Bob984
-
Posts
1,181 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
3
Posts posted by Bob984
-
-
On 10/29/2023 at 8:36 AM, Terri Schehr said:
Your family saved that man in a time where many people just walk away. Or video it.
I got my CPR training when I was a little league mom and scorekeeper. Jim got his for work. I really should go for a refresher.
Very good advice.
I had a similar experience......1968.....I was almost 11 years old...........I was going with my father somewhere.....He backs out of the driveway, and starts down the street...."Hey Dad, why is Mr. W.... lying down in his front lawn?"....My Dad backed up to see him lying face down, and the lawn mower was still running.....very hot August day, and he wass elderly......I began to help my dad administer CPR, then he continued while I ran into the man's house (which was awkward, because his wife was sitting there, and I didn't want her to know what was going on outside.....I did manage to make the quick call, but it seemed to take forever for the ambulance arrive. I also ran to get a man who lived next door to come over, which helped big time, because at that moment his wife came out, saw him, and was understandably hysterical. We kept trying until the ambulance folks arrived. Sadly, Mr. W didn't make it (frankly, I think he was gone by the time we discovered him, as he had no pulse and was not breathing), but I can look back and say that my Dad and I tried as hard as we could to save him....it was tough on my Dad, and tough on me as a 10 year old. At least 35 years later I performed the heimlich manuever on a 12 year old student who was choking at the start of a class (hard candy...that he wasn't supposed to have....went down the wrong way and was stuck in his windpipe), and thank God I was successful..........So glad that you jumped in there and SUCCEEDED!!!! God Bless you............
-
1
-
-
20 hours ago, 2muchcoffeeman said:
He drifted in and out of the drum corps orbit, to varying reviews. My own memory might be altering the reality of the event, but I recall a short visit by the coach to our corps in which he praised the work ethic and devotion to excellence that he saw in the activity.
I'm not 100% sure on this, but someone told me that one time, instead of holding practice, he put his team on a bus and took them to a Star of Indiana practice, and had his players sit and watch........then told them afterwards "if you practice half as hard as they do, we'll win it all"
-
Sorry to hear of this......Southwind went through many battles over a long period, and I was hoping that they would eventually flourish. I took a look at their 2000 show, where they finished in 13th, two tenths behind Bluecoats, and yet all 9 judges had them 12th or above, and 6 of 9 had them over the Bluecoats.....not to take anything away from Bluecoats (who had been 13th the year before), but I felt Southwind was stronger. It would have been interesting to see what the future of Southwind would have been if they had made finals. Also, after that re-entry into finals in 2000, Bluecoats never finished lower than 8th from 2001 until today...........
-
1
-
-
15 hours ago, JimF-LowBari said:
Was going to say unbelievable but it is believable…. Question I have for management is 1) haven’t you “gotten” the idea to stop dangerous things happening to the members 2) don’t you care 3) as long as the corps is successful the rest doesn’t matter. 🤮
The seat mate mentioned also needs help that should have been addressed during the season.
Years back a co-workers daughter had to drop out due to asthma issues. I mentioned it on DCP at the time and a member of that corps said “well she wasn’t <corps name> material anyway” as if physical issues make you “not worthy”. That’s pales next to this ####.
That "sickens me". I have been asthmatic since I was 2 years old. I never "advertised it" to folks, but my director knew....and I marched in 1977 and 1978. I can say that he was incredibly supportive/understsanding......ironically, I also really struggled in Denver, and sometimes waited to go outside with the corps, and nobody gave me any problems when the word got out. It's sad that leadership in 1977-78, at least in my case, did things the right way, and now it's 2023, and there are a..holes in both leadership/staff and also members who don't have a clue......in contrast, I remember one night in Denver.....I woke up with an asthma attack at 3AM....the director found me in the men's room, sitting on a counter and struggling, as I had just taken my medicine.....he offered to stay there with me, and I said, "no, I'll be alright". He came back an hour later to check up on me, and I told him I was getting better, and I went back to my sleeping bag about 15 min. later. The next morning, I was in my sleeping bag (and had already decided I needed rest more than breakfast, so I was sleeping to the last minute). Somebody started to yell at me to "get moving", the director saw him, and sternly told the member, "hey.....leave him ALONE"....and he came over and quietly asked how I was doing. A few minutes later I got up, took a quick shower and brushed my teeth, and I was on the practice field right on time.
