From BabsFayth at aol.com Thu Mar 15 15:13:29 2007 From: BabsFayth at aol.com (BabsFayth at aol.com) Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:13:29 EDT Subject: [Scottish News] EXTRA! EXTRA! REMINDER! Tartan Day Events Message-ID: Hello Everyone, Beware the Ides of March! So said Shakespeare to Julius Caesar. Ha! Nothing for us to fear! We are the mighty Scots of Minnesota (and those border Scots of Wisconsin). Bring on the Ides of March, says we. This special edition of the SNIM is being brought to you today under the auspices of the Planning Committee of the MN Tartan Day Cooperative, co-chairs Bob "Mac Oly" Olsson and Tom "New Poppa" Lucas. Below you will find details covering these Tartan Day events: March 31, 2007 9th Annual Capitol Celebration Scottish Supper and Ceilidh The Scottish Invasion And a little later on down the page, look for news from the Scottish American Center. 9th Annual Capitol Celebration A grand celebration is planned for Saturday, March 31 on the steps of the State Capitol building in St. Paul. This is a traditional celebration that will include a calling of the clans (Bring your clan tartan banners and any flags that you are proud to display.), bagpipes, highland dancing, quick speeches and the presentation of the 5th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award. Those wishing to participate in the Grand March up the Capitol Mall should gather at the foot of the mall near the Veterans' Building starting at 2:30 p.m., no later than 2:45 p.m. The Parade of Scots will step off at 3:00 p.m. Following arrival at the steps, a short program will be held that will include the awarding of the 5th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award to: Barbara Humphrey Babs initiated the Tartan Day celebration in Minnesota in 1999 and served as coordinator for 7 years. In addition, she has been the editor of the Scottish News in Minnesota (SNIM) now in its 7th year. Members of Clann Tartan will fire their muskets in salute at the end of the program on the steps, always a thrilling, and exciting sight to behold. We have recently learned from Bernie Steele, plant manager for the Department of Administration that in all likelihood the legislature will be in session on Saturday, March 31, and thereby the Rotunda will be open for those needing restroom facilities and or shelter from the storm. He will not know definitely until Monday, March 26 but the odds are looking good. We are told that the parking meters in St. Paul do require quarters on Saturdays. Best places to park are the lots along 12th Street or those along John Ireland Blvd. The lots allow parking for 4 hours, 50 cents and hour, while the meters on John Ireland are for 2 hours, and may be $1 an hour. In any case, bring lots of quarters just to be on the safe side. Scottish Supper and Ceilidh Following the celebration on the capitol steps, head over to the Columbia Manor, 3300 Central Avenue NE for a Scottish Supper and Ceilidh. Check _www.mapquest.com_ (http://www.mapquest.com/) for directions. Reservation forms are available at _www.tartandaymn.org_ (http://www.tartandaymn.org/) . A grand evening is being planned that will include a Social Hour from 5:00 ? 6:00 p.m., Dinner served from 6:00 ? 7:00 p.m. (including the address to the Haggis, by Jack A. Barker). Presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award from 7:00 ? 7:15 p.m. (see above), Christening of kilts and kilt skirts from 7:15 ? 7:30 p.m. (Bring your tartan banners and a sponsor whose kilt has already been christened.) Highland Dancing by MSCDS, Country Dancing by RSCDS, bag piping by members of MPPB ? 7:30 ? 8:30 p.m. Then starting at 8:30 p.m. the Ceilidh featuring the Night Scotsmen with Sherry Gwegorryn calling the ceilidh dancing, and spontaneous performances by members of the audience. Bring you bagpipes, your fiddles, your accordions, your guitars, your funny bone, etc., and plan to participate in a real honest-to-goodness Scottish Ceilidh. Email Liz Michaelson at _liz at uncommongatherings.com_ (mailto:liz at uncommongatherings.com) to get on the performance list. Special feature of the evening is a Silent Auction to benefit this year's Tartan Day events. If you have something you would like to contribute to the Silent Auction, email Jack MacMillan at _jacmacm at aol.com_ (mailto:jacmacm at aol.com) or Liz Michaelson at _liz at uncommongatherings.com_ (mailto:liz at uncommongatherings.com) to arrange for delivery or pick up of your Silent Auction items. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST BE IN BY MARCH 20, that's next Tuesday, so do not delay. If you have been procrastinating or dragging your feet, pick it up, get your reservations in TODAY! The Scottish Invasion The Tartan Day ? Scottish Invasion MCSC Challenge. Create a unique, fun and inventive way to promote our Scottish heritage by participating in an activity that will get the general public to notice (but not get the participants arrested). Wear Your Tartan Day! Take a Picture! Between March 31st and April 6th Tartan Day and this year ? Good Friday. Go Anywhere, to the mall, a movie, church, pub crawl, dinner, lunch, breakfast, school, work, sledding, skiing, bowling, scavenger hunt . . . well you get the idea. Wear your tartan in any form ? kilt, kilted skirt, pants (trews), shirt, tie, scarf, etc., to call attention to our common Scottish Heritage and to be NOTICED for wearing our tartan. Take a picture. To win an inexpensive bottle of Scotch, 12 pack of beer, Irn Bru, chocolate milk or any other arranged reward of this nature will be made to the MCSC Clan/Family or Associate Member who can prove they have successfully "invaded" the general public domain. Prize to be donated by Tom Lucas, Clan Keith. Take a picture of your activity and bring it to the MCSC June 9th Picnic meeting or send it via email to _secretary at mncsc.org_ (mailto:secretary at mncsc.org) by June 4th. The pictures will be presented to the MCSC membership at that meeting and the group getting the most votes will receive the "prize." SCOTTISH AMERICAN CENTER March 28, 7:00 p.m. at the Scottish American Center, 151 Silver Lake Road NW, New Brighton MN 55112 ? Guest Hosts Orientation Session. Volunteers still needed. Join us for an evening of touring the SAC, and