DCA Rules Congress - Final Schedule

DCA President, Gil Silva, Vice-President Larry Hershman and Local Chairman, Allen Buell have released the schedule for the 2009/2010 DCA Rules Congress and Seminars to be held on December 13th and 14th at the George Eastman House Museum (http://www.eastmanhouse.org/) and the Strathallan Hotel (http://www.strathallan.com/) in Rochester, New York. All all-aged corps planning on competing during the 2009 DCA Season are encouraged to attend.

This event is particularly critical to new corps planning on competing in 2009 or 2010. It will provide them with a wealth of information planned to help ease their transition into the all-aged competitive ranks. Those attending should notify DCA Secretary, Glen Johnson of the number of people attending and receive hotel discount information. secretary@dcacorps.org All corps will pay a $100 registration fee. Corps who competed in the 2008 DCA Championship Preliminary Contest have already paid this fee.

A new addition to the Rules Congress this year is the addition of numerous seminars for Corps Directors and Business Managers. The following seminars will be held:

Key note session: “Drum Corps 101” – Larry Hershman, Chairman
“Programming for DCA” – Jim Dugan, Chairman
“Strategy Development” – DNS Associates, Davis Condon, Chairman
“Secrets of Success in DCA” – Carl Ruocco, Chairman
“Fundraising for Drum Corps” – Tom Gabianelli, Chairman

Larry Hershman: Over a period of 20 years, Larry Hershman played all the percussion instruments and soprano horn with the Westshoremen, of Harrisburg, PA. He then devoted many more years to the corps as marching and maneuvering instructor, show coordinator, business manager and director. He was the show coordinator and marching instructor for the United States Naval Academy drum and bugle corps from 1983 to 1986. While serving on the Drum Corps Associates (DCA) board of directors, he chaired the committee, which completely revised the organization’s bylaws, rules and regulations and devised the mileage system used by DCA in dealing with contest sponsors. He also applied his skills as a marching instructor and program director with the Bluecoats junior drum and bugle corps, of Canton, Ohio. He has judged for several organizations, including Mid Atlantic, National, KIDA, CIDA, CBA and the International Band Fest. He organized a number of ongoing drum and bugle corps contests and concerts, including the Carlisle Review of the Corps, Serenade in Brass and the Hershey Invitational senior/junior contest. He is past Judging Coordinator of DCA and current Vice-President. Larry is a member of the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame.

Jim Dugan: Jim is the program coordinator for the Connecticut Hurricanes. He has been involved in drum corps practically his whole life. His dad, Jim Sr. first taught Jim to play snare at the age of six. He went on to march junior corps with the Ct Classics, Milford Shoreliners and his last 4 years with the Bayonne Bridgemen. He was percussion caption head with the Bushwackers from 1984 - 1995 where they won a record 6 DCA drum titles in row. Jim also held the position as co-program coordinator from 1988 - 1995 while winning 5 DCA championships and again as program coordinator from 2002-2007. In addition Jim was program coordinator for the Sunrisers (97) and the Hurricanes (99-00). He taught the Bluecoats from 1987 - 1990, was a clinician for the British Youth Band Association and has taught many high school bands in Connecticut and New Jersey.

David Condon, Chairman & CEO, Diversified Non-Profit Services: David joined DNS Associates, LLC in 1985. David is a nationally recognized expert on fundraising, capital campaigns and nonprofit strategy. He has provided professional counsel to hundreds of nonprofits. His expertise and passion for his clients’ causes has been instrumental in clients closing over 200 solicitations of one million dollars or more. David is an outstanding motivational and professional development speaker. He is able to communicate big ideas and practical advice. His presentations are successful at moving prospective donors to action. He energizes and motivates Board members and professional staff to higher levels of performance. Audiences consistently place him among the most informative and entertaining speakers at the conferences and events he attends.

David has extensive understanding of nonprofit management and he is an expert at applying successful business practices to the nonprofit sector. David began working with nonprofit agencies in 1968. He was Director of Special Services for the Derby, Connecticut Public School System and later was President and CEO of Durham Hill School, a nonprofit residential treatment facility for severely retarded/emotionally disturbed children and adolescents. In May 2007, David was inducted into the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Alumni Hall of Fame in recognition of the positive influence and inspiration he has brought to the Boys & Girls Clubs movement.

CARL RUOCCO: Carl is currently Show Coordinator for the World Champion Reading Buccaneers. He began his involvement in drum corps with the Dumont Police Cadets in 1960 playing the tenor drum. As a senior, he played in the percussion section of the New York Skyliners. He instructed the Ridgemen, Colts, Star of Indiana, New York Skyliners, and the Westshoremen. Carl was the Assistant Director of Star of Indiana and the Director of the Crossmen. He judged with the International Judges Association, and was percussion caption head of the National Judges Association for 11 years. Carl has also arranged and instructed numerous high school bands and is a member of the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame.

Thomas Gabianelli, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Diversified Non-Profit Services: having sat on both sides of the fundraising table both as a donor and solicitor has prepared Tom Gabianelli to provide a unique perspective on the solicitation process which carries over into his solicitor training sessions during the campaign. Tom's knowledge of finance, accounting and business helps DNS clients to achieve a higher level of economic accountability.
Prior to joining DNS Associates in 1991, Tom was President & CEO of OmniBank of Connecticut. Tom's involvement in the community includes serving on the Board of Directors of the Valley United Way, Valley YMCA, Seymour Land Conservation, The Salvation Army of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Citizens Advisory Committee, West Haven and Ansonia Businessman's Association, Advisory Board Chairman (Durham Hill School), State Association-Bank Operations Committee, and Connecticut Hurricanes World Champion Drum & Bugle Corps. He is also President of Northeast Data Com's Banking Committee. Tom is a graduate of the U.S. Navy Finance, Class "A" School, and Brown University's School of Finance and Management.

The schedule is as follows:

Saturday December 13th, George Eastman House
8:30AM Dryden Theatre Lobby Registration for all
9:00AM Dryden Theatre Roll call and presentation of rule proposals
9:30AM Dryden Theatre General meeting – Business
9:30AM Curtis Theatre Captions – Percussion
9:30AM Discovery Room Captions – Brass
9:30AM Council Room Captions – Visual
11:00AM Break Break
11:15AM All return to meeting rooms
1:00-2:45PM Lunch (on your own)
3:00-3:30PM Dryden Theatre Key Note – Drum Corps 101
3:40-5:00PM Dryden Theatre Programming for DCA
3:40-5:00PM Curtis Theatre Strategy Development
5:10-6:30PM Dryden Theatre Secrets of Success in DCA
5:10-6:30PM Curtis Theatre Fundraising for Drum Corps
6:30-8:30PM Potter Peristyle &Mansion Reception for all – meet new judging staff

Sunday, December 14th, Strathallan Hotel

9:00AM-12 Noon Voting on rules proposals
Note: This meeting is mandatory for voting members – others are welcome to attend.
12:00 Noon Rules Congress is completed