-
4
-
1
-
-
On 9/17/2023 at 12:17 PM, MORA said:
What about tuning, 440. 441... 444 hz etc, In hornlines ? I`ve transcribed some pieces by BD and noted that I`ve needed to "Detune" or pitch my keyboard midi to empathize with the music playing.
I am fairly certain that hornlines use 440 as their reference tuning.......mainly because with any other tuning, they would be "off" with the pit........with synthetic bars, the pitch of the pit keyboards should be quite stable (which is 440) and only the synths/timpani can adjust, the rest are stable.
That said, hornlines do "fluctuate" due to temperatures/etc.......they can go significantly off/sharp in cases of extreme heat, and also extreme temperature changes........I remember one year in particular where it was well over 100 in the parking lot in San Antonio, and they warmed up and then came into adome.....I don't know exactly when they "tuned", but things were way, way off with the pit..........ironically, it didn't show up in the score......lol......I do think that staffs have gotten better in recent years in figuring it out, though......
-
1972 was DCI's first championship. It is well known that one goal that DCI had was to have a championship with every major competitor in attendance. Prior to 1972, there were many big shows, and VFW Nationals and AL Nationals were probably the two biggest. That said, not everyone went, and location and travel expenses, along with the actual date, were all big factors.
There were 39 corps at DCI's first championship prelims. Whereas there were still many corps at that time, and thus many who did not go to DCI, there were some strong national competitors who chose not to go to the first DCI Championship in Whitewater. They were; Blessed Sacrament, Blue Rock, Saint Rita's Brassmen, Toronto Optimists, Boston Crusaders, Racine Scouts. There was a good chance that two or even more of these corps would have made finals.
Was the issue strictly cost/money? Just curious. Some did go to DCI in subsequent years, but did not fare out well competitively. In fact, only Toronto Optimists (who. through a merger, became the Seneca Optimists) would make finals......Boston eventually did, but it took 27 years.
-
1
-
-
On 9/20/2023 at 9:21 AM, craiga said:
Yes, it would mean they would be the first World Class corps on in every show until San Antonio, and no appearance fees all summer. Also, they will not have a vote. Basically, they would be classified as a first year corps.
Does anyone know if this was also true with Spirit and Cascades, as Spirit was out in 2022 and Cascades as well.....what else is weird is this............back in the day, if you made finals 3 years or more in a row, you remained a full member for the following year regardless of competitive placement. Example....the Kilts were in finals for the first 4 years of DCI, then fell to 28th, but were still a full member for the 1977 season (and they did get back into finals as well). Personally, I think that it is a bit harsh on a corps that was in every final from 1972 through 2022, then is off in 2023 to get their fiscal house in order, to have to literally start over with the organization (DCI).
-
34 minutes ago, jjeffeory said:
Everything is cyclical. I'm waiting for the time when the Blue Devils have a down cycle.
Every other corps mentioned has had a down cycle ( Madison, Cadets, SCV, Cavaliers, Regiment, Bluecoats, Crown), or has had a slow rise to the top ( Crown, Bluecoats, SCV, Regiment).
Something is due to happen soon, imho.
I was mainly referring to the prior champions' ability to remain among the top 12 finalists in the world, and they have done that quite well. In 2017, 7 of the top 9 corps were past champions, and all 8 remaining past champions were in finals.....yeah, it's 6 years ago, but one season since then did not happen due to COVID, and one was an exhibition.
