Leaderboard

If I start a Corps I will name it Blue Vanguard

I was not part of this search process, in an official capacity. I did the last three or four executive searches for the Cavaliers, as that is part of my professional background, and since I didn't charge them for my services, it saved them a decent chunk of change each time. Anyway, I gave the new search committee leaders all my prior notes and search process information (time for younger blood to get these experiences!), and they kept me apprised as things progressed, though I truly did not have any real impact on the effort they undertook or the decisions they reached. The search committee leadership and members also have excellent professional background in these matters. There were a number of excellent candidates and Daniel continued to rise through the ranks until ultimately being offered the job. He is young(ish), all things considered, but has ample experience, especially since he will be coming into a situation with a strong support staff in place, and six months with the current Corps Director (and the current Executive Director) to help with the transition. He should be well-prepared to take it from there and have success. I've already talked with him and shared my experience being a new, young (24 years old at the time) Corps Manager for Spirit of Atlanta when I started with them in the fall of 1977. That was pretty much a brand new organization, and I, too, had the former Corps Director still involved to help with my transition. Spirit, at the time, did not have the infrastructure then that Cavaliers (or most corps nowadays) have now. Back in the 70s, for all corps, it was a couple volunteers helping to manage finances, tour logistics, food, insurance, etc., etc., etc. Daniel is set up for success with an excellent, engaged (but not meddlesome) Board of Directors, great office support staff (with continuity), strong parent and alumni support, a very solid financial situation, and plenty of people ready and willing to assist him. I have high hopes. P.S. The search for the Executive Director is still continuing, without any issues, and some creative solutions to that should be forthcoming soon. I also anticipate great hiring for that situation, based on current candidates, and all the aforementioned support and structure that the new hire(s) will be able to avail themselves of when they start.

That’s right! I want to talk about their 1972 War and Peace show! Oops … wrong Vanguard

Yeah never seen this with other threads or corps 😆😈

Thread title unclear. I thought we were talking about the investment advisors. 🤷🏽‍♀️

so far the new CEO seems to have given more information in a few months that was received from the shut down announcement til his hire. sometimes no news might have to be considered good news. time will tell, but the lack of anything besides living and dying on bingo alone is concerning

Genuinely positive news, and I'm very happy to see it. However, I feel like the organization still struggles with a lack of transparency and accountability that they never dealt with. This outcome, while objectively positive, seems like it happened in spite of the locked down messaging and murky operational procedures that led to this mess in the first place not being fixed. My concern is that without the foundational changes to address this, that they will continue to see issues in the member safety, staff accountability, theft, and financial stability spaces. I genuinely hope that's not the case, but it's something that a lot of people will be watching out for in the future as it's completely possible to successfully alleviate a symptom of dysfunction, without actually addressing the organizational issues that led to that symptom.

Apparently this thread ain't big enough for more than one Vanguard. Ah'm from the rootin'nest tootin'nest Vanguard around!

Let's see, we had the SC Vanguard, Des Plaines Vanguard, Florida Vanguard (who Rondo was with at one time) and the St Clair Shores Vanguard ( who I believe JL marched with, no?)back in the 70s. We were Vanguarded to death. Almost like we were Knighted. DPV played Holtz in '72, not sure what SCS Vanguard played in '72. Basically what I'm saying is, I'm lost.

Hardly terrifying, but I have learned, until I am certain someone is being disingenuous, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt when they are simply asking questions as they gather information. Being so jaded is not a welcoming trait. And so what if they are asking about staffers. There are a few former staffers here no doubt that can give him a little info.

I wouldn’t be so certain this person has not talked to current staff members. When I was looking for a teaching job (many years back, classroom, middle school language arts and history), there was a school where I wanted to teach. I spoke with teachers at the school, parents and people who knew the school, as well as friends and family who knew me. It’s only natural to find out as much as you can about a position, ideally from different perspectives before saying yes. Personally I would not rely too much social media to get info, but to anyone under 40, social media is an important resource. Something else to keep in mind. I know of staff and volunteers with different corps that heard one thing from directors who found it very different. We’re not talking about deep, dark, hidden secrets or coverups for wrong doing, more unwritten job expectations or jobs not matching the description.

Prepare to embark on an extraordinary journey as Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps proudly presents its 2024 program, “Creatures.” This captivating production is set to make its debut in July as part of the Drum Corps International tour, promising an immersive and unforgettable experience for audiences of all ages. Read the rest of […]View the full article

That sounds vaguely familiar.

Vanguard (defn.): “a group of people leading the way in new developments or ideas.” Vanguard the investment firm is stuck in the stone ages and not allowing their customers to allocate into the new Bitcoin ETFs that launched last week.

Thank you, Paul for checking in and the feedback. That's so great to hear. I'd forgotten about your time with SOA, so I'm sure the talk you had with Daniel was very informative for him. This storied drum corps looks to be in the best hands.

Exactly...an honest congratulations for getting over the finish line, but there is a big difference between dealing with the actual issues, and limping from one crisis to the next.

