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Trying to get back OT.... School districts are weird animals. Not always sensible, not always logical, and usually very scared of anything that could upset the apple cart or cause a ruckus with their constituents. Hence some of the DCI housing issues, whether warranted or not. It's a perception issue, and DCI will have to work hard to repair that negative perception. It may take years.

So it is the job of the schools to know which corps haven’t had any problems (so far)? I will say it one LAST time... it is NOT the job of the schools to run background checks on corps asking to use their facilities. And beating the schools for their decisions is not going to help. My suggestion is DCI keep working on their procedures, follow thru and show the schools that problems of the past have remained in the past. Yes it is not fair and the world is like that. So instead of bashing the schools how about some positive suggestions

Avon was amazing - great design meets great performers Male featured performer was incredible

I hope the comments before mine are this succinct: The district's obligation is to the school district, not to the desires/whims of a traveling bunch of band geeks. I ran our local show for over a decade and I could share some incredible stories of "tour director self importance" when the Board is much less impressed.

You already know the answer to the question you pose Stu. Baiting people to fall into a verbal trap isn't going to change the fact that it has absolutely NOTHING to do with a specific corps and whether or not that corps has been called out on issues past or present. Your point of it not being fair is well taken and I would say probably most people would agree with it. What we will probably never all agree on is whether or not "fair" should enter the picture. I don't think it's "fair" either. Luckily, I don't have a part to play in that decision.

I don't believe in my heart of hearts (I do have one...just ask any of my ex-wives,) that ANY of us want that. And I do get what you're saying here. But whether it is one known offender or fifty offenders, will that change the minds of the decision makers. Even if the problems which have occurred make up less than 1%, I am not the one to judge for someone else whether or not that is "systemic," nor whether or not that label makes a decision to not take part valid or invalid. And before we go on a "well there could be offenders anywhere and everywhere so let's just burn down the activity since it could be harboring potential abusers," I think we should all agree that none of this conversation should be about that end. If a entity (school board, city council or what have you) decides that the potential for risk is too high then that's their prerogative. It's like that old stock and standard interview question that we all hate...."What does perception versus reality mean?" If the perception of those entities fear something, real or imagined, then they have the right to withhold their support. We can judge them if we so choose but it will simply NOT change the fact that their perception is valid in their own minds given the circumstances. All of that and I STILL agree that's it's probably not a systemic issue, but isolated as you believe. That still doesn't change the fact that we cannot change the perception of others. Instead we have to educate and make lasting changes so that they change their own perception.

But I do care. I care if it is a multitude of known convicted sex offenders each year who engaged with a multitude of DCI corps (systemic throughout DCI), or if it was just a very, very, small number of known convicted offenders with only a very small number of corps over a 46 year period (not systemic but isolated). Why do I care? Because I do not want to punish and tarnish the hundred-thousand plus innocent people who have participated in DCI over the years based on the bad actions of those I can count on one hand.

Corps Director Kristy Jackson posted her camp report today. Some intriguing tidbits: The Troopers have a different sound this year. It is aggressive and hungry. There is a general feeling that the Troopers of 2019 are here to compete. We will be presenting a competitive program that is relevant in the year that we are performing. We are jumping into the mix in full force this year. The handcuffs are off, and the members are committed to writing their own history. Pay attention to that statement. Later: While our legacy and legend influences who we are, we remember the corps as it was in the late sixties. They were hungry, relative to the times they performed in. They came in full force with a mission to deliver. They did not try to be what they once were. They delivered who they were in that moment and in so doing, revolutionized modern drum corps of that era. We strive to do that once again today. If we are to honor our past, it should not be by recreating it at every turn. It should be by living up to its example, choosing to be The 2019 Troopers. I can see no better way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our National Championship title, than to be electric in the times we live in now. Emphases are mine. It should be remembered that the Troopers -- the actual U.S. cavalry that secured the West -- lived on the frontier. They were, to borrow a name, the vanguard, in the literal sense of the word. I can't say how the competitive chips will fall. But I have a feeling it's going to be a great year to be a Trooper -- no matter when you marched.

Any idea when these tickets generally go on sale?

Now CGT is giving a serious Deep in the Heart of Texas vibe.

Black Gold did have a lovely show though.

Common core.

That opening solo was everything. You knew from the moment he nailed that last toss in the corner, this was gonna be an amazing run

Likely a clarification needed that they have no current affiliation or position with any currently active corps.

She did march. I know because I marched with her.

Wine, Beer, Food event this coming weekend, April 14. Greg Pych and Jim Messina are bringing their "A Game" with the food and wine. There will also be a raffle with vacation homes, Cadet memorabilia, gift cards, and drum corps tickets. You DO NOT need to be a Cadet alum (or even a drum corps fan) to attend. Anybody that loves great wine and food, will love this event! More info here - https://yea.org/civicrm/event/info%3Fid%3D264%26reset%3D1

Or I’ve heard in my district from residents “they don’t pay taxes”... while the board is probably thinking “and they can’t vote against us if we upset them”....

IIRC, the program they tried to get rid of is likely mandated by the Federal Government. Good luck trying to ditch it. And you are quite correct about Dyslexia and related Dysgraphia. One of my Dysgraphic friends is pretty high up in SSA now for the Feds and the other's a Humanities Professor at HACC, and also marched with a top 9 ACC band BITD after working his can off. The people are usually pretty daggone brilliant, they have a block decoding stuff. Also, very true many board members in PA have their personal agendas, one in SW PA being revenge on the teachers after he dropped out and got on the board. Deal with individuals like that, and trying to be logical and sensible won't work at all.

