The 2011 Georgetown Fire Department Pipes and Drums Clinic will be on Friday November 11th (11/11/11). The clinic will be from 8-5pm. Lunch will be provided and the registration information is on the form. Print off the following form and mail back.
The Host Hotel is the Country Inn & Suites. This Hotel was just remodeled and looks great! They are excited to be our Host Hotel and have offered a block of 25 rooms. The rate is $65 per night for Standard King or Double Queen rooms. Be sure to let them know that you are attending the Georgetown Fire Department Pipes and Drums Clinic to get the discounted rate. We did a site visit and this Hotel is very nice! It is located withing walking distance from Chili’s and Applebee’s. All rooms have Mini fridges, Microwaves, Coffee, etc. They offer Complementary hot breakfast buffet.
Thursday, November 10th, 2011
Thursday night we are planning a meet and greet at Stephen Cameron’s House. He has a nice place and an even nicer back yard / deck / pool. Bruce Robertson, and Mike Cole are staying at Steve’s, so it just makes sense to have it there! Y’all just come and go, it will be a GREAT time and a great way to kick off the weekend! We will have chips and dips to snack on so eat before you come. Providing that we are not under a burn ban we will have another bonfire. One of our members is making his famous home brew that he made last year. BYOB also if you like.
Depending on the time of night, some of the shops on the Square stay open late. There are some awesome shops so you can get in some early Christmas shopping (I always go to the Escape – you can’t go wrong there guys!) There is a great coffee shop and some nice restaurants. Just take a stroll with your family and enjoy!
Friday, November 11th, 2011
The Clinic is going to be in Georgetown, TX at the First Baptist Church (1333 W. University Ave). It will start at 8am SHARP and conclude at 5pm.
We have 3 piping instructors, the first is Pipe Sergeant Jack Lee from Simon Frasier University Pipe Band. Second is Pipe Major Bruce Robertson from Westminster Pipe Band, and third is Pipe Major Todd Bircher from Emergency Service Pipes and Drums Association, (ESPADA). We have 5 drumming instructors, First is Drum Sergeant Stephen Cameron from Cameron Highland Drumming and Stephen’s wing man from the Westminster PB Drum Corp Jon Greene working with all of the snare drummers. Chicago based world champion bass drummer Mike Cole will join us again to instruct our Bass drummers. Working with the Tenor drummers this year will be Donny Caldwell and Laurel Nolan.
We will have a good, solid day of practice for every member attending. From 8 a.m.-12 p.m. we will be inside on chanters and practice pads in different breakout rooms. Lunch will be provided by Emergency Service Pipes and Drums Association, (ESPADA) and catered on site so that we can keep working. From 1-5 p.m. we will slowly venture outside for marching and playing whatever the instructors determine. We will not have any vendors this year.
The Georgetown Convention & Visitors Center is providing us with visitor information to hand out. These will be available at the Meet & Great and the morning of the Clinic at the Church.
After practice, we plan to head out to the back yard at Hardtails Bar and Grill at 1515 N. IH35. They have great food on the menu, full bars, cigars and one big arse fan! They are excited that we will be hanging out there and they said we are welcome to bring instruments to play inside or outside. Come prepared to Jam! It is not far from the Host Hotel.
END of State Practice.
Saturday, November 12th, 2011
The last two years there has been an Emergency Service Pipes and Drums Competition at the Salado Highland Games, but due to lack on interest at this point we are not planning on having this event. If something changes we will post it here. If there are bands that are interested in competing please contact us ASAP!!
In Salado in the morning there are individual piping and drumming competition for those that want to check that out. There will be a March Past Parade that will open the Games at Noon and the State Group is invited to participate. Due to flooding damage the games will be held at the Salado Civic Center at 601 N. Main St. in Salado. At 3pm there is a Grade 3 Pipe Band competition and it is nice to see. Salado usually attracts the St. Thomas Episcopal Pipe Band, Silver Thistle Pipe Band and the Westminster Pipe Band. They are good! That night there is a Tattoo at the ruins of the old Salado College which is really cool.
