The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association

(North of Scotland Branch)

69th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

TO BE HELD

IN

Dyce Bowling Club

ON SUNDAY 17TH NOVEMBER 2019.

At 12 Noon.

Please ensure that your band is represented

The Annual General Meeting of The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association,

North of Scotland Branch will be held in Dyce Bowling Club.

on Sunday 17th November 2019 commencing at 12 noon.

A preliminary agenda together with a copy of the minutes of the 2018 A.G.M

are attached and a copy of the Branch Accounts for the year end September 2019.

CURRENT OFFICE BEARERS

Hon. President Mr G Gauld

Hon. Life Members Mrs E. Forrest

Mr R. Forrest

Mr A. Lynn

Mr W. Skinner

Mrs R. Cruickshank

Mr A. Skinner

Mr R. Taylor Mrs F Allan

Hon. Chairman Mr W Barclay

Hon. Secretary Mrs L. Niven

Hon. Ass./Min.Sec Mrs L Gill

Hon. Vice Chairman Mrs H McKay

Hon. Treasurer Mr R Cameron

Director Mr R Niven

Director Mr J Gibb

Music Board Reps

Piping Miss J Brinklow

Drumming Miss J McHaffie

AGM Agenda 2019.

1. Welcome

2. Obituaries

3. Apologies

4. Matters arising from previous minutes

5. Chairman’s Report

6. Music Board Report

7. Directors Report

8. Treasurers Report

9. Auditors report

10.Minor constitution change

11.Correspondence

12.Election of Office Bearers

13.Break for Tea

14.Matters to be discussed:

15.Honoraria

16.Branch Levy

17.Branch AGM date 2020

18.Branch/Management Meetings 2020

19.A.O.C.B

Chief Steward Mr Graeme Ferris

Web Liaison Miss Julie Brinklow

Trophy Convenor Mr B Grant

Royal Scottish Pipeband Association – North of Scotland Branch Minute of Annual General Meeting – Sunday 26th November 2018 Dyce Bowling Club 12 noon Present : Malcolm Sweet – Buchan Peterson Helen Sweet – Buchan Peterson A Skinner – Buchan Peterson Graham Gauld – Buchan Peterson Ranald Cameron – Towie Heather Dallas – Granite City Heather MacKay – Buchan Peterson Bill Grant – Buchan Peterson John Gibb – RGC – Director D McAllister – Forres J Channon - Forres Barry Ashby – RAF Lossiemouth Christine Fraser – Oldmeldrum RBL David Fraser – Oldmeldrum RBL Doug Ogston – Bucksburn and District Jenny Robertson – Bucksburn and District Euan Chapman – Towie Marie Chapman - Towie Denise Buchan – Fraserburgh RBL Jeanette Lowe – Deeside Caledonia Robert Grant – Deeside Caledonia Jim Park – Deeside Caledonia Susan Cumming – Portlethen and District Jill McHaffie - RGC Elaine Law – Portlethen and District Linda Niven – Granite City – Secretary Bill Barclay – Towie – Chairman Bob Niven – Deeside Caledonia – Director Lauren Gill – Assistant Secretary

1 – The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed everyone in attendance. Good to see same faces at every AGM. 2 – Apologies : Stromness Ballater Roger Taylor Florence Allan Bobby and Ella Forest Turriff Kirkwall Dornoch Huntly Ruby Cruickshank Elgin Dingwall Wick Bill Skinner 3 – Obituaries Ian Murphy – Bucksburn George Beattie – Branch Steward – Bucksburn Helen Simpson – Buchan Peterson Bob Thompson – RAF Lossiemouth Duncan Dunbar-Nasmith – RAF Lossiemouth Dave Ramsay – RAF Kinloss Michael Banbrick – D/PM Bucksburn (In Jamaica) Jim Inglis – Bucksburn Kathy Dempster – Deeside Ladies Stand for minute Appointed Tellers – John Gibb and Bill Grant 4 – Previous Minutes : Proposed – Buchan Peterson Seconded – Robert Grant - Deeside 5 – Chairman as per order paper : Thanked everyone who attended the solo piping and drumming contest. Was a very good turnout. Gained and lost numbers. Less adult entries but numbers are staying up. Preparing for Performance weekend – Very well attended. Opened to Non-competing bands and non-associated with the branch. Gained another band to the Association. Very good response. Some negative comments but lots of positives too. No tenor tutor at last minute so went with snare tutor and gained experience. Also drum major tutor pulled out week before, BB stepped in. Chairman thanked everyone who turned up and thanked the Tutors for the work they put in. John Nevans Jim Semple Alan Craig Colin Hall is looking to come back. Propose acceptance – Graham Gauld Seconded – Oldmeldrum

