The Cadets and GH history of sexual abuse (news article)

[Jim Schehr]

3 minutes ago, Ediker said:

It's not that the alumni would force the board.  The board members know that all viable solutions involve their resignation.  Anything else is going to balloon their problems.  Someone needs to perform their duties, however.  It would make sense to find candidates among the Cadets community, but not necessary.  The board members will most likely resign as soon as their replacements are available.  It's far too late for anyone to attempt to cover anything up.  Sympathy for GH, or the current board, is likely to remain out of fashion for a long time.  

I would think there will be restructuring with some oversight from individual alumni. Painful as it will be this process has got to begin for the future of the corps. The corps is the most important thing above and beyond any one person. 

[mfrontz]

Full statement of YEA interim CEO Sean King:

 

My name is Sean King and I am the interim CEO for Youth Education in the Arts. It has been an honor and pleasure to serve the YEA! organization in a number of capacities over the past several years.

At this critical time for the future of the organization, we pray for the healing of all of those who have been affected but understand a great deal of work has to be done to rebuild the trust with all of those who have seen The Cadets, Cadets² and USBands as an embodiment of magnificence.

Our commitment moving forward as an organization will be focused on two important themes: Safety and Stability.

The safety of our young people will be paramount in everything we do through accountability of the adults in their interactions with students. Additionally, we will prioritize advancements in the YEA! workplace environment for all of those who support the programs, events and initiatives of our organization.

We will be convening a task force to present actionable initiatives within 30 days for implementation by the Board and Staff including new policies, training and advocacy.

Next to the safety of our most precious resource, the stability of the organization is most vital to our mission. Stability is manifested in a number of ways beyond just the services we provide, the funds we raise but also the partnerships we develop and the relationships we cherish. 

We will be there at our first Cadets appearance this summer and the final USBands Championship performance this fall. We will be there!

At this time, I am pleased to introduce the new Director of The Cadets, Rich Hammond and the Director of Cadets²Rich Templin.

Both of these men have taken on the responsibility to continue the legacy of excellence we have all been inspired and amazed by through the years. Their charge will be to create and manage a positive educational experience in a safe environment. We welcome back Rich Hammond and Rich Templin to leadership roles with our great summer ensembles.

I will leave you with an inspirational message from Drew Shanefield, Cadets alumnus and member of the 2018 Design Team about this year’s corps:

“You know... we are going to be a most excellent corps.  Without hesitation.

 Speaking for the design team, we are 100% "in".  This is going to be meaningful, joyous, difficult, aggravating, exhilarating, memorable and awfully great.”

We hope out of this chapter comes a new day for the organization. A day that is educational, inspirational and safe for the students, employees, volunteers and all others who are dedicated to creating magnificent young people through their participation in the arts.

Edited April 6, 2018 by mfrontz

[kdaddy]

12 minutes ago, mfrontz said:

New director of Cadets Rich Hammond

Cadets 2 Rich Templin

 

A director for Cadets2 with that last name (no matter how well regarded in the region) is a little suspect.

[garfield]

1 hour ago, Incognito365 said:

I think you read too much into it. This is a discussion forum, so it's hard to read someone's tone, but really we're all just spit balling and speculating what could happen. It could go left or right, but clearly things can not stay on the current track. I think that's what they were getting at. 

I absolutely agree that it is a discussion forum - ha!  Just look at my number of posts!  And you may be right that I'm reading too closely (I also know Brasso's style as he knows mine).  But, in this situation, discussion should not include definitives about the future that are created wholly out of opinion and speculation.  Those tend to derail the thread and take discussions into fantasy land.  I think it's important that we not let opinion become acceptable precedent or "protocol".  

[Tommeee]

3 minutes ago, kdaddy said:

A director for Cadets2 with that last name (no matter how well regarded in the region) is a little suspect.

How is Rich Templin "a little suspect"?  I wholly disagree with that notion.

[Fran Haring]

4 minutes ago, kdaddy said:

A director for Cadets2 with that last name (no matter how well regarded in the region) is a little suspect.

Rich Templin has been the de facto director (officially listed as co-director) of Cadets2 since 2015.  Not sure how him keeping the same job is now "suspect."

Edited April 6, 2018 by Fran Haring

[garfield]

1 hour ago, Newseditor44 said:

As I understand it, DCIs role is an event promoter. You are correct in saying they have no way to “shut the corps down”, however, the DCI BOD can suspend the organization and remove them from the board, as well as deny them entry to any DCI sanctioned shows. The bigger question is, what does doing this this resolve? What kind of impact will this have on the students and the activity? There is an opportunity to do something that is constructive and to heal. Denying them the opportunity to perform would be a knee jerk reaction and the wrong decision, IMHO.

Exceedingly well-said.

Dan Acheson makes it DCI's business to be what the corps want him to be.  Do they want him to be a hatchet or axe?  

 

[Jim Schehr]

5 minutes ago, kdaddy said:

A director for Cadets2 with that last name (no matter how well regarded in the region) is a little suspect.

Rich is a stand up man with impeccable integrity. Cadets2 are in the best of hands under his leadership. 

[Newseditor44]

39 minutes ago, barigirl78 said:

I don't know about that.  With Hopkins resignation, some people seem to have forgotten the other key questions in this:

1. Who else knew about this and tolerated it over the years?

2. If it was tolerated, could there be others still in the organization who were doing similar behavior?

Judging by some comments I've read elsewhere, I wouldn't instantly assume the answer is to either question is "no".  Either DCI can take the approach that the Cadets can "self-police" to get their house in order or that DCI must exert pressure from the outside to get them to do so.  There are few weapons in DCI's arsenal other than denying a corps competition.

The worst thing to happen is for DCI to do nothing and some more revelations come out in the future.

Do you think Hopkins' resignation resolves everything?

I don’t disagree with anything you’ve said, however, DCI and YEA are completely separate orginxations. DCI has no operational control over YEA. As the activity promoter, they can set the guidelines by which corps are expected to operate, but they don’t have the authority to fire people, cease control of the organization, etc. what they can do is remove their representation from their board of directors and deny them the opportunity to perform, but I see that as a last resort kinda deal. 

[Terri Schehr]

1 minute ago, Jim Schehr said:

Rich is a stand up man with impeccable integrity. Cadets2 are in the best of hands under his leadership. 

He’s his own man and an independent thinker.  No worries with him at the helm.  He and Rich Hammond have an unenviable task of head of them.