NOTES FROM PIPEY'S CORNER

Volume VIII Number 1 - July 2001

MORE ZEN

So we survived the Balmoral School; learned some new chunes, had dinner with both Jack Lee and Jimmy McColl - I don't know if Jack's ever going to get over Stimpy's sense of humour - but the evening was certainly fun. A few ideas for schools of this nature: make the classes longer for the adults, and make sure that each student has a little say in the class assignments. One hour really isn't enough to get through piobaireachds, and the additional time can be valuable to adult students. We had a pretty good showing from the Pet Cemetary Pipers - Tim, Danny, Mitch, and Stimpy all had good learning experience through the week. Mark and Bruce Frost and even the elusive Ren made it to the Thursday night recital, and promised to attend next year.

The polliwog and tadpole classes made great progress over the five days, and I'm glad to say that I can wholeheartedly endorse the experience for beginners. The last piping school I attended was in Cape Breton thirty-six years ago, under the Great MacNeill - a much different experience to be sure.

Jack Lee is not only a great player, but one of the best (and most patient) teachers around; we managed to get through two major tunes in just four sessions; again, longer class sessions for piobaireachd are in order here.

Jimmy had many things to say about carving chanters - all negative. I agree with him wholeheartedly. Why carve up a perfectly good $3-400 piece of wood to fit the $7.00 reed? In the old days (about twenty years ago) NOBODY carved up chanters; they just adjusted the reed? It seems that very few of you out there know how to properly manipulate reeds; we'll have some valuable reed tips next month. Jimmy gave us a rave review on the Kintail chanter - 'Those Sharp boys really know what they're doing.'

NOT QUITE THE 95 THESES, BUT...

Black Part has fired off 28 shots at the WUSPBA.  Yes! And you heard about it first at this website. Actually he's sent in 28 proposed changes to the bylaws and contest rules. Black Part said in an exclusive interview, "I thought I'd try doing something positive for the WUSPBA for a change, rather than just griping, I thought I'd try to help 'em out, but they need so damn much help!"

Here's a brief run down on the proposed changes. Remember, you heard about this first on this website!

Change #1 is to Article III, 2)a): Sets the same deadline for solo dues payment as band dues and makes solo membership in the WUSPBA optional. This change is necessary to keep the WUSPBA from RICO Act legal actions. (RICO= Racteteering Influenced and Corrupt Organization). Mandatory membership might be construed as a form of EXTORTION, (If you don't join you can't compete! Sort of sounds like if you don't join we'll break your birl finger huh?) Ever wonder what could happen to some band's law enforcement agency sponsorship if anyone in such a band were to speak out in favor of an organization under investigation for racketeering? Wonder what it would do to 501(C(3)) status? There are also ANTI-TRUST issues involved that are quite simply avoided by making membership attractive, but not mandatory

Change #2 is to Article III, 3): Clarifies existing language and adds the requirement that visiting band must sucbscribe to the same or similar objectives of the WUSPBA and have the same or similar code of conduct as the WUSPBA.

Change #3 is to Article III, 5)b) subsections i)ii)iii)iv)&v): Gives all WUSPBA members in good standing equal voting privileges; eliminates unequal voting by bands, and allows absentee voting for elected officers of the WUSPBA. Simple basic Democracy, as opposed to the Autocracy we now have in the WUSPBA.

Change #4 is to Article III, 5)b)vi): Sets up a workable system to allow the entire WUSPBA membership in good standing to vote on proposed bylaw and contest rules. Again this is simple Democracy, as opposed to the Autocracy we now have in the WUSPBA.

Change #5 is to Article IV, 1): This simple change gives the elected officers the authority to act by the membership of the WUSPBA, not the bylaws of the WUSPBA. Elected WUSPBA officers are responsible to the membership of the WUSPBA, not to the bylaws of the WUSPBA with this change.

Change #6 is to Article IV, 2): Sets out how elections in the WUSPBA are to be run. Makes the WUSPBA Secretary responsible to publish which offices are due for election, publication of nominations to those offices, and preparation of official WUSPBA secret ballots for use in the elections.

Change #7 is to Article V, 2): Gives the majority of the WUSPBA in good standing the right to call for any Special Meeting

Change #8 is to Article V, 3): Defines a quorum as a majority of the members in good standing, and prohibits changing the bylaws or contest rules without a majority approval of the membership of the WUSPBA.

Change #9 is to Article IX: Adds no discrimination as to status as an active, juvenile band, or associate member band; status as a band member; status as a solo member; or status as a games sponsor member in the application of the WUSPBA bylaws and contest rules.

Change #10 is to Article X, 1): Cleans up the existing language on the Judges list for the WUSPBA.

Change #11 is to Article X, 2): Cleans up the exixting language on the number of judeges required at WUSPBA sanctioned contests.

Change #12 is to Article X, 3): Cleans up the existing language on how judges may be selected for WUSPBA sanctioned contests. Let's face facts here folks; the WUSPBA includes California, but alsothe states of Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming.