preparing yourself to serve as guest hosts. Even though you may not be able to take a guest host time slot at this time, please try to attend this orientation session, as we do not have another on the calendar. Email Babs to let us know you will be attending _babsfayth at aol.com_ (mailto:babsfayth at aol.com) if possible. April 6th ? Tartan Day and April 7th the Day After. Gala Grand Opening of the Scottish American Center located just 4 traffic lights south of I-694 on Silver Lake Road. Friday 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Reception Open House with piping by Mike Breidenbach, tea and scones by Joy and Jim Gullickson (yes, and Raspberry Butter). Bring your families and friends to help launch this wonderful addition to our Scottish Community. Scott McKechnie, Executive Director, and Founder will be on hand to guide you through this amazing facility. On Saturday, April 7th, Reception Open House from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Festivities as above with the Scottish fiddling of Steve Kincaid. The SAC will be open starting at noon on both days. Please feel free to forward these announcements on to members of your organizations who may not be subscribers to the SNIM. ************************************** AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/news_tartandaymn.org/attachments/20070315/05ce5b83/attachment-0001.html From BabsFayth at aol.com Tue Mar 20 14:51:21 2007 From: BabsFayth at aol.com (BabsFayth at aol.com) Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 14:51:21 EDT Subject: [Scottish News] EXTRA! EXTRA! Reservation Deadline Extended Message-ID: Hello Everyone, Greetings to you all on the LAST 3/4 of Winter and the FIRST 1/4 of Spring. Are we counting down the hours and minutes ? Aye! To be sure we are! Spring officially begins today at 7:07 p.m. CDT. Daytime temps will be bumping into the 50s in the coming days boding well for our Tartan Day Celebration on March 31. _http://www.kare11.com/weather/column_yuhas.aspx_ (http://www.kare11.com/weather/column_yuhas.aspx) The following announcement is from Tom Lucas and Bob MacOlsson, coplanners of the 9th Annual Capitol Celebration and Scottish Supper and Ceilidh. The Tartan Day Scottish Supper & Ceilidh NEEDS YOU to come and have a GRAND TIME! Today?s Deadline Has Been Extended! The deadline for mailing your reservations was today, March 20th. In an attempt to allow as many people to attend as wish to, a small extension has been made for the reservation deadline. The Minnesota Tartan Day Cooperative is excited by the numbers of reservations already received, but would like to encourage everyone to come and enjoy the food, entertainment, silent auction and conversation. Liz Michaelson counted noses and seats and found a few empties ? seats that is, not noses. So come on, mail in your reservation, and fill up those seats. Reservations Extension Details: All reservations must be received and in the hands of the MN Tartan Day Cooperative (C/O Uncommon Gatherings) no later than this Saturday, March 24. If necessary, reservations will be accepted by e-mail (_liz at uncommongatherings.com_ (mailto:liz at uncommongatherings.com) ) with the check to be brought to the supper. We?re sorry, no walk-ins can be accommodated. (E-mail reservations not paid for prior to or at the event will be billed to the individuals making the reservation - we will not be able to accept cancellations for any e-mailed reservations.) Visit the Tartan Day Minnesota website for more details and to get the reservation form. _http://www.tartandaymn.org/_ (http://www.tartandaymn.org/) Donations for the Silent Auction are also still needed. Please refer to the reservation form for details. Lastly, don?t forget that this event will follow the Tartan Day Capitol Celebration. A Grand March up the capital grounds from the Veterans building and an abbreviated program on the Minnesota Capitol steps will commemorate the day. For up to the minute information on Tartan Day festivities visit the Tartan Day MN web site often. See you all at the Capitol and again at the Scottish Supper & Ceilidh! (http://www.kare11.com/weather/column_yuhas.aspx) ************************************** AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/news_tartandaymn.org/attachments/20070320/cbe3bd17/attachment.html From BabsFayth at aol.com Thu Mar 29 17:18:30 2007 From: BabsFayth at aol.com (BabsFayth at aol.com) Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2007 17:18:30 EDT Subject: [Scottish News] ****SPAM**** (THIS IS NOT SPAM) Scottish News in Minnesota Vol. 7, No. 67, April 1, 2007 Message-ID: Here we go again. The mail service or AOL has decided this is SPAM but we know it's not. Help! Please rescue me from the SPAM dump! Hello Everyone Well, if it's a lamb that March is exiting as, 'twill be a Scottish lamb as my Desktop weather, courtesy of The Weather Channel, is predicting a high temperature of 54 with 70% chance of rain. Of course, that could change by Saturday, but best be prepared. Dress warmly, in layers, wear a rain jacket and/or bring a brolly and think "SCOTLAND!" Whatever, the weather, join us on the steps of our state's capitol on Saturday, March 31. Folks can gather at the foot of the mall by the Veterans building starting at 2:30 p.m. for a 3:00 p.m. start of the Grand Parade of Scots. A short program, even shorter if we are in the midst of a Force 10 Gale, on the steps will include the singing of the recently chosen unofficial national anthem of Scotland, Flower of Scotland. For those of you who don't know the words or tune to Flower of Scotland please go to _http://www.chivalry.com/cantaria/lyrics/flower-of-scotland.html_ (http://www.chivalry.com/cantaria/lyrics/flower-of-scotland.html) click on MP3 to hear 3 verses sung, scroll down the page for the words. For an easily printable copy of the words go to: _http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/home/scotland/songs/flower.html_ (http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/home/scotland/songs/flower.html) Let's hear those strong Scottish voice raised proudly in song, come rain or shine, on the steps of the capitol on Saturday. Great news, thanks to Tom Lucas, president of MCSC, a wonderful map of the capital environs featuring parking places is