From BabsFayth at aol.com Sun Mar 12 19:44:33 2006 From: BabsFayth at aol.com (BabsFayth@aol.com) Date: Sun, 12 Mar 2006 19:44:33 EST Subject: [Scottish News] Reminder - Memories of George/Special Issue Message-ID: <255.7f1b106.31461a71@aol.com> Hello Everyone Just a reminder that we'd love to have your special stories/memories of George McCracken for a Tribute edition of the SNIM (Scottish News in Minnesota) that we would like to publish this week. Let your memories take you back to all those wonderful moments with George and send on one or two you would like to share. Don't delay. We hope to publish towards the end of this week. Thanks, Barbara Humphrey Babs -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://tartandaymn.org/pipermail/news_tartandaymn.org/attachments/20060312/c38ad070/attachment.htm From BabsFayth at aol.com Sun Mar 19 15:54:12 2006 From: BabsFayth at aol.com (BabsFayth@aol.com) Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2006 15:54:12 EST Subject: [Scottish News] =?utf-8?q?Scottish_News_in_Minnesota!_Special_Edi?= =?utf-8?q?tion_=E2=80=93_Tartan_Day_News_and_Events=2E?= Message-ID: <2c3.5a746d0.314f1ef4@aol.com> Hello Everyone, This Special Edition is to be sure every one has all the up-to-date information on our upcoming Tartan Day Celebration. 1. HOTEL CHANGES ITS NAME. The Radisson Riverfront is now the CROWNE PLAZA. The Radisson was sold, the name has been changed, and the signs identifying the hotel have also been changed. It is in the same place, same great chef, staff, and beautiful environs. 2. RESERVATION DEADLINE. If you have not made reservations for the Tartan Day Gala at the "Crowne Plaza," Friday April 7 starting at 6:00 p.m. please do so today. The Deadline for making your dinner reservations is Wednesday, March 22. Performance only tickets (sold at the door as well as in advance) are available for $25 each, dinner and performance for $45 each. All information about the menu, the entertainment, the silent auction, as well as ordering can be found on the web site: _www.mntartanday.org_ (http://www.mntartanday.org/) And you can pay online with your credit card. (Free Parking on the street, $5 in their ramp) 3. PIPING WORKSHOP. 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/) This is a remarkable opportunity for pipers. Check the web site for all the details. 4. HAGGIS HUNT. Saturday April 8, 9:00 am at the State Capitol, 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/) Haggis Hunt licenses will be available on Saturday morning at the State Capitol ? there will be a table. Meet on the east end near the Veterans' building. 5. ICONS OF SCOTLAND COSTUME CONTEST. Dress up as Robert the Bruce or Nessie, a Bagpipe or a box of shortbread - use your imagination and have fun! Dress warmly 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/) 6. GRAND MARCH OF THE TARTANS AND CELEBRATION. April 8, 2006, Saturday, 10:30 a.m. at the State Capitol. Gather on the east end of the Capitol Mall by the Veterans' building near the Peace Officers Memorial. Bring your tartan banners, wear your kilts, your kilt skirts, your tartan tie, scarf, lapel decoration, whatever you have that proclaims your clan: your clan flags, your organization flags. Duluth Scottish Heritage Pipe Band will lead the Grand March and will include a total of 7 (not a typo, seven) pipe bands. This will be the most colorful event held at the State Capitol. The 4th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented as well as tributes to our Scottish heritage. As always, there will be surprises. It's free (our favorite word). Be there, be proud. If you do not wish to walk in the Grand March, meet us on the steps of the capitol where the program will begin at approximately 11:00 A.M. NOTE: There will be a photographer on site and the usual "group photo" will be taken, so don't leave the capitol steps until Dana gives you the "dismissed." 7. THE AFTER LUNCH. 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) 8. PARKING. The meters along John Ireland Blvd and in Lots H and I off of 12th Street MAY be free on Saturdays. However, be sure to read what it says on your meter and come prepared with quarters, just in case. Meters along John Ireland will take about 4 quarters per hour with a 2 hour limit, Meters in H and I will take about 3 quarters with a 4 hour limit. Read the meter to be sure and come prepared with quarters. 