Troopers removed from DCI Membership Status

[geluf]

and for what it's worth, neither Pioneer, Mandarins, CapReg, Esperanza or Pacific Crest was on that "member" corps drop down, either.

Cap Reg is a member corps.

Guys, come on, lets chill a bit. Troop is not moving down to div. 2, there's a difference between losing member status and losing div. 1 status.

[arrangerx]

Hmmmm. . .

I read somewhere in this avalanche of posts about "Naffier bailing. . . blah blah blah". . .

No bailing. I've already informed the Troopers as best I can (with no director) that I'm here for them when they have things figured out.

Arranging and finding a show for the Troopers is the easiest thing in the world -- they have other fish to fry right now.

When they're back, so am I.

My work with the Crossmen in no way interferes or conflicts with my work at the Troopers. Two different jobs, and two different schedules. Just like band season, where I write for 16 different groups -- as long as the work gets done, no need to speculate.

Thanks for your concern -- but this isn't even on the Top 10 list of things that need to be taken care of in Casper, Wyoming.

best,

Chuck Naffier

Multi-tasker

[elphaba01]

Cap Reg is a member corps.

Guys, come on, lets chill a bit. Troop is not moving down to div. 2, there's a difference between losing member status and losing div. 1 status.

"Troopers":

Speaking as a very OLDE Drum Corps Witch, it is VERY sad to see one of the Founding Members of "DCI" (The late Jim Jones Trooperss 'Founder/Director' was THE driving force behind it's creation), for whatever reason, being "Shown the Door".

Elphaba

WWW

[DrumCorpsFan27]

I don't know how many people from the Troopers organization have to come on here and say this is not DCI being a big bully for people to believe it. There have been several. All indications appear to me that DCI has been lenient and helpful to the Troopers before and after this action.

[Lancerlady]

When I was up at the DCI office (there was a thread about that), I asked....a DCI rule book costs $35.

For a book about DCI by laws and policies? This should be under access to public information for a non profit organization. Why is this a $35 dollar book? They must want not want people to have this information.

There are ways to for non profit status organizations to get around paying for copying if people really looked into it.

[tubawarrior]

if you happen to be friendly with a corps, you could perhaps borrow their copy (i would assume each corps has one).

[MikeN]

I think bylaws and rulebook are two seperate things.

Mike

[SBrancheau]

I'm sorry to see this happen to the Troopers, especially if they could have avoided it themselves. Hopefully, they can get themselves back into compliance quickly.

Come back soon, Troopers! We need you and we love you!

Edited September 27, 2005 by SBrancheau

[Phillygwm]

There are ways to for non profit status organizations to get around paying for copying if people really looked into it.

If I recall correctly, bylaws are submitted along with a ton of other paperwork when an organization files for 501©3 status. It's been a while since I had to do that so my memory may be faulty. Even so, an organization is not forced to send amendments to the IRS if/when they occur.

I believe bylaws, like financial and other information, are a matter of public record for a 501©3. That said, the organization, whomever it may be, doesn't have to make access easy. They can make you show up on their doorstep and request access.

I would dare say, if you called someone at DCI, they would make the records available to you, but I'm not sure what the point is. It's been posted by people "in the know" that DCI is not giving the bum's rush to the Troopers. IF, in fact, this is an IRS matter, Troop's tax-exempt status could at risk (or already revoked for lack of filing, for all we know.) In that case, DCI probably HAD to take the action they did to protect themselves and other member corps.

Again, this is just a conclusion I've jumped to based on the lack of recent info on Guidestar. I am not affiliated with the corps and have no inside information. We'll probably never know (or, frankly, need to know) the whole story.

[Long Time Fan]

Reading through this entire thread, I think I have something to add. First a disclaimer –I do not have any understanding of the Troopers specific position nor do the specifics of the situation that I am about to describe relate to the Troopers’ specific condition.

We have lived through this before and I have lived through it personally. My son was a member of the Magic of Orlando in 1998 and 1999. I had no complaints about the Magic from a performance level, but the care of their performers deteriorated to the point of dangerous by the end of the 1999 season. There was a period of three days where he did not have clothing and personal articles due to poor bus maintenance. The food was very poor and many members ate by going to other corps’ food trucks. Most lost astounding amounts of weight. Medical care was very limited. Fortunately the corps folded before DCI could take action to shut them down.

After his experience with DCI touring I was concerned that this was typical of the corps. Only because there were several other kids from our high school that were in the Cadets, Blue Devils and other corps who did not have this type of experience, did we agree to pay for him to try out with the Cavaliers. He won a spot and toured with the Cavaliers in 2000, 2001, and 2002. You may think championships, but I think about the care that this corps gives to their membership. I was stunned by the level of alumni interaction, the attention to medical issues, and the attention to details. They care for their members and unlike with the earlier Magic, he returned healthier than when he left, both physically and mentally.

Many were upset when DCI required the Magic to reenter through Division 2 when they returned in 2002. Many made the same accusations then that we are hearing now; the big corps are keeping them out of Div 1, DCI is punishing them for folding, this is because they missed finals several years in a row, etc. DCI was correctly watching out for the health and well being of the corps membership. It was not fueled by DCI’s need for money, but rather DCI’s and the Board’s interests in the integrity of the activity off the field.

This is my point – DCI and the Board are trying to protect the members and the reputation of every corps past and present. If this activity degenerates into unsafe conduct (bus maintenance, medical care, demands on the members in adverse conditions, etc.) or disreputable business practices (legal issues, debt, fraud, etc.), then the entire activity could come crashing down. Give DCI the benefit of the doubt until you KNOW the facts because they stand to lose as much as the Troopers and their fans. I always make it a point to arrive early enough to see the Troopers perform because I respect their history. I look forward to them getting their act together and being welcomed into the activity once again at any level. We are better off with them participating, but only when they are making the activity better with their presence. We need the Troopers, but not at all costs.