What is the role of Alumni

[AmFlag61]

Should we adopt a "My Corps, right or wrong, is still my Corps!" attitude?

Should we have a say in Staff hirings, firings, replacements, etc.?

Should we be privy to the actions of the Corps BOD?

Should we expect to be informed as to our Corps aims & goals?

Should we in any way support our current MMs?

Are we obligated to ask sometimes uncomfortable questions and expect some kind of response?

IMO, the answers, in sequence are NO, NO, NO, YES, YES, YES !

What do YOU, as an Alumnus, think?

Edited August 30, 2010 by AmFlag61

[ouooga]

I marched, but never felt that connection to either of my corps outside of the people I met. Personally, I say once you've marched you're either an instructor, volunteer or fan.

Instructor's get to speak for their corps, to an extent.

Volunteers get to speak from their own perspective, but not their corps', and are helping out to the full extent that they should; in a volunteer role.

Fans get to speak about drum corps, but do not represent their corps at all.

I'm a fan.

[va9590jm]

Should we adopt a "My Corps, right or wrong, is still my Corps!" attitude?

What do you mean by that? Clarification, please?

[xbones7480]

Here is CAA's mission and a brief video about us:

http://www.crossmenalumni.org/about-us.html

Edited August 30, 2010 by xbones7480

[Getintoyourcolor]

Alumni should:

Cheer like hell for the home team

Volunteer

Write a check

[Tupac]

Alumni should:

Cheer like hell for the home team

Volunteer

Write a check

This

[Big Bad Bari]

I think we as Alum should offer our time when possible.... Money if possible, support the organization even if we do not agree with the direction or show design because the MM's are still haveing the exact same experience we were having when we marched... Except they have cell phones, ipods, ipads, laptops, wifi, ac.... Hey wait a minute! lol

As far as the direction of the corps... I think it is pretty #### arrogant to assume you should have input... Do Stanford Grads have input on the educational direction of the institution? Are they expected to show support in public and financially?

So there are many ways to show your support... Has anyone here been to a corps rehearsal and actually spoken the the MM's? It would suprise you to see the level of respect and willingness to listen to all our old BS war stories that there is out there... Do you really still want to feel like a part of your old corps? Go see, talk, and emerse yourself, you will not be dissapointed! The kids out there are awesome people!!!!!!!

[AmFlag61]

What do you mean by that? Clarification, please?

Simply put, "I personally find that decision (whatever THAT may be) morally and ethically reprehensible, but I stand silently supporting it. This was originally "My Country..." during the Viet Nam era.

[AmFlag61]

I think we as Alum should offer our time when possible.... Money if possible, support the organization even if we do not agree with the direction or show design because the MM's are still haveing the exact same experience we were having when we marched... Except they have cell phones, ipods, ipads, laptops, wifi, ac.... Hey wait a minute! lol

As far as the direction of the corps... I think it is pretty #### arrogant to assume you should have input... Do Stanford Grads have input on the educational direction of the institution? Are they expected to show support in public and financially?

So there are many ways to show your support... Has anyone here been to a corps rehearsal and actually spoken the the MM's? It would suprise you to see the level of respect and willingness to listen to all our old BS war stories that there is out there... Do you really still want to feel like a part of your old corps? Go see, talk, and emerse yourself, you will not be dissapointed! The kids out there are awesome people!!!!!!!

ALL excellent points! I definitely feel we have no right to interfere with direction or design. But I think as Alumni we have an obligation to give some input. It WOULD be arrogant to assume that our input should be adhered to.

I have been to rehearsals, served Lunch & Dinner at Camps, talked with the MMs (and yes, it did surprise me to discover how interested they were in our History or "war stories", as much as I was interested in theirs), and as a member of The Classic Cavaliers have had the Honor of performing both for & with them. I have also met MMs from other Corps, and agree with you that "The kids out there ARE awesome people!!!!!!!".

Thanks for your reply. "Rivals on the Field...Friends for Life...Through Drum Corps!"

[MikeN]

Should we adopt a "My Corps, right or wrong, is still my Corps!" attitude?

I would hope so. If you feel a connection to your corps (enough to be an "active" alumnus), then I'd think that unless there's something egregious, you would feel.

Should we have a say in Staff hirings, firings, replacements, etc.?

Absolutely not, I think. The staff is in place for a reason - let them do their own jobs. Though if a corps administrator, I would think an active and opinionated Alumni base is a good thing. But they should stay opinions.

Should we be privy to the actions of the Corps BOD?

I don't think any more than the general public is - if you're that motivated, go to the meeting.

Should we expect to be informed as to our Corps aims & goals?

Absolutely. Yes. Si. Alumni are the folks that are going to be the greatest "givers" of time and money to the organization - they should be kept informed on a regular basis as to how things are going and where they expect to go. Just seems like common sense to me.

Should we in any way support our current MMs?

Yup. By definition, you were one once. No brainer.

Are we obligated to ask sometimes uncomfortable questions and expect some kind of response?

Yes and no. You're more than welcome to express your opinion, but honestly, I don't know if you deserve any more of a response than the general public. Obviously, a corps should want to keep their alumni happy, and were a segment of them upset about similar issues I'd sure put out a word to them, but I don't think it should be an expectation.

For me, it's like being an alumnus of a college. I don't expect to be able to vote on the makeup of UT's Faculty Council, nor do I think I have the right to a response if I write in to complain. But I sure do expect to be kept informed as to what they're doing, and I do expect to be catered to a little more than the general public, if not exactly given the keys to the castle.

Mike

Mike