2nd Paragragh last sentence – Ally Skinner Asked how much a few pounds was? Taken off branch portion was £530 so on balance sheet said excess was £400 – Finish line for Banchory. Actually approx. £900 6. Music Board report as stands on Paper No questions Proposed – Heather MacKay Seconded – Buchan and Towie 7. Directors Report as per order paper : GG asks about the format of the worlds championship. Suggestion from Glasgow: Juvenile bands play Friday Branches to be asked for feedback on who would accept or decline the proposed changed. To be proposed through Music board at meeting next week. Pass on till next management meeting. Email sent out to Juvenile bands for feedback Proposed – RG Deeside Caledonia Seconded – SC Portlethen and District 8. Treasuer Report as per order paper : Positive outlook. Glasgow made comment that we are one of the better branches. Many of the other branches have very little in the pot. Good to have missing bank accounts it sorted out. Proposer – MS Buchan Peterson Seconded – JP Deeside Caledonia 9. Auditors Report Signed off by Denise Buchan and Susan Cumming Auditors had nothing to add. 10. Correspondance Nothing to be said 11. Election of Office Bearers There is no one from Glasgow to carry out in accordance to the constitution Branch President - GG willing to take on post again. Thanks to all for work done. GG review constitution post for management committee – 3 year appointment Proposed Unanimously Lauren Gill – Assistant Secretary Proposed BG and HM Non-voting posts - Magazine Reporter – To come off. Not to be discussed today. Web Liaison – JB name put against it and to be asked if willing to continue. Auditors – Denise/ Susan – Stand again Conclude Election finished. BB Thanks to Heather for doing sandwiches. Compliments to Spiders web

12. Honoraria : GG - opportunity for annual increase. Secretary increase due to constant work that Linda does. 2x people seconded suggestion. Proposal MC of £750 for secretary Seconder GG Proposed – Towie Seconded – Buchan Other amounts agreed. BB – Louise Buchan to stand down from Minute Secr. No further proposals BB increase all by £100 Proposed – RAF Lossiemouth Seconded – RG Deeside Caledonia No objections. 13. Branch Levy No reason to raise the money. Bank balance is steady. Slight increase might be made on an annual basis. Money to assist in running of branch. Branch is very well off. Fees to remain as they stand at £75 (£25 to education pot) Proposer – MS Buchan Seconder – RAF Lossiemouth Otherwise minded – No objections 14. Branch AGM dates 2019 24th November 12 noon HM – Dyce bowling club proposed No objections. HM to arrange with Dyce bowling club 15. Branch/Management meetings 2019 Suggestion to have 1st management meeting in February after Directors and Board meeting. 2x Branch meetings Management meeting to be finished prior to AGM Management and Directors meeting before start of season Branch meeting to be held after season “Greeting meeting” JG agrees to branch meeting before AGM and to have both in February GG wants commitment/promise to send out and publish Association Order Paper online. Needs to be published before branch meeting and to get minutes from Directors meeting. GG also asks February meetings to be combined instead of 2 BB confirms this can be done. 16. Opportunity to appoint 3rd Director Has been advertised on Facebook – Branch pages Would be good to have someone from North end. As of yet there have been no applicants. No other proposals for post. JG and BN discuss the role. Role can be taken on for 12 months to enable person to see what’s involved. Person need to be non-playing. Local level association level. Happy to come along to competitions and meetings. 4x meetings in Glasgow per year and an AGM. Middle man taking info for branch to Glasgow and back to branch Ireland and Lothian have already filled these positions. GG spoken at Branch meeting in Inverness – No success. Advertised again today.

