Club has been a vital part of the corps since the 1970s. Originally a separate organization with its own Board, the Booster Club was comprised of local fans and parents and primarily existed to organize local fund-raisers. Long-time Regiment folks will recall the steak sandwich stand, bingo games at various locations and booths at the “On The Waterfront” festival to name just a few of the Booster Club’s past efforts.

As the corps membership has become more international and fewer local parents are available, the Booster Club has grown into a key mechanism for contributing funds and in-kind support. Each spring fans and friends are encouraged to join or renew their membership in the Booster Club. Certainly one of our largest annual fund-raising efforts, the Booster Club has been key to the longevity of the corps.

Booster Club membership brochures for 2004 have just been mailed to all in our database. If you are not currently a member and would like to join, contact [email protected] for further information.

Rockford Register Star

Rockford’s local newspaper, with a weekday circulation of 70,000 (making it Illinois’ fourth largest paper) has been a wonderful advocate of Phantom Regiment for many years. The title sponsor for our annual Show Of Shows DCI competition, the Register Star gives significant advertising support for this event, as well as our Fall Marching Band Festival.

The Register Star and its online componant rrstar.com also keep the community aware of our progress through periodic offseason reports and daily updates during the summer competiton season.

Register Star employees also get involved as active boosters of the corps. Register Star online director Kent Ecklor, a Regiment alum, designed our current Web site. Register Star assistant sports editor Greg Newell, also a PR alum, serves on the Regiment Board as vice president and works a multitude of daily roles within the corps administration. Register Star publisher Fritz Jacobi is an avid drum corps fan and Phantom Regiment Booster Club member. He serves as an adviser to our Countdown to 50 major gifts campaign and even emceed our “Sneak Peek” campaign launch last April.

Process Graphics Corp.

Located in northwest Rockford, Process Graphics builds point-of-purchase displays and trade show booths. They also have a subsidiary business that prints and creates yard signs for small business and political advertising.

A family business with deep ties to the corps, Process Graphics provides warehouse space for the Regiment’s surplus inventory and offers its graphic design expertise for the corps’ many printing and publicity needs. Process Graphics has also made available its woodworking and construction expertise to aid in outfitting our many trucks and trailers. Check out www.pgdisplay.com for more on this fine company.

Kiwanis Club of Rockford

Known as the “downtown” club, this is the oldest Kiwanis chapter in northern Illinois and has been a booster of Phantom Regiment since the 1950s. The Kiwanis Club of Rockford, as part of the mission of Kiwanis International, has chosen youth as its focus charity, which compliments the efforts of Phantom Regiment perfectly.

In our early days, the corps could always count on the Kiwanis Club of Rockford to help buy music instruments. Some fans may recall the days when $200 would get you two brand new baritones! Today, the Kiwanis Club of Rockford supports the corps through major gifts, most recently a $10,000 grant to purchase a new equipment trailer for the corps.

Beefaroo restaurants

A popular local chain of fast-food restaurants, Beefaroo has been a fervant supporter of the Regiment since the early 1970’s. Over the years one could see Phantom Regiment photos hanging in various locations and even a few members have been found working behind the counters for summer spending money!

Beefaroo owner Jean Vitale is an often called upon advisor to our Board of Directors and has engaged her restuarant designers and vendors to assist in the building of our new food semi, to be launched in April of 2005. Beefaroo is currently a sponsor for Show Of Shows and last spring treated the entire corps to a free meal during Spring Training.

City of Loves Park

Phantom Regiment proudly claims its home as “Rockford/Loves Park.” Many out-of-area fans are curious as to the “Loves Park” portion of our name. Loves Park is a city of 20,000 people and borders Rockford on the northeast side. Incorporated as a city just after World War II the “City with a Heart” is both a residential and industrial town.

Current Mayor Darryl Lindberg is a drum corps alumni from the 1950s and remains a fan of the current Regiment corps. Former long-time Loves Park Mayor Joe Sinkiawic was a passionate fan of the corps and was a recipient of a “Chevron Award” given by the corps to people who have made significant contributions to the Phantom Regiment.

Aside from annual financial support, in 2001 Loves Park donated a new souvenir trailer to the corps, to replace the trailer that burned on tour in 2000.

Next up:
— Spotlight on Partnerships
— Spotlight on Volunteers