Sunday, November 13th, 2010
ESPADA will compete for the second time in the Grade 4 this year against other civilian Grade 4 bands. Last year ESPADA placed 4th out of 6 bands. Come out and support ESPADA.
This will be will be one heck of a weekend! The most important part is that we must get a good, solid day of practice in on Friday. That is the whole point–the rest is just fun and games! The Salado Highland Games will provide a chance to improve your skills on several levels. There will be something for everyone. See y’all soon!
If you need anything or have any ideas please contact us and we will get right back with you.
For 30 years, Jack Lee has been regarded as one of the world’s leading pipers. His accomplishments as a solo piper, pipe band leader and teacher cause him to be in great demand as a performer and teacher throughout the world.
As a Solo Piper, Jack has won all the top awards available…
The Gold Medal (Inverness and Oban, Scotland)
The Gold Clasp (twice) (Inverness, Scotland)
The Glenfiddich Overall Championship (Blair Atholl, Scotland)
The Glenfiddich Piobaireachd contest (three times) (Blair Atholl, Scotland)
The Senior Piobaireachd – (Oban, Scotland)
The Silver Star for former winners MSR (three times) (Inverness, Scotland)
The Bratach Gorm (twice) (London, England)
The Gillies Cup (London, England)
17-times winner of the B.C. Pipers’ Association Annual Gathering
Jack has released a solo CD as part of Lismor’s World’s Greatest Piper Series
In 2001, Jack was voted “Competitive Piper of the Year” by Piper and Drummer Magazine
In the Pipe Band world…
Jack is the Pipe Sergeant and co-founder of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band. In 2009, the band won its 6th World Championship. The band has been an extremely consistent prizewinner at the World Championships during the past 20 years, having won either 1st or 2nd on fourteen occasions. The band has recorded 11 CDs and 2 videos, including CDs at New York’s Carnegie Hall and the magnificent Sydney Opera House. Their youth band (Robert Malcolm Memorial) has won the World Juvenile Championships on four occasions.
As a Teacher…
Jack’s dedicates many hours per week to private instruction at home and online around the world via Skype. Several of Jack’s students have gone on to win major solo prizes in Scotland. Jack teaches at many workshops and piping schools throughout North America and beyond each year.
On a personal level…
Jack, and his brother Terry, were both awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by the Governor General of Canada in 1999 for outstanding service to the country. Jack has three sons (Andrew, Colin and John) who pipe in the SFU Pipe Band.
The National 2011 Pink Heals Tour comes to the Historic Georgetown Square on Tuesday, October 25, 2011. A parade will be going from the old Fire Station on Main Street, around the Square, to the Williamson County Courthouse at 710 S. Main Street. A program on the east side of the Courthouse will include presentations, music, signing of pink fire trucks, and a group photo with women who are cancer survivors. The Master of Ceremonies and times for the tour stop will be announced at a later date.
The Pink Heals Tour stop aims to raise money and awareness for women affected by cancer and is sponsored by the Georgetown Fire Department and the Georgetown Association of Professional Firefighters. Firefighters and fire trucks from Austin, Cedar Park, Florence, Leander, Liberty Hill, Round Rock, Taylor, and Weir were also in the parade and at the tour stop. The pink fire trucks were part of the Guardians of the Ribbon national tour. The Georgetown Fire Department Pipes and Drums Band will be performing at this years tour stop. Also, there will be several local health care, cancer support, and nonprofit organizations that will have booths set up on Main St.
During the program, the 2011 Inspiring Hope Award will also be given during the program. Last year Lynn Guziec, assistant professor of chemistry at Southwestern University, received the 2010 Inspiring Hope award. The honor is presented by the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas, a local nonprofit that provides information and support to women who are diagnosed with breast cancer. Guziec was selected by BCRC to receive the award because of her work in designing and synthesizing new anti-cancer compounds.
