From babsfayth at aol.com Mon Dec 10 14:44:37 2007 From: babsfayth at aol.com (Barbara Humphrey) Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:44:37 -0600 Subject: [Scottish News] EXTRA! EXTRA! Special Edition, Scottish News in Minnesota, December 2007 Message-ID: <000001c83b65$1c7b08a0$6401a8c0@APFS1> Hello Everyone, This is a special edition because we have discovered lots more ideas for your Holiday Shopping and we will add them below. AND, we made an awful mistake in the address for the Scottish American Center and we will fix that below as well. Plus: Couldn?t fit the TCSC Christmas Party into your schedule on December 1. Here?s good news ? it was postponed because of the weather and has been rescheduled for this coming Saturday, December 15. See details below. And one last chance to hear MPPB this season, check it out below. So, a few new things, a few you saw 10 days ago ? Here we go! A. COMING EVENTS - For details scroll down the page 1. December 10 & 11, 2007, Monday and Tuesday, "A Charladies Christmas" Celtic Holiday Music and Dance, With Laura MacKenzie & troupe of musicians and dancers, at the Lowry Theater, downtown St. Paul. 2. **NEW** rescheduled ** December 15, 2007, Saturday, (Note Inclement Weather necessitated the postponing of this wonderful event. Rescheduled ? Here it is!) time 2 ? 4:30 p.m., Children's Christmas Party, Macalester Plymouth United Church, St. Paul, MN, TCSC 3. *NEW* December 15, 2007, Saturday, Minnesota Police Pipe Band. 4. *NEW *January 1, 2008, Clann Tartan always has a Cleaning of the Tartans at noon, Augusburg Park, 70th and Nicollet in Richfield. Just west of the building in the parking lot. Check their web page: www.clanntartan.org 11. January 1, 2008, St. Andrew?s Society of Minnesota, First Footing 12. January 12, 2008, Saturday, MCSC Quarterly Meeting, 1:00 ? 2:15 p.m 13. January 12, 2008, Saturday, Scottish Genealogy ? Basic Principles and Internet Research Seminar, 2:30 p.m. Maplewood Public Library 14. January 12, 2008, Saturday, TCSC January AGM, Time TBA, Macalester Plymouth United Church, St. Paul, MN 15. January 19, 2008, Winter Jig Dance Competition, DSHA, See details under DSHA NEWS 16. January 19, 2008, St. Andrew?s Society of Minnesota, Burns Night 17. January 26, 2008, Saturday, Burns Dinner, DSHA 18. January 26, 2008, Saturday, Burns Supper, Sheraton, Bloomington, TCSC PRINT THE FOREGOING SECTION AND POST IT ON YOUR REFRIGERATOR DOOR. New Items Help with your Holiday Shopping Corrected Information - News of the Scottish American Center Another Opportunity to Opt In for a Scottish American Center Mailing List A. COMING EVENTS ? DETAILS 1. December 10 & 11, 2007, Monday and Tuesday, "A Charladies Christmas" Celtic Holiday Music and Dance. As you can imagine, this show is based on traditional Christmas music plus traditional Irish, Scottish and even Central French (French pipes - Says Laura, ?I am personally renting the theater, so need to fill it!!!!!!! People loved the show last year.?) "A Charladies Christmas" Celtic Holiday Music and Dance Monday Dec 10th & Tuesday Dec 11th 7:30 PM (doors open at 6:45) The Lowry Theater,16 West 5th Street (between Wabasha & St. Peter),Downtown St. Paul Tickets: $15 ($12 for 12 and under) Available at: www.lauramackenzie.com , Irish on Grand, 1124 Grand Ave, St. Paul (651-222-5151) and at the door....... THIS SHOW SOLD OUT IN 2006 !! Come to the Lowry Theater for a unique holiday experience - an evening of Christmas and Celtic music, featuring a troupe of fine musicians plus the creatively light hearted Irish dancers, "Biddies Galore". From the warmth of the Christmas kitchen to the gaiety of the holiday ball, the ensemble celebrates the season with a rich tapestry of traditional carols, music and dance. Come for the music of joy, wonder and hope, a bit of pantomime, and the festive ambience of the Lowry. Featuring: Laura MacKenzie (flutes, pipes, concertina, voice), Daithi Sproule (guitar, voice), Tom Schaefer (fiddle), Michael Bissonnette (percussion), Dec Barry (bodhran) BIDDIES GALORE (feet) (Sheila Jordan, Amy Hokanson, Lindsay Blattner) Jeannette Bach (narration) 2. **NEW** rescheduled ** December 15, 2007, Saturday, (Note Inclement Weather necessitated the postponing of this wonderful event. Rescheduled ? Here it is!) time 2 ? 4:30 p.m., Children's Christmas Party, Macalester Plymouth United Church, St. Paul, MN, TCSC As you know, we had to reschedule our Christmas Party due to inclement weather . It has been rescheduled for Saturday, December 15th. (Please see the invitation below for detailed information.) The deadline for registration for the party is December 12th. We look forward to seeing you there! Happy Holidays! Norma Macdonald Vice President/Membership Chairperson Twin Cities Scottish Club Twin Cities Scottish Club invites you to our Annual Children?s Christmas Party!! Saturday, December 15th, 2007 2:00pm to 4:30pm Where: Macalester Plymouth Church, 1658 Lincoln Avenue, St. Paul, MN. 55105 (Located 1 block south of Grand Ave, 1 block west of Snelling Ave and adjacent to the Macalester College campus) Who: All members, all ages! Members are encouraged to invite guests with the only request that guests also contribute to the potluck food table and bring a gift for their child. Potluck: Please bring a savory dish or a sweet. It?s your choice! Why not try a Scottish recipe to share this year?!! Gifts: Please bring a wrapped gift for your child/children and have their name clearly marked on it. Please consider only spending $10-$15 to keep the gifts equal. We will have a gift drop-off located outside the building if you want to avoid your wee one seeing their gift. Registration: Please call to register! Call Lindsay Lee at 952-873-4695 before Wednesday 28th November with names of adults and children planning to be in attendance. Questions? Please call Lindsay at the number above or Jennifer at 763-473-9049. We look forward to seeing you there! 3. **NEW** December 15, 2008, Saturday, Minnesota Police Pipe Band Another year has flown by and it?s time for our annual last tour of the season performance at Summit Brewing. Reserve a place on the brewery tour then, afterward, listen to the band. The tour is at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, December 15, 2007. Contact Summit for reservations and tour info: 651 25 7800, http://www.summitbrewing.com . MPPB will play around 2:00 p.m. 11. January 1, 2008, St. Andrew?s Society of Minnesota, First Footing This year?s celebration will be held at member Sally Edstrom?s home from 1 to 5 p.m. on New Year?s Day. Sally?s home is at 1755 Black Oaks Lane in Plymouth. Her phone number is 763-473-6137. Please bring a dish to share, liquid refreshment, or a donation for the hostess. Directions: take the County Road 6 exit off I-494 (exit 21) and go west on CR 6; go app.1.5 miles on CR6, turn right on Dunkirk Lane; then go right on 18th Ave. N.; then right on Black Oaks Lane to 1755. (or get a map from www.mapquest.com ) Let?s bring good luck to Sally?s home by making sure a dark-haired male is the first foot across her threshold. Blondes, redheads, and females, be sure to wait your turn! Let?s have a big turnout to thank Sally for hosting this fun event this year!!! 12. January 12, 2008, Saturday, MCSC Quarterly Meeting, 1:00 ? 