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MikeM

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Posts posted by MikeM

    The Cadets and GH history of sexual abuse (news article)

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted · Edited by MikeM

    Well that didn't take long:

    Philly.com:  http://www.philly.com/philly/news/cadets-drum-bugle-corps-george-hopkins-resigns-sexual-abuse-harassment-allentown-pennsylvania-20180406.html

    The Morning Call (Allentown local, it's the lead story on their webpage): http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-allentown-cadets-director-george-hopkins-resigns20180406-story.html

    Lehigh Valley Live:  http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/allentown/index.ssf/2018/04/allentown_drum_corps_director_g.html

    I don't think this is the publicity anyone wanted for Drum Corps. :/

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1

    The Cadets and GH history of sexual abuse (news article)

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    9 hours ago, BDAMom said:

    Yes, I have thoughts. What is it exactly that you are saying? That YEA is so culpable that they are incompetent and therefore should pull out of touring and being active? And why can’t you run a tour and recover? Cut out the cancer and move on to a full, productive life. Offer help to the victims. Take responsibility even if you aren’t technically the bad actor. Is this horrible? Yes. But the choice is to rise above or sink below. I’m not actually so familiar with YEA but I’m guessing they will try rise. You can rise without having to turn to ashes first. 

    What I'm saying is this - YEA takes this summer to get its act together, without having to worry about the logistics of a tour.  By getting its act together I mean cleaning house - restructuring the BoD.  Writing policies to prevent this from happening again.  Working to get things back so that YEA can be trusted by the community at large, because, like it or not, this whole thing shatters the trust with the community.  Yes, doing this would hurt.  A lot.  But you mention cutting out the cancer.  After the cancer is cut out, there needs to be recovery.

    Now, don't get me wrong.  I'm not AT ALL saying this has to happen.  I was just throwing something out there. I've seen good arguments on both sides of this which hold weight. If any organization COULD pull off touring while recovering from all this negativity, its the Cadets.  They would absolute be that "Yeah? Watch this" corps to pull off a top 5 (or higher) placing while the angst swirls around them.

    I'm not sure there's a right answer to all this.  But hey, at least we're having civil discussions about it.

    • Like 2

    The Cadets and GH history of sexual abuse (news article)

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, Kyle B said:

    Being a little overdramatic with pulling Cadets and C2 off the field?  One man does not a corps make, no matter how long someone is there for.

     

    Corps was here long before him, and it will be here long after him.  If not for any other reason because there is no way the alumni will allow it to die.

    I’m not arguing that point at all.  I’m trying to look at the larger picture here.  

    Just throwing a thought out there.  Not saying this HAS to happen.

    The Cadets and GH history of sexual abuse (news article)

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    Actually, and this probably won’t win the day - but I’ll toss it out there:

    YEA needs to pull The Cadets and Cadets2 from all competition for the 2018 season.  

    Why?  There will only be this distraction for this year.  Heck, parents may pull their kids out and leave them barely able to field a corps.  Take 2018 to revamp and restructure the organization.  Comeback after finals with everything in place to start the 2019 preparations even stronger.  Show everyone that hey, yes this happened.  But we’ve taken steps to make sure it won’t happen again.  You can’t run a tour and try and recover from this.

    Thoughts?

    • Like 3

    The Cadets and GH history of sexual abuse (news article)

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    37 minutes ago, George Dixon said:

    Ok... a tad dramatic, but hey - we all react in our own ways I guess

    Personally I think if the organization fires him and revamps/replaces the BOD they will be flooded with a return of fans/donors/volunteers etc that Hopkins drove off over the years. He burned a LOT of bridges

    A fresh face for the Cadets is exactly what the organization needs (even before this unacceptable situation)

    I'm guessing he's fired and the PTB want to have a plan in place of who takes over prior to an announcement. There is zero chance IMO he remains as director of the corps or involved with YEA. That ship has sailed.

    Mr. Dixon and I haven't agreed on anything for years.  YEARS.

    But, I agree 100% with what he's posted here.  There will be tears and there will be struggles in the near term, but The Cadets severing themselves from that man (I refuse to say his name at this point) might be just what the Cadets need.  If the Cadets say "We've fired <insert name here> and asked certain members of the BoD to resign, and we need your help to insure the corps survival." then the alum that want to help now that he's gone will come out.  The Cadets are worth all efforts to save.

    • Like 4

    The Cadets and GH history of sexual abuse (news article)

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted · Edited by MikeM

    1 hour ago, skek64 said:

    I just UN-friended George. Maybe the few thousand other people who are on his friends' list might want to consider doing the same.

    While I think that's probably a very good idea, bear in mind that unless he keeps tabs on the # of friends he has, he won't notice the stampede to the doors.  Facebook gives you no notification that you've been unfriended.

    Contra tips

    in Brass Forum

    Posted

    How do you expect to play well on the move if you can't do it while you're standing still???

    Its like running before you can even crawl.

    Yes, you have to be able to play well on the move. That said, it becomes infinitely easier if you can play well standing still first. If you have poor air support standing, how do you think you'll sound at 160+bpm practically jazz running to your next set?

    That's the jist of we're saying here. And don't tell me I don't know what i'm talking about because I didn't play contra. Good fundamental playing technique transcends any instrument.

    • Like 1

    Championship Wknd Predictions: Ready, Set, GO!

    in DCA - All-Age Corps Discussions

    Posted

    MBI's guard absolutely deserved that trophy too. Hurcs' guard at retreat left a bad taste in a lot of folks mouths...and proves that when you care more about a caption trophy than the success of the overall corps, you have a real problem. I hope they aren't like that anymore...

    Guard is blood sport in Connecticut. I'm shocked they didn't storm the judges in 2011, even if the scoring was 100% right, and it was.

    • Like 1

    Annapolis

    in DCA - All-Age Corps Discussions

    Posted

    I feel sorry for anyone who flew into Dulles west of the DC metro area, and had to drive to Annapolis during rush hour.

    That... heck, anywhere in the DC metro area including Maryland and Northern Virginia... is arguably the worst traffic corridor on the East coast. Makes driving in the NYC area seem like a day off.

    This x1000

    I used to time my sojourns from North Carolina to NJ around DC traffic - as in, OK, we should hit DC by 9pm, and the traffic shouldn't be too bad.

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