9. LADIES LUNCHEON SNOWED OUT. St. Andrew's Society women who meet regularly for lunch ? were snowed out on March 13, 2006 and are rescheduled for tomorrow, Monday, March 20, 2006. Don Cogswell will meet with them to talk about MN Scottish Fair. Everything else the same. Patrick's Caf? at Bachman's on Lyndale is the meeting place at 11:30 am on March 20, 2006 for a quick bite to eat and wonderful sharing 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. 10. TIDBITS. 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_ (mailto:auxanopublishing at aol.com) These folks have been featuring articles on Scottish History, Heroes, and Heritage for several weeks with the special edition due on March 26. Not too late to call them to put your organization's, pipe band's, event's advertisement in this special edition. AND IN CLOSING NOTE: Due to this Special Edition for Tartan Day and the celebration of Tartan Day, the Special Edition honoring George McCracken will be delayed until later in April, near his birthday. Still accepting your special "George" stories. 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/20060319/69013da2/attachment.htm From BabsFayth at aol.com Fri Mar 31 16:18:36 2006 From: BabsFayth at aol.com (BabsFayth@aol.com) Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2006 16:18:36 EST Subject: [Scottish News] Scottish News in Minnesota! Vol. 6, No. 55, April 01, 2006 Message-ID: <2ad.e50183.315ef6ac@aol.com> Hello Everyone, Okay, I had barely clicked on "send" when my son, he of the English major from Northwestern University and my constant watchdog, called to say, "Mom, it's not Leap Year. D'uh." And of course, he was right. So my apologies to all of you, especially you ladies who may have dialed up your reluctant intended and popped the question only to get the "Huh?" response. March is tiptoeing out but it's too soon to call it lamb-like. That lion could be lurking, waiting to pounce and roar at any moment. The warm temps of the last few days and the rain have washed away all the snow but for those blackened peaks in the local shopping mall parking lots. It'll be July before those ugly monsters are gone. The good news is, unless the rain forecast for the coming week turns from rain to snow, we won't be dodging snow banks at the capitol on Saturday, April 8 when we gather for the 8th ? yes eight ? annual Tartan Day Celebration. You all received a reminder about two weeks ago. Nothing has changed but we will re-cap the events briefly later on in this issue, plus lots of other GREAT things going on in April and May. COMING EVENTS - For details scroll down the page EXTRA! ! March 31, 2006, Friday, ALERT Scotch Drinkers, Looking for something to do tonight? Check this out: _http://events.umn.edu/event?event=112000_ (http://events.umn.edu/event?event=112000) Thanks, JR 1. April 6, 2006, Thursday, Traditional Tartan Day 2. April 7, 2006, Friday, Tartan Day Gala Dinner will be held at the St. Paul Crown Plaza (formerly Riverfront Radisson), Governors Hall, 7:00 p.m. Mac Pipe Band, Kingsley dancers, more 3. April 7, 2006, Friday, Battlefield Band, Grand Rapids, MN, Reif Center, 7:30 p.m., Tickets $20 adults, $18 seniors, $10 students. 4. April 8, 2006, Saturday, Minnesota Tartan Day Tartan parade and celebration at the State Capitol. Gather at 10:30 a.m., and Parade at 11:00 a.m., program begins approximately 11:45 p.m. (Haggis Hunt at 9:00 a.m., Icon costume contest at 10:00 a.m.) 5. April 7,8 & 9, 2006, Friday, 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 6. April 8, 2006, Saturday, Battlefield Band, Rochester, MN, Mayo Civic Center, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $20/$14 7. April 9, 2006, Sunday, The Traditional Singers Club is proud to present singer and guitarist Daithi Sproule in concert o at 3PM at the St. Paul Conservatory of Music recital hall. 8. April 9, 2006, Sunday, Battlefield Band, Minneapolis, MN, Cedar Cultural Center, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $18 in advance, $20 day of show. Make this concert part of your Tartan Week celebration. 9. April 22, 2006, Saturday, St. Andrew's Society, Evening at the Hill House 10. April 28 ? 30, 2006, Clann Tartan will be in Charles City Iowa for the Charles City Military History Days - we'll have groups from the Vikings up to modern days with battles - come see Colonel Gaffney's Regiment battle tanks! _http://hometown.aol.com/daveww2/CHARLESCITYclub.html_ (http://hometown.aol.com/daveww2/CHARLESCITYclub.html) 11. April 28, 2006, Friday, (PLEASE NOTE DATE CORRECTION) Duluth Scottish Heritage Association, Annual General Meeting, Kitchi Gammi Club 12. April 29, 2006, Saturday, Minnesota Scottish Fair Benefit, 7:00 p.m., Richfield Middle School 13. April 30, 2006, Traditional Singers, singing session at Keegan's Irish Pub in Minneapolis, 3 PM til 5ish, free. 