The following are proposed amendments to the By-laws and Contest Rules of the Western United States Pipe Band Association for 2006 to be voted upon by the membership per the Association’s existing by-laws at the Annual General Meeting to be held on Saturday February 4, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Clarion Hotel (Emerald Springs). See WUSBPA.ORG for more information on the AGM schedule and workshops.

NOTE: All changes to the by-laws and contest rules take effect immediately upon approval, unless a change from the floor during discussion specifically states the time frame for the proposal and is voted upon and approved according to existing voting processes.

 

New or additional language in CAPITALs, language to be stricken shows as strikethrough.

 

BYLAWS PROPOSALS

 

 

Bylaws proposal #1 – Modification to the membership notification process - submitted by the Executive Committee

 

ARTICLE XVII – AMENDMENTS

 

1. These Bylaws may be amended at the annual general meeting by a two-thirds vote, provided that the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing to the membership at least thirty days prior to the meeting OR POSTED ON THE ASSOCIATION’S WEBSITE AT LEAST 30 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ANNUAL MEETING.

 

2. Contest rules may be modified by a simple majority vote at the annual general meeting or at a special meeting, provided that the proposed modification has been submitted in writing to the membership at least thirty days prior to the meeting OR POSTED ON THE ASSOCIATION’S WEBSITE AT LEAST 30 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ANNUAL MEETING.

 

Bylaws proposal #2 – Splitting of the Registrar position into separate positions for solos (individuals) and bands - submitted by the Executive Committee

 

Article IV – OFFICERS

 

1. Officers' Titles: The officers of the Association will be a President, a Vice President, an Executive Secretary, a BAND Registrar, A SOLO REGISTRAR and a Treasurer.

 

6. BAND Registrar Duties:

6.1 Membership roster: The BAND Registrar shall maintain a complete and accurate list of all BAND members of the Association including Soloists, Bands, and Games Organizers.

6.2 Register members: The BAND Registrar shall register all new BAND members; including Soloists, Bands, and Games Organizers. Solo competition results: The Registrar shall compile and maintain records of competition results among soloists.

6.3 Band competition results: The BAND Registrar shall maintain a grading chart that shall show the results of each band's performance in each grade of contest for purposes of band grading recommendations.

6.4 Champion of Champions: The BAND Registrar shall tabulate and verify contest results for Champion of Champions points for Soloists and Bands.

6.5 Other duties incident to the office: The BAND Registrar shall in general, perform all other duties incident to the office of BAND Registrar, subject to the control of the Executive Committee.

6.6 Other duties: The BAND Registrar shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him/her by the President of the Association.

 

ADD: (numbering schema to be determined based on proposals 2 & 3)

 

8. SOLO Registrar Duties:

8.1 MEMBERSHIP ROSTER: THE SOLO REGISTRAR SHALL MAINTAIN A COMPLETE AND ACCURATE LIST OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION INCLUDING SOLOISTS, JUDGES, ASSOCIATES, AND GAMES ORGANIZERS.

8.2 REGISTER MEMBERS: THE SOLO REGISTRAR SHALL REGISTER ALL NEW MEMBERS; INCLUDING SOLOISTS, JUDGES, ASSOCIATES BANDS, AND GAMES ORGANIZERS.

8.3 SOLO COMPETITION RESULTS: THE SOLO REGISTRAR SHALL COMPILE AND MAINTAIN RECORDS OF COMPETITION RESULTS AMONG SOLOISTS.

8.4 CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS: THE SOLO REGISTRAR SHALL TABULATE AND VERIFY CONTEST RESULTS FOR CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS POINTS FOR SOLOISTS.

8.5 OTHER DUTIES INCIDENT TO THE OFFICE: THE SOLO REGISTRAR SHALL IN GENERAL, PERFORM ALL OTHER DUTIES INCIDENT TO THE OFFICE OF SOLO REGISTRAR, SUBJECT TO THE CONTROL OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

8.6 OTHER DUTIES: THE SOLO REGISTRAR SHALL PERFORM SUCH OTHER DUTIES AS FROM TIME TO TIME MAY BE ASSIGNED TO HIM/HER BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION.

