MWPBA Band Registration FAQs
Some Frequently Asked Questions to consider, with answers as supplied by the MWPBA Band Registrar:
{slide=Q. When do I need to get my roster in?}
A. Your rosters must be POSTMARKED or SUBMITTED ONLINE by MARCH 31st. Any rosters submitted after that date will be considered a band transfer and will count against the one allowed band transfer per year for every member of the band. The only exception is for bands formed and registered after March 31st.
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{slide=Q. Can I email the roster to the registrar?}
A. YES. The receipt date will be considered the postmark date for email. However, you should also send a hard copy via snailmail so we have a paper trail. Better yet, use the ONLINE forms.
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{slide=Q. When do I have to get my Registered Instructor Form in?}
A. Registered Instructor Forms must be POSTMARKED by MARCH 31st. No RI forms will be accepted after this date unless the band is newly formed and registered after March 31st.
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{slide=Q. Should I send my Roster / Registration / RI Form by registered mail?}
A. NO. I will not accept any forms or rosters sent registered mail. The USPS does a great job. If you are concerned that your mail might not get to me, send me an email and I will verify that I have received it. Better yet, use the ONLINE submission forms, where available.
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{slide=Q. Do you consider emails the same as postmarking?}
A. YES. I consider the date of receipt on the email the same as a postmark.
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{slide=Q. I don’t have the required numbers for competition; can I still register and play for sheets?}
A. NO. You must register your band with the intent of competing. Any band that shows up to a contest without the minimum required numbers will not be allowed to compete. Illness on the day that brings your band below minimums will be taken into consideration.
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{slide=Q. I have some new people to add to the roster, how can I do that?}
A. You should mail or email a new roster with the additions noted. A person who has not been on ANY roster this season may be added 4 days prior to a sanctioned event. Anyone who has been registered with ANY band this season must be added 10 days prior to a sanctioned event. We have reciprocity with all other North American associations, so this includes people coming into our association from an outside association.
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{slide=Q. What are the RI requirements?}
A. The RI must be from a higher grade band and your band can not be higher than grade 3. The RI must be registered with an RI form by MARCH 31st and must appear on your roster with the note RI after his/her name. The RI can only be RI for ONE band. The drumming RI CAN play lead, the piping RI CAN be P/M. You may have one piping and one drumming RI in your band for a total of two RI’s.
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{slide=Q. What about playing drums in one band and pipes in another?}
A. You may play pipes in one band and drums in another band of a different grade (or vise versa). You may not be a dual musician if you are also an RI. You can be an RI or a dual musician but not both.
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{slide=Q. I registered my band but my information is not up on the MWPBA website yet?}
A. The website is owned and operated by a wonderful volunteer, who has a real job outside the website. I send your information to him as soon as I get it processed but this may take some time to get uploaded.
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{slide=Q. I have not received my membership card and I need to register for a contest, what do I do?}
A. We no longer send out membership cards, we feel that your registration fees are better spent on things that will improve the association for all. I will send out an email when the registrations are all in (sometime in early March) with your band registration number on it. Your registration number will also be posted on the MWPBA website.
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{slide=Q. It’s late and I have an urgent question. Can I call you?}
A. I’m here 24/7 to answer any and all questions regarding your bands registration, your membership requirements or any other question. Don’t hesitate for a minute to call me or email me, that’s why they pay me the big bucks.
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Contact Tad Myers, MWPBA Band Registrar, at
252 11th Ave. South,
South St. Paul, MN 55075.
Phone: (651) 552-0912
Email: RegistrarBands@mwpba.org.
The online Band Registration form is here. The paper form is available here.