Alberta Society of Pipers and Drummers

Newsletter - February, 2002

Now that Christmas is over and spring is just around the corner, it is time to focus on the upcoming parade and competition season. With that in mind, the ASPD executive and the Highland Games Steering Committee have been very busy establishing the rules and music requirements for 2002. We are anticipating a highly successful summer.

In September and October of 2001, we had several grueling meetings to hammer out the rules and music. We plagiarized BC as much as possible (with their blessing), but also had to keep in mind the Alliance of North American Pipe Band Associations (ANAPBA) criteria and our own perspective as well. Drafts of those documents are posted on our web site with the final versions expected very soon.

In December, Ann Gray, chair of the Judging, Grading and Music Committee, presented a document outlining the criteria for becoming a judge in Alberta. The Committee has produced a list of qualified judges and recommendations. While ASPD probably won't get them all in place this year, we will certainly make an attempt.

ANAPBA Update

In January, the President and Secretary attended the ANAPBA Summit in Toronto. A lot of things were discussed over the weekend. One thing that we are very proud of is that several people commented that they were quite happy that we were up and running so quickly. Ried Maxwell, VP of BCPA (lead tip, Simon Fraser University) must have mentioned this three times. Quite a compliment, we felt.

The music requirements were discussed and we are ANAPBA compliant.

Certification of Adjudicators was another big issue. Some areas have full judging certifications, some (including ASPD) have peer recognized judge selection, and some have no judging certification at all. A committee has been struck to work towards all areas having the same certification criteria. ANAPBA asked that Highland Games hiring judges from an outside association note the judges home associations ranking for that judge and not hire him or her for a class above his or her ranking. For example, if Judge X is allowed to judge Grade 2 solo light music, he shouldn't be hired to judge Professional Piobaireachd.

The Drum Major Committee recommended that RSPBA rules be adopted for this category. Some ASPD members have expressed a desire for some major revamping of this category. Please send us your comments on this issue.

The Distance Learning initiative has been re-named to Education. While the web-cam concept works OK for piping, it can't keep up to drum sticks. With new technology, this initiative will be more viable in the next couple of years. At this point, the focus will be on linking learning resources to the ANAPBA website. ANAPBA is to be a clearinghouse for information, so keep an eye on this site.

2002 ASPD Memberships

While it is great to see the number of membership renewals already received, please note that the fees for 2002 were changed at the AGM last May. Active members are $15 and Associate members are $10. All other categories remain the same. If you are using an old form, the fees are incorrect. If you have sent in your renewal with the wrong amount, please forward the balance as soon as possible. Your 2002 membership will not be issued until the total fee is received. A 2002 membership form has been included with this newsletter for your convenience.

Games Dates

The dates for this years Games are as follows. You will be asked to provide your ASPD membership number on the entry forms of ASPD affiliated events

June 9Grande Prairie
June 15Sherwood Park
June 22Red Deer
June 23Ellerslie (Edmonton Scottish)
July 6Fort Edmonton
August 24High River (unconfirmed)
August 31Calgary
September 1Canmore

Please note that as of the date of printing, Fort Edmonton is not an ASPD recognized event. The scores earned at this event will not be used to calculate aggregate totals.

For all those parents and supporters who are planning at being at the games anyway, why not consider volunteering for the day. ASPD and the Games each need people to run their part of the event. ASPD needs one or two people for each day to man the tent. The games require stewards, gate personnel, etc. Please contact ASPD or the appropriate Games Committee if you would like to help. Training will be provided.

ASPD Web Page

There have been a lot of hits on the site, which we are glad to see. Since our Web Master is much quicker at posting information is than the editor is at writing newsletters, please check there on a regular basis for up to date information.

Some areas of the web page not being utilized to their fullest include the want adds, member links and the calendar. At this point, members may advertise anything (within reason), even if it isn't band related. That will probably change in the future, but for now, nearly anything goes. This is a great place to advertise your band merchandise.

