Maybe this is their way of saying there will be NO AYOP next year. The longer it goes with no word from the NBTA the less people will be going.Personally, we will still be planning on going if or when an announcement is made. Though it certainly makes me nervous to wiat until the last minute to know where we'll be going.

Maybe if we all start writing/calling/e-mail ABC and bombard them with inquiries about AYOP 2009, they will feel the need to make an announcement.

If they end up cancelling Nationals, they will only be hurting themselves! Twirlers will be looking into other organizations so that they have the opportunity to compete on the National level. Maybe this a sign of things to come in the future. What will happen when Don Sartell is no longer able to/or no longer wants to run ABC/NBTA/AYOP???

September is now over and we still have no answer. Officials of NBTA: the twirlers, parents and coaches need to know what is going on with AYOP 2009. Please advise us with an update soon!

I just got of the phone with Nicole at AYOP headquarters. She said that Don Sartell was the only one that knew this information and that he was not going to announce it for at least another month. That type of attitude is very frustrating. We have been going to AYOP for 5 years and I know many of you have been going a lot longer, but our concern isn't even considered. My daughter is being considered for the Govern's Honors program this year and it is a six week program in the summer. I know they are both at the same time and it is going to be a difficult decision for her to make. It is unfair to not tell us info about nationals if the decision has already been made. I would hate for her to give up this educational opportunity and then NBTA not to even have nationals this year. I agree with other posters maybe we just need to call every day until someone makes an announcement. Sorry for the long vent. Kim

This all sounds frustrating

Don Sartell knows but isn't saying??? Why keep it a secret? I hope for their sake they announce it soon, before people decide not to bother with it at all.

Make Twirl Mania Nationals?

Notre Dame has been planning to do this construction for many years. I don't understand why this wasn't taken care of three years ago when construction plans were in the works. In my opinion the information on the new venue should have been explained at this years AYOP.

I am certainly not persuading anyone to leave NBTA (because it is a great organization) but i know USTA and DMA have their dates and venues and hotels all set up... so if you want to check out those, information is on the websites.

seriously, what is he waiting for?

A couple of points:
I found the old post on this topic...it came up in '07 regarding the '08 Nationals...so in '07, the rumor about AYOP was NOT about the 2009 season (i.e. "we" didn't know about this since 2 years ago, for the '09 season), see post below --

disneytwirlmom wrote:

New Location for AYOP and Twirlmania????
By disneytwirlmom Comments: 50, member since Fri Jan 14, 2005
On Sun Jun 03, 2007 09:44 PM

I have heard about 2 rumors that are going around. First, that AYOP will not be at Notre Dame in 2008 as they will be doing some renovations on the arena for then entire summer. If this is true, has anyone heard of possible new locations? I also heard that Twirl Mania is coming to Disneyland for 2008. Can anyone confirm or deny this one too. I went on to the Twirl Mania website and was surprised that didn't have the 2008 dates posted yet? Anyone have inside information on this one as well?

Also, in looking on the ND web site, apparently something is already under construction at the double bubble --

Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center
Project Location:
The Purcell pavilion is a 47,000 gross square foot addition to the south dome of the JACC which houses the basketball arena.
Project Description:
Included in this addition is a new major entry for the arena, a new varsity shop, new ticketing operations, new concessions, and a new third floor club for hospitality.
Project Status:
Ground has just been broken on this project.

There's an architectural rendering if you're interested...
www.nd.edu . . .

Additional information from the school web site points out that they have just updated their master plan. There was a version in 2002, and it was updated in 2008.

Lastly, Don Sartell is both a business man and an ardent supporter of baton twirling. I'm sure the response from the ABC/NBTA employee meant that only he knows the STATUS of the planning/research/negotiations. I highly doubt that he is keeping us in suspense even though he already knows where and when the event will take place! That's just a silly thought.

I would doubt Don would know the location but not announce it. That is both bad business and community relations, and makes no sense. (Although on the off chance it is true, it's disturbing.)

