Leaderboard

For the past few years, I've kept some daily stats as the season progresses. This year, I'm adding to that a summer road trip that will take me to San Antonio, Atlanta, Allentown, and Indianapolis and a daily snapshot of world class geography courtesy of the awesome map/corps flag pins set up in my office as a Christmas gift. Although it is not quite as easy to track spring training schedules as it is the rest of the season, I am going to give it a shot to get things started now. My information is only as good as the publicly available postings from the corps themselves. I hope you all enjoy!

That was a pretty good stream of consciousness right there. I agree with some of it, and disagree with some of it. But enjoyed all of it.

Did you forget one of the Blues?

I keep hearing the theme music for Game of Thrones when looking st the map and logo flags

Well, that happened.

Due process? What are you talking about? A criminal charge? I thought this was about rules set forth by a private organization. You break them, you get the boot. What due process are you talking about? I must be missing the point. It's not like DCI is putting on a trial.

Well, I posted my predictions on Facebook. I might as well post it on here. 1- Santa Clara Vanguard 2- Blue Devils 3- The Cavaliers 4- Boston Crusaders 5- Carolina Crown 6- Bluecoats 7- Phantom Regiment 8- The Cadets 9- Blue Knights 10- Madison Scouts 11- Crossmen 12- Mandrains I am more than likely going to be wrong since The Cavaliers are going to win their 8th championship this summer.... :)

IMO SCV 89 should not have been treated any differently than any of the others. There was no punishment for marching those members throughout the season. No fees returned or placement forfeited. Yeah it was good that SCV reported themselves, but it was going to get reported because the word was out. SCV just did it before someone else got the chance to. Which brings me back to the DCI policy. Is the activity really serious about this and why no outline of consequences for violating the policy? IMO it’s has the appearance of a knee jerk reaction. Don’t get me wrong it’s better than not having any policy in place, and this is certainly a welcome first step. Logically - at least to me - if it is important to draft the policy after 46 years, it should be equally important to include the punishment for violating the policy. It leads me to believe that perhaps some are not really disturbed about these issues and more concerned that someone got caught.

That just means you won semi-finals, not finals ;)

GO SCV! As many of y'all know, I am a green machine fan... but SCV has a special place in my heart and I greatly look forward to what ya'll may give us this summer. Just as long as a couple of y'all can give The Cavaliers a few cheers... I am good to go!

Nah. Not saying you're a bad guy. Not denying your perception of your experiences. And it's not just drum corps. But the truth is that girls are, from earliest childhood, given many, many, many, many, many more signals than boys that they're not cut out to lead. It's changing. And if you're still around when outcomes are approximately equal, you'll think back to your experiences, and you'll see the patterns that you're missing now.

Well, in this country, free speech gets a lot of leeway. If you've abused me, I have the right to say so publicly. If you haven't abused me and I say so publicly, your recourse is a lawsuit.

Bluecoats wait so long to announce their show they don't premiere it untill the next season.

Yep like the Olympic Doctor who kept molesting while under investigation 24 more were assaulted is that what you mean by knee jerk? It is what you would expect from a top down mansplaining organization Been around Drum Corps for 55 years, have not seen anything like this. DCI has totally ignored anything controversial in the past by ducking their heads in the sand and trolling posts like this. They have not handled their responsibility in todays society. What has dci ever done to promote diversity, where are the women and people of color? The kids deserve better than a hollow policy statement. DCI can not be a microcosm of society until it steps up and provides trusted leadership and guidance that todays society demands from a diverse leadership team. Who is stepping up to reimburse Cadet members who lost money on prepaid flights to the California camp? Why no top 15 in finals? Why so many redactions on the Blu-rays, could it be Chris Isaak did not want a witch getting her head chopped off while singing his song? Now Sounds of Silence is inappropriate but burning witches is OK even if it does ruin the DVD is that the new policy, no "Sounds of Silence"? Although Mandarins, Legends, Fusion Corps and Bayou City Blues playing Sounds of Silence last year was bordering on Simon & Garfunkel abuse, go figure. Anyway see you on the Fifty and don't leave your seat or you will need to fight to get it back. Is it just too hard (expensive) to protect the seats between the 35s from seat grabbers before it causes some violence and you are forced to react?

