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I have a very nice story about Mr.Cook. This goes back to when Blast was touring. My wife and I were taking a weekend trip to Hershey Park. We saw Blast was playing at the Hershey Theater. Figured, while we were there,it would be great to see it again. Problem was,the performances were sold out. Tried everything to find tickets. Nothing. I sent an email to Mr. Cook's attention at his medical company,explaining the situation and asking if he knew anyway we could buy tickets for Saturday night. Got an email back from him,saying there would be 2 tickets for us at the box office. Called the theater to find out what they would cost. We were told they were V.I.P. seats and that there was no charge. Wrote back to Mr. Cook and told him thank-you and that we would be donating the cost of the tickets to our favorite corps.

I’ve been working from my kitchen table in my robe since March 16. I can’t get LESS comfortable. I wonder if my car will start? P.S. I am wearing pants today though. In case you were wondering. I hear there’s been a bit of a problem in Maryland - people making trips to the mailbox not wearing pants.

some are already selling them

I went to the grocery store today for three items. While I was cleaning my friend’s house yesterday, I let Jim ordered the groceries. He bought wings for Saturday movie night but no chunky blue cheese dressing. So....I brought some disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer and my vogmask and off I went. It was 6:45am and there were probably three customers in the store. There are arrows on the floor for one-way aisles and six-foot markers at the checkouts. I thanked everyone working at the store (from a safe distance) and I was on my way. Be nice to them.

My car has been parked under the same tree for a month. It’s white. Pretty sure it used to be silver.

I am guessing that most of these instructors, as in other corps I’m more familiar with, work 1 week or so in the summer and a couple spring camps and get a stipend that barely covers their transportation costs to show up. Calling them “employees” is quite the stretch. They are contract employees getting 500 bucks to tech for a week...

I was thinking. In retrospect, that Scouts show with oxygen tanks and face masks was way ahead of its time.

Only teeth work my guy did not do was pull the wisdom teeth. I was 41 and when he saw the length of the root it was “you want to be knocked out for this”. Followed by “as long as you’re going to be out, think about getting them all pulled”. The worst was getting a filling redone and hearing “ uh oh”. Went from filling to root canal in 10 seconds. 😫

Endodontists are great. Easiest root canal I ever had.

Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois. DCM championship was in Toledo one year.

I arranged a percussion feature for the GSC corps the King’s Regiment back in 1977 using a short section of a nautical piece Jack Pratt suggested it, and he played it for me from his massive record collection when I was at his home back in late 76. i wrote it for brass quintet and percussion. The younger judges dug it, but some of the older drum judges said it did not count because it had a little brass in it. Jack would go at those judges in critique like crazy! I forget the name of the piece, sad to say. My all time favorite opener is Crown Imperial. I arranged it for my band in 78 as our opener.

Mr. Cook, through the Cook Group, financially supported a lot of drum corps and DCI. He did it quietly, and didn't ask for any recognition.

We don't really have to guess about the budget, their 990 is on Charity Navigator. In 2017 their total revenue was $2,114,011 $210k came from donations/grants $1.2mil came from the corps camp fees, membership fees, and show fees $231k came from Bingo $163k came from fundraising events $333k came from some kind of inventory sale In terms of expenses $84k went towards officers/directors/etc compensation (Almost all of this is the $82k salary of David Glasgow) $177k went towards other salaries/wages with another $55k towards benefits/payroll taxes $705k went towards travel $419k was considered to be "other fees for services" from non-employees, given the low salary number this probably includes show design and instructors? $194k was bucketed under depreciation Their total "program" expenses were $1.7mil with another $300k in administrative/management expenses

My daughter & granddaughter made me a tie-dye face mask. I have seen a Star Wars stormtrooper helmet w/ integral face mask as well.

Misinformation on your part. Asia has been wearing masks going back to probably before your time. Japan for example was mostly due to allergies. Sars had nothing to do with it. https://theculturetrip.com/asia/japan/articles/why-do-japanese-people-wear-surgical-masks/ https://qz.com/299003/a-quick-history-of-why-asians-wear-surgical-masks-in-public/ The custom of facemask-wearing began in Japan during the early years of the 20th century, when a massive pandemic of influenza killed between 20 and 40 million people around the world—more than died in World War I. There were outbreaks of the disease on every inhabited continent, including Asia (where it devastated India, leading to the deaths of a full 5% of the population). Covering the face with scarves, veils and masks became a prevalent (if ineffective) means of warding off the disease in many parts of the world, until the epidemic finally faded at the end of 1919.

