Weekly Update – 11/28/05
Nov-28-2005 21:51 |
Weekly Update
| Permalink
Weekly
Update – 11/28/05
Greetings All,
Ethan told me that when he sees a long e-mail, he just puts it off until later and then doesn’t read it. So I will try to be as brief as possible.
We added a new beginner piper this week. Everyone welcome Christian Waelder to our ranks. Christian is a recent graduate of Fairfax County’s recruit school and is station at Company 5-C. Before moving down here to Fairfax he was a paramedic in New York, NY.
John Murray and Scott Philben were also at the beginners practice and in spite of what they think, they are moving along splendidly.
For our regular practice we had Brian Brendel, Steve Cochran, Gary Winemiller, Ed Snyder, Dave Foley, Clarence Soong, Chalmers Marquis, Kevin Byrne, Ethan Cochran and Rob Agnew. Also joining us was Rob Deer, Kevin Pittman and another member of the Sheriff’s band whose name I can’t remember right now. It looks like we might have at least Rob and Kevin from the Sheriff’s Office joining us at the Christmas Walk and Killroy’s.
Final details were given out about the Christmas Walk and parking passes for those who wanted them. I have a couple of passes left so if you need one, drop me a note today and I’ll get one in the mail to you ASAP.
If you have a parking pass, look at the top and make sure which free lot it is for. If yours has the Lyles Crouch School circled, then the entrance to that lot is located in the 500 block of S. Pitt St. If you pass has the Lee Center circled, then that lot is located at the Nannie K. Lee Center which is west of Patrick St. (Rt-1) near the Alexandria National Cemetery. Take Gibbon St. west from US 1 and then turn LEFT on Fayette Street. The Center is at the corner of Fayette St. and Jefferson St. The Campagna Center will provide shuttle service between the lot and the registration table (located next to the Lyles Crouch School.
If you have any questions, please call me.
Steve Cochran,
PS, Don’t forget to keep practicing the Christmas Carols and Bonny Dundee!!!!!!!
Greetings All,
Ethan told me that when he sees a long e-mail, he just puts it off until later and then doesn’t read it. So I will try to be as brief as possible.
We added a new beginner piper this week. Everyone welcome Christian Waelder to our ranks. Christian is a recent graduate of Fairfax County’s recruit school and is station at Company 5-C. Before moving down here to Fairfax he was a paramedic in New York, NY.
John Murray and Scott Philben were also at the beginners practice and in spite of what they think, they are moving along splendidly.
For our regular practice we had Brian Brendel, Steve Cochran, Gary Winemiller, Ed Snyder, Dave Foley, Clarence Soong, Chalmers Marquis, Kevin Byrne, Ethan Cochran and Rob Agnew. Also joining us was Rob Deer, Kevin Pittman and another member of the Sheriff’s band whose name I can’t remember right now. It looks like we might have at least Rob and Kevin from the Sheriff’s Office joining us at the Christmas Walk and Killroy’s.
Final details were given out about the Christmas Walk and parking passes for those who wanted them. I have a couple of passes left so if you need one, drop me a note today and I’ll get one in the mail to you ASAP.
If you have a parking pass, look at the top and make sure which free lot it is for. If yours has the Lyles Crouch School circled, then the entrance to that lot is located in the 500 block of S. Pitt St. If you pass has the Lee Center circled, then that lot is located at the Nannie K. Lee Center which is west of Patrick St. (Rt-1) near the Alexandria National Cemetery. Take Gibbon St. west from US 1 and then turn LEFT on Fayette Street. The Center is at the corner of Fayette St. and Jefferson St. The Campagna Center will provide shuttle service between the lot and the registration table (located next to the Lyles Crouch School.
If you have any questions, please call me.
Steve Cochran,
PS, Don’t forget to keep practicing the Christmas Carols and Bonny Dundee!!!!!!!
|
Weekly Update – 11/21/05
Nov-21-2005 21:51 |
Weekly Update
| Permalink
Weekly
Update – 11/21/05
Greetings All and Happy Thanks Giving!