Yes. An observation. We are something like what - 7 weeks into the Post Philly Newspaper Cadets Story Era of Drum Corps. This Era is new, just like in 1984 when the Tick Era ended, the early 00's when any key Brass Era began, Electronics Era, etc. We do not know everything today that we will know one year from now

Kudos! I love it!

This is so cool !

to get through the wet weekend I put on the video of the 93 cadets at finals....####, does drum corps get much better?..innovations aside, the purity of that performance still stands out after 25 years..if they can evoke that emotion again, I won't care what they score

What are the consequences for a violation? Or did someone forget to add that part?

I hope people keep digging... I think there is more in the works and some more names will be coming out. I also am pretty confident there are at least a few so far unnamed persons with great reputations in DCI that regularly engage in sexual relations with corps members. The questions here are, how many rocks are we willing to look under, because some people will definitely be laying low and hoping for this to blow over. As an activity, it is in our interest to look everywhere that we can and permanently change our culture; make it clear that certain actions are not welcome.

DCI cannot continue without extensive oversight from some sort of central authority that outlines and enforces explicit rules for hiring and monitoring of personnel. I'm not being prescriptive, I'm being descriptive. If corps want to describe themselves as educational institutions, they need to work towards establishing the highest standards of professional practice for any educational institution, not the minimum to avoid litigation.

https://cavaliers.org/news-blog/2018/adrian-college Adrian College for pre-tour this year. The best part I see is how the first couple days are structured to focus on member health and safety. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/586f009ed482e9e80753f1ad/t/5aff4058562fa72196a9a2f1/1526677592864/2018+Orientation+Weekend+Schedule+-+Public+(1).pdf

It would be quite a circus atmosphere should he decide to go down that path. If it happens, I’ll start popping some corn.

Again, what percentage of current drum corps directors are women? I'm not saying it has to be 50%. I am saying that anything less than 40% is due to long-term structural bias. The outreach you've done is great! You're part of an ongoing change. Fantastic! But you wouldn't need to make such extra efforts if the system had been fair in the first place. (You may have the last word, if you wish.)

I did. Far less than half of drum corps directors are women. It's not because women are less competent. Yes, the times they are a-changin'. But just because half of the drum corps directors 25 years from now, or whenever, will be women, doesn't mean that half of drum corps' directors now are women, or that there hasn't been a long-term bias against them, not just in drum corps but in society as a whole.

I hear this argument often. The fact of the matter is there are fewer females over the years because fewer females want these positions. I usually say they are a lot smarter. Even in the guard world, there are far less female instructors ( especially heading a program ) This does not mean there is less talent among the female gender it is just that many choose different paths, don't want to dedicate the time, etc etc.. Was there and maybe still a " boys club mentality" sure to some degree. That mostly is just among some which in many cases are just threatened by ANY talent more than their own, male or female. How do I know what I said here is true? I have spent decades hiring, firing, seeking new talent out, offering opportunities to all genders. This at least has been my experience .Now keep in mind we aren't talking an industry with millions of jobs and opportunity. With the merger of Drum Corps, band, sound sport winter percussion and guard and the crossover of almost everyone involved YES there has been more to offer today.

All I can tell you is that if anyone reads your post, 50 years from now, they will only interpret it as someone claiming that most women are less competent than most men to be leaders. A lack of (approximately) equal outcome does in fact mean that opportunity was never equal. You won't believe that. But in the future, my statement will be seen as common sense.

All metoo did was bring out in the open more as this has been going on for years. It’s not like it is a new phenomena within the last year or so. Lot of companies and groups have policies that will remove you from working with the organization until charges are proved or not. Only change I see because of metoo is more victims feel that they will be believed now so they feel safe enough to say what happened.

This is a cool thread. I first heard of the Texas town of West five years ago last month when this happened.

Wouldn't be surprised with that one lol

How do you do this without preventing victims from exercising their rights of free speech?