available at _www.tartandaymn.org_ (http://www.tartandaymn.org/) Check it out for the best parking places. My favorites are H and I. Bring lots of quarters. And now, as we ready ourselves for the Scottish Invasion that begins on Saturday read on to see where all the Scottish fun can be found month long: COMING EVENTS - For details scroll down the page 1. March 31, 2007, Tartan Day Celebration, State Capitol and Scottish Supper 2. April 6 and 7, 2007, Friday and Saturday, Grand Gala Opening, Scottish American Center 3. April 6, 2007, Traditional Tartan Day (Wear Your Tartan Day) 4. April 20, 2007, Twin Cities Scottish Club Ceilidh, Fort Snelling Club 5. April 22, 2007, Sunday, Duluth Scottish Heritage Association, Annual General Meeting. AWAY GAMES 1. List of all Games and other great information from Ray Erwin _www.usscots.com_ (http://www.usscots.com/) ON GOING EVENTS ? As always, check with the contact before you go. 1. Clann Tartan, Night at the Pub is the 3rd Friday of every month, 7 p.m. ? 10 p.m. 2. Clann Tartan hosts Scottish Country Dancing weekly. 3. Twin Cities Scottish Club ? Friday Night Ceilidh dancing will not continue 4. Clann Tartan Sword Guild meets inside the 2nd Thursday at Corcoran Community Center 5. Wear a Kilt, get a FREE PINT 6. The Twin Cities Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society classes began in September. FUTURE DATES - Additional Information in Future Issues. Mark your calendars now. 1. May 5, 2007, Spring Pipe Band Concert, Macalester College Pipe Band, 7:30 p.m., Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center on the Mac campus 2. May 19, 2007, Saturday 4th Annual Minnesota Scottish Fair & Highland Games 3. May 20, 2007, Sunday after the Fair, NLB Clan Cameron, Celebrate the 10th Anniversary with MSFHG Honored Clan on a River Cruise (_www.andiamo-ent.com_ (http://www.andiamo-ent.com/) ), leave the dock in Stillwater at 10:00 a.m. Adults $22, kids 6 ? 2 $17. Reservations must be received by April 23, 2007. For additional information, email Nancy Cameron at _necameron at aol.com_ (mailto:necameron at aol.com) 4. June 22-24, 2007, the Young Irish Musicians Weekend 5. June 23, 2007, Saturday, DSHA June Dance Competition at Fitger's 6. November 28, 2007, Wednesday, Kirkin' o' the Tartan, Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, Plymouth, 6:00 p.m. ANNOUNCEMENTS - Details below 1. The Scottish American Center is OPEN with Expanded Hours. 2. Twin Ports Scots Take Notice ? Celebrate Tartan Day at the Boathouse 3. And Baby Makes Four Females in the Lucas Household 4. Tartan Day Photography available on line to view and purchase 5. Advance Information on DSHA June Dance Competition 6. For Sale ? Little Girl's Campbell Tartan Kilt 7. Television Viewing ? Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped 8. The Scotsman Digital Archive 9. HELP WANTED! SHORTBREAD BAKERS NEEDED! 10. Presidential Proclamation of Tartan Day ? We are waiting word! 11. Rampant Scotland, the largest directory of Scottish Links ? still the best NEWS ? Details below 1. Going to Scotland ? Got a passport?? A True Story! 2. Minnesota Scottish Fair and Highland Games ? GREAT NEWS! ! ! 3. Twin Cities Scottish Club NEWS 4. News from Minnesota Coalition of Scottish Clans 5. Minnesota Scottish & Celtic Dance Association (MSCDA) 6. News from Minnesota Police Pipe Band 7. Clann Tartan News 8. News from St. Andrew's Society 9. A Scottish Invasion ? Uncle Angus Needs YOU! ! ! 10. Tartan Day Celebration Events Information 11. Tartan Day (Week) Events, Elsewhere 12. Merlin's Rest update 13. News from Laura Mackenzie ? Concert dates, end of March and April 14. New web site for Conference of Celtic Women POST SCRIPT COMING EVENTS ? DETAILS 1. March 31, 2007, Tartan Day Celebration, State Capitol and Scottish Supper Please see all the details for our Tartan Day celebration listed below. Visit the web site at _www.tartandaymn.org_ (http://www.tartandaymn.org/) and click on NEWS 2. April 6 - 7, 2007, Scottish American Center Gala Grand Opening The Scottish American Center cordially extends a warm invitation to YOU, and to all members of the Scottish Community of Minnesota, Western Wisconsin, and Northern Iowa, as well as all interested friends, Scots or not! Attend the Gala Grand Opening of the Center and its Tartan Day Celebration to be held Friday, April 6 (Tartan Day) from 4:00 p.m. ? 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 7 from 2:00 p.m. ? 6:00 p.m. (Additionally, the Center will also be open to the public starting at noon each day.) Scott McKechnie, Executive Director of the Scottish American Center, will be introducing what the facility has to offer. Also, Mike Breidenbach, Pipe Major, Macalester College Pipe Band, will entertain during the festivities on Friday, and Steve Kincaid, Scottish fiddler, will entertain on Saturday. Other performers may also be ?signing up? as the day approaches. Scones, shortbread, and tea will be served. Other entertainers are welcomed to participate. The Scottish American Center is located at 151 Silver Lake Road NW, New Brighton, MN 55112, just 4 blocks south of I-694 on the East side of Silver Lake Road, in the lower level of the 151 commercial building. Weather permitting, activities will also be also held outside at the rear of the building. The Scottish American Center hopes you will show your support for this exciting new initiative on behalf of the Scottish community by attending one or both of these days? fun and festive events! 3. April 6, 2007, Traditional Tartan Day (Wear Your Tartan Day) Please look for additional information under NEWS: Tartan Day Celebration Information. 4. April 20, 2007, Twin Cities Scottish Club Ceilidh, Fort Snelling Club >From Carolyn Jackson, editor, TCSC newsletter In memory of George McCracken and his endless enthusiasm within the Twin Cities Scottish Community, The Twin Cities Scottish Club invites you to a Ceilidh! Adults and children are welcome! Date: Friday, April 20th, Time: 6:30pm, Place: Fort Snelling Club Music provided by: Night Scotsman Visit the TCSC Silent Auction during the evening! The Fort Snelling Bar will also be available for the purchase of a variety of fine spirits! To celebrate a Ceilidh in it's true form, we welcome those attendees who would like perform a short number in song, dance, recite a poem, play an instrument, etc! Just let us know on the registration form or at the door and we will give the band an occasional break and celebrate the talent that our Scottish community has to offer! Ticket prices include dinner and dancing! Prices do vary by adult/child and TCSC members/non-members. Please contact Carolyn Jackson at _ceegcj at yahoo.com_ (mailto:ceegcj at yahoo.com) for a registration form. Payment and pre-registration is required and must be received by April 13th. Space is limited! 