Leaderboard

You have to be inside the ice cream cone of silence.

along with being a Cadet marching member from 1964-1973 and a long time volunteer, donor, owner and principal at Gen Realty, LLC and has been a principal in Equity Options Hedge Funds since 2009, a member of Inspire Arts and Music Board of Directors since 2016 (aka Boston Crusaders BOD), a key "matching donor" of the M&G Club, and further education Ohio University, Athens, OH Marketing Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ Business Law Fairleigh Dickinson - but sure he can't run an ice cream stand. Gotcha.

but why wasn't the board already in place?! that alone makes me think this is a bit of a banana republic. one of the main criticisms that haunted GH was that the board worked for him (and enabled him), rather than the correct way around. if you're gonna start fresh, DO IT RIGHT, and we have not done that.

This is literally perfect and lets not forget the COO/CFO has no, nada, nothing on business/finance or honestly running a drum corps. He joined YEA! in 2016 as the IT guy when George Hired him... Took over director of ops after sean king was in and out.... and now landed this gig... When you promote within and hire the board to do what you say and not to help you run an organization... BIG YIKES!

I’m off the interNUT for a few hours and look what happens.

I can think of a few reasons. One, some answers may be vague, and there could be legitimate reasons why some things may be vague. Second, there are some who will only want to hear what they want to hear. For me, as long as what they say satisfies marching members, staff, parents, and donors, that is what matters most.

Dude. It's Spongebob. Relax. Not quite the same as asking to throw band directors - you know, the ones who teach those who go on to do drum corps - into the cutely animated jellyfish fire.

Glad we're clear.

Recap: Introduce the leadership team - Denise, Justin, Brad, Ron March 31 transition to a new organization 501 c 3 not yet handled but definitely will by March 31 "Most" copyrights to show music have been obtained Guard is 50% contracted Percussion full Brass "down to single-digit holes" Brass knows 33% of the show Things are "going great" WRT the corps and the show Spring training site TBD "95%" of sponsors are "the same;" Denise "can't disclose" the few changes New board TBA March 31 No new fundraising initiatives; same stuff: M&G, Power the Cadets; March-a-thon forms Commentary: What are they doing? In any organization the BOARD is first and the BOARD hires the management team, not the other way around! The managers work FOR THE BOARD. The COO has a "consulting company" that "supports non-profits." Uh.... what? No spring training site?! IT'S LESS THAN 90 DAYS AWAY! I feel exactly zero confidence in donating to this organization which hasn't provided any clear answers about whether it is a non-profit charity or not ####

dodge bob weave dodge dodge bob

Hopefully! 😝 (ducks and runs...)

Clearly a rookie

And that’s Squidwards instrument to boot... #### I’m 62 and knew that. 😫

Because Greg Pych shouldn’t be in charge of anything, even an ice cream stand in July. What a joke.

Thank you sir for the reasonable response to the Cadets webinar. The cynicism about this organization is really sad. I have faith in the current team and believe they are on a positive trajectory. Feel free to insult me if you want.

I don't think that's technically correct. I think they raised money but it was probably all spent on debt and crap, resulting in the generous person stepping in. My two cents.

thanks for the summary - I had done a similar one in the other thread agree on your concerns - however I have confidence in Denise and many others involved SO I am donating (a modest 3 digit monthly donation) but will increase that if/when more details are announced they can gain much more goodwill and confidence on or by March 31st but announcing a STRONG board of directors that exudes confidence, independence and expertise - that would be huge for the future

Not enough information about what is actually happening with the organization. None of that information gave me confidence that they are going to be okay. When the management team did not do enough research about a 501c3 and that they do need it to be able to fundraise. The fact that they did not answer how are they allowed to be in world class with a brand new 501c3 after the DCI rule changes... So many questions that were asked to a simple "We dont see any questions..." and ends the call before Denise can even say bye.... Wow... Not sure if thats the face you want to put for your first meeting as the new cadets!