I think your "bar/definition" for a "down cycle' is much more miniscule.............you mention BD, but the combination of two things keep them rocking year after year.......(1) more veterans from other finalists as well as other top 20 corps go to the Blue Devils than to any other corps. (2) They have a competent veteran staff that they have been able to maintain
If Madison rebounds back into finals, it then becomes very likely that all 8 prior champions are in finals.....quite dominant as a group........
-
2
-
1
-
-
Many have spoken about the Blue Devils competitive dominance, taking their 21st DCI title this past season. What is also interesting, however, is what the other former champions have done as well.
Ten Corps have won one or more DCI (World Class) Championships: Blue Devils, Cadets, SCV, Cavaliers, Phantom, Madison, Anaheim Kingsmen, Star of Indiana, Bluecoats, Carolina Crown. Eight of these corps as still competing (I am including SCV's announced return). Anaheim is the only corps that officially "folded"....after winning the first championship, and being competitve the next two seasons, they termporarily went inactive....they tried coming back and finished as high as 13th (1977) but packed it in after the 1986 season. Star, although stopping their competitive ventures after finishing 2nd in 1993, went "pro", first with Brass Theater, and then eventually morphing again into "BLAST" (and also a spinoff show "Shockwave".) They were still active as of 2019 and then COVID hit the world. I have not seen any info regarding a return, or if it is over for good with them.
What has been amazing is the overall success of the remaining 8 Champions competing. As late as 2017, all 8 of the champions made finals. Although Madison has fallen out of finals in recent years, there is a substantial possibility that they return, and it is not unreasonable to say that it may be difficult to knock any of the remaining former champions out of finals. Seven of the eight made finals in 2022, and 6 did in 2023, with SCV not knocked out of finals, but taking a year off to clear up financial woes. Ouf of the 10 former champions, only Madison and Anaheim ever had non-finalist seasons after being crowned champion.
It remains to be seen if the competitive endurance of the past champions remains strong. I would bet that it does.....at least for quite a bit longer................
-
1
-
-
A great arranger, educator, and person. RIP Robert
-
sad news.........drum corps loses one of the great ones, but will fondly remember all his
fine work/contributions.......a great arranger, educator, and person. RIP
Our dear husband, father and teacher Robert W. Smith passed away today due to complications from cardiac surgery in Montgomery, Alabama. Arrangements for a Celebration of Life will be communicated when they have been determined. Thank you for keeping our family in your hearts.
-
8
-
-
3 hours ago, LabMaster said:
I believe the issue about these auditions is that SCV was fully aware they were not going out in 2023, prior to the auditions, yet held the auditions. This would be a case of purposely misleading the auditioners. Similar instances, when a group is knowingly not going to follow through on a legitimately inferred transaction (an audition to perform) would be characterized as a scam or fraudulent activity. Put yourself in the auditioners position, not as a defender of SCV’s position and you might see the problem folks have with one of the issues here. And there are a few other issues.
I never "defended" SCV's position, and yeah, I would be upset if I attended, paid money, and find out that they were not coming out. Some have said refunds or partial refunds were issued, and they did connect with those folks.....I do not know. My only point was that something was provided for the camp fee....ie food, housing, instruction.....if they had cancelled the camp and did not return funds, then the students would have paid money for absolutely nothing...........the matter is over....they held the camp.....went inactive the following week.....breeched "trust".......I do not know anyone on their board, and what has or hasn't been done over this last year to remedy their problems. I can tell you that many here think that they are going to "do it again". I can tell you that if they did, that would likely be the end of SCV.
-
2 hours ago, Amil Muzz said:
SCV has proven themselves to be an unreliable business partner. They flaked out on the post-COVID tour and sent a video and through a complete failure to take care of their financial obligations they flaked out last season. They don't seem to get that they are under a big microscope. Many of the ugliest issues that have plagued the activity in recent years, this organization has been the epicenter of a lot of it. The Troopers were tossed from DCI for the same thing that is on going here. They seem to be reluctant to be transparent. They are continuing down the same path that led them here.
