From BabsFayth at aol.com Wed Feb 1 14:55:06 2006 From: BabsFayth at aol.com (BabsFayth@aol.com) Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2006 14:55:06 EST Subject: [Scottish News] Scottish News in Minnesota! Vol. 6, No. 53, February 01, 2006 Message-ID: <268.4fba14a.31126c1a@aol.com> Hello Everyone, Last month I began this newsletter with a greeting for Christmas and the New Year in Gaelic that had been sent to me by my good friend and photographer, Neil McKinnon of that Bonny Isle of Tiree. It is with great sadness that I report that Neil died of a heart attack on Tiree on January 14, 2006. As my Tiree "cousin" Scott Cameron wrote to us, "It brings tears to my eyes as I type this email. I am so sorry and sad. Neil was such an inspiration to all and kept us all well connected to Tiree with his exceptional photographs." I last communicated with Neil when he sent photos of his beautiful border collie, Spud. Life is fragile and fleeting. Rest in Peace, Neil. Moran Taing. We still have 23 tickets for the Black Watch Pipe Band coming to the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul on Tuesday, February 14, 2006. Show starts at 7:00 p.m. with the Macalester Pipe Band. (Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Look for Dana Drazan with a Tartan Day display, Don Cogswell of the MN Scottish Fair, and Liz Michaelson of Scottish Ramble at a table at the main entrance.) Tickets are $21.75 each. Send your check made out to Xcel Energy Center to: Barbara Humphrey, 6324 Wentworth Av S, Minneapolis MN 55423-1541 and include a Stamped, self address envelope. I must have your reservation and your payment by Saturday, February 4, 2006 at the latest. Call or email me for information: 612-869-7163 or _babsfayth at aol.com_ (mailto:babsfayth at aol.com) I will pick up the tickets on Monday, February 6 and mail them immediately thereafter. If you have not received your tickets by Friday, February 10, call me immediately. P. S. If you have ordered tickets but have not yet sent me your check, please do so immediately. Thanks. Note: There are elevators and escalators to make easy access for those with mobility issues. You can go up to the level above our sections when you arrive and walk down the aisle, then continue down the aisle at the end and out of the arena. And there are more wonderful events coming up in February. Check this out: COMING EVENTS - For details scroll down the page 1. February 4, 2006, Saturday Clann Tartan Annual Meeting and Election of officers. 2. February 4, 2006, Saturday, 6:00-7:30 p.m. Vulcan Victory Torchlight Parade, St. Paul Winter Carnival with Clann Tartan. St. Paul Winter Carnival full details www.winter-carnival.com/events/2006/ 3. February 4, 2006, Saturday The Fourth Annual Eilean Dubh Concert 4. February 5, 2006, Sunday, House of Hope Presbyterian Church, St. Andrew's Society presents the Kirkin' o' the Tartans as a part of Macalester Sunday. 5. February 11, 2006, Saturday, RSCDS Grand Ball with Thistledown playing. No further information has been received. Suggest you check their web site. _http://www.rscds-twincities.org/annualball.html_ (http://www.rscds-twincities.org/annualball.html) 6. February 12, 2006, Sunday, The Very Rev. Iain Torrance, Hamlin United Methodist Church, 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. 7. February 14, 2006, Tuesday, The Black Watch Pipe Band, Xcel Energy Center, 7:00 p.m. 8. February 18, 2006, Saturday, Winnipeg Scottish Festival 9. February 18 & 19, 2006, Saturday & Sunday, A Scottish Ramble 10. March 5, 2006, Sunday, Rince na Chroi Concert, 2:00 p.m. EM Pearson Theater, Concordia College ON GOING EVENTS ? For details scroll down the page 1. Clann Tartan, Night at the Pub is the 3rd Tuesday of every month. Well, Pub Night is roving at the moment... Best to check with Bruce Yoder at bruceyoder at juno.com. He's our appointed "taster"! 2. Clann Tartan hosts Scottish Country Dancing weekly. 3. Twin Cities Scottish Club - Winter Schedule Ceilidh dancing with George McCracken Most Fridays. 4. Celtic Worship Service, Westminster Presbyterian Church. 5. The Twin Cities Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society hosts classes for dancers of all levels on Monday nights, 7:30 to 9:30pm at Tapestry Folkdance Center, 3748 Minnehaha Avenue in Minneapolis. FUTURE DATES - Additional Information in Future Issues. Mark your calendars now. 1. Marcy 9, 2006, Thursday, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts performance, Minnesota History Center, time tba. Minnesota Police Pipe Band 2. March 11, 2006, Saturday, MCSC quarterly meeting. Location TBA Notices will be sent as details are arranged. Please be adjusting your calendar and be looking for more information. Thank you for a wonderful meeting in January. Call or email Lindie Wessling at 763-521-2632 _lindiew at comcast.net_ (mailto:lindiew at comcast.net) for more information. 3. April 6, 2006, Thursday, Traditional Tartan Day 4. April 7, 2006, Friday, Tartan Day Gala Dinner will be held at the St. Paul Riverfront Radisson, Governors Hall, 7:00 p.m. Mac Pipe Band, Kingsley dancers 5. April 8, 2006, Saturday, Minnesota Tartan Day Tartan parade and celebration at the State Capitol, 10:30 a.m (Haggis Hunt at 9:00 a.m.) 6. April 8 & 9, 2006, Saturday and Sunday, Minnesota Tartan Day Pipers Weekend Workshop, Macalester College, with Andrew Bonar a professional piper with Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, info on the MN Tartan Day website _www.mntartanday.org_ (http://www.mntartanday.org/) 7. April 29, 2006, Saturday, Duluth Scottish Heritage Association, Annual General Meeting, Kitchi Gammi Cluub. 8. May 6, 2006, Macalester College Pipe Band, Spring Concert 9. May 19, 2006, Friday, Duluth Scottish Heritage Society 30th Anniversary Celebration They have booked Alex Beaton for a concert on Friday, May 19th at 7:30 PM in College of St. Scholastica Mitchell Auditorium. Tickets are $15.00. For tickets, mail check made out to DSHA to: Ginny Johnson, 2112 Princeton Place, Duluth 55803 Make plans now! 10. June 24, 2006, Duluth Scottish Heritage Association, Highland Dance Competition, Fitger Complex 11. July 15, 2006, Saturday, THIRD ANNUAL MN SCOTTISH FAIR AND HIGHLAND GAMES ANNOUNCEMENTS - Details below 1. Laura MacKenzie Resuming Instruction, February 2006 2. Special Thistle Prints available ? Limited Supply 3. Country Dancing for the Youngsters 4. Scottish News Public Updates posted at Grey Wolf Tavern 5. Rampant Scotland, the largest directory of Scottish Links ? still the best 6. Web site links now listed on the Forum at the Grey Wolf Tavern 7. Give Us Credit 8. My vote for Party Queen of the Year ? EILEEN STEWART NEWS 1. Minnesota Police Pipe Band News 2. Burns' Immortal Memory celebrated at three Burns Night events. 3. Curling at the Olympics with an (almost) all Minnesota team, women and men. 4. Updated News from Tartan Day ? Wait until you see what Dana has in store for us! 5. Special Room Rates for Tartan Day out-of-towners. 6. More update about Tartan Day Events from Dana 7. Highlander Magazine has marvelous full page, full color, back cover for Tartan Day. 8. St. Andrew's Society women meet regularly for lunch ? next date, March 13, 2006 COMING EVENTS - DETAILS 1. February 4, 2006, Saturday Clann Tartan Annual Meeting and Election of officers. 2. February 4, 2006, Saturday, 6:00-7:30 p.m. Vulcan Victory Torchlight Parade, St. Paul Winter Carnival with Clann Tartan. St. Paul Winter Carnival full details www.winter-carnival.com/events/2006/ 3. February 4, 2006, Saturday, the Fourth Annual Eilean Dubh Scottish Island Concert, 7:30 p.m. Olivet Congregational Church Hall at 1850 Iglehart Ave. St. Paul ** $10 admission Presented by Dunquin with guest artist Laura MacKenzie, and readings by Audrey McClellan, from the new Eilean Dubh novel, The Devil and The Dark Island. Performances by the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, with complimentary Scottish sweets and savories by the incomparable Gulliksons! Those of you who have come to these warm, inviting concerts before know you are in for a true Scottish island experience, the audience being honorary "islanders" for the evening. Experience the intimacy of a Scottish parish hall, with musicians giving a concert for their island neighbors---new tunes and old, and Laura MacKenzie's lovely singing as the Voice Of Eilean Dubh ! The best deal around for ten bucks includes the Scottish Tea at intermission. This is a truly unique experience, which only comes once a year near St. Bridget's Day. Olivet Church is located one block west of Fairview Avenue and one block north of Marshall Avenue in St. Paul. Editor's note: Don't be late. This event is almost always SRO. 4. February 5, 2006, Sunday, House of Hope Presbyterian Church, St. Andrew's Society presents the Kirkin' o' the Tartans as a part of Macalester Sunday. St. Andrew's Society has been presenting the Kirkin' o' the Tartans at House of Hope Presbyterian Church, 797 Summit Ave, St. Paul, MN, as a part of Macalester Sunday for more years than anyone can remember. Services are at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. with a tea in the Kirk Parlor in between. All members of the Scottish Community are invited to attend and bring your tartan for the traditional blessing. Members of St. Andrew's Society will be the readers. 