RG asked who to get in touch with about role – Linda Secretary Pipeband College Education Branch asked to come forward with Piper and Drummer to help facilitate education within the branch. Piping and drumming geographical rep. needed from each Branch. Their work within branch to identify any needs met.Will be taken back to Glasgow for formal process. They will promote PDQB qualifications etc. Role is to assist bands with any educational needs. Prove to the branch how to help facilitate education of branch and progress through association and Pipeband college. This is not a full-time post. BG asked if applicant needs to be Piper/drummer. BB states yes ideally. HM raised concern that people who are suitably qualified may not wish to put their name forward as other bands may think they are taking already playing members to another band. BB insists it cannot be looked at like that. This is not a teaching role. It is a Liaison role. Job description to follow at later date. JG questioned actual teaching. List of qualified instructors to be made available and Glasgow decide which tutor is selected. BG asks for further clarification. Outdoor contests Possibility of resurrection of the Mintlaw competition. BN and BB attended meeting on this and asked the question at the AGM on 20th Nov. No clarification as yet. Looking to be 1st weekend in June. With a number of things on the same weekend there could be a possibility to tag the competition onto another event. Many factors needs to be discussed further. Cost to run contest, Adjudicators/compilers/stewards fees. We as a branch could control the prize money. Each contest has same prize money across the different grades. Start at £250 Reducing the prize money by £50 and only giving to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each grade would allow the branch in securing contests. GG in favour. Most important thing to the bands was the contest not the prize money. Promoter – Mintlaw Gala Team BG – asks if there is anything we can do to help. Question asked how did we lose Forres? Forres withdrew from us. They didn’t see a way of running and funding 2 contests. BB suggests we give them this year to recover and speak with them again next year to see if they will resurrect. Reducing the prize money is asked again of support by local bands MS asked for financial support from the branch. BB confirms this isn’t possible. GG says happy with reduced prize money. BB and BN said initial meeting was positive, keen to have contest. Asked for ball-part figure. £5,000 suggested to run contest. Covers expenses and prize money. This was based on Aberdeen/Banchory contest. Explained if money is left over we would return it less a nominal fee for the branch and we would set prize money. AS explained that the Aden Park Comp has a fee for insurance as they insist on cover on the day and the day after the contest. This will be covered by Mintlaw, not the branch. BB asks would we be happy to reduce prize money by £50 saving over £1000. This would mean reducing every level and setting the same for each grade.

Aberdeen Games Last year was disappointing. Only 10 bands entered. Contest would have finished around 11.30/12 had the bands not done extra performances. Aberdeen City Council do not see Pipeband performances as a competition and more as crowd entertainment. There is nothing that can be done about the Ireland championship being held on the same weekend. We really did have to work hard to keep the Aberdeen contest going. Letters were sent to every band taking part in the 15 minute performances in the afternoon and they were each paid £150 to play. Aberdeen City Council did not want any money back. Branch kept back a nominal fee for running and organising. This may not happen next year. BB sent numerous emails to the council and is still awaiting replies. There was no VIP tent this year for the adjudicators. Cuts have been made across the board. BB stresses to branch bands to think about expense to travel to Ireland and try and consider not to lose the Aberdeen Contest. More attendance is needed to avoid contests being lost. HD suggests non-registered bands could fill rest of the day. Aberdeen Contest and Ireland championship will share the same weekend in 2019 but will change from 2020. Queried as to why Banchory contest could not be a Saturday. BB explains it is shop keepers who run the contest and they work on Saturdays. 17. Matters arising PVG – BB Urged all registered bands to register instructors, people who look after children and vulnerable youngsters. Each band needs a PVG person. Information on how to do this is within the RSPBA website The branch has been asked to have a policy on protection of vulnerable groups. This will be carried out and put in place. Question whether this should be written into the constitution. BB - no it’s a policy and is up to the band to make sure things are done right. Legal requirement – not answered. Meeting closed at 2.05pm BB thanked everyone for their attendance, much appreciated. Thanks to Dyce Bowling Club.

