Joint Statement from Drum Corps International and Spirit of Atlanta

(spiritofatlanta.org)

Drum Corps International and Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps would like to make the following joint statement.

As Spirit of Atlanta has examined the task ahead of us to provide the safest and best experience to members, staff, and volunteers, and also in consultation with DCI, we have made the decision to go on hiatus and reorganize during the 2022 season. Spirit of Atlanta believes that this is the best path forward to serve our mission, build the infrastructure that we know that we need for our future success, and to build the corps that we want to be. We believe that stepping back will allow Spirit to deeply analyze the changes that will help this organization and activity make the improvements needed to provide the highest standards for the health, safety, and social-emotional needs of our participating youth. Spirit of Atlanta and DCI collectively believe that it is in the best interests of all to complete this important work and return as a competitive corps in 2023.

We look forward to returning to the field soon.

George A. Dickinson, Board Chair, Spirit of Atlanta Inc.

David Starnes, Executive Director, Spirit of Atlanta Inc.

Chris Moore, Corps Director, Spirit of Atlanta Inc.

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DCI Statement, January 9, 2022

(dci.org)

DCI takes any complaint of misconduct in the drum corps activity seriously. There is no higher priority than protecting the safety, health and welfare of drum corps members, staff and volunteers taking part in our participating organizations, activities and events.

In August, DCI received a complaint against the Spirit of Atlanta organization for violations of the DCI Code of Conduct by performing members of the organization. The serious nature of this report immediately triggered an independent investigation in accordance with DCI’s ethics and compliance reporting policies and procedures.

A comprehensive review was conducted by an independent investigation firm retained by DCI to focus on Spirit of Atlanta’s response to the misconduct reports.

The independent investigation found that Spirit of Atlanta, among other things:

  • Failed to properly investigate or respond to credible complaints of misconduct.
  • Failed to articulate, internally and externally, the job duties of persons in authority and those charged with the duty to keep participants safe.
  • Failed to properly train performers, staff, volunteers, administration and its board relative to Spirit of Atlanta’s and DCI’s Code of Conduct.

After reviewing the report from the independent investigation firm, and discussing the findings with the Spirit of Atlanta management, the complainant and the complainant’s parents, the DCI Board of Directors adopted the findings and recommendations of the report in full and placed the Spirit of Atlanta organization on probation for a period of 24 months. The terms of the probation require, among other things, that Spirit of Atlanta:

  • Demonstrate that it can comply with the DCI Code of Conduct in all areas of its operation.
  • Engage an independent third-party consultant to review Spirit of Atlanta’s organizational and training processes, clarify its accountability structure, and create and implement policies and procedures that ensure Spirit of Atlanta’s code of conduct and other policies align with or exceed the requirements of the DCI Code of Conduct.
  • Create a senior leadership position whose principal focus is to ensure that staff, volunteers and performers are provided with a positive working environment and have appropriate training and resources to ensure the health and welfare of all involved.

Spirit of Atlanta has accepted the terms of the probation and stated their commitment to compliance. DCI’s Board of Directors and management will be closely monitoring Spirit of Atlanta’s compliance with the probationary terms.

In the past year, Drum Corps International has substantially revised its Code of Conduct, policies, procedures and processes to assure the good health, welfare and safety of all persons that participate in our activity. In close partnership with its member organizations, DCI will continue to foster a safe, rewarding, positive and educationally appropriate environment for all.

To support these efforts, additional comprehensive resources are currently in development and will be announced in the coming months. DCI will continue to take any complaints of misconduct seriously and encourages anyone with knowledge of such misconduct to report it.

Additional Resources

DCI Ethics and Compliance Reporting
DCI Community Code of Conduct and Ethics Guidelines

2022 Drum Corps International Tour Schedule

(dci.org)

Premier Event Series at a Glance

PASADENA, CA
Drum Corps at the Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl Stadium
Saturday, June 25

DETROIT, MI
DCI Tour Premiere
Ford Field
Tuesday, June 28

MUNCIE, IN
DCI Central Indiana
Scheumann Stadium
Friday, July 1

TBA, AZ
Stadium TBA
Saturday, July 2

DOVER, DE
DCI Dover
Stadium TBA
Wednesday, July 6

STANFORD, CA
DCI West
Stanford University
Sunday, July 10

BOISE, ID
DCI Boise
Eagle High School
Tuesday, July 12

TBA, MS
Stadium TBA
Thursday, July 14

DENVER, CO
Drums Along the Rockies
TBA Stadium
Saturday, July 16

MEMPHIS, TN
DCI Memphis
Liberty Bowl Stadium
Saturday, July 16

BROKEN ARROW, OK
DCI Broken Arrow
Broken Arrow High School
Tuesday, July 19

TBA NORTHERN, TX
Stadium TBA
Tuesday, July 19

DENTON, TX
DCI Denton
Apogee Stadium at the University of North Texas
Thursday, July 21

ROUND ROCK, TX
DCI Round Rock
Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex
Thursday, July 21

HOUSTON, TX
DCI Houston
TDECU Stadium at the University of Houston 
Friday, July 22