5. February 11, 2006, Saturday, RSCDS Grand Ball with Thistledown playing. No further information has been received. Suggest you check their web site. _http://www.rscds-twincities.org/annualball.html_ (http://www.rscds-twincities.org/annualball.html) 6. February 12, 2006, Sunday, The Very Rev. Iain Torrance, Hamline United Methodist Church, 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. The Scottish community of Minnesota and the borders of Wisconsin are in for a rare treat on Sunday, February 12, 2006. The Very Rev. Iain Torrance, a member of the most distinguished religious family in Scotland, Britain, and probably Europe, will be the guest speaker at the 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services at Hamline United Methodist Church, 1514 Englewood Ave St Paul, MN 55104 (off Snelling Avenue on the south side of the Hamline Campus.)Mr. Torrance, the son of T. S. Torrance, a well-known author and editor, is (like his father) a past moderator of the Church of Scotland. His is a classmate of Hamline minister Greg Windstrom and is the new president of Princeton University Seminary. All members of our Scottish community, regardless of your religious affiliation, are invited to attend Hamline United Methodist Church to hear Mr. Torrance speak. The 9:30 service is a more traditional one while the 11:00 a.m. service is oriented towards the student body. 7. February 14, 2006, Tuesday, The Black Watch Pipe Band, Xcel Energy Center, 7:00 p.m. 8. February 18, 2006, Saturday, Winnipeg Scottish Festival. Minnesota Police Pipe Band will be competing. They have entered their Grade 3 and Grade 5 pipe bands as well as 14 solo competitors. 9. February 18 & 19, 2006, Saturday & Sunday, A Scottish Ramble Plans for Scottish Ramble are coming together. As previously announced the dates are February 18 ? 19, 2006. A new exhibit area, previously part of the second floor museum, has been made available to us. We are also working on the possibility of adding a whisky tasting & curling demo - neither has been finalized as yet. As specific exhibitors & performers are confirmed our website will be updated weekly - _www.scottishramble.org_ (http://www.scottishramble.org/) Historically, every Scottish organization in Minnesota is invited to participate in the Scottish Ramble. St. Andrew's Society of Minnesota will offer a Kirkin' o' the Tartans on Sunday in the early afternoon. Clann Tartan will be there offering a glimpse of life in 1630 Scotland: They will be up in a room on the 2nd floor - be sure to stop by and see their ongoing demos on life in 17th century Scotland - learn how to pleat and wear a great kilt, find out why dancing was so popular, discover how ailments were treated, and more!. Minnesota Coalition of Scottish Clans will have a table with folks to help you make your clan connection. Twin Cities Scottish Club will be available to enroll new members and to collect dues from current members. Minnesota Scottish Celtic Dance Association will offer meat pies, bridies, and Irn Bru, MN Tartan Day Cooperative will have a table with the gorgeous 2006 button and more. . . RSCDS dancers and Thistledown have a an hour-long variety show Sunday afternoon. A Scottish Ramble is the largest indoor Scottish event in the country. Don't miss it. Check the web site for news of entertainers and vendors who will be at this year's Ramble. 10. March 5, 2006, Sunday, Rince na Chroi Concert, 2:00 p.m. EM Pearson Theater, Concordia College >From the Stage to your Heart, an Irish Dance Showcase ? Rince na Chroi Irish Dancers, Minnesota Police Pipe Band, Five Mile Chase, 2:00 p.m., EM Pearson Theater, Concordia Univeristy, $15. For tickets call 651 209 6688 or www.ticketworks.com. For more info visit the Rince na Chroi web site _www.rincenachroi.com_ (http://www.rincenachroi.com/) ON GOING EVENTS (We have checked these events and to the best of our knowledge, they are "okay." Still wouldn't hurt to check before you go.) 1. Clann Tartan, Night at the Pub is the 3rd Tuesday of every month. Well, Pub Night is roving at the moment... Best to check with Bruce Yoder at bruceyoder at juno.com. He's our appointed "taster"! 2. Clann Tartan hosts Scottish Country Dancing weekly. Wednesday night dance has a new home - at the Lake Hiawatha Community Center in Minneapolis! The address is 2701 E 44th St. We will be dancing there February 1st and 22, and March 8th and 22nd. Then we go back to the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays. Check web site: www.clanntartan.org for more information on schedule. It?s FREE! 3. Twin Cities Scottish Club - Winter Schedule Ceilidh dancing with George McCracken Most Fridays. The Twin Cities Scottish Club's George McCracken teaches/leads traditional Ceilidh Dancing on Friday nights at 7:00 p.m. at Providence Place, 23rd Avenue and 38th Street in South Minneapolis (Where the old Nile Theatre once was.) If you don't get the email reminder, please let George know you are coming by leaving a message for him at 612-729-1785. If you would like the weekly reminder emailed to you send a note to thetcsc at hotmail.com. PLEASE NOTE: Be sure you check to determine dancing will be held before you travel to the Providence. Call Doug or Eileen Stewart at 612-824-6514. 4. Celtic Worship Service, Westminster Presbyterian Church. Located in downtown Minneapolis, 12th St. & Nicollet Mall; regular schedule is 7:00 PM on second Thursdays of each month, with special music usually provided by Ann & Charlie Heymann. Church phone is (612)332-3421. 5. The Twin Cities Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society hosts classes for dancers of all levels on Monday nights, 7:30 to 9:30pm at Tapestry Folkdance Center, 3748 Minnehaha Avenue in Minneapolis. Newcomers welcome at any time. Newcomers dance free for the first 6 weeks! We also sponsor free basics classes two Thursdays a month at Nokomis Recreation Center in south Minneapolis. Check http://www.rscds-twincities.org/classes.html for more information, contact our secretary, Janet McKernan, jmckern at cems.umn.edu , or call Lara Friedman-Shedlov at 612.874.8299 ANNOUNCEMENTS - Details below 1. Laura MacKenzie Resuming Instruction, February 2006 Lessons in Irish and Scottish music, on whistle and flute offered by Laura MacKenzie. New students may start at any time. Beginners are welcome. Phone Laura at: 651-489-7044 for fees and schedule. Laura has learned from many noted tradition bearers in Ireland, Scotland and the U.S., and has been recognized as a master folk artist (Minnesota State Arts Board) Do pass this on, if you know someone wishing to learn Irish music on the whistle or flute! Laura MacKenzie laura at lauramackenzie.com _http://www.lauramackenzie.com_ (http://www.lauramackenzie.com/) 2. Special Thistle Prints available ? Limited Supply Don Ladig, member of Dunquin and the Night Scotsmen is among his many talents a print maker and sends the following announcement: As a printmaker, I have done a series of botanical prints. Among these is a very robust image of the thistle. It has been the logo of Thistledown for several decades. I have approximately 35 prints of this subject left. They would sell for $35 unframed. Contact me at ladig-dunquin at tcinternet.net or 651-644-4779. 3. Country Dancing for the Youngsters Jami Young sends this exciting information for boys and girls, aged 5 ? 15 who want to learn Scottish Country Dancing: I have found a space to start a children?s group for Royal Scottish Country Dance. Starting on Wednesdays in February, there will be a community recreation class offered. Class runs from 7:30 ? 8:30. The classes are open to children from 5 ? 15 years old. Location is the Edgemoor Room in the lower level of Murzyn Hall in Columbia Heights (530 Mill Street N.E.). The classes will be taught by RSCDS teachers and members. The fee for February through the end of May is $30 (covers the cost of city staff on site during class times). Call 763-706-3730 to sign up or to get forms to register. We need at least 6 children signed up to hold the class in this space. We will be teaching many of the common dances that appear on ball programs and the steps used in country dance. Editor's note: What a wonderful opportunity! And so we continue to pass our heritage on to the next generation. Thank you Jami! Bravo! 4. Scottish News Public Updates posted at Grey Wolf Tavern Be sure that you are checking the Grey Wolf Tavern postings regularly. Almost every day information comes in that is added there. It's our own digital ? bulletin board,? instead of just sticking notes up anywhere on it, the board is organized into specific topics. The Grey Wolf Tavern is dedicated to topics of interest to the Scottish Community. You can view the forums by going to http://greywolf.clanntartan.org ? messages can be read by anyone, but to post messages you will have to register a username. Presently, the Grey Wolf Tavern is where you can find current and past issues of the Scottish News in MN Newsletter, and we post copies of the Scottish Tartans Museum Newsletter for folks to read, as well as other news of interest. There are also other topics on Scottish history as well as current events for folks to start various discussions. If you have a suggestion for another category, you would like to see, just send an email to info at clanntartan.org 5. Rampant Scotland, the largest directory of Scottish Links ? Still the Best Rampant Scotland - the largest directory of Scottish links! http://www.RampantScotland.com Also with 2000+ illustrated feature articles! http://www.RampantScotland.com/features.htm 6. Web Site Links Directory The web sites are now all listed at the Grey Wolf Tavern http://greywolf.clanntartan.org/index.php 7. Give Us Credit Any and all of our Scottish Organizations and Clan Societies are welcomed to use any article that appears in the SNIM. All we ask is that you give us credit. That way, news of the existence of the SNIM grows and we add more good Scots to our readership. Thanks. 