5. April 22, 2007, Sunday, Duluth Scottish Heritage Association, Annual General Meeting. The Duluth Scottish Heritage Association will hold their Annual General meeting on Sunday, April 22, 2007 starting at 1:30 p.m. A free dinner of Lasagna and salad will be served for members and a guest; the entertainment, DSHA Pipe Band and dancing by the students of the DSHA School of Dance is open to anyone. The meeting and luncheon will be held at the Glen Avon Presbyterian Church at 2205 Woodland Avenue in Duluth. New members welcomed. 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. Pub Night has a new location, The Lake Street Garage on ? where else? ? Lake Street. Contact Bruce Yodor bruceyoder at juno.com for additional information. 2. Clann Tartan hosts Scottish Country Dancing weekly. Dance regains it's normal schedule of the 1st and 3rd Wednesday at a new site - moving temporarily to MCTC until reconstruction on Hiawatha Community Center is completed - 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 or Mary at Mairi2 at juno.com for details. 3. Twin Cities Scottish Club ? Ceilidh dancing will no longer continue. It is with a heavy heart that we pass on the news that the TCSC has discontinued it Friday night Ceilidh dancing lessons. Eileen Stewart, who along with husband Doug, has tried valiantly to keep the dancing going in George McCracken's memory, as it was so important to him. But alas and alack, there comes a time to say goodbye to a long held tradition. And for TCSC that time has come. Should Ceilidh dancing be resumed some time in the future, you will hear about it here. Thanks to Doug and Eileen for keeping it going as long as they did. George would be proud. 4. Clann Tartan Sword Guild meets the 3rd Thursday at Corcoran Community Center ? moving inside for the winter - contact Marty for information orthodoxdruid at gmail.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/)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. The Twin Cities Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society Twin Cities Branch is holding classes on Monday nights, 7:30 to 9:30pm at Tapestry Folkdance Center in Minneapolis (3738 Minnehaha Ave South). Adults (16 and up) of all ages are welcome! No need to bring a partner! For more information see _http://www.rscdstwincities.org/classes.html_ (http://www.rscdstwincities.org/classes.html) or contact Lara Friedman-Shedlov: _ldfs at bigfoot.com_ (mailto:ldfs at bigfoot.com) , 612.874.8299 ANNOUNCEMENTS - Details 1. The Scottish American Center is OPEN with expanded hours. This morning I was asked, when was the last time I had put out a call for volunteers and had TWICE as many show up as I had expected? Answer ? never! Until last night. The first Orientation session was held at the SAC for volunteer Guest Hosts. We had thought we would have 4, for sure, and maybe 2 or 3 more. We hosted 12 ? count 'em 12 ? wonderful, willing, excited volunteers. And because of them and their willingness to help and put the Scottish American Center on the Road to Success, we are proud and excited to announce: The Scottish American Center (SAC) will be open to EXPANDED HOURS. You can now visit the SAC beginning April 1st (no foolin') on: *Monday evenings between 6:00 ? 8:00 p.m. where you will be greeted by Guest Host Nancy Cameron Breems, past president of the Northern Lights Branch of Clan Cameron; *Thursday evenings between 6:00 ? 8:00 p.m. where you will be greeted alternately by Mark Hamilton, MN commissioner for Clan Hamilton and Carolyn Jackson, newsletter editor for TCSC *Tuesday, April 10 (only) between 6:00 ? 8:00 p.m. will be hosted by Mickey Cameron, also of NLB Clan Cameron *Wednesdays between noon and 5:00 p.m., 6:00 ? 8:00 p.m. and *Fridays between noon and 6:00 p.m. will continue with John McKeen and Mary Libhardt serving as guest hosts alternately on Friday afternoons between 2:00 p.m. ? 6:00 p.m. Jackie and Denny Johnston will relieve Scott for some of the Wednesday hours. Additional hours will be added as more volunteers come forward. Please contact Volunteer coordinator Barbara Humphrey at _babsfayth at aol.com_ (mailto:babsfayth at aol.com) if you are interested in serving as a Guest Host. Scott continues to hope someone will come forward to help with the SAC web site, which is up and running at _www.scottishamericancenter.org_ (http://www.scottishamericancenter.org/) A web guru is number one on Scott's wish list. Some interesting developments in the contributions area: St. Andrew's Society of Minnesota will accept donations designated for the SAC to assure donors an IRS deductible contribution. There are appropriate forms available through the SAC office call 651-636-1558 or email _j.s.mck at prodigy.net_ (mailto:j.s.mck at prodigy.net) and a form will be sent to you. In addition to monetary contributions, Scott will accept books, photos, memorabilia, weapons, and decorative items (and a newer computer) on loan or as part of the permanent collection. He is currently housing the MCSC library, and has received many wonderful photographs from Jackie and Denny Johnston. Jackie recently produced a wonderful poster on Great Scots featuring persons of Scottish ancestry who have made significant contributions to Minnesota. Thanks to everyone who has brought items to the SAC. All are appreciated and most welcomed. You want to be a part of this exciting venture. As a community, we owe a great debt to Scott for initiating this important project. The success is up to us ? you ? me ? all of us. What can you do? The Scottish American Center is located on the lower level (follow the signs) of the 151 office building. The address is 151 Silver Lake Road NW, Suite 13, New Brighton, MN 55112 ? just 4 blocks south of the intersection of I-694 and Silver Lake Road on the east side. The Center phone number is 651-636-1558 and there is voice mail. You are at the center of the SAC's success. Scottish organization presidents and chairpersons: introduce your board (and thereby your membership) to the SAC by holding a board meeting in the Display Room. Call the center to make arrangements - 651-636-1558. St. Andrew's Society held their board meeting in the display room recently and was deemed a success. The center has coffee and tea fixings available, bring your own treats. 