World Drum Corps Hall Of Fame Plans For 40th Anniversary

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WDCHOF_100X100The World Drum Corps Hall of Fame is moving forward on several fronts in 2016, marking its 40th anniversary year with a revitalized associate member program, permanent structure and funding for its youth scholarship program, an updated Web site which will include video content and easier navigation and winter Caribbean cruise which set sail from Miami, Florida on January 10.

The executive members of the Hall of Fame board of directors, including president Rich Templin, vice president Bob Findley, secretary Bob Zarfoss and treasurer Bob Neuhoff will again meet in early spring to review Hall of Fame programs and plans for a special 40th anniversary induction ceremony and banquet to be held in Rochester, New York on Labor Day weekend. Until last May’s executive meeting, the Hall of Fame board traditionally met only once a year, on the induction and banquet weekend.

“We had a great year and we look forward to an even more prosperous one—our 40th—in 2016. Be a part of it: it’s your organization,” president Rich Templin stated in his January statement to members.

Last year’s banquet, organized by banquet chair Judy Miller, was one of the most successful ever, with more than 40 per cent of regular members attending. An even higher attendance rate is expected this year. Since its founding in 1976 by the late Vince Bruni of Rochester, membership in the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame has grown from six charter members to more than 480 regular and associate members from the coast to coast in the United States and Canada, who have contributed to drum and bugle corps activity around the world.

Membership interest in Hall of Fame activities continues to run at a very high level. More than 40 individuals, an increase from last year’s participation, were on board for the Hall of Fame one week cruise from Miami, with visits to ports in Cozumel, Mexico; Roatan, Belize and Grand Cayman.

Almost 90 percent of current members cast their ballots in the campaign organized by Larry Hershman and election committee members to choose the 2015 inductees.

The Hall’s associate membership category has been revitalized under a committee headed by Bob Finley. The committee’s focus over the past year has been to establish a funding mechanism that will insure the long-term success of the Hall of Fame’s scholarship program.

Associate membership had previously been suspended for about 10 years to allow the regular and associate membership numbers to come into balance.

Hall of Fame member Dan Rippon is working with members of Youth Education in the Arts (YEA!), the non-profit organization based in Allentown, Pennsylvania offering opportunities for performers to participate in pageantry events nationwide, to upgrade features on the Hall of Fame website. New features will include highlights of annual activities including the banquet and induction ceremony, an online shopping store and easier location of member biographies and information.

Regular members are honored for their dedication, contributions and achievements over a long period of time in categories including administration, arranging, adjudication, instruction, innovation and design. Associate members have dedicated at least five consecutive years of service to any drum and bugle corps as a performer or in a support role.

The World Drum Corps Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization honoring those individuals who have contributed significantly over many years to the development and continuing excellence drum and bugle corps activity. The organization also seeks to preserve the history of the drum and bugle corps movement in North America by selecting a noteworthy junior and all age (senior) corps of the decade.

For more information about the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame visit the web site at http://www.worlddrumcorpshof.org

Posted by on Tuesday, January 19th, 2016. Filed under DCA News, FrontPage Feature.