rpbobcat

That's what I would think. This way,everyone is on the same page when it comes to the Cadets plans.

I plan on going to the March Camp in N.J. Based on the Cadets' intention to announce their plan at the 2/18 Alumni meeting, I would expect some type of announcement before I go.

In all honesty,I would hope that YEA/the Cadets will have made some type of "official" announcement before then. Although I may take a ride,just to hear the corps.

As I posted,I'm sure,if I email them,and promise to keep it a secret,they'll tell me exactly what's going on,before they tell the rest of the world.

I'm not asking DCP. As has been posted here,until YEA/the Cadets issue something official,everything else is just supposition. I'm just saying that,if YEA/the Cadets are seeking donations,donors are entitled to information on the the financial health of the organization. As I'v posted before,I'm willing to wait for a public statement. For some reason ,I think they'll issue their public statement,long before they tell me what's going on. Even if I promise to keep what they tell me a secret.

I'm not asking for the gory details on the inner workings of the organization. I also agree the YEA/the Cadets need to have their "ducks in row" before they go public. However,I do feel that,since The Cadets are seeking donations from people like me,I am entitled to some information on the financial "health" of the organization,before I send out the check.

The posts from some of the DCPr's who have "first hand knowledge" of the situation give the impression that everything has been "worked out". Only that they aren't authorized to reveal it. I fell that, if you're aware that YEA/the Cadets still need to finalize certain things, make that clear when you post.

If there is a specific plan in place (set in stone),that is being implemented,why not release something "official". What I wonder is if there is more of a "framework" for going forward,with certain components still " in flux". Again,no problem with that,just say so.

That was a great "bit"".

I think this depends on exactly how YEA was/is structured. YEA was created well after the Cadets were founded. The question is,when YEA was created,how did they incorporate the Cadets. The Cadets did "operate" under the YEA moniker. They used to be announced as "sponsored by YEA".If that is accurate,they were no longer acting independently,but as,for lack of a better word,a "division" of YEA. The relationship was/is ,to say the least,a bit murky. How DCI looks at this is one thing. What's much more important is how this plays out in the legal system.

This is not exactly true. There are several people who have posted on this thread that they "have" first hand information about what is happening with YEA/Cadets. But they also posted that,at this time they can't reveal what that information is. They may be 100% accurate in their representations of the overall health of the corps. But,as Hockey Dad said,saying things like "information will be forthcoming" does not constitute providing first hand information.

That may,I don't know,protect the actual instruments. It would depend on how the "loan" agreement is written. But there could still be "issues" with things like vehicles,including the food truck,equipment trailers ,other non-instrument equipment like amplification systems, etc. I would think that all of these things have to addressed,before anything from YEA or The Cadets is made public.

I think the answer is yes. In my opinion,even if the YEA/The Cadets situation is tenuous/precarious,you keep going forward, until a final decision on the fate of both organizations is made .

I'm sure these are some of the "legalities" that have to be addressed before Yea/The Cadets "go public" with specific information about the corps. A lot of who is responsible for what,including debt,would be tied to the legal relationship between YEA and the The Cadets. Even things like who actually owns vehicles,equipment,including instruments, would have to be worked out.

Kidding aside. The story is about the kid in the blue ans grey shirt standing at the door to the band room. Oh, I O U ! Always try to be nice to OUr younger brother.

But, a nice story,never the less. google: CBS Sunday Morning Michigan Marching Band

I think Ms.Bonfiglio was a very good choice for Director of The Cadets,especially from the performance side. I have several friends who were in the Lancers when she was an instructor. When she first became Director I asked them what they thought of her. They all had nothing but high praise for her. I have followed the corps figuratively and litteraly since the late 1960's As a Boy Scout,we marched behind them every year in my town's Memorial Day Parade. I really hope they are back on the path to success. If the positive things being about said the Cadets organization are accurate,and I no have reason to doubt they are,that will be the case. I'm looking forward to when the Cadets start getting some more "corps specific" information out to the public so we can find out exactly what they've been doing behind the scenes.

