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Volunteering...


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So...

Tonight my wife and I started the kitchen conversation of taking a week off this summer and joining our son's corps as part-time volunteers. I'm sure there are a million people here that understand what that might entail. She's accused me of romanticizing the opportunity of experiencing what "corps-life" is like on the road, and she very well may be right. 

What say ye, Drum Corps Planet? Are rookie parents ready to experience a week or so of road-trip volunteering? Do volunteers stay with the corps in the luxurious accommodations they have on gym floors, etc? Do volunteer parents get to see the shows during their service? 

We're total rookies...and would welcome any guidance. We're willing to take a a week or so of vacation this summer to travel with the corps and volunteer however physically possible. Would love insight from this crew that I know will have plenty to say. 

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Any help I'm sure would be appreciated, and certainly rewarding.

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Volunteers are worth their weight in gold, but their commitment to the kids must be total. You mention "part time" and I don't know whether that means occasional or on-call or going on tour with other responsibilities or interests also taking your attention part of the time. Few corps today will entertain those who are unwilling to give their all while with the corps. Yes, some allow a break day after being there a week or two, but usually those days are exception because of the volume of work needing attention and the fact that there aren't a multitude of volunteers.

Hours can be long. To feed 200 folks at 7 am means volunteers are often up at 4:30 am after only having hit the "hay" (a bunkcot in a volunteer/staff bus or a squished seat in a van full of volunteers) which departs the last show site at midnight the night before and probably stops once or twice midway before arrival at the next housing site at sun-up. The kids and most of the staff will canonize you with their smiles and thanks, but admin will be rigid with their expectations and adherence to schedules as they have the care of 200 plus to care for. Don't presume that you'll have loads of time to watch rehearsals (that;s usually when you will be out shopping for replacements of bread, milk, sunscreen) or the actual performance (you may be cleaning up from dinner for 200 and preparing the post-show snack for at least the 150 teens.)  You  will dance the jig of balancing all sorts of personalities especially when they are tired or have been standing on their feet, like you, for most hours. Showers will have to be squeezed in while MMs are off rehearsing or performing. Time with your own child will be sporadic and usually on the fly. But you will appreciate your child's efforts with an appreciation and awe of what it takes to get a modern drum corps on the road and field in DCI. Without you, DCI could not exist.

 

 

Edited by xandandl
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For most corps, the gym(s) are for the MM.  Bus, 18 wheeler drivers are in a separate room, usually with no windows.  The chase crew a room for themselves.  Most of the the kitchen crew are by themselves.  For Boston, I believe the kitchen crew is spread between their small RV that sleeps about 6-8 and some in the leased sleeper bus they have used the past two years.  

Maybe a week at the ST location can give new volunteers an idea what to expect.  If your not up for 350+ rides over night, showering in HS locker rooms, a longer time between laundry stops then you're used too, it might be an eye opener.  For most, it might just be a strong mind set to just suck it up and enjoy the whole experience, especially the time with the MM.

 

Edited by Ghost
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Thanks...this is very helpful. We were considering joining our son's Corps in Atlanta in mid-July and volunteering until the corps returns to Atlanta in late-July. But that's around 17 days...maybe too much for "rookie parent volunteers" based on what I'm reading. As for the "part time" comment...that meant..."not the whole season". If we did serve as volunteers, we will serve as 100 percent volunteers for the time period we are serving. Thanks again! 

 

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 First of all, you are to be complimented for the very suggestion that you would like to offer your volunteer services to a Corps. All these Corps can not exist without the self sacrifice of potential volunteers such as yourself and your wife willing to freely offer their time and energy to help out where and when they can. The advice given above by posters is good advice, imo. To add something else, I would suggest going on a limited basis at first to try things out. Perhaps just a day or two.. Corps can tell you what things they could use help on, and you and your wife can see what skills, or duties, seem a good fit for you both. If you do not bite off more than you can chew at first, you are more than likely to want to do it again, or perhaps expand on the time and energy as you become more accustomed to the role of volunteers. Believe me when I tell you, that there is no such thing as not giving enough time in your volunteering efforts, as although Corps appreciate lots of time and energy from their volunteers, there is never too little that they do not really appreciate as well. Every little bit helps. Good luck to your Corps, and good luck and thank you for your willingness to help out as volunteers to your Corps.

Edited by BRASSO
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I got paid to cook for BD but that was 87 and 89.  It is tough!  Working at a 5 star casino (Harrah's Tahoe) was hard but never as hot or long hours.  Somehow the sights and sounds of drum corps right nearby made it easy!

In 89 I did it while on vacation...FROM COOKING!  My chef thought I was crazy.  Oh yea I'm totally crazy about it I said!

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I agree with Brasso. There may be a compromise here. A full stint as a volunteer may be grueling, and if you are both not on board, it could be difficult. In the past I have talked with parents from across the country when their children were in showed in my area (Boston). In the past some corps have been here for an extended period. Distance between shows is reasonable and there are usually a few days for rehearsal and a parade (July 4th). The parents lent a hand with the corps, but stayed in hotels and spent some time sightseeing. This gave them a bit of experience with the corps and no doubt some time with their child, but have vacation time as well. Maybe if you arranged for a small stint and perhaps stayed off site, you'd get a sense of what's expected and could plan for next year.

 

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My wife and I have done it both ways.  For the past two summers, she did basically the whole tour minus a two week break.  Very intense, but also very rewarding.  She knew every kid and every staff member personally, and it was a source of comfort for our two kids knowing mom was in the truck.  But she was pretty tired and missed out on a lot st home.

i on the other hand have done a two week trip each summer (all the time I could get off).  I had a blast following the tour and seeing the sausage get made.  Got to walk into quite a few shows as kitchen staff (I.e. Free), but you don't get to watch many other corps.  I've also cooked at a few dozen camps now.  If nothing else, go help out at camps, and you'll learn a ton from the other vet parents about how things really work in the corps.  Then pack your bags an run with them for a few weeks in the summer - you'll be glad that you did!

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Thanks to all for your replies. We're looking now to modify our plan to a one-week stint between the July 12th show in Atlanta and the July 20th show in Dallas ( North Denton). And then fly home from Dallas after serving for a week. That would take us to Illinois, to Broken Arrow,Ok, and then to Dallas, Then maybe rejoining the Corps for the last week of the season for our second week of service rolling into Indy. 

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