Hey Mark - the Cadets are no more

[BigTex]

The Cadets drum and bugle corps has filed for bankruptcy and will cease operations permanently. While George Hopkins created some legal problems for them, the big blow is a lawsuit filed by a woman who claims she was assaulted by a staff member in 1982 when she was 16. The Cadets insurance carrier would not cover the cost of litigation.

[Mark]

Death by Hopkins...

I'm guessing DCI will meet the same fate. His influence has made DCI increasingly irrelevant. They've strayed further and further away from drums and bugles due to all the silly rule changes influenced by him. Their best chance for survival is roll back the rules about 20 years.

A friend of mine that still follows DCI much more closely than me tells me a number of groups may be meeting the same fate as the Cadets very soon.

[BigTex]

I think that as the cost of a summer tour rises there will be more regional competitions to cut down on travel. One change that is already underway is fewer corps at each show and the show starts later to avoid late afternoon heat.