GFD Pipes and Drums were honored to be asked to assist the Round Rock Fire Department with the Badge Pinning Ceremony of their new Fire Chief David Coatney. We were excited to be able to help make the event a special for Chief Coatney, his family, friends, our Round Rock brothers and the community of Round Rock.
Taken from the City of Round Rock’s website:
“David brings a wealth of operational and organizational experience to our department, and he’s a proven leader,” Norwood said. “His career has included all aspects of fire and emergency medical management, and we believe he’s the right person to take our Fire Department to the next level.”
In his 25-year career in San Antonio, Coatney served as the department’s Safety Officer, Executive Officer of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division, Chief of Special Operations, Chief of Training, and Chief of the Fire Suppression Division. As Chief of Fire Operations, he directly managed and oversaw the department’s largest division of 1,100 employees and 50 fire stations. Since July 1, he has served as the interim Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of San Antonio.
“I’m excited about moving to Round Rock and assuming leadership of the Round Rock Fire Department,” Coatney said. “I’ve had an opportunity to visit many of the Round Rock firefighters, including Round Rock fire union officials, and I thoroughly enjoyed discussing future plans with them. I look forward to joining this progressive and visionary Fire Department and the excellent leadership team of the City of Round Rock.”
Coatney, 50, earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Organizational Management degrees from Wayland Baptist University, and an Associates Degree in Fire Science from San Antonio College. He is currently enrolled in the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy.
We have added 2011 Red Poppy Parade photos to our Flickr page. This year we were again honored to be joined by the best Pipes and Drummers around! The Emergency Services Pipes and Drums Association (ESPADA). GFD P&D has a wonderful relationship with ESPADA. Some of our members are also members of ESPADA and we go play events with ESPADA and they come help us in return. We are able to get more opportunities to play and each gig makes each member even better. This year for the parade GFD P&D and ESPADA were able to have 12 Bagpipers, a Bass and 3 Snare drummers! Our instructor / Honorary Drum Sargent Stephen Cameron was leading up our drum line this year! It is always a blast having him join us! Thank you all! This year was great and we will see y’all next Year!
We’ve added photos from the Ceilidh that was held at the San Gabriel Presbyterian Church on October 2nd, 2010. GFD Pipes and Drums performed and participated in the Scotish Heritage Celebration. It was a lot of fun! Click here for the photos.
Opening Ceremony 11:00 am (led by GFD Pipe & Drums)
Scotish Dancing
Food and Entertainment:
Men’s Chorus
Kids-Wee Willie Winkie
Instrumentals and Singing
Puppet Show
Limericks
Burn’s Salute to the Haggis (piped in)
Sing-Along
GFD Pipes & Drums
Highland Cathedral
10 more minutes mixed sets
Bells of Dunblane
Pipe Major Jeff Davis piped during the first lap of the 2011 Relay for Life at Forbes Middle School track in Georgetown, TX. He played Amazing Grace and Bells of Dunblane after a Mother’s story of her daughter’s battle with Cancer. Her daughter Haley was diagnosed at 9mo. And passed away to early at age 4. Families lit hundreds of Luminaries in honor of family members all around the track in lane 1.
Jeff said this is one of his favorite events to play and looks forward to being there again!
8 out of our 9 performing members marched in the Mardi Gras parade around Rio Grande Loop in Sun City. Lots of golf carts, the Florence HS band, old cars, and ponies! Good times and many beads!! It was a perfect morning for a parade.
About 90 Firefighters, Police Officers, and Medics came to Georgetown to receive instruction from world class Piping and Drumming instructors on Friday, November 12th, 2010. First Baptist Church was nice enough to let us use their wonderful facility again this year and we can not begin to thank them enough. Our hope is that each attendee learned something that will help them to become that much better when called upon. Thanks to everyone that made the trip to Georgetown and we hope to see everyone back next year!