These aren't opinions, they are facts. Hard facts. The General Membership of DCI has some hard choices to make. Their gross financial malpractice leaves DCI in a bad spot, just like the Troopers prior to their suspension. It is grossly unfair to the organizations who struggled thru COVID to come out the other side. Again, look at Troopers. Pre COVID- very weak, post COVID setting new standards for themselves.
SCV has to rebuild trust that they aren't going to flake, AGAIN for the 3rd time.
They have a suspect management structure. They don't seem to have learned anything. There is a word for this- HUBRIS. There is one way that ends and it's not good for anyone. Especially the students and families who chose to engage with an organization that's shown to be unresponsive to scrutiny.
Not disagreeing with many of your overall sentiments......however, there were other corps (including BD, Crown) who did not participate in the "post-Covid tour" of 2021 (and those groups produced videos, too)...no biggie, but there were good reasons that they (SCV) and some
others chose not to participate in the 2021 tour.............
-
1
-
-
7 hours ago, MarimbaManiac said:
The fact that you are defending their actions surrounding that camp, is very telling. There is NO DEFENSE for what they did, and on that point alone the organization should have been ashamed and stepped forward to make very public apologies and restitutions. The students didn't sign up for an "instructional clinic," they signed up for an audition for an opportunity, which they did not receive.
Anyone that's going to blindly support what the organization does from this point forward, without asking for receipts or oversight, is contributing to the same problem that started this mess. It might be the financial side that finally collapsed the house of cards, but it was built on secrecy and by taking advantage of a naive and trusting DCI/alumni/fan base.
As of now I've seen nothing that shows they've made the necessary cultural changes, so I see nothing that deserves blind trust.I am not at all defending SCV's actions last year involving the audition camp held and then the corps declaring no season the following week. I simply pointed out that the returning of funds was/is a grey area from a legal outlook. Auditions did happen, feedback was given, instruction happened, the kids were housed, they were fed. However, I also agree that there certainly would be an argument that kids were deceived, because they were paying to audition to be a part of a touring competitive drum corps, and the corps did not follow through with that at all. (not justifying it, but there have been many a corps that was practicing even well into the Spring, who then decided to not come out....ALWAYS a bad scene). I agree that the corps should've made every effort to try to reimburse kids (or offer the audition free of charge this year as an elective alternative). Also agreed that they had better get their fiscal house (and all process involving that) in order, and be transparent from here out.
-
8 hours ago, cixelsyd said:
I would like a better idea what you mean by "micromanage".
Here is an excerpt from the DCI Policies and Procedures Manual regarding what it takes for an open-class corps to move up to world-class:
Open Class to World Class Participant
• Leadership/director must participate in a mentorship program in which an Open Class director will be paired with a WC Member for general guidance. May also be paired with subject matter expert(s) in specific areas of need
• Top 25 for 3 consecutive years
• Revenue in year 3 of this process should be at least $750k with positive earnings before depreciation
• A positive net worth of $50,000 or more in each of the past three fiscal years
• The budget for year 4 (first year in World Class) should include a surplus of $50,000.
• Financial Statement prepared by an Outside Accounting Firm (Financial Audit or Financial Review as required by your governing state)
• Independent Board defined by good governance best practices
• Monthly cash flow projection for year 4 (first year in World Class)
• Debt to equity ratio should be lower than 3 to 1, e.g. long-term lease, notes payable, accounts payableAfter the above criteria are met, then organization can request to become a World Class Participant
• Evaluation/interview by DCI CEO
• If recommended by CEO, organization presents to the DCI Board of Directors for potential ratificationIs this still just what you would call a "review", or does it cross the line to "micromanage"?
