Drum and Bugle Corps

VMAPA Announces Cessation Of Operations for the 2023 Season

It is with grief and sorrow that we must announce the cessation of operations for the Santa Clara Vanguard for the season of 2023. Throughout the past months, a multiplicity of financial stressors have culminated into an unavoidable financial shortfall. This shortfall has been made more insurmountable by lower than expected bingo earnings and the rising cost of summer travel and tour overhead.

Throughout the past months, the VMAPA board has worked very hard with executive leadership to explore creative financing options, drastic budget cuts, and creative fundraising options designed to bridge Vanguard into a more lucrative future. Each of these options had the result of lowering the quality of the member and employee experience, and leaving VMAPA in a far more vulnerable financial position after the tour of 2023. The summer of 2022 was extremely expensive throughout the entire drum corps activity. The cost of goods and services necessary for the 2023 tour have risen even higher than the costs of the 2022 tour. Without the ability to accurately forecast many of the variable costs (e.g. fuel, food, supplies) in the summer of 2023, the cost of 2023 promises to be more than we can accurately project. In addition, bingo is seeing substantial and sustained lower income as customers deal with the higher cost of goods and services in their own lives.

What We’re Doing About This

VMAPA is very close to opening a second bingo game that will provide much needed funding to right the current budget shortfall. This second bingo was scheduled to open in late 2021. Due to a complicated set of circumstances outside the control of VMAPA, this game remains dependent upon the Redwood City council adopting our proposal and passing a simple resolution. Twenty twenty three looks promising for this new location as we continue to lobby for this resolution. Additionally a special task force of volunteers continues to seek more gaming opportunities. The cessation of Santa Clara Vanguard this year creates solvency and time to restructure the VMAPA organization to meet the financial demands of the future. More efforts for financial development are also underway.

To The Members

The timing could not be worse for this final decision. Every single option available to avoid this resolution was explored. Each option available would have left the future of Santa Clara Vanguard in jeopardy. We realize this situation will have a major effect on your lives. For this, we grieve with you. This year will pave the way for the survival of SCV. Continuing with this year would endanger the ability for SCV to exist beyond 2023. Maintaining the foundation for SCV to exist beyond this year is the primary responsibility of the board and executive leadership. While this decision was difficult, there was no viable alternative. This decision ensures the financial health of SCV in time for auditions in the fall of 2023.

Vanguard will survive this setback and be the standard for excellence and performance once again soon. Unthinkable times demand unthinkable solutions. While this is a difficult time, VMAPA is not willing to leverage the future of the organization with hopeful financial projections that will not square with reality. While this decision may seem detrimental to the future of SCV, it serves to ensure the success of SCV in future years. With this in mind, we make the sacrifice of a single year to ensure a thriving future for Vanguard for many years to come.

(shadowdbc.org)

December 11, 2022

​ Dear Shadow Friends and Family,

​ Shadow Drum and Bugle Corps was founded and built on a tradition of excellence and education that stretches back to 1972. For 50 years, the Oregon High School Summer Marching Band took the field each summer, competing in every season since MACBDA’s inception. In 2007, a winter guard and indoor percussion ensemble followed, with both winter ensembles distinguishing themselves with excellence in the sport. In 2008, the summer marching band became Shadow Armada. In 2016, our flagship program became Shadow Drum and Bugle Corps and was accepted into the vaunted ranks of Marching Music's Major League, Drum Corps International, having the unique distinction of being the only high school in the world with its own professional-level marching ensemble as the only high school in the United States to have a drum corps program. In 2019 Shadow Drum and Bugle Corps separated itself from the Oregon School District and became its own entity, continuing the successes of the history of the program. The corps was not active during 2020 due to the DCI season cancellation during the pandemic, hosted a virtual season in 2021, and took a pause in 2022 to reevaluate continuation. ​

It is with a heavy heart that I announce that the board of directors for Shadow Marching Arts has made the difficult decision to end all operations in perpetuity. Over the next few months, the board will work to end its nonprofit status, liquidate its assets, and close its books.

​ We take joy in knowing that the many videos and pictures from the past will keep the legacy of what Shadow was going, where the memories will keep Shadow alive to those that answered the question “Band who are you?”

​ We thank you all for your support and encouragement.

​ All the best,
Ken McGlauchlen
Board President
Shadow Marching Arts

(legendspaa.org)

After thoughtful consideration, the Legends Performing Arts Board of Directors voted unanimously to go inactive for the 2023 Season.

“The escalating costs to operate a touring corps continue to show no signs of reversal and while we always do our best to find a way, the current economic and global conditions will be a challenge that will take more resources to provide a quality experience,” says Ibe Sodawalla, CEO. “As the founder of the corps, this organization is one I take great pride in and I’ve seen the impact we make to everyone involved. The decision to be inactive is one that is not easy to make and is necessary for us to strengthen our foundation, limit our risk, and revisit our strategic plan moving forward.”

We would like to thank Legends 2022 for being with us on our relaunch. You are truly a special team that inspired many and helped to identify the strengths and weaknesses in this next era of the activity. And to those that expressed interest in Legends 2023, we appreciate that you had considered us for your experience.

Any questions or how you can support Legends can be directed to Ibe Sodawalla, CEO, at ibe@legendspaa.org.