wilkituba

What I read into DCI's response is "Thank you Arsenal BoD. We can delete our response we had planned to publish regarding your former director's comments on Facebook. We also cancelled our flight to Albuquerque. See you at one or two of our SoundSport shows, if we decide to put on the schedule."

In response to Arsenal board statement by Drum Corps International Drum Corps International has been in discussions with Arsenal Performing Arts for the past several days regarding the organization’s desire to continue its participation in the SoundSport program, while taking additional time for learning and development. We appreciate Arsenal’s statement earlier today and their board’s commitment, cooperation, understanding, and willingness to work together moving forward. We stand ready to assist them. We are continuing to identify additional opportunities to improve communication and refine the processes for performing ensembles to move from one competitive division to another. We will also use this experience to clarify our evaluation procedures further and develop new guidelines for transitioning between the SoundSport, Open Class, and World Class divisions. DCI fully supports Arsenal Performing Arts in the pursuit of its goals. We look forward to working with its board of directors and administration as the organization gains momentum, both on the field of competition and in its operations.

Attn: Members, Staff, Auditionees, Volunteers, Supporters The Board of Directors met last night and decided that we will continue moving on the path that our Founder/Former Corps Director started. We will always be grateful to him for the dedication, hard work, sacrifice and opportunity he gave to Arsenal Performing Arts and its members. That said, we will be fielding a SoundSport Team this summer. We have some logistics to work out, but we as a board are dedicated to you on making this a positive and memorable experience. Details about camps and auditions will be coming very soon. All previous callbacks and contracts of current members/auditionees will be honored for the 2019 Season. Please give us a little time so we can work out the details of how we will proceed as a Drum Corps. Thank you for your continued support! Arsenal Performing Arts Board of Directors

On Sunday, January 14, 2019 a post was made on Reddit by our Executive Director, J. Spenser Lotz. The post, “To the members and alumni of the Oregon Crusaders and Pioneer”, led to the suspension of Arsenal’s application to Open Class due to its violation of DCI’s Media Policy that “No participating organization may speak in a derogatory manner about another participating organization or about DCI”. Following the suspension of Arsenal’s application, the board members received a notice of Mr. Lotz’s immediate resignation. After multiple requests by board members to delay announcing his resignation until the board could convene an emergency meeting, Mr. Lotz chose to make public social media statements and give media interviews regarding his resignation, correspondence with DCI regarding the suspension of Arsenal’s application, and his personal views about the challenges DCI is currently facing. The original Reddit post and subsequent social media posts, as well as media interviews by Mr. Lotz were made without the board’s knowledge or approval. Unfortunately, we now find ourselves in the uncomfortable position of being in the middle of this ongoing controversy that we know little about. What we do know is that as an organization we have a standard to uphold that has been clearly laid out by DCI’s governing policies. Arsenal Performing Arts and its director are not exempt from those policies and we respect DCI’s decision. The Board has accepted Mr. Lotz’s resignation. In dealing with this controversy, our top priority is our marching members and the health of our beloved organization. Although we don’t collectively agree with the actions of Mr. Lotz over the past few days, we do have the utmost respect for the work and dedication he has contributed to creating Arsenal Performing Arts. Without the dream and energy of Mr. Lotz, none of us would have had the opportunity to work with the amazing young adults and founding members of our corps. For giving us Arsenal, we will always be grateful. We currently do not know what the future will bring for Arsenal Performing Arts, but we are dedicated to doing what we feel is right and is in the best interest of our marching members. To DCI, we commit to you that we will continue to do our best to support the performing arts and drum corps activity. Arsenal Performing Arts Board of Directors

Public service- To former members of Pioneer and Oregon Crusaders and current members of Arsenal who do not want to march another year of SoundSport but march in a REAL drum corps, we at _________ Drum Corps will offer you a free audition, free camp fee for our next camp, and a discount of $500 off your dues if contracted. We understand the predicament you are in and hope to see you at camp. Thank you. Too soon?

I want to hear the official response from DCI before I make a judgement. Something else is going on besides the Reddit post. Something is rotten in the state of DCI.

From Arsenal's Reddit page: To the vets of Oregon Crusaders and Pioneer Recruiting To the members and alumni of the Oregon Crusaders and Pioneer: I want to share condolences on behalf of myself and Arsenal Performing Arts. As students, you placed your trust in adults and leaders who you believed worked in your best interest. These adults violated that trust and placed you in harm’s way, which is inexcusable. We, as directors and educators, demand that you give your all and work your hardest, and it is shameful that there are so many among us who do not likewise give their all to keep you healthy, happy and safe. I cannot change how other organizations are run, but I do have control over Arsenal, and I want to use that to do what I can to help those who want to march. To that end, I would like to extend Arsenal’s veteran scholarship to all veteran members of the Oregon Crusaders and Pioneer. At Arsenal, we give you $100 off for every year you’ve marched, up to $500 off our $1,500 tuition. If you’ve lost your home, know that our doors are open and that you are welcome in the Arsenal family. I would love to welcome you and discuss how we can make it happen; feel free to email me at ArsenalDBC@gmail.com or dm me here. Know that the drum corps community sees you, and that we support you.

Someone just texted me the original Reddit post. Most of it should have not been posted except for the discounted dues part. Sometimes it's best to write a post, step away, edit it, and then not post it. I learned the hard way on that one, too.

Addendum- the director said he "expresses solidarity" with the members of OC and Pio when those corps put their members "in harms way" and offered discounted dues for Arsenal.

Something seems fishy about this. Looking just at the info at the moment from all the facebook post, Arsenal's director offered members from OC and Pioneer discounted spots on his way back from the January meeting. DCI said that's this is most shameful thing you could have ever done, no drum corps for you. The director resigns, and there are Arsenal members that have travel plans and flights going to Albuquerque this weekend for no drum corps camp. Now you have three corps with members and staff that have limited places to go. Right?

I would say the scores in Denver are 1 to 2 points higher than Minnesota, not 3-4. That puts Bluecoats with SCV and Crown, Troopers in the mix with Blue Stars, Madison, BAC, and Crossmen. We'll find out next Saturday where everyone stands. Colts, Academy, Spirit, OC, Mandarins, and Cascades fill out the 14-19 spots. It's going to be a tight season.

I thought adding electronics was suppose to change the sound "palette". Corps have had soloist miked mixed with effects to change the sound. I don't see adding these instruments adding anything unless you need a trombone gliss or stopped horn sound. Eliminate electronics on the field, and I'd be for adding these instruments. Sousaphone adds nothing to the sound except marching with a sousaphone vs marching tuba. Just watch BOA if you want to see both on the field. The entertainment category is too subjective. Corps B is not entertaining, but we don't want them to win, so we sit on our hands. Second place. Corps C is not entertaining, but we want them to win, so I'm going to yell as loud as I can. Win!

1980 Sky Ryders played Enough is Enough on their way up.

With Blue Knight going to Jupiter, are there any other WC corps besides Blue Devils using Kings horns? I almost don't count Blue Devils since they have their own line of Kings, System Blue. So, is anyone playing on the stock Kings anymore?

Can't help you. I would suggest contacting DCI on this one.