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Fred Windish

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Fred Windish last won the day on October 13 2020

Fred Windish had the most liked content!

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  • Your Drum Corps Experience
    Many DCA, DCI projects since 1966
  • Gender
    Male
  • Location
    Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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    http://
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  1. Hey, Jeff! This is not the place to be more specific. But, I will say this, very little, if anything involved in marketing and PR is formally voted upon. Most of it is between individuals and requires a great deal of follow-through by all parties. Not enough of this was evident. I don’t tolerate that condition very well.
  2. There is truth in your assessment, Chris. My brief tenure on DCA Staff (2006) revealed much the same roadblocks. While I thoroughly enjoyed DCA and its people in that capacity, the reality was most impediments to my strategy came from DCA itself, and its corps. But, I wanted to “give back,” so was determined to complete the season. It was clear, the chance for improvement was limited, so I walked away. Perhaps, the link-up to DCI helps.
  3. For me, it’s now “I no longer know what the he*l to call this activity . . . but it’s d*mn good and I can’t wait to see more!” 😮
  4. Jeff, as the new Mayor of Pineville, I think some of your own citizenry spent money over there, too! 🙂
  5. Thanks, leed17 ! Thinking about those food trucks, someone said there were 8, the number of food and drink options had to be much greater, and probably taste better, too! Also, most already know, hundreds of fans remain outside the stadium watching warm-ups all through the event. Now, they’ve got food and drink right there with them. No admission tickets required!
  6. You could well be right, Barneveld. I do know, during those 27 corps per day years, the road running through the Park wasn’t even used for corps vehicle parking! Now, it is, so . . .
  7. Random thoughts from a Flo viewer of the latest Allentown event from someone with certain knowledge. DCI.org officially announced slightly over 10,000 paid in the Saturday attendance. I saw an estimated number of upwards to 12,000 sitting, standing in, behind the upper dividing wall, off to the sides on the grassy places, and down on the track. At an event of that magnitude, and the format for this year, so many additional non-paid in the facility is easily possible. I can explain this if requested. To my eyes, this could have been the biggest attendance in 20 years, as stated by DCI. The Friday complete crowd looked to be roughly 9,500. What’s not to like about those numbers in an economy like this? Most issues of handicapped accommodations and movement can be solved by parking above the stadium, being dropped off near the rear of the front grandstand, and entering one of those two Gates. DCI temporarily establishes and monitors about 100 handicapped parking spaces up there. Entering the venue this way can mean having to deal with no stair steps, whatsoever. DCI maintains and monitors a large number of wheelchair accessible seating options, with separate benches for assistants, located between the grandstand levels. Best seats in the house, actually. Of course, you need to know about all this well in advance of your visit. As for accommodating all corps on a single day, rather than using Friday and Saturday, this is exactly what took place for years in DCI’s first half history in Allentown. In the 80s decade, DCI featured 27 corps per day in competition. One year, 57 corps (in total) played Allentown in one weekend! Allentown has space to park, and remain in place, about 150 buses, trucks, and vans owned by competing corps. Besides all of the above info . . . . this year’s Allentown Weekend was absolutely incredible. Easily one of the best of 46 years. I’ve attended/watched every one of these! Unbelievable talent on display! What were your impressions, positive and negative? I would particularly like to hear about the new location for the DCI Marketplace (a decision DCI was forced to make). I didn’t attend in any manner this year, so can’t evaluate. Thanks.
  8. Jwillis35 - I’m not the best judge of performance. I’m not a musician. I watched of Flo, and there is no consistency in the quality of Flo representations over several different events at varied venues. But, that’s been my only measuring stick after watching 5-6 broadcasts. Blue Devils did seem a little ‘off’ to me compared to other viewings. Maybe a little tired, maybe electronics at different adjustment. The first number didn’t blow me back in my chair like it’s done before. Bluecoats looked and sounded their seasonal best to me. Excellent body movements in perfect space intervals and synchronized movement. Seemingly, a steady and flawless music effort. Their colorful uniforms and props looked wonderful under Allentown lighting. I was very impressed with the noticeable growth I saw and heard. I am not at all surprised by the small scoring margin between Places 1 and 2 last night.
  9. My gut feeling for this evening . . . The stars will align tonight for Boston. The Allentown crowd will drive Crusaders and their fans upward to touch the sky. 🌟
  10. I find it necessary to again thank DeanInChicago for his very kind words about the “Allentown Experience.” Always well-written and clearly from the heart. To Dean, and others who express such positives about this moment, I want you to know your appreciation reaches down to all the local volunteers working the event. I’ve seen it often. That hardworking group of 75-80 unpaid workers are a big reason why expenses at Allentown remain low. Not only that, but those folks are a knowledgeable, experienced organizing group like none other in drum corps. Several have served us here for more than 40 years! They are all ages, mostly ex-drum corps members, DCI and DCA. A great number got their “chops” with the Reading Buccaneers. Current Chairman Mitch Huston is one of the over 40 years of service veterans. Also Kathy Eck out in the Gate One info trailer. Barry Seltzer, your announcer, and numerous others helping you in the stands. How ‘bout that Reliable Bernie Brown! THIS is what doing drum corps breeds . . . excellence through sacrifice and hard work over lifetimes. Special people who deserve our thanks, here and elsewhere across the tour.
  11. Accuweather Current Weather Radar looks pretty good for tonight. Of course, future weather can always surprise! What I like about the radar maps for Allentown is lightning strikes are not showing-up for hundreds of miles away. I live 6 miles east from the stadium. It’s been rainy-looking ever since daybreak. But, no rain has fallen in my neighborhood so far. I don’t really see a serious threat to create a condition that all corps would not perform tonight at some point. I’m watching on Flo, so I hope I haven’t jinxed those attending in person!
  12. OooooKay . . . . Nice venue, beautiful campus surrounded by expensive neighborhood real estate. Excellent condition all around, some chair back seats, great press box, artificial turf. bright lights. Been there several times for football day and night. Studied it years ago along with Franklin Field, Old Temple Stadium, former Veterans Stadium, and former JFK Stadium for possible use for DCA Championship. Came closest to an agreement with Veteran’s Stadium. More on Villanova - 12,500 total seats. Concert side capacity about 7,000. However, 2,000 of the seats are beyond the back of the goal line, so 5,000 seats goal-to-goal. As a replacement venue for this weekend’s Allentown event . . . just too small.
  13. Mr. Lesser - Thank you. You have given me better clarity on a solid course of action. I notice 5 moves you believe required before Vanguard can continue the process of returning in good standing. 1. Terminate all key individuals presently in place. 2. Prohibit national, full corps touring. 3. Rehire yourself to manage a rebuild. 4. Continue performing in small group public presentation. And a step already taken by you. That being creating a “no nonsense” website for membership communication. Any plan of action needs explicit and quantifiable instructions. You have listed for us some of those actions. I appreciate it.
  14. Respectfully, what exactly do you want? Are there 5-6 specific steps in action you can list for readers?
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