DCI has always had many "long winded" policies........what you post is from open to world.......right, wrong, or indifferent....DCI isn't going to treat a corps that was in finals from 1972 - 2021 as a "new world class corps".......
Yes, DCI DOES look at corps making the move from open to world in detail.......they want the corps to succeed and not be in over their head.........however, DCI doesn't have the manpower/resources to do financial analysis of all of their members........the fiscal health of each corps is each corps' responsibility......also, it would become unfair if one corps was precluded from competition/touring because of fiscal health, yet others with the same or worse problems are allowed to "slide"......many competitors would disappear if hard ball was played here..........
That said, there have been DCI World Class corps hit the field at the start of the year still $300,000+ in debt.....with no investigation/inquiries by DCI........even in the 1980's there were corps who hit the field with this level of debt....imagine what that would be in 2023 dollars.........
If anything good came out of SCV's case, it is for all corps to take a serious look at their fiscal house, and that it is probably not a good idea to spend more money than you take in..............
-
7 minutes ago, Jeff Ream said:
no third party audits no sign off by the state. that was explained a while ago
I won't pretend to know the ins and outs of California non-profit tax laws/governance........if the Vanguard doesn't get that monkey off of their back, they will be finished............I would hope that they know that, and have done/are doing what is necessary............
-
5 minutes ago, Jeff Ream said:
yes but will they bankrupt themselves out of existence to be competitive one last time?
i want them on the field and kicking ### too. but i want them to get fiscally sound and seriously overhaul governance. theres some good organizations in DCI to look at on how to get the behind the scenes #### in great shape...hell look right down the road
If you are right about the shape that they are in after already a year off, then they just made a big mistake. It would be better to take another year (though that will also greatly impact/hinder their future competitiveness) of the situation is that dire.........what you mention did happen with both Suncoast Sound and Magic...as examples..........
-
2 minutes ago, IllianaLancerContra said:
Hope isn’t enough. Independent, third party audits and official word from California Department of Justice & IRS is what is needed.
Third party audits are not going to happen......who is going to pay for those??? Yes, they will have to answer to any governmental issues they may have.....to the government........everyone in the world can speculate where they stand there, but it is between the Vanguard and the agencies involved............DCI doesn't own or run any drum corps.........it is true that they may ask to review the corps to see if they are considered fiscally ok enough to tour and have done it in the past, but they are not looking to micromanage....if they did, we would be down to well under 10 world class corps.......
Yes, the Vanguard messed up in managing their fiscal house, and things blew up on them in a hurry. However, I am not interested in seeing them (or ANY corps) thrown under the microscope in that regard.....I want them to survive........
Having hope is never a bad thing, even in the face of adversity.
-
2
-
-
2 minutes ago, Slingerland said:
The revelation that Vanguard were several years behind on filing their 990s didn't come out until earlier this year. That was the same offense that caused DCI to suspend Troopers in 2006. Them pulling themselves off tour didn't negate the financial and operational malfeasance that came to light later.
Agreed that whatever "no-no's" were commited regarding taxes/filings/etc., they would/will have to get their house in order (and they have had a bit of time to sort through that).....forget DCI; if the govt./law come down on you, that's that......one can only hope that they have been getting their s..t together...........
-
50 minutes ago, craiga said:
So, I don't have a dog in this hunt, but as an outside observer, it would seem to me that the one missing piece might be an official statement coming from DCI. If I recall, there were official statements issued by DCI after the decisions on Cadets, Pioneer, Spirit, etc. Perhaps where this all came out today and it is now the weekend, we might have to wait til Monday for a press release of some kind from DCI. It would seem that is where we might learn about restrictions, limitations, and so on. I would be surprised if there were not some sort of conditions imposed on SCV in order for them to be approved for tour.
