To blog the first blog

It's official, we're into the 2010 season!

Much like the many car companies around Winnipeg here, we're a bit early. But hey, early bird gets the trophies... or something like that.

For a very quick second i'll just update everyone on what's shakin with the St. Andrew's pipe bands here in the Peg.

The grade 2 band is back in full swing. We took a few weeks off after the Maxville, Montreal trip to recharge everyones batteries. It worked. On Tuesday this week we had a potluck dinner and meeting to discuss this years travel plans and, more importantly, our goals for the band in general. Wes and I always have a great plan in our head for what we want, but it is so important for the leadership of pipe bands to make sure the people they are leading are on board. Lucky for us they are.

The band will be working in a more focused environment, and yes, we're going to Scotland this summer! Everyone is pumped and the band has grown yet again. Both the drum corp and pipe corp are up in numbers, and as the lead drummer I couldn't be happier.

The grade 3 band has been parading and working hard all summer. The organizations general meeting is this coming Tuesday then the grade 3 guys will get at it the Thursday after that. Pipe Major Kirby McRae has stepped down as P/M as has Drum Sergeant Ian Walker. Both have some other life draws on their time and will be familiar faces i'm sure. Ian will continue his time with the grade 2 drum corp and Kirby will be doing some renovating. So if you're at Kirby's house.... bring a hammer! Best of luck to these lads with everything they're doing.

Finally, it's true! Yes the rumour mill can be confirmed St. Andrew's is starting a youth band. Two Rivers (named for the beautiful muddy waters of the Red, and Assiniboine rivers) Juvenile begins their education on September 21, 2009. Of course Juvenile bands are the hardest, and in my opinion most rewarding, pipe bands to be involved with. The grade 2 and grade 3 bands have been tapping the adult resources nearly dry here in the prairies, and while we are extremely grateful to the bands who's players we bring in when they're old enough. We won't be able to survive without another feeder band. So away we go!

That's the update. I'll try to keep up with them. Good luck everyone in the upcoming season! Can't wait to see you all around!

Sean