Monday night started out with beginner’s lessons. John Murray and Scott Philben are both coming along splendidly. Both are playing tunes with grace notes. James Fernald is on sabbatical from his pipe lessons as he goes through Medic school with Arlington FD. Good luck James, that is a tough program but I’m sure you will do well.
Before the regular practice we had a brief business meeting with the following members present: Brian Brendel (president), Steve Cochran, Ed Snyder, Kevin Byrne, Pete O’Brien, Ethan Cochran, Dave Foley, Gary Winemiller, Rob Agnew and Matt Bickert. The following business was conducted:
Kevin Byrnes showed the new tunic that was made for us by J. Higgins and Company of Kansas City, Mo. The color is a very close match, just slightly off and the material is a bit lighter but it is close enough that everyone present agreed that it would do. Steve Cochran also showed the re-tailored drummers tunic that had been cut down and made into a pipers tunic by Schwartz Tailoring, of Alexandria. The new tunics cost $375 plus shipping. The re-tailored tunic cost $250. It was agreed to have the drummer’s tunics currently being worn by our members re-tailored. Ethan Cochran, Jeff Burton, Matt Bickert and Dana Moore are currently wearing drummer’s tunics. If anyone else is, contact Kevin Byrnes. For the rest of the band, if you do not have a tunic or one that fits properly, or for that matter, anyone who had uniform needs, contact the band quartermaster, Kevin Byrnes.
Upcoming events discussed: The Alexandria Christmas Walk is coming up Saturday, December 3rd. We need to be in position by 0930. Much later than that, and you will have trouble getting in as the streets will be closed. For those people on the list but not marching, you are most welcome to come down and watch. The Walk steps off at 10:30 am. There will be more details for those marching coming out in the next day or two.
The Killroy’s fund raiser is on Thursday, December 15th at 8:00 pm. Killroy’s is located in the Ravensworth Shopping Center at Port Royal Rd. and Braddock Rd. just outside the beltway. Take the Braddock Rd. Exit off the beltway and then and immediate left on Port Royal Road. We will be performing for approximately one hour. The uniform of the day will be kilts, the new Band Tee Shirt and new Band Ball Cap. We will be selling the Tee Shirts and Ball Caps. The event is a fund raiser for the Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department “FiRST” This is a group of people who support Firefighters and their families when they are injured or killed in the line of duty. Part of the proceeds from the sale of our Tee Shirts & Ball Caps will be donated to the FiRST Team.
On Saturday, January 28, 2006 the Pipes and Drums of the Black Watch and the Band of the Welch Guard will be performing at the Center for the Arts at George Mason University at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm. There was discussion and consensus that the band should go as a group. Tickets are $22, $36 & $44 each. If you are interested in going with the band, and it was agreed that the band would buy the tickets (so figure on the cheaper seats), let me know ASAP so we can order tickets. Let me know how many and a preference for time. The board will have to make the final decision and we’ll get back to you with specifics.
It is not too early to start thinking about St. Patrick’s Day. We have received an application to appear in the Washington, D.C. parade, which will be held on Sunday March 12th. That means that the Alexandria parade will most likely be the week before, if the pattern holds from years past. Start marking your calendar and block out those weekends.
Speaking of St. Patrick’s Day festivities, it was also brought up that KC’s restaurant has changed hands. Kevin Byrne graciously offered himself to go to KC’s and partake of liquid beverages in order to introduce himself (and the band) to the new owner and see if he would like us to come by after the 2006 Manassas parade. Kevin, the Band appreciates your sacrifice. There was also discussion of going by the Philadelphia Tavern. Tim has been very generous to us in the past so we feel we sort of owe him. The proposal was to perform on the street in front of the Philie Tavern to draw people to his place. There was also a proposal that was carried by unanimous consent to have a framed picture of the Band produced and presented to both The Philadelphia Tavern and KC’s Restaurant as a gift and expression of our appreciation for their past support – with the hopes that they would hang it in a prominent place of honor – never hurts to advertise.
One last event to think about … the Camden County Pipes & Drums have issued an unofficial invitation to us to join them – and a few hundred other people – at the Cape May Irish Festival, Cape May, NJ. This sounds like a riotous good time, the only down side is that it is on the last weekend in September which makes it the weekend before Emmitsburg. More discussion on this event will follow, but start thinking about it and see if this is something that might be doable and if we might want to do it?
