Core Repsman

Thank you for your reply, we appreciate it. We understand the restrictions that the OC administrative team and board of directors are under. At this point, we are hoping to hear from anyone involved with the organization, whether staff member, outside volunteer, or former member, who may have insight to the issues that some have brought up here and in other channels (as noted in my original post).Thank you again.

Hello, I am writing on behalf of a few parents, relatives, and supporters of now-former members of the Oregon Crusaders. We are all relatively new to the Drum Corps experience, although our sons, daughters, nephews, nieces, and grandchildren have varying years with the activity. I would like to start by saying that drum corps, and specifically the Oregon Crusaders organization, has been very good to our kids. We appreciate all those involved who have provided a positive and memorable experience for them -- one with fond memories we know they will always keep with them. And for that, we sincerely thank you. That being said, you can understand how deeply troubled we are of the recent news and allegations that have come out regarding the Crusaders. I do not want to rehash what has already been reported and repeated, many times, in many other places. Suffice it to say, we have experienced a gamut of emotions in reaction to this: disbelief, disgust, anger, disappointment, sadness. Regarding the latter, sadness, especially, for the members who were affected by this. Even though our kids were not personally/directly affected, this still happened when they were with your corps. To those involved with the Crusaders, this occurred on your watch. There is simply no excuse. None. But this is not what this request is about. We plan on contacting you personally regarding this situation, and do not wish to expand on this further, here. Rather, our request is in regards to the sporadic hints, insinuations, and outright exclamations by the few Oregon Crusader supporters who have alluded to another side of "the story" that has yet to be told. We have seen this here, on this forum, as well as on other channels that have talked about or reported on the Crusaders. This is usually in the form of one or two commenters, amongst dozens or even hundreds from the opposing side. To these one or two, we ask: please tell us more. From you one or two, we have only received brief glimpses of the bigger story that you seemingly, sometimes desperately, want to tell. A story about how "the opposition" has allegedly used a very bad situation to generate support for, and action towards, an entirely unrelated and (again, allegedly) nefarious agenda. We all know the power -- for better or for worse -- of social media, and how Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, and forums like these can "fan the flames" of a "just" cause, even if said cause may include some very small untruths, amongst an overwhelmingly glaring wrong. Frankly, we do not discount what "the opposition" has been saying. We believe most of it. What happened was wrong, and for that, the Crusaders and all those associated with the organization has suffered. Dearly. But -- if what some of you supporters have been hinting at and alluding to are true, then "the opposition" has not been as forthcoming and blame-free as they claim to be. And while this does not take away from the injustice that has occured, this does put "the opposition" in a different light. And it does make us, and some of our kids, think twice about trusting those who (allegedly) may have said agenda in mind, when they tweet, post, and continue to be vocal against the Crusaders. For they have been very vocal -- and very organized, and effective, whether intentionally or not -- in their approach. While the Crusaders, and those supporting them, have not. It is not even close, really. We have read the organization's "official" statements and frankly, we know public relations spin when we see it. The intentions may be genuine, and the words sincere but yet, there really has not been much coming from the organization to address this situation head-on. (And we do not mean instituting changes required to better the safety and security of its members, and to improve the overall member experience as a whole. That goes without saying.) We mean telling that "other side of the story," that the one or two supporters have mentioned, here and elsewhere. If you truly are involved with the organization, and if you really do know more than what has been reported, then please -- for our sake, for the sake of those of us on the outside, who truly wish to understand what happened, please say more. We understand wanting to take the high road. And of wanting to move on. And of legal repercussions. But there has just been so much from "the opposition," and so little from the Crusaders -- and those supporting them -- that frankly, you cannot blame us and others for coming to the same conclusion -- and assuming the worst. But for you one or two, that have seemingly more to say ... if nothing else, you could help bring a little more clarity for us. We were all supporters of the Oregon Crusaders and some of us still want to be, and are hoping the organization can make the changes it needs to and come back, better than ever one day. But we will have to get past this, first. But based on what we know thus far, this will be extremely difficult to put behind us. So please -- help.

Hi ... I'm a relative of an Oregon Crusaders member, and a friend of several former OC members. I've followed the past two seasons very closely and I have to say, that there is -- and continues to be -- a LOT of posts and commentary coming from what you describe as the "usurp camp." Whether it be on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, here, and many other places, there's a lot to read and digest and process from "their" side of the story. I don't know if we family members / friends / supporters of OC, who don't march and haven't experienced what the members and staff have experienced, will ever know the "whole" and/or real truth. We're outsiders. We haven't "lived" and gone through what they have. We can only read and listen to and digest and process what we can, and (hopefully) interpret things as rationally and fairly as we can. And, based on everything I and others I know have read and heard, we can't help but come to the conclusion that some very bad things have occurred, some (or much?) of which were largely ignored by those tasked with the safety and security of our loved ones and friends participating in OC. And there is absolutely no excuse for that. Period. That being said, we can't help but notice that there's an almost-deafening silence from "the other side" -- "your" side. And I don't count the obviously PR-spun corporate responses from the OC organization. I'm talking about the silence from the folks who know more than what the "usurp camp" has been, quite effectively, communicating. After all, it's said that in all situations there are "two sides to the story," yes? I, and others, believe there's something to be said about the effectiveness -- whether for good or bad -- of social media. And, how a "mob mentality" can sway opinion from one extreme to the next, regardless of what the facts may be -- or regardless of whatever "gray areas" there may be. I believe that there was a very bad person / some very bad people at OC. I also believe that there were people who didn't do all that they could to help. I also believe that for the most part, many of the folks at OC were very good people. As much as I'm disgusted by the actions of those who, basically, ruined it for OC as a whole ... I also feel that the "usurper's camp" story isn't telling the entire story. (If I were them, I wouldn't, also.) But that's the thing. I/we only see/read/hear that story. And from the other side, we get ... corporate PR-speak. There's been a few -- people like yourself -- who've hinted at "the other side," but for various reasons haven't shared very much. At all. I can understand taking the higher road ... moving on ... putting the past behind you. I wish for the organization to heal, get stronger, and come back better than ever. I also understand the legal process. I'm sure there's a lot going on behind the scenes, some of which may involve legal repercussions -- for whatever side. But for those of us who want to continue supporting, and who only have heard one side of the story ... there's always that lingering doubt -- or more specifically, lingering questions about whether or not ALL of it was true. But if all we see are corporate responses (ugh) or allusions to different possibilities (hmmmm), we're really not getting a clear picture. While the other side continues with what has been, whether they realize it or not, a very effective communications and public relations plan. Your last line, "they were ready to take over the corps" give me -- and others I've spoken to -- pause. We just don't know what to do with that thought, now that you've shared it. To put it bluntly, if what we've been reading and hearing is entirely true, and that there were a ton of things that were ignored by the higher-ups, and that member safety and security were constantly jeopardized, then, well, frankly, why would we want to consider supporting this organization under the current leadership? But, if part of that is true, and another part of that involves something else, then, well, it still doesn't excuse what happened. But it does reflect a new light on those who are perpetrating this crafted version of the "truth." The "usurper camp," as you call them. So ... I/we're kind of in limbo here, in that respect.