Ingersoll Pipe Band Newsletter...

Ingersoll Pipe Band Newsletter - August 2004 - By Mary Ellen Muterer

Summer is flying by again and while the start of August has been fairly quiet parade wise, we are about to get busy again. Make sure you take a look at the list of upcoming parades. Let's get started!

Updates

The Trillium Fund Program application process is FINISHED!!! Our application has been approved and we have received the first or our two cheques. The first one being for $20,000 and the second for $5,000. We are now going to have to get busy finding a tunic style, measuring and ordering. The fun never ends. Thank you goes out to the Kiwanis Club for being our sponsors and to Jack, Jane and Charlie for all their hard work.

We have also begun the process for incorporation. Ingersoll lawyer Murray Borndahl is handling this for us at no charge. We may share some or our musical talents with him at a later date. So far we have registered our name and so are legally able to call ourselves "The Ingersoll Pipe Band." He explained to us the benefits of incorporation - one of which is more security in terms of liability. In case of a lawsuit the individual board members can't be sued. More information will follow as available.

Building Update

We are undergoing some outdoor beautification. The slab that has been outside the door since the new part of the hall was redone - (remember when that was?) - (1980) It used to be the part of the old entrance to the previous addition. We have added topsoil in the area and will be creating a beautiful flower garden. Thank you to Gail for shifting some of the excess. Before we do any planting however; we will be re-siding the hall portion of our building. We have hired a contractor to remove the old siding, add a layer of insulation and then re-side the hall. He is also replacing the eaves troughs and fascia. The cost will be around $10,000. Both of these projects will improve the overall appearance of our building. Also dealing with the building, a big thank you goes out to Ross Crawford and Gail for the work they have done this summer with grass cutting, weed trimming etc.

Events So Far

Since the last newsletter some members have gone to and returned from Indianapolis. By all reports it was a successful and fun weekend. Some are saying they thought the parade seemed shorter this year. The one draw back to the weekend was the weather. This made for some exciting moments after the race spent in the track bathrooms waiting out tornado warnings.

In the middle of July some Taiwanese students were in the Embro area for a day. They really wanted to visit with some band members, so a whirl wind visit was scheduled to visit Muterer's farm. They had time to look around, hear some pipes and drums and eat a snack. We gave them a band pin and band mug before they were gone as fast as they came. Whew!!! Next time a little more notice might allow a few more members to be there.

The competition band has had a short but successful season so far. We played at Embro on the first of July and finished a close second - loosing out on 1st place by the ensemble mark. On the 15th of August we were in Fergus and were happy to finish 3rd out of a field of 12 bands. One more to go and with a second and third we are going to try for a first. I forgot to say a "huge" thank you to Ken Webster for all of his hard work with the competition band again this season. Thanks for all your efforts with us Ken!!!

July 1st found some of our other band members in Port Dover and Burgessville for a couple of "short" Canada Day parades. By dividing up the band on this day we were able to take in quite a bit of money for this one day. Great job everyone!

New Members

We have had some new members join our merry band this summer. Holly Harkes has been a loyal member since playing her first parade this summer as a tenor drummer. Matt Wright has joined our pipe corp and we have even talked him into joining the competition band. He was part of our success in Fergus. Don Gale has returned to us after a few years off. He played with the band in the past and evidently couldn't get enough. We are glad to have him back. Welcome to all of you! We should have some more new members to report - next newsletter.

Other Info

Some unfinished business that we have yet to accomplish this summer is a new band photo. Hopefully something will happen soon - we will keep you posted.