8. My vote for Party Queen of the Year ? EILEEN STEWART. Why? Because she is a wonder. In December, on Sunday the 4th, she planned a marvelous St. Andrew's Day Brunch at the Macalester Alumni House that included luscious food, wonderful entertainment, and Whist. She had help from the SAS board I have no doubt, but Eileen was the driving spirit. Six days later she was in the center of a wonderful, first ever Holiday party sponsored by the Minnesota Coalition of Scottish Clans. Fantastic time was had by all (and some lucky winner got our pizza oven ? YAY!) Fast forward to Burns Night at Rush Creek and there is Eileen once again at the helm of a wildly successful event. She has what it takes to put these amazing events together. Being the demure, gracious person that she is, her reaction is ? "Aw Shucks ? but I had lots of help." But that's what it takes to be a first class Party Queen and Eileen Stewart has what it takes. Hip, Hip, Hooray. (Your editor.) NEWS 1. Minnesota Police Pipe Band News Minnesota Police Pipe Band has received a Capital Grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council to purchase uniforms. Our growth in the last year had all but emptied the Quarter Master's closet so this assistance is gratefully received. Many thanks go to MRAC and our Minnesota State Legislators. Minnesota Police Pipe Band sends a huge thank you to everyone who participated in the TCSC Burns Night Silent Auction. Our portion of the auction is going directly to offset our expenses for our trip to Washington DC this May for National Police Week. Many thanks to Desyl Peterson for her extraordinary organizing abilities and to everyone who helped with and participated in the event. 2. Burns' Immortal Memory celebrated at three Burns Night events. What wonderful opportunities our community had these past couple of weeks to gather and celebrate the memory of one of Scotland's greatest poets. On Friday, January 20th at the Rush Creek Gold Club, members of St. Andrew's Society and their guests enjoyed a dinner of beef tenderloin or Scottish Salmon. Jack A. Barker delivered the Address to the Haggis (which was very good, by the way), Ned Henry, FSA Scot, offered the Toast to the Lassies, Dana Drazan replied with the Toast to the Laddies, and Barbara Humphrey offered a mercifully short Toast to the Immortal Memory. The Night Scotsman played for dancing with Helen Grant filling in for a regular who was ill. Members of the Minnesota Police Pipe Band along with founding member Bill Gilchrist offered several fine numbers. Highland Dancing by the Drazan Lassies and friends from the Kingsley School of Highland Dance offered a delightful program of favorites. And a handsome amount of money was raised by their Silent Auction for Scholarships. Bob MacOlsson, prez of St. Andrew's is to be congratulated on a grand event. The following week saw members and guests of Twin Cities Scottish Club return to the Thunderbird Hall of Tribes in Bloomington for their annual event. The Haggis was extremely good and some even took some home in doggie bags. The Voice Box Ceilidh Band from Helenburgh Scotland was back for yet another year to play for dancing. Frank (cousin to George McCracken) and wife Isobel always delight the crowd with their great music. MSCDA offered exceptionally fine dancing and the Silent Auction here raised a fair amount of change to be shared with the Minneapolis Police Pipe Band. Thanks to the efforts of prez Kirsty McCracken and her board, they filled about 40 tables of 10 each. Congratulations. And away up north, the Arrowhead regions' Scots were gathering at the Kitchi Gammi Club for a lovely Scottish evening. Hors d'?uvres were served in the West Lounge prior to ascending to the Mesabi Dining Room on the Second Floor. David Bouschor offered the address to the Haggis, Gloria Lyle and Marcia Stephens offered toasts to the Queen and the President. The Toast to the Immortal Memory, in its typical "long" form was offered by The Honorable Susan R. Miles, Judge of the District Court. The dinner was fantastic. The best Edinburgh Angus Beef this side of the Atlantic. The Highlight of the evening was an original choreography by Eilidh Reyelts that featured Eilidh, her sister Arianna, mother Barbara (a champion Highland dancer), Sarah Diener, Laura Jacobs, and Diana Bouschor Dodge. It was outstanding. Of course, the DSHA pipe band played and David Bouschor led the Country Dancing. Congratulations to Steve Reyelts, prez of DSHA and his board for an extraordinary evening. Intrepid reporter, R. Neil Johnson, contributed to this article. 3. Curling at the Olympics with an (almost) all Minnesota team, women and men. Curling has become the sport to watch at the 2006 Olympics in Turino Italy. And with most of the team members, both women and men coming from Minnesota, this is "Must SEE TV." You may have to warm up your VCRs, DVRs, and TIVOs as most of the events will be during "our" wee small hours. I suggest you go to _www.kare11.com_ (http://www.kare11.com/) click on the left column on Olympics. When you get to that page, click on Curling and it will take you to an area where you can explore the schedule of games as well as profiles of the team members. Most are from Bemidji and are first-timers. I don't see names that I would immediately think of as Scottish, but then like GOLF, we don't require the players to be Scots. 4. Updated News from Tartan Day ? Wait until you see what Dana has in store for us! Minnesota Tartan Day Celebration events begin with the Tartan Day Gala Dinner April 7, Free Parking! at the Riverfront Radisson downtown St. Paul. Macalester Pipe Band will perform with the Kingsley Highland Dancers followed by Rachel Barton Pine from Chicago, world famous violinist who will be performing with the Scottish Symphony in 2007, playing from her new CD 'Scottish Fantasies" check out Ms. Pines' website at www.rachelbartonpine.com April 8, 2006 Saturday morning the '8th Annual Tartan Day Celebration' at the State Capitol, 1st Annual Tartan Day 'Haggis Hunt', Saturday, April 8 State Capitol Mall 9:00 am, Prizes for children and adults, Haggis hunt licenses will be sold at Tartan Day Booth at 'Scottish Ramble', Come watch the FUN! FREE EVENT Saturday, April 8 State Capitol 'Grand Tartan March Parade' will be led by the Duluth Scottish Heritage Pipes and Drums along with Bemidji, MN Pipe and Drum Band--1st City Pipe and Drum. Macalester College Pipe Band will also be marching! Loch Nessie will be celebrating too! Free Walker Shortbread twinpaks to first 500 attendees! Please mark your calendars. Plan to bring your families and friends Tartan banners, flags and dress your Celtic best! Join the March to show your Tartan pride! please e-mail _grandmarch at mntartanday.org_ (mailto:grandmarch at mntartanday.org) or call Dana 952-200-0544 to reserve a spot for your clan, society family and Scottish dogs. All are welcome! The march leads up to the capitol steps for Tartan Day Program including Duluth Scottish Highland dancers and more! www.mntartanday.org Minnesota Tartan Day Pipers Weekend Workshop April 7, 8, 9 Andrew Bonar a professional piper with Simon Fraser University Pipe Band is the Piping Instructor! Pipe Band Instruction and Individual Instruction will be offered. Pre paid registration begins now! Time slots limited so register early. Special accommodations at Kelly Inn/Best Western where workshop is held near the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota. Online registration and workshop details www.mntartanday.org 5. Special Room Rates for Tartan Day out-of-towners. http://www.radisson.com/mntartanday This is the MNTARTANDAY Radisson website for Tartan Day Gala goers who want to take advantage of special room rates for Tartan Day weekend, of especial interest to folks coming from Chicago and Duluth and local folks wanting to spend a night out as well. 6. More Tartan Day Updates The much anticipated Scottish Tartan Day Gala Dinner and Scottish Opera Silent Auction is receiving reservations now from folks, some as far away as Vancouver, Canada; Chicago, Illinois; and Dallas, Texas. Now is the time to reserve your special place in the Governor's Hall at the Riverfront Radisson overlooking the Mississippi river bluffs in St. Paul on Friday evening, April 7. There is a limited number of 'Scottish Fantasies' Performance Only seats left for $25.00 ea Gala Dinner and 'Scottish Fantasies' Performance tickets are $45.00 each, which includes your choice of one of these delicious dinner entrees, Chilean Sea Bass saut?ed in Macadamia Honey Butter, Ginger Plum Roasted Stuffed Game Hen, or Coconut Tofu with Butternut Squash Ravioli. Delightful and decadent desserts are included. Children menu is for 12 and under at $20.00 each with choice of chicken strips or hamburger. The Haggis will be honored, of course. Kicking off the Tartan Day Gala Dinner at 6:00 pm is the Scottish Opera Silent Auction with social hour/ cash bar. With over 50 exciting and exotic offerings such as a Martha's Vineyard Stay for Two Weekend with celebrity visits and sailing on a famous sailboat, Minnesota Opera tickets for two with Limousine to and from Opera, and a beautiful large 'Braveheart' movie poster autographed by Mel Gibson and three co-stars! And many autographed books such as Duncan Bruce author of "The Scottish 100," David McCullough's '1776' and Scottish Opera memorabilia. Entertainment will be magical as Rachel Barton Pine; violinist, weaves her spell over the audience with an intimate performance of her Scottish and opera repertoire. Come see why she was voted 2004 'Classical Entertainer of the Year'; interviewed by the 'Today' show twice and