SAN ANTONIO, TX
DCI Southwestern Championship
Alamodome 
Saturday, July 23

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX
DCI Corpus Christi
Wildcat Stadium at Calallen High School 
Monday, July 25

MESQUITE, TX 
DCI Mesquite
Mesquite Memorial Stadium 
Monday, July 25

MCKINNEY, TX
DCI McKinney
McKinney ISD Stadium
Tuesday, July 26

LITTLE ROCK, AR
DCI Little Rock
War Memorial Stadium
Wednesday, July 27

HATTIESBURG, MS
DCI Southern Mississippi
M.M. Roberts Stadium at the University of Southern Mississippi 
Wednesday, July 27

TRUSSVILLE, AL
DCI Birmingham
Hewitt Trussville High School 
Thursday, July 28

MURFREESBORO, TN
The Masters of the Summer Music Games
Middle Tennessee State University 
Friday, July 29

ATLANTA, GA
DCI Southeastern Championship
Georgia State University’s Center Parc Credit Union Stadium
Saturday, July 30

WINSTON-SALEM, NC
NightBEAT
Wake Forest University’s Truist Field 
Sunday, July 31

TBA, WV
Stadium TBA
Monday, August 1

ANNAPOLIS, MD
DCI Annapolis
Navy-Marine Corps Stadium
Tuesday, August 2

GLASSBORO, NJ
DCI Glassboro
Stadium TBA
Wednesday, August 3

CENTERVILLE, OH
Soaring Sounds
Centerville High School Stadium
Wednesday, August 3

ALLENTOWN, PA
DCI Eastern Classic
J. Birney Crum Stadium
Friday, August 5 & Saturday, August 6

CHARLESTON, IL
DCI Eastern Illinois
Eastern Illinois University
Saturday, August 6

PITTSBURGH, PA
DCI Pittsburgh
Baldwin High School
Sunday, August 7

CINCINNATI, OH
DCI Cincinnati
Ballaban Field at St. Xavier Stadium
Monday, August 8

World Championship Event Series at a Glance

OPEN CLASS PRELIMS
Marion, IN
Indiana Wesleyan University
Monday, August 8

OPEN CLASS FINALS
Marion, IN
Indiana Wesleyan University
Tuesday, August 9

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PRELIMS
Indianapolis, IN
Lucas Oil Stadium
Thursday, August 11

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINALS
Indianapolis, IN
Lucas Oil Stadium
Friday, August 12

SOUNDSPORT INTERNATIONAL MUSIC AND FOOD FESTIVAL
Downtown Indianapolis, IN
Saturday, August 13

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
Indianapolis, IN
Lucas Oil Stadium
Saturday, August 13

Drum Corps Associates World Championships Returns to Rochester in 2022 and 2023

visitrochester.com

dca

Visit Rochester, the official tourism promotion agency for Monroe County, is pleased to announce that the Drum Corps Associates (DCA) has selected Rochester as the host city for DCA’s 2022 and 2023 World Championships.

“The DCA board and staff are once again excited to return to Rochester, a city who has hosted the DCA Championships more than any other city during the Circuit’s 57-year-history. We look forward to working with the City of Rochester, Monroe County, the Visit Rochester team and everyone involved who will welcome DCA and make this event a huge success for the city of Rochester and the surrounding communities,” said John Carr, President of DCA.

The 2022 World Championships will mark the 20th time DCA has hosted the event in Rochester during the organization’s 55-plus-year history.

DCA selected Rochester to host its upcoming World Championships following a competitive bidding process by Visit Rochester. The last time DCA hosted its Championships event in Rochester was 2017.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome back DCA to Rochester in 2022. Our community has a long history with DCA and we are delighted to welcome the competing corps, DCA staff and fans back to Rochester,” said Don Jeffries, Visit Rochester President & CEO. “The ongoing pandemic has had a devastating impact on meetings, conventions and large traveling events. So receiving the news that DCA will be bringing thousands of visitors to Rochester over Labor Day weekend in 2022 and 2023 is a clear sign of the recovery and rebound of the meetings and events business in Rochester,” Jeffries said.

The DCA World Championships is one of the largest events to visit Rochester. The event in 2022 is expected to bring 5,000-6,000 attendees to Rochester, including the competing drum corps, officials and fans. These attendees will in turn utilize approximately 4,000 hotel room nights over the course of the competition weekend.

“I welcome the Drum Corps Associates back to Monroe County for their 2022 and 2023 World Championships,” said Monroe County Executive Adam Bello. “This is great news for our restaurants, hotels and other small businesses. Like so many in our community, I look forward to watching DCA’s world-class drum corps events and am sure the thousands of competitors, spectators and fans who visit our city will see up-close the many reasons we all love our county.”

“Rochester is thrilled to welcome the return of the DCA World Championships,” said Mayor Lovely A. Warren. “The music and pageantry of drum corps is second to none and we can’t wait for it to come back to our downtown! I am sure the participants and visitors will be a great boost to our hotels, restaurants and attractions throughout the community.”

An event the size and scope of the DCA World Championships is expected to generate an economic impact of approximately $2 million throughout Monroe County. More than 20 hotels will be utilized, along with rehearsal spaces at county and city parks, and local schools. The Championship event itself will take place at the Rochester Community Sports Complex.