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 ? Spring Schedule Ceilidh dancing WILL CONTINUE. Most Fridays. 4. Clann Tartan Sword Guild, meets the 3rd Thursday at Corcoran Community Center - contact Marty for information - twolodge at yahoo.com and learn how to swing that sword! 5. Wear a Kilt get a FREE PINT 6. Celtic Worship Service, Westminster Presbyterian Church. 7. 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 7, 2006, Sunday, workshop: Sean-nos in County Donegal by singer/scholar Julie Henigan, 3 PM at the Conservatory, $10. 3. May 7, 2006, Traditional singer Julie Henigan in concert, 7:30 PM at the Conservatory, $10. The Julie Henigan workshop/concert is made possible by a grant from Irish Fair Minnesota. Thank you! 4. May 19, 2006, Friday, Book Launch, Lake Street Garage is set for the book launch of Barbara MacKinnon's novel, "Where Rivers Meet" published by Beaver's Pond Press and 1st Pub Night of the season! 5. 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! 6. June 10, 2006, Saturday, picnic quarterly meeting of the Minnesota Coalition of Scottish Clans, a meeting place is still being sought and all representatives will be contacted regarding time, place, and items to bring. Please call Lindsay Wessling, Secretary, if you have any questions or concerns. 763-521-2632 See you soon. 7. June 24, 2006, Saturday, Duluth Scottish Heritage Association, Highland Dance Competition, Fitger's Complex, Ceilidh following in the evening. 8. July 15, 2006, Saturday, THIRD ANNUAL MN SCOTTISH FAIR AND HIGHLAND GAMES 9. August 5, 2005, Saturday, Festival of Cultures, Bay Front Park, Duluth, MN 10. September 17, 2006, Sunday, Duluth Scottish Heritage Assn., Remembrance Day, 1:30 p.m. Forest Hill Cemetery, Reception following. 11. November 19, 2006, Sunday, Duluth Scottish Heritage Assn., Kirkin' o' the Tartan and High Tea, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 5:00 p.m. 12. January 27, 2007, Saturday, DSHA, Burns Night Dinner, Kitchi Gammi Club ANNOUNCEMENTS - Details below 1. Got a dollar? Or twenty??? Or More? ? ? - Editorial 2. Special issue of TIDBITS Features Tartan Day ? Available Now 3. Carmody's Opens in Duluth 4. Scotland 1851 Census is now online. 5. Scotland on Television 6. Twin Cities Scottish Club is now online. 7. Kingsley School of Highland Dance has new home. 8. Help a Scot in Need. 9. Spamalot ? not the Musical 10. Clann Tartan Announces Cafepress web site. 11. Announcing the Launch of the Official Piper's Crow Website! 12. STAND BY Scottish News Public Updates posted at Grey Wolf Tavern 13. Rampant Scotland, the largest directory of Scottish Links ? still the best 14. STAND BY Web site links now listed on the Forum at the Grey Wolf Tavern 15. Give Us Credit NEWS 1. A note from Andrew McCracken. 2. Flowers of the Forest ? Lady Margaret Cameron. 3. More News from Tartan Day ? Latest information on Tartan Day Events 4. Don't look now, but there will be a Kiwi amongst us. 5. Scottish Community launches Speakers Bureau. 6. Dana and Matt's Excellent Adventure to Caledonia. 7. Miscellaneous Scottish News from Ray Erwin. 8. St. Andrew's Society women meet regularly for lunch ? next date, March 13, 2006 COMING EVENTS - DETAILS 1. April 6, 2006, Thursday, Traditional Tartan Day Wear your kilt/kilt skirt to work! Take a photo! Send it to us! 2. April 7, 2006, Friday, Tartan Day Gala Dinner will be held at the St. Paul Crowne Plaza (formerly Riverfront Radisson, Governors Hall, 7:00 p.m. Mac Pipe Band, Kingsley dancers. Now it can be told, although it has hardly been a secret. The 4th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to the Honorable Judge (ret) David Sinclair Bouschor of Duluth. The award will be presented by Duluth native and MTDC founder and former coordinator, Barbara Humphrey. Judge Bouschor will receive the award both at the Gala and during the program on the capitol steps on Saturday, April 8. Be there as we celebrate Minnesota's Outstanding Scot. More details under NEWS. 3. 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. Icon costume contest at 10:00 a.m.) See details about Tartan Day under NEWS. 4. April 7, 8 & 9, 2006, Friday, 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/) 2006 Tartan Day PipeBand Workshop April 5, 6, 7, 8,9 Schedule for Lessons with Andrew Bonar at the Kelly Inn/Best Western by State Capitol & Sears WEDNESDAY, 7 pm Macalester College Pipe Band 5 Thursday, 8 am ? 9 am Maureen private lesson... Kelly Inn 9 am ? 10 am Dana Drazan 10 am ? 11 am Ben Peterson 7 pm ? 10 pm Macalester College Pipe Band 3 Friday, 9 am ? 