Members of Georgetown Fire Department Pipes and Drums competed with members of ESPADA at the Salado Highland Games this past weekend. On Saturday Pipe Major Jeff Davis competed in the Sr. Grade IV 2/4 solo competition and the Sr. Grade IV 6/8 solo competition. Bass Drummer David England competed in the Amateur Solo Bass drumming competition. On Saturday ESPADA went head to head with the Corpus Christi Fire Department Pipe Band with guest members from Lewisville and Plano and won the 2nd annual Emergency Service Quick March Medley competition. On Sunday ESPADA competed for the first time in Grade IV as a band and came in 4th out of 6. We are very pleased to have done so well our first time out!
Detective Todd Bircher, a 20 year veteran of the Austin Police Department, is the Pipe Major for the Emergency Services Pipes & Drums as well as the Austin Police Pipe & Drum Corps since 2002. Todd began playing the pipes in the 1996 under the direction of Kenneth Liechte, a native of Scotland, Grade I piper and Pipe Major for Austin’s Grade III Silver Thistle Pipe Band. He is currently a student of Lori Waters of New Braunfels. Todd has competed solo as well as with the Silver Thistle Pipe Band. Aside from fulfilling its role as a service band, Todd plans on taking ESPADA to various competitions in the coming years. Todd has a great presentation for new up and coming pipers. Todd is an honorary piper with the GFD Pipes and Drums.
The GFD Pipes and Drums were asked to assist the Round Rock FD Honor Guard at their Badge Pinning Ceremony for their 6 new Firefighters on Friday September 3rd at 4pm in Round Rock. It was an honor to be part of this celebration that included posting of the colors by the RRFD HG, speeches from City Manager Nuse and Fire Chief Hodge. The band would like to thank our friend Buddy Barber for his assistance. Members of the Round Rock Fire Department are working on starting a Pipe and Drums Band.
After this event the band headed to Georgetown to perform at Georgetown FD’s badge pinning at 6pm for the Firefighters coming off of their one year probation. GFD also handed out station assignments to 8 new probationary Firefighters. Evenings like this remind everyone of how exciting it is to get hired on and the honor it is to serve our community.
Mike Cole
Bass and Tenor Drumming Instructor / Composer / Drum Technician
Mike Cole is one of the world’s most accomplished bass drummers and sought-after drumming instructors. Mike has won a number of top sectional and individual prizes, including the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Best Bass title at the World Pipe Band Championships in Grade 2 in 1998, the North American Pipe Band Championships bass section titles in Grade 2 in 2004 and 2005 and in Grade 1 in 2006 and 2007. Also in 2007 Mike won the Midwest Highland Arts Fund Winter Storm Gold Medal in their inaugural solo bass drumming contest in Kansas City. Mike now is an adjudicator of that contest.
Mike has instructed individuals and drum corps. He has taught at workshops, seminars, and summer camps in Scotland, Canada, and the United States. He was a member of the advisory staff of TenorDrummer.com and has taught bass drumming at the “Back to Basics” clinic in Glasgow, Scotland. He is a faculty member of the Celtic Arts’ Foundation School in Seattle, Washington, and the Midwest Highland Arts’ Winter Storm School in Kansas City, Missouri. Mike judged solo bass drumming and tenor and bass drumming in the Grade 1 and 2 band contests at the North American Pipe Band Championships in Maxville, Ontario in 2009. Mike was one of the authors of the adjudicators’ examination for bass and tenor judging in Ontario in 2010. He is an accomplished drum technician having tuned the 6-time Grade One World Champions Simon Fraser University Pipe Band a number of times before their competing at the World Pipe Band Championships.
Mike enjoyed the summer of his dreams in 2010, living in Scotland for the entire summer, guesting as the bass drummer with the Grade One Inveraray and District Pipe Band for the 2010 competitive season. He teamed with PM Stuart Liddell and DS Stephen McWhirter in what will no doubt be one of the powerhouse pipe bands in Scotland in 2010 and beyond! They placed ninth at the World’s (out of 25 bands) and followed that up two weeks later at Cowal where they broke into the prize list with a fifth place finish, a first for a Grade One band in its first year in Grade One.
