Meredith

I'm pretty sure Magic (90's) wins for worst horns on a top 12 corps ever.

I think Orange County isn't allowing overnight stays in the schools so it would be tough to find housing for the corps.

Jared, you are not doing Magic any favors. You are coming across as belligerent and arrogant. You were censored on Magic's own forum. Perhaps that might be a hint that you are not the best spokesperson for the corps. I appreciate your enthusiasm and I really feel for you on seeing Magic go through this. A lot of people here care about Magic as well. How do you know these people haven't offered to volunteer? How do you know that the people reading this thread haven't been a huge piece of that $11k the corps raised in under a week? You are placing blanket accusations without even really reading what people are saying. As to the question of whether or not this is a band aid. The money they need now is and will put them on the road for 07, but they are also looking at long-term fundraising solutions. They can cover tour expenses and other costs. They handed out a budget summary at the meeting, but I don't have it in front of me. The pep band idea I think is still a good idea. I know MicroMagic did a lot of events when I was in the corps. I know they have been trying to get a group going, but I'm not 100% sure on the current status.

There is a Paypal button. Down to the right, it says Make a Donation. I used it myself and it appears to work fine. From what we were told at the meeting, they do not have to have the money in hand necessarily to move forward. They never said "we have to raise X amount in X days." They do need to know that the fundraising plans are in place and the people will be around to help.

Okay, kiddo, breathe! You aren't doing your corps any favors to get on here and rant. The discussion about venue ended on page 10 and most of that was off-topic. The last 8 or 9 pages has been an honest discussion. Did you read all of it? People are asking honest questions. I think some things are being blown out of proportion, but no one is bashing the corps. This is one of the most tame discussions I've seen about Magic of all time. FYI to all, the corps website has been updated to reflect what we have been discussing. Everything is in place except for financial and volunteer support. Meredith Magic 91-94, 96 Alumni president

You're right, we weren't in Kissimmee back then. I also remembered my own band director said the corps was "so messy" in 90 because they tracked some grass and sand into the band room, where they were sleeping. We always swept gyms, but perhaps we are the only corps without a corps vacuum? Either way, I think some schools down here just have no idea what is involved in having 100+ kids stay for 3 days. It was always our policy to leave it as clean or cleaner as well. I can't speak for much in recent years so I surely don't know if there was a problem. Orange county won't allow it at all anymore, but management said at the meeting that camp locations are no problem though it would be nice to have a free location. As for the bingo hall, I'm pretty sure it has to be 18+. There truly are very few alumni very close by, including myself at the time. Few people lived in Orlando even when we marched. 4-6 hours away is "local" for drum corps, but a long haul to work bingo.

This I can speak about first hand. Magic got this reputation in the 90's and it is undeserved, imo. Band directors would have us out in return for a clinic. Well, they either wouldn't tell the principals or no one would tell the janitor. We would actually have janitors following around staff and kids and complaining about equipment in the hallways (that we were given permission to use) and trash cans needing to be emptied, which we always emptied if given access to the dumpsters! For nearly ever camp from 91 to 97, I was one of the last ones left, if not the last one, and I can assure you, they were clean. But if the principal was mad or the janitor made enough noise, we weren't allowed back. So what does the band director say to his director friends? That he screwed up and didn't tell anyone we were coming? No, he says we were too messy (or too loud). There is only one school I know has right to be mad and that's because the Ryder got stuck on the practice field and tore a huge patch trying to get unstuck. That was not a camp, it was on tour.