10 am Todd Erickson 10 am ? 11 am Richard E. Langer ..piobaireachd 11am - 12 Open 1pm - 3pm Jack Lundquist 2 South Dakota Saturday Andrew Bonar performs with Mass Pipe Bands at State capitol as Soloist during Bagpipe Bands ?Amazing Grace? Tribute to Fallen Heroes at Peace Officers Memorial 1:00pm 2 pm ? 4 pm Duluth Scottish Heritage Pipe & Drum Band Sunday 10 am ?Breakfast with Bonar? Kelly Inn* - Drawing for the winner of the Kilt Raffle 1 pm ? 3:30pm Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band Instruction Andrew Bonar: Five Time North American Champion Piper! *Breakfast with Bonar $10.00 April 9 At the Kelly Inn by State Capitol and SEARS, Drawing for Kilt Raffle Winner There are a few time slots left for Individual Private Piper Lessons with Andrew Bonar. Call Dana today to reserve your lesson with this outstanding 25-year member of Simon Fraser University Pipe Band! 1/2 hour lesson $35.00 1-hour Private lesson $ 50.00 952-200-0545 Phone registration accepts M/C Visa www.mntartanday.org 2006 Pipebands Workshop T-shirts $12.00 5. April 9, 2006, Sunday, The Traditional Singers Club is proud to present singer and guitarist Daithi Sproule in concert at 3:00 PM at the St. Paul Conservatory of Music recital hall. A native of County Derry in the North of Ireland, Daithi is highly regarded worldwide as an arranger and singer of traditional songs, a pioneering guitar accompanist, and a scholar of Irish language and folklore. He has been part of many groundbreaking ensembles in Irish music including Skara Brae, Trian and Altan. (For more background on Daithi go here and click on "Daithi Sproule") The afternoon will also feature songs from resident Singers Club singers Ross Sutter, Shawn McBurnie and Laura MacKenzie along with a few other "floor singers" from the crowd. DETAILS: Daithi Sproule at the Singers Club, 3 PM, Sunday, April 9th, St. Paul Conservatory of Music recital hall at the corner of Cedar and Exchange in downtown St. Paul admission: $10 at the door A special thank you to the Center for Irish Music for again co-sponsoring this event by letting us use the space at the Conservatory! (Editors note: Those who attended the Scottish Ramble will remember Daithi Sproule and his stunning performance with Laura and Ross. For additional information check out their web site at: _http://www.5milechase.com/singersclub/events.htm_ (http://www.5milechase.com/singersclub/events.htm) 6. 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 7. April 28, 2006, Friday, (PLEASE NOTE DATE CORRECTION) Duluth Scottish Heritage Association, Annual General Meeting, Kitchi Gammi Club DSHA 30th Annual Meeting in the Great Hall. Reservations for the Scottish Buffet are $10, and must be received by April 24th. Send your check payable to DSHA for $10 per person to Joan Barrett, 30 W. Marble St., Duluth, MN 55811. 8. April 29, 2006, Saturday, Minnesota Scottish Fair Benefit, 7:00 p.m. Minnesota Scottish Fair & Highland Games Fundraiser Concert 7:00 pm Richfield Middle School, 7461 Oliver Avenue South Richfield, MN 55423 (Just a few blocks north and east of the intersection of 494 at Penn Avenue. Easy to find, lots of parking.) Artists appearing include: Kira Cogswell, 4 time National Highland Dance Champion, Ross Sutter, Clann Tartan, MSCDA, Minnesota Police Pipe Band and lots more. Suggested door is $20, but they'll take more if you want to give more. And if you would like to spread the word at your school, work, church, etc., with a poster, email Don Cogswell at: _dcogswell at mnscottishfair.org_ (mailto:dcogswell at mnscottishfair.org) http://www.mnscottishfair.org/2006fundraisingconcert.htm 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. Dance regains it's normal schedule of the 1st and 3rd Wednesday at a new site - Lake Hiawatha Community Center in Minneapolis, time is still 7 PM. the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays it's still at St. Christopher's in Roseville - contact Julie at _julieyoder at juno.com_ (mailto:julieyoder at juno.com) or Mary at _Mairi2 at juno.com_ (mailto:Mairi2 at juno.com) for details. 3. Twin Cities Scottish Club ? 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. Clann Tartan Sword Guild meets the 3rd Thursday at Corcoran Community Center - contact Marty for information - twolodge at yahoo.com and learn how to swing that sword! 