2:15 p.m. MCSC general meeting January 12, 2008, 1:00 ? 2:15 p.m. Maplewood Public Library, Community Meeting Room 3025 Southlawn Drive Maplewood MN 55109 For information please contact Ellen Long at secretary at mncsc.org . We will not be having our usual pot-luck before this meeting, but the community room is reserved for the MCSC starting at noon. Anyone wishing to get a bit to eat at the library?s caf? (full menu) is welcome to bringing it into the community room to eat and socialize prior to the start of the meeting. 13. January 12, 2008, Saturday, Scottish Genealogy ? Basic Principles and Internet Research Seminar, 2:30 p.m. Maplewood Public Library Scottish Genealogy ? Basic Principles and Internet Research Seminar Saturday, January 12, 2007 at 2:30 ? Maplewood Public Library Sponsored by the Minnesota Coalition of Scottish Clans (MCSC) Tom Rice, CGSM ? Speaker This seminar is open to everyone in the Scottish community who may be interested. Learn how to make significant progress with researching your Scottish genealogy by combining resources on the Internet with those at the Family History Library. This seminar will start with an overview of the principles of Scottish genealogical research. Then Mr. Rice will present in-depth look at the most important resources for doing that research, here in Minnesota and online. Mr. Rice will show how a thorough research job here, can make a future research trip to Scotland that much more productive. Tom Rice, CGSM, is a Certified Genealogist whose professional genealogy activities include lecturing, client research and writing. He is a past Director of the Minnesota Genealogy Society and past officer of the Irish Genealogy Society International (IGSI). He is the managing editor of IGSI?s quarterly publication, The Septs, and chair of their publication committee. He is a winner of the Board for Certification of Genealogist?s scholarship to attend the 2003 Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research at Samford University. Mr. Rice will speak for about an hour with a brief question and answer session following the presentation. There will be hand-outs to take home. Those that attend the seminar will also receive access to Mr. Rice's presentation slides. Coffee, tea and cookies will be provided. The seminar will be hosted at the new Maplewood Public Library. The library has wi-fi access for those of you who may want to surf the websites Mr. Rice discusses while you are hearing about them. There is limited space for this event. If you would like to attend, please let us know. You can contact Ellen Long (MCSC Secretary) at secretary at mncsc.org or call 612-345-5923. Please indicate your name and how many people you intend to bring. Feel free to contact any friends or family that may not get this notice and let them know they are welcome to attend as well.. In order to cover expenses, we are asking for a donation of $5.00 per person. This is not required, but will help greatly to ensure future events such as this can occur. Again, coffee, tea and cookies, as well as seminar materials and access to the seminar presentation slides will be available to attendees. Tartan is encouraged! Please wear your kilts and Tartan to show off our Scottish Pride. Seminar location details: Saturday, January 12, 2008, Start time 2:30 p.m., Ramsey County Library ? Maplewood, Community Meeting Room, 3025 Southlawn Drive, Maplewood, MN www.mapquest.com for directions. 14. January 12, 2008, Saturday, TCSC January AGM, Time TBA, Macalester Plymouth United Church, St. Paul, MN More coming in January 1 SNIM. 15 January 19, 2008, Winter Jig Dance Competition, DSHA, See details under DSHA NEWS 16. January 19, 2008, St. Andrew?s Society of Minnesota, Burns Night Please attend this gala, formal Scottish commemoration of the immortal memory of the great bard. The event will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2008 from 5:30 p.m. to midnight. This year, it is being held at a fabulous new venue, the Horse and Hunt Club in Prior Lake. The Executive Committee is confident that this will be a Burns Supper to remember. An outdoor bonfire will greet you as you arrive. Enjoy a wee dram or your favorite beverage outside at the bonfire or inside at the fireplace. Bid on items at the Silent Auction. Enjoy a gourmet dinner, toasts, and dessert, along with informal Scottish style entertainment. Get your reservations in early so that you assure yourself and your group a spot at this wonderful annual favorite of an event!!! Members, watch for the December Thistle and Quill for your personal invitation and reservation form. Non-members will soon be able to check out the details and obtain a reservation form online at www.standrewsmn.org . 17. January 26, 2008, Saturday, Burns Dinner, DSHA, Kitchi Gammi Club, for members only. 18. January 26, 2008, Saturday, Burns Supper, , Sheraton TCSC has finalised a location for their Burns Supper. It will be at the Sheraton in Bloomington from 6pm to midnight. Registrations go out this week to members. Non member registrations will be mailed next week. Space is limited this year; please register as soon as you can. Corporate tables are available. Call Jennifer if interested in hosting a Corporate Table at 763-473-9049. Voice Box Ceilidh Band will be back! Yay! MORE Help with your Holiday Shopping We can make your Holiday Shopping a piece of cake. Here are some suggestions, not in ANY particular order: New ? St. Croix Weaving. So many of you have admired the beautiful Humphries Tartan Scarf and evening bag that Nola Walter created for me several years ago. Certainly if you have had trouble finding your rare family tartan from the usual commercial vendors, Nola will be able to help you. Or if you just want your clan or family tartan in a very special piece, this is a great place to help you do that. As Nola says, weaving tomorrow?s heirlooms, today. Visit their web site: www.stcroixweaving.com for wonderful gift giving ideas, including one to yourself. New ? Ann and Charlie Heymann sent this timely reminder of their wonderful CD that is available: The holiday season is once again upon us, and we would like to remind you that Cruit go n?r * Harp of Gold makes a wonderful holiday gift for anyone on your lists who enjoys harp music, lute music, early music, or Irish/Scottish/Celtic music. It is available right here: http://www.harpofgold.net and you may order with a credit card via PayPal (of course money orders and cheques are also accepted). The CD has been gathering some very nice reviews, and if you haven't heard it yet you should at least have a listen. There is still enough time to order copies for Christmas gifts... Visit them at their Clairseach Productions web site: www.clairseach.com The Rollicking Adventures of Tam O'Hare ? Delightful book written and illustrated by Scotty Roberts. Now available in Hard Cover at Barnes and Noble. www.tamohare.com Rosie?s Ceilidh ? This is a wonderful book for the young readers on your list. An engaging tale of a young Scottish lass, the laird?s daughter, and her love of dogs, anybody?s dog and what she won?t do to help. A wonderful gift to give, or to read to those youngsters on your list (grandparents, take