Road signs, sawhorse traffic barriers, and yellow and orange balloons greeted participants in the DCI Promoters College this past weekend. These decorative touches were the brainchild of DCI office staffer Sue Kuehnhold, who wanted to portray an "under construction" theme for DCI's 30th Anniversary. She wanted to show DCI as being "under construction" because the idea for the 30th Anniversary would be to prepare for the future, not celebrate the past, as was the case for DCI's 25th Anniversary, a theme echoed in DCI Executive Director Dan Acheson's "The State of DCI" speech to the show promoters.

In his presentation, Acheson spoke not only about the organization of DCI and its fiscal health, but also about the state of the junior corps activity in North America and DCI's marketing strategy. Acheson noted that there were two vacancies on the DCI Executive Board/Board of Directors -- the division I representative spot previously held by Bill Strube, former director of Pioneer, and the other the division II/III representative position formerly occupied by Bob Jacobs, Jersey Surf Director.

Acheson announced that DCI's gross income has increased from $3.5 million to $6 million from 1996 to today, that DCI has retired its long-term debt and actually has some reserves, and that DCI has 16 sponsors today in contrast to only one in 1996.

He refuted the claims voiced by the letter writers to Drum Corps World and posters to rec.arts.marching.drumcorps that junior corps is dying, specifically citing DCI's financial health and the increasing attendance at certain DCI ticketed events.

He concluded by outlining the challenges and opportunities facing junior corps and outlined how DCI's marketing strategy, which would be geared to attracting 13-22 year-olds, would meet these challenges.

Gail Lowney Alofsin gave two passionate presentations that included many useful suggestions for increasing revenue at shows from sponsors and being more efficient in use of resources. Alofson is in charge of promotions for the Newport Waterfront Festivals at the Newport Yachting Center in Rhode Island.

The promoters were very involved, asking many penetrating questions and making comments about her points. Kuehnhold later commented on how thrilled Alofson was to have spoken to such an involved audience that was so eager for her knowledge.

Finally, the assembled promoters elected members to the Promoters Task Force, which represents the concerns of the promoters to DCI and coordinates the presentations at the Promoters College. This year's officers are Doug Madar, Charlotte, NC -- Chair, Beth Schindel, Toledo, OH -- Secretary, Chuck Junek, Biloxi, MS, Ross Viner, Wichita, KS, John Noonan, Des Plaines, IL, and Claudette Wire, Rome, NY.

In conclusion, Kuehnhold remarked how productive the promoters college was and how pleased she was at the relatively high attendance (every seat in the ballroom in which it was held was full). She wished that the attendance at the instructors summit was as high.

In other news, Thom Hannum, Mark Sylvester and Jim Wedge were honored at the DCI Hall of Fame Banquet. Look for an article on this event in the next issue of Drum Corps World.