5. Wear a Kilt Get a FREE PINT. Our good friend Joseph Croft, he of the Celtic Croft sends this bit of information to gladden the hearts of Scots everywhere: The last Saturday of every month is Kilt Night! _Keegan's Pub_ (http://www.keeganspub.com/) (http://www.keeganspub.com/)in Minneapolis (owned and operated by our friends, Terry and Virginia Keegan). Wear your kilt and get a FREE pint of Guinness! Woo Hoo! Two of our favorite words in one sentence ? Free and pint. 6. 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. 7. 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. Got a dollar? Or twenty?? Or more???- Editorial Last month, in this space, we talked about volunteering to help at the MN Scottish Fair & Highland Games. This month we have to talk money. The money situation with the Scottish Fair is at a CRITICAL point. I do not have the board's permission to reveal just how critical, so you are going to have to trust me on this one. Not only do they need your help to get the Fair up and running, they need your dollars to make sure that it happens after this year. Do you know the cost of renting one Porta Potty for one day? I didn't. It's $200. No, that is not a typo, two hundred dollars. Elsewhere in this issue of the SNIM you will find information about the Fund Raiser. If you want the Fair to continue, you will be there. And you will pay the $20 or more. And ? and this is really important ? bring your neighbor, your relatives, your date ? Scottish or not! What's not to love about watching Kira dance? Here's an idea? How about sponsoring a Porta Potty? What a gas (no pun intended) to have your friends walk up to use the facility and on the door is a sign that says: "this experience brought to you by Ian McDoe" Dontcha love it! Help in a way that you can see. If you've got some really big bucks you'd like to spend, the bleachers cost $2,000. Or, and here's an idea? Would you be willing to talk to your company, your employer about sponsoring at the Fair. Don Cogswell can supply you with information. Email him at: dcogswell at mnscottishfair.org Hey kids! It's not "their" fair anymore. It's OUR fair. What are you willing to do to make sure there is a Fair in 2007? 2. Special edition of TIDBITS Features Tartan Day ? Available now It's out there. The special Tartan Day edition of TIDBITS. Pick up your copy today. 3. Carmody's Opens in Duluth Himself, Bill Watkins, sends this long awaited bit of news: Carmody's Irish Pub in Duluth will be having a "soft" opening on Friday 31st. March, this will be for staff training and orienteering, but the pub will be open to the public from then on. The official Grand Opening will be held on 8th. April, this will be an all-day event. All welcome. Say hello to you genial host Ed Gleeson. Carmody's 308 East Superior St. Duluth, MN 4. Scotland 1851 Census is now online. Great News? My Tiree List Pal, Les Horn, sends the following: You will be pleased to know that the 1851 Census is now on-line on the > ScotlandsPeople Site. _http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/_ (http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/) 5. Scotland on Television RICK STEVE?S EUROPE ?Scotland?s Islands and Highlands? Scotland, pipers, castles, caber, clan gathering, Highland massacres, Loch Ness monster, whiskey distillery, ferry. Sunday 4/2 5:30-6:00 PM KTCA (Channel 2) ADVENTURE GOLF ?Scotland? (2005) Sunday 4/9 2:00-2:30 PM KTCA (Channel 2) 6. Twin Cities Scottish Club is now online Twin Cities Scottish Club is online now! _http://www.mntartanday.org/pages/55/index.htm_ (http://www.mntartanday.org/pages/55/index.htm) Please send any photos, club news, or updates that Twin Cities Scottish Club members would like posted. You can e-mail _TCSC at mntartanday.org_ (mailto:TCSC at mntartanday.org) with TCSC news. 7. Kingsley School of Highland Dance has a new home. Kingsley Highland Dance School after 12 years of odd but useable spaces, now have a REAL DANCE STUDIO! As of April 1, Kingsley Highland Dance School will be having classes at the Tapestry Folkdance Center at 3748 Minnehaha Avenue, Minneapolis Alexandra has openings for beginner Scottish Highland dancers. Classes are Saturday mornings, All ages accepted, no prior dance experience Beginners to advanced Highland Dance For Information on fees/classes available Call Alex 763-754-6956 Alex wants to remind dancers of the Tartan Day parade and Mass Highland Fling where all are welcomed to dance the Fling! Saturday, April 7 MN State capitol, 10:30 a.m.. Be sure to watch the Duluth Scottish Highland Dancers at the State Capitol Steps Ceremony. 