The reason there were DCI "decisions" involving Cadets, Pioneer, Spirit were because the corps were inder probation for things that happened......Cadets and Spirit had to satisfy requirements by DCI in terms of "remedies". SCV, on the other hand, ran out of $$$, were in debt, and decided not to come out.....not the first time in drum corps that this has happened.......Seattle didn't come out, and they were out for awhile, but came out this year. There have been finalists who have hit the field in a new year with hundreds of thousands in debt from prior seasons....DCI doesn't like that, but if being in the black was a requirement heading into a season, there would be many corps not out there.
-
2 hours ago, C.Holland said:
they had a decade of chances. and they continuously blew it.
but what's worse, is that many students are owed money. and even before that debacle there are many students who were monetized to fund what was left before this collapse.
cmon man. they made the statement about honesty and transparency, and done much to exemplify these ideas.
this is the bad ex, that needs rehab, but instead comes to live off of you.
"Many students are owed money"....are you basing that strictly on those that attended camp last year? Were those kids not housed, fed, and provided instruction"? Granted, you could argue that they just decided to go ahead with the camp, knowing they are not coming out.....likely, but not proven. Now, if a kid paid money toward dues, that is different....though that early, doubtful, and if so, minimal overall. it would perhaps be arguable that perspective members were deceived and thus auditioned for a corps that wasn't going to happen.....however, in the past, there have been corps that were practicing in May that did not come out, and a few that didn't even finish the season or even "stuck on tour"........far, far worse than what happened here.............
-
1
-
-
6 hours ago, Sutasaurus said:
While I don’t trust a word VMAPA puts out into the ether I do hope SCV can find a way to return to the competitive field in 2024.
My question has to do with “competitive inertia”. Will Vanguard be held back because of their failure to compete from the previous season or will they pick up from where they left off?
They will definitely be fine in percussion, with the Rennicks and the "UNT connection", they likely will not skip a beat there....how well they do overall will depend on brass/guard recruiting. However, it's not like their legacy is forgotten after one year off....
-
2
-
-
6 hours ago, cixelsyd said:
Agreed. But then the very next thing you posted was:
So you are correct. You would not do this; neither would I. But they already have, so how do we know they will not do it again?
If they would do this again.....announce they are on the field competing in 2024....have camps, auditions, etc.....then not field........they would not get a chance to do it a third time........
-
6 hours ago, C.Holland said:
this corps has a decade of blunders behind the scenes. remember that BoD's hire the director. Not the director hiring the BoD. So its the same cycle of blunder here, because the same circumstances exist that this corps has operated under just with a new face for the marketing material.
Its already been stated in this forum in regards to the "Transparency" and "honesty" and yet nothing the corps has posted touches on the predicament which the corps is in. So until that happens, this is all just fancy marketing work, which I hope the person making these billboards got their check in advance.You seem to have "board level" knowledge on their up to the minute status......stating their current "predicament". Also, if you announce your entire 2024 staff (and I highly doubt that they are working for free), that is a bit beyond "fancy marketing". (Also, they can't just post names without securing a deal with each person) "A decade of blunders behind the scenes" could be a description of the vast majority of the top 25 corps....how those blunders are handled and put behind is the important part. If they are in as dire shape as you imply, and do not follow through after this so-called "fancy marketing", that would likely be the end of the corps. My guess is not only will they be on the field in 2024, but competitive, and especially competitive in percussion.
-
1
-
Corps That Have Moved and Why?
in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
Posted
Not exactly.............Cadets had bad office spaces in North Jersey at high leasing prices......they got an incredible deal on a long term lease in Allentown with a large building with plenty of space. The Crossmen were put "up for sale" by YEA, as it became too much for the organization to run two world class corps, both fiscally and otherwise. There was no real intent to shut down the Crossmen. Also, what many do not know is this. There was a group of folks that would have taken over the Crossmen and kept the corps in Pa.. and made an offer to do so. However, that group did not really have the funds, and the Texas group did. Still, I do think had the Texas deal fell through, something would have been worked out and the Pa. group would likely have taken over the corps.