So far three of us I think have stepped up to say anything, myself and two parents. I for one was not asked to say anything anywhere and only got sucked into this conversation by having my email posted and then having to defend my reasons for asking for it to be removed. I haven't even talked to anyone from the corps. From my understanding, this corps was promised a ton of things, bankrolled a huge season and then had everyone and their money walk away. That they survived that "opportunity" is the shocker, not that they are in need now. And there were no guest stars that I know of, just well paid staff. Perhaps it does start at the top, but the fact remains that Magic has not ever had the kind of support a corps needs to run properly. When I marched, when the corps was new, we had to rely almost entirely on parents and usually only a few at that. Now, 15 years later, there should be a much bigger community to support the corps. Without that, it falls on a handful of people who just can't do it all. Perhaps because of my struggles with the alumni, I can see how hard their job is. It's easy to sit back and say "they should" but it's a whole different ball game to make it happen. By the reasoning here, because I can't get the alumni motivated to fundraise or volunteer, I am a poor leader (and/or a jerk), yet if I step down, then it's "Why is she quitting? It must be someone's fault." There is no one willing to replace me, so the position would yet again be empty. Catch-22. Sometimes you do something because no one else is there to do it and you do the best you can and put your heart into it. I am sorry I can't answer all the questions, but that doesn't mean there aren't answers, just that I don't know them.

Huh? Did I say any of them were bad? I said it's a tough job and I think they must have done okay since they didn't drive the corps further into debt. Um, like I said before, I have failed to get the alumni motivated as a group to do anything. Run a business? I can't even get them to show up for a meeting. I readily admit that. There is also the problem that many alumni were never from FL in the first place and even fewer live here now. We are trying, but it's going to be slow. I had wished 5 years ago that we'd be more established now, but we do what we can. Apparently there is a lot of distrust in the "old" Magic that I can't seem to shake and the "new" Magic kids are still young and in high school and college.

I guess I don't understand, if you knew what happened with bingo, why ask like it's some mystery? They did offer parents a deal for working there I believe (I think workers had to be 18), but then they are trading income for dues and still not getting ahead, right? Apparently few of the parents would help otherwise. But you may know this better than me since you were there. I was still living in NC at the time. As for directors, again, I don't know the answer. I think it's a hard job, harder than most of us imagine, especially at a corps like Magic where the director is very hands-on and not sitting in an air conditioned office all day, kwim? Some weren't up for it, some got burned out quickly would be my guess. I'm pretty sure it's not come crazy BOD conspiracy to rotate directors and confuse people. Frankly, I'd take it over a long term director that is hurting the corps and you can't get rid of. To Tom, I think, yes, the corps made an unbelievable come back and then my understanding is everyone walked away, leaving the corps ridiculously in debt and with no staff or support. I think we're missing the main point that the corps recovered and is in pretty decent financial shape, but like you say, Magic (and all corps) need a long term solution. I don't have answers there, but I think you have some great ideas.

I'll answer what I can, but I'm really not involved in the day to day stuff and had a baby in 05, so I've especially been out of the loop. One thought though...I know people wonder why people from Magic don't come on here and answer questions. My thoughts are perhaps a) they don't want to be attacked and B) they don't want to be confronted with every complaint from Magic history which seem to be dredged up every time. I really don't think it's to be sneaky or mysterious. We've talked to the admin quite a bit and they answer any questions from the alumni in a very straightforward manner. 1. Director - I was going to ask this, but didn't get a chance. I assumed they are still looking, which they have been doing for the last year. They don't want to jump into whoever will take the job. They want someone who will do it right. 2. Horns - don't know, honestly. Just passing on what I was told. 3. Volunteers - I'm sure a lot of it depends on personality. Every time I've been out, the people (parents mostly) seem very happy. They just wish there were more people. There has always been a lack of support staff at Magic and not from any fault on the admin's part that I have seen. I am sure everyone has their own perspective. I am sorry if your experience helping wasn't what you hoped for. Wasn't that about 2 years ago though? Different administration, no? 4. The Bingo Hall is no secret that I know of. They couldn't get enough volunteers and had to hire people. They didn't get the numbers they had hoped for (being Clermont, FL and not NY) and it didn't make money. I'm not 100% sure the current status, but it wasn't making money so the point is moot. 5. Don't know, but I am impressed by the lack of debt considering it was massive. 6. Again, sorry, I can't answer for everything dating back in the corps. I do know they've been searching for someone who will stay and do it right. It's a hard job when you don't have a sufficient support structure. "Two guys" I meant Gerry and Bruce. Alumni....yes, the administration who brought the corps back actually said they wanted no old Magic around. How long must Magic pay for the stupidity of one administration? I am honestly a bit hurt that alumni would be suspicious of anything I've done in the last 7 years. Everything alumni related (except for one year, 04 maybe, when someone else was named president by the director and did nothing) has come from me. I have not asked for a single cent from the alumni, despite pressure from previous administrations. I knew how the alumni would feel. Instead, I have tried to keep people informed, set up meetings and get-togethers, etc (at expense to myself in a few instances). This administration has been very inviting of the alumni. They made us lunch at a camp and have sat down and talked with us at every camp, trying to help get the alumni established and involved. Not June of until this year, when we established ourselves as a non-profit, did I ask for donations to get the organization itself running. Then now, with the plea for the corps. (I figured perhaps the other 1490 people out of 1500 or so can donate this time.) Granted, I have never claimed to know how to run this thing and have offered (begged) anyone to take it from me if they can do more or do a better job, but I just don't get it. I think I covered all I could and I hope I haven't screwed anything up. Again, this is just my view as a relative outsider. Meredith