8. More Great News from my Tiree Lister pal. Just received this from New Register House in Edinburgh : "Progress on the Scottish Family History Service The Scottish Family History Service project will bring together the electronic family history sources of the General Register Office for Scotland, National Archives of Scotland and the Court of the Lord Lyon into one Centre - to be called the 'ScotlandsPeople Centre' - based on Princes Street in central Edinburgh. Work on phases 1 and 2 of this project is currently underway and work on phase 3 is scheduled to start at the beginning of May 2006. The Centre will open towards the end of 2006. To find out more about this exciting project, and see photographs of progress to date, visit the information website at www.scotlandspeoplehub.gov.uk." The Link is worth a look so you can see where all of your ?6's are going. (Or your $10.43 if you are a Yank.) 9. Help a Scot in Need. You may remember a few years ago when the glorious voice of Nancy Cox sang the Star Spangled Banner for us at the Tartan Day celebration at the capitol. I received this note and pass it on to you for your consideration: Our dear friend Nancy Cox, has fallen on hard times physically and financially. She is an internationally known singer, conductor, and teacher, who speaks several languages. Friends have organized to help her raise enough money to reduce her mortgage. Medical problems and the bad economy have severely limited her schedule as a voice teacher for several years. Referrals of new voice students, and donations to help with her mortgage would be deeply appreciated. Send donations directly to: Nancy Cox, 2501 Como Avenue SE, Minneapolis 55414, Phone (612)379 2417 10. 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. 11. 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, 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. 12. Announcing the Launch of the Official Piper's Crow Website! Visit soon for news, information and music! 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 13. 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. NO NEWS! 14. 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 15. 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. No news! NEWS 1. A Note from Andrew McCracken. Dear Scottish Friends: I just wanted to pass on thanks for all of the support the Scottish community has given my family in the wake of my Dad's passing. It has been over whelming. The best thing was to see so many people from all the Minnesota groups together. We had representatives from 4 or 5 pipe bands playing together, and the sound was amazing. We were so happy that Thistledown and Helen Grant came to play, Dad would have been pleased. The Twin Cities Scottish Club came together as always and pulled together the lunch, staying up the night before making sausage rolls! They have always been our surrogate Scottish family so it was comforting that they took care of us when in need. The Ramble the following weekend was special too. Again, there was a great show of support and thank you Liz and Peggy for the memorial ribbons. Many a person, kind of sheepishly, came to us and said, "that was the best funeral I have ever been to." I think that the love and emotion of the day made it so. I also had a Scandinavian friend afterwards ask, "where do I sign up to be Scottish?" I think he wanted to feel what we do. Thank you also to the editor of this newsletter, Babs, I appreciate you getting the word out for us. A special thanks goes to Doogie and Eileen Stuart for being with us and helping Mom through the day. Thank you all. Andrew McCracken (Editor's note: because of the great amount of emails around our Tartan Day celebration, we are delaying the publication of our special issue dedicated to George McCracken. You can still send your favorite "George" stories to _babsfayth at aol.com_ (mailto:babsfayth at aol.com) . These need not be term paper length, but even a line or two. We hope to publish this special edition around George's birthday, later in April.) 2. Flowers of the Forest ? Lady Margaret Cameron Margaret Doris Gathorne-Hardy, better known to Scots worldwide as Lady Margaret Cameron, widow of the late Chief and Captain of Clan Cameron, Donald Hamish Cameron, Lochiel XXVI, passed away March 12, 2006 at her home, Achnacarry Castle, near Fort William, Inverness-shire, Scotland. Born in 1913, she was the daughter of Colonel the Honorable Nigel and Doris Gathorne-Hardy. Her eldest son, Donald Angus Cameron of Lochiel, XXVII Chief of Clan Cameron, shared his memories of Clan Cameron?s Lady Dowager: "She was such a sparky woman and the centre of the family. