Ambassa'Dears

In the fall of 1963, Kay Poulsen organized and directed the first all-girl drum and bugle and fife corps - the Ambassa'Dears. Cheryl Johnson was co-founder of the corps. They were co-sponsored by the VFW Post 1391 of Racine.

When the corps was first organized with a membership of 15 girls, they were 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. The group growth was slow as it took 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 and entered the field of competition in 1965. The first uniforms adopted by the girls were designed similar to those worn by "Gussie Moran", a famous female tennis player.  The membership 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."

They also had a feeder corps by the name of the Ambassa'Does.

In 1965, they competed at the WI VFW “Class B” State championships, finishing in 4^th position. The next year, the unit returned to the State championships and participated in a many parades and exhibitions. The corps competed in the Badgerland “Class C” circuit in 1967 with good success, enjoying another good season in “Class C” competition and the State championships, finishing in 8^th place in the “Class B” division. 

In 1969, the corps participated in the WI AL “Class B” State championships with an 8^th position finish along with continued regional competition. By 1970, the Ambassa Dears had grown to 100 members and participated in their one and only National championship at the VFW with a 31^st place showing. The following season, the corps traveled extensively and competed in several regional championships including the Canadian Open (12^th in Class B), the World Pageant of Drums (19^th in Class A) and the US Open where they succeeded in reaching the “All Girls” finals with a 5^th placing.

The corps continued to successfully compete in its class until after the 1972 season when the Ambassa Dears merged with the Citations Color Guard, also from Racine, and became the New Day “All Girl” drum and bugle corps.

Paul Legault (DCX)

CORPS 2 items

Ambassa'Dears

Ambassadears,Racine,WI,Pin1-Deer(RE-1.75)AG_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection

Ambassa'Dears

Ambassadears,Racine,WI,Pin2-RedStripes(Site)AG_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection

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