Going back to the days of GH,there were people touting their trust in The Cadets' Management Team and criticizing people making cynical comments about the organization. You obviously you have enough personal involvement with the Cadets to trust the current management team. I don't have that level of involvement.I can only rely on what The Cadets put out for the public. Unfortunately,so far that hasn't been very much. There was previous post saying information on what The Cadets were doing would be forthcoming. I hoping that,when they do "open up", the concerns of people like me,are addressed and I can finally trust the organization again.

I disagree. If The Cadets are asking me to contribute to their organization,I feel I have a right to have at least some idea of their financial situation.

Actually,I read her bio before posting. Lots of experience in the performance part of the activity. Not as much in the administrative . I also don't know how much of her work at Metlife or the Donfiglio Foundation,translates to running a drum corps. But, as I posted ,she seems like the type of person who recognizes her limitations and will,assuming she has the authority to,bring in people who can address what she can't. The question remains,if The Cadets are still part of YEA,exactly what her role is/responsibilities are ? Same,if The Cadets are now an independent entity. As I've also posted,my wife and I contribute every year. Knowing that any contribution we make to The Cadets goes to The Cadets addressed our concerns about whether our contribution may be "steered" in a different direction.

Please reread my post. I never said anything about being unimpressed with Ms.Bonfiglio being an officer at Metlife. What I said was I didn't know how much "hand's on" experience she has handling the technical aspects of running a corps. There is no question she has the ability to handle the "musical production" components of the corps' show. I also said that, if she does have to handle the technical aspects of running a corps ,she would know where her expertise is,and who to bring in. To me,recognizing your limitations , is a compliment . I also never said The Cadets haven't made hard choices. It just seems there are more to be made. Your post is the first I've heard of a "limited tour" for 2020 and making their own props. Those are positive steps. What I would like to know,and i assume this will be addressed at some point, is,with the "hard choices" YEA/The Cadets have made,are they still operating in the "the red". If they are,how deep is the "red ink",especially with long term debt.

From reading Ms.Bonfiglio's background,I don't know how much "hand's on experience" she's had, when it comes to budgeting, and other technical aspects of running a corps. I also don't know exactly what her/YEA's responsibilities are when it comes to this. From looking at her background it seems that, if she does have to handle the technical aspects of the corps, she would know where her expertise is and the type of people she needs to bring in . That is,assuming she has the authority to bring those people in. But,at most,she is only in charge of the "front of the house". It seems that,from reading the posts on this thread, the "back of the house" is where there are the most "issues". Again,as I posted,its unclear what the current relationship is between The Cadets and YEA. If they are still "joined at the hip",The Cadets could have still have "back of the house" issues. I would think that,by now,accountants have combed through all of YEA's records and have pretty good idea where they stand,financially. What's worrisome is that If even 1/3 of the comments about their finances posted on DCP are accurate, they are going to need to make some hard choices to stay viable.

I didn't say I wanted answers the second I wanted them. I just wanted to know they will be forthcoming and in a reasonable time. Based on M.Ryan's response to my post it seems like that will be the case.

Thanks for the response.

Let me preface this by saying my wife and I have been M&G Club Members for what seems like forever. Although we did reduce our donations towards the end of GH's tenure. From reading your post and in keeping with the "house" analogy,I have a couple of questions. 1.You say the Cadets have a "specific budget". Does that mean they have funds on hand,including dues when paid,to cover the tour costs in full or do they know what they intend to spend and hope to cover those costs ? If it is the latter,and funds don't equal the budget,what do they do ? 2.Exactly how are the "front of the house and back of the house" "connected" ? Unless I missed it,I haven't seen anything explaining the current relationship,financial or otherwise , between YEA and The Cadets. After all,if the back and front of the house are connected,and the back collapses,so does the front. 3.I'd also like to know exactly what "cleaning the back of the house means". I'm concerned that the Cadets are just "kicking the can down the road". Get the corps on the road for anther tour,regardless. I wish YEA/The Cadets would be a little more open about their financial situation, especially since we keep getting requests for donations. I would like to know how our donations are being spent.