Time to take charge T.

Why do I have a feeling there will be more questions then answers!

I’m Dirt I’m Dirt! And it’s car engines I like to hurt!

oh Lord. i'll warn the Borough

DARK AND SERIOUS, THAT’S WHY! People have always called me serious, maybe even dark sometimes too, and those 1990s Cavaliers shows really were intense. I was drawn to them like gods and taught myself to play mellophone at 19 just so I could be a part of that. Look at my case: 1990 – Anthems – I believe this is supposed to be choral church music, but those first two pieces sound like no church I’ve ever been to. That Gloria percussion feature is bone crushing – which is very good! 1991 – Christmas music from hell 1992 – Revolution - enough said. 1993 – I’ve often called this the darkest music ever played. I believe the opener is about Jesus’s procession with the cross and the second piece is about fighters in Vietnam. 1994 – rope and lumber to accentuate heavy masculine effect we’ve always had 1995 – all emotions covered, but Mars… I stand my ground! 1996 – Pan-American Sketches, the year I marched – they told us this more gentle show was actually about Europeans stealing the Americas from the Natives (Copland at the end is pretty “white” to finish off the meaning) 1997 – who thought the Firebird ballet could be made more dark and serious than Stravinsky made it – The Cavaliers proved it could be done. 1998 and 1999 – “Machine” was pretty heavy, but for the most part, I think we started to back off… Any thoughts?

How would the logistic of that work, though, in this case?

They decidedly did not raise a ton of money last year. They didn't even have the money to buy horns this year. A generous person bought the horns from Yamaha and is lending them to the corps for the summer.

I mean.. maybe? But they also said they raised a ton of money last year so why change it if it ain't broke? They really should be looking at new ways of raising money in addition to what they're already doing.

Mid winter report - 80th anniversary off-season is going well. Inaugural Winter Guard season of Inspire is off to a great start and SAC is at the top of WGI. Auditions went really well and winter camps in Texas are a plus (member demographics/camp travel cost/building relationships with great programs) a positive move, first brass clinic with members and band directors a big step forward, planning for the 80th going well events are coming together details to be announced shortly, Concert in the Park fund raising going well, new major non competitive corporate event in Boston to be announced soon, city wide youth programs going strong and continuing to expand, Music Festival sign ups are going strong and offseason Building development and Fleet preparations are progressing. Let's go!

there are several already in place and the selection process is underway - I know of two personally. I agree with you the BOD should have been announced THEN this... I think some of this is a nature of the short time line they are working with... not a great excuse but probably the reality But I share your observation and concern and will be most interested when the BOD becomes announced

If you didn't, I'd be dialing 911!

Wouldn't know if it was predictable, but I was hoping for more transparency.

Shockingly predictable! A monumental failure.

They said they have about 80% of the copyrights done for the show. How the heck would they know if they're going to make the top 12? Clearly that's something that they're striving for (and obviously higher), but why bother. Some answers were very bumpy and they should have been more prepared for some of the incoming questions.

COO & CFO having NO FINANCE BACKGROUND or Running an organization background... That should be scary!!

Nah! Just doesn’t interest me. Thanks 😊

Maybe Shell? I remember ads with a "Shell Experimental Car" or something like that... it ran several hundred miles on a gallon of gas. Lots of coasting, lots of barely tapping the gas pedal. LOL. How about those Cadets?

Wouldn't that be an oboe?

the dark side of the force

I have a 'Wake Island University' t-shirt. Their motto: Truth, Knowledge, and a Great Tan

details?

I respect your consistency.

😳

Lets talk about mental health in the activity.....

Just an FYI, my blistering remarks are no more reality based than your images of a burning clarinet. Some comments are said just to arouse a response, and apparently that worked. I'm sure a woodwind player may be deeply offended by your graphic image, but only if they took it literally, or personally. It also occurs to me that your images have again nothing to do with the Madison Scouts in 2020, which we are constantly reminded to stay centered within. This is a talk forum, not a venue for do it at home psycho analysts. Otherwise, no apologies.