Chairmans Report 2019

Well its been quite a season one way or the other. Weather was good and bad throughout although, we stayed dry locally most of the time. Our Prepare for playing weekend in Inverness was very well received with a number of non competing bands attending. As the season drew on a very healthy entry at our indoor contests was seen. This is a great day out for all and, very beneficial to our Branch bands for the outdoor season.

Banchory contest went as always with no hitches , the weather being so good raised the profile on the Deeside corner. A first for this contest to make a surplus and already booked for next year. The new contest at Mintlaw although a bit wet underfoot, realised a very healthy entry. The gala committee were delighted and felt it finished off their week greatly. Aberdeen games and the everchanging set up rules they foist upon us went very well. We rose to their challenges with great gusto, I thank all the bands who took part in this days “entertainment” council words not mine. Hopefully we can continue in the same frame in the future.

The Majors, well what can I say? The Branch bands really excelled themselves at all these. Getting our Branch recognised as it should. A hearty congratulations to all.

Our Solo contest in November, still to happen at the time of my writing this report, we have nigh on 200 performances for the day. The largest entry ever for this Branch. The draw was so difficult to administer it took 6hrs to cover the main sections and a further 2hrs for the rest. This to try and afford all time between their allotted sections.

I must thank our Management team for the hard work they put in, not just during the Season but all year round. A very special thanks to our Secretary Linda whom without her, a lot of corners would be forgotten. My first report as Chairman a number of years ago related to the parts of a watch, well it still does. Linda being the main spring which without it cannot function. We are like that with the Branch business.

I do hope a good number of you can attend the AGM, it is your Branch and we need you to give us feedback, so, come along and have your say.

All the best

Bill Barclay Chairman

2019 Music Board Report

- Grade 1 Worlds format review was set as follows:

• 18 Bands or more the, 2 day knockout format applies

• 17 or less, no knockouts and all bands to draw on-line over 2 days playing all 4 competition sets in total.

- Pipe Band College - Education

• the positions of Principal of Pipe Band Musicianship, Piping Principal & Drumming Principal and have been filled by Tom Brown, Jim Campbell & Paul Brown respectively.

• The highest qualification within the RSPBA is the certificate of Pipeband Musicianship 2. (PB2) • Instructor training, PB1 And PB2 will commence in October, with completion hopefully Jan and March 2020.

• It should be noted that SCQF level 6 or equivalent is needed before taking PB1, and PB1 is required before taking PB2.

• World Solo Drumming Review Group are looking to explore internationally recognised tenor drumming flourishes and symbols. World Solo Tenors currently only have assessors and not adjudicators - if the RSPBA want this to be adjudicated then official avenues need to be looked at - Educational.

• SCQF2 approval granted for snare drumming, so entry level now compatible with piper equivalent (made easier). SCQF6 being looked at to revise difficulty level upwards in line with piping. These changes should mean piping & drumming levels are more balanced.

Grade Re-Alignment Project

- A small team from the Music Board have been appointed and have been working in the background on reviewing the entire grading structure. The remit is to evaluate the entire system to ensure that the Grades are fit for purpose, an exercise that will repeat every 10/15 years.