Mike resides in Chicago, Illinois where he works as an elementary school math teacher for the Chicago Public Schools. Mike contributes much of his success to the support of his wife, MJ, a former piper and his greatest fan. Mike has kindly taken time out from his busy schedule to join us in Georgetown, Texas and we are delighted to have him!
St Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band! The St. Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band from Dublin has had a very strong 2010 so far – finishing 4th at the Scottish Championships, 3rd at the British Championships and 1st at the European Championships. Today they won Worlds in Glasgow Scotland! Here is the video of their M.S.R.
Last updated on 11/5/2010.
This page is here to post the latest information about the 2010 GFD Pipes and Drums Clinic. Please check by from time to time. We will be adding information here when it becomes available.
The 2010 Georgetown Fire Department Pipes and Drums Clinic will be on Friday November 12th. The clinic will be from 8-5pm. Lunch will be provided and the registration fee information is on the form. Print off the following form and mail back.
The Host Hotel is the Holiday Inn Express. This Hotel is brand new and they are excited to offer our group a discounted rate good until October 24th. The discounted rate will apply to November 10th through November 15th. As of 8/27/10 they have 24 double queens and 16 double kings available for $99/night, (Normal is $129 – so hurry!) and they also have 12 King suites that are a little larger for $10 more than the special rate. This $99 price is only good until October 24th. Be sure to let them know that you are attending the Georgetown Pipes and Drums Clinic to get the group rate. We did a site visit and this Hotel is nice and new! Other Hotel Information for Georgetown
Thursday, November 11th, 2010
Thursday night we are planning a meet and greet at Stephen Cameron’s House. He has a nice place and an even nicer back yard / deck / pool. Ian K. McDonald, Bruce Robertson, and Mike Cole are staying at Steve’s, so it just makes sense to have it there! Y’all just come and go, it will be a GREAT time and a great way to kick off the weekend! We will have chips and dips to snack on so eat before you come. Providing that we are not under a burn bann we will have another bonfire. One of our members is making his famous home brew that he made last year. BYOB also if you like.
Depending on the time of night, some of the shops on the Square stay open late. There are some awesome shops so you can get in some early Christmas shopping (I always go to the Escape – you can’t go wrong there guys!) There is a great coffee shop and some nice restaurants. Just take a stroll with your family and enjoy!
Friday, November 12th, 2010
The Clinic is going to be in Georgetown, TX at the First Baptist Church (1333 W. University Ave). It will start at 8am SHARP and conclude at 5pm.
We have 3 piping instructors, the first is Toronto Police Pipe Band P/M Ian K. MacDonald (Here is the T.P.P.B. in action.), second is Westminster Pipe Band P/M Bruce Robertson, and third is ESPADA’s Pipe Major Todd Bircher. We have 3 drumming instructors, first is Ian’s good friend Stephen Cameron from Cameron Highland Drumming and Stephen’s wing man from the Westminster PB Drum Corp Jon Greene working with all of the snare drummers. We can confirm the addition of Chicago based world champion bass drummer Mike Cole to the instructor list for our clinic! (Video of Mike Cole playing in this years World’s)
We will have a good, solid day of practice for every member attending. From 8 a.m.-12 p.m. we will be inside on chanters and practice pads in different breakout rooms. Lunch will be provided by Local 3991 and catered on site so that we can keep working. From 1-5 p.m. we will slowly venture outside for marching and playing whatever the instructors determine. Damion from Lone Star Piper will be there as a vendor for your pipes and drums equipment needs.
The Georgetown Convention & Visitors Center is providing us with visitor information to hand out. These will be available at the Meet & Great and the morning of the Clinic at the Church.
After practice, we have booked the back yard at Hardtails Bar and Grill at 1515 N. IH35. They are giving us full access to the back bar and a flat rate for meals. They have great food and one big arse fan! They are excited that we will be hanging out there and they said we are welcome to bring instruments. Come prepared to Jam! It is also right up the frontage road from the Host Hotel (Holiday Inn Express).
END of State Practice.