This seems like a logical spot to reload my proposal to codify new rules from the closed thread last evening. I have attempted to revise per Guardling & other suggestions *********************** I think that Sexual Harassment / Inappropriate Relationships /DFTK rules should be put in the Official DCI Rules Blue Book, probably somewhere near the age requirements, as I believe this is the only other rules infraction that can lead to Disqualification (advise if I am incorrect). So how does the enforcement process happen? I personally think Drum Corps is past the 'ratting-out' process used for overage issues in the 1970s. But somehow, lets say there is an allegation of violation. Some violations could be 'cut & dry'; others not so much. DCI would have to work out some process. If a Corps discovers inappropriate relationship and acts quickly, forcefully, and decisively (including reporting to law enforcement if appropriate), while promptly reporting to DCI what happened, then they would not be DQ'd (for better or worse, SCV 89 overage issue was handled this way). Any hint of coverup, DQ. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. Is it better to create a process, that could later be tweaked due to unforeseen consequences? Or put a policy in place that has no apparent or standard enforcement mechanism? IMHO whatever is put in place needs to be consistent and predictable. My thoughts on the DQ option is that it is so drastic a consequence that no Corps would even let a whiff of an inappropriate relationship anywhere near them. And maybe a Corps will end up being DQ'd. That would send a message as well. Is DCI serious about this or not? I can envision a focused telephonic DCI Rules Congress could put this in place for the Summer 2018 season - perhaps new rules go into effect 15 June so Corps, clean it up by then. Some Corps may lose some instructors, staff, or potentially members. Too bad.

There’s the apologist who believe the accused should remain anonymous. So I’ve been told. Anyway back on topic - policy without consequences?

May 19, 2018 It's a big day for corps to move in: Blue Devils - Concord, CA Genesis - West, TX Madison Scouts - Trafalgar, IN Santa Clara Vanguard - Santa Clara, CA Blue Devils is the clear #1 corps in the Lucas Oil Stadium era with six #1 finishes out of nine years and never falling below the silver medal. Genesis is the first non-finalist 2017 corps to move into spring training. The corps has been very consistent in its recent placements whether in Open or World class in the 22-23 range for the past five seasons. Madison Scouts have been performing below its LOS average (10.8) for the past two years (13th and 12th). Santa Clara Vanguard has the highest average LOS performance (4.7) without a gold medal. With its highest LOS performance in 2017 (#2), is 2018 the year?

May 17, 2018 Bluecoats head to Marion, IN and Phantom Regiment heads to Macomb, IL. Bluecoats has the 4th highest average placement at Lucas Oil Stadium at 4.2, just behind The Cadets. Will they follow the path of Carolina Crown post-2013 as a perennial favorite after the 1->5 fall or are they going to follow the Phantom Regiment post-2008 path after the 1->9 drop that has then kept them in the middle of the finals pack? Speaking of Phantom Regiment, the corps has placed below its LOS average (6.7) for each of the past four seasons with 2017 matching the corps' worst performance at the stadium at #9.

As a Naval Officer, there’s a difference though. The Navy is big on public discipline. If things like this happen in the Navy (and they do), heads will roll. And the Navy disciplines it’s leaders publicly for all to see. Ship commanding officers who get caught in inappropriate relationships are made famous for it, and not after a lengthy legal process. After Tailhook ALL Officer promotions were held up until you could prove that you weren’t there. If you were there, you were done.(I wasn’t there!)

In most states, anything involving a minor, physical abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect has to be reported. Suspicion also has to be reported too. Child protective services and law enforcement would rather do the investigation than have the incident not reported. Regarding reporting it to school authorities, in Massachusetts, the person who is told of the abuse, suspects it, or notices it is the one responsible for reporting it. This should be done by first making a phone call to Department of Social Services who will either take the report or refer the caller to the police. This must be done with in 24 hours. A written report must be submitted within 48 hours. The recommendation is the call and written report are completed immediately. Regarding reporting in schools, teachers are mandated reporters. Administrators are as well. In many school systems, the actual report may be submitted by an administrator or where most abuse is physical or neglect, a nurse or guidance counselor may do the reporting. However, whoever notices or becomes aware of the abuse first is the one responsible for making sure the report is filed. The policy of the schools where I have had involvement is that the teacher reports and notifies administration. It is always recommended the person makes the report and it be witnessed by another person. If the teacher is uncomfortable, an administrator may make the report, but the teacher must be present. Documentation is also required. The teacher simply writes “I informed so and so of a situation regarding X, and it was reported to DSS, Y from DSS took the report, and the teacher and administrator sign the document.

Thanks for those insights. I worked for an air show at the time, more or less by accident, and some of my coworkers, who had a longer history in the field, were pretty defensive about Tailhook, and "boys will be boys", and "these men are expected to give their lives for their country, and such people have needs", and so forth.