 

Bylaws proposal # 3 - Split the Executive Secretary position into two positions, divided by duties for Secretary and Sanctioning

 

Article IV, Officers:

 

1. Officers' Titles:

 

1.1 The officers of the Association will be a President, a Vice President, an Executive Secretary, A SANCTIONING SECRETARY, a Registrar, and a Treasurer.

 

ADD (renumbering schema depends on proposals 2 & 3)

6. SANCTIONING SECRETARY DUTIES:

6.1 SANCTIONING REQUEST FORMS:

6.1.1 RECEIVE COMPLETED SANCTIONING REQUEST FORMS FROM GAMES ORGANIZERS.

6.1.2 UPDATE SANCTIONING REQUEST FORMS AS NECESSARY.

6.2 COMPETITION EVENTS: ENSURE THAT TRACKED EVENTS OFFERED AT GAMES ARE THOSE LISTED IN WUSPBA BYLAWS AND CONTEST RULES.

6.3 ADJUDICATORS: CONFIRM THAT ADJUDICATORS ARE APPROVED BY THEIR HOME ASSOCIATION FOR THE EVENTS THEY ARE ASSIGNED TO JUDGE.

6.4 SANCTIONING: UPON PROPER COMPLETION OF SANCTIONING REQUEST FORMS BY GAMES ORGANIZERS, AND UPON APPROVAL OF EVENTS AND JUDGES, LABEL THE CONTEST AS SANCTIONED BY WUSPBA AND INFORM GAMES ORGANIZERS, REGISTRAR(S), AND WEBMASTER.

6.5 WUSPBA REPRESENTATIVE: CONFIRM THAT THERE WILL BE A WUSPBA REPRESENTATIVE AT EACH CONTEST.

6.6 THE SANCTIONING SECRETARY SHALL ALSO PERFORM SUCH OTHER DUTIES AS FROM TIME TO TIME MAY BE ASSIGNED TO HIM/HER BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION.

 

Election of Officers at the 2006 AGM: The positions of President, Executive Secretary and Registrar will be voted upon at the 2006 AGM. In the event the proposal to split the Registrar and Executive Secretary position(s) passes, the membership will elect a Band Registrar and Executive Secretary for a normal term of 2 years and a Solo Registrar and Sanctioning Secretary for a one year term in order to stagger the positions to correspond to the rest of the officer positions.

Bylaws proposal #4 – Removal of WUSPBA Executive Committee Officers – submitted by the Executive Committee

 

Article IV.

ADD the following before current section 3 (President Duties) and renumber all following sections accordingly:

3. REMOVAL OF OFFICERS

            3.1 CURRENT OFFICERS OF THE WESTERN UNITED STATES PIPE BAND ASSOCIATION MAY
            BE REMOVED FROM THEIR ELECTED POSITIONS FOR ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
            REASONS:
            3.1.1 FAILURE TO CARRY OUT THE DUTIES OF THE POSITION AS OUTLINED IN THE
            BYLAWS
            3.1.2 FAILURE TO REPRESENT THE ORGANIZATION IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER
            3.1.3 VIOLATION OF THE CONTEST RULES OR BY-LAWS OF THE ORGANIZATION
            3.2 REMOVAL WILL BE THROUGH ONE OF THE FOLLOWING PROCESSES:
            3.2.1 3/4 VOTE OF THE REMAINING EXECUTIVE
            3.2.2 2/3 VOTE AT THE AGM OR AT A SPECIAL MEETING

Also ADD to: Article V Number 3 Parliamentary Authority (as part of Proposal #4)

3.2 IN THE EVENT OF CONFLICT WITH BRANCH BYLAWS OR ABSENCE OF A BRANCH BYLAW
TO RESOLVE A SPECIFIC BRANCH PARLIAMENTARY ISSUE, WUSPBA BYLAWS WILL TAKE
PRECEDENCE.

 

Bylaws Proposal #5 – clarification to Life Members – submitted by the Executive committee

 

Article III ADD the following:

2.2.6 LIFE MEMBERSHIP

(A) LIFE MEMBERS ARE ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN GRANTED A LIFE MEMBERSHIP
CERTIFICATE BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. LIFE MEMBERS ARE AUTOMATICALLY
CONSIDERED MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION AND PAY NO DUES.
(B) LIFE MEMBERS HAVE ALL THE RIGHTS OF SOLO MEMBERS.