What Don DOES need to do is at least announce the current status of AYOP. Even if it's TBA, I'm sure many people would appreciate at least knowing that much. Or tell us it's been difficult to find a location, if that's the case. Whatever the situation is, the twirling community has a right to know what's going on. It's called basic communication. Keeping silent is leading to rumor, speculation, and paranoia... and all deservedly so.

Here is the latest out of South Bend as of 11/02/08. Not much more than everyone's heard.

www.wndu.com . . .

Sorry, I see the actual article was from this summer. Last year was our first year at Nationals and I have to admit this delay in decision making isn't very impressive.

So much for making a final decision by September like that article states.

We're lucky we can drive to ND (8 hours door to door if we don't stop). I ordered batons from another company this week and they said they put their deposit in for their usual accomodations/sales place. I put my hotel reservations in and the hotel said they hadn't gotten word yet. I got non-event price. Where ever they hold AYOP (or pared down version of it), we'll be there. Would love to know now though to get decent rates/fares/peace of mind....

Choose Governor's School. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity and the kind of thing flagship universities and top colleges look for in a student. Unless you think your daughter is going to WIN a major title, I would not give up Governor's School for just another year of "Top Ten" age group/division stuff. Sometimes we all let baton drive the bus when we should be focusing on the educational opportunities, many of which only occur during the exact time of our respective Nationals or major competitions. My child missed YMCA Youth Legislature, Governor's School, Princeton Model Congress, church mission trips, church ski trips, etc. We love baton twirling. and what it has brought to her life. Don't get me wrong. BUT...your daughter only has three school years and three summers in high school to build a resume for college and her academics. Six FREE weeks in a university setting to pursue academics or the fine arts versus a week of something she's done every summer for years? Unless she is willing to go across the country from her friends and family for college to compete for one of the five or six FULL TUITION scholarships for baton twirling, you need to think about her academic credentials and getting her into those flagship schools with great twirling lines and/or feature twirlers if she plans to twirl in college. It is HARD to get into a lot of those schools and and getting harder and if you are from out of state you need that out of state tuition WAIVED. Top grades, top scores, AP/IB/Honors classes, and a well rounded academic, sports, and volunteer resume are necessary. Think hard before you turn that down.

Azalea Belle,
Excellent words of wisdom! Thank you for helping to "keep it real" on this topic. Somtimes as a "Baton Mom" it is hard to know the difference between being dedicated to one's sport and being realistic about the future for my twirler. Certain sacrifices are just not worth it! My daughter also is going to have to make some difficult choices next year that may not include twirling. She knows she has to set her priorities. I am very proud of her for that.

I do hope that there will be a wonderful AYOP next summer, but it sounds as if it will be different from what we have known in the past. I think Mr. Sartell has not announced anything because the details are not yet ready. Let's be patient, and optimistic!
Twirl with all your heart!
DM

Thanks for you comments Azalea Belle. She made it past the first two cuts and goes to the final state interview in Jan. School is always first at our house. She has skipped a grade and still first in her class of 430 students so we started baton years ago for fun. She enjoys twirling and going to competitions. She has placed in the top ten in the Beg and Int pageants at AYOP 4 times and won the 3 baton and inter. 2 baton there last year. It will be hard to not go this summer but if she gets accepted into Governors Honors we will take advantage of it. We live in a rural county and our school doen't offer the programs needed to be selected so we are hoping she can use her interviewing skills to convince them to give her a chance anyway. We plan to do Twirlmania and all of the local competitions, but I do hope they work something out so that there will be a nationals this year.