I agree that reported accusations of this nature must be taken seriously by law enforcement, and by those whom it's initially reported to. In fact, In PA, it's the law in schools that you must follow through and take it seriously. That's there to protect the victim- and well it should be. If someone came to me, you bet I go to the police. That being said, keep in mind that the Constitution is clear that people are assumed to be innocent until proven guilty in the eyes of the law. There are also things in place to also protect the accused. They may be guilty as sin and done the crime... but they're entitled to an effective and vigorous defense if it ends up in court, for instance. I'm not trying to be mean, personal, or crazy on this, I just get very worried when I think in the back of my mind that things like the Constitution get a bit overlooked. In terms of the numbers and the statistics, the one that gobsmacks me is that according to the one study that was linked, an estimated 63 percent of sexual assaults are never reported to the police. That really makes me think and gives me pause. It just makes me very sad, to be honest. Even if it's inaccurate by a factor of 2, that's still pretty much a third of them.

agree to a point as one falsely accused. In fact my biggest issue isn't what Joel did, pathetic as it is...it's how Fred wasn't open and honest with the members and parents about it

How could anyone ever possibly know what percentage of reports are false? The majority of these things cannot be proven either way. I suspect only a very small percentage of false reports can be proven to be false, and no one is going to record it as false if they don't know one way or the other, so of course there aren't going to be many records of many false reports.

I agree, and when it isn't criminal but creepy that's another thing and ( not all ) but sometimes is or can be subjective. I personally in winter programs have separated potential couples for numerous reasons. Mostly because it usually just becomes a pain in the ### .

As in "One Day More?" (Wow, I cannot believe this show is from five years ago...)

Mr. Schehr- like plenty of others here, I imagine, I haven’t had a job in the past 30 years that didn’t require fingerprints, background checks, or drug testing. I am all for protecting the staff, volunteers, and members who perform for us every Summer. Since you asked: 1. Every corps should be in compliance with their state’s requirement’s for child care workers. In addition, since there is interaction between groups from differing states, FBI background checks should be mandatory. Compliance means anyone traveling with the corps must clear the checks. Drivers, instructors, medical, food prep, admin., AND members. 2. Reporting-Predators smartly choose those who can be bullied, and do so in an environment where victims do not have an easy, trusted, objective source to share their story. It is hard enough for victims to relive terrifying and demeaning experiences by coming forward. The corps(s) should have an independent agency for complaints of harassment and abuse. It should be a source that is trained in objectively and carefully collecting these complaints. 3. Confidentiality-Victims AND the accused deserve protection given the serious nature of these reports. BOTH can be indirectly and even innacurately harmed in the court of public opinion. Especially early on in the process when precious few, if any, have the facts to pass judgement. When a report/complaint is received, the accused, depending on severity and position ( staff vs. member), may need to leave the unit for a time. Regarding number 3 above, it is the court of public opinion and the nature of SOME of the commentary here that has me less than pleased with a handful of folks. It should be possible to protect the activity without some of the careless and even malicious commentary tossed around here. It isn’t about protecting offenders or helping them hide. It’s about protecting ANY that may be innocent. Sexual abuse, or abuse of a minor, are such heinous acts that careers and lives get wrecked long BEFORE the accused sees a courtroom-guilty or not. I think there are more shoes to yet to drop in the coming months. It is okay to feel angry and disgusted when reports of this nature surface. Our reaction however is a choice and I believe we should be as thoughtful as we are vigilant.

I think it’s because women are smart enough to say no way

I've hidden a handful of posts due to their personal attack back and forth. PLEASE keep this important thread on topic, so it does not have to be closed.

So who is driving to Johnstown to spy for us? We need intel!

Bingo! Moment after moment... look away and you'll miss something. Way more interesting than move-a-little, play-a-little, bend-your-legs... and frost it all with electronic gimmickry.

Thanks to all who offered support! I just heard his last workout before move ins tomorrow in Detroit. He’s well on his way to full recovery. And he’s in play for some featured musician roles in this year’s show. Of course that’s still up to the staff, but his Mom and I are poised for the “biggest” season of his Drum Corps experience!

I’m going to be delicate in my response, just for you. great people don’t ####### hire individuals fired for sending inappropriate text messages to students or ignore complaints and concerns from former staff and other directors. Great people say “ I don’t care how ####### good you’ll be for my corps, you’ve got a public record of ####### inappropriate behavior with kids, of which my corps is ####### full of. Want a second chance? Go find God.”