note). Audrey has created beautiful gift baskets complete with a ?half doll,? the book, Rosie?s Ceilidh, all in a gorgeous basket. For info http://www.scottishislandnovels.com/ Where Rivers Meet ? Barbara MacKinnon?s first novel. A great romantic story that will have you calling your travel agent to book your tickets to Scotland. Amazon.com has the book, but drop Barbara a note at bmaceltictales at yahoo.com for other purchase options, or http://www.bookhousefulfillment.com/index.cfm?criteria=detail &id=1-59298-141-0 Spirit of the Glen ? Newly released CD ? November 7 ? piping by the The Royal Scots Dragoon Guard. Available only on line at the present time: http://www.amazon.com/Spirit-RoyalScotsDragoonGuards/dp/B000WSRPOO/ref=pd_bb s_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1196001421&sr=8-1 Thanks to my friend David Lohman who heard about this disc on NPR. Scottish Pictorial Calendar on Rampant Scotland web site - This year, there are again four possible pictures for every month of the year. There is also a choice of two "cover" pages, if you want to print copies as an extra present for someone. And the only cost is paper and printer ink...(That means FREE ? our favorite word.) While the pages look better if you print them on glossy paper, any good quality paper should produce a reasonable result. The link for the index page of the 2008 Scottish Pictorial Calendar is http://www.RampantScotland.com/cal2008/ And of course, even if you don't want to print a calendar, there are 48 pictures from Scotland to look at or download as desktop graphics. To make that easier, there is a slideshow version with all the pictures at http://www.rampantscotland.com/slideshow2008/index.htm Memberships ? Lots of choices here. A membership in anyone of our Scottish organizations is a thoughtful and personal gift that supports our entire community. For St. Andrew?s Society contact Don Bruce - bruce1051 at comcast.net For Twin Cities Scottish Club contact Jennifer Peterson - jenip1971 at hotmail.com An Ancestry.com membership would thrill a friend or relative working diligently on their genealogy ? www.ancestry.com for a 14 day free trial. A contribution to a growing organization such as the Scottish American Center is always welcomed both by the gift recipient and by the SAC. Contact Treasurer Jack MacMillan jacmacm at aol.com for additional information. Magazine Subscriptions ? This is easy. There is Scottish Life a magazine I love (http://www.scottishlife.org/Subscribe.htm ), and of course the Highlander. (https://sfsdata.com/SLHL/HLGIFT.aspx ) And then of course, there is membership in Scottish Heritage USA (SHUSA). Membership includes a subscription to The Highlander Magazine and membership in the National Trust for Scotland, which entitles the member to free entrance to all NTS properties in Scotland (a must if you are planning a trip there). (http://www.scottishheritageusa.org/index.shtml ) And there are many others, Scottish Banner among them. Google Scottish Magazines and see what comes up. Scottish Goods - Of course our friends Joseph and Lori Croft have tons of cool Scottish stuff in their catalog and on their web site. What you don?t have a catalog? Give them a call, it?s be in the mail quickly or visit their web site at: http://www.kilts-n-stuff.com/ And up the road a piece there is Mark Wright at the Frugal Corner. Web site is http://www.thefrugalcorner.com/ Lots of good stuff. Now hopefully these suggestions will help you with your Holiday Shopping. ?Tis the season to be giving. Happy Holidays, Everyone, and Happy Shopping. CORRECTION ? CORRECTION ? CORRECTION News of the Scottish American Center Open Hours The Scottish American Center (SAC) went to Winter Hours on Monday, October 29, 2008. New Hours are: Wednesdays between 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Thursdays between 6:00 ? 8:00 p.m. Fridays between 3:00 - 6:00 p.m Saturday between noon and 3:00 p.m. The SAC is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays during the Winter Season. The Scottish American Center will be closed for the Holidays beginning Wednesday, December 26, 2007 and reopening on Thursday, January 3, 2008. Please call ahead to be sure a Guest Host is on duty. 651-636-1558 or 612-869-7163 or check the web site: www.scottishamericancenter.org New Volunteer Guest Hosts are always welcomed. Guest Hosting at the Scottish American Center is a great opportunity to not only serve the Scottish Community but to plunge into the great books, videos, DVDs, and CDs that have been collected. As a Guest Host, all of this great material is at your fingertips. How about calling Babs Humphrey at 612-869-7163 or email info at scottishamericancenter.com and offer to spend one evening (or more) or one Saturday afternoon a month at the Scottish American Center? You will be so glad you did, and so will we. Founding Donors. Still time to send your gift to the Scottish American Center to be on the Founding Donors Roll of Honor. AND get it in before December 31 to count as a deduction on your 2007 taxable year. Make your checks payable to St. Andrew?s Society of MN with SAC on the memo line and send to Scottish American Center, 151 Silver LAKE Road NW, Suited 13, New Brighton, MN 55112. Many, many thanks to Don Luther who has done a wonderful job tweaking our web site and getting on the web site ? the Contact us page ? activated. What an incredible job he has done and we are so grateful. Another Opportunity to Opt In for a Scottish American Center Mailing List The staff of the Scottish American Center is well aware that they may often have news they want to pass on to those members of the community who have been participating either as visitors, guest hosts, and generous donors and other interested Scots. Often times there is news for that group that may (or may not) be of interest or pertinent to the entire Minnesota wide community. (And our good border Scots there in Wisconsin.) So, that having been said, we want to develop an email data base specific to the Scottish American Center and issue this invitation to everyone interested in participating to send us their email address along with a simple message ? sign me up for the SAC news list. Send your request to Barbara Humphrey at info at scottishamericancenter.com . News of general interest to the entire community will continue to appear in the SNIM on a monthly basis until such time as this system is up and running. Let us know now if you would like to Opt In for the SAC Mailing list. Send to info at scottishamericancenter.com. AND IN CLOSING At the risk of being labeled very UN-PC, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hogmanay, and a very, very Happy New Year. 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 we send 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 publishes 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. Each regular issue of Scottish News in Minnesota is posted on our web site www.tartandaymn.org soon after publication. