Ingersoll Pipe Band Newsletter...

Ingersoll Pipe Band Newsletter - October 2005 - By Mary Ellen Muterer

In the year of the Ingersoll Pipe Band there seems to be only two seasons - hot or cold. We are about to enter the cold season, so find your woolies, grab your Santa hat and take a look at the list to find out what is in store for you!! Meanwhile sit back, relax and read this newsletter to find out what has gone on and what is yet to come in the life of your I.P.B.

Incorporation

Murray Borndahl is just about finished with the incorporation process. Being an incorporated organization will be safer for our members and board of directors when it comes to legal issues. But, if we get nothing else out of being incorporated, we have at least gained an address. During the process, we needed a building address so the town of Ingersoll has found one for us. Our building is now located at 108 Wonham Street South.

Attendance

This issue has been mentioned before in our newsletter. Unfortunately, the problem is still occurring. In fact attendance at practice has been and still is terrible and it is not summer holidays causing the problem! In September we have averaged around 6 or 7 pipers and 3 or 4 drummers at practice. This is not a good average considering we have 20 active pipers and 10 active drummers on our roster. Also, please remember you are required by the constitution to call if you are unable to attend practice. The magic number is "3" - as in 3 or more absences in a row without notifying the PM or DM can mean your attendance is mentioned at the Board of Directors meetings and your uniform could be called in!! We love you all and want you to stay with us, so please call Jim or Gail if you will be absent (or just let someone know and hopefully they will tell Jim or Gail for you). Parade attendance has also been a little off lately. A band of 9 pipers and 5 drummers isn't bad but we can do much better.

As soon as attendance stables out I will be able to update the band phone list. I am unable to confirm phone numbers with some people because I haven't seen some of them for some time.

Reunion

For those of you who were at the reunion you know what a great time we all had. For those of you unable to join us you missed a great weekend. I think the returning members had fun meeting old friends, eating a wonderful roast beef dinner and an out of this world Sunday brunch. (and doing a little piping and drumming between raindrops) Lots of past members took our website address so, hopefully, they are reading this newsletter right now. Hi!!! We loved seeing you, catching up and looking forward to keeping in touch until the BIG reunion in 2010. Make sure we know where you are if you move or if you know someone who does move please make sure we have their new address for our records. Drop in any Thursday night - you know where we are.

Debby and Walter Pearson dropped in on September 22 and it was great to see them and catch up. They have been living in Vancouver for the last 19 years. So, if you are out there look them up.

People in the Band

One of our members has had to, unfortunately, turn in his uniform. Jimmy Killam is now working straight afternoons and that makes it almost impossible for him to attend practice and most parades. He thought it would be best, for now, if he gave up the band. His new rock band (punk rock??) will also be taking up a lot of his time - maybe sometime you will be able to hear them play. (take your earplugs)

George Gibson is still waiting for surgery. It has been postponed twice now and is now rescheduled for mid October. He has been down a couple of times this summer to visit. George tells us that he is now starting to practice his chanter a little - but no pipes! Hopefully he can get down here and play with us a bit.

You may have noticed the "new guy" wandering around with drum sticks in his back pocket over the past couple of weeks. Dave Moyer has returned to us. Dave used to play in the band a "few" years ago. Take a look at our picture wall and see if you can find him. Dave doesn't feel he is able to play parades, but he has a renewed interest in playing competition, so we welcome him back. Say "Hi Dave" when you see him in the hall.

I want to say a big "thank you" to Warren Wright for all the work he is doing with our website. Warren setup the site and makes sure it is kept up to date. He also includes a copy of the newsletter and our upcoming events, so those who access our site are able to keep up with our comings and goings. Thanks Warren!

Some sad news occurred on September 21st. Don Mackay (Gail's Dad) passed away. He, along with his family had just celebrated his 92nd birthday. I am sure they are all happy that they were able to do that with him. Mr. Mackay was a wonderful gentleman. He was our band custodian for many years and took wonderful care of our hall. He and Mrs. Mackay were involved with the band for many, many years. Picnics, get together's, banquets etc., you would always see the Mackays. Even during the past few years when Mr. Mackay was in failing health it was nice to see him at some of our events. It will now feel a little different at our gatherings without the two of them.

Hopefully you are now "up to date" and are ready for the upcoming season! Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Halloween and here we go... Mary Ellen