 

 

CONTEST RULE PROPOSALS

 

CR Proposal # 1 – mandatory splitting of large solo events (all solo events): proposed by the Music Board

 

Part I. SOLO CONTEST RULES

 

Solo Leets: Where a solo contest will consist of more than 15 entries, the contest will be divided into two or more leets, as necessary. The top three competitors of each leet shall compete in a play-off to determine the final contest results. All leets and respective contest play-offs must be of the same event (i.e., no commingling of leet events into one play-off). Where possible, the play-off adjudicator should not have judged any of the original leets. All play-off competitors must be notified of the play-off time and location no later than 30 minutes before the start of the contest play-off.

Each Solo Competition Record should indicate whether the contest is for a leet or a play-off. Where the contest is for a leet, the total number of leets should be indicated.

 

Replace entire section above with:

 

7. SUBDIVIDING LARGE ENTRIES: WHERE A SOLO CONTEST WILL CONSIST OF MORE THAN 20 ENTRIES, THE CONTEST WILL BE DIVIDED INTO TWO OR MORE SMALLER SECTIONS. THESE SECTIONS CAN BE DETERMINED RANDOMLY OR BY AGE BY THE CONTEST SPONSOR. AS GRADE IV IS THE ENTRY-LEVEL EVENT FOR SOLO COMPETITION, IT IS STRONGLY SUGGESTED THAT AN UNDER 18 YEARS OLD EVENT BE OFFERED. AWARD SEPARATE PRIZES FOR THE SEPARATE SECTIONS WITHIN EACH GRADE.

 

IF THERE IS AN OVERALL TROPHY FOR THE GRADE, HAVE A PLAYOFF BETWEEN THE SECTION WINNERS OR PUT MULTIPLE NAMES ON THE TROPHY. WHERE POSSIBLE, THE PLAY-OFF ADJUDICATOR SHOULD NOT HAVE JUDGED ANY OF THE ORIGINAL GRADE SECTIONS. ALL PLAY-OFF COMPETITORS MUST BE NOTIFIED OF THE PLAY-OFF TIME AND LOCATION NO LATER THAN 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE START OF THE CONTEST PLAY-OFF.

 

CR Proposal #2a – addition of snare events for grade 3 & 4 – proposed by the Music Board

 

Part III. Rules and Recommendations for Solo Snare Drumming Competitions

 

GRADE 3
2/4 March	Submit one tune
6/8 March	Submit one tune
STRATHSPEY/REEL	SUBMIT ONE TUNE OF EACH TYPE. TO INITIATE THE CONTEST, THE PIPER WILL STRIKE UP ON AN E; THE DRUMMER WILL THEN COUNT OFF 4 BEATS; JUDGING WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST BEAT OF THE STRATHSPEY.
GRADE 4
2/4 March	Submit one tune
6/8 MARCH	SUBMIT ONE TUNE

 

CR Proposal # 3 – addition of tenor drummers to band member requirements – proposed by the Music Board

 

Part VII. BAND CONTEST RULES

 

3.e . Band Numbers: Bands taking part in a Pipe Band Contest shall comprise not less than nine (9) players; six (6) pipers, two (2) side drummers and one (1) bass drummer. If a bass section contest is held, such a section must consist of at least one bass and two (2) tenors.

 

Replace entire section with:

 

3.E. BAND NUMBERS: GRADE 1, 2, AND 3 BANDS TAKING PART IN A PIPE BAND CONTEST SHALL COMPRISE NOT LESS THAN TEN (10) PLAYERS; SIX (6) PIPERS, TWO (2) SIDE DRUMMERS, ONE (1) BASS DRUMMER, AND ONE (1) TENOR DRUMMER. GRADE 4 BANDS TAKING PART IN A PIPE BAND CONTEST SHALL COMPRISE NOT LESS THAN NINE (9) PLAYERS; SIX (6) PIPERS, TWO (2) SIDE DRUMMERS, AND ONE (1) BASS DRUMMER.