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://tartandaymn.org/pipermail/news_tartandaymn.org/attachments/20071210/3c40188a/attachment-0001.html From babsfayth at aol.com Fri Dec 28 00:34:37 2007 From: babsfayth at aol.com (Barbara Humphrey) Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2007 23:34:37 -0600 Subject: [Scottish News] Scottish News in Minnesota Vol. 8, No. 76, January 1, 2008 Message-ID: <000e01c84913$574a6a00$6401a8c0@APFS1> Hello Everyone, Yup, yup, we are getting an early start not only on the new month but on the New Year. Several great events coming up Friday, Monday, and Tuesday. A little reminder here so everyone will know about them and how welcome everyone is to take part. And so we begin the New Year with a stunning array of events all over the great state of Minnesota. Two additions to the Burns Night Dinner schedule, and Hogmanay events starting NOW. January is a very big month for our community. Take a look. In an effort to abate some confusion about our format, we are adding, a Table of Contents. You are not reading the same items over and over, first you read the title in the Table of Contents, and then you scroll down, down, down for the details. Okay? Here we go: TABLE OF CONTENTS A. COMING EVENTS - For details scroll down the page 1. NOW! ! ! TONIGHT! ! ! December 28, 2007, 7:00 p.m. Kilt Krash, Merlin?s Rest, TCSC/SAS 2. December 29, 2007, Big Irish Ceili Dance, Music by Barra 7:30 p.m. 3. December 31, 2007, 2:00 p.m. ? 2008, Hogmanay, Merlin?s Rest 4. January 1, 2008, noon, Clann Tartan, Airing of the Tartans (unconfirmed) 5. January 1, 2008, St. Andrew?s Society of Minnesota, First Footing 6. January 3, 2008, Thursday, Night Scotsmen, Merlin?s Rest 7:30 p.m. (or so) 7. January 8, 2008. Tuesday, Scottish Music Class taught by Laura Mackenzie 8. January 12, 2008, Saturday, MCSC Quarterly Meeting, 1:00 ? 2:15 p.m. 9. January 12, 2008, Saturday, Scottish Genealogy ? Basic Principles and Internet Research Seminar, 2:30 p.m. Maplewood Public Library 10. January 12, 2008, Saturday, TCSC January AGM, Time 3:00 ? 4:30 p.m., Macalester Plymouth United Church, St. Paul, MN 11. January 19, 2008, Winter Jig Dance Competition, DSHA, See details under DSHA NEWS 12. January 19, 2008, St. Andrew?s Society of Minnesota, Burns Night 13. NEW! January 19, 2008 Saturday, Burns Dinner, Rochester, MN 14. January 20, 2008, Sunday, Learn the Highland Fling, 2:00 ? 4:00 p.m., TCSC 15. January 25, 2008, RSCDS Burns Night at Tapestry Folkdance Center; 7:30 p.m. 16. January 26, 2008, Saturday, Burns Dinner, DSHA 17. January 26, 2008, Saturday, Burns Supper, Sheraton, Bloomington, TCSC 18. NEW! January 26, 2008, Saturday, Burns Supper, Grand Marais, MN 19. February 1, 2008, Friday, Sixth annual Eilean Dubh concert at Olivet Congregational, St. Paul 7:30 p.m. 20. February 1, 2, and 3, 2008 The Groundhog?s True Shadow 21. February 2, 2008, Sunday, Up-Helly-Aa fire festival, Brooklyn Park, MN PRINT THE FOREGOING SECTION AND POST IT ON YOUR REFRIGERATOR DOOR. B. AWAY GAMES 1. List of all Games and other great information from Ray Erwin www.usscots.com C. ONGOING 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. Merlin?s Rest 2. Clann Tartan hosts Scottish Country Dancing weekly. 3. Clann Tartan Sword Guild meets inside the 2nd Thursday at Corcoran Community Center 4. Wear a Kilt, get a FREE PINT 5. Royal Scottish Country Dance Society ? It's Fall/Winter! They're dancing! D. FUTURE DATES - Additional Information in Future Issues. Mark your calendars now. 1. February 16 - 17, 2008, A Scottish Ramble, Landmark Center, Saint Paul MN 2. February 16 ? 17, 2008, Minnesota Police Pipe Band, A Scottish Ramble. 3. February 23, 2008, Cedar Cultural Center, Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas The most amazingly beautiful coupling of fiddle and cello playing traditional Scottish dance tunes. EVERYONE in the Scottish community should try and make this show. www.thecedar.org Tel: 612-338-2674 8:00 p.m., Saturday, February 23 $18 advance, $20 day of show 4. March 1 and 2, 2008, Saturday and Sunday, Minnesota Police Pipe Band, Rince na Chroi Concert, From the Stage to Your Heart 5. April 5, 2008, Tartan Day celebration, State Capitol with Ceilidh in the evening. Big plans coming ? Think Kieran?s, think Titanic Lounge, think Rising Gael ? Good thinking. Stay tuned. 6. April 13, 2008, DSHA Annual Meeting 1:30 PM at Glen Avon Presbyterian Church, 2105 Woodland Ave, Duluth. The Pipe Band will play and the Highland Dancers will present a few numbers. 7. May 17, 2008, 5th Annual Minnesota Scottish Fair & Highland Games 8. June 28, 2008, Summer Dance Competition, DSHA, Fitger's Complex, Duluth MN E. ANNOUNCEMENTS - Details below 1. 2009 ? Scotland is calling us home 2. Calling All Golfers 3. Targe Security Chauffeurs 4. Scottish Research Web Sites 5. TARTAN DAY BUTTON COLLECTORS Take note 6. Rampant Scotland, the largest directory of Scottish Links - still the best F. NEWS - Details below 1. News of the Scottish American Center 2. Opt In for a Scottish American Center Mailing List 3. News from A Scottish Ramble 4. News from Duluth Scottish Heritage Association 5. News from Clann Tartan 6. News from Twin Cities Scottish Club 7. St. Andrew's Society of Minnesota News 8. News from the Family of Bruce 9. Merlin's Rest update A. COMING EVENTS ? DETAILS 1. NOW! ! ! December 28, 2007, 7:00 p.m. Kilt Krash, Merlin?s Rest, TCSC/SAS From Don Bruce, Veep, St. Andrew?s: Wear your kilt (or anything tartan) and enjoy the evening in the company of St. Andrew's and Twin Cities Scottish Club members. It's a great way to share an event with another Scottish organization. It should be a very enjoyable evening. From Jennifer Peterson, Prez, Twin Cities Scottish Club: Parking is free (on the street) and you should be able to get parked without any difficulty. You don't need to wear a kilt to come. It's just a chance to check in and have a wee swally with your Scottish friends while we're all still in the festive spirit. However, if you've got a kilt, wear it and be proud to be Scottish! Hope you all had a happy Christmas and all the best to you for 2008 when it comes! Merlin?s Rest is at 36th Avenue South and Lake Street in Minneapolis in the old Popeye?s location. Check out the web site: www.merlinsrest.com 2. December 29, 2007, Big Irish Ceili Dance, Music by Barra 7:30 p.m. Fifth Saturday Irish Ceili Dance-7:30 pm to 11:30 pm The Large Dance Hall at Tapestry Folk Dance Center 3748 Minnehaha Avenue South Minneapolis Minnesota 55406 612-722-2914 Admission: $9 ($7 members/students) Paul will teach basics starting at 7:30 and the band will start playing at 8pm. Come join the fun! Please help us get the word out about this fun dance by sharing this information with your friends, and we look forward to seeing you at Tapestry! Whether you've taken a lesson or two, never danced at all (Irish or otherwise) or have been dancing for decades, you'll have a great time. That's a promise. We might even sing Auld Land Syne at the end of the night, two days early though it be. 3. December 31, 2007, 2:00 p.m. ? 2008, Hogmanay, Merlin?s Rest From Himself, Bill Watkins: Hi Babs, we at Merlin?s plan to have a Scottish-style Hogmanay on New Year's Eve. Kilts, bagpipes, and all the tartanalia that we enjoy back home. We are open from 2:00 p.m. till 2008! Hope to see you all. For more info: www.merlinsrest.com So, wondering how they celebrate Hogmanay in Scotland??? This may be your chance to find out without buying an Icelandair ticket. 