- It has been fed back from the adjudicators panel that many Grade 4 bands were struggling with 2/4 Marches and to review this. Upon looking into band entry 1 patterns, there is a trend of lots of non-competing bands entering one-off majors and also start-up or young bands who haven’t yet reached the level of 4b. The solution is being reviewed with a new grade being formed below 4b. The name of this Grade hasn’t been decided but “Development Grade, Grade 4c and Grade 5” have all been discussed. The feeling is that prescribed 4/4s and a standing start (in a circle) to allow these bands a better platform as a starting point before 4b 2/4 marches would better define the minimum entry level for 4b and give bands not yet at that point a better chance to develop the basics. Bands in this grade will be encouraged to seek support from the pipe band

college in the form of educational assistance. The PM of a 4b/4a band can dual register into this grade.

- As a starting point for the new Grade, the group have collected date from the past 5 competing seasons including 2019 and will use the bottom 30% or so of bands to create the new Grade.

- Playing requirements for 3A & Juvenile grades being considered to increase on the Medley time limit for Majors at 4-6 mins (same as Grade 2) however the minor competition should now reflect 3-6 mins to accommodate bands playing up into the grade.

Other Topics - Bands should think about social media policies. Proposal to Board of Directors to create a policy that bands can choose to adopt as a standard policy and place on their “pinned posts”.

- Outreach for NOSB request in for something early 2020 - being looked at

- On the agenda for the November meeting is a proposal to try and boost the Highland Games circuit. Either bands have to attend 3 minors to be allowed entry to the Worlds, or a rotational 6th Major that moves round the HG circuit. Discussions to follow.

J.Brinklow

Music Board 


Directors Report 2019

The 2019 AGM brings to an end another successful year for our branch bands. This year has seen Buchan, Culter and The City of Inverness bands placed in 4 of the 5 Majors. Turriff and Portlethen have been placed at 3 Majors as well as Deeside Caledonia and Bucksburn’s Novice band reaching the frame twice. Add to this City of Inverness Youth, Elgin, Granite City, Highland Granite, Ross and Cromarty and Ullapool all picking up prizes at various times. This has led to 2 of them, Culter and District and Turriff and District gaining well deserved promotion for next year and we wish them all the best.

This year saw the start of new contracts for the Majors, which meant we visited some new locations. The season opener continues in Paisley and they have worked hard over it’s time there to make improvements. Next we visited a new venue at Lurgan in Northern Ireland. Unfortunately the awful weather made it hard to assess just how good this will be. Then we moved on to another new site at Bught Park in Inverness. There are some issues there which will need to be addressed for future years but it is great that we continue to host a Major within our own branch area. Dumbarton will keep the Scottish for the foreseeable future but there are big changes due to be made to the park. Then we had the World’s with the unusual situation where Grade 1 was decided over all 4 performances during the 2 days. This has received mixed reviews but a 2 day event of some description will need to continue to accommodate the number of bands playing.

Our local events got off to a good start with a reasonable entry for the Quartets at Huntly. The Full Band entry in April was a little disappointing. We then moved to the outer circuit and enjoyed another trip back to Banchory for the North of Scotland Championships. We then moved on to Mintlaw for a new venue for us. The competition was well attended and ran fine but there have been concerns raised about the venue. 2020 season will see the venue moved to Aden Park on the same weekend as the ‘Mudders’ Race. Next we had the situation where Aberdeen Games again coincided with the Major in Ireland. Again our thanks go out to the bands for allowing us not only to have a small contest, but, to give Aberdeen Council what they want – musical performances throughout and the massed Band. Now we have rounded it all off with a very large entry at our Solo’s at Huntly. It is really encouraging to see that number of people, particularly the youngsters, wanting to take part. This did though make it a very long day and will need to be thought about for next year if the numbers are at the same level. Over the season we have added Aberdeenshire Schools NJ, Robert Gordons College NJ, Gairloch Pipe Band and Highland Granite Pipes & Drums to the Branch. Welcome to you all!

Education may or may not be your ‘thing.’ Either way there will be hands-on meetings/courses for those who want only to have a day with an experienced like-minded guide and also courses for those that want to gain qualifications etc within their discipline. Scott Oliphant is our Branch Education Representative and he is organizing these meetings and classes as is required. Director John Gibb is also part of the Education Panel at HQ and both can be contacted to discuss any query.

