The April 14, 2011 episode of Bagpipe Nation is below for listening and downloading. Host Andrew Douglas and Vince Janoski talk about this weekend’s Oran Mor Spring Training workshops and delve further into the problem and solution to possible bagpipe competition extinction. Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes or directly in your feed reader by clicking here.
Imagine if all schools were run as private interests. The public strikes a deal with the schools that essentially says: “We’ll require that all kids of school age must attend but you will have to run your institution independently with no public funds.” The arrangement seems to work so time goes by with the arrangement in place. I’m sure there are some who think this could work except for the fact that there is no backup plan for all of the children who are left in the cold when the school then decides (because they are independent and free to make this decision) to close its doors and cease operations because of bankruptcy. What then? The school and its operation are essential to the education of the children it serves. This is exactly why it is important to have publicly funded schools.
The relationship the EUSPBA has with the Highland games that provide the venue for bagpipe competitions is precisely the above description—complete with the actual and potential risk of the operation shutting down. As important as the games are to the successful functioning of the EUSPBA and competitive bagpiping and drumming, you might think that arrangement would be different.
We here in the EUSPBA happily pay their dues each year for membership in an organization that furthers the art of bagpiping and pipe band drumming. (We can all agree on “happily,” yes?) As such, paying dues, or subscription fee, or whatever you want to call it, to an organization that promotes what you feel passionate about is pretty common in the U.S. National Geographic has built a media and science empire on just such a model. But let’s think of it another way. Read More
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