4. January 1, 2008, noon, Clann Tartan, Airing of the Tartans (unconfirmed) Parking lot of the Richfield Community Center, 70th Street and Nicollet Avenue in Richfield, west of the building. Pike Drill demonstration, country dance demonstration, good fun with those wild and crazy guys from 1630 Scotland. Dress warmly, it can get a wee bit chilly, chillier than is usual in Scotia. 5. January 1, 2008, St. Andrew?s Society of Minnesota, First Footing, 1:00 p.m. This year?s celebration will be held at member Sally Edstrom?s home from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on New Year?s Day. Sally?s home is at 1755 Black Oaks Lane in Plymouth. Her phone number is 763-473-6137. Please bring a dish to share, liquid refreshment, or a donation for the hostess. Directions: take the County Road 6 exit off I-494 (exit 21) and go west on CR 6; go app.1.5 miles on CR6, turn right on Dunkirk Lane; then go right on 18th Ave. N.; then right on Black Oaks Lane to 1755. (or get a map from www.mapquest.com ) Let?s bring good luck to Sally?s home by making sure a dark-haired male is the first foot across her threshold. Blondes, redheads, and females, be sure to wait your turn! Let?s have a big turnout to thank Sally for hosting this fun event this year!!! 6. January 3, 2008, Thursday, Night Scotsmen, Merlin?s Rest 7:30 p.m. (or so) Members of Night Scotsman will lead a Scottish music session in Merlin's Rest starting around 7:30 p.m. Melody instruments are welcome to join in if you know the tunes. This is an exploratory session; we'll see how it goes. Regular Irish music sessions at Merlin?s Rest are on Friday nights.(Merlin?s Rest, 36th Avenue South and Lake Street, Minneapolis www.merlinsrest.com ) 7. January 8, 2008. Tuesday, Scottish Music Class taught by Laura Mackenzie Scottish Music Class beginning January 8th: REGISTER NOW for "Introduction to Scottish Repertoire", taught by Laura MacKenzie, Tuesdays 5:30 - 6:30, STARTING TUESDAY JANUARY 8th, 10 week session Fee: $120. >From the Center for Irish Music catalog: "This class is perfect for someone who already plays their instrument and would like to try some Scottish music. All ages and instruments welcome. Beginners without any experience on an instrument are encouraged to take private lessons before joining group repertoire or ensemble instruction." Offered through the Center for Irish Music, at the Wellstone Center-Neighborhood House, 179 Robie St. East, St. Paul. Phone 651-493-2022 for registration! (Editor?s note: WOW! What an opportunity for Scottish musicians in our community. A chance to study with Laura Mackenzie for just a little over $10 a class. Run, do not walk, do not pass go, and sign up for this fantastic offering.) 8. January 12, 2008, Saturday, MCSC Quarterly Meeting, 1:00 ? 2:15 p.m. Starts at 1:00 End about 2:15 for a short break Seminar start time 2:30 Where: Ramsey County Library ? Maplewood Community Meeting Room 3025 Southlawn Drive Maplewood MN 55109 A formal meeting notice will be mailed in early January. Remember: Tartan is encouraged! Please wear your kilts and Tartan to show off our Scottish Pride. 9. January 12, 2008, Saturday, Scottish Genealogy ? Basic Principles Learn how to make significant progress with researching your Scottish genealogy by combining resources on the Internet with those at the Family History Library. This seminar will start with an overview of the principles of Scottish genealogical research. Then Mr. Rice will present an in-depth look at the most important resources for doing that research, here in Minnesota and online. Mr. Rice will show how a thorough research job here, can make a future research trip to Scotland that much more productive. Tom Rice, CGSM, is a Certified Genealogist whose professional genealogy activities include lecturing, client research and writing. He is a past Director of the Minnesota Genealogy Society and past officer of the Irish Genealogy Society International (IGSI). He is the managing editor of IGSI?s quarterly publication, The Septs, and chair of their publication committee. He is a winner of the Board for Certification of Genealogist?s scholarship to attend the 2003 Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research at Samford University . Mr. Rice will speak for about an hour with a brief question and answer session following the presentation. There will be hand-outs to take home. Those that attend the seminar will also receive access to Mr. Rice's presentation slides. Coffee, tea and cookies will be provided. We will be asking for a ?donation? of $5.00 per person to help cover costs. Prior to Mr. Rice?s seminar, which will begin at 2:30 on January 12th, the regular MCSC general meeting will occur at 1:00. Space for the seminar is limited, but shouldn?t be a big problem. Just in case, please contact Ellen Long at secretary at mncsc.org or call 612-345-5923 to let her know if you plan on attending the meeting and seminar so we can assure there is enough space for everyone. Please indicate your name and how many people you intend to bring. Again, feel free to contact your Clan members, friends or family and let them know they are also welcome. 10. January 12, 2008, Saturday, TCSC January AGM, Time 3:00 ? 4:30 p.m. Macalester Plymouth United Church, St. Paul, MN At the Annual General Meeting (AGM) 0n January 12, 2008, we will be taking nominations for the Executive Committee seats of President and Entertainment Committee Chairperson. These are both two (2) year terms of service. If you are interested in serving the Twin Cities Scottish Club in one of these position, or know someone that is, please send your nominations to Jennifer Peterson by email at jenip1971 at hotmail.com or phone her at 763-473-9049, and give her the name of the person interested. Remember, if you are nominating someone else; please make sure that they are willing to take on the position, prior to submitting their name for consideration. We are hoping to have all nominee names by December 29th, 2007, so they can be posted to the Twin Cities Scottish Club web site at www.twincitiesscottishclub.org, two (2) weeks prior to the AGM. Also, if you are interested in serving on the 2009 Burns Night Committee, please notify Jennifer via one of the contact points listed above. Don't forget your TCSC membership expires on December 31, 2007. If you haven't sent in your renewal check yet ($10 Senior Membership, $15 Senior Couple/Single Membership, and $30 Family Membership), please send to: Norma Macdonald, Twin Cities Scottish Club Membership, 14 West Mission Road, Bloomington, MN 55420 11. January 19, 2008, Winter Jig Dance Competition, DSHA, See details under DSHA NEWS 12. January 19, 2008, St. Andrew?s Society of Minnesota, Burns Night Please attend this gala, formal Scottish commemoration of the immortal memory of the great bard. The event will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2008 from 5:30 p.m. to midnight. This year, it is being held at a fabulous new venue, the Horse and Hunt Club in Prior Lake. The Executive Committee is confident that this will be a Burns Supper to remember. An outdoor bonfire will greet you as you arrive. Enjoy a wee dram or your favorite beverage outside at the bonfire or inside at the fireplace. Bid on items at the Silent Auction. Enjoy a gourmet dinner, toasts, and dessert, along with informal Scottish style entertainment. Get your reservations in early so that you assure yourself and your group a spot at this wonderful annual favorite of an event!!! Members, watch for the December Thistle and Quill for your personal invitation and reservation form. Non-members will soon be able to check out the details and obtain a reservation form online at www.standrewsmn.org . 