Other items for discussion included:
The pipers from the Sheriff’s office and having them join us at the Christmas Walk and Killroy’s. This led to discussion of our two units joining forces for mutual support at future events. It was unanimously agreed that we should pursue all opportunities for the two units to work for mutual benefit.
Also discussed was the CD, which we hope to make of the Band. This has been put on hold until the summer when we can get Matt’s friend and recording engineer back from school.
Scott Philben will be taking over running our website as soon as he can get the passwords and other stuff he needs from Ted Hensley – who moved to Maine.
Items for information:
Dave McCrabb, a former member and the proprietor of The Scoti in Warrenton, has formed his own band in Warrenton. Right now it is called the Northern Piedmont Pipes & Drums. Right now, it is only a small street band but he hopes to turn it into a competition band in the next couple of years.
Jeff Burton has been deployed to Baton Rouge, LA with the Coast Guard as part of the continuing Katrinia/Rita recovery efforts and will be out of the area for the next 30 days, therefore he will miss the Christmas Walk and Killroy’s. George Murphy will also be out of the area on business for the next 5 weeks and Kevin Donnelly will also be out of country for a couple of weeks. Please keep our sojourners and their families in your thoughts and prayers.
With all that business out of the way, we spent the next half hour of the practice session on practice chanters working on the two Christmas Carols and Bonny Dundee. Which reminds me, that the Christmas Walk is just ONE WEEK AWAY and every one needs to be working on those three tunes. The next Monday practice will be the MANDATORY PRE-EVENT PRACTICE and we will be spending the whole night on the big pipes. We will be playing the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th sets as well as the Christmas Carols and Bonny Dundee so practice them as well.
See you all on Monday,
Sláinte,
Steve
Greetings All and Happy Thanks Giving!
Monday night started out with beginner’s lessons. John Murray and Scott Philben are both coming along splendidly. Both are playing tunes with grace notes. James Fernald is on sabbatical from his pipe lessons as he goes through Medic school with Arlington FD. Good luck James, that is a tough program but I’m sure you will do well.
Before the regular practice we had a brief business meeting with the following members present: Brian Brendel (president), Steve Cochran, Ed Snyder, Kevin Byrne, Pete O’Brien, Ethan Cochran, Dave Foley, Gary Winemiller, Rob Agnew and Matt Bickert. The following business was conducted:
Kevin Byrnes showed the new tunic that was made for us by J. Higgins and Company of Kansas City, Mo. The color is a very close match, just slightly off and the material is a bit lighter but it is close enough that everyone present agreed that it would do. Steve Cochran also showed the re-tailored drummers tunic that had been cut down and made into a pipers tunic by Schwartz Tailoring, of Alexandria. The new tunics cost $375 plus shipping. The re-tailored tunic cost $250. It was agreed to have the drummer’s tunics currently being worn by our members re-tailored. Ethan Cochran, Jeff Burton, Matt Bickert and Dana Moore are currently wearing drummer’s tunics. If anyone else is, contact Kevin Byrnes. For the rest of the band, if you do not have a tunic or one that fits properly, or for that matter, anyone who had uniform needs, contact the band quartermaster, Kevin Byrnes.
Upcoming events discussed: The Alexandria Christmas Walk is coming up Saturday, December 3rd. We need to be in position by 0930. Much later than that, and you will have trouble getting in as the streets will be closed. For those people on the list but not marching, you are most welcome to come down and watch. The Walk steps off at 10:30 am. There will be more details for those marching coming out in the next day or two.
The Killroy’s fund raiser is on Thursday, December 15th at 8:00 pm. Killroy’s is located in the Ravensworth Shopping Center at Port Royal Rd. and Braddock Rd. just outside the beltway. Take the Braddock Rd. Exit off the beltway and then and immediate left on Port Royal Road. We will be performing for approximately one hour. The uniform of the day will be kilts, the new Band Tee Shirt and new Band Ball Cap. We will be selling the Tee Shirts and Ball Caps. The event is a fund raiser for the Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department “FiRST” This is a group of people who support Firefighters and their families when they are injured or killed in the line of duty. Part of the proceeds from the sale of our Tee Shirts & Ball Caps will be donated to the FiRST Team.