Public Radio's 'Saint Paul Sunday' show. Online reservations can now pay with Paypal using your Mastercard or Visa at _www.mntartanday.org_ (http://www.mntartanday.org/) Mail your Gala reservation requests with payment to Minnesota Tartan Day, 1813 Idaho Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55426 Gala Tickets will be sold at Minnesota Tartan Day table at 'A Scottish Ramble' as will the 'official' Tartan Day Haggis Hunting licenses. Remember reservations in by March 1, are eligible for the many Scotsman's Dream Door Prize Giveaways all night long! See ya at the Gala! What Do I Wear to the 2006 Scottish Tartan Day Gala? >From Dana Drazan, Minnesota Tartan Day Coordinator Dress in your Scottish fantasy or not, Scottish tartan sashes or not, kilts with formal sporrans or not, we want you here so wear your tie and slacks or not, jeans with Tartan shirts or not, dresses with tartan sashes or short skirts with a tartan material or not. Dress with Scottish or Celtic Pride! Or not! All citizens are welcome! Come Celebrate the Scottish Tartan in You! Disclaimer: Or Not does not include nudity, dizziness, or dry mouth. If persistent confusion persists WEAR Whatever the ---- you want! See ya at the GALA! 7. Highlander Magazine has marvelous full page, full color, back cover for Tartan Day. My January/February 2006 issue of the Highlander magazine was delivered on Tuesday this week and I was delighted to see the full color advertisement for Tartan Day on the back cover. Prominent in the design, front and center and about 5 times actual size is the Tartan Day 2006 button designed by none other than our own Jack A. Barker. He may be living in Madison Wisconsin these days, but we still claim him as ours. Tartan Day 2006 buttons will be available at the Tartan Day Table at the Scottish Ramble in February. Be a good chance to pick up one or two or ten, if you don't have them, and support Tartan Day events in Minnesota. And be sure to check the article on page 56 about plans for Tartan Day 2006 nationwide. Minnesota's celebration and Dana Drazen get the last two paragraphs and the writer calls it one of "the more spectacular events." Hats off to Dana. 8. St. Andrew's Society women meet regularly for lunch ? next time, March 13, 2006 Patrick's Caf? at Bachman's on Lyndale is the meeting place at 11:30 am on March 13, 2006 for a quick bite to eat and wonderful share of Scottish news and happenings. Phyllis Fraser, Margaret Beresford, Marlea Warren, Sally Edstrom, Kay Berg, Barbara Parry, Mary Jane Fisher, and Dana Drazan invite any St. Andrews Society members past and present to come and enjoy good company. AND IN CLOSING If you have coming events, news, or announcements you would like included in future issues, please send the information to us (babsfayth at aol.com) and we will publish in the next issue. Our deadline for the first of the month issue is the 27th of the previous month. Please let us know if you would like to be included in the reminder email that is sent out on the 20th of the month. Please feel free to forward this on to whomever you think might enjoy receiving it. As always, if you do not wish to continue receiving Scottish News in Minnesota, go to www.tartandaymn.org , click on Scottish News in Minnesota, click on subscriptions page, and follow the directions for removing your email address from the mailing list (or adding it if you aren?t currently receiving it directly). All the Best, "Babs" Barbara Humphrey Scottish News in Minnesota is a publication of the Minnesota Tartan Day Cooperative and is published 12 times a year. It is intended solely for the information, interest, and enjoyment of members of the Scottish community of Minnesota and the border Scots of Wisconsin as well as others of our Celtic friends. "Cuimhnich air na daoine o'n d'thainig thu" "Remember the men (or "those") from whom thou comest (or "from whom thou'rt descended")" Our sincere thanks to Kevin Myers for seeking out the proper Gaelic for this fine bit of historical challenge. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://tartandaymn.org/pipermail/news_tartandaymn.org/attachments/20060201/01704ebc/attachment-0001.htm From BabsFayth at aol.com Fri Feb 3 01:18:21 2006 From: BabsFayth at aol.com (BabsFayth@aol.com) Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2006 01:18:21 EST Subject: [Scottish News] Last Call for Black Watch Tickets! Message-ID: <1f2.1a54e946.31144fad@aol.com> Hello Everyone This is your last call, last chance for tickets for the Black Watch Pipe Band, with the Welsh Guard coming to the Xcel Energy Center on Valentine's Day, February 14 with the program starting at 7:00 p.m. with our own Macalester College Pipe Band under the direction of Mike Breidenbach, Pipe Major and Steve Sutherland, Drum Major. Our special group rate tickets are $21.75 each, but you must act now. We have only 18 tickets remaining and I will not be getting any more. When these are gone, they're gone. Checks must be made out to Xcel Energy Center and mailed or hand delivered to me with a Stamped, self addressed envelope: Barbara Humphrey, 6324 Wentworth Av S, Minneapolis MN 55423-1541 I must have your order with your payment no later than Saturday, February 4. I will pick up the tickets on Monday, February 6 and put them into the mail immediately thereafter. Don't delay. Call me right away, TODAY, NOW at 612-869-7163 or email me at _babsfayth at aol.com_ (mailto:babsfayth at aol.com) We will be talking about this event for years. Thanks to everyone who has ordered tickets so far, all 140 of you. We are going to have a great, great time. All the Best, Babs Barbara Humphrey -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://tartandaymn.org/pipermail/news_tartandaymn.org/attachments/20060203/b6c253ee/attachment.htm From BabsFayth at aol.com Fri Feb 10 09:04:10 2006 From: BabsFayth at aol.com (BabsFayth@aol.com) Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2006 09:04:10 EST Subject: [Scottish News] Sad News - George McCracken has died. Message-ID: Hello Everyone, This is a sad day. Today is the first day we will be without George McCracken in it. Yesterday, February 9, 2006, at about 1:00 p.m. George died at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park. On Wednesday, George had undergone surgery to repair an aortic valve. The surgery was risky. George and his family knew that going in. He couldn't live without the surgery and the risks of surviving it were great. He and his family felt the hoped for outcomes were worth the risks. Sadly, as George's son Andy, reports, in his note below, there came a point when the family had to let him go. Andy wrote: I am sorry I have to pass news on to you that Dad passed away today 2/9/2005 at around 1:00 pm. He opted to have a valve replaced in his heart yesterday. At the time of the surgery, the surgeon said the valve was pretty much shot. He made it and things seemed good but he had a small leak and his blood pressure was not good. Today (Thursday) the surgeon went back in and found half the heart was not really working and he passed away a little while later. All of the family was there and the day before when he was there to be prepped, we all were there and it was almost a party atmosphere so we really enjoyed his last real day. Well I am sorry with the impersonal message but it makes things easier to get the word around. Andy has given us permission to share this sad news with you. When we have the information about George's services, we will send them on to you. Because family and friends will be coming in from Scotland, the service will be sometime late next week. We'll let you know. In the meantime, please keep Theresa, Kirsty, Andy, Mick, Kyle, and all the members of George's family in your hearts. As hard as George's passing is for us, these are very difficult days for them. We've been writing the SNIM for over 4 years. During the first two years, 2 issues a month were published. Many special announcements have been sent. Never in that time has there been news more difficult to send than this. We loved him, admired him, and to say we will miss him . . . well that's an understatement. Please forward this message on to your clan members, your Scottish society members and any others who may not be subscribers to Scottish News in Minnesota (SNIM). Sadly, Barbara Humphrey "Babs" -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://tartandaymn.org/pipermail/news_tartandaymn.org/attachments/20060210/b6b0c88c/attachment.htm From BabsFayth at aol.com Sat Feb 11 08:55:05 2006 From: BabsFayth at aol.com (BabsFayth@aol.com) Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2006 08:55:05 EST Subject: [Scottish News] Special Announcement - Wake/Visitation and Funeral for George McCracken Message-ID: <2d2.2adcd48.311f46b9@aol.com> Hello Everyone Andrew McCracken, George's son, has provided the following information regarding services for his dad: Wake/Visitation: Wednesday, February 15th, 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and 1 hour before service Washburn McReavy Nokomis Park Chapel 1838 East Minnehaha Parkway South. (Cedar Avenue South and Minnehaha Parkkway) Minneapolis (mapquest.com for a map and directions) Funeral: Thursday, February 16th, 11:00 a.m. Trinity Lutheran Church of Minnehaha Falls, 5212 41st Ave S. Minneapolis (mapquest.com for a map and directions) with Interment to follow at Resurrection Cemetery Scottish attire is always appropriate. Memorials preferred to Minnesota Scottish Fair & Highland Games (http://www.legacy.com/Script/CounterRedirect.asp?Name=GBLink_Top&Jump=/StarTribune/Guestbook.asp&Page=GuestBook&PersonID=16668063) McCracken, George