FFCC Board of Directors Summer Meeting Recap

📍 July 11–13, 2025 | Orlando, FL

This past weekend, the FFCC Board of Directors met in Orlando for its annual summer planning retreat. Across three days of focused conversation, the board reviewed governance, refined competitive policies, and discussed strategic initiatives to support the continued growth of the FFCC across all divisions. The weekend also included the integration of advisory board recommendations and an in-depth look at both the Indoor and Outdoor circuits.

Below is a summary of the weekend’s key discussions and decisions.

Friday, July 11 — Opening Session

The Board officially convened Friday evening, with an agenda focused on FFCC’s organizational structure and internal operations.

Highlights:

  • Reviewed FFCC’s 501(c)(3) compliance and legal documentation.
  • Discussed updates to the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws to reflect current board structure and size.
  • Confirmed Executive Board positions for the 2025–2026 season:
    • President – Mike Higbe
    • Vice Presidents – Tom Slaughter & Jen Karp
    • Secretary – Erin Brown
    • Treasurer – Paul Sauberer
  • Outlined next steps in developing division-specific Policy & Procedure Manuals for Colorguard, Percussion/Winds, and Outdoor, to be hosted on a new eLearning platform.
  • Reviewed and updated the FFCC Board Roles & Responsibilities flow chart.

Saturday, July 12 — Strategic Planning & Season Development

Saturday’s session centered on planning for the 2026 season, refining operational systems, and addressing advisory board proposals.

Highlights:

  • Indoor Circuit Championships: Discussed potential venue and date changes for 2026 due to availability at the traditional Daytona site. Further research into pricing and logistics is ongoing.
  • 2026 Show Host Applications: Applications were reviewed and voted on. Final show dates and locations will be announced once confirmations are secured from host schools.
  • CutTime Ticketing: Approved for adoption beginning with the 2025 Outdoor season. The Board will monitor its implementation and effectiveness.
  • Policy & Procedure Manual Updates: Continued integration of advisory board proposals, including discussions on conflict of interest protocols for Board members.
  • Reclassification Proposal Approved:
    • Utilizes a rotating panel of five unaffiliated reviewers (selected by the Judge Administrator and approved by the Board)
    • No appeals process
  • Seeding Proposal
    • WGI Florida Regionals will serve as the only seeding shows
    • Adjusted seeding timelines for various classes

    • Reg A – AAA Classes = No seeding the weekend before Championships Proposal to 10 days from 2 weeks
    • AA- National Classes = Seeding through last weekend before Championships Proposal to 5 days from 1 week
  • Merchandise Planning: Improvements outlined for managing design, ordering, delivery, and distribution across the season.
  • FFCC Outdoor Circuit Updates:
    • Mount Dora and Springstead added to the Advisory Board for 1A/2A representation
    • Interval time updates: 1A = 13 min, 2–3A = 14 min, 4–6A = 15 min
    • Judging panels for the 2025 season confirmed and posted on the FFCC website
    • Current registrations: 91 ensembles, with nearly all 1–3A divisions filled for championships.
  • Outdoor Championships & Awards:
    • Site updates shared from The Villages and West Orange
    • New awards policy: scores will not be announced for class winners at Championships, and all shows will remove Grand Champion and Runner-Up awards
    • A long-term trophy redesign initiative is underway
  • Fee Structure: Initial discussion held around potential adjustments to sustain future growth and maintain circuit operations.

Sunday, July 13 — Education & Development Focus

Sunday focused on member education, mentorship, judge development, and long-term planning for circuit training resources.

Highlights:

  • Reviewed successes from 2025, including the Mentorship Program, LEAPS Day, and the continued growth of PAHS.
  • Plans to merge LEAPS and the End-of-Year Meeting into one cohesive event, beginning in May 2026.
  • PAHS now includes 41 active chapters, with expansion to California planned for next season.Will include a interest zoom for other circuits interested in participating.
  • Partnership announced with CutTime to launch circuit-focused webinars and podcasts covering timely and relevant topics.
  • Focus for 2026 will shift to prioritize Premiere support for Regional A, Cadet, and AAA classes.
    • National Class groups will be re-evaluated for education support on competitive level.  No overview will be provided this year for the national class.
    • The Mid-Season Overview will pause for the 2026 season to allow deeper investment in Premiere resources.
  • The Mentorship Program will continue to support first-year directors and Novice Percussion classes.
  • Local Judge Training will be offered at the National Class Premiere, with trialing, feedback sessions, and structured development led by Carrie Smith and Erin Brown.
  • A conversation on Human Resources and compliance identified key areas for growth and standardization.
  • The session closed with a robust discussion on the FFCC budget, addressing how funds are distributed across the organization. The Board emphasized long-term sustainability and aligning spending with the circuit’s core values and mission.
  • The Board also discussed the scheduling and structure of key meetings for the 2026 season, including the Beginning-of-Year Meeting, Advisory Board gatherings, and the newly aligned End-of-Year/LEAPS event.

For detailed minutes from each session, directors should log into their CompetitionSuite account and check the Resources tab.

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