On a National level RSPBA Headquarters refurbishment and upgrading after the fire has now been completed. We now need to kit it out with all the equipment required to make it the high quality teaching facility that we want it to be. With that in mind if anyone is willing and able to provide some sort of sponsorship for one of the teaching rooms, or would simply like to make a donation to assist the funding please contact our Chief Executive, Iain Embelton, or Chairman, John Hughes to discuss.

With piping and drumming being on such an upward curve at present we continue to work hard to bring you the local contests to try and service this. If anyone has any suggestions for new venues or someone who could help us financially support a new contest please do get in touch.

As always if there any other issues then please make sure you bring them to our attention, either by email, or preferably bring them to one of our branch meetings.

Finally, at this time of writing, we have a 3rd Director who is willing, and shown to be keen to help out with the duties at competitions, Glasgow Board of Directors, Branch Band and Branch Management meetings and we would like you to welcome and approve Kathleen Robertson, from Forres, at our AGM.

The wheel keeps turning as long as you want it to. Stick-in and be proud of your Branch, heritage and Band.

All the Best for the 2020 season

John, Bob and Kathleen.

Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association

North of Scotland Branch

Treasurer’s Report 2018-19

As can be seen from the Financial Statement, we have had another year showing a surplus, albeit modest, of £309. All the Indoor Contests, which are self-financing, have run at a surplus, which is encouraging although without the raffle income, a couple of these were very close to running at a deficit, so your support for the raffles is much appreciated. The Outdoor Contests have all run at a surplus, thanks to the Sponsors, and again, we still face the challenge of tightened budgets from some Sponsors. We gave a refund to the Mintlaw contest due to reduced Adjudicator expenses and in an effort to secure future contests. On Education, in October last year, we ran a Preparing for the Performance course in Inverness which was well attended and well received , hence the deficit showing in the Accounts, this being for Admin and Instructor costs less a rebate from Washington Street. In Sundry Costs the only major item was £1040 on replacing some dilapidated trophies; other costs were, £560 for Meeting room hire, £405 for website services, £215 for Liability Insurance from Glasgow, £240 on Admin expenses, £200 on Glasgow AGM Travel and £245 on Sundry items. My thanks to the other Committee members, in particular Linda, for their support and guidance. My thanks also to Denise Buchan and Susan Cumming for giving up their time to audit the accounts. RS Cameron Treasurer

Position – All 3 Year Terms

Years Left

Nominee Proposer Seconder In Office / Willing to

Stand

Hon. Chairperson 1 W Barclay

Hon. Secretary 2 L Niven

Hon. Assistant Secretary

- Vacant L Gill

Hon. Vice Chairperson 2 H Mackay

Hon. Treasurer - Vacant R Cameron

Director 1 1 R Niven

Director 2 2 J Gibb

Director 3 - Vacant K Robertson

Music Board Rep. Piping

1 J Brinklow

Music Board Rep. Drumming

2 J McHaffie

Positions Annually Elected

President

Chief Steward G Ferries

Trophy Convenor W Grant

Web Liaison J Brinklow

Auditor 1 S Cumming

Auditor 2 D Buchan

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 2020

AGM GLASGOW – 14th March 2020

FULL BAND - 21st MARCH 2020 GORDON SCHOOLS HUNTLY

BANCHORY – 10th MAY 2020 KING GEORGE V PARK

BRITISH - PAISLEY–23rd MAY 2020

UNITED KINGDOM CHAMPIONSHIPS –LURGAN- 13th JUNE 2020

ABERDEEN GAMES –21st JUNE 2020

EUROPEAN –INVERNESS–27TH JUNE 2020

SCOTTISH – DUMBARTON – 25TH JULY 2020

WORLDS – GLASGOW –15TH/16TH AUGUST 2020

MINTLAW – 23RD AUGUST 2020

SOLO’S HUNTLY – TBC 31ST OCT OR 14TH NOV??