Some really good stories about those dove releases exist.

Wondering if @Paul Milano can add anything about this announcement. I do like that Daniel is young and new blood. Also wishing him much success.

I'm happy Dr. Michael Vaughn will be with Daniel Belcher during the 2024 Drumcorps season. Mike is the best corps director I have ever worked with. I wish Daniel all the success in the world.

True, there's a sea of Blues out there now. Back then there had to have been 20-30 different corps with Knights in their name somewhere.

And Des Plaines Vanguard had a Senior corps for a few years in the mid 1980s. Saw them at DCA prelims.

And you’re sure the person didn’t ask “individuals from within the organization” how? To put it another way you’re saying the OP is lying about being asked to be with a corps. Wouldn't be the first time someone became a new member of DCP to ask questions

I’m sorry, what corps are we supposed to be talking about????

I didn’t respond as not worth the “vacation”. But can’t stand it when someone asks a question and response is give them a bunch of crap for asking. Good way to turn people off from looking for information. As for people here not being informed 🙄. Some have long DC pedigrees

And you are sure they’ve not asked others? You’re not. So your harsh remark wasn’t necessary. Is that how you’d like to be responded to?

Oh boy

Best answer. This forum is not representative and often not informed. Talk to other staff members for the perspective you need.

All the teasing makes me so excited for 2024!!

For me it was never about forgiveness but ensuring that it doesn't happen again. I'm not convinced it won't yet so.... here I am. That is separate from my adoration of and support for the MMs.

Very true. But brass and percussion together just sounded so blended. It’s incredible the leap they have taken as an ensemble sound the past couple of years

When haven't they sounded good?

How about that! It’s great to see Daniel will still be involved in DCI.

One of them has already moved on to beating up on the Cadets.

I guess I haven't been paying attention. Can anyone point me in the direction where I can read about these new rules? Please and Thank You!

Staff are no longer allowed to shower with members, nor can any one staff person ever be alone with any one member. It is known as the three person rule. You will be fingerprinted and undergo a Criminal Record History Check, and you absolutely have to watch your language in front of the members. If you see or even hear about any abusive language or behavior you will be required to report it to your corps' reporting authority immediately. You will ride on a designated staff bus and sleep in designated staff sleeping areas. Ninety percent of the time on tour the members will be in a gym where staff are not permitted to be, and usually staff sleep in a bandroom or other classroom. The only time most corps sleep in a hotel is in Indy, if at all. You may get lucky and have dorm rooms at movein. One last tip... Most members and staff have some version of a bus box to carry snacks, munchies etc. Never bring chocolate because it will melt. Good luck and bring LOTS of sunscreen.

At the recent Janual Meeting DCI implemented new stringent rules for rehearsals during spring training and on tour in order to ensure that the safety and well-being of the members is top priority at all times. Your duties and responsibilities should be listed in your employment contract. You will be given training on what you can and can't do when you are teaching. Expectations should be clearly spelled out. Other than teaching you should not have any other responsivities other than be on time when the buses depart each time. Since corps stay in schools' communal showers are the norm but you will have a specific time when you can shower. Drinking in public is not allowed so is restricted to staff bus.

First, welcome. Good question, too. I can only speak from a Back in the Day perspective. It's quite different today, I'd imagine. Long hours on a hot, basically converted old school bus, hours of rehearsal in the blazing sun, running around helping members get ready for the show (Where are my white bucks and sticks? Is my hair OK?), hyping the kids up for the show before going on the field, watching and critiquing the show yourself as performed, getting off the field, hugs or WTF were you thinking? depending on how the show went, meeting with the judges for their critiques, arguing, pleading, asking questions, back on the bus, back to the school, getting the animals tucked in and off to bed, heading back to the bus, drinking beer with other staff, off to bed at 4am, getting up and 7 to bus to the next town. It was glorious and wouldn't trade it for anything.

"You gotta see these cats from out in the cornfields!", DCI Judge Rich De Cola raved to me in 1975. He wasn't kidding! The main driving force was Darvin Omer "Doc" Crosser, a Korean War vet who founded the corps in '65 and became their first drill and music instructor. They were 'way too hip for their own good when they began knocking on DCI's door. Check this: As the story goes, Jim Ott and some of the Blue Devils staff saw the Precisionnaires and said, in effect, "That's it!". For 1975, these charts, and (particularly) their interpretations, were superior to almost everything else on the field, but a bit ahead of the judging techniques (except for the aforementioned De Cola and a couple of others like Lloyd Pesola). The drumming was too musical to get much credit vis-a-vis the prevailing standards. Argonne had suffered the same kind of undervaluing a couple of years earlier. The only Osage brass instructor from this period that I knew was Bobby Hagglund. He was playing trombone in a progressive R&B band out of Minneapolis called "Haze". They were opening for a kid who called himself "Prince". A peek at their roster will reveal a future corps director and more than a few important instructors and adjudicators, in addition to no small number of members who became professional performers. Like Camelot, they seemed to exist for only "one shining moment" but they certainly sparkled.