This Post is All About YOU

In Fall 1992, I was on the brink of something really big in my life. As September rolled on, Barb and I were going to Drs appointments to figure out what was happening with that lump inside her that seemed to be pretty active, and upside down. That lump was named Eilidh, and she was born October 2, 1992 on a day that was 30° C. The very first organizational meeting of the CRPB was held at a community centre in East Regina that September. We had 15 pipers, some mid-section players, and 5 snares. By Christmas, we had 5 pipers, a rookie bass drummer, and one snare drummer. The band was saved by the arrival from ON of an experienced and enthusiastic drummer with Grade 1 experience. [Thanks Paul.]

A lot happens in 14 years. Eilidh is now the same height as her Mom. She has been a provincial Highland dancing champion and had many prizes across North America and Scotland. She has won piping prizes with her band and in solos, has very high [ie: much higher than her Dad ever had] marks at school, and is absolutely dying to get into the CRPB. Part of her motivation is that her younger brother, no slouch either, has been playing in the band for two years. One of the true joys of competing with the band in the last two years has been to play in the same band with Ruaridh. He has been a great band member, especially for someone aged 11/12: works hard, rarely complains or moans at [or about] long practices, and took his lumps with dignity when he got cut last year. Age 11. Did I mention that?

So, heading into the next year, I'm thinking that 14 years is a great start. Can you remember when you were 14? Lots of possibilities yet to be explored, and opportunities at every corner. What is going to make this year special for me, is the inclusion of a new crop of players, the beginning of something fresh. The band is all about providing an opportunity that wouldn't otherwise exist here. That seems worth it, even after 14 years. And for those of you who have been in the band already, and are staying for the next bit: you won't be disappointed.

New Season Begins October 1st

The new season for the pipe band begins October 1st, 1:00 pm at the Legion. We will be having the AGM that day so that we can get some early plans made for the new season, set some goals, and see what we need to do to achieve them.

In conversations with Dave, Barb, and Kenna, we have identified some challenges and opportunities for the band and its members in the months ahead, The big Scotland trip over [and paid for!] we have to turn out attention to developing the band in some other areas, and look to a North American travel schedule for 2007.

A band is not a static environment: members come and go as their schedules and interests dictate, and this fall is no different. There will be some changes as members decide to do other things, and this provides opportunities for new members to get into the band and get involved. The banner here appears on our web site, and we invite all interested pipers and drummers to come out to the band, and see where we can go from here.

If you're leaving the band, thanks for your efforts on all fronts—musical, organizing, fundraising.

The Future is Now

As it turned out, we didn't have enough players to make the trip to Calgary/Canmore. Too bad, because they always put on a great weekend, and this year we would have had good competition from Edmonton and Chilliwack. Hope those bands have a great weekend, and may the best band get the fastest beers in the Rose & Crown at 3 am.

We need to get ourselves organized for the coming year, and a few questions come to mind. Who's in? Who's out? What should next year's goals be? Are we actually in the right grade? How can we develop the players and the organization more successfully?

One of the annual rites of Fall for me is evaluation of things band related: goals, directions, members, and my continued participation. If you're in the band, time to feed into the process. If you're not in, dryclean the gear and return. If you are one of many "Anon" blog readers, what do you think?

From the outside, maybe it seems a little crazy to think so much about changing or re-designing what has been one of the most consistently successful bands in the region. Well, it has been so consistently successful because we have always done just that.