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I suspect that to get a leader who has experience and truly understands how to properly run a nonprofit organization it requires compensation at the $200k+/ year.

What good is a deadline if (almost) no one meets it?

As a former tax accountant that prepared many 990s for NFPs, extensions are extremely normal for the filings. I can only remember one NFP that we filed by the original due date and that was at the stern request of the client.

Non profit compensation isn't what it was 20 years ago, where it involved taking a vow of poverty. The $600k number has to be an anomaly; for an org BD's size, somewhere in the $160-240k range would be more common (keeping in mind Bay Area inflation on salaries). An org in the $1m-3m range could be expected to pay $100-180k for their C-suite execs, $45-80k for leaders a run or two below that.

Down in OC, there are only a handful of directors that get paid at all. I think in my final year in 2019, our director was like one of three or four. Hopefully it's improved a bit now. When you're trying to do a salary survey for market value, it's *really* difficult as each nonprofit really has it's own set of challenges. Mike

Lately it seems Houston and surrounding areas of Houston have been less willing to support the musical arts. Independent indoor drumlines and winterguards struggle to find practice gyms/locations and entire Districts are becoming harder and harder to work with (yeah looking at you Katy ISD). This was even more evident during this past seasons WGI event where greed forced the regional from the Merrill Center to 7 lakes. So I can see where the struggles are with securing not just stadiums but also housing locations for the corps. Combine that with record budget shortfalls in some of the biggest districts Cy Fair ISD and others and you get a perfect storm of issues. Hope the tide changes soon but just not seeing it for the next couple years.

I enjoyed Denton the last time I was there "Pre-Covid" during all the construction on the roads. I got a place close to the stadium this year and will be able to walk to the stadium. Suite ticket makes it all the better this time around.

You couldn't be more wrong I LOVE the Santa Clara Vanguard!! I loved competing against them, beating them, (losing to them not so much), and am fortunate to count many alumni as friends over the course of 50+ years. Harry & Meghan on the other hand...........

There are many still flapping in the wind. Actually four are still marked as "TBD" and a dozen as "Coming Soon"

Not RL, but still following this. If I'm not mistaken, they were due March 15 and I was chomping at the bit to see them + audit. I'm under the impression that a 6-month extension was filed. On the CA DOJ website their listing is "Current - Awaiting Reporting"; and only that because alumni have reached out the DOJ for an update. In contrast, both Mandarins and BD Performing Arts are listed as simply "Current." Search "Vanguard Music," "Mandarins," or "BD Performing" respectively, here for yourself: https://rct.doj.ca.gov/verification/web/Search.aspx?facility=Y I thought I remembered hearing from CEO/CFO that these filings were scheduled to be ahead, but perhaps they were referring to those already filed. I was also under the impression that the community of stakeholders would be updated regularly about state and local compliance, but perhaps they feel extensions are just a part of normal business. I disagree in VMAPA's case, given the auditor ratings of recent filings, but I have less than no influence. They continue to abhor the bad news of realities and instead focus on the forthcoming season to keep them cheerful. I get it, but ignoring the realities of tax filings, audits and historical member abuse probably won't work out well. Just had a nightmare about the abuse last night. Anyways... I have attended a board meeting or two this year and neither board members nor stakeholders sending in questions for the board to answer seem concerned about any of this. I thought about submitting questions, but I haven't gotten the sense that they would answer them with transparency and honesty. I've been spun both privately and publicly too many times to consider their request for questions serious. In other words, nothing to see here. Awaiting show announcement or to be informed by mods that all subject matter, respectfully provided, is welcome except this...

I recall @greg_orangecounty being pretty supportive of SCV during the past two years while being willing to call them out where they fell short. Unfortunately, SCV opened themselves up to this kind of ribbing and tough love when they got far sloppier in their non-profit housekeeping than we expect from a 50+ year old organization that is a marquee name. But I believe there is a lot of affection and goodwill for SCV even from its toughest critics.

Sometimes it’s hard to get access to them in a timely manner unless the org itself sends them to you. One typically has to rely on the data collection sites out there to get the latest filings and upload them.

Agreed. A little harmless, tongue-in-cheek jab. I don't think Greg as a former direct competitor of SCV has anything but respect. I was fairly PO'd at them myself for quite a while this winter and questioned my own fandom, but with signs of recovery and some positive news out of SCV have toned that down substantially.

I thought it was funny. 🤷‍♂️

Iirc there was a new set of 990s that was due in March or April. Do we know if they were filed, & what they said? Calling Richard Lesher. Would be nice to get a warm fuzzy that they have enough $ for a successful 2024 tour (success means everyone fed, safe transportation, no member abuse).

Your disgust towards SCV is obvious.

I think the bottom line is yes, if you have enough money (at least tens of $millions), you could bring back the Cadets.

The Denton show is my favorite of the three. Always the best lineup and if you're an early bird like me, you can park right at the gate.

So this leaves The Show Formerly Known as Annapolis flapping in the wind….

Not only is it a tiny venue with low seating, but it has a natural grass field which ALWAYS featured tall, unmowed grass. It was a terrible site, and the only reason corps even went there was due to the Bristol 4th of July parade, which was one of the highest paying parades for DCI corps in the country. The last year I was on staff with BAC we got paid $5000, and that was nearly 30 years ago!

I'm actually doing both Denton and Mesquite. Four shows in five days and all with at least a half dozen finalists from 2023. Fly in and out of DFW to boot. Makes for a lot of driving. However, a great opportunity to see many shows.

For sure, Houston is densely populated enough to pack the stadium no matter where it is. I just for the life of me can't figure out why Houston only gets one show. Then again, if it's this difficult to find a venue maybe that's a big part of why.

Maybe some kind of retention bonus or deferred compensation? I think it was USA Today that used to publish an annual ranking of college president salaries, and you would occasionally see a huge spike in "salary" for one president or another because of deferred compensation. That said, $638K seems absurdly high while $140K seems absurdly low.

Yeah, I can see that. I do remember watching the Tomball show on Flo and listening for @Hook'emCavies to yell out SPLOOIE. Needless to say, he didn't disappoint. I lived for a couple of years in that NW quadrant of Houston and drove frequently up to Austin on business so it didn't seem like that long of a trek for me. There's certainly enough bodies in that area to support a show. I think the Houston show was even in Katy for a time.

One of the very best. He will add a great perspective as a teacher and human.