 

CR Proposal #4 – clarify instructor rule language in grade 4 bands – proposed by the Music Board

 

Part VII. BAND CONTEST RULES

 

Section 3, subsection h Band Registration:

 

ii) One Person, One Band: With the exception of an instructor, no member shall be allowed to register in more than one band. A piper or drummer may register in two bands, of different grades, providing both are WUSPBA-registered bands, if that piper or drummer serves as the registered instructor in the lower grade band for the season. A band may not have more than one piper and one drummer registered with them as instructors. A higher-grade band may have more than one piper or drummer who serve as instructors of lower grade bands. An instructor will be in addition to the minimum number of pipers (6) or side drummers (2) required for competition. Only members of Grade IV bands will be allowed to "play up" under this rule.

 

Replace struck passage above with:

 

GRADE IV BANDS MAY REGISTER, FOR THE COMPETITION SEASON, ONE PIPING INSTRUCTOR AND/OR ONE DRUMMING INSTRUCTOR FROM WITHIN THE WUSPBA WHO IS ALSO REGISTERED WITH ANOTHER, HIGHER-GRADED WUSPBA BAND. THE INSTRUCTOR(S) SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED TO MAKE UP THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF PIPERS OR DRUMMERS REQUIRED FOR GRADE IV COMPETITION. THE INSTRUCTOR(S) MAY NOT PLAY THE LEAD SIDE DRUM, BASS, OR ACT AS PIPE MAJOR IN COMPETITION. A HIGHER-GRADE BAND MAY HAVE MORE THAN ONE PIPER OR DRUMMER WHO SERVE AS INSTRUCTORS OF GRADE IV BANDS.

CR Proposal # 5 – change in judging forms for all solo competitions – submitted by the Music Board

 

Part I. SOLO CONTEST RULES

 

Add section 13:

 

13. INITIATE THE USE OF A PERFORMANCE RATING SYSTEM THAT RANKS THE TOP SIX PLAYERS FROM FIRST THROUGH SIXTH. NO POINTS ARE GIVEN ON THE SCORE SHEET. IN ADDITION TO THE RANKING OF THE TOP SIX PLAYERS, THE ADJUDICATOR WILL ASSESS EACH PLAYER IN MUSICAL, TECHNICAL, AND TONAL EXPECTATIONS FOR THE GRADE. THE PERFORMANCE LEVEL WILL BE MARKED AT ONE OF FIVE

LEVELS:

 

LEVEL 5 - ABOVE THE GRADE LEVEL

LEVEL 4 - AT THE UPPER END OF THE GRADE LEVEL

LEVEL 3 - IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GRADE LEVEL

LEVEL 2 - AT THE LOWER END OF THE GRADE LEVEL

LEVEL 1 - BELOW GRADE LEVEL

 

CR Proposal #6 – clarification to the sets for QMM and TLM for grade 4 band contests – submitted by the Executive Committee

 

Part VII. BAND CONTEST RULES

 

q. Time Limit Medley Event: É

ADD:

 

vi: THE SET PLAYED FOR THE TIME LIMIT MEDLEY SHALL NOT BE THE SAME SET USED IN THE QUICK MARCH MEDLEY

 

Quick March Medley Event (QMM): This will be a graded contest limited to Grade IV and Juvenile bands only. Tunes played must consist of quick marches in any time signature(s). Bands will play from two minutes, forty-five seconds (2:45) to four minute, thirty seconds (4:30). THE SET PLAYED FOR THE QUICK MARCH MEDLEY SHALL NOT BE THE SAME SET USED IN THE TIME LIMIT MEDLEY.

CR Proposal #7 - Proposed by Bruce Baxter and Andrew Morrill of Great Basin Branch:

 

Part VII. BAND CONTEST RULES

 

All bands, mini-bands and soloists residing in the area where the Association sanctions contests must be members of the Association to be eligible to participate in such contests COMPETING IN WUSPBA SANCTIONED GAMES MUST BE A MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING OF THE WUSPBA OR AN ANAPBA-AFFILIATED PIPING ASSOCIATION IN ORDER.