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother and very supportive of my father throughout his life. The clan was very important in their lives and she traveled with him to New Zealand and America, and she loved it." Camerons in Minnesota, throughout North America and the world mourn the loss of this great lady who was the epitome of grace and dignity. For those of us who had the pleasure and privilege of meeting her, the loss is great but tempered by the incredible memories we keep dear. For additional information: http://www.clan-cameron.org/lady-m.html 3. More News from Tartan Day ? Latest information on Tartan Day Events Friday, April 7 at 6 pm the Scottish Opera Silent Auction begins with Glenfiddich Scotch Whisky samples during Social Hour with cash bar. Glenfiddich Scotch is providing a 15 year Glenfiddich and a 15 year Balvenie Scotch for a Scotch tasting during the Social hour at the Governors Hall in the Crowne Plaza Riverfront Hotel / St. Paul Items up for bid on the Silent Auction 'A Week Stay in Martha's Vineyard for Two' with all meals and lodging provided, celebrity visits, sailboat ride, golf and truly a custom designed week at the Island where Celebrities abound. Weekend lease of a Jaguar, with Hotel accommodations Mel Gibson autographed large 'Braveheart' movie poster Celebrity authors autographed books such as '1776' David McCullogh, Going to Glasgow? a couple of Scottish Opera tickets Lambswool St Andrew's cross throw from Thistle & Broom of Scotland Texas Exotic Hunt at the D9 Ranch Many more Exotic and Scottish items up for bid! Payment for items can be made with checks or credit cards. How thrilling to know your winning bid goes to help continue the Arts programme for Scottish children. Through American Friends of Scottish Opera. Minnesota celebrates National Tartan Day! Happy Tartan Week! All are welcome to join any of the planned activities for the celebration of Scottish Americans, Scottish culture and Scottish heritage! Scottish Tartan Day Gala & Scottish Opera Benefit 8:30 pm Friday April 7 Tickets: $25-$45 Crowne Plaza Hotel (formerly Riverfront Radisson) 11 E Kellogg Ave. St. Paul 55101 952-200-0545 phone reservations accepted _www.mntartanday.org_ (http://www.mntartanday.org/) Free Family Event SATURDAY, April 8 8th Annual Tartan Day Celebration Minnesota State Capitol 9am to 1 pm Haggis Hunt prizes for kids and adults 9 am Icons of Scotland Costume Contest 10 am Grand Tartan March Parade 11 am State Capitol Steps Tartan Day Ceremony 11:45 a.m. Bagpipe Bands 'Amazing Grace' Tribute to Fallen Heroes 1pm at the Peace Officers Memorial Calling All Pipers and Drummers to March in Parade! All are Welcome! Calling all Clans, Scottish Societies, Scottish Dancers, Heavy Game Athletes Curling Clubs, Golf enthusiasts, Nessie fans, Sean Connery fans, Join the Fun! Free Walker Shortbread for the first 500 attendees! Firefighters, Police Officers, Military, EMS paramedics come in your uniforms so we can say Thank You and honor the Scottish Americans serving the public good! Come see five marching pipe bands including: Bemidji 1st City Pipe Band, Macalester Colleges Pipe Bands 3 and 5, Minnesota Police Pipe Band (who have been honored as National Principal Pipe band for the Washington DC National Police week), Duluth Scottish Heritage Pipe Band, Brotherhood of Pipers, Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band South Dakota, Wisconsin and Canadian pipers will be marching also! Colorful pageantry of Scottish Tartan Flags waving in the parade Nessie and many other Icons of Scotland in parade COME CELEBRATE the TARTAN in YOU. 4. Don't look now, but there will be a Kiwi amongst us. For those of you who may have been on another planet until recently, a Kiwi is (not only a luscious, banana-tasting fruit), but also an affectionate term for a person from New Zealand, i.e., Peter Jackson, et al. We are honored to have Allan MacDonald of Vallay as our guest for Tartan Day. He is a two feather Chieftain of Clan Donald and Vallay is a Cadet branch of the Macdonalds of Sleat. He is also Sir Ian's "lieutenant" in New Zealand. (Sir Ian Macdonald = Chief of Macdonald of Sleat.) He will be attending the Tartan Day Celebration on Saturday, April 8 at the capitol, and may be able to drop by later at the Gala on Friday night, April 7. As our Lifetime Achievement Award honoree is also his Chief's Lieutenant, we will be surrounded by illustrious champions of Scotland. 