Saturday, November 13th, 2010
(History leading up to this whole thing) – At the 2008 Salado Highland Games, Rose Adams (the coordinator) approached us the see if there would be any interest in hosting a Texas Emergency Services Pipe Band Invitational. We told her we would look into it and it sounded like there might just be some interest throughout the state. In 2009 2 bands (YouTube) competed in a mini-band (friendly) competition with a $40 entry fee and place prize and a trophy. This was the first Texas Emergency Services Pipe Band Invitational. This is a chance to go out on the field and get some very valuable feedback from some world class judges. Public Safety bands normally do not compete at events. No pressure here, but this gives us all another chance to hone our mad skills, get some advise from the judges (Ian and Bruce), get our band names out there and represent our departments in a very good way! The people will see the incredible pride we have in our noble profession and our sense of tradition.
In the morning there is individual piping and druming competition for those that want to check that out. There will be a March Past Parade that will open the Games at Noon and the State Group is invited to participate. Due to flooding damage the games will be held at the Salado Civic Center at 601 N. Main St. in Salado. The Emergency Service competition will begin at 2:30p.m. After that, grab a seat in your lawn chair and enjoy the Grade 3 competition at 3pm. Salado usually attracts the St. Thomas Episcopal Pipe Band, Silver Thistle Pipe Band and the Westminster Pipe Band. They are good! That night there is a Tattoo at the ruins of the old Salado College which is really cool.
Sunday, November 14th, 2010
Rose Adams has asked if the whole state group or a small contingent might be interested in competing in the Grade 4 competition. We will have to see if we have enough interest from the group and go from there. If there is please let us know so we can register. ESPADA will compete for the first time in the Grade 4 this year against other civilian Grade 4 bands.
This will be will be one heck of a weekend! The most important part is that we must get a good, solid day of practice in on Friday. That is the whole point–the rest is just fun and games! The Salado Highland Games will provide a chance to improve your skills on several levels. There will be something for everyone. See y’all soon!
If you need anything or have any ideas please contact us and we will get right back with you.
GFD Pipes and Drums assisted San Marcos FD at their Grand Opening of their new Fire Station #5. We were happy to come play at such a cool event. They have a very nice new fire station to be proud of!
This event marked Rebel Paulk’s first performance with the Band on the Bass. Great job Rebel! Jeff and Scott were on the pipes and Matt on the side drum. Thanks to Nancy for taking time to come photograph the event. Chiefs Fire, Shell and Faught made the trip as well.
The band performed twice in the San Gabriel Park on July 4th. The first performance was a Hometown Parade that began at Noon and made it’s way through the park. Children decorated bikes and wagons in Red, White, and Blue. The second performance was about an hour before the Fireworks display. We played in front of around 1500 people. Thanks to Todd, Lauren, Stephen, Ken, and Buddy for coming and jamming with us. It was a lot of fun! Thank you to our Troops for providing us with the freedom to celebrate this day.
The band has sponsored a Georgetown Youth Baseball Association Little League team. The Rangers are in the 11/12U Bronco division and are currently in 2nd place in their division. The Coaches are John Davis and Robert Fite. We will hopefully be able to post a team picture soon!
St. Patrick’s Day went well. It was a long day but very rewarding. We were honored to play at the Ronald McDonald House at Dell Childrens Hospital. We played there at 10:30 for the children and we met some very strong children! We then headed to Fado Irish Pub and played a Noon set for the Volunteer’s that helped ESPADA with it’s fundraiser. After lunch at Katz’s we headed to Mother Egans and played at 3:30, 5:30, 7:30 and 10:30. What a great night. We heard some incredible stories from 2 mothers talking about there children’s fight with cancer. ESPADA helped raise over $45,000 for the St. Baldrick’s foundation to go towards research for Childrens Cancer Research. Here is a clip from Mother Egan’s.
We will be performing in Austin with ESPADA on St. Patrick’s Day. (Wednesday, March 17th, 2010)
We will begin at Fado Irish Pub at Noon. Fado’s shuts down 4th St and sets up a massive outdoor tent, beer garden and performance area. As a fundraiser, ESPADA aranges volunteers to staff the gates for shifts through out the day. Sign up to help out and in turn help ESPADA raise money for uniforms, training, and travel. Click here for more info.