R. age 77, of Mpls. Complete notice Sun. Washburn-McReavy Nokomis Park Chapel 612-721-1651 Please share this information with your clan members, Scottish organization members and others who may not be subscribers to the Scottish News in Minnesota (SNIM). Sadly, Barbara Humphrey "Babs" -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://tartandaymn.org/pipermail/news_tartandaymn.org/attachments/20060211/9f5bb25f/attachment.htm From BabsFayth at aol.com Tue Feb 28 13:23:37 2006 From: BabsFayth at aol.com (BabsFayth@aol.com) Date: Tue, 28 Feb 2006 13:23:37 EST Subject: [Scottish News] Scottish News in Minnesota! Vol. 6, No. 54, March 01, 2006 Message-ID: Hello Everyone, (Tuesday, February 28, 2006) Today is a multi purpose day. It is Fat Tuesday, bringing to an end at midnight tonight the 150th Celebration of Mardi Gras in hurricane ravaged New Orleans and ushering in the season of lent for the world's Christians. It is also Leap Year Day, the last day you get to "pop the question" gals, so go for it. And last but not least we are watching to see how March will come in ? lamb or lion. Looking kind of lambish at the moment, but I needn't tell die-hard Minnesotans that March is the second snowiest month of the winter. Don't let the predicted highs of 40 degrees today fool you. It ain't over 'til it's over ? but we are getting closer. Hang on, Snoopy. February was a month of the highest highs and lowest lows for our community. The loss of George McCracken was surely the lowest and we are left wondering if we will ever fill the gap his passing has left in our lives. George brought a vitality to life that belied his 77 years. We look around, with searching eyes, hopeful they will alight on his logical successor, but no one comes into view at the moment. We all have stories about George, because there is hardly a person reading this newsletter whose life was not touched in one way or another by this engaging man who was always having a "bad hair day." We would like you to share those stories with each other, and so we are announcing a special edition of the SNIM to be published on or about March 15, filled to the brim with "your" stories about George. Send them on to the editor at babsfayth at aol.com no later than Sunday, March 12 to give us time to put this Special edition together. A chance for George to make us laugh, one more time. As for the highs, well there was the extraordinarily successful Scottish Ramble and the incredible performance of the Black Watch Pipe Band at the Xcel Energy Center. Over 150 members of our community packed sections 109, 110, 111 (rows 11 and above) to enjoy this glorious taste of music and dance performance from across the seas. Together with the band of the Welsh Guards, it was a spectacular evening. And only one of the very accomplished male Highland Dancers kicked his sword, to the delight of the Drazan dancing daughters who were sitting in the row ahead of me. Just weeks away from the first day of spring, here is what is on the calendar for March and on into April: COMING EVENTS - For details scroll down the page 1. Thursday March 2, 2006, AURA in Concert at the Ginkgo Coffeehouse, $12, 7:30 PM 2. March 5, 2006, Sunday, Rince na Chroi Concert, 2:00 p.m. EM Pearson Theater, Concordia College (Web site says it's sold out, call before you go.) 3. March 9, 2006, Thursday, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts performance, Minnesota History Center, time tba. Minnesota Police Pipe Band 4. March 11, 2006, Saturday, MCSC quarterly meeting 5. March 17, 2006, Friday, St. Olaf's Catholic Church, Downtown Minneapolis, Thistledown playing after mass about 1:00 p.m 6. March 17, 2006, Friday, Barra, The annual Irish dance for St. Patrick's Day, 7 pm. CSPS Hall, CSPS Hall, 383 Michigan Avenue, St. Paul, MN. 7. March 18, 2006, Saturday, Barra, Concert at the Oak Center General Store 8 pm Oak Center, Minnesota 8. March 19, 2006, Sunday, Barra, 7 pm. Brunswick Music Concert Series Brunswick United Methodist Church, 6122 42nd Ave N., Crystal MN 55422 763.533.1661 No charge/no cover Donations will be accepted Open to the public 9. April 6, 2006, Thursday, Traditional Tartan Day 10. April 7, 2006, Friday, Tartan Day Gala Dinner will be held at the St. Paul Riverfront Radisson, Governors Hall, 7:00 p.m. Mac Pipe Band, Kingsley dancers 11. April 8, 2006, Saturday, Minnesota Tartan Day Tartan parade and celebration at the State Capitol, 10:30 a.m (Haggis Hunt at 9:00 a.m) 12. April 8 & 9, 2006, Saturday and Sunday, Minnesota Tartan Day Pipers Weekend Workshop, Macalester College, with Andrew Bonar a professional piper with Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, info on the MN Tartan Day website _www.mntartanday.org_ (http://www.mntartanday.org) 13. April 22, 2006, Saturday, St. Andrew's Society, Evening at the Hill House 14. April 29, 2006, Saturday, Duluth Scottish Heritage Association, Annual General Meeting, Kitchi Gammi Club 15. April 29, 2006, Saturday, Minnesota Scottish Fair Benefit, 7:00 p.m. SAVE THE DATE ON GOING EVENTS ? For details scroll down the page 1. Clann Tartan, Night at the Pub is the 3rd Tuesday of every month. Well, Pub Night is roving at the moment... Best to check with Bruce Yoder at bruceyoder at juno.com. He's our appointed "taster"! 2. Clann Tartan hosts Scottish Country Dancing weekly. 3. Twin Cities Scottish Club ? Winter/Spring Schedule Ceilidh dancing WILL CONTINUE. Most Fridays. 4. Celtic Worship Service, Westminster Presbyterian Church. 5. The Twin Cities Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society hosts classes for dancers of all levels on Monday nights, 7:30 to 9:30pm at Tapestry Folkdance Center, 3748 Minnehaha Avenue in Minneapolis. FUTURE DATES - Additional Information in Future Issues. Mark your calendars now. 1. May 6, 2006, Macalester College Pipe Band, Spring Concert 2. May 19, 2006, Friday, Duluth Scottish Heritage Society 30th Anniversary Celebration. They have booked Alex Beaton for a concert on Friday, May 19 at 7:30 PM in College of St. Scholastica Mitchell Auditorium. Tickets are $15.00. For tickets, mail check made out to DSHA to: Ginny Johnson, 2112 Princeton Place, Duluth 55803 Make plans now! 3. June 24, 2006, Duluth Scottish Heritage Association, Highland Dance Competition, Fitger's Complex, Ceilidh following in the evening. 4. July 15, 2006, Saturday, THIRD ANNUAL MN SCOTTISH FAIR AND HIGHLAND GAMES 5. August 5, 2005, Saturday, Festival of Cultures, Bay Front Park, Duluth, MN 6. September 17, 2006, Sunday, Duluth Scottish Heritage Assn., Remembrance Day, 1:30 p.m. Forest Hill Cemetery, Reception following. 7. November 19, 2006, Sunday, Duluth Scottish Heritage Assn., Kirkin' o' the Tartan and High Tea, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 5:00 p.m. 8. January 27, 2007, Saturday, DSHA, Burns Night Dinner, Kitchi Gammi Club ANNOUNCEMENTS - Details below 1. Got a minute? Or two??? - Editorial 2. Special issue of TIDBITS to Feature Tartan Day 3. Spamalot ? not the Musical 4. Dunquin Available for St. Patrick's Evening Event 5. Clann Tartan Announces Cafepress web site. 6. Announcing the Launch of the Official Piper's Crow Website! 7. STAND BY Scottish News Public Updates posted at Grey Wolf Tavern 8. Rampant Scotland, the largest directory of Scottish Links ? still the best 9. STAND BY Web site links now listed on the Forum at the Grey Wolf Tavern 10. Give Us Credit 11. Eileen Stewart shares credit for success. NEWS 1. Family of Bruce of mark 700th Anniversary of Ascension 2. Report ? And it was a grand time on the Eilean, Eilean Dubh. 3. Minnesota Police Pipe Band News 4. Curling at the Olympics ? The new "Darling Sport of the Olympics 5. More News from Tartan Day ? Wait until you see what Dana has in store for us! 6. Special Room Rates for Tartan Day out-of-towners. 7. More updates about Tartan Day Events from Dana 8. Highlander Magazine has marvelous full page, full color, back cover for Tartan Day. 9. St. Andrew's Society women meet regularly for lunch ? next date, March 13, 2006 COMING EVENTS - DETAILS 1. Thursday March 2, 2006, AURA in Concert at the Ginkgo Coffeehouse, $12, 7:30 PM AURA in Concert at the Ginkgo Coffeehouse, 721 N. Snelling Ave, St. Paul 651-645-2647 www.ginkgocoffee.com AURA is Harpist Andrea Stern and Multi-wind player/singer Laura MacKenzie "Combining dynamic Celtic harp with wooden flutes, whistles, pipes, Concertina and voice, for a rich spectrum of aural hues" Come celebrate with beginning of the St. Patrick's Season as Andrea and Laura fill the Ginkgo with the warm resonance of traditional Irish and Scottish music. The Ginkgo is a friendly, rare and intimate room for enjoyable listening! 2. March 5, 2006, Sunday, Rince na Chroi Concert, 2:00 p.m. EM Pearson Theater, Concordia College >From the Stage to your Heart, an Irish Dance Showcase ? Rince na Chroi Irish Dancers, Minnesota Police Pipe Band, Five Mile Chase, 2:00 p.m., EM Pearson Theater, Concordia University, $15. For tickets, call 651 209 6688 or www.ticketworks.com. For more info visit the Rince na Chroi web site _www.rincenachroi.com_ (http://www.rincenachroi.com) (Note: Web site says this performance is sold out. Call before you go if you do not already have tickets.) 