Gantang

Not attending critiques or sending his non-English speaking Japanese members pretty much told the ac cctiviy that the Madison Scouts didn't give a ##### about what judges had to say. That sent a message to the members that Scott didn't give a ##### and that the ONLY thing that mattered was getting claps. Letting the corps slip out of the top 12 was his death knell.

Why? Because they changed the terminology to "student" and "tuition"? That was for grant acceptance more than anything else. This is a competitive activity, or there wouldn't be judging. High school Solos and Ensembles is an educational youth activity, but the musicians want to earn Golds from the judges. You can educate and try to beat others because that is still a measuring stick. If it's not, why are there judges at shows rather than the performances being exhibitions? Winning brings additional revenue into every line item. Without revenue, corps will be outspent, and the cycle will continue. Drum corps is a competitive educational youth activity. Madison is not competitive in World Class. We're less than a week from the season being in the can. Madison has not made a move in points like all of the rose-colored glasses wearers claimed they would a month ago. That is not the kids' fault. That is the show's content, design, and instruction. Who hires those people??? The leadership. The leadership is to blame yet again.

"Members" want to win. That's why BD gets the cream of the talent auditioning from around the globe. It's why kids jump from corps to corps as their talent increases. It's why guys rook-outed at Madison or went from Madison to BD to rook-out. Winning is chased.

I didn't miss the point. I merely pointed out that every ear has its own struggles. I also responded to their reading of comments and being butt hurt. Did you miss that part?

Yes, times change. Do they have A/C on their buses? Do they ever have to push a bus that won't start or that is broken down? Do they get ONLY the number of hours of sleep that you get on the bus between shows? Are they eating food that is a step, albeit an important step, above minimal nutrition? If their feelings are hurt by reading comments made on public forums, this must be their first foray into reading things posted on the internet. It's been my experience that, just like in real life, you get more voices to talk about things that need to be fixed than you do about things that are running smoothly. Man Bites Dog stories get the clicks, not the opposite.

For some Madison Scouts alumni that I know, the issue is that the leadership changed the entire identity of the Madison Scouts, and created The Corps with Madison in the Name. It will be up to the boy and girl alumni to support the iteration that they are a part of. The following is a synopsis of what I have been told by people with a long history with the Madison Scouts, either as marching members, volunteers, or fans. The people who made the decision to create a co-ed corps did so without input from the old alumni. Forward Performing Arts has a brand that could have been revived, that brand is Capitol Sound. Capitol Sound was the MDBCA's co-ed corps and was distinct from the Madison Scouts. Rather than bastardize the Madison Scouts, the leadership should have shelved the Scouts and continued as Capitol Sound, which would have meant competing (yes, competing) in Open Class for a few years. If they proved to be very competitive, they could then petition DCI for World Class status. A phone conversation I had last night with a color guard alumnus, who also instructed the Scouts, was capped by this paraphrase: Madison is looking at finishing 17th or 18th out of the World Class Corps. If SCV was on the field that would push Madison as low as 19th. If SCVC was on the field, Madison could have finished 20th or worse. I feel like I was sold out by the guys in charge. It wouldn't be so bad if the move had made a positive difference, but this is just embarrassing. Everything I wrote is one-sided because I haven't been privy to any competing thoughts. I'm sure there are many who are OK with the current situation, but I don't know any. Blame my age. I think what many people on this forum are seeking is for the BOD to objectively assess whether they have the right people at the top of the Madison Scouts. I wrote before that Stweart, Wall, and Salas were all fired because of measurable performance metrics both in on-field competitiveness and fiscal responsibility. What made those Boards move while this Board (which contains some long-term Directors) allows the corps to slip further down the rankings? The 27th, Bridgemen, and North Star alumni may have looked at the BAC leadership's moves and saw a dynamic group with a solid plan to bring Boston back to high-level prominence, whereas the Madison alumni are hesitant to throw their money to a group that, to them, appears to be dying a slow death. The key word here is "leadership". Boston's vs Madison's.

Toxic is a ridiculous word. How about disappointed, embarrassed, or angry? And why do the current members have time to spend on Reddit? Hmmm... Maybe the current members should start thinking that a good chunk of the older alum base is pointing out things to which no one else is willing to speak the truth. Maybe they should start asking if the current leadership and staff are giving them the product to be competitive (in World). Maybe they should ask "why" a good chunk of the alum base is disappointed, embarrassed, or maybe even angry that there seems to be little desire or hunger to be more competitive (in World). Generally, the squeaky part gets greased. The current leadership has heard the squeaks for a long time but instead of applying grease, they turn up their internal noise to drown out the things they don't wish to hear. Is it toxic to want any organization or person to do better? Or is it obtuse to ignore the people expressing a desire for change?

Other than it is likely The Corps with Madison in Their Name would lose to the bay area Feeder Corps, Madison would still make it to Friday night with the ridiculous Top 25 being semi-finalists. I wrote a few weeks ago that I still gauge the quality of a corps by the Pre-2011 Top 17 = Semi-Finalist. Using that yardstick, The Corps with Madison in Their Name would be sitting in the stands on Friday. I never would have thought The Corps with Madison in Their Name would lose all competitiveness.

