I think my last post was at Easter... possibly the first Easter...
It's been awhile.
I honestly thought I'd have more time to prepare, and compose, but my work schedule has been off the charts for two months straight. Luckily she's all quiet now.
This past Saturday marked the end of the PPBAM competition season. What a beautiful day we had!!!! It was supposed to rain, and instead we got beautiful pipe band weather. I hope everyone enjoyed the day as much as I did.
I have to say, I very much enjoyed the drumming. There were some beginners that needed a bit of a pat on the back and some brief guidance on things like grip etc. but for the most part, the bar we're setting as drumming instructors in the Province is quite good. Something in the water here, as John Fisher used to say.
There has been a call out to all members, fans, and supporters, of piping and drumming in the Province. It has come from our competitions and we need to hear it. What I'm going to say may ruffle some feathers, but that's what I'm here for.
The call has come for new volunteers to step up, and learn to run the contests so that they may continue. If you look at the volunteer committees that run our games they are, for the most part, parents. People whose children have played in bands years ago and they continued to offer us wonderful venues to perform even when most of their own kids have stopped playing.
Now... the only people I talked to Saturday that were worried at all, were parents. Parents who already serve on boards of Juvenile bands. Who steward at contests, who compile results, and who drag their kids to practice and fundraisers.
For those who aren't aware there are now more competing adult bands vs. Juvenile bands in this province.
This isn't a volunteer issue. In my eyes it's a generational issue. My generation to be exact. We're busy having kids, raising families, and talking about how they'll grow up to pipe or drum..... or ....ugh.... dance....*shudder ;) but there won't be any contests around for them to perform in. Why? Because we let our mom's, dad's, or fellow band mate's parents, run things until they had no more to give. They are tapped out.
We need to step up to the plate. It's time for our generation to take the reigns, or at least learn the ropes.
Sure some of us have begun lending a hand for teaching, helping setup kids bands, or judging. But what's the point if there's nowhere to perform and test the skills we're teaching.
There will be an emergency general meeting of the PPBAM July 3rd, 2013 at 7 pm in the Henderson Legion. Please plan to attend and before you get there think about how you can help.
It's time to start asking ourselves not what our organization does for us, but what we can do for it. Together, we can strengthen our future, and keep piping and drumming alive for another generation.
Sean
