Linda Slocum

When and how the Scouts release financial information related to the corps is a function of corps management, and nobody else. Even if any of the DCP posters wanted to disclose this info on DCP, it's really not something they should do unless it was Komnick or similar who posted it. This is the same as if you were to email McD's and ask to review their full financial records, even if you were a stockholder. Corporations release their edited and sanitized financial info to the public as required, and the rest can be reviewed at their offices if you beg and plead enough. I'm not understanding why the Scouts in particular should be forced to divulge their financial details on DCP anyways. What's the point?

If I remember correctly, no housing, meals or instruction were provided at the initial audition camps last year, since they weren't 2-day events. Many of these were regional auditions where someone would video you for a few minutes, and that person was not necessarily from your section or a decision maker. They would then bring back these videos for further review, and invite people back to the next camp (which included instruction, meals and housing). So this new formula isn't really that much different than last year. It appears that the biggest concern is what you get for the $80, whether it's a form letter or a more detailed explanation of why you didn't make the initial cut. Seems these video auditions also leave room for later callbacks, as those who change their commitments for various reasons leave holes.

Yes, Tom, there are plenty of people who love to spam just for the fun of it, and this would likely be no exception if there was no fee to be paid up front before the video was reviewed. There's plenty of drum corps spoofs on UTube, and you can make videos from virtually any phone these days and upload them immediately. As for the cost or critiques or refunds for those who don't make it, I'll leave that for someone else to decide. My guess is that they'll get something more than a "sorry you didn't make it" letter, but let's let Chris clarify that. Is the $80 too much? I don't know... but it's consistent with last year.

I'll add my $.02 to this... The $80 is the same audition fee as last year, whether it was for a video sent in, video filmed by a staff member at a remote location, or a live audition. If there was no charge for the video auditions, they would likely be inundated with tons of nonsense videos from people just trying to be "funny". Charging a fee seems to be the most reasonable way to limit the amount of fluff sent in, and it's definitely less costly than airfare to Madison or Indy for most people.

You can donate online and purchase corps-related merchandise at Madison Gear. The Madison Corps - "Invest in Excellence" Campaign link lets you donate in increments of $1. You can also send a check, which saves them the processing fee, to 2935 S Fish Hatchery Rd #401, Madison, WI 53711. If you're really on top of this, you can set up an automated payment via your online banking service each month for whatever amount you choose, even if it's only the $5 you saved from your commitment to eating one PB&J per month instead of going out for lunch. And donating monthly in smaller amounts is a lot easier than coming up with a big check all at once. Let's see, 4 PB&J's per month (one a week) at $5 each would be about $20/month or $240/year to the Scouts. If your company matches contributions, be sure to present the proper paperwork to get those funds contributed as well. There was some talk this year of doing regional garage sales, where items from several people would be accumulated at one location for a mega-sale and all proceeds would be sent to the Scouts. As far as I know, this never got off the ground. There is also a Scouts Visa Card, that pays the Scouts a $50 bonus when you first use the card, with a 0% intro rate. And there's the Benefit Search Bar that pays the Scouts $0.10 every time you click on a sponsored link. Also donating via online activity is iGive, where a portion of your online purchases goes straight to the Scouts, and they give a bonus of $5 after your first purchase, plus $.01 per search at their search site (sometimes $.02, but be sure to register via iGive first so they'll credit the search). Each vendor gives a percentage of your purchase to the Scouts, paid out by iGive. All you need to do is go to iGive first, and then click through to the actual store (most major stores are represented at iGive). They've paid the Scouts $95 from my shopping/searching through iGive this year, so it's not just small change. Other than donating directly to the Scouts, none of these cost you any money out of your pocket, just a little thought before you click on a link or shop online, or before you throw your unwanted stuff in the trash. If a lot more people participated in these activities, there would be more funds going to the Scouts, and all without having to eat PB&J for lunch! Linda

I agree that the term "drinking the Kool-Aid" has become rather generic, and therefore is not in itself offensive. The direct reference to Jim Jones and the massacre was rather tasteless though, IMHO. Why is it that the so-called "haters" get so negative when the Scouts alums support the efforts of their admin, staff, and members? Isn't that what they're *supposed* to do? If you don't like the Scouts, go pee in someone else's pool and let those who support the Scouts enjoy these new announcements and the potential that they represent. Whether these changes result in immediate and dramatic improvements in the Scouts 2010 placement remains to be seen, but the buzz that has been created will certainly have some level of positive impact.

