[June, 2001] Well, here we are, heading into competition season. Shoes are all shined, uniforms pressed and our instruments polished and tuned. The following Highland Games are now members of ASPD, so your scores from these competitions will count to your aggregate score: Calgary, Canmore, Edmonton Scottish, Fort McMurray and Red Deer. Good luck in all your events.

The ASPD needs you to create a logo. This is your chance to create an integral part of the Society's visual history. The prizes have been donated by Scottish Imports in Edmonton, and include: $100 gift certificate for first prize and $25 gift certificates for second and third prizes.

Entries must be black and white and colour convertible (no shading). You can suggest colours, but judging will be based on the black and white. The winning logo will eventually be used on the letterhead, ball caps, t-shirts, tie pins, ties, etc. Entries must be in to the Society's mailbox by July 31, 2001. The winners will be announced at the Canmore games in September. Please put your membership number on the back of the entry. We want this to be an unbiased, fair judging of the entries. The winning entries will be matched up by your membership number once the judging is complete.

The Society has a tent and will hopefully be at all the coming games. Please stop by and visit us, or better yet, stay and man the tent for a while.

The following committees still need some help. If you would like to assist in any one of these areas, actively or just to provide some input, please contact the committee heads directly through the Society e-mail, regular mail or by leaving your name at the ASPD tent.

Ray Holmgren, our past vice-president, is a member of the ANAPBA Drum Major Competition Rules Committee. If you have any suggestions, or would like to discuss the issue with Ray, please let the society know and we will pass on your name to him.

We were very happy to have representatives from Ogden Legion Pipe Band and University of Calgary Pipe Band at the June 3, 2001 meeting. Lively discussion resulted in the resolution of some issues and a better understanding of others. Remember, these are your meetings too. Everybody is welcome. If you are coming, please let us know as soon as possible prior to the meeting so we can arrange the appropriate size room. The next meetings are July 22, Aug. 19, & September 23 at the Holiday Inn in Red Deer (6500 - 67 Street) at 10 am.

For those of you who have not checked out our website, please do so. It is located at www.geocities.com/absocpd/. Other website and e-mail addresses are at the end of this newsletter.

ANAPBA is attempting to implement a program referred to as distance learning. This involves transmitting lessons and performances via the internet. An instructor or performer can hold on-line lessons or performances with the use of cameras and microphones. The students or audiences can, therefore, be anywhere in the world provided they have access to the equipment.

ASPD has made a commitment to purchase the equipment, as soon as financially able, to take part in this program. Members would have access to the equipment for a small fee or deposit (to be determined at a later date). If you already have the required equipment, or are interested in acquiring it, please contact Paul McCormack and he will pass your information on to the ANAPBA Committee for Distance Learning. Further information on distance learning can be found on the ANAPBA website.

Here is your opportunity to get rid of that kilt that fit several inches ago, sell off last years band chanters that are no longer in vogue, or buy up some cool tartan socks. Please submit your advertisements (free of charge) to the newsletter editor either via the website or our mailing address. Advertisements will be posted for one issue of the newsletter, or 30 days on the website. If you wish the add to be reposted, you must let us know in writing.

Please send us your band photographs to spruce up the web page and the newsletter. Note that the people in the photos must consent to having the pictures posted. A few details about the shot would be nice too.

The Society is also prepared to publish articles, letters to the editor, and post significant events including ceilidhs, births, deaths, anniversaries, piping & drumming schools, mini competitions, significant achievements, etc. Articles would pertain to the piping and drumming world (i.e., how not to tie in a new pipe bag, colour versus white bass drum sticks, or how to keep your new members marching in step).

NOTE: please specify if you want your items posted on the website as well as the newsletter. If you don't specify, we will assume you consent to both. Also, posted items will become public information. Please do not submit anything you would not be comfortable seeing on television, hearing on the radio, or reading in a newspaper or magazine. Be certain that all parties involved have consented to the posting. The society reserves the right to refuse submissions. Pictures can not be returned. Parents or legal guardians must provide written consent for posting of information on minors.

There has been some discussion of an awards banquet/ceilidh being held in September or October to present the aggregate awards for the season and allow everyone to meet in a social setting other than at a competition. If you would be interested in assisting with this, please contact Paul McCormack.

• Member of the North American Alliance of Pipe Band Associations
  ANAPBA website: www.anapba.org/

• Alberta Society of Pipers and Drummers: www.geocities.com/absocpd/
  or: PO Box 1743, 246 Stewart Green SW, Calgary, AB, T3H 3C8

• ASPD President: Paul McCormack can be reached at the Society address, at [email protected], or by phone at (780) 463-7498

• Web Master David Kaminski can be reached at [email protected]

• Newsletter editor, Wendy McCormack can be reached at [email protected]