On Saturday, January 28, 2006 the Pipes and Drums of the Black Watch and the Band of the Welch Guard will be performing at the Center for the Arts at George Mason University at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm. There was discussion and consensus that the band should go as a group. Tickets are $22, $36 & $44 each. If you are interested in going with the band, and it was agreed that the band would buy the tickets (so figure on the cheaper seats), let me know ASAP so we can order tickets. Let me know how many and a preference for time. The board will have to make the final decision and we’ll get back to you with specifics.
It is not too early to start thinking about St. Patrick’s Day. We have received an application to appear in the Washington, D.C. parade, which will be held on Sunday March 12th. That means that the Alexandria parade will most likely be the week before, if the pattern holds from years past. Start marking your calendar and block out those weekends.
Speaking of St. Patrick’s Day festivities, it was also brought up that KC’s restaurant has changed hands. Kevin Byrne graciously offered himself to go to KC’s and partake of liquid beverages in order to introduce himself (and the band) to the new owner and see if he would like us to come by after the 2006 Manassas parade. Kevin, the Band appreciates your sacrifice. There was also discussion of going by the Philadelphia Tavern. Tim has been very generous to us in the past so we feel we sort of owe him. The proposal was to perform on the street in front of the Philie Tavern to draw people to his place. There was also a proposal that was carried by unanimous consent to have a framed picture of the Band produced and presented to both The Philadelphia Tavern and KC’s Restaurant as a gift and expression of our appreciation for their past support – with the hopes that they would hang it in a prominent place of honor – never hurts to advertise.
One last event to think about … the Camden County Pipes & Drums have issued an unofficial invitation to us to join them – and a few hundred other people – at the Cape May Irish Festival, Cape May, NJ. This sounds like a riotous good time, the only down side is that it is on the last weekend in September which makes it the weekend before Emmitsburg. More discussion on this event will follow, but start thinking about it and see if this is something that might be doable and if we might want to do it?
Other items for discussion included:
The pipers from the Sheriff’s office and having them join us at the Christmas Walk and Killroy’s. This led to discussion of our two units joining forces for mutual support at future events. It was unanimously agreed that we should pursue all opportunities for the two units to work for mutual benefit.
Also discussed was the CD, which we hope to make of the Band. This has been put on hold until the summer when we can get Matt’s friend and recording engineer back from school.
Scott Philben will be taking over running our website as soon as he can get the passwords and other stuff he needs from Ted Hensley – who moved to Maine.
Items for information:
Dave McCrabb, a former member and the proprietor of The Scoti in Warrenton, has formed his own band in Warrenton. Right now it is called the Northern Piedmont Pipes & Drums. Right now, it is only a small street band but he hopes to turn it into a competition band in the next couple of years.
Jeff Burton has been deployed to Baton Rouge, LA with the Coast Guard as part of the continuing Katrinia/Rita recovery efforts and will be out of the area for the next 30 days, therefore he will miss the Christmas Walk and Killroy’s. George Murphy will also be out of the area on business for the next 5 weeks and Kevin Donnelly will also be out of country for a couple of weeks. Please keep our sojourners and their families in your thoughts and prayers.
With all that business out of the way, we spent the next half hour of the practice session on practice chanters working on the two Christmas Carols and Bonny Dundee. Which reminds me, that the Christmas Walk is just ONE WEEK AWAY and every one needs to be working on those three tunes. The next Monday practice will be the MANDATORY PRE-EVENT PRACTICE and we will be spending the whole night on the big pipes. We will be playing the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th sets as well as the Christmas Carols and Bonny Dundee so practice them as well.
See you all on Monday,
Sláinte,
Steve
Weekly Update – 11/14/05
Nov-14-2005 21:52 |
Weekly Update
| Permalink
Weekly
Update – 11/14/05
Greetings All,
Sorry I am so late in getting this out, but every time I turned around, something else popped up that I wanted to add and before I knew it, it was Thursday.