True, but didn't want to rub his nose in it... especially after this comment: Seems he's definitely into that green Kool-Aid now, and even has his checkbook handy! Oop... almost forgot that donation link... here it is again: http://madisonscouts.org/Madison_Scouts/Support.html

LOL... looks like TB finally drank the green Kool-Aid. TB, here's that sponsorship/donation link in case you lost it: http://madisonscouts.org/Madison_Scouts/Support.html

LOL... love it!

The only significant difference in the two websites is that BD chose to use the right sidebar for the products for sale and uses a few more graphics there, where the Scouts store is at the bottom of the page. The news content is identical (both are RSS feeds). Both have links for donations (Scouts have a big donate button and BD has a text link) and for joining the mailing list (although Scouts is now dropped to the very bottom of the page with the tiny rolodex), both have links for the tour calendar. The biggest graphic on BD's site is the System Blue education series graphic, which is something that I don't think the Scouts offer. Or is it just the drop-down menus that you're liking so much? I agree that the Madison Gear section needs to be updated as well as adding current year pics instead of using last year's, but that doesn't mean that the entire website is "terrible". It would be more constructive if you would mention exactly what you want the Scouts website to include rather than just declaring it to be terrible. The main section of both sites is pretty much the same with the use of RSS feeds for updates/news, so these sites are already pretty much copies of each other.

Ahem... if this thread is titled Madison Scouts 2010, why are you still rehashing prior years? Let the trolls be, and let's stop looking backwards! Nothing good can come out of putting blinders on and focusing on the mistakes from the past. Trolls will be trolls, and they're just looking to pi$$ you guys off. The ultimate "win" here would be to help the Scouts build a stronger organization, on and off the field, so they can kick butt in future seasons, including 2010. If you truly want to silence the trolls, show them that this can be done.

Why is this prior year financial stuff being regurgitated yet again on this new thread? STOP IT!!!!! Let's focus on the future of the Scouts, not on old beefs that the same posters are griping about over and over again, ad nauseum, no matter what thread the Scouts happen to be mentioned in. You OF's are starting to sound like broken records, and the sounds you're making aren't very pleasant. Back to the 2010 Scouts... you can contribute to their financial future here.

Seems to me that the organization made a mistake in decentralizing control over certain of its financial functions, learned from its mistakes, and has been working dilligently to correct this. We see much bigger mistakes is large corporations with highly-paid CEO's and overstaffed finance departments, so let's give these nonprofits some slack here. Mistakes were made, and they were corrected. No corps (or corporation, for that matter) is perfect. I've seen much worse in the corporate world, and so have you if you pay attention to the financial news once in a while. It's time to put this whole prior year "financial irresponsibility" issue to rest, and focus on the future instead. You can make your contributions towards the future of the Scouts here: MadisonGear

Why wait for the request? You can either contribute online at MadisonGear (select your contribution level in the drop-down menu) or send a check to: Madison Scouts 2935 S Fish Hatchery Rd #401 Madison, WI 53711 Be sure to include all of your contact info if you mail in a check, so you can receive proper recognition for your contribution. Thank you! Linda

This raises a valid point... The Scouts use CorpsData for the majority of their database functions, so it would make sense to enter data received through their online store into that database as well. Those who are in the CorpsData system do receive updates via email, including reminders to donate, and many are also contacted via phone as well. If you are in the CorpsData system and don't have complete (and updated) info there, including snail-mail, phone and email, please update your info. If you are not in the CorpsData system, please add yourself so you can receive all updates. Please PM me if you have any questions on this. Thank you! Linda