SUSPBA shuts down for good
The Southern United States Pipe Band Association at its annual general meeting on July 13, 2013, decided to close down the organization for good, and distribute all funds in the bank account to remaining member bands and games committees.
The organization had existed since the 1980s and was guided for the last 30 years by its founder, Sandy Keith, who died in 2012. Since Keith’s passing the organization foundered, but still listed 16 pipe bands in Florida as members.
Roddy MacDonald, who was also involved with the SUSPBA, also died in 2012, and was a significant leader in Florida piping and drumming. MacDonald was the co-founder of a leader in the EUSPBA in the late-1960s when he lived in Delaware.
The SUSPBA governed primarily the state of Florida throughout its history. The Eastern United States Pipe Band Association continues to operate a Florida Branch, and so has no plans for expansion.
“I am sorry to hear about this,” said a surprised EUSPBA President Eric MacNeill when he received the news of the SUSPBA’s demise.
The SUSPBA was a member of the Alliance of North American Pipe Band Associations. The last competition sanctioned by the SUSPBAS was the Dunedin Highland Games in April 2013.
Once the “surprise” and “sorrow” have worn off, I hope the EUSPBA will take some sort of pro-active action figuring out how it will handle former SUSPBA members. Currently there is “reciprocity” with all pba’s. What happens when there is no pba to reciprocate with?
Not really sure why the EUSPBA needs to figure out how to “handle” former suspba members??? I’m sure if they feel like signing up they just have to fill out the forms, pay their fees and get acquainted with some of the rule differences. The SUSPBA, for a long time served Florida piping and drumming very well. Like all things it’s time had come. Maybe in the future we will see it again, but for now we pipe on.