Might have been Canadian Brass? I believe they did a concert series with them as part of their Brass Theater program.

My response is posted. It is not a rebuttal of the entire novel, or even any whole chapter therein. But feel free to let me know what you think. And so do I. Please be mindful of social distancing recommendations. We must stay at least six feet apart, and faces will be partially covered.

So Brass is the brown/red line (soloists are purple), while the green is the Guard. Drums are in the blue box. The tan are the featured Guard performers.

Maybe there is a point being made that instead of hiding in DCP anonymity, you step up with your response directly, without anonymity. I don’t feel the fear being struck as no one could strike that much fear in me, using just words.

I fail to see the threat. There’s no “or else”. And if you do rebut this, I hope you will have the balls to tell me face to face at Finals, if there ever is another Finals.

AFAICT Crown will make it through to next season but there are definitely corps in the top 12 who may not. But that doesn't mean the corps is done for ever and ever. I suspect most/all would be able bounce back after taking the 2021 season off. All that aside - GIVE, GIVE, GIVE! If you love your corps, support them now when they most assuredly need your support.

Standing-O! EDIT: I have retracted the rest of this reply. Upon reflection, I was too aggressive. Apologies all around.

But it's not false or disingenuous at all. It's what would happen if business as usual went on. And yes, some people were advising just that. Herd immunity! I quoted a DCP poster who said that it was ridiculous that all "sporting and entertainment events [were] cancelled, [and] schools [were] closed" in response to COVID19. That person's reasoning? Swine Flu killed 12,000 Americans *over the course of a year* and we didn't do those things. (Though there were some very limited small-scale closures.) And that was before stay-at-home orders were issued in most places. That person wasn't responding to those measures but was complaining that even just shutting down events and schools was too much -- apparently even if they were to save as many as 12,000 lives. Now we've seen COVID19 has killed more than 30,000 Americans in 47 days, and we're on our way to reach twice that number. (The past 24 hours have the most deaths yet. Also, while New York has finally done the right thing and started to record *some* of the large number of people, vastly exceeding the daily average of the past five years, who died at home but were never tested, most jurisdictions still are not doing this, so the real death count still exceeds the official count by a fair bit. And yes, comparisons like that are the way that these things are normally counted. That Swine Flu count was calculated after the fact by comparing to previous years' averages, not by counting each death that had tested positive in real time.) Some hospitals are right at their breaking points. Bodies are piling up in spare rooms. (Seriously. I can provide pictures if necessary.) A fair number of doctors and nurses have fallen ill or died. (Not something that normally happens because of the flu!) They're wearing garbage bags because they ran out of protective equipment. But in the hardest-hit jurisdictions, so far, we seem to have done *just barely enough* to avoid cause health care collapses. One recently discovered fact helped: ventilators are less helpful than had been believed. (They're still needed, just not as much as expected.) People whose blood oxygen levels have dropped so low that all the books and training says they ought to be on ventilators are often better off without, because of the weird way this strange virus acts in the lungs. But again: we're going to have five times as many deaths from this outbreak, in one-fourth the time, as we did for Swine Flu. And those are 60,000 souls *on top of* those who died from the flu this year. The one disease didn't replace the other. And all of that happened even though we imposed extensive social distancing measures. It would be so much worse if we hadn't! This is just baffling: when some people here claimed that COVID19 was being overhyped ("get back to me in two or three weeks", said someone here in the last week of February) because the swine flu was worse, or the regular flu season (in which 60,000 deaths is a bad year) is worse, even though both of those claims have proved to be false, that wasn't worth disputing. But when other people here warned that it was going to be much worse, and then when they noted that subsequent events bore those predictions out, that's somehow misleading. That burgundy line on the chart is what would happen had we done nothing. (Which would lead to somewhere between 500,000 and 2 million Americans dead, by the way. Yes, that's a big uncertain spread, because there's lots we just don't know about this virus yet.) That "efforts start working" point on the chart? If we're lucky, that's where we are right now, in terms of the death toll. Or we may be just a bit to the right, just past that inflection point. What you seem to be proposing is that the efforts taken to this point weren't worthwhile, because once we reached this point, we could now take all the measures that are helping us bend the curve. Or alternatively you seem to believe that people would have taken sufficient steps on their own to match the official policies, and those would have been good enough to get us here. If that's what you mean, I don't think it's true. Had we taken the social distancing steps we did take just *one week earlier*, we probably could have cut the death toll by half. And that obviously didn't happen, whether officially or not. What are those 30,000 American lives worth? We probably ought to decide, because it needs to be a factor in how and when we reopen (and thus ultimately how 2021 plays out for DCI).