2. Twin Ports Scots Take Notice ? Celebrate Tartan Day at the Boathouse SCOTTISH FESTIVAL AT THE BOATHOUSE RESTAURANT To coincide with Minnesota Tartan Day festivities, The Boathouse Restaurant will have its Scottish Festival at the Barker?s Island, Superior, WI, restaurant Tuesday, March 27th through Saturday, March 31st. A Scottish menu, some very fine Scotch whiskies (some aged up to eighteen years), bagpipes, dancers, and readings of the poetry of Robert Burns will be presented. The restaurant requires reservations for this special event. Please call 715-399-0076. Regards, Grant Bratrud 3. And Baby Makes Four Females in the Lucas Household Robin, Kaelan, Anice and I are excited to announce the arrival of Teagan Raine Lucas. She was born on Tuesday March 13th at 10:32 a.m., weighing 9 lb. 14 oz. and 21? long. She has beautiful black hair, and lots of it. She is beautiful, happy, healthy, and squirming. You can see pictures of her at _http://home.comcast.net/~t.r.lucas/Dreamweaver_Page.htm_ (http://home.comcast.net/~t.r.lucas/Dreamweaver_Page.htm) Tom Lucas, President, Minnesota Coalition of Scottish Clans 4. Tartan Day Photography available on line to view and purchase We are pleased and excited to announce that Gunnar S?derlind, of Agile Photography in Lake Bluff, Illinois will be the official photographer for the Tartan Day 2007 events. He is a professional photographer specializing in wedding photography and special events photography. Within a week of Tartan Day, there will be a link on his web site _www.agilephotography.com_ (http://www.agilephotography.com/) click on view your photos here. Look for Tartan Day MN in the list and view and/or purchase photos of interest. The traditional mob scene group photo on the steps of the capitol will be taken this year. Listen for instructions from the MC. 5. Advance Information on DSHA June Dance Competition The DSHA will be sponsoring a Highland Dance Competition on June 23rd, 2007 at the Fitger's complex. The registration form and list of dances can be obtained from the web site _www.duluthscots.com_ (http://www.duluthscots.com/) . The dancing will be in the courtyard with Lake Superior as the backdrop. Ms. Kelly Biduke of Whitby, Ontario will be the Judge. Two pipers have been contacted for the event. In case of inclement weather, the competition will be held indoors. (But Duluth never ?? has bad weather !!! ) There will be a ceilidh following the competition. The cost for early registration, must be postmarked by June 14, is Adults $25 per person, $12.50 for ages 5-11 years, and free for 4 and under. Late registration-after June 14, the cost will be Adults $30, $15 for ages 5-11, and free for 4 and under. Mail check made out to DSHA to Nancy Rectenwald, 1943 Hartley Road, Duluth, MN 55803. 6. For Sale ? Little Girl's Campbell Tartan Kilt Colleen McLain has a little girl's Campbell tartan kilt, with ruffle top for sale. Size is 8 year old by English measure. She paid $60 for them but will take an offer. Contact her at _Colleencmclain at mngolftravel.com_ (mailto:Colleencmclain at mngolftravel.com) 7. Television Viewing ? Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped Twin Cities Channels 2 and 17 are currently running a television production of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel Kidnapped. In this swashbuckling adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic, Davie Balfour is trying to claim his inheritance -- the House of Shaws, a great landed estate. In the process, Davie finds himself trapped on a ship and headed for slavery in the New World. But thanks to the intervention of a highlander, Alan Breck, Davie eludes his captors and joins Breck on a wild flight through the Scottish highlands, pursued by ruthless English bounty hunters. Check _http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/_ (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/) or _http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/kidnapped/index.html_ (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/kidnapped/index.html) for broadcast times and channels. 8. THE SCOTSMAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE Search every word of every edition of The Scotsman between 1817 and 1950 in our online archive. You can use it to discover first hand accounts of Scottish and world history or even find out what your ancestors got up to. _http://archive.scotsman.com/_ (http://archive.scotsman.com/) Subscription purchase may be necessary. 9. HELP WANTED! SHORTBREAD BAKERS NEEDED! Planning for the Scottish American Center Gala Grand Opening continues, but we have hit a snag. We have been unable to arrange for shortbread with a bakery whose product meets our tough Scottish standards. So we are appealing to the Scottish bakers of great shortbread in our community. Can you bake and provide a pan of shortbread to be served to the guests during the Gala Grand Opening? If you can do that, and it would be a GREAT contribution to the success of the day, please call Babs at 612-869-7163 or call the SAC at 651-636-1558 and leave a message. You will save the day. Moran Ta?ng. 10. Presidential Proclamation of Tartan Day Waiting to hear. 11. 