5. Scottish Community launches Speakers Bureau. Tired of answering questions about your ?skirt?? Sick of defending the sound of bagpipes? Want to raise the level of Scottish awareness in your club, lodge, Scout group or school? Here?s the solution ? send in the cavalry from the Scottish Speakers? Bureau. To our community ? if you can be available occasionally as a speaker on Scottish subjects, please register with Audrey McClellan, 612-729-7270, or audreym at visi.com. If you have previously registered, please contact us again so that our information is correct and up-to-date. No information will be given out about a speaker until the request is cleared with the speaker. An example of the programs available: New speaker Mike McClellan presents a 45-minute talk about Scottish swords and knives in the period 1400-1450. Of interest especially to ages 10-16, Mike?s program emphasizes audience participation, encouraging his listeners to imagine themselves growing up in late medieval times, where it was vital that boys over the age of ten knew how to use weapons for self-defense in daily life. Several swords are displayed, cautiously and with respect. Mike?s emphasis is on understanding, not on violence. ?Mike is magic with kids,? said an organizer of the Celebration of Cultures, Willmar, February 25, 2006. Additionally, if you are interested in booking a speaker, getting more information the person to call is Audrey @ 612-729-720 or email _audreym at visi.com_ (mailto:audreym at visi.com) . 6. Dana and Matt's Excellent Adventure to Caledonia. The 12th Annual Scottish Heritage Dinner in Caledonia, Minnesota was March 25. Dana Drazan and her husband, Matt attended. The 3-hour drive was breath taking as you go toward the South Eastern tip of Minnesota through the Bluff Country with herds of deer in the fields and wild turkeys flying across the country fences. Colonel MacPhail founded Caledonia (the Romans name for Scotland) in the 1850's. Col. MacPhail dressed in a Caledonia Tartan kilt, and military badges. The Dinner was preceded by Scotch eggs and salad, followed by a delicious Haggis. After the Toast to the Haggis, Angus Rib Eye Cutlets so tender a fork was all you needed. Butterscotch pudding with shortbread brought the meal to an end. Scotch on the rocks at the bar for $2.50? Yes, it is true. LaCrosse Pipe & Drum performed a medley of favorite pipe tunes, followed by a special performance by Ann Heyman on the Ancient Gaelic Harp, Charlie, her husband, added button accordion, guitar, bodhran as 3 dancers did lively jigs and reels. Dave Earp, Master of Ceremonies, kept us all in stitches, with his humor and jokes. Kermit McRae received the "Scot of the Year Award" Many Caledonia Minnesotans will be attending Tartan Day Week events in St Paul. Be sure and give them a warm welcome, as warm as the one we received in Caledonia. Make plans now to attend the 13th Annual Scottish Heritage Dinner in 2007. There is a new AmericINN in Caledonia for lodging with continental breakfast. 7. Miscellaneous Scottish News from Ray Erwin If you have Scottish ancestry, visit the Ancestral Scotland stand at the Scottish Village at Grand Central Terminal, NY, from April 1 - 8, 2006. And if that is not enough: A volunteer bombardier became the first woman to fire Edinburgh's One o'Clock Gun in its 145-year history yesterday (on Friday, March 24). (What is the most frequently asked question of the guides at Edinburgh Castle? What time does the One O'Clock cannon go off?) Today's leading stories from Scotsman.com, The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday and Edinburgh Evening News. http://www.scotsman.com/ - Britain's Best Daily Newspaper Website (Newspaper Society, 2002 & 2003) To view this as a web page, please click the following link: (or copy and paste in your browser. http://members.scotsman.com/view.cfm?id=UkVyd2luMzk1N0Bhb2wuY29tfDM2NDg5NTM5 8. St. Andrew's Society women meet regularly for lunch ? next time, April 17, 2006 Monday, April 17 is the date when St. Andrew's Society of Minnesota Past and Present members meet for lunch at Patrick's Cafe in the Lyndale Bachman's from 11:30am for a quick bite to eat and catch up on all good Scottish in Minnesota news! Don Cogswell spoke at our last lunch and shared all the exciting news about Minnesota Scottish Fair. Barbara Humphrey attended, and tasted Patrick's delicious entrees; Margaret Beresford brought a guest, Mrs. Deloris Brain from Golden Valley. Sally Edstrom, Phyllis Fraser, Barbara Parry, Mary Jane Fisher, Marlea Warren, Kay Berg and Dana Drazan invite you to join us. AND IN CLOSING Boy Oh Boy this is a Whopper ? Hold the ketchup ? and I do apologize, but this is probably one of the busiest months of the year. Print it, keep it, Hope to see you at lots of these events and hope you enjoy the other news. 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/20060331/a56e0597/attachment-0001.htm