Monday turned out to be a pretty good practice. Amber Tussing showed up for the beginners practice. She is doing quite well. She has a pretty good handle on the first two tunes of the first set. Also, she is getting her big pipes as a Christmas present to herself. I expect she will be marching with us by St. Patrick’s Day. For the regular practice, Jeff Burton, Pete O’Brien, Chalmers Marquis, Dana Moore, Ed Snyder, Brian Brendel and yours truly, were joined by Rob Deer and Kevin Pittman from the Sheriff’s Pipe Band. After playing outside on the big pipes we went inside to work on practice chanters. The practice on the big pipes would have gone a bit better except for the want of drummers … or rather drums as Ethan was there but I forgot to bring the bass drum. Odie and Ethan did the best they could with a stick and a cardboard box, but it just wasn’t the same. We finished off the night working on the two Christmas (Jingle Bells and Deck the Halls) tunes and Bonny Dundee. For those who missed the practice, be sure and work on these three tunes as will be concentrating on them next Monday.
Speaking of next Monday, we will try again to have a short business meeting. Please make every effort to attend. Also speaking of business meetings, remember that the annual membership meeting will be in January. This is when we elect band officers and conduct the bulk of the band’s business for the coming year. More on this will be coming out in the next update or two.
Upcoming Events:
December 3rd is the Alexandria Christmas Walk. I just received our position in the parade route this week. We are unit number 22 of 119 units registered as of Oct. 31, and are the second of five pipe bands that will be marching in the parade this year.
I also talked to Ms. Dorothy Farley who’s Christmas Party we crashed last year and she has invited us back again this year. She is still working on trying to get a keg of Scottish Ale for us but says that there will be more than enough food for everyone. I didn’t get a chance to talk to her about more of the band books she made up for us, but I will at the next opportunity.
We also have the fundraiser at Killroy’s in Springfield on December 15th. This year, pipers from the Sheriff’s office will join us so it promises to be an outstanding time. Odie says that there are over a dozen people who have told him they are planning on coming … Outstanding!
So far I have the following people signed up for the two events:
Alex X-mast Walk – Pipers: Jeff Burton, Kevin Byrne, Steve Cochran, Chalmers Marquis, Pete O’Brien & Ed Snyder; Drummers: Rob Agnew, Brian Brendel & Ethan Cochran
Killroy’s – Pipers: Jeff Burton, Steve Cochran, Karen Killmeyer, Chalmers Marquis, Dana Moore, Pete O’Brien & Ed Snyder; Drummers: Rob Agnew, Brian Brendel & Ethan Cochran
I’m sure there are more coming but I don’t have you on my list. So those who are going to attend either event, who I did not list, please drop me a note and I’ll add you. This includes the folks from the Sheriff’s band.
Other news on past events … Thursday, Odie and I went up to Emmitsburg and attended the Critique of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend. Now, for those of you who have never had the pleasure of attending a Fire Department Critique, you have to understand that when you go into one of those, you put on your extra thick hide, and check your ego at the door, because no punches are pulled and every flaw is laid out in the open for all to see. This is how we do things so that mistakes are rarely repeated. You have to understand that mistakes made at fires cost people lives. So a critique of any FD event is treated the same. This one was no exception. That being said, there was only one aspect of the Memorial Weekend where no fault was found … in fact when the leader of the event asked if there was anyone there to represent the Bagpipe Group and Odie and I raised our hands, we received a round of applause! We did come back with a few things to improve next year’s event.
One story that was told involving the pipes and drums at the Memorial weekend was relayed by one of the “Survivors” … read that as widow … who said that as she was going into the field house at the Mount, dragging her young son along behind her, they passed by the band. As they did, one of the pipers saluted the boy, who then hurried in with his mother. Once inside, the wee lad tugged on his mother’s hem and when he had gained her attention, the told his mother in obvious pride of the salute and said, “See Mom, I’m special.” The mother said that one event brightened the entire weekend for her and her son.
See you all on Monday,
Steve
Greetings All,
Sorry I am so late in getting this out, but every time I turned around, something else popped up that I wanted to add and before I knew it, it was Thursday.