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 NEWS Details 1. Going to Scotland? Got a Passport?? A True Story By way of preface, you are all aware, I am sure, that our government now requires a passport for travel anywhere outside the continental US including to Canada and Mexico. All those northern Minnesota fisherman scrambling for passports to go fishing in Canada has put an incredible strain on the system. The demand for passports is overwhelming the State Department. One dear Scottish gentleman of our community had the following experience as he applied for his first passport. We are calling him Jackie, to protect his identity and we have changed the name of the community, likewise. Today I went to the City of Neverland to apply for my Passport, as I'll be traveling to Scotland this summer. I had the application all filled out, two recent color photos, my checkbook with checks made out to the US State Dept for $67.00 & to the City of Neverland for $43.00, my driver's license and of course my birth certificate all in an organized Manila folder. I also had the original certificate issued from then Boston's Mayor John B. Hynes welcoming the birth of another Bostonian into his City. I had this just in case. Everything was in order until the clerk asked for my birth certificate. She stopped right then and examined the certificate for some time without moving a muscle. She then called over another Clerk who was examining the certificate also not saying a word. Another clerk saw that something was peculiar and he came over and examined the certificate. I asked if something was wrong. "Where do you get this?" asked the male clerk looking over his glasses disparagingly. I suddenly felt like I was back in second grade and had brought the teacher a note excusing me from recess. "From my Mommy." came my reply. "We have never seen a birth certificate like this before. It's handwritten!" said the first clerk. "But it has the Official City of Boston seal on it and the date coincides with my birth date." I pointed out defensively. Then I pulled out the City of Boston's certificate from Mayor John B. Hynes. They huddled and examined it over very carefully and then gave it back to me without a word. "Birth certificates always come typed.," claimed the second clerk validating her role in this exchange. "This is what I have." I said shyly. The other two clerks left quickly leaving up to my original clerk to pass judgment. "We'll take it." she ruled. "But the State Department may kick it back. When are you going to Scotland?" she asked. "July 20th." I said. "It'll be close. You better write to the City of Boston and get an updated certificate just in case." she advised me, this time sounding more like a grandmother who is teaching me how to cross a street. I thanked for her time, stuffed Mayor Hynes in the folder and left, looking both ways before I pulled out into traffic. End of Jackie's story. To date he has not received a passport nor notification that it's been denied or that additional information may be required. Stayed tuned for the next installment of "Jackie goes to Scotland." 2. Minnesota Scottish Fair and Highland Games ? GREAT NEWS! ! ! The MSFHG 2007 Fair brochures are available for distribution. Go to the MSCFHG web site to find out where and how to get brochures for distribution to your groups and for friends and family. http://www.mnscottishfair.org/ Click on Volunteer and let them know you want to help. Important News from Don Cogswell, president, MSFHG: Discounted General Admission tickets for the Minnesota Scottish Fair & Highland Games may be purchased online starting March 1st. >From Peggy Lushine, MSFHG program goddess: Get your Scottish Fair program ads in! The clock is ticking and we currently have a lot of empty space waiting for ads in the program. We'd like to be able to pay for the printing of the program through ad sales, but to do that, we need your ads! If you'd like an ad and have misplaced your info, visit: _http://www.mnscottishfair.org/advertisments.htm_ (http://www.mnscottishfair.org/advertisments.htm) Remember the deadline is 4 pm on April 13th! VOLUNTEERS! ! ! Always needed. From Liz Michaelson: We always need volunteering at the fair. People can e-mail me at _emichaelson at mnscottishfair.org_ (mailto:emichaelson at mnscottishfair.org) . Minimum of 3 hours work, before (especially on the Friday before ? May 18th) or during the fair are requested. Thanks! Come on, kids. This is our fair; it's what we always wanted, now it's up to us to help make it happen. Give a few hours; get a tenfold return in personal satisfaction. Email Liz TODAY! 3. Twin Cities Scottish Club News The TCSC is throwing a Family Ceilidh on April 20 at the Fort Snelling Club. ALL are welcome!!! The ceilidh will honour our dear old friend George McCracken who taught so many people to dance. George's birthday was April 24. If you are interested in coming, please see our website at _www.twincitiesscottishclub.org_ (http://www.twincitiesscottishclub.org/) for more information. Check No. 4 in Current Events, above. 4. News from the Minnesota Coalition of Scottish Clans >From Ellen Long, Secretary Minnesota Coalition of Scottish Clans (MCSC) _www.mncsc.org_ (http://www.mncsc.org/) The MCSC is always looking for new Clans/Families to join our organization. Please feel free to contact any of our board members to find out how to join. You can find our contact information at _www.mncsc.org_ (http://www.mncsc.org/) Or mail us at: MCSC, P.O. Box 40280, St. Paul, MN 55104 Upcoming Meeting Dates: June 9 at the Lion?s Shelter in Roseville?s Central Park (Our annual picnic meeting.) October 13 ? Our Annual General Meeting (Elections for open board positions will be held.) Come join our organization and promote your Scottish heritage (Clan/Family), genealogy, culture and more. 5. Minnesota Scottish & Celtic Dance Association (MSCDA) Email President Kristy Van Hoven at dancingthistle at mail.com Members of MSCDA will be performing at Tartan Day events as they have performed every year since the beginning in 1999. 