New "Local" Drum Corps Circuit?

[BRASSO]

? It seems to me that the volunteerism we saw in drum corps back in the 60's and 70's is long gone. From my experience lately in not only drum corps, but also local things like the arts council, youth sports, and winter guard, very few people volunteer for anything anymore.

In America ( you said ) " very few people volunteeer for anything anymore " is just not true. America is far and away the most Philanthropic country in the entire world. There is no other country whose citizens volunteer more of their time and money for causes than do Americans. None. No other country is even remotely close to our level of giving of time and money.. Whether it's PTA, Youth Soccer, candy stripers, youth sports volunteers for coaching and fund raising, Boy and Girl Scouts organizations, Comunity organizers, political campaign volunteerism, Beast Cancer Awareness, Fundraising marathon runs in the communities for a myriad of charitable causes, volunteerism with doctors, financial aid, nurses, to ravaged aeas of the world in natural disasters, Catholic Charities, other religious relief and aid efforts, environmental clean up projects in communities, soup kitchens, Town Day festivals, Shriners, Habitat for Humanity projects, Church missions where American youth volunteer by the thousands throughout the world, Peace Corps volunteers by the thusands, American Red Cross, Jaycees, Jerry Lewis Telethon, door to door campaign solicitation with volunteers, and dozens and dozens of other American organizations where local, state, and national volunteerim.. even in a bad economy.... goes on in a manner that separates us proudly from the rest of the world in the degree of it's citizenry " volunteerism ". So, the comment of yours of Americans that "very few of them volunteer for anything anymore " might perhaps mean you live in an isolated area of the country, or you don't get out and about very much to see what your fellow Americans by the thousands are doing every day around you in terms of volunteering both their precious time and money for what they consider worthy causes.. If some organization lacks volunteer support it is the fault of that organization to solicit sufficient suport for one reason or another ( Drum Corps, Bands, Arts Councils, etc or otherwise ) and certainly not because Americans "don't volunteer for anything anymore". That's a thoroughly inaccurate portrayal and observation of your fellow Americans level of volunteerism, imo.

Edited October 19, 2010 by BRASSO

[noneofyourbusiness]

That's why I've been saying that DCI needs to recruit adults, not just kids.

[noneofyourbusiness]

In America ( you said ) " very few people volunteeer for anything anymore " is just not true. America is far and away the most Philanthropic country in the entire world. There is no other country whose citizens volunteer more of their time and money for causes than do Americans. None. No other country is even remotely close to our level of giving of time and money.. Whether it's PTA, Youth Soccer, candy stripers, youth sports volunteers for coaching and fund raising, Boy and Girl Scouts organizations, Comunity organizers, political campaign volunteerism, Beast Cancer Awareness, Fundraising marathon runs in the communities for a myriad of charitable causes, volunteerism with doctors, financial aid, nurses, to ravaged aeas of the world in natural disasters, Catholic Charities, other religious relief and aid efforts, environmental clean up projects in communities, soup kitchens, Town Day festivals, Shriners, Habitat for Humanity projects, Church missions where American youth volunteer by the thousands throughout the world, Peace Corps volunteers by the thusands, American Red Cross, Jaycees, Jerry Lewis Telethon, door to door campaign solicitation with volunteers, and dozens and dozens of other American organizations where local, state, and national volunteerim.. even in a bad economy.... goes on in a manner that separates us proudly from the rest of the world in the degree of it's citizenry " volunteerism ". So, the comment of yours of Americans that "very few of them volunteer for anything anymore " might perhaps mean you live in an isolated area of the country, or you don't get out and about very much to see what your fellow Americans by the thousands are doing every day around you in terms of volunteering both their precious time and money for what they consider worthy causes.. If some organization lacks volunteer support it is the fault of that organization to solicit sufficient suport for one reason or another ( Drum Corps, Bands, Arts Councils, etc or otherwise ) and certainly not because Americans "don't volunteer for anything anymore". That's a thoroughly inaccurate portrayal and observation of your fellow Americans level of volunteerism, imo.

Sorry, just speaking from my experience after being President of the local arts council, a coach and board member for the local soccer, football, wrestling and baseball leagues, a board member of the HS Band booster group, and a drum corps volunteer for many years a while back. It is the same 10-15% of the people that we see at all of these groups, donating their time. We actually have many parents who not only just drop off their kids for sports practices and then expect the coaches to drive them home (even though they are home watching TV), but many of them do not even come to watch their own kids play in games and tournaments! There may be thousands of hours being donated to the non-profits in my small town, but you can bet that it is a very small percentage of the people who are actually donating all of that time. We have tried everything to get people to donate their time, from offering discounts on sign-ups to free tickets to all of the arts festivals and shows, but they still do not volunteer. Most seem to feel it's just easier to pay than it is to volunteer.

[Jeff Ream]

one nice trend i am seeing at local band shows is youth groups volunteering as part of their community service projects. this is something drum corps should tap into

[Walter]

A thought: Could this eventually grow, with DCI support, to be the "local circuit" to which OC is sent/welcomed, there-by leaving DCI to be the Major League?

I'd like to see this grow "WITHOUT" DCI involvement !! Let's see where this goes, you never know, if there are enough drum corps in this they might bring back the U.S. Open, the American International or some more little shows that helped build the drum & bugle corps movemnet !!!

DCI keep your hands OFF !!!

[BRASSO]

Sorry, just speaking from my experience after being President of the local arts council, a coach and board member for the local soccer, football, wrestling and baseball leagues, a board member of the HS Band booster group, and a drum corps volunteer for many years a while back. It is the same 10-15% of the people that we see at all of these groups, donating their time. We actually have many parents who not only just drop off their kids for sports practices and then expect the coaches to drive them home (even though they are home watching TV), but many of them do not even come to watch their own kids play in games and tournaments! There may be thousands of hours being donated to the non-profits in my small town, but you can bet that it is a very small percentage of the people who are actually donating all of that time. We have tried everything to get people to donate their time, from offering discounts on sign-ups to free tickets to all of the arts festivals and shows, but they still do not volunteer. Most seem to feel it's just easier to pay than it is to volunteer.

Go spend time in other countries if you want to see a comparison between volunteerism levels of American's with other cultures and countries volunteerism. The apathy in many countries when it comes to community project volunteerism of any sort.... even in industrialized Europe.... is positively breathtaking and startling. Like I said, nobody spends more of their time and money in volunteering to what the volunteer considers to be worthy causes than Americans here in the USA. Some Americans never volunteer for anything, and in America some volunteers do more than others. But in some European countries, some communities can't get a soul to volunteer for anything, even to see if someone will eventually volunteer to climb up and fix the old town square clock that's been broken for around 37 years now.

Edited October 19, 2010 by BRASSO

[Plankton]

OK. No issue with that. DCM was unable to survive so it died. Period, Not DCI's cause or fault. Period.

Fixed.