Behind every meal, mile and musical note of the DCI Summer Tour, there are volunteers who devote countless hours to the organizations they love. After a selection process by a panel of Friends of DCI members, the following individuals will be honored this August at the DCI World Championships in Indianapolis as the 2014 Volunteers of the Year. Congratulations to these and the countless others who help drum corps get down the road each and every summer!
Gabriel Francoeur | Les Stentors
Gabriel Francoeur has been head manager of the French Canadian Open Class corps Les Stentors since 1997. For 17 years he has worked many long hours fundraising, organizing rehearsals and countless other tasks for the organization. Perhaps most surprisingly, he has done all this hard work without pay. At 42 years old, Francoeur is always searching for new volunteers, suitable staff, and appropriate housing, all in an effort to provide corps members with a positive experience. Each year, he makes sure that the students are of highest priority to the organization and that the Stentors team is prepared to deliver excellence. “Gabriel’s passion is keeping the drum corps activity alive in la belle province,” Les Stentors Director Josianne Alarie said. “Les Stentors is the only DCI competing corps in Quebec, and without him, we are not sure that the survival and corps’ achievement would have been possible.” Even when there are no jobs to be done, Francoeur lends his smile to encourage happiness among other volunteers and members. For years, he has put aside his personal life to keep drum corps alive. Consequently, when he isn’t working with Les Stentors, Francoeur volunteers as an administrator at the F?©d?©ration des associations musicales du Qu?©bec, a drum corps and winter guard federation located in Quebec. “His life work is dedicated to reviving and maintaining the marching activity [in Canada]. We think that’s nothing less than real passion, faithful love and remarkable determination,” Alarie said.
Terry Maurer | Santa Clara Vanguard, Blue Devils
Gabriel Francoeur has been head manager of the French Canadian Open Class corps Les Stentors since 1997. For 17 years he has worked many long hours fundraising, organizing rehearsals and countless other tasks for the organization. Perhaps most surprisingly, he has done all this hard work without pay. At 42 years old, Francoeur is always searching for new volunteers, suitable staff, and appropriate housing, all in an effort to provide corps members with a positive experience. Each year, he makes sure that the students are of highest priority to the organization and that the Stentors team is prepared to deliver excellence. “Gabriel’s passion is keeping the drum corps activity alive in la belle province,” Les Stentors Director Josianne Alarie said. “Les Stentors is the only DCI competing corps in Quebec, and without him, we are not sure that the survival and corps’ achievement would have been possible.” Even when there are no jobs to be done, Francoeur lends his smile to encourage happiness among other volunteers and members. For years, he has put aside his personal life to keep drum corps alive. Consequently, when he isn’t working with Les Stentors, Francoeur volunteers as an administrator at the F?©d?©ration des associations musicales du Qu?©bec, a drum corps and winter guard federation located in Quebec. “His life work is dedicated to reviving and maintaining the marching activity [in Canada]. We think that’s nothing less than real passion, faithful love and remarkable determination,” Alarie said.
Geoff Thompson | Jersey Surf
Gabriel Francoeur has been head manager of the French Canadian Open Class corps Les Stentors since 1997. For 17 years he has worked many long hours fundraising, organizing rehearsals and countless other tasks for the organization. Perhaps most surprisingly, he has done all this hard work without pay. At 42 years old, Francoeur is always searching for new volunteers, suitable staff, and appropriate housing, all in an effort to provide corps members with a positive experience. Each year, he makes sure that the students are of highest priority to the organization and that the Stentors team is prepared to deliver excellence. “Gabriel’s passion is keeping the drum corps activity alive in la belle province,” Les Stentors Director Josianne Alarie said. “Les Stentors is the only DCI competing corps in Quebec, and without him, we are not sure that the survival and corps’ achievement would have been possible.” Even when there are no jobs to be done, Francoeur lends his smile to encourage happiness among other volunteers and members. For years, he has put aside his personal life to keep drum corps alive. Consequently, when he isn’t working with Les Stentors, Francoeur volunteers as an administrator at the F?©d?©ration des associations musicales du Qu?©bec, a drum corps and winter guard federation located in Quebec. “His life work is dedicated to reviving and maintaining the marching activity [in Canada]. We think that’s nothing less than real passion, faithful love and remarkable determination,” Alarie said.
Mike "Batman" Wolfe | Colts
The late Mike Wolfe’s background in the grocery industry, the medical field (EMT) and as a father of four made him a valuable asset to the Colts when he began volunteering in 2004. He ordered food, coordinated and served meals, built props, and often slept in the hallway to ensure he did not disturb other volunteers when he woke up early to start breakfast. Furthermore, Wolfe served as president of the Colts Booster Club and coordinated fundraising efforts for the drum corps. “Mike was a person the other parents trusted, the kids were eager to please, and everyone loved,” Colts Director Vicki MacFarlane said. “He had a subtle way of encouraging the members and sharing his pride in their accomplishments both on the field and off.” Wolfe was lovingly nicknamed “Batman” because his utility belt could take on any challenge, often using those special “superpowers” to help other members and parents when they were facing their own drum corps challenges. Wolfe sadly passed away in November of 2013, and his loss is felt by many. “In 2014, the corps vehicles will carry the bat logo in his honor as a reminder to all of the work and spirit we carry forward on his behalf,” MacFarlane said.