We are so disappointed in the situation with AYOP. We have attended now for 5 years and loved every experience we have had but we live on the other side of the country and we have no choice but to fly and to get the kind of rates you need to get three people back there we must do it in jan or feb and it sounds to me like this might drag on and on and on and on the prices for flights almost double by april and may. In todays economy i would think that the big wigs at AYOP would step it up a little and go out of their way to be organized so that people can justify wanting to go and spend all this money on their event. It cost us almost 3,000 dollars with airfare for my two daughters and myself, hotel for the week, entry fees, food to attend i think if they dont get it more organized and let people know what the heck is going on i can find a much better investment for my 3,000 dollars....i just think with all the speculations of it mainly being the miss majorette contest and pageants and dropping the open divisions is a big mistake you are bursting alot of twirlers who didnt win their pageant but still go to try for the open titles dreams of succeeding at that i just think that is wrong and gives the impression to parents and twirlers who do go and enjoy those events the wrong impression about what AYOP is really all about.....everyone getting the chance to twirl or just the few elite that won their state or regional pageant.....oh well whatever they decide there is always other nice and large competitions out there to do.

We have never been to AYOP, but have competed in pageants for almost 6 years now, so I have somewhat of an idea where you are coming from. It sounds to me like AYOP has turned their backs on their LOYAL TWIRLERS! Maybe this is their way of telling you that their hearts aren't there anymore, and they are just letting go of the competiton. Who knows. I know that we have competed with the same pageant system since my daughter was 2 years old and when last year, we couldnt get answers of dates, fees etc out of them, we chose a different system. Come to find out, the President didn't have any of that worked out, because he was trying to sell out. He no longer cared about the system anymore. Needless to say numbers were cut almost in half, and i am not sure that there will even be an International Pageant this year.

I guess what I am trying to say, is even though you are used to this competiton and it seems to be part of your life, maybe this is a sign that you should let go and find a new and possibly better competition !

Madimyprincess wrote:

We have never been to AYOP, but have competed in pageants for almost 6 years now, so I have somewhat of an idea where you are coming from. It sounds to me like AYOP has turned their backs on their LOYAL TWIRLERS! Maybe this is their way of telling you that their hearts aren't there anymore, and they are just letting go of the competiton. Who knows. I know that we have competed with the same pageant system since my daughter was 2 years old and when last year, we couldnt get answers of dates, fees etc out of them, we chose a different system. Come to find out, the President didn't have any of that worked out, because he was trying to sell out. He no longer cared about the system anymore. Needless to say numbers were cut almost in half, and i am not sure that there will even be an International Pageant this year.

I guess what I am trying to say, is even though you are used to this competiton and it seems to be part of your life, maybe this is a sign that you should let go and find a new and possibly better competition !

That's easy to say, except that AYOP is THE National competition for NBTA affiliated twirlers. Many do cross over to USTA and TU, but for those that don't, there is no other National competition. For those NBTA twirlers who win their state or regional pageant, this is where they compete for the national title.

That is what I am saying, Maybe it is time to let go of NBTA all together. You know we are somewhat new to the world of twirling, but I also know that I have tried to get general info from NBTA and have not been successful there either. Maybe you should consider going to TU or USTA!

In some cases, that isn't a practical option. Where I am, NBTA is the only organization that exists locally. There are no USTA to TU (and DMA is basically non-existent anymore) competitions within a 5+ hour driving radius to attend. Plus, I personally do not care for the USTA rules--too much emphasis on gymnastics for my taste, and I don't like the compulsories. But that's just me.

Has anyone heard anything from NBTA headquarters lately?

Madimyprincess wrote:

That is what I am saying, Maybe it is time to let go of NBTA all together. You know we are somewhat new to the world of twirling, but I also know that I have tried to get general info from NBTA and have not been successful there either. Maybe you should consider going to TU or USTA!

My daughter twirls in a large corps that is coached by NBTA coaches and former NBTA judges. It is what she is used to, and since she has been twirling since she was five years old, it really isn't that easy to just "let go" of the twirling organization she has been training in for eight years, not to mention that there are no USTA corps within 50 miles of here. As for TU, there is only one or two contests a year within a reasonable distance from us. So, as you can see, even if we were inclined to cross over to another organization, it's really not all that simple. If you have any questions about NBTA that you can't get answers to, I'm sure many of us here can supply you with any info you need. This is one of the most helpful forums I've come across!