6. News from Minnesota Police Pipe Band Sally Gordon files this report about MPPD activities and events: Free Lessons The Minnesota Police Pipe Band offers free piping and drumming instruction to any interested individual. We want to introduce a broad range of people to instruments boasting a rich cultural heritage. Instruction is provided for the bass, snare and tenor drums and for the Great Highland bagpipe. These are the instruments played in modern competition pipe bands. Instruction in the art of the Drum Major is also available. New piping and drumming classes began March 13. Please contact us at _instruction at mppb.org_ (mailto:instruction at mppb.org) for registration details. You can also find detailed information about our program on the instruction page of our web site: _www.mppb.org_ (http://www.mppb.org/) Scotland 2009 Minnesota Police Pipe Band will be taking a trip across the pond in August 2009 to compete in the World Pipe Band Championships. Preparations are underway for this huge endeavor. April appearance dates: April 14 -- Special Olympics Spring Games, Eden Prairie April 17 -- Performance and lecture and St. Helena's School, South Minneapolis April 20 -- Arkansas Scottish Festival, Lyon College, Batesville AR Minnesota Police Pipe Band, PO Box 19067, Minneapolis MN 55419 _www.mppb.org_ (http://www.mppb.org/) 7. Clann Tartan News Clann Tartan will participate, as they have been doing since 1999, in the 9th Annual Tartan Day Celebration at the Minnesota State Capitol. The final musket salute will be made at the steps this year, rather than in the Circle of Honor. 8. News from St. Andrew's Society of Minnesota Judith Palmateer, First Vice President reports that St. Andrew's has been very busy and focused this month on the Tartan Day celebration activities. Pub Nights will begin again in May and News of the AGM will be available soon. 9. A Scottish Invasion ? Uncle Angus Needs YOU! ! ! >From the Minnesota Tartan Day Cooperative April 1st-5th ? Scottish Invasions! Over the course of the week between the Tartan Day Celebration at the state capitol on March 31 and Tartan Day on April 6, all of the Scottish organizations in the state and anyone with Scottish blood (or enthusiasm) are encouraged to organize outings to promote Tartan Day and to honor their Scottish heritage by wearing tartan ?in public.? The Minnesota Tartan Day Cooperative is suggesting that small groups of tartan-clad people go out to dinner, go shopping at the mall, or go to church or any other every day type of activity while wearing tartan. If anyone asks, tell them about Tartan Day, your organization, the Scottish Fair, and/or any other Scottish cultural aspect you wish to talk about and that they might want to hear about. We are not suggesting that you seek out people with whom to talk. Simply talk to anyone who has the nerve to ask why you are there and wearing tartan. This is an opportunity for us to tell the entire state that the Scottish community is alive, well, and happy to be here and to let everyone know that it isn?t just lutefisk, lefsa, and hot dish that makes this state great! (Haggis counts, too!) If you feel shy about wearing your kilt or tartan to work, be advised that one of our hard working Scottish community members, who just happens to be a Minneapolis policeman in real life, has asked for and been given permission to wear his kilt on Tartan Day. So, kit yourself up, kids, and go proudly where no Scots have gone before ? into your workplace ? in your kilt. April 6th, 2007 ? Tartan Day ? WEAR your Tartan Day. All Scots and those who honor our shared heritage are encouraged to wear your tartan on this day. Also see the March 31 Tartan Day Celebration information below! 10. Tartan Day Celebration Events Information >From the Minnesota Tartan Day Cooperative March 31, 2007 ? Tartan Day Celebrations! Three days, counting today and counting. We hope you are planning to attend and participate in the 9th Annual Tartan Day Celebration on the Minnesota State Capitol steps. This year?s celebration is early, because April 6, the official date for Tartan Day, occurs on Good Friday. The Grand Parade of Scots will march from the Veterans Service Building north to the capitol steps at 3:00 PM (line-up begins at 2:30; bring your Tartan flags and your organization flags, if you have them). At the capitol steps, there will be a brief program and presentation of the 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award to Barbara Humphrey. Everyone is invited to participate in the parade. Detailed information has been sent to each of the state?s Scottish organizations for their use and for distribution to their members. Whether or not your are associated with any official organization, the MN Tartan Day Cooperative welcomes you, your family, friends, neighbors to participate in this important celebration of our Scottish Heritage. You can also visit the MN Tartan Day website for more information: _www.tartandaymn.org_ (http://www.tartandaymn.org/) ? click on NEWS. Parking meters in the capitol environs will require coins, so it wouldn't hurt to have some quarters in your sporran, lots of them. Parking in the driveway just at the foot of the capitol steps is restricted to permit holders, so don't plan to park there. Parking in the lots along 12th (H and I) and at the meters on John Ireland Blvd should be plentiful. See the map at _www.tartandaymn.org_ (http://www.tartandaymn.org/) Following the parade and program at the capitol, everyone is invited to a Scottish Supper and Ceilidh at the Columbia Manor, located at 3300 Central Avenue in NE Minneapolis. (Check www.mapquest.com for directions) A social hour and silent auction begins at 5:00 p.m., with supper following at 6:00 p.m. There will be planned presentations and performances, as well as time for visiting and enjoying the evening. This is a casual, family oriented celebration. Spontaneity is welcomed and appreciated, so feel free to stand up and join in by singing, piping, dancing, or telling a story. (Let's make this a true Scottish Ceilidh.) Bring those guitars, fiddles, accordions, pipes, what have you, step up, and entertain at this great Tartan Day Ceilidh. A silent auction to benefit this and future Tartan Day events will also take place. The proceeds from the Silent Auction will help with Tartan Day expenses. If you have items, you would like to contribute to the Silent Auction, please contact Jack MacMillan at _jacmacm at aol.com_ (mailto:jacmacm at aol.com) . Jack and Liz Michaelson are organizing the Silent Auction as part of the Tartan Day Cooperative Planning Committee. Word has it that the contributions for the auction have been amazing ? staggering, even. Lots of wonderful items in all price ranges, so get there early, by 5 o'clock and start the bidding. Casual Scottish attire is encouraged, but not required. Reservations for the supper have closed. 