The Member Links is for individuals and bands alike. We have had phone calls asking for band and individual referrals and would like to refer the parties to the web page, but to date, there isn't much there. There will soon be lists of teachers as well as individuals and bands for hire, so send your name, location (city or town) and a contact number (phone number, web-site, or e-mail address) to the editor.

For the calendar page, let us know if you are having a ceilidh, clinic, piping school, indoor games, car wash or of anything else that your band is doing. If you want, you can let us know of parades that you are appearing in so your supporters can come out and cheer you on. We really do want to know what is happening out there.

AGM

The Annual General Meeting date has been set for April 14, 2002 at the Red Deer Holiday Inn on 67 Street. There are several executive positions that must be filled. These positions are: Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The VP position will be for one year only as the last VP moved out of the province and therefore is no longer eligible to hold a position with ASPD. We have heard many people express great ideas for ASPD and would like to see those people step up to the plate.

Other non-elected executive positions include the Registrar, Web Master and the Newsletter Editor. The Newsletter Editor would like to retire so anyone with publishing experience or just a lot of enthusiasm would be considered. The gift of gab wouldn't hurt either. The Registrar and Web Master should have assistants (for continuity's sake) in the event they decide to go on to bigger and better things.

Notice of Motion

If you have other issues that you wish addressed at the AGM, please let us know in writing as soon as possible so we can notify the membership of the proposal.

Awards Ceilidh

Ceilidh will be held on October 5. We will let you know shortly of the location and the ticket price

Editorial

While bullying doesn't seem to be a great problem in Alberta, it is an issue ASPD feels we should be aware of. Rorri McBlane from Coquitlam, BC and BCPA have given us permission to reprint this article.

  

Bully for You

The piping world is full of interesting and unusual people. It is often considered a unique world in which a passion for an instrument and type of music is by-and-large unparalleled in other musical disciplines. It creates and maintains truly dedicated and talented performers, competitors, and teachers. This world also evokes strong emotions and strong behaviors. The great characters, just like the great player, are known by many.

The piping world is also the home of its fair share of human frailties. Some of these may be simply described as eccentric and demanding, but for me they fall under the category of "Bullies and Other Beasts". Leaving the "Other Beasts" (clowns, louts, oafs, and the bombastic and overbearing to name a few) aside for the time being, let's focus on bullies.

Have you ever met, come across, or been the victim of a bully in the world of piping and drumming? Sadly, they seem to be abundant, and have been for a good many years. I recall a Pipe Major in Scotland many years ago, for example, who not only hit his players but had a well-deserved reputation for intimidation when he wasn't smacking them upside the head. How stupid.

With bullies, the name of the game is intimidation and humiliation. These people hover over others with a verbal club. They tend to torment their victim over trivia, belittle their efforts, and become irrationally explosive when their expectations aren't being met. Never mind that perhaps others' expectations aren't being met either. Rather than assistance, encouragement, guidance, respect, and patience, the bully uses fear as the primary motivator. Power and control are a bully's stock in trade.

There is no doubt that fear is a powerful motivator - for a while. But it never lasts, as people leave for other, less abusive situations, or, perhaps more commonly, simply give up on the idea and try something else. People who are constantly faced with a bully frequently have their confidence undermined or shattered, their sense of self-worth reduced or disintegrated; their pleasure in their activity kicked out of them. This is the true cost of bullying, and it matters not a whit whether one is a child or an adult - you're still a victim.

Bullies, whether male or female, are, of course, cowards. They are insecure in their own minds and skins. They hide behind bluster, shouting, verbal abuse, and threatening body language. They are unable to distinguish assertiveness from aggression, and many of them are very good at being "passive-aggressive" - intimidating with silence.

The problem is that those who have enough courage to face the issue - to confront the bully, either directly or indirectly - are likely to be labeled 'trouble makers", or "not really capable", or "undermining the whole group", or something equally noxious. When this happens the victim, of course, loses again.

So what can be done?

There is a great deal happening in, for example, the school system to identify and deal with bullies. Practitioners, parents, children and victims all send one very clear message. Don't let a bully get away with it.

© ASPD 2002
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