[SOA '15]

Phone malfunction when posting. What I wanted to ask in reference to the post on by laws is where to find them? Spirits web page has a mission statement but no link to by laws. I was able to locate the 990's easily up through 2012 but still looking for 2013 and 2014.

[SOA '15]

You can obtain a copy of the SoA BoD bylaws for the specifics to that board. In general, nonprofit boards have bylaws governing the recruitment and election of board members. Those procedures may vary from corps to corps and from nonprofit to nonprofit, but if the board conducts periodic audits of the organization, the auditors will examine the board composition and governance, making recommendations when they deem it necessary. Otherwise, the board is answerable only to the public at large: Either the board creates a product the public wants to buy, or they create a product the public ignores. And by "public," I mean potential corps members, potential staff, potential ticket-buying customers, and potential sponsors and underwriters. A corrupt board with ill intent will put the corps out of business all by itself. If any of the shenanigans involve the corps' exemption from taxes, the IRS will take an interest, too.

Typically, the president of the board is selected by the board members, again under the procedure specified by the bylaws. On many nonprofit boards, a president is not directly elected, but "ascends" to the position on a prescribed timeline after having served in other board-officer positions such as Treasurer and VP.

Board members, including the president, are volunteers. They cannot be "fired" in the sense of losing their job. They can be removed from the board -- again, the bylaws usually spell out how this is done.

The corps director is hired by the board. He or she is the one who can be fired.

[Open or World Class?]

my daughter was 15 when she started auditioning. we chose corps that we could reasonablely travel to and that she was interested in. auditioning for multiple corps gives you experience and you get to see if that Corp is a good fit. the first year was enlightening for us, the second year, this year, she was much more comfortable at auditions and was contracted

[SOA '15]

My daughter is one of those 16 - 17 yr olds. 16 when contracted, turned 17 on move in day. I love how SOA has taken these youngsters so to speak under there wing and introduced them to DCI. A bad marching experience at that age could really turn someone against this DCI program. I think at SOA she has not only improved her skills, she has learned what it means to be a part of a valued part of a group. There is more to DCI than being top 12. I am like every parent I want to see them win, but DCI is more than winning. I for one hope that my daughter makes the commitment to SOA and helps build the program. I for one have been happy with the admin, the instructors and the process.