No, they're not too good. They are being who they've been for 47 years. When they showed up in Philly in 1976, they changed drum corps and since then, it's up to everyone else to figure out ways to beat them regardless of the scoring system, equipment and instrument rules, etc. Jerry created a juggernaut and somehow BD has maintained a high level and stable leadership. I like the fight for #2 with the occasional corps knocking the King from the mountaintop.

You forgot the sarcasm indicator!

Who is shutting down positive opinions? It seems that all opinions are welcome here, and forum users can read those they choose and comment on those that evoke an opinion. If you find something that you deem negative and that is factually untrue, please point it out. But if you're just looking for positive opinions, you're in the wrong century. In the internet age all comers are welcome, and free speech thrives. In the old days, people would sit at home and opine to those who would listen. Now, people sit at a keyboard and opine to those who will listen. I asked, "Negative or Reality", and you glossed over it. Sometimes reality is hard for people to accept. This is not a good or winning drum corps, and the people at the helm are the reason why. And parting shots are never a good thing. There's no reason to be snarky. No one need consult anyone but that door swings both ways.

Hmmm...what about non-Madison alumni who have been Madison fans for 48 years? Is either group's opinion invalid?

Negative or realistic? To Win means you bested all others. I think there are many Madison fans made up of alumni and the general public who think Madison has devolved into less than mediocrity. we herald the work the kids are doing while pointing out the seemingly inept leadership. Since Mason left, there has been no guidance or guardrail provider in that organization. Jim may not have been Director or Executive Director, but he was the true leader.

Music City is just a hair from catching and passing the "everything is wonderful" corps who is Madison in name only. SMFH

They're not going to Indy or Scouts would once again be battling against Blue Devils, but sadly, the B corps. That's a pathetic turn of fortune for a once powerhouse of a drum corps.

I am STEALING this!

It's my understanding that the By-Laws have been changed in greater favor of the current administration. Trying to vote out an entire Board would be next to impossible. From their By-Laws. "Director refers" to a sitting Board member. The Board hires and fires. As I understand it you'd need 6 of the current Board directors to vote out the entire Board. 'Section 7 Removal of Directors: At any meeting of the Board called expressly for that purpose, any director, including the entire Board, may be removed by an affirmative two-thirds majority vote by the current Board. If the Board votes to remove the entire Board, then the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and Treasurer will serve as the interim Board until directors are duly elected to the Board pursuant to these Bylaws As soon as practical, the interim Board must meet to elect directors. Any director elected to fill a vacancy which results from the removal of a director shall serve the remainder of the term of the removed director and until a successor is elected by the Board."

Who do you mean by "you"?

You missed my point.

I'm not sure. Hint: A\Before runs, are they still saying "you may take the field for a performance"? If so, the philosophy being sold to the members is that scores don't matter. If scores don't matter why the hell would I practice 8 hours in the Texas sun? The crowd will be entertained whether we're nearly perfect of just really good. To think of the drum corps from Madison as a feeder corps to Pacific Crest and Colts was once unfathomable.

Yep. Four hours before BD again. There needs to be an awakening in Madison. What is the worst that could happen if they change leadership? Or, does it even matter anymore?

Line Up for Saturday's Regional Atlanta CV - Atlanta, GA Heat Wave - Tampa Bay, FL Madison Scouts - Madison, WI Music City - Nashville, TN Spirit of Atlanta - Atlanta, GA Blue Knights - Denver, CO Troopers - Casper, WY Pacific Crest - Diamond Bar, CA Intermission (40 Minutes) The Cadets - Erie, PA The Cavaliers - Rosemont, IL Carolina Crown - Fort Mill, SC Phantom Regiment - Rockford, IL Boston Crusaders - Boston, MA Bluecoats - Canton, OH Blue Devils - Concord, CA

Yes, it was supposed to eliminate all of Madison's problems, which was a naive thesis. As soon as they added females, they immediately went out of their way to focus on female members as the best thing since sliced bread, destroyed the identity of the Madison Scouts, and relegated them to a future of mediocrity. As we learned, their problems weren't about being all-male. It was the product given to the members, and still is. All-male average placement = 7.39 Co-ed average placement = 16 But if all you strive for is mediocrity, you will never fail.

*I think they should have rebranded from MS to CS when they went co-ed. It would have worked for both organizations. MS would have been given an honorable death and CS would have risen from the ashes. *Agreed. All things end, and they usually end badly. The City of Madison (all that entails) has not supported MS for decades. Fans near Camp Randall b!tched when DCI was there because of the noise. Never mind the income that DCI generated. The City had a small stipend that they paid the Scouts each year, but it was a pittance. The School District would rent facilities at a reasonable price. All in all, Madison was a non-entity in Madison. *It's embarrassing to see how non-competitive they are. The kids marching DCI this year have only known MS as a competitively irrelevant corps. No one is standing around the field after they perform and seeing Madison generate a roar just for showing up at the entrance gate. They have become a hotdog corps. *You will anger some people, but people generally don't want to hear the truth; they want to hear something that sounds like the truth. I had high expectations for this season because of the media (propaganda, as it turns out) that the leadership put out. The Rose Colored Glasses need to be taken away from the Board and the Management. They need to stop believing their lying eyes and see what objective people see.