Monday turned out to be a pretty good practice. Amber Tussing showed up for the beginners practice. She is doing quite well. She has a pretty good handle on the first two tunes of the first set. Also, she is getting her big pipes as a Christmas present to herself. I expect she will be marching with us by St. Patrick’s Day. For the regular practice, Jeff Burton, Pete O’Brien, Chalmers Marquis, Dana Moore, Ed Snyder, Brian Brendel and yours truly, were joined by Rob Deer and Kevin Pittman from the Sheriff’s Pipe Band. After playing outside on the big pipes we went inside to work on practice chanters. The practice on the big pipes would have gone a bit better except for the want of drummers … or rather drums as Ethan was there but I forgot to bring the bass drum. Odie and Ethan did the best they could with a stick and a cardboard box, but it just wasn’t the same. We finished off the night working on the two Christmas (Jingle Bells and Deck the Halls) tunes and Bonny Dundee. For those who missed the practice, be sure and work on these three tunes as will be concentrating on them next Monday.
Speaking of next Monday, we will try again to have a short business meeting. Please make every effort to attend. Also speaking of business meetings, remember that the annual membership meeting will be in January. This is when we elect band officers and conduct the bulk of the band’s business for the coming year. More on this will be coming out in the next update or two.
Upcoming Events:
December 3rd is the Alexandria Christmas Walk. I just received our position in the parade route this week. We are unit number 22 of 119 units registered as of Oct. 31, and are the second of five pipe bands that will be marching in the parade this year.
I also talked to Ms. Dorothy Farley who’s Christmas Party we crashed last year and she has invited us back again this year. She is still working on trying to get a keg of Scottish Ale for us but says that there will be more than enough food for everyone. I didn’t get a chance to talk to her about more of the band books she made up for us, but I will at the next opportunity.
We also have the fundraiser at Killroy’s in Springfield on December 15th. This year, pipers from the Sheriff’s office will join us so it promises to be an outstanding time. Odie says that there are over a dozen people who have told him they are planning on coming … Outstanding!
So far I have the following people signed up for the two events:
Alex X-mast Walk – Pipers: Jeff Burton, Kevin Byrne, Steve Cochran, Chalmers Marquis, Pete O’Brien & Ed Snyder; Drummers: Rob Agnew, Brian Brendel & Ethan Cochran
Killroy’s – Pipers: Jeff Burton, Steve Cochran, Karen Killmeyer, Chalmers Marquis, Dana Moore, Pete O’Brien & Ed Snyder; Drummers: Rob Agnew, Brian Brendel & Ethan Cochran
I’m sure there are more coming but I don’t have you on my list. So those who are going to attend either event, who I did not list, please drop me a note and I’ll add you. This includes the folks from the Sheriff’s band.
Other news on past events … Thursday, Odie and I went up to Emmitsburg and attended the Critique of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend. Now, for those of you who have never had the pleasure of attending a Fire Department Critique, you have to understand that when you go into one of those, you put on your extra thick hide, and check your ego at the door, because no punches are pulled and every flaw is laid out in the open for all to see. This is how we do things so that mistakes are rarely repeated. You have to understand that mistakes made at fires cost people lives. So a critique of any FD event is treated the same. This one was no exception. That being said, there was only one aspect of the Memorial Weekend where no fault was found … in fact when the leader of the event asked if there was anyone there to represent the Bagpipe Group and Odie and I raised our hands, we received a round of applause! We did come back with a few things to improve next year’s event.
One story that was told involving the pipes and drums at the Memorial weekend was relayed by one of the “Survivors” … read that as widow … who said that as she was going into the field house at the Mount, dragging her young son along behind her, they passed by the band. As they did, one of the pipers saluted the boy, who then hurried in with his mother. Once inside, the wee lad tugged on his mother’s hem and when he had gained her attention, the told his mother in obvious pride of the salute and said, “See Mom, I’m special.” The mother said that one event brightened the entire weekend for her and her son.