11. Tartan Day (Week) Events Elsewhere Ever wonder what we could do, in terms of producing a Tartan Day celebration if we had a population of 8 1/2 million people to work from. Take a look at this web site to see what New York City is doing: _http://www.tartanweekny.com/_ (http://www.tartanweekny.com/) And that doesn't mean for one second that we don't think our celebration is GREAT! It is! The best in the US and second only to New York, so there! 12. Merlin's Rest update: Merlin's Rest Traditional Tavern is still a work in progress. The Keltcom design team is busy rehabbing the old Popeye's Bar & Grill on Lake Street & 36th, Minneapolis. The Welsh wizard John Dingley is ready to take charge of opening as soon as Bill Watkins and his crew have done with the decor and refinements. They had a temporary license for St. Patrick's Day. ETA: April. STAY TUNED! 13. News from Laura Mackenzie ? Concert Dates, end of March and April March 30: NORTHERN GAEL (Ross Sutter, Laura MacKenzie and fiddler Tom Schaefer)in concert at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, 2315 Chicago Ave S., Minneapolis, 7:30 PM Benefit for English learning center for info: 612-339-3920 _www.rosssutter.com_ (http://www.rosssutter.com/) _www.lauramackenzie.com_ (http://www.lauramackenzie.com/) March 31: Laura MacKenzie and Andrea Stern (Celtic harpist) Midtown Global Market (old Sears building) Chicago & Lake, Minneapolis, 12:00 noon ? 2:00 p.m. April 6: HOUSE CONCERT, 7:30 PM (doors 7:00)Laura MacKenzie & Brian Miller, Traditional Music and Song of Ireland, Scotland and Minnesota, 1172 Bush Ave, St. Paul 55106, $10 at the door, info: 651-776-7184 _www.lauramackenzie.com_ (http://www.lauramackenzie.com/) April 15 : Laura MacKenzie, featured singer, Traditional Singers Club Concert, St. Paul Conservatory of Music Recital Hall, 3:00 PM, 29 East Exchange St. (across from the Fitzgerald Theater) $10 at the door. _www.singclub.org_ (http://www.singclub.org/) MANY THANKS! And happy spring, Laura 14. New web site for Conference of Celtic Women This from Jean Bills Dear Friends, It gives me great pleasure to announce a completely new web page for CONFERENCE OF CELTIC WOMEN. It is entirely new with complete conference information including speakers for this year, historical records of past conferences, registration information, First Friday Lecture schedules, and records. There are more than 200 photographs included, taken at the conferences and lectures. Just click here: http://www.conferenceofcelticwomen.org If you are interested, this was done on a Mac computer, the I-Web program which I will maintain and update as time goes on. I will appreciate any comments you care to offer. Many thanks, Jean Bills, Conference of Celtic Women October 4-6, 2007 POST SCRIPT In about a week to ten days, we will be sending a Special Edition of the SNIM that will contain information from Jackie Johnston who is researching a book called Great Scots focusing on outstanding achievements by Minnesotans of Scottish ancestry and heritage. Jackie has been researching this book for five years and has issued a Plea for Help from the Scottish Community. She has sent us a memo and a list of Minnesotans for whom she needs help with information. This will be your chance to help write a book and get credit besides. Be watching for that Special Edition. AND IN CLOSING I would like to leave you this month with a quote from Milton Berle that was given to me by my closest friend, David Lohman. "I'd rather be a could-be if I cannot be an are; because a could-be is a maybe who is reaching for a star. I'd rather be a has-been than a might-have-been, by far; for a might have-been has never been, but a has was once an are." Now there's some food for thought, eh? To all my fellow could-bes and has-beens out there ? Hurray for us! We ARE! 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. ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/news_tartandaymn.org/attachments/20070329/6b68b37f/attachment-0001.html From BabsFayth at aol.com Fri Mar 30 14:57:50 2007 From: BabsFayth at aol.com (BabsFayth at aol.com) Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2007 14:57:50 EDT Subject: [Scottish News] (This is NOT SPAM) SNIM Special Edition Weather Alert Tartan Day Celebration Message-ID: Hello Everyone Like you, the members of the Tartan Day Celebration Planning Committee have been watching the weather, the weather reports, and the weather radar, and what they have been seeing and hearing does not bode well for an outdoor celebration tomorrow. HOWEVER, your far-sighted committee reserved the use of the Capitol Rotunda when they reserved the other spaces for the Tartan Day Celebration. Smart thinkin'. Therefore, should the weather develop as it is predicted, the celebration WILL be held INSIDE the Capitol Rotunda rather than outside on the steps. This change will necessitate several changes in the program. Music is not allowed inside the Capitol building while the legislature is in session, and they will be in session tomorrow. If we are weather-forced to move our celebration inside, there will be not music, no bagpipes, and no singing. And that is a sad situation, indeed, but we are bound by the Capitol use rules; grateful to have a place to come in out of the storm. As for the firing of the Clann Tartan muskets, clearly, that can't happen inside and whether or not they will be able to fire them outside in a pouring rain, only they can decide. You have heard the expression, keep your powder dry. Anyone who does not wish to walk up the Mall in the rain is welcome to go directly to the rotunda where the parade will arrive at approximately 3:15 p.m. (The Minnesota State Capitol Building is an historic building and therefore is governed by very strict use rules. Please use trash containers, DO NOT lean ANYTHING against the walls. The Capitol Building is a treasure of which we are all very proud. Please be respectful.) Don't let the threat of bad weather keep you at home. We are Scots, after all. A little rain is not going to stop us. Happy Tartan Day! (The inclement weather in no way affects the Scottish Supper and Ceilidh schedule to begin tomorrow at 5:00 p.m.) Questions? Call me ? 612-869-7163 or email _babsfayth at aol.com_ (mailto:babsfayth at aol.com) 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. ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/news_tartandaymn.org/attachments/20070330/7da43028/attachment.html