3. March 9, 2006, Thursday, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts performance, Minnesota History Center, time tba (sorry, no further information available as to time). Minnesota Police Pipe Band 4. March 11, 2006, Saturday, MCSC quarterly meeting Minnesota Coalition of Scottish Clans will be holding their quarterly meeting on March 11, 2006. Food starts and 11:00 a.m. and meeting starts at 12:00. The meeting will be at the Hope Lutheran Church at Cedar Ave. and Highway 62. The church is on the northwest side of Cedar and hwy 62. Notices will be sent to all representatives in the next week. Come one, come all. Despite the brief return of winter, our presence at the Scottish Ramble last weekend was a huge success. Our four-sided booth, the only organization at the event with such a presence, was adorned with the usual maps, tartan samples, and clan history information. It was well received by many Ramble attendees who were asking about their clan affiliations and our coalition. We were especially pleased to introduce our new website (_www.mncsc.org_ (http://www.mncsc.org) ) to our Scottish community. We look forward to seeing you at our March 11 meeting and to giving you the official report on the event. The meeting will be held at Hope Lutheran Church in south Minneapolis, the same location for our Holiday party last December. Detailed meeting information and directions to the church will be included with the meeting announcement. Thank you for your continued support and participation in our success. For membership information in the Minnesota Coalition of Scottish Clans contact Vice President Ron Kincaid at _RandAKincaid at usfamily.net_ (mailto:RandAKincaid at usfamily.net) 5. March 17, 2006, Friday, St. Olaf's Catholic Church, Downtown Minneapolis, Thistledown playing after mass about 1:00 p.m. Dunquin at Landmark at 4:15 p.m. Thistledown will be at St Olaf's Church in downtown Minneapolis, after the mass from 1--2pm (roughly) on St. Patrick's Day. Dunquin will be part of the Irish Music and Dance Association's St Paul Landmark Center St Patrick's Day bash, from 4:15--5pm in the Tearoom (Courtroom 317). Come in for tea if you need a quiet respite from downtown St Paul's noisier venues on St Pat's. (Don't come to Dublin Walk, our late afternoon St Pat's venue for the last ten years-----it closed, alas, last month. Sheila will keep an ongoing presence at www.irishcloseouts.com , though). 6. March 17, 2006, Friday, Barra, The annual Irish dance for St. Patrick's Day, 7 pm. CSPS Hall, CSPS Hall, 383 Michigan Avenue, St. Paul, MN. Music: Barra TICKETS: $7.50 advance, $9 at the door. Seniors and children 5 to 16 are $3.25 advance and $4.50 at the Door. Children under 5 are free. FURTHER INFO: Sponsored by the Minnesota Folk Festival: 651-292-4900 _Mnfolkfestival at aol.com_ (mailto:Mnfolkfestival at aol.com) 7. March 18, 2006, Saturday, Barra, Concert at the Oak Center General Store 8 pm Oak Center, Minnesota _http://www.oakcentergeneralstore.com/music.tab.html_ (http://www.oakcentergeneralstore.com/music.tab.html) 8. March 19, 2006, Sunday, Barra, 7 pm. Brunswick Music Concert Series Brunswick United Methodist Church, 6122 42nd Ave N., Crystal MN 55422 763.533.1661 No charge/no cover Donations will be accepted Open to the public 9. April 6, 2006, Thursday, Traditional Tartan Day Wear your kilt/kilt skirt to work! Take a photo! Send it to us! 10. April 7, 2006, Friday, Tartan Day Gala Dinner will be held at the St. Paul Riverfront Radisson, Governors Hall, 7:00 p.m. Mac Pipe Band, Kingsley dancers You don't want to miss the Gala! Hurry while good seats are available. Tartan Day Gala Dinner Reservations Deadline is March 10, Tartan Day Gala 'Performance only' ticket deadline is March 22. Paid Reservations in by March 1 are in the special door prize drawings all night long. Online reservations for Gala accepts credit card payments at _www.mntartanday.org_ (http://www.mntartanday.org) 11. April 8, 2006, Saturday, Minnesota Tartan Day Tartan parade and celebration at the State Capitol, 10:30 a.m (Haggis Hunt at 9:00 a.m) Calling all folks to get excited about the Grand Tartan March at the State Capitol Saturday April 8, Why? Tartan Day Celebration where you can show off your family tartans and proudly wave banners and flags and besides these Pipe Bands will be marching with you: Duluth Scottish Heritage Pipe Band, Minnesota Police Pipe Band, Lacrosse and District Pipe Band, Bemidji 1st City Pipe Band, Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band, Macalester Pipe Band, and Osman Shriners Pipe Band, All families, organizations and clans are welcome to join in the March with line up at 10:30 am at the Peace Officers Memorial. Bring your tartan banner flags, your clan flags, your organization flags! The most colorful event held at the State Capitol. (East end of the Mall, near the Veterans Admin building.) Saturday April 8 at the State Capitol at 9 am is the 1st Annual Haggis Hunt. Prizes for kids and adults. Check the web site for your Haggis Hunt license. _www.mntartanday.org_ (http://www.mntartanday.org) 'Icons of Scotland' Costume Contest. Dress up as Robert the Bruce or Nessie, Bagpipe or a box of shortbread, Use your imagination and have fun! Dress warm under your costume and march in the parade! Prizes in 3 age categories. Check the web site for information: _www.mntartanday.org_ (http://www.mntartanday.org) After State Capitol Celebration Lunch Saturday April 8, Lunch at the Kelly Inn Sweetwater Grill by the State Capitol after Tartan Day ceremonies and celebration $ 6.00 Turkey, BLT or Ham sandwich, chips and Coke (e-mail _Dana at mntartanday.org_ (mailto:Dana at mntartanday.org) with your sandwich choice) 12. April 8 & 9, 2006, Saturday and Sunday, Minnesota Tartan Day Pipers Weekend Workshop, Macalester College, with Andrew Bonar a professional piper with Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, info on the MN Tartan Day web site _www.mntartanday.org_ (http://www.mntartanday.org) 13. April 22, 2006, Saturday, St. Andrew's Society, Evening at the Hill House AN INVITATION From the St. Andrew?s Society of Minnesota AN EVENING RECEPTION AT HILL HOUSE Program honoring Scottish immigrant James J. Hill (with a tour of the mansion available) Food & Musical Entertainment Date: April 22, 2006, Time: 6:00 PM?9:00 PM, Location: 240 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, Cost $ 15.00 per person Checks payable to St. Andrews Society Please mail to: Eileen Stewart, 4328 ? 11th Avenue South Minneapolis, MN (612)824-6514 14. April 29, 2006, Saturday, Duluth Scottish Heritage Association, Annual General Meeting, Kitchi Gammi Club 15. April 29, 2006, Saturday, Minnesota Scottish Fair Benefit, 7:00 p.m. SAVE THE DATE! Minnesota Scottish Fair & Highland Games Fundraiser Concert 7 pm Richfield Middle School, 7461 Oliver Avenue South Richfield, MN 55423 Artists appearing include: Kira Cogswell, 4 time National Highland Dance Champion. ON GOING EVENTS (We have checked these events and to the best of our knowledge, they are "okay." Still wouldn't hurt to check before you go.) 1. Clann Tartan, Night at the Pub is the 3rd Tuesday of every month. Well, Pub Night is roving at the moment... Best to check with Bruce Yoder at bruceyoder at juno.com. He's our appointed "taster"! 2. Clann Tartan hosts Scottish Country Dancing weekly. Wednesday night dance has a new home - at the Lake Hiawatha Community Center in Minneapolis! The address is 2701 E 44th St. We will be dancing there March 8th and 22nd. Then we go back to the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays. Check web site: _www.clanntartan.org_ (http://www.clanntartan.org) for more information on schedule. It?s FREE! 3. Twin Cities Scottish Club ? Winter/Spring Schedule Ceilidh dancing WILL CONTINUE. Most Fridays. The Twin Cities Scottish Club's traditional Ceilidh Dancing on Friday nights at 7:00 p.m. at Providence Place, 23rd Avenue and 38th Street in South Minneapolis (Where the old Nile Theatre once was.)WILL CONTINUE. If you don't get the email reminder, please let the Stewarts know you are coming by leaving a message for them at 612-824-6514. If you would like the weekly reminder emailed to you send a note to thetcsc at hotmail.com. PLEASE NOTE: Be sure you check to determine dancing will be held before you travel to the Providence. 4. Celtic Worship Service, Westminster Presbyterian Church. Located in downtown Minneapolis, 12th St. & Nicollet Mall; regular schedule is 7:00 PM on second Thursdays of each month, with special music usually provided by Ann & Charlie Heymann. Church phone is (612)332-3421. There has been a change in this schedule. Better call the church before you go. 5. The Twin Cities Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society hosts classes for dancers of all levels on Monday nights, 7:30 to 9:30pm at Tapestry Folkdance Center, 3748 Minnehaha Avenue in Minneapolis. Newcomers welcome at any time. Newcomers dance free for the first 6 weeks! We also sponsor free basics classes two Thursdays a month at Nokomis Recreation Center in south Minneapolis. Check _http://www.rscds-twincities.org/classes.html_ (http://www.rscds-twincities.org/classes.html) for more information, contact our secretary, Janet McKernan, _jmckern at cems.umn.edu_ (mailto:jmckern at cems.umn.edu) , or call Lara Friedman-Shedlov at 612.874.8299 ANNOUNCEMENTS - Details below 1. Got a minute? Or Two?? - Editorial As I think about what to write here, that great song from the Pat Boone movie keeps going through my head, "Our State Fair is a Great State Fair." Okay, so let's just substitute the word "Scottish" for "State." We have a great Scottish Fair. Thanks to the tireless efforts of a relatively small group of people. And, kids, whether we like to think about it or not, our "Great Scottish Fair" is at a crossroads. Unless something, remarkable happens between now and July 15, the 3rd annual Minnesota Scottish Fair and Highland Games could be the last. Am I being an alarmist? Maybe. But help is needed all around. The amazing committed work of a few needs ? must ? be supplemented by help from ALL OF US! There are tasks that must be done year round. We aren't asking you to direct traffic on a hot dusty field in 90 degree temperatures, luckily we've got the Boy Scouts to do that, or commit a 40 hour week to a MN Fair job. But there are dozens and dozens of things that YOU can do ? small or large. You have skills and talents that the Scottish Fair can use that you may not even be aware you have. Now, go to their web site: _http://www.mnscottishfair.org/_ (http://www.mnscottishfair.org/) click on volunteers and send an email TODAY. Let them know YOU are behind the fair 100% and you want to do your part to insure its success and continuation. The Great Minnesota SCOTTISH Fair must go on and to do so it needs you. So, have you got a minute? 