The band will head over to Mother Egan’s Irish Pub for several sets while the St. Baldrick’s Fundraiser is underway. We anticipate performing around 3:30pm, 5:30pm, 7:15pm, and 10:30pm. Come out and enjoy a great evening!
Pipe Major Jeff Davis recently had the honor of Piping for a the Family of Fallen Solider Captain Paul Pena. Jeff recieved a call on short notice from the San Marcos Fire Department and loaded up and headed that way. Jeff was placed on top of a Ladder truck on top of an IH35 overpass and piped while the procession passed by. This was an honor. Our thoughts and Prayers are with the Pena family. Here is the link to the story on KVUE
Last updated on 10/13/09.
This page is here to place information about the 2009 Texas Fire Pipes and Drums practice in Georgetown, TX. Please check by from time to time.
Thursday, November 12th, 2009 – There is a block of 20 rooms at the Comfort Suites in Georgetown.
(Comfort Suites, Georgetown, (512) 863-7544)
The National Honor Guard Academy is being hosted by the Fire Department the week of November 8th-13th so when making your reservations please be sure to say you are with the “Pipes and Drums”.
Booking includes hot breakfast, each room has a microwave, fridge, coffee maker, hair dryer, free high speed internet and the hotel has a business center. Or course Chili’s and Applebee’s are walking distance. Deadline to book your room is October, 21st!!
Thursday night we are planning a meet and greet at Stephen Cameron’s House. He has a nice place and an even nicer back yard / deck / pool. Ian K. McDonald is staying at Stephen’s and so it just makes sense to have it at Steve’s! Y’all just come and go, it will be a GREAT time and a great way to kick off the weekend! We will have refreshments (and kegs) and snacks so eat before you come. We will also have the information for spouses there.
Depending on the time of night, some of the shops on the Square stay open late. There are some awesome shops so you can get in some early Christmas shopping (I always go to the Escape – you can’t go wrong there guys!) There is a great coffee shop and some nice restaurants. Just take a stroll with your family and enjoy!
Friday, November 13th, 2009
The Fall State Practice is going to be in Georgetown, TX at the First Baptist Church (1333 W. University Ave). It will start at 8am SHARP and conclude at 5pm. We have 3 piping instructors, the first is Toronto Police Pipe Band P/M Ian K. MacDonald (Here is the T.P.P.B. in action.), Westminster Pipe Band P/M Bruce Robertson, and ESPADA Pipe Major Todd Bircher. We will of course have Ian’s good friendStephen Cameron from Cameron Highland Drumming and Stephen’s wing man from his Westminster Drum Corp Jon Greene working with all of the drummers. We want to have a good, solid day of practice for every member attending. There are several things that I’m sure each P/M wants to work on and Jeff will be gathering info from all state P/Ms prior to the practice so that we can get right to work. From 8 a.m.-12 p.m. we will (more than likely) be inside on chanters and practice pads in different breakout rooms. Lunch will be provided by Local 3991 and catered on site so that we can keep working. From 1-5 p.m. we will (more than likely) be outside marching and playing whatever the instructors determine to practice. There will be two vendors on site, Tommy’s Drum Shop and Lone Star Piper and tables will be available for everyone to sell t-shirts and hats. We will also have the information for the spouses available there.
Several spouses have stepped up to help with activities for your family to do while in Georgetown. There will be a kid-friendly package and a shopper’s package. We will try to think of some others and would welcome input. The Georgetown Convention & Visitors Center is providing us with information to hand out.
After practice, we are looking at letting everyone grab a bite to eat somewhere in Georgetown and we will have advise for good places to eat. The good news is everything is really close by.
A new item that has come up that we will take input on…the Downtown Georgetown’s Association’s Summer Music Series will be at the corner of 8th and Main St. on Friday night. We might be able to go and crash the music scene. I do not want to rush all over the place however. (They already asked and I told them we will think about it.) I will leave that one up in the air for now.
