WIS

Ok - I generally hate reality shows (can't stand seeing people intentionally make fools of themselves) - but since that seems to be the types of shows that people are viewing recently how can we get a reality show made of drum corps? Follow individuals - or follow full corps? There is the audition process at the start of the year for the individuals and a sort of elimination process at the end of the year for corps. But what to do in the middle (I'm stuck in the underwear...?...profits conundrum)? Hmmm - it could follow what happens on the busses - but what happens on the busses, stays on the busses. Maybe there is a "Real Life" type of story that could be made out of hundreds living on gym floors over the summer. "Real Chaperones of Drum Corps". "Cooking for 150+ on $X a day"? TOC + 8 - who will it be next year? "Amazing bus races"? A viewer call-in process for winners of TOC (or other) show? A Project Runway type show for guard uniforms/costumes? "Rifle Chunkin"? There must be something that can be done with show design. I'm sure there is a "The Bachelor" type program that could be created - one horn/drum line hunk dating, and eliminating, members of the color guard? There must be 13-26 week annual show in here somewhere that a network would be interested in that would get viewers interested in the D&B corps world. Or even a series of 6 week shows taking a viewer through a season. Suggestions anyone?

Oh - you haven't looked at the list of organizations in the running, have you? I didn't see many, if any, organizations that are seeking to obtain funding from the Chase Giving program that provide these services. I chose to vote for D&B corps over the organizations that have placed themselves in the running for this funding. Do I feel that is in poor taste or materialistic - not at all. I would put promoting the values that D&B Corps can instill in the marching members over Save The Frogs, Raptor Resources, and yes, the Bat World Sanctuary - but that is just my opinion / preference. Given the choice to help direct where some financial support goes I'll choose D&B Corps which is a nationwide activity that teaches, among other things, personal improvement, discipline and commitment. These skills often help the members become the type of person who then gives to others in the areas you note. One could point out that votes to the previously mentioned organizations in the running are less helpful to society - but individuals involved in those programs consider it to be an important part of their lives - just like the D&B Corp community wants to help take care of this community. I choose to support charities that provide the services you note in other, directly financial ways. Of the listed charities - I'll give my vote towards the D&B corps and sleep very peacefufl tonight over this choice. Sounds like your objection is more against Chase for providing this opportunity to organizations that choose to participate in this funding activity - than those of us who are using the activity to vote for funding in the charities participating. And - if someone could just tell me how they are doing 10 votes daily I would certainly vote for the D&B corps - but the program keeps noting that I have used my 10, total, votes.

I did my votes Just looked at the top 100 - come on guys we can put a few corps over the Bat World Sanctuary.

I'd be winking so much they would probably think I have a twitch.

To be tax deductible the funds have to go to a 501©(3) organization. You should receive some form of acknowledgement from the organization stating how much you gave and the date. If that letter doesn't reference that the organization is a 501©(3) chances are very high that the amount is not deductible. If the non-profit organization is classified as anything other than a 501© (3) donations are not deductible. This could be organizations like the Rotary, Kiwanis, Shrine Circus, professional organizations, etc. If you give to a memorial for a friend/family member who passed - make your check out to the organization to receive the funds - not to an individual. Funds given to an individual are never deductible. (I am aware of an Olympic athlete who solicited money from individuals to pay his expenses - saying that it was deductible. It was not deductible as the funds went to the individual). Cash donations are no longer allowed as a tax deduction unless you have an acknowledgement from the organization of how much they received. So - coins in the Salvation Army buckets are no longer deductible. You have to subtract the value of any goods/services that you receive as part of your donation. Example - donate to your Museum and get a DVD - the deductible amount is your donation less the value of your DVD. Volunteers can take a charitable deduction for the value of any goods they provide the organization and related mileage. They can never deduct the "cost" of their time. So - a recruiting tool for volunteers is to let them know there could be some tax benefits. If they buy any supplies for the corps and aren't reimbursed they should be taking a charitable deduction (and have the proper receipt for the payment). If I were a parent paying "dues" to a corps for my child to be a MM I don't expect that I would get a deduction. The value of what is received is probably greater than what is paid. I don't know enough about current financial conditions of corps to tell that or the actual costs of supporting the MM during the year - while they are on tour vs. costs to support the MM if they were home. If I were to sponsor a MM and made a donation to a corps that was a 501©(3) I would take the full amount that I gave the corps as a charitable contribution. I did not receive anything of value in exchange for giving the 501©(3) my money (enjoyment of the shows does not count as "value" in this sense). My donation to Friends of DCI Scholarship Program will be fully deductible. If I were to become a Friend of DCI this year I believe I would take the full membership fee as a donation - based on the wording on the member form. DCI's wording simply is "tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law" - so they aren't going to state a value of any benefits. The ticket request is on a separate form. If the membership form and ticket request were on the same form it would be harder for me to argue that the value of a premium seat was only $80. It will be interesting to see how what the wording on the acknowledgement of the membership is. If it says "thank you for your donation of $x - the value of the goods you will receive is $y - then I can only deduct the net. Now, if something happens and I can't use the tickets and just give them away - I now have a fully deductible ticket. (I paid a 501©(3) and received nothing in return). I haven't looked up the code section for this lately - but I relate it to buying a suite in a stadium. I did have a client who had a suite at Lambeau Field. The cost of the suite was tax deductible since he used it for promotional purposes (taking clients, etc.). But we had to reduce the suite fee by the cost of the lowest ticket in the stadium - which was actually in the club seats. The cost of the club seats was lower since you had to pay separately for the ability to purchase the seat - and the adjustment was ridiculously low compared to the cost of the suite. This cleared an IRS audit - much to the dismay of the auditor since I'm sure the suite cost is what triggered the audit. I'm doing this off the top of my head (wow - that sounds pretentious) so I can't site code sections for anyone. WIS, CPA Oh....just in case...... ........ DISCLOSURE& CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE To ensure compliance with Treasury Circular 230, we are required to inform you that any advice concerning U.S. federal tax issues contained in this communication is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code.

