2015 NWAPA Rule Change Proposal Form
Proposed Rule Change – Championship Medals
Reinstate the distribution of medals at Winterguard Championships.
Rationale
We are one of the only circuits, if not the only one, that does not award medals at the championship event.
We send the kids home with nothing to remember their hard work and achievements throughout the season.
Financial Impact
With 30 medals per placement for 5 classes (Cadet, RA, AA, A, Open) at $1.79 per medal with a total of 450
medals total cost of $805.50
Planning for 2 years:
With 30 medals per placement for 5 class (Cadet, RA, AA, A, Open) at $0.99 per medal with a total of 1,000
medals total cost of $990.00
As winter VP’s are already allocated $250 for the championships retreat, I would like to see this put towards
the cost of the medals. On average, Winterguards in the NWAPA consist of 14-‐18 members, so if the
engraving contains only the class and placement, without the year, they can be used in the future.
Submitted By
Jeffrey Capponi – NWAPA Winter Guard Vice President
2015 NWAPA Rule Change Proposal Form
Proposed Rule Change – Election Rotation
Currently the board of directors is elected using the following rotation:
Odd years – Fall Vice President, Winter Percussion VP, Winter Guard VP, Treasurer
Even years – President, Secretary
The proposal is to amend the rotation as follows:
Odd years – Fall Vice President, Winter Guard VP, Treasurer
Even years – President, Secretary, Winter Percussion VP
Rationale
This limits the number of board members that might be turned over in any given year, giving the board the
best chance at stability. It also separates the election of the two Winter VPs allowing for additional stability
during that contest season.
Impact
No impact in 2015. Impact in 2016 would be re-election of the Winter Percussion VP for another 2 year term.
Submitted By
NWAPA Board of Directors
2015 NWAPA Rule Change Proposal Form
Proposed Rule Change – Definition of Membership #1
Any band that competes in one or more NWAPA sanctioned contests (including championships) is considered
members of the NWAPA with full voting privileges.
Rationale
The size of the area we service is large enough that requiring a band to attend multiple shows in order to
compete at championships can discourage Oregon, Washington and Idaho based units from participating in
the circuit. By clarifying the rule to only require one show for membership privileges (and noting that one
show can be championships) we offer the greatest amount of opportunity for participation.
Impact
No adverse financial impact.
Note that while this is not the current practice, this is currently what is stated in the Bylaws. No change to the
bylaws would be required. However a change to the Fall handbooks would be required; both re-defining a
“Member” and requiring removal of references to “Guest Units” in the rules as there would no longer be units
classified as such.
Submitted By
NWAPA Board of Directors
2015 NWAPA Rule Change Proposal Form
Proposed Rule Change – Definition of Membership #2
Any band that competes in two or more NWAPA sanctioned contests (including championships) is considered
members of the NWAPA with full voting privileges.
Rationale
This is the current practice and the way membership is defined in the handbook. This would require that
bands who earn the privilege of competing in the championships finals contest have supported the circuit by
attending at least one other event during the season.
Impact
Fewer bands may choose to attend championships if it is the only NWAPA show they are able to attend.
Note that this is the current practice however it is not concurrent with what is written in the bylaws. Article I
of the bylaws currently states, “The membership of the organization shall include band directors and winter
ensemble directors of participating units, and show sponsors.”
If this proposal passes, Article I of the bylaws would need to be updated to the following, “The membership of
the organization shall include band directors and winter ensemble directors of units that participate in at least
two contests during their respective competitive season and show sponsors from each competitive season.”
Submitted By
NWAPA Board of Directors
2015 NWAPA Rule Change Proposal Form
Proposed Rule Change – Order of Performance
Preliminary performance order of classifications will be A, AA, Open at all NWAPA fall shows.
Rationale
As an organization of educators, our main objective should always be to structure our events in a manner that
is minimizes the physical demands and time commitments we put on our students. Making this order fixed
and consistent makes transportation and volunteer scheduling more predictable and prevents our students’
days from getting too long.
Financial Impact
No significant financial impact expected.
Submitted By: Kevin Soon, Director of Bands, Liberty High School
2015 NWAPA Rule Change Proposal Form
Proposed Rule Change – Percussion Classification
Create a design and instruction clinic, to be held in the fall of each year focusing on classification and design
principles of winter percussion shows in accordance with national WGI standards. Hire the same clinician to
make classification evaluations at the percussion premiere show in February. The classification evaluator
would be separate from the judging panel and would focus solely on placing ensembles in the appropriate
class.
Rationale
Our community of designers and instructors is dedicated and passionate about our students, and could benefit
tremendously from a clinic each year focused on principles of WGI classification, along with appropriate and
successful design within each class. Creating an annual clinic would especially help our younger instructors
and designers make effective choices for their performing groups and would improve the quality of our circuit
at large in accordance with national trends within each class in the WGI activity. Hosting the clinic in the fall
gives designers a chance to process the topics before they’ve made all of their programming decisions for the
winter season.
Along with a classification and design clinic, to be held during the fall months each year, the clinician should be
brought back for the percussion premiere show in February to classify groups. The person hired to do both
events should ideally be of a national caliber, with demonstrated success as a designer in multiple classes at
the WGI level, or with significant knowledge of the classification of WGI performing ensembles and
appropriate skill sets within each class. There are certainly plenty of qualified candidates that could serve in
this dual capacity.
Hiring a recognized professional to make classification decisions at the premiere show who does not have an
impact on the competitive outcome of the show provides transparency in the system and avoids any potential
conflict of interest. When combined with the educational clinic in the fall, it provides a more holistic feedback
for designers and instructors and will hopefully result in a richer experience for our students.
Financial Impact
Travel expenses and compensation for the clinician in the fall, as well as at the percussion premiere event.
The fall clinic could presumably be held at a local school for no cost.
Submitted By
Chris Whyte, OC Indoor.
2015 NWAPA Rule Change Proposal Form
Proposed Rule Change – Regional Sponsorship
Add the WGI Northwest Regional to the NWAPA Calendar for the winter of 2017.
Rationale
The northwest has not had a WGI regional in the area since 2009. There are several nationally competitive
ensembles that are consistently traveling to WGI regionals and championships. If the circuit wishes to see
growth on the national stage, this is the next logical step.
Financial Impact
The cost of the regional could be absorbed into the circuit membership fee in the winter so the circuit could
have control of the event.
Essentially entry fees + ticket sales will cover the expenses; we would this as a revenue neutral event that
benefits every member of the circuit.
Submitted By
Charlotte Morrow – Director OC Independent
Jeffrey Capponi – NWAPA Winter Guard Vice President, Director OC Independent, Evergreen Winterguard,
Tigard Winterguard