We have booked a 55 passenger Charter Bus to get to (and return from) the Pub crawl. We would ask that each of you pitch in about $11.50 to get a safe ride to and from 6th St. for you and your instrument. Here are the transportation details…
The Charter will:
arrive at the Comfort Suites in Georgetown at 8:30pm, (Load up!)
depart Georgetown at 9:00pm,
arrive in Austin (6th St. area) about 9:30pm, (Unload, Tune, and Crawl!)
The Charter will:
be available to load up (6th St. area) at 12:30am
depart Austin at 1:00am
arrive at the Comfort Suites in Georgetown about 1:30am.
ESPADA Band Manager, Coitt Kessler, is coordinating the Pub Crawl (as only he can – I don’t know how he does it!) on 6th Street in Austin on Friday night. We will more than likely hit some of the same pubs (B.D. Riley’s and Fado) from Fall ’07 and then get back to Georgetown in one piece. It will be a blast and even more time to practice as a State Group! E.G.H.
END of State Practice.
Saturday, November 14th, 2009
(History leading up to this whole thing) – At the 2008 Salado Highland Games, Rose Adams (the coordinator) approached us the see if there would be any interest in hosting a Texas Emergency Services Pipe Band Invitational. We told her we would look into it and it sounds like there might just be some interest throughout the state. It will be a mini-band (friendly) competition with a $40 entry fee and place prize and a trophy. This will be the first of hopefully many to come if it goes well. This is a chance to go out on the field and get some very valuable feedback from some world class judges. Public Safety bands normally do not compete at events. No pressure here, but this gives us all another chance to hone our mad skills, get some advise from the judges (Ian and Bruce), get our band names out there and represent our departments in a very good way! The people will see the incredible pride we have in our noble profession and our sense of tradition. Whoever wins buys everyone a round!
In the morning there is individual piping competition for those that are sober (cough – Dan!). There will be a March Past Parade that will open the Games at Noon. Due to flooding damage the games will be held at the Salado Civic Center at 601 N. Main St. in Salado. The Emergency Service competition will begin at 2 p.m. After that, grab a seat in your lawn chair and enjoy the Grade 3 competition at 3pm. Salado usually attracts the St. Thomas Episcopal Pipe Band, Silver Thistle Pipe Band and other Grade 3 bands. They are good! That night there is a Tattoo at the ruins of the old Salado College which is really cool.
Sunday, November 15th, 2009
Rose Adams has asked if the whole state group or a small contingent might be interested in competing in the Grade 4 competition. We will have to see if we have enough interest from the group and go from there. If there is please let us know so we can register.
Stay tuned for much more info like music you can select for competing, hotel info, Georgetown attractions for the family, Thursday night info, etc…
It looks like it will be one heck of a weekend! The most important part is that we must get a good, solid day of practice in on Friday. That is the whole point–the rest is just fun and games! The Salado Highland Games will provide a chance to improve your skills on several levels. There will be something for everyone. See y’all soon!
New item… The Georgetown FD Honor Guard is set to host the National Honor Guard Academy the week of November 8-13, 2009 in Georgetown. Should be a fun week!
If you need anything or have any ideas please contact us and we will get right back with you.
The shirts for sale at the Visitors Center and Fire Stations are $15. The shirts available for purchase online vary in price. All profits will go to the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas.
Members of the band along with ESPADA and APD Pipes & Drums performed on 9/11/09. The first performance was at the old Buford training tower at Lady Byrd Lake at the time the Twin Towers were attacked. 343 Firefighters paid the supreme sacrifice that day and this band will not forget.
The band grabbed some breakfast and headed to the State Capital for our 2nd performance at the CAPCOG awards at 11am. After that we headed to the Capital Rotunda for a performance at Noon. This performance turned out to be as close to perfect as we have ever played. Here is a video.
The band headed to Opal Divines for some lunch and weather watching! The weather was moving in and the Taylor Parade and 9/11 observance was canceled.
