Photo Credit: Drum Corps International

Each year, corps directors, instructional staff, student leaders and corps board members convene in Indianapolis for the Annual Meeting of Drum Corps International where more than 300 attendees have the opportunity to network, attend informational sessions, and enter the season on the same page with the greater corps community.

Representatives of the Jersey Surf attended the meeting early in January including Surf administrative staff members Brian Prato, Operations Assistant, and Stephanie Dutcher, Assistant Director, who attended the Annual Business Meetings while Tom Kershaw, Program Coordinator, represented the corps at the annual Instructors’ Summit.  

Kershaw reflected, “In addition to attending collaborative sessions designed to elevate the current “state of the drum corps art form,” there were many great conversations taking place which will move DCI forward through proactive planning, focused on an improved member experience & increased safety.”

Also in attendance were Jersey Surf board members Julie Hill, Terri Ives, and Telly Ousouljoglou, who represented the Surf at the Board Consortium meetings, where they learned about best practices for nonprofit boards and networked with board members from other corps.

“The January meetings are a fantastic opportunity to share best practices in all areas of corps operations,” said Brian Prato. “With an increased focus on health and safety this year, we participated in a number of highly engaging and informative sessions where we discussed issues such as the physical and mental health of participants, emergency weather planning and how to implement diversity training in our organization’s hiring practices.”

While the Jersey Surf already prioritizes member health and wellness throughout its operations and culture, the organization is reviewing DCI’s updated health policies to ensure it continues to meet and exceed standards.