Correspondence

Here, you will find some important correspondence:



Research

In order to learn more about what the band needed and a list of some of their accomplishments, we sent the following email to Cory Jensen:

Cory,

Just to help us explain a little more about how the band contributes to the community, could you send us a list of some of your favorite gigs in the community? I remember that we did a few for the Ogden Metro Gang Unit and for Boy's State....can you think of any others?

It would also be great to know a bit more about how the band started! How long has the band been around as a class? 

Cheers,

Chris, Fenton and Owen

Cory responded with the following email:

Hi Chris, Fenton, and Owen

Here is some info:

We were awarded the Best of State Award for Arts in Education in 2010.  That same year we were named the WUSPBA Juvenile Champions.  We have received a Gold and the Adjudicators award every year that we have competed (we didn't compete this year or last) for the past 6 years.  We perform extensively for the community.  Not including our own large list of school performances (sporting events, concerts, assemblies, etc), Some of our annual performances include:

Northern Utah Metro Gang Unit Police Conference

Combined Federal Campaign for Utah Charities

Your Community Connection (YCC) Footsteps to Light March Against Domestic Violence

September 11th Firefighter Memorial

Worldwide on 25 Celebration for the Archery Worldcup

Utah Scottish Festival

Payson Scottish Festival

Ogden Veteran's Day Parade

Ogden City Pioneer Days Parade

Ogden City Holiday Light Parade

Golden Hours Senior Citizen Center St. Patrick's Day Ball

Various Independence Day Parades

Ogden City School Foundation Fundraisers

Salt Lake City Employees' Veteran's Day memorial

Youth Impact St. Patrick's Day Gala Fundraiser

Lincoln Elementary Red Ribbon Week

Westminster College of Nursing Pinning Ceremony

We have competed in the World Pipe Band Championships in Scotland, the Las Vegas Scottish Games, and performed throughout many of the cities in Southern California.  The Bagpipe Corps also plays for many other charity and community service events such as funerals (we played at the memorial service and graveside of Emily Parker - one of the little girls killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary shootings), charity events, Chamber of Commerce events, elementary school assemblies, Assisted Living Centers, etc.

We no longer play at the Boys State at WSU due to scheduling conflicts.  

I'm not sure how long the Bagpipe Corps has been around.  I have tried figuring that out, but nobody seems to know.  I can find pictures from the early 1980's - so at least that long.  I really don't know much other history.

In terms of money that we need and what we need it for:  Due to the economy our bagpipe band no longer receives any money from the school or school district.  We have been that way for 4 years.  Our beginning bagpipe class was cut and combined with the advanced class.  We no longer have 9th graders at our school which cut 25 percent of our student population.  Despite all that, our Bagpipe Corps has never been bigger.  Our class size next year is currently at 54 - which may well go up.  Through fundraising we have managed to stay afloat and have secured all the drums that we will need for next year (we now have 3 basses, 6 tenors, and 8 or so snare drums).  We have 10 sets of bagpipes and currently 8 bagpipers who are active performers.  Only one of those bagpipers will graduate next year which will leave us with a solid corps with many beginners who will need bagpipes.  I don't want to ask for the full $5000 because I've found that if I low-ball then organizations don't think I'm being greedy and then I have a better chance of getting something.  How about 3500?  That could get me 3 or 4 sets of bagpipes along with a supply of replacement reeds and some components of the uniform for the additional members of the corps.

Hopefully this gives you some information to work with.  If you need more or have questions don't hesitate to ask.  Thank you for helping us!  You are a ram in a thicket!  (no insult intended)

 - Cory

The following was the email that we wrote in order to reach out to Diana Lees. She is over the Payson High School Bagpipe Band and they had recently been the recipients of a grant and we wanted to get a little advice from her:

Diana,

My name is Christopher Johnson and I am an alumni of Ben Lomond High School and still enjoying bagpiping with Wasatch and District Pipe Band.

As of right now, I am part of a group that is helping to write grants for Ben Lomond High School in order to help get them some of the supplies that they desperately need. Cory Jensen, their advisor, told me that the Payson High School band had recently been awarded a grant and that you might have some advice for our group. We would love to be able to give you a phone call and hear about your success. We are not professional grant writers and would really appreciate any help that you could give us.

My phone number is 801-564-5657 and we'd love to hear from you whenever you get a minute. 

Thank you for your time,

Christopher Johnson

Edits

Here, we have a few emails exchanged with Cory Jensen to help us modify and revise the content that we had sent to him.

Group,

This looks great!  There are only a couple of things that might make this nicer: maybe a shamrock or something Irish or celtic on the program?  It would be nice to have the date on the front cover as well, just for archival's sake.

Bio for Ben Lomond Bagpipe Corps:
The Ben Lomond Bagpipe Corps has been an integral part of the school and community for years.  They work hard to perform when needed for community events, charity fundraisers, funerals, schools, and government events.  They are the winners of the Best of State Award for Arts In Education, and were named the WUSPBA Juvenile Champions in 2010.  They are managed by Cory Jensen and led by Pipe Major Becca Windley, Pipe Sergeant Austin Cluster, and Drum Sergeant Bethany Gulbransen.

Cory
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Group,

Thanks!  It looks nice, but the date is Thursday March 14^th.  I think there needs to be a space in the middle of highschool. 

Thank you for doing this!

Cory

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Group, 

This looks great.  The only changes needed: capitalize Bagpipe Corps in your first sentence (add the 's' to corp as well), and there is a typo in the first sentence under 'Use of Funds.'  It may be beneficial to mention that Ben Lomond is a Title 1 school with over 70 percent of our students on free or reduced lunch.

Everything else looks fantastic.  Thank you!

 - Cory