Change #13 is to Article XIII: Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall be used to conduct the business of the WUSPBA, but not in case where they are contrary to the laws of the United States of America and the State of Nevada. Adds the clause that in no circumstance may the WUSPBA adopt, use, or employ any rule or practice that is contrary to the laws and customs of the United States of America and the State of Nevada.

Change #14 is to Article XIV: Prevents bylaw and contest rule changes not at an Annual General Meeting, or Special Meeting.

Change #15 is to Article V: Adds a fourth paragraph which requires judges at WUSPBA sanctioned contests to adhere to the WUSPBA code of conduct or face suspension. No more drunk judges; judges on drugs; or judges that are hung over!

Change #16 is to Article VI, 8): Cleans up language pertaining to the requirements of games sponsors and promotors for WUSPBA sanctioned contests. Eliminates unneccesary language that the WUSPBA has not, and cannot enforce.

Change #17 is to Article VI, 9): Cleans up existing language on WUSPBA sanctioned contests.

Change #18 is to Article VIII, 1), b): Eliminates the recommendations by the Advisory Committee for grading solo members. This is something the WUSPBA has not, and should not become involved in.

Change #19 is to Article VI, 4): Cleans up the lines of succession in the event that WUSPBA elected officers are unable to fullfill their terms of office.

Change #20 is to Article VIII, 1): Cleans up the language regarding the composition of the Advisory Committee and its duties. At present, an Advisory Committee composed of non-members could be appointed with the WUSPBA membership having no recourse. The proposed change would guarantee that at least five members of the Advisory Committee are WUSPBA members WITHOUT limiting the number of members on the Committee. For instance, a committee of eleven members could be appointed, but at least five would have to be members of the WUSPBA. This should allow plenty of \'93thinking out of the box\'94, while guaranteeing that some members on this very important committee are WUSPBA members, and the needs of WUSPBA members are not overlooked.

Change #21 is to Article V: Adds a fourth paragraph that allows the majority of the WUSPBA membership to remove from office any elected or appointed WUSPBA official derelict in their duties. At present, there is no way to do this in the WUSPBA bylaws.

Change #22 is to SOLO CONTEST RULES, 1): Redefines what a solo competitor is and redefines membership requirements. Adds the requirement that solo competitors that are not WUSPBA members must have the same or similar code of conduct as the WUSPBA.

Change #23 is to SOLO CONTEST RULES, 2): Cleans up the existing language pertaining to the selection of judges at WUSPBA sanctioned contests

Change #24 is to SOLO CONTEST RULES, 3): Cleans up existing language and adds that sanctioning fees may be determined only with majoity approval of the WUSPBA membership in good standing.

Change #25 is to SOLO CONTEST RULES, 11): Allows only the majority of the WUSPBA membership in good standing to change solo contest rules.

Change #26 is to RULES and RECOMMENDATIONS for SOLO PIPING COMPETITIONS: Adds Senior Citizen Solo Piping Events. Lets get some of those old guys back up on the boards. They all used to play pretty good. Or at least that's what they all say.

Change # 27 is to RULES and RECOMMENDATIONS for SOLO SNARE DRUMMING COMPETITION: Adds Senior Citizen Solo Snare Drumming Events. Same goes for some of the older snare drummers as for pipers.

Change #28 is to RULES and RECOMMENDATIONS for SOLO TENOR DRUMMING COMPETITIONS:Adds Senior Citizen Solo Tenor Drumming Events. There are some great older tenor drummers out there who need to display their talents.

So there you have it! The actual changes submitted will follow, as I'm sure it will be quite some time before the WUSPBA gets around to publishing these changes.

DUGALD MACNEILL ACCEPTS NEW BANNER FROM CUILLINN CRAFT

On the 23rd of June John Partanen presented a new deep green pipe banner with the Piobaireachd Society device in silver bullion to Dugald MacNeill, Secretary to the Society. They say it takes a lot to get a smile out of Dugald, but he was beaming all day! He has taken the banner back to Scotland, where it will be worn by the piper at Society meetings.

INVERAN PIPES REVIEW

I have had the pleasure these past five weeks of having a set of Inveran Bagpipes to test.  This is a really nice instrument. The lovely blackwood pipes were received with: imitation ivory mounts and nickel ferrules, slides, and ring caps; Ross bag; Wygent Duatone Drone reeds; and an Andrew Frater chanter reed. Setting the proper tone for the chanter was relatively easy; no tape was necessary, merely adjusting the reed properly in the seat until a balanced Low A to High A was achieved. Drone sound was well balanced to the chanter using the Wygent Duatones. Overall they exhibit a very pleasant tone. The craftsmanship in the instrument is evident; beautiful wood, beautifully turned and combed.  The bores are like polished glass. With cane reeds in the drones, some additional work was required to achieve that balance of drone to chanter that I favor, but this is more a matter of personal taste. Most band pipers will favor the slightly quieter drone sound with cane reeds as this makes the chanter more prominent. This is a well made, sturdy instrument, very easily set up, easy to play, pleasant in tone, and very eye appealing. I would recommend it to any piper looking for a good set of pipes, equal in quality to Naills and Kintails.

John Eric Partanen PhD

until next month . . . .