'26 Proposals Results

Back in late June, the MEPA Board and Membership gathered to review and wrap up the 2025 season. As part of the meeting, ensemble directors and staff members discussed a number of Proposals for Change that were submitted by their peers. Some items were tabled or withdrawn after a brief discussion, and some were elaborated and debated at length. In the end, all of the items that made it to a vote were supported and passed by the voting membership. Here is a summary of the policy changes that will be in effect for the 2026 season:

• Member groups must now compete in at least one contest within the first three weeks of the season. The previous policy was within the first two weeks.
• MEPA will align closer to the Plus Pass policy of WGI than our past staff pass arrangement. Each Member Group will receive one director badge, plus one additional staff badge if they attend the Season Kick Off Event, AND has the option to purchase SEVEN additional Staff Badges for $275 which are good for all contests in the season. The previous policy was any amount of badges up to five for $50 each.
• Concert Percussion groups will now perform on the schedule in alignment with the marching percussion groups. The previous policy had all concert groups performing in the same block/round regardless of class, then all marching groups performing.
• Timing Penalties will not be enforced in the first three weeks of the season. The previous policy was in the first two weeks.
• MEPA will take all steps possible to get a full panel at critique, and notify the ensembles of which members of the panel will be participating.
• Junior Color Guard has been renamed to Junior High Color Guard.
• Percussion Championship Prelims has been eliminated except in the event that there are 16 or more groups registered in one class.

For the complete and current version of the MEPA Rules & Policies Handbook, CLICK HERE.