See you all on Monday,
Steve
Weekly Update - 11/07/05
Nov-07-2005 21:53 | Permalink
Weekly
Update - 11/07/05
Greetings All,
We had a new piper show up for the first time tonight, Amber Tussing. She has been working on her practice chanter for about three years and is buying her first set of pipes. She was given a copy of the bands music and should be on the street by this time next year … or perhaps earlier. John Murray and Scott Philben were also her for the student session. Both are progressing well, considering the summer and Katrina/Rita break.
We had a rather light turnout for tonight's regular practice… Jeff Burton and Kevin Byrne. Odie showed up a little late, he had gone over to Vienna to receive our award from the Halloween Parade. We earned a second place ribbon in the category of "Adult Band."
Kevin Byrne updated those of us who were there on the progress towards getting new kilts and tunics. We have three kilts on order with enough material to have three more kilts made. We are looking at having three more kilts made and ordering enough additional material for 3 to 6 more kilts. We also have a new tunic on order with the prospect of having several more made if the first one meets our standards when it comes in. Due to the expense involved, we will have to have the membership vote on the additional material, kilts and tunics at the next business meeting. (Next Tuesday if we have a quorum show up for practice and there is no objection for the lack of 30 day notice… e-mail me if you have any questions or concerns). Steve Cochran wore the first tunic that was rebuilt from a 'drummer's tunic' to a 'Piper's tunic' at the Halloween parade and the comments were generally favorable. Right after the Christmas Walk, we will give two more (Jeff Burton's and Ethan Cochran's) to Chalmer's tailor to rebuild.
We only have a little over three more weeks before the Alexandria Christmas Parade so it is very important that everyone make an extra effort to get to these next three practices. In the mean time, start working on Jingle Bells, Deck the Halls and Bonnie Dundee for next Monday. Also, dig out and dust off your Santa hats, as the consensus is that we wear them again this year.
Now for the good of the order, we had three members who celebrated their birthdays in October: Amber Tussing (4th), Ted Hensley (14th) & John Murray (18th). We also have three members celebrating the anniversary of their natal day in November: Steve Cochran (9th), Karen Killmeyer (10th) & Chalmers Marquis (12th). Be sure to wish all a Happy Birthday when you see them.
Sláinte
Greetings All,
We had a new piper show up for the first time tonight, Amber Tussing. She has been working on her practice chanter for about three years and is buying her first set of pipes. She was given a copy of the bands music and should be on the street by this time next year … or perhaps earlier. John Murray and Scott Philben were also her for the student session. Both are progressing well, considering the summer and Katrina/Rita break.
We had a rather light turnout for tonight's regular practice… Jeff Burton and Kevin Byrne. Odie showed up a little late, he had gone over to Vienna to receive our award from the Halloween Parade. We earned a second place ribbon in the category of "Adult Band."
Kevin Byrne updated those of us who were there on the progress towards getting new kilts and tunics. We have three kilts on order with enough material to have three more kilts made. We are looking at having three more kilts made and ordering enough additional material for 3 to 6 more kilts. We also have a new tunic on order with the prospect of having several more made if the first one meets our standards when it comes in. Due to the expense involved, we will have to have the membership vote on the additional material, kilts and tunics at the next business meeting. (Next Tuesday if we have a quorum show up for practice and there is no objection for the lack of 30 day notice… e-mail me if you have any questions or concerns). Steve Cochran wore the first tunic that was rebuilt from a 'drummer's tunic' to a 'Piper's tunic' at the Halloween parade and the comments were generally favorable. Right after the Christmas Walk, we will give two more (Jeff Burton's and Ethan Cochran's) to Chalmer's tailor to rebuild.
We only have a little over three more weeks before the Alexandria Christmas Parade so it is very important that everyone make an extra effort to get to these next three practices. In the mean time, start working on Jingle Bells, Deck the Halls and Bonnie Dundee for next Monday. Also, dig out and dust off your Santa hats, as the consensus is that we wear them again this year.
Now for the good of the order, we had three members who celebrated their birthdays in October: Amber Tussing (4th), Ted Hensley (14th) & John Murray (18th). We also have three members celebrating the anniversary of their natal day in November: Steve Cochran (9th), Karen Killmeyer (10th) & Chalmers Marquis (12th). Be sure to wish all a Happy Birthday when you see them.
Sláinte