And let’s not forget public school boards are not made up of professional educators who have nothing else to do but deal with school issues. Around here at least it’s people who have 40 hour or more a week jobs and wanted to be on board for various reasons. And some reasons that are not so noble, usually cut the school budget to help their own taxes. sister in laws district cut the reading recovery program she headed. Reason head of board gave her was “we spend too much on dumb kids”. She explained it helped kids with dyslexia and he responded “yeah like I said dumb kids”. When head of school board has no idea dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence you see why fighting a school board can be a losing battle

That...right there.

All I’ll say to the irrational fear part is “it only takes one person”. And one worst case action wipes out all the good. I understand your frustration but like I said before, to correct this the activity needs to show positive steps in combating predators and other issues. Basically saying schools are wrong for considering the issue is not going to help imo

Referencing the issue that began one year ago. Do you all realize that according to the charges, and if found to be true, no 'youth' were ever in danger.

And therein lies the problem. When this story broke,there were a lot of comments about how Drum Corps needed some type of independence in its governing body. Nothing happened. As long as the activity can keep chugging along,selling tickets,it most likely never will. DCI survived the negative stories,without having to make organizational changes,including keeping Dan. I don't see that as progress.

Before I answer your question, you failed to answer my question which I posed to you first, which is: How many 'known convicted' sexual preditors have been directly involved with any of the corps involved with DCI from 1972- present? That answer will show why I believe this is not a systemic problem within DCI. So, please answer my question first.

And although I can see where you're coming from, calling it an "invalid excuse" is not for any of "us" to determine. That's like saying that my reasoning for not buying specific materials for my production of pool cues from Asia is an "invalid excuse" because I, along with hundreds of cue makers over the last 40+ years have had more problems with quality and illegal trade complaints than is worth our time. I'm 99% certain that 95% of the companies I could do business with in Asia are completely above board and aren't poaching endangered wood species. I'm simply NOT going to take the risk getting fined $600,000 like Gibson did even on that 5%. And before anyone says "apples and oranges," it isn't. Risk vs. Reward is valid for those schools and it's their opinion that matters because THEY are taking the risk in their minds. I don't disagree with this statement at ALL. I don't believe it to be a systemic problem within DCI or the marching arts in general. But I think we can all agree that no matter how it SHOULD work we have no control over how it actually DOES work. The MM's and staff should not be punished for what happened in other offending organizations. Unfortunately what is right and what is real will often oppose each other. At this point (to get back to the OP's question at the beginning of the thread,) many things have happened to begin the healing process. Most of the work that we can see has been done by the corps themselves and done proactively. DCI has made steps to also put in place rules and people to make change. Most of that seems to be reactionary, but as I stated earlier in the thread you have to put out the fires which are burning before you prevent fires to come, so reactionary is what had to happen. What happens going FORWARD is now where the focus will turn.

Welcome to the imperfect world Stu. Schools, churches and other youth based groups do what they can to keep youth safe. And if they go way to the safety side in what they do that’s their prerogative. And having been there in the church side I say more power to them. (Lol still waiting for a threatened lawsuit on that one) It’s not the schools responsibility to determine which corps are safe. It is DCIs responsibility to do all they can to clean up this mess so it stops being an issue in the future. Point the finger the right way. And just wondering: what percentage of corps putting youth at risk in any way (not just predators) would you consider systematic?

Local in Allentown... local in Milwaukee... local in Pacific Northwest (forget where)... to quote my dad “this #### adds up after a while”. Edit : local in Bones part of Texas....

First off the parents have a choice of sending kids somewhere which is different from having a group in your area and you had no choice in the matter. Secondly you are entitled to your opinion and it should be respected. Now how about respecting the opinion of people who disagree. You keep throwing out the word "excuses" like their opinion doesn't matter or they are wrong. I never said the predator problem is the only reason why facilities are denied. But it can be used as an additional reason why they are denied. And to respond to your quote.. WHY should school districts take a chance with ANY group?

Or they might be seeing it as 1) Corps with a problem that have been caught 2) Corps that don’t have a problem 3) Corps with a problem that haven’t been caught. Why should they take a chance on on ending up with #3? Or more to the point why should they take time out of their schedule to find out if a corps using their facilities is 1, 2 or 3?

What is valid is an opinion here. Might not be valid to you but if the board does not want to allow an activity that has a cloud over their head that could be a valid reason to them. And valid reason for the residents who live in that district. Especially those residents who live near the facilities. Bottom line is the school board is accountable to the residents so why the hades should they take a chance on allowing an outside group with a predator problem (or image of the same) to use the facilities. All it takes is one person to raise hell at a school board meeting or election time and it’s not worth the effort. And as for someone’s else’s problem, it’s not the school board/admins responsibility to worry about other districts.

a friend called me from inside the stadium so I could hear Crocker announce them on the field

You bet. Anything which creates a real risk of any litigation is a huge priority for admins.

I will just observe: The tone and respectful discussion so far this thread has been exemplary. It’s nice when people don’t get in each other’s grill.

I think that has been a major issue of confusion for many people used to a more controlling from the top structure.

I must be the only person that did not like "Natural Woman"...to me it felt forced into the same mold that worked for "Everything Must Change" in 2017. That just took away from the effect imho.