The Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps is falling into formation: Its supporters are shouting "bingo" in a new hall, and the group is working to resume competitive marching in 2007, the chairman of its board of directors said Monday.

"The criticism has definitely died down and hopefully that's because of the steps we've taken," Milward Simpson said.

In late September, Drum Corps International terminated the Troopers' membership in the national coalition, "due to internal and external compliance issues, spanning several years," according to the DCI.

Those compliance issues included failing to submit tax information in a timely manner for more than five years, according to the DCI. Since 1996, the corps has not filed its Internal Revenue Service Forms 990. The forms are required of all 501(c)3 nonprofit corporations that receive more than $25,000 a year in revenue and are not religious organizations.

On Oct. 2, the board of the Troopers, nicknamed "Wyoming's Musical Ambassadors," voted not to field a corps in 2006, and to use the time rebuilding the organization instead.

The Troopers board will have a good idea of its progress when the organization's director, Mike Ottoes, meets with DCI officials later this month, Simpson said.

The DCI board will vote at its annual meeting in September whether to reinstate the Casper group, he said.

Before reinstating the Troopers and allowing them to compete with other drum and bugle corps, DCI asked the organization to get its house in order, including filing the IRS forms, paying off more than $120,000 in debts and crafting a business plan, Simpson said.

"There was a list, and we've chipped away at those (requirements) over the past several months," he said.

The Troopers have submitted all the delinquent Forms 990, and the organization is waiting to hear whether the IRS will impose any penalties, Simpson said.

The corps is paying down the debt, has developed a business plan, and is starting a youth organization to teach band skills, he said. The youth band may be able to keep the Troopers name before the public with performances at the band shell in Washington Park and maybe a Parade Day appearance in Casper in July, Simpson said.

Troopers leaders also are helping performers if they want to march this year in another drum and bugle corps, he said.

"Some say they want to come back. The best our organization can do is welcome them back."

Earlier this year, the Troopers moved into their new home, a 16,500-square-foot blue building on E Street, which the group leases from the McMurry Foundation. The new building has attracted hordes of bingo players, whose money finances much of the corps' operations.

"We've seen a spike in income with the move to the new facility," Simpson said.

Reporter Tom Morton can be reached at (307) 266-5029, or at Tom.Morton@casperstartribune.net.