2021 Southern Branch AGM Minutes

Southern Branch 2021 Annual General Meeting Agenda 11/09/21 @ 7:00 p.m.

1. Meeting called to order by the branch chair @ 7:01 p.m.

2. The branch chair gave welcome comments and then took attendance roll call @ 7:05 p.m.

3. The 2021 Southern Branch Annual General Meeting (AGM) was then called to order @ 7:08 p.m.

4. Old Business was presented by both Vice Chair and Secretary. A review of all the branch initiatives and products from 2021 was discussed. Discussion on the southern branch bands accomplishments and placings from the year were presented. The branch placed in the #3 of each grade represented, with many bands in the #10; amazing accomplishment by all bands and members.

5. The meeting then transitioned to open discussion about new business for the branch. Eric Stein introduced himself and presented the premier contest called ‘An Crios Greine’. An overview of the event and how players are being selected from garnering other event results. It was discussed about sponsorship opportunities from bands and corporations to help fund the event. A presentation to EUSPBA for a special event request has been submitted for 2022.

6. The annual meeting then transitioned to the sole proposal submitted to the branch for possible forwarding to the association:

Propose that EUSPBA Executive Committee and Music Board reinstate the mid-section (tenor) registered instructor rule. Registered Instructor (RI): A piper of a higher-graded pipe band who is registered to play pipes with one lower-graded pipe band during competition - OR – a snare drummer of a higher-graded pipe band who is registered to play drums with one lower-graded pipe band during competition – OR – a tenor drummer of a higher-graded pipe band who is registered to play drums with one lower-graded pipe band during competition.

• A band in grades 3, 4 or 5 may have one pipe playing RI and/or one snare drum playing RI and/or one tenor drum playing RI. RIs do not count toward fulfilling the minimum player requirements.

• A band that fields a Registered Tenor Instructor must also field at least one other tenor drummer. The Registered Tenor Instructor cannot be the only tenor drummer playing during competition.

Rationale: The rationale for removing tenor drummers as playing instructors was questionable due to the nature of the impact a single player can have on the entire band ensemble. This rule has been in place for a few years now and the MB/EC needs to revisit the rule to assess its effectiveness and necessity. The rationale of one player making a difference doesn't make sense if not taking the same stance for piping and snare where one strategic addition can absolutely make a difference to the performance and likely outcomes. Reminder to everyone -- in Grade 5 you can go out with two snares; one of which being a higher-level player, and have the instructor do most of the heavy lifting.

In 2019 the MWPBA established the registered instructor playing rule, which like the PPBSO requires at least one other tenor for a tenor registered instructor to be on the field, even if not otherwise required for that grade. PPBSO: pipe bands may add one higher-grade tenor drummer providing they/them are registered as their tenor-drumming instructor. The band must also field at least one other tenor drummer.

The argument can be made: Scotland does not permit instructors outside of the Pipe Major of a juvenile or novice juvenile pipe band. We are not Scotland. This is not our national cultural, nor is it our national instrument and music. We don’t have it in our schools. We don’t have people (generally speaking) being paid full time salaries to continuously build pipers and drummers. Hamstringing the potential of having a qualified instructor on the field, leading people to become better and more invested in the hobby – we are condemning the hobby to mediocrity or condemning those quality instructors not to be able to expand their own abilities.

Having a tenor drummer as a registered instructor improves the band and the players and allows for more tenor drummers in a circle adding to a more musical ensemble. If our association aspires to assist individuals and bands in reaching, not only their highest competitive potential, but also raising the level of our art – why not follow what other associations in North America are doing in a consistent manner. Let’s move forward - not backward.

An open dialogue discussion between members of the southern branch and a few EUSPBA adjudicators and elected officials commenced. The numbers of bands who utilized the playing instructor rule was presented from EUSPBA data by Jerry Finnegan. Since 2019, a total of 31 instructors have been registered with 25 bands utilizing the mid-section instructor rule. These number were in reference to request for numbers of bands who took advantage of the piping instructor (40) and snare instructor (39) rules. Questions were asked about allowing outside association instructors to compete with EUSPBA bands, and it was confirmed that was allowed going forward. A discussion to include the G5 playing instructor rule with minimum of one other additional playing tenor drummer was made. This mirrors the MWPBA and was agreed by majority of branch members on the virtual meeting. A motion to vote was made from the branch chair regarding the reinstatement of the mid-section (tenor) registered instructor rule to include the G5 addition.

Proposal passed to move forward to association level after a voting time period and all association memberships were verified

(Voting tally; Aye – 22, Abstained – 3, No – 2).

The meeting transitioned to final comments from the branch chair who thanked everyone for attending the 2021 Southern Branch Annual General Meeting.

Save the Date events information was then mentioned for members. The 2021 Southern Branch Annual General Meeting was adjourned @ 8:13 p.m.

Save the Date:

Battle of the Bayou; November 21/22, 2021

EUSPBA AGM; December 3, 2021 (Virtual)

Central Florida Highland Games; January 15/16, 2023

Inaugural UNCW-SSOW Bagpipe Recital and Workshop; February 6, 2022