2. Special edition of TIDBITS to Feature Tartan Day Attention all vendors, events or businesses: A special MN Tartan Day- Scottish -American issue of the West Metro TIDBIT Newspaper will feature articles about Tartan Day, Scottish-American contributions and MN Tartan Day events during the last week of March 26 - April 1 Please consider advertising during this special issue, Auxano Publishing of Minnetonka is highlighting our National Tartan Day. Call Joe at 952-591-0258 for special rates or e-mail your Scottish organization info if you would like to be listed to auxanopublishing at aol.com . 3. Spamalot ? not the musical I hate SPAM, you hate SPAM. If I never am invited to try Viagra again, or invest my meager funds in can't miss schemes, it will be just find with me. AOL, bless their maligned little hearts, dumps all mail they suspect of being SPAM into a separate file and I have the option of deleting it or reading it, my choice. However, not all ISPs, I have learned, are so accommodating. In the last month, over 100 subscribers to the SNIM have been bounced. Now some of those, granted are dead email addresses, etc. But some are lost because the SNIM is being dumped by SPAMblack software programs installed by your ISP to protect you from unwanted SPAM mail. That's the good news. The bad news is that many of you, through no action of your own, are having the SNIM dumped as SPAM. Of course we here at the humble offices of SNIM are hopeful that you don't want us dumped into the SPAM bin, but would rather read all the news that's fit to print from the Scottish community of Minnesota and the Wisconsin borders. So, what I would urge you to do is this: take whatever measures you need to take to persuade your ISP that the SNIM is not SPAM and let the words go forth. Thanks. 4. Dunquin available for evening event on St. Patrick's Day Dunquin is available for hire, for an evening St Pat's gig----please call David Edmisnster (Becka's husband) at 651-293-1856 if you wish to engage Dunquin. Don, Becka, and Sherry are in Ireland the first two weeks in March, so don't call Sherry 5. Clann Tartan announces Cafepress web site >From Clann Tartan Goodwife, Maeve Kane, the following announcement: I've been asked to forward to you the address of Clann Tartan's Cafepress store, _http://www.cafepress.com/clanntartan_ (http://www.cafepress.com/clanntartan) , for SNIM. All proceeds go to support Clann Tartan's non-profit ventures. We carry Faugh a Ballach, Alba Go Bragh and other bumper stickers, Scottish paper dolls, and Scottish history related clothing and other products. 6. Announcing the Launch of the Official Piper's Crow Website! Visit soon for news, information and music! _www.piperscrow.com_ (http://www.piperscrow.com) The new "Piper's Crow" CD is now available on-line - check the website for sound samples and purchasing options. Praise for the debut recording "Piper's Crow": ".....the premier album from Piper's Crow, the local quartet that specializes in traditional material (plus sympathetic originals) from the breadth of the Celtic realm, stretching from Scotland and Ireland to Galicia and Cape Breton Island. The band's eponymous CD is a gorgeous collection of rich, haunting melodies, exhilarating jigs and reels played with rippling zeal, and songs featuring Laura MacKenzie's exquisite voice. Much of Piper's Crow's charm is derived from the sparkling interplay between the musicians, especially the exotic bagpipes and assorted wind instruments deftly wielded by MacKenzie and master piper Dick Hensold, while Zack Kline's fiddle weaves devilishly amongst them and Karen Mueller helps drive the entire business on guitar and bouzouki. This is wonderful stuff that's musically provocative while rarely failing to elicit a smile or an urge to bound about the room." ---- City Pages 7. STAND BY Scottish News Public Updates posted at Grey Wolf Tavern ATTENTION: Because of repeated and scurrilous hacking into our Public Forum currently hosted at the Grey Wolf Tavern, the site has been taken down by our site administrator Glenn McDavid while we investigate other options. We will let you know as soon as we have something resolved. 8. Rampant Scotland, the largest directory of Scottish Links ? Still the Best Rampant Scotland - the largest directory of Scottish links! http://www.RampantScotland.com Also with 2000+ illustrated feature articles! http://www.RampantScotland.com/features.htm 9. STAND BY Web Site Links Directory The site is down due to the unmitigated hacking as noted in #7 above. Until we have resolution, please Google the organization you are hoping to contact. 10. Give Us Credit Any and all of our Scottish Organizations and Clan Societies are welcomed to use any article that appears in the SNIM. All we ask is that you give us credit. That way, news of the existence of the SNIM grows and we add more good Scots to our readership. Thanks. 11. Eileen Stewart shares credit for success. Last month in this space, we sang the praises of Eileen Stewart and the amazing work she has done putting together three remarkable social events within a 5 or 6-week time span. Being the amazing woman that she is, Eileen wants the Scottish world to know, that while she appreciated our enthusiastic accolade, she had the help of wonderful committees to make those events the unqualified successes that they were. So hip, hip, hooray for Eileen and the wonderful committees that she puts together. NEWS 1. Family of Bruce of mark 700th Anniversary of Ascension To the Minnesota Scottish Community ? Greetings: It is both my duty and pleasure to call to the attention of the Minnesota Scottish Community a very important date and event in the history of Scotland. I refer to March 25, 1306 and the accession on that date of Robert 1, ?The Bruce,? as King of Scots. This year of 2006, marks the 700th anniversary of that momentous event. This date and event will be celebrated in Scotland on Sunday, March 26 with a special service at the medieval St. John?s Kirk in Perth, and with a tented medieval style meal to follow on the grounds of Scone Palace. It was at Scone, the traditional coronation place of the Kings of Scots, that Robert Bruce was crowned. Presiding over these events will be Sir Andrew Bruce, Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, Knight of the Thistle, and 37th Hereditary Chief of the Name and Family of Bruce. Members of the Family of Bruce from around the world will be attending these and other events, including approximately fifty from the United States. I will have the honor to be among those attending. Also attending will be representatives from other families and clans present at Scone, 700 years ago. I invite the members of the Minnesota Scottish Community to refresh their minds as to the context of this celebration by reading the account provided by Nigel Tranter in his book titled ?The Story of Scotland.? Indeed, this celebration may be shared by all leal Scots, and we invite you to do so here at home. William Bruce, M. A., FSA Scot, Upper Mid-West Regional Commissioner for the Name and Family of Bruce: Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland: Operations Officer ? ?FAMILY OF BRUCE INTERNATIONAL, INC.? ?We Have Been ? We Are ? We Shall Be ? BRUCE.? 2. Report ? And it was a grand time on the Eilean, Eilean Dubh. It was a brisk, wintery night, as it always is when we make our way back to Eilean Dubh. But it only takes a moment, upon entering that quaint parish hall located somewhere in the mists off the Western Coast of Scotland, to feel the warmth and fellowship of this very special island. Hard it is to say just what it is that is so appealing. Certainly the music, much of it written by Sherry Ladig and performed by her wonderful fellow musicians, including Laura MacKenzie, the voice of Eilean Dubh plays an important piece in setting the scene. The wonderful sweets and savories from the kitchen of Jim and Joy Gullickson, with pots brimming with tea, add mightily to the evening's enjoyment. Lads in their kilts, lassies in their kilt skirts, the fine dancing by members of Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. . . it all adds up to a most satisfying evening. And if you happen to be an Eilean girl, as I am, it's no great trick to close my eyes and imagine myself there on that lovely far-away island. Thanks to all, Dunquin, Audrey & Mike McClellan, Scott Quittem, Judith Palmateer, the Gullicksons and family for bringing us all back to Eilean Dubh, once again. 