13. NEW! January 19, 2008 Saturday, Burns Dinner, Rochester, MN Ray and Sue Ricketts send this great news from Rochester: Calvary Episcopal Church in Rochester will be holding its 3rd annual Robert Burns Dinner on Saturday, January 19th at 7pm. An evensong and Kirkin' o' the Tartans will precede the dinner starting at 6:30, so bring at least a swatch of your tartan for the blessing. We plan to have an even better time than last year as there are still stories and poems to be read that didn't get included in last year's celebration -- especially the haggis recipes. Seating is limited so call the church office at 507-282-9429 for your reservations. The cost will be $25 per person, $40 per couple. Ray and Sue have been valiant supporters of all things Scottish in the Rochester area. They were very helpful enlisting the support of their state senator, Sheila Kiskaden, who co sponsored the Minnesota Tartan Resolution in 2002. Congratulations to them on the great success they are having in Rochester. 14. January 20, 2008, Sunday, Learn the Highland Fling, 2:00 ? 4:00 p.m., TCSC Learn the Highland Fling for Burns Night 2008! Have you ever wanted to get up and join the dancers for the Mass Fling at the end of the program at the Twin Cities Scottish Club Annual Burns Supper? Well now is your chance to learn! Please join Florence Hart of the Hart School Of Dance for a lesson on the Highland Fling!!! Sunday January 20th, 2008 - from 2pm to 4pm Class will be held in a Ballroom located at: 705 42nd Avenue North, Minneapolis MN 55412 (Camden Area of Minneapolis) check www.mapquest.com for directions Ages 6 & older welcome!! $10 over 16 yrs - $5 for ages 6 to 16 Cost includes dance lesson, water and a celebration treat at the end!! Fees will be collected at the door. All profits will benefit the Twin Cities Scottish Club. * * * * * * * * RSVP to: Carolyn Jackson 763-757-9629 (Please do call if you intend on coming as it helps with organizing) Wear comfortable clothing including shorts and socks We hope to see you there! 15. January 25, 2008, RSCDS Burns Night at Tapestry Folkdance Center; 7:30 p.m. RSCDS Burns Night Social, Friday, January 25th from 7:30 to about 9:45 p.m.; Tapestry Folkdance Center in Minneapolis. Dances having a Robert Burns association will be taught; music by Night Scotsman and perhaps a Robert Burns song or two. Potluck refreshments. For more information visit the RSCDS Twin Cities Branch web site: http://www.rscds-twincities.org/events.html#25012008 16. January 26, 2008, Saturday, Burns Dinner, DSHA, Kitchi Gammi Club, for members only. 17. January 26, 2008, Saturday, Burns Supper, Sheraton TCSC has finalised a location for their Burns Supper. It will be at the Sheraton in Bloomington from 6pm to midnight. Registrations go out this week to members. Non Registrations have been mailed. Space is limited this year; please register as soon as you can. Corporate tables are available. Call Jennifer if interested in hosting a Corporate Table at 763-473-9049. Voice Box Ceilidh Band will be back! Yay! 18. NEW! January 26, 2008, Saturday, Burns Supper, Grand Marais, MN We will be celebrating our 2nd Annual Grand Marais Robert Burns Supper on January 26, 2008. It will be at the Birch Terrace Supper Club. Our event begins at 6:00 p.m. on January 26 with the social hour followed by the Chairman's Welcome, Selkirk Grace, Piping in the haggis, address to the haggis, toast to the haggis and dinner of beef or salmon, neeps and tatties, and the locally made haggis. Musical entertainment will be provided by a local band "Over The Waterfall" and a yet-to-be-named piper. The traditional toast to the lassies and the lassies reply will also be offered. Cost for the evening is $35 and reservations may be made by calling the Birch Terrace Supper Club at (218) 387-2215 Last year's event (our first in Grand Marais) was a tremendous success. Regards, Ron Wise, Skara Brae Bed and Breakfast, Grand Marais, Minnesota www.skarabraebb.com 1-866-467-5272 1-218-387-2861 Editor?s note: Skara Brae innkeepers are members of St. Andrew?s Society of MN. Having visited this gorgeous spot, we can tell you how welcomed you will be should you chose it for a future get away trip. Check out the web site and you will be packing your bags. 19. February 1, 2008, Friday, 7:30 p.m. Sixth annual Eilean Dubh concert at Olivet Congregational, St. Paul, with the usual suspects---and Audrey McClellan will read from her new book, Rosie's Ceilidh! This year's theme is "From Scotland to the Far-Flung Islands", and the music features tunes and songs from the Shetlands, Cape Breton, America, etc ---places the Scots emigrated to and left a musical legacy. We have the lovely Laura MacKenzie as well as a stellar new fiddler for Dunquin, Nathan Gourley; they are both stars on the local and international scene, and not to be missed! (Editor?s note: This Eilean girl will be there ? Mark you calendar now!) 20. February 1, 2, and 3, 2008 The Groundhog?s True Shadow From Nancy Antenucci, member, Clan Donald Experience the Celtic origins of Groundhog Day told thru the striking shadow puppetry of Dan Palno and Celtic storytelling of Nancy Antenucci. This hour long show with live music will ignite creative fires for all ages over 6 years old. Dreamland Arts Studio is located in the Midway (www.dreamlandarts.com ). Showtimes are Friday February 1 at 7:30 p.m. with a reception following to meet the artists, Saturday February 2 at 11:00 a.m. and Sunday February 3 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $12 per adult and $7 per child ($2 off for Midway neighbors) and can be reserved by calling Dreamland Arts at 651-645-5506. 21. February 2, 2008, Sunday, Up-Helly-Aa fire festival, Brooklyn Park, MN Since an article appeared in the Star Tribune in 1995, the Lerwick family of Brooklyn Park, MN has been celebrating their own little fire festival around the end of January no matter how cold it is. You can say it is about family roots and heritage and such but it?s really just about having a party with flames and stuff. We build a ship and parade it down the street with torches and bagpipes and then burn it in the backyard. Then we have an open house and Ceilidh and there are murmurings of a LAN party in the youth house this year. We eat and play music and dance and just have some old fashioned fun. If you are interested in attending this year contact one of the Lerwick clan at: fernetta at comcast.net , laral8415 at comcast.net , Pmlerwick at comcast.net to get the secret handshake (joke) To find out more about Up-Helly-Aa go to the official City of Lerwick Up-Helly-Aa site at http://www.uphellyaa.org/ C. ONGOING 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, Merlin?s Rest - where else? Lake Street and 36th Ave South, Minneapolis. 