Important Announcement Concerning 2020 Season | COVID-19 Update
To our members, parents, sponsors, supporters, alumni, staff, and fans,
It is with great sadness that we must announce the cancellation of the 2020 season. This unprecedented world event, that continues to unfold, has placed incredible strain on our ability to formulate a tour in 2020.
DCI’s voting membership unanimously reached the difficult decision with great regret after thorough evaluation of numerous factors affecting participant health and safety, travel requirements, logistics, venue availability, and other associated issues. The membership also agreed that in order to preserve the opportunity for this year’s class of age-outs, performers will receive additional eligibility based on existing age requirements with a one-year extension.
We ask that everyone participate in the recommendations of the CDC and the World Health Organization so that we can get through this quickly. Every single person plays an important role in the defeat of this virus, and we ask you to please do your part so that we can return to the promised land.
While the Troopers may not appear on the field this summer, we are FAR from finished. In many ways, this is an opportunity for the organization to regroup, and come out stronger than ever in 2021. In 2006, we were forced to take a year off. As you may recall, we returned in 2007 with one of the strongest seasons in a decade. We’ve done this before, and we will do it again.
With the love and support of our Troopernation and through exceptional management of our budgets and expenses, the organization itself is in a position to weather this crisis.
Here are a few things that you can do to help us continue the journey:
Be on the lookout for critical fundraisers taking place this summer and into the fall. Give what you can. If you can’t give, help promote.
We are currently working on a platform called “The HLD Vault” that will give Troopernation access to the vast archive of Troopers history. Every video, TV news clip, and documentary, plus over 10,000 photos, including photos from the Jim Jones personal archive will be accessible. This will be a great way to keep yourself connected to the corps, and help us at this critical time. Be on the lookout for future announcements concerning this incredible archive release.
Send in a check to 1801 East E Street, Casper, WY 82601 or make a general donation on our website at www.TroopersDrumCorps.org whenever you are able.
We understand that many of you are facing your own hardships. If you are not able to make contributions to the corps, we ask that you at the very least, stay connected to your Trooper family, and help spread the word whenever we have important announcements.
Most importantly, continue to love one another, and lift each other up.
To our members directly: We know that you will have many questions in the days ahead. Corps Director Kristy Jackson will be reaching out to each and every one of you to discuss the situation. Please be patient as she works overtime to get to all of you.
At this time we are able to commit to the following:
All contracts that have been handed out for 2020 will be honored in 2021.
Those that were originally scheduled to ageout in 2020 will now be afforded the opportunity to ageout in 2021. This opportunity will only be extended to individuals that were affected by this situation. The age limit for all others will remain at 21 years of age.
Powered by Zoom, we will continue to hold online meetups throughout the summer.
Video auditions and audition materials will remain free of charge for the remainder of summer.
In times of struggle, the Troopers have always been there. Created by a World War II pilot’s dream, this corps has marked time through the history of this nation. From the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy, and Martin Luther King we were there giving hope to America. We played our instruments and spun our rifles, even when members of our own corps were drafted to fight in Vietnam. From the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger, through the Gulf War to the attacks on 9/11, the Troopers continued as a beacon of American pride. In recent years, we have watched fresh age outs deploy as they sought to serve their country. Today, we watch our alumni and support staff drive trucks across the nation to keep our shelves stocked. We witness with pride, members of our family volunteering overnight at grocery stores to keep this country alive. This is what honor, loyalty, and dedication is.
As your life now changes, you have but one job in this moment of history. One thing you CAN do. Be America’s Corps once again. Embody our motto in your daily lives. Be good to people not just in the real world, but online. Put away your petty differences and build each other up as we each struggle to find our way through this. Together, we will overcome all of these challenges, and in 2021, we will return the hopes and dreams of a nation, to the field. We are America’s Corps. #YouAreAmericasCorps #MarchOn
Sincerely,
The Troopers Administrative Team
