joesae

The opening post has been edited at this young man's request. So those of you are commenting, thinking that this is a hand out for money are sadly and sorely mistaken. If you want the full letter, which I have been given permission to send through PM only you may speak to me. Other than that get back to the question at hand, "Have you sponsored a marching member this year? Why or Why not?"

Willie I will respectfully disagree with you. Check your PMs...and you might actually learn something.

I don't believe I mentioned anything about this year specifically as people using it as a crutch this year. But honestly, think to yourself how many times you tell the girl scouts who come to your door you don't have money for a $3.50 box of cookies. That would be an example of using that excuse as a crutch. Now certainly the difference between your family eating and paying a $100 to a corps member then becomes the issue of not having the money. But I will always advocate any little bit helps. That $10 or $20 could be their food on a free day when the corps doesn't feed them. I was around in the days when tour was significantly less.

Thanks for linking that in Lance! I want to encourage each of you to find someone to help. It stuck me that this kid uses the words to pass up being a blessing in someone else's life. Many of us had the opportunity to chase our dream and be a part of finals night, help someone with with same dream you once had and took as a part of the rest of your life!

My experience has been it is largely been based on how the organization proceeds with your donation. For instance, the organization that I am familiar giving to has a clause that states that all funds that come in are general donations and may be dispersed at the direction of the BOD.

I think some of the kids who need help the most hear this far too often...So I wonder if people use this as a crutch, an excuse, or something legitimate. I tell the people I work with every little bit helps even if its only 10 or 20 bucks.

So often times we talk about the state of the activity and why we think it is going down the tubes, electronics, voice, etc. Sometimes I don't think we think about the kids who perform we just remind ourselves of our old glory days. So I have a question for you, HAVE YOU HELPED FURTHER THE ACTIVITY BY SPONSORING A KID THIS SEASON? It doesn't have to have been from your own corps but any kid for the upcoming season. My second question then becomes why or why not? Take for instance a piece of this letter I got from this kid. I will protect his name and corps but if you are interested in helping him send me a pm. "I of course as promised returned this year as Drum Major in November, still in the hole from last season. A fraternity alumni had originally offered to pay all of my tour fees and backed out suddenly at the last minute in the beginning of May of '08. I got together all I could between then and move-ins which amounted to more than half of the tour fees. At camp in November, I paid another $100 + camp fees and my banquet ticket. In Feb. I wrote a check to the corps for $1300 to cover the rest of all that I owed from 08 and started paying on this year. This however was part of my scholarship money and as a result I still owe the ____ about $800, before I will be allowed to enroll in the fall. I have been in contact with some alumni and personal friends. As a result of those efforts, I have recieved $950 with an additional $200 I believe from an alumni of last year. I am not sure exactly how far away I am, because as of yet, some of my sponsorships have not posted to my account. I do know to date it is 1,550 when you take into account that my account has me already charged for raffle tickets. I would appreciate any help you could give. Even if it is what it is or the names of some other alumni to call and reach out to. I came to this corps and committed myself to marching my age out here. I have huge respect for this corps and their role in this activity. I could not imagine myself sitting in ________ all summer, wondering what if. This organization and the activity as a whole have opened me up to new experiences and I have met people that I otherwise would never have been exposed to. I am deeply indebted to it and the alumni that have given us this tradition of excellence. I will certainly give to someone. I am truly blessed to know all that I have been given and as my mother and father have told me, never pass up the opportunity to bless someone. I have truly learned and experienced what it is to have people bless you and to be a blessing in someone's life. They have told me that they want all of my money in by move-ins. That gives me until May 22nd. So again anything you can do I would be most appreciative. If you know of some alumni that I could contact that might be interested in sponsoring someone as well, I would appreciate their names so that I could reach out to them. Again, I am leaning on doing anything that can be done. I appreciate all that you have done for the corps and this activity and look forward to hopefully seeing you this summer!" So again I ask have you helped someone and why or why not? I suspect this type of situation is all too common this year. I can't imagine an organization losing a DM in May, but this is the state of the activity. So let's hear it...