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 now back at the Hiawatha Community Center with construction 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. Clann Tartan Sword Guild meets the 3rd Thursday at Corcoran Community Center ? inside now since we are officially in winter - contact Marty for information orthodoxdruid at gmail.com and learn how to swing that sword! 4. Wear a Kilt Get a FREE PINT. 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. 5. Royal Scottish Country Dance Society It's Fall/Winter! They're Dancing! The RSCDS Twin Cities branch holds Scottish country dance classes from 7:30-9:30pm on Monday nights at Tapestry Folkdance Center, 3748 Minnehaha Ave in south Minneapolis. All experience-levels are welcome, and the first six weeks are free! See http://www.rscds-twincities.org/classes.html or contact Lara Friedman-Shedlov: ldfs at bigfoot.com , 612.874.8299 E. ANNOUNCEMENTS ? Details 1. 2009 ? Scotland is calling us home We have known for some time that Scotland was planning a big to do ? now called The Gathering. Those whose roots lead back to Scotland from all over the world are being called home ? Home to Scotland. I invite you to visit the web site: www.thegathering2009.com and learn about the plans for this massive undertaking first hand. In addition to this event planned for Edinburgh, many clans are planning events around the same time, July 25 and 26, 2009. It seems a long way off today, but those months will fly by and we will all be boarding planes, trains, and automobiles to take us to Edinburgh for what promises to be the largest gathering of Scots anywhere on the planet. (Laddies, if you have been thinking about a kilt, now is the time.) Thanks to Doug and Eileen Stewart for tipping us off about the web site. 2. Calling All Golfers A lovely Scottish lass, one Colleen McLain, wrote with a provocative question ? Do I know any golfers? DO I KNOW ANY GOLFERS? Lord, love a duck, is this a newsletter for the Scottish community. Hmmmm? I am guessing there are a few golfers out there. And if so, check out Colleen?s latest enterprise at www.mngolftravel.com She?s telling me there are some web specials there that might be of interest to any golfers I know. Oh Boy! 3. Targe Security Chauffeurs One of the perks of this ?job? is the interesting emails I receive. This one is quite remarkable. Here it is with just a few edits for space and for ease of transmission: Dear Sir/Madam: (I would be the later, I guess.) I am writing this email to enquire if you have any members within the Scottish Community that would be interested in our services when visiting Scotland. Targe Chauffeurs was formed to provide a bespoke security focused chauffeur service for discerning individuals and corporate clients. The company is owned and operated by ex-Scottish Soldiers. Our standards are extremely high and unmatched in Scotland. In short, each chauffeur has at least nine years exemplary military service. They have worked as bodyguards for the UK Foreign Office in Iraq and Afghanistan. All are qualified and licensed by the Security Industry Authority (SIA). Chauffeurs are all advanced, defensive driving-trained and qualified by the Institute of Advanced Motoring (IAM). With the added reassurance of being medically trained, equipped and qualified by the British Red Cross. If you feel any of your members would benefit from our services please don?t hesitate to get in touch or pass our details on. Links can be followed bellow to our website and an article for the Glasgow Herald Best wishes, Chris MacLeod Web: www.targe-chauffeurs.com Email: chris at targe-chauffeurs.com http://www.theherald.co.uk/business/news/display.var.1546674.0.0.php 4. Scottish Research Web Sites We are indebted to our good friend, our favorite retired Marine Corps Colonel, Ray Erwin, faithful contributor to these pages, for the following list of sites you will find useful in your Genealogy Research: SCOTLANDS PEOPLE www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk SCOTS ORIGINS www.scotsorigins.com FAMILY SEARCH LDS www.familysearch.org ARCHON www.hmc.gov.uk/archon/archon.htm NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF SCOTLAND www.nas.gov.uk SCOTTISH ARCHIVES NETWORK - SCAN www.scottishdocuments.com/content/default.asp STATISTICAL ACCOUNTS OF SCOTLAND www.edina.ac.uk/StatAcc/ GLASGOW CITY ARCHIVES www.glasgowlibraries.org/archives.htm COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION www.cwgc.org GENUKI www.genuki.org.uk www.Ancestry.com often offers a free trial but otherwise a good subscription investment. I have subscribed for many years and gotten a lot of good stuff. Only problem is that they will perpetuate an error that www.familysearch.org originates. Semper Fidelis, RE 5. TARTAN DAY BUTTON COLLECTORS Take note Keep an eye out for your January/February issue of the Highlander. The annual full page advert for Tartan Day will feature, as it always does, the 2008 Tartan Day button. Congratulations to designer Jack A. Barker, his 8th consecutive Tartan Day button design. The 2008 ? 10 year anniversary Tartan Buttons are available on line at www.tartandaybuttons.org Minnesota's own Jack A. Barker has been designing the National Authorized Tartan Day Button since 2001. We will next have them for sale locally at the Scottish Ramble in February. Babs almost always has a few stashed in her purse, so if you are looking to pick up a couple, and you happen to see her, ask. Chances are you will score a button. 7. 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 F. NEWS - DETAILS 1. News of the Scottish American Center Open Hours The Scottish American Center (SAC) went to Winter Hours on Monday, October 29, 2008. New Hours are: Wednesdays between 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Thursdays between 6:00 ? 8:00 p.m. Fridays between 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Saturday between noon and 3:00 p.m. The SAC is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays during the Winter Season. The Scottish American Center has been closed for the holidays and will reopen on Wednesday, January 2, 2008. Please call ahead to be sure a Guest Host is on duty. 651-636-1558 or 612-869-7163 or check the web site: www.scottishamericancenter.org We have an URGENT need for new Volunteer Guest Hosts. Guest Hosting at the Scottish American Center is a great opportunity to not only serve the Scottish Community but to plunge into the great books, videos, DVDs, and CDs that have been collected. As a Guest Host, all of this great material is at your fingertips. We have been blessed with a great staff of volunteers, but after almost a year of faithful, weekly service, a few need a break. We could use YOU ? TODAY! How about calling Babs Humphrey at 612-869-7163 or email babsfayth at aol.com and offer to spend one evening (or more) or one Saturday afternoon a month at the Scottish American Center? You will be so glad you did, and so will we. We have a second, upgraded computer system at the SAC courtesy of Don Luther with the help of John Peterson of 3 Celts. We now have a modern computer with a modern system that will take us years into the future, as well as the very serviceable computer that John gave us many months ago. We also have