That is definitely Appleton - that's the frontage road for College Avenue west of the Viaduct. I think it is a Burger King today. The American Legion where Americanos practiced is just a block or two west of here and on the other side of College.

If I'm not fond of the person who had the baby I respond "oh, he/she looks just like his dad/mom"

Hmmm. I'm also from Oshkosh. And have a brother that used to work at/manage the Mars drive ins and can't seem to throw anything away. I'll have to ask if he still has his shirt.

I know the Warriors folded before the 1973 season. I can still remember that day at the YMCA (I would have been 12) when the Board decided to fold the Warriors and keep the Warrior Cadets going. I remember questioning the adults about why they would fold the junior corps and keep the cadets going - it didn't make sense to me - it should be the other way since the Warriors were good and had recentlyn won a national title. The Cadets s__ked. Just another episode of me thinking the adults were stupid. For 1973 a number of Warriors went up to the Americanos. The Board of the Americanos had to take a special vote to determine if they would/could allow individuals from Oshkosh to march with them. Oshkosh is less than 20 miles away - but everything was local back then. In 1973 I was too young to go to Americanos so I stayed with the Cadets for that year. (Man we were bad - and we had a director that was just a horrible man). HA - some of the old Warriors wanted to march with the Cadets that year - we were a Cadet corps marching overage members and still s__ked. I then bolted for the Americanos in 1974. I don't know if the Cadets went one or two more years before folding. I believe the Marauders were started by a family that was big in the Warriors - I don't know if it started in 1974 or 1975 (I think there was a year gap between the ending of the Cadets and the beginning of the Marauders.) I'm pretty sure they were in existence in 1976. I don't know how long they lasted - I actually don't know if they ever took the field or were just a parade corps. I don't think the Cadets went into being the Marauders. I think the Warriors and Warrior Cadets were both folded and a few families started the Marauders. My brother recently pulled out his Warrior uniform shirt from the late 60s - I'm going to try to get a photo of it for this thread.

Never, ever said that. I loved Scouts program - but rooted for Cadets all the way. And - corps that Madison beat were just as entertaining - downloaded Crossmen this weekend.

So, that doesn't explain why nearly everyone in my eyeline at Semi-finals was out of their seat when Madison started coming out of the tunnel. No need to stand to see the end of the show - because it hadn't even started yet. (My eye-line was from the top row of the 200 section).

That is so funny - I was thinking that same thing a few days ago.

I saw the retreat on DCI.org that night. They showed guys in Cadets keeping their form - but the tears were just rolling down their faces. It made me cry too. to the corps for keeping form when you know they wanted to jump, cheer and celebrate right then.

This is so true.

See my post - the description above is completely accurate.