I’m covering my roots with some spray-on stuff.

Jim was in Japan in the 80’s in the Marine Corps and he said taxi drivers and bank tellers always wore white gloves. And he saw a lot of masks. He said if someone had a cold, they’d wear a mask. He said they are extremely polite people. He loves Japan.

It is very impressive and that's what Drum Corps should be. These over-produced, Broadway-wannabe, budget-bloated shows are killing the activity except for a select few.

Yep. It's not alarmist to be forthright with people about how challenging the situation is.

Fee's do seem very out of control BUT feed, house, transport from sometime in May to Aug. it's cheap. I have friends that spent more to have their kid be a dancing bumble bee in a dance recital . I also have taught in the old days so to speak as well as now, When I started one staff person had to know how to basically do everything. NOT today. Even to have a very small winter program ( size wise ) is nothing like back in the day. I have spent thousands just trying to find a space to practice. Nothing is the way it was. Should it be? ok debatable, Can it be? NO!

I think they were in DCM shows.

I'm guessing she was talking about West Baden and French Lick. Here's a story on the amazing job he did restoring the resort: https://www.worldpropertyjournal.com/real-estate-news/united-states/french-lick-resort-west-baden-springs-tom-saunders-larry-borst-donald-trump-steve-ferguson-pete-dye-legends-championship-legends-tour-cook-medical-9292.php

Keep in mind that a high percentage of the money from the overall revenue goes back into bingo, other fundraisers, shows, admin, and staff needed for other programs - not just the summer drum corps staff.

The cost of sound guys is probably one of the lower costs. Think of putting the following on the road from ST to Finals: 154 MM’s, 50-70 instructional staff (designers, techs For a full tour or in & out), food staff, medical staff, misc admin staff, 4-5 busses, 4-5 semis, vehicle insurance, vehicle leasing, souvie staff, souvies and souvie truck/trailer, brass & percussion instruments, electronics, props, licensing, show sponsorship costs. And two big ones; food and fuel. $2.5m for a top 12 corps is not outlandish. Super high yes, but not for a top tier competitive touring corps.

Some dislike may not have been of Star per se’ but how they came about. It was not built like other corps that were started and grew their talent. They recruited (aka poached) talent from other corps (mm’s and staff). There is a story going around (maybe a myth) that a particular kid (other kids too) was about to go to a local corps and a private plane was provided to take him to Star to be recruited. They were successful with the poaching and the local corps missed out. There seemed to be an arrogance about them as well as their DCI success grew. The story goes, a corps had just gotten on tour, after others, because they couldn’t afford a lengthy tour. Once arriving at stop number one, they were invited to a dinner from local show hosts. A generous gesture for sure, but being late to the game and behind other corps (and after a long travel day) the corps respectfully declined believing a critical rehearsal was needed for the next day’s show (going on very early made a short day). Mr. Cook was upset by the declined invitation and to show the hosts (friends of his) he could get the corps there, that he had sway and influence, he called the corps hq and complained (demanded) the corps accept and because the bus drivers were not able to drive, he’d send his busses. The corps ended up going, and were gracious to the exceptionally nice hosts. They refused Stars busses, convincing their drivers to take them. No thank you came from Mr. Cook. No apology or explanation to the touring staff for disrupting a critical rehearsal to establish a tour routine, came from Mr. Cook. What was felt by the corps was a belief he cared very little for the corps he believed to be insignificant. He felt it was more important for his status as a member of DCI with power and influence. This feeling was to stay with that corps for a long time.

It nice to know I have a pal! No threat intended, but sometimes people can get pretty bold behind screen names. Even I do, though a good number of people know me personally. I am willing to walk back my comment and if we do meet, maybe we can wave at each other from a socially safe distance.

OK, that made me laugh. Thanks for that.

Let's go old school & let that be the plate line.

Efforts start working line looks like ye olde elevator drill for the drum line....

Broke down and ordered pick up last night. Only ordering from places on line that accept credit cards so no passing of cash. They got a nice tip added as a thank you. Also picked up dog meds. When ready drove there and sat in the parking lot and called. Funny giving credit card over the phone and see the lady typing thru the front window. She asked if I could see her place it outside the door and I laughed... then I waved to her.