new software and networking gear to get the 2 computers running together. We have also added a couple of speakers to our audio system, to get our tunes into the display area. We have added over 30 pieces to the SAC library just in the last 6 to 8 weeks alone. Books, videos, and artifacts, so come in and check 'em out (literally)... Oh, what?s that? You didn?t know the SAC has a lending library? We sure do. Almost all of the books and other materials in the library are available for ?check out.? There?s a lot going on at the SAC! Come on up and see for yourself. We have an opportunity to claim a larger space if we were to have other Scottish entities interested in chipping in and having shared use of the space. If any are interested, contact Scott McKechnie asap! Thanks to Don Luther?s excellent work updating the SAC web site (take a look it you haven?t been by lately) you can now direct your questions to SAC staff by emailing info at scottishamericancenter.org We are movin? on up! Scottish American Center, 151 Silver Lake Road NW, Suite 13, New Brighton MN 55112-3162 2. Opt In for a Scottish American Center Mailing List The staff of the Scottish American Center is well aware that they may often have news they want to pass on to those members of the community who have been participating either as visitors, guest hosts, and generous donors and other interested Scots. Often times there is news for that group that may (or may not) be of interest or pertinent to the entire Minnesota wide community. (And our good border Scots there in Wisconsin.) So, that having been said, we want to develop an email data base specific to the Scottish American Center and issue this invitation to everyone interested in participating to send us their email address along with a simple message ? sign me up for the SAC news list. Send your request to Barbara Humphrey at info at scottishamericancenter.org News of general interest to the entire community will continue to appear in the SNIM on a monthly basis. 3. News from A Scottish Ramble Check out the Scottish Ramble Web site for information on plans for this year?s Ramble: www.scottishramble.org 2008 schedule will be posted as soon as it is completed. Keep checking in. 4. News from Duluth Scottish Heritage Association The Winter Jig Competition will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2008 at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 2310 East 4th Street, Duluth. The registration will begin at 9:00AM with the primary dancers starting at 9:30. Lunch break will be from 12:00 noon to 1:30 PM. This will be a catered lunch with reservations necessary for the price of $4.00. The Registration for Intermediate and Premier Dancers will start at 1:00PM with the dancing starting at 1:30PM. Registration before Dec.23rd is $18.00. Late entries at $25 must be postmarked by Jan. 5, 2008. After Jan 5th call Teresa Peterson, 218-525-6833 for availability including field entries. Send entries to DSHA Winter Dance Competition, c/o Teresa Peterson, 3045 Troy Brett Trail, Duluth, MN 55803. Teresa's e-mail is Tpduluth at aol.com The DSHA web site is www.duluthscots.com 5. News from Clann Tartan From Mary McKinley, President No news from Clann Tartan this month. For additional information check their web site at www.clanntartan.org 6. News from Twin Cities Scottish Club Carolyn Jackson, TCSC Newsletter editor send us the following: SILENT AUCTION REMINDER: TCSC will again hold a Silent Auction at our Burns Supper on January 26th, 2008. If you have a donation item to enter in the auction on behalf of TCSC, please contact Norma Macdonald at: 952-888-2800 or email Norma at: weeyin57 at aol.com for information. You may also drop off donations at the AGM on Saturday, January 12th. We really appreciate all your help in this fundraiser and hope you will enjoy all the great auction items as much as we do! Don?t forget to check out the Twin Cities Scottish Club Website for information about all of our Upcoming Events, Announcements, Member Registration, Burns Supper Registration and more!! http://twincitiesscottishclub.org 7. News from St. Andrew's Society of Minnesota Don Bruce, 2nd Veep of St. Andrew's sends this months SAS news: Here is the St. Andrews news for January: Please join us for First Footing at Sally Edstrom's home from 1 to 5 p.m. on January 1. Bring a dish to share, liquid refreshment, or a donation for the hostess. Sally's home is at 1755 Black Oaks Lane in Plymouth. (Directions: Take the CR 6 exit of I-494 (exit 21) and go west on CR 6 approximately 1.5 miles. Turn right on Dunkirk Lane. Take another right on 18th Ave. N. and then right again on Black Oaks Lane) We hope to have a big turnout to bring Sally good luck for 2008. . Check the website (www.standrewsmn.org ) for directions. January 19, the place to be will be the Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club for the St. Andrew's Burns Night Dinner. Members get your reservation forms in soon as space is limited. Non-members can access the invitation, print it and get their reservations in by going to www.standresmn.org and clicking on the link to the Burns Night invitation. This will be a grand and elegant evening of great food, libation and fun. Please join us there. Reservations must be received by January 11. Space is limited so get them in early. St. Andrew's Society will also be announcing some great new events as the winter proceeds into spring. Members, watch your mail and email for announcements. Non-members can keep up through the website, but better yet, become a member and share all the fun and the knowledge that you are contributing to the vitality of the Scottish community. Finally, if you haven't sent in your dues for 2008, please do so soon. We want to keep you as a member and we know you want to continue to be a part of this great organization that does so much good for the Scottish community. Thanks for being members! 8. News from the Family of Bruce William Bruce was elected vice-president of ?Family Of Bruce International? at its AGM (annual general meeting) at the Stone Mountain Games (Georgia) in October. Donald Bruce was appointed ?Deputy Commissioner? for the Upper Mid-west Region by Richard Bruce, High Commissioner, in November. We are looking forward to a visit to the US & Canada from Charles, Lord Bruce, this coming summer. Congratulations to our two dear Minnesota Bruce Family members for being selected for these important leadership roles in the Family of Bruce International. 9. Merlin's Rest update: An actual report from Himself, Bill Watkins: Merlins Rest, Now open for traditional British Isles style breakfast at weekends, 9:00 a.m. ? 2:00 p.m. Events at Merlin?s: Kilt Krash December 28 at 7:00 p.m., Hogmanay, December 31 starting at 2:00 through to 2008. AND IN CLOSING Ray Erwin asks: When was this first written? The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it. Three of our readers submitted solutions to the above challenge. Erstwhile author and former librarian, Audrey McClellan submitted her entry in less than 2 hours following publication. Scott McKechnie, Regional Commish for Clan Donald and guiding light of the Scottish American Center followed just a few hours later. These two literary ? or cyberspace