I don't remember which corps it was in the parade - but I bet its the same one that bothered me. I wasn't offended by corps that didn't have an American Flag in the parade - I was bothered by the few (one in particular) that treated it like it was an annoying thing that had to be done. Its hard to define respect - but there was none shown by this corps. I would have rather had them leave the flag, and that unit, in the equipment truck (well, the unit could have stayed on the bus, they didn't have to get stored in the truck). This was not only disrespectful to the Flag but to the corps uniform they had on. But, it wasn't just some corps that have let flag etiquette go. Apparently the days of standing when the American Flag passes by in a parade have also passed. With the first flag approaching I hauled my old bones up to stand for it - then stood for the rest of the parade. There were very few around me that did the same thing.

Warriors? Were there more than one Warriors D&B Corps? The one from Oshkosh WI folded in 1971 or 1972.

I watched the Saturday's retreat on the computer - a lot of shots were from the back of the field with Madison in the middle of the shot. There was a group of guys at the back of Madison's formation that had one guy in the middle with maybe 8 guys around him in a circle - they kept rotating clockwise every minute or so. Was that just the guys having a little fun? Or is there some history to this? (sorry if this has been asked before - as I've noted, I'm a recent returnee to the activity).

Flyers were passed out at the parade listing the order of the corps - I believe there was a coupon for Indiana residents to buy tickets to the finals for $10. I don't think it was $10 off - but $10 for the ticket. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

We did get to the parade before blowing out of town on Saturday. I liked it - even though I'm sure about 5 of the corps would have rather been practicing for the evening show. The electric guitar from Teal Sound entertained us for about 1/2 hour before the parade - that was very nice. Music City knows how to march!!! I didn't get to see their show this year - but I was totally impressed with them in the parade. My niece started laughing at one point - when I asked what's up she responded "they're totally playing the FU song". I don't know whether I'm extremely amused - or a little horrified. The kids were having a lot of fun - so I'm going with amused . (I won't say which corps in case this is something they shouldn't have done.) Then she had to find the song for me on YouTube so I know what she was talking about. We were just a little to far away from the viewing stand so I didn't get to fully hear Crossmen - that made me sad. I thought it was great that Colt and Colt Cadets marched as one unit. Watching guards leave the field I've wondered if they could march - the answer appears to be no for about 60% of the corps. Some just strolled and waved - others actually had movement coordinated with the music. I appreciated the later much more. (I have a 30+ year "break" between the first show I saw last year and the last show before that - the change to the guard is still odd to me). Now I understand what people mean when they question straight vs. bent leg (I never really thought about it before). Sure glad we marched bent leg (apparently) when I marched - my legs hurt looking at those with straight leg. And...many of the cymbal lines were having fun - so we had fun watching them. Thank you. Battle Hymn was beautiful. It was a beautiful afternoon to sit and enjoy these corps one more time for the year. I hope they do it again next year.

Troopers: 2011 - "The Road Home" / 2012 "On the Road Again"

Went to Semi-finals last night - and just got home (couldn't get another day in to go to finals tonight). I just had to see this show, live, one more time. I was in the top row of the 200s so I could see quite a bit of the crowd. Guys - if you were too focused on the show and didn't see it - the crowd started standing and cheering the moment you walked out of the tunnel. By the time you were coming down the 50 nearly everyone in my eyeline were on their feet. There were pods of people for the other corps - but the appreciation of you and your show was nearly universal. By the end of the show everyone was back on their feet and more than a few around me (well, including me) were tearing up. I would bet the same thing happened again tonight. Fabulous show - you should all be very proud - and I can't wait to see what you do next year.

OK - you just crack quack me up. And, after a real crappy day at work, these ducks also cracked quacked me up. Thank you.

Last year a number of corps had tables on the concourse - by the escalators that went down to the marketplace. I'm glad it is moving upstairs - you are right that it took 15-20 minutes to get up to our seats. Now I'll have more time to explore each of the corps souvies rather than hitting just a few so we could get to our seats.

I probably just had an agent who didn't feel like doing any looking. If anyone else tries, take his advice and call again. For curiousity this morning I went to Ticketmaster and "bought" four more seats for Friday - just to see where they were seating now. First look - all $75 seats were gone. Second look - Section 639 - row 21 as "best available". The agent did say she could put us in Section 639 - row 21. Not knowing how many rows are in the top section I asked her - "well, there is no number higher than 21 so it looks like it is 21 rows." Uh, thanks, but no - not going to sit in the very top row. So I bought on-line and am fine with the seats we got (section 243 - same ones she offered on-line). Next year - I won't wait so long before buying tickets.