Plus I thought we had more deaths in the last two days than ever before. And new hot spots cropping up. As for “almost in the clear” let’s cherry pick my home state (PA) our max cases in a day was 1900+. Were down... down to 1100+ each of the last two days. No way almost in the clear. On topic: DCI and corps have to be real careful that they don’t think better means things are ok

Not quite sure what was political about my post, please enlighten me. The spreading of misinformation, intentionally or not, is dangerous. People are gullible. Maybe one post won’t convince someone but as you browse online and see more and more posts on social media saying “we’re almost in the clear!”, people get complacent. See the image the NE Brigand posted which very perfectly illustrates my point

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I thought LOS was gonna crumble on finals night.

Never been to Japan, but I love me some Japanese movies.

The problem with that meme-graph is that the burgundy line is disingenuously false. No society with enough scientific consciousness to draw these curves would EVER just proceed up the exponential course of "business as usual". Some degree of prevention and precautions were inevitable, and they began voluntarily. Social distancing, masks, reduction of non-essential travel, work-at-home, stay-at-home, scaring everyone with misguided estimates... all these efforts were started by individuals and businesses on their own initiative, in reaction to conditions in their communities. The more such fallacious graphs we see, the more we question the wisdom behind them.

Around me here in NJ on the whole people are doing a decent job. The Manahawkin Costco, since you mentioned Costco, has people line up outside with six foot intervals taped off, and they only let in a small number at a time. Inside the store it ends up being very sparse, so distancing is easy, and is happening. Ditto checkout. People line up with taped intervals, and an employee directs people to the lane as it frees up. Very well done, in our opinion.

Well it is Central PA.... then they are ready for next blizzard to protect the TP, bread and milk.....

I've already noted above that garfield's prediction might well have been correct about the national peak being in April. But right now, as I type this at 1:45 p.m. (EDT) on Apr. 15, the page you're citing says this at the top: "Last updated April 13, 2020". That was two days ago. The day with the most U.S. COVID19 deaths so far was yesterday, Apr. 14. In other words, we just don't know yet. And we really don't know whether the country will be in a position a month from now that would have allowed DCI to have a season. Also, let me say once more that garfield wasn't trying to mislead anyone! Nor was anyone else who presented a relatively cheery view of how this outbreak would play out. For example, here's a post someone else made on March 14. I have changed two words to make sure it's not political: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "Conspiracy theories are based on speculation. The idea that the MSM has an agenda and will stop at nothing to further that agenda and achieve their goal is a widely accepted fact. Heck, they don't even try to hide or dispute it. It is right their on display in plain sight every day and night. H1N1 Swine flu, 10 years ago, 12,000 deaths, 300,000 hospitalized, 60 million infected. Nothing cancelled, no one cared, [authorities were] praised for the way this was handled. COVID 19, 41 deaths, 1500 infected with minimal hospitalizations, 125K infected. All sporting and entertainment events cancelled, schools closed. Widespread hysteria, panic and paranoia. Stores shelves are empty," - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I've omitted the person's name (as you know, it's not you) to spare them the embarrassment of their words being confronted by reality. They just didn't know what was coming, even if the epidemiologists whose guidance led to the shut-down orders being mocked did know. This person made an honest mistake. But a potentially dangerous mistake too, if anyone here believed what that person (and others making similar arguments) wrote and didn't take steps in their lives to minimize contact with others. (I am reminded of an ironic story I read the other day. There was a judge in one state who last month mocked a lawyer who asked the judge to take steps to protect people in the courtroom from COVID19. That judge has since contracted and died of the disease. I do not wish that fate on this DCP contributor or anyone!) And the danger was compounded by not only claiming that was there nothing to worry about in comparison to the 2009-10 H1N1 Swine Flu, which killed 12,000 but didn't shut down the economy, but making the further claim that there was a campaign to deliberately lie to us to make COVID19 seem worse that it was. The message was: Those people advising you to protect yourself? Don't trust them! Here we are just 30 days later, with more than twice as many Americans dead just in the time since that post was made as died in the entire first year of the H1N1 Swine Flu outbreak, and my message is this: Those people who were advising you not to worry? They meant well, but don't trust them!

Boston Crusaders https://www.facebook.com/groups/950168711763412/wp/2612453942345331/?entry_source=NOTIFICATIONS&ext=1585695874&hash=AeQG5_6LqR23MLQt&notif_id=1585436671753400&notif_t=watch_party_started_implicit