PS Also, I probably shouldn't say just "two guys". There are a number of people who are helping and working hard, but I know when the going gets tough, these are the two guys it falls on.

No, I don't blame people for wanting to know more at all, I just don't think that I am the one to be speaking for the corps. My job (as I see it) is to try to keep the alumni informed and involved as much as possible, not to speak to the public in general. I do not feel comfortable with that at all. The message I requested deleted was sent to alumni, to be frank and honest, because the alumni are not supporting the corps and I wanted them to know exactly what is going on, from what I know. I am not on the BOD and only know what little I have been told. I'm certainly not trying to play the martyr here, just trying to protect the image of a corps I love. As far as being snippy, yes, perhaps it was and I apologize as it was 1am and I was tired and frustrated. But I have been trying my hardest to get the alumni organization moving, with very little help and even less response from the alumni as a whole. I was much more blunt in that email than I would be in a public forum like this, but I think the alumni need to realize corps can no longer run with just two people's time and money. We have to step up as a group. To be clear, I never criticized anyone for wanting to know, only to a specific alumnus for forwarding my personal email. I had hoped someone from the corps proper would come on and give more info. I don't speak for the corps, but here's my basic take on the situation - The corps is in good financial standing, probably the best I've ever seen at Magic. The problem is that they have no set fundraising plan and the two guys who have been running the corps can no longer run the corps, do the fundraising and use personal money to keep the corps out of debt all by themselves. They appealed to those interested to help them come up with ideas, a concrete plan and the manpower to execute it. I, in turn, made yet another plea to the alumni. Their current need is for horns, but until they know the money will be there, they can't order the horns and the corps can't move forward. If anyone who knows of possible corporate sponsors or would like to make a donation, I am sure the corps would love it. They have a donation link on the website that uses Paypal. As an alumnus, I really do appreciate those who have already said they want to help. It is wonderful how supportive the drum corps community can be. Meredith Magic 91-94, 96 Alumni president

That it was addressed to alumni, sent out using a private email list and addressing sensitive corps business didn't clue you in? Really? The first response to it, before I even saw it, was that it seemed inappropriate to paste on DCP. It is in the DCP rules that you do not forward emails and other private content without permission. Perhaps it is my mistake for trying to keep the alumni up to date and asking for support. Meredith

The email removed was mine and not intended for public view. The gist of the meeting was that the corps needs to raise funds for new horns and to come up with new fundraising ideas in general. The corps has very little debt, which is great, but needs new methods of fundraising and sponsorship. The generosity of a few can not sustain a corps. Meredith