I thought the same thing ... so I retired!

On YT there’s a live PMG video of “First Circle,” 1989 Montreal Canada. Have lost count of the number of times I’ve viewed it over the years, and Lyle Mays’ keyboard feature during that performance still leaves me breathless.

Hearing Groucho dictating a letter to his lawyers Hungadunger, Hungadunger, Hungadunger and McCormick. Zeppo reads back the letter and misses a name. Groucho: “you left out a Hungadunger, and it was the main one”.

That’s really dark, Dude.

I don't care either way & I'm not a mod. There was just a ton of conversation already in this thread about the YEA! changes PRIOR to the "other thread" so it seemed a bit misguided Additionally I would like to make another point: I certainly hope (and assume) that 95% or greater of the folks posting in EITHER thread want nothing but the best for the Cadets. However, it's a bit important to be realistic - there are a small number of folks posting either aligned with GH or the folks that led the corps in 2018 & 2019. All are entitled to their perspective - however it would be GREAT if everyone was just honest with their feelings or "agenda" -- and here is where the discussion is lacking. DCP allows anonymity - which is fine. We thought a great deal about requiring users to display their real name when I first formed DCP and decided against it - but the nature of RAMD at that time made me (us) heavily consider it. However I felt it was necessary to allow - due to value of letting someone share their perspective privately in certain situations. This is akin to allowing an assault victim or witness to share information or allegations privately in police/court cases - such as a "crime tip" It's interesting now since we have (at least) 1 of the GH victims posting here. A wonderful perspective to be shared. Of great value IMO However - we also have "friends" of GH (there's a group of folks aligned with GH who believe, to this day, that "a group of cranky alumni used allegations to "steal away" the Cadets from GH Hard to believe - but these folks exist. Quite sad and alarming. So - several of that group are also posting here Then the past two years - there's a couple (one quite vocal) who clearly are aligned (friends?) with the folks leading the corps in 2018/2019. That I have a bit more (personal) sympathy for. Those were hard working and very well meaning individuals. However, mistakes were made (some more than once) in that the organization "under-delivered" and over-promised in my view. Most concern mistakes (member housing, show design decisions and over-spending) weren't just made ONCE they were made twice So - another agenda being "shared" behind anonymous screen names. So - my advice is "reader beware" Anyone with a noodle realizes a few things about the Cadets right now: 1. They are in clear "rebuilding mode" - both fiscally & competitively 2. Currently the Cadets are a mid-finalist type corps (10th-6th range) - competitive success, great member experience and great show design will result in more auditioneers next winter and beyond 3. Cadets corps isn't "full" YET. Percussion is reported to be in good shape. A "few" additional brass spots remain. Guard tryouts are underway vs. video and happen in April. But they'll be full in May and perhaps a bit younger than recently. Young is a risk, but the tour is well-built to max out a younger corps. It allows for more basics & more ensemble time 4. In the activity we need the Cadets - folks mention the "10 world championships" while ignoring the time/role prior to the combine & pre-DCI. Let's be positive, be hopeful and be a bit patient. I believe in the team leading the corps NOW. And I believe in the corps' legacy. It will get there! The work-ethic of the corps and these people will serve them well Those posting anonymously - just be HONEST about your perspective. If you believe in GH - say so. If you wish Scott was still running the corps - announce that. Everyone is entitled to share their perspective - but please, be honest about it! Finally - Garfield - thanks as always for your thoughtful, calm posts. I always enjoy and gain something from reading them! Thanks, George.

yup. i marched in a few 6 man...person...lines, taught some, judged some, and worshiped the Crossmen 6 pack attack years under Thurston. It's how you A) tune them and B) write for them. if you just look at #6 as the power drum, yeah it's pointless.