NOTES FROM PIPEY'S CORNER

Volume IX Number 5

MAYDAY, MAY DAY

So we made it through another April - another Dan Reid, another trip to Windy Woodland.

The Dan Reid was notable for its outcome - I thought for sure that Willie or Roddy had won it, but Bill Livingstone was the surprise winner; pity that the event ran so long that very few stayed to hear him compete. Our table company was somewhat lacking in feminine compliment, but we had a great time with Tim and Gladys, Paul and Michelle, Ellison, Bruce, Mark, Mike, and Don. Next year we hope to see some changes - especially in the menu! On a less-than-pleasant note it IS disappointing to see people wearing the insignia of organisations of which they are NOT members; no matter how well-meant, it is still insulting to those of us who ARE members.

Woodland was disappointing this year - first the poor weather stunted the gate, and a surprise Blitz from Maureen Lee's Panzer Division cut into business considerably. Oh, well. We'll see how things are in the future.

We'll be getting several new CDs in a few days - notably volumes 3 and 4 of the Donald MacLeod Piobaireachd series; from the response to the first two these should be really good.

What gives with the people at Costa Mesa? First the piping and drumming people are refusing entries from Northern California bands, and, lately, they've refused Black Part's solo entry. What's up with that? And who is this Heather Lambert person? And what medication is she taking? Inquiring minds want to know, so they can AVOID it in the future!

And we hear that there are a number of Aliens currently playing in California bands without benefit of Visas (and we don't mean credit cards). How will that sit with the police authorities that sponsor these bands? And just WHAT is it with Great White Northerners who cross the border, thaw their fingers, and go berserk? Is it culture shock? Brains boiling? OR JUST PLAIN STUPIDITY?

BLACK PART SPEAKS:

My recent comments on imported talent seem to have struck a few persons as a bit to strong. My latest essay lasted not quite one day. I did say in my essay that I had no problem with Canadians coming south for a visit. I have no problem with pipe bands importing talent to bolster their ranks and improving playing levels.

It might surprise a lot of persons out there that I have quite a lot of background in this area.  In 1963 I was Pipe Sergeant/Acting Pipe Major of the City of San Francisco Pipe Band. This band made the decision to import talent in the form of a Pipe Major. We recruited Jimmy Yardley, who at the time was playing with the Powell River Pipe Band in Canada. Individual sponsors and the band itself filled out all the paperwork, posted bonds, found Jimmy a job, a house, and got him a car, then moved him, and his family to the Bay Area. We imported our talent, LEGALLY. As this was going on, Donald Shaw Ramsay arrived back in San Francisco, LEGALLY, and he became the Pipe Major in 1964. The presence of these two renowned pipers in our pipe section was inspirational. So add talent to your bands by all means, but do it LEGALLY.

Ignoring or breaking the law so your band can win a few contests is simply unaccceptable, especially in the current political climate and in light of recent tragic events.

Black Part AKA John Eric Partanen, PhD WUSPBA # 0193PP