3. Minnesota Police Pipe Band News - Winnipeg The 2006 MPPB competition season got off to a great start at the Winnipeg Scottish Festival. We fielded two competition bands and 14 soloists at the festival and returned to the US with trophies and medals galore. Special recognition goes to Joe Hawthorne, Mark Lucas and Ben Briese who brought home the gold (and the bison) in Grade 1 MSR, Grade 2 MSR, and Grade 2 Piobaireachd. Both bands won trophies for their events and other solo medal winners include Klaus Hinrichsen, Richard Langer, Mike Kukuska, and Cody Foster. Many thanks to Buzz Brown for the great photos (we start at #18)! _http://imageevent.com/buzz/winnipegindoorgames;jsessionid=3d10eo2m61.lion_s_ (http://imageevent.com/buzz/winnipegindoorgames;jsessionid=3d10eo2m61.lion_s) 4. Curling at the Olympics ? The new "Darling Sport of the Olympics The fact they there were mostly Scandinavians and pizza parlor owners didn't deter the US Olympic Men's Curling Team from making their mark at Torino. Finishing with the Bronze, the men's team outclassed the team from Britain to bring home the only US medal in the sport. Alas and alack, the lassies didn't fair as well. There's always Vancouver, 2010. For all the Olympic curling results go to: _http://www.nbcolympics.com/curling/index.html_ (http://www.nbcolympics.com/curling/index.html) 5. More News from Tartan Day ? Wait until you see what Dana has in store for us! Minnesota Tartan Day Celebration events begin with the Tartan Day Gala Dinner April 7, Free Parking! at the Riverfront Radisson downtown St. Paul. Macalester Pipe Band will perform with the Kingsley Highland Dancers followed by Rachel Barton Pine from Chicago, world famous violinist who will be performing with the Scottish Symphony in 2007, playing from her new CD 'Scottish Fantasies" check out Ms. Pines' web site at _www.rachelbartonpine.com_ (http://www.rachelbartonpine.com) April 8, 2006 Saturday morning the '8th Annual Tartan Day Celebration' at the State Capitol, 1st Annual Tartan Day 'Haggis Hunt', Saturday, April 8, State Capitol Mall 9:00 am, Prizes for children and adults, Come watch the FUN! FREE EVENT Saturday, April 8 State Capitol 'Grand Tartan March Parade' will be led by the Duluth Scottish Heritage Pipes and Drums and a total of seven pipe bands will also be marching! Loch Nessie will be celebrating too! Free Walker Shortbread twinpaks to first 500 attendees! Please mark your calendars. Plan to bring your families and friends Tartan banners, flags and dress your Celtic best! Join the March to show your Tartan pride! Please e-mail _grandmarch at mntartanday.org_ (mailto:grandmarch at mntartanday.org) or call Dana 952-200-0544 to reserve a spot for your clan, society family and Scottish dogs. All are welcome! The march leads up to the capitol steps for Tartan Day Program including Duluth Scottish Highland dancers and more! _www.mntartanday.org_ (http://www.mntartanday.org) Minnesota Tartan Day Pipers Weekend Workshop April 7, 8, 9 Andrew Bonar a professional piper with Simon Fraser University Pipe Band is the Piping Instructor! Pipe Band Instruction and Individual Instruction will be offered. Pre paid registration begins now! Time slots limited so register early. Special accommodations at Kelly Inn/Best Western where workshop is held near the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota. Online registration and workshop details www.mntartanday.org 6. Special Room Rates for Tartan Day out-of-towners. _http://www.radisson.com/mntartanday_ (http://www.radisson.com/mntartanday) his is the MNTARTANDAY Radisson web site for Tartan Day Gala goers who want to take advantage of special room rates for Tartan Day weekend, of especial interest to folks coming from Chicago and Duluth and local folks wanting to spend a night out as well. Reminder March 7 is deadline for special room discount rates of $89 for Kelly Inn/Best Western by State Capitol 651-227-8711 or Riverfront Radisson 651-605-6950 $107 in St. Paul for Tartan Day goers. Make those reservations now to receive the special rates. Remember to tell clerk Tartan Day Celebration to receive the special discount. 7. More Tartan Day Updates The much anticipated Scottish Tartan Day Gala Dinner and Scottish Opera Silent Auction is receiving reservations now from folks, some as far away as Vancouver, Canada; Chicago, Illinois; and Dallas, Texas. Now is the time to reserve your special place in the Governor's Hall at the Riverfront Radisson overlooking the Mississippi river bluffs in St. Paul on Friday evening, April 7. There is a limited number of 'Scottish Fantasies' Performance Only seats left for $25.00 ea Gala Dinner and 'Scottish Fantasies' Performance tickets are $45.00 each, which includes your choice of one of these delicious dinner entrees, Chilean Sea Bass saut?ed in Macadamia Honey Butter, Ginger Plum Roasted Stuffed Game Hen, or Coconut Tofu with Butternut Squash Ravioli. Delightful and decadent desserts are included. Children menu is for 12 and under at $20.00 each with choice of chicken strips or hamburger. The Haggis will be honored, of course. Kicking off the Tartan Day Gala Dinner at 6:00 pm is the Scottish Opera Silent Auction with social hour/ cash bar. With over 50 exciting and exotic offerings such as a Martha's Vineyard Stay for Two Weekend with celebrity visits and sailing on a famous sailboat, Minnesota Opera tickets for two with Limousine to and from Opera, and a beautiful large 'Braveheart' movie poster autographed by Mel Gibson and three co-stars! And many autographed books such as Duncan Bruce author of "The Scottish 100," David McCullough's '1776' and Scottish Opera memorabilia. Entertainment will be magical as Rachel Barton Pine; violinist, weaves her spell over the audience with an intimate performance of her Scottish and opera repertoire. Come see why she was voted 2004 'Classical Entertainer of the Year'; interviewed by the 'Today' show twice and Public Radio's 'Saint Paul Sunday' show. Online reservations can now pay with Paypal using your Mastercard or Visa at www.mntartanday.org Mail your Gala reservation requests with payment to Minnesota Tartan Day, 1813 Idaho Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55426 Remember reservations in by March 1, are eligible for the many Scotsman's Dream Door Prize Giveaways all night long! See ya at the Gala! What Do I Wear to the 2006 Scottish Tartan Day Gala? >From Dana Drazan, Minnesota Tartan Day Coordinator Dress in your Scottish fantasy or not, Scottish tartan sashes or not, kilts with formal sporrans or not, we want you here so wear your tie and slacks or not, jeans with Tartan shirts or not, dresses with tartan sashes or short skirts with a tartan material or not. Dress with Scottish or Celtic Pride! Or not! All are welcome! Come Celebrate the Scottish Tartan in You! Disclaimer: Or Not does not include nudity, dizziness, or dry mouth. If persistent confusion persists WEAR Whatever you want! Still not sure? Ask Dana - _Czechd9 at aol.com_ (mailto:Czechd9 at aol.com) See ya at the GALA! 8. Highlander Magazine has marvelous full page, full color, back cover for Tartan Day. My January/February 2006 issue of the Highlander magazine was delivered recently and I was delighted to see the full color advertisement for Tartan Day on the back cover. Prominent in the design, front and center and about 5 times actual size is the Tartan Day 2006 button designed by none other than our own Jack A. Barker. He may be living in Madison Wisconsin these days, but we still claim him as ours. And be sure to check the article on page 56 about plans for Tartan Day 2006 nationwide. Minnesota's celebration and Dana Drazen get the last two paragraphs and the writer calls it one of "the more spectacular events." Hats off to Dana. We still have Tartan Day buttons available for sale. Write tartandaymn at aol.com or call Babs 612-869-7163. Buttons will also be available on Tartan Day at the Capitol. Designed here, manufactured here by Brown and Bigelow, sold nationwide, all proceeds STAY in Minnesota to support our Tartan Day events. Quantity prices available. 9. St. Andrew's Society women meet regularly for lunch ? next time, March 13, 2006 Patrick's Caf? at Bachman's on Lyndale is the meeting place at 11:30 am on March 13, 2006 for a quick bite to eat and wonderful share of Scottish news and happenings. Phyllis Fraser, Margaret Beresford, Marlea Warren, Sally Edstrom, Kay Berg, Barbara Parry, Mary Jane Fisher, and Dana Drazan invite any St. Andrews Society members past and present to come and enjoy good company. AND IN CLOSING If you have coming events, news, or announcements you would like included in future issues, please send the information to us (babsfayth at aol.com) and we will publish in the next issue. Our deadline for the first of the month issue is the 27th of the previous month. Please let us know if you would like to be included in the reminder email that is sent out on the 20th of the month. Please feel free to forward this on to whomever you think might enjoy receiving it. As always, if you do not wish to continue receiving Scottish News in Minnesota, go to www.tartandaymn.org , click on Scottish News in Minnesota, click on subscriptions page, and follow the directions for removing your email address from the mailing list (or adding it if you aren?t currently receiving it directly). All the Best, "Babs" Barbara Humphrey Scottish News in Minnesota is a publication of the Minnesota Tartan Day Cooperative and is published 12 times a year. It is intended solely for the information, interest, and enjoyment of members of the Scottish community of Minnesota and the border Scots of Wisconsin as well as others of our Celtic friends. "Cuimhnich air na daoine o'n d'thainig thu" "Remember the men (or "those") from whom thou comest (or "from whom thou'rt descended")" Our sincere thanks to Kevin Myers for seeking out the proper Gaelic for this fine bit of historical challenge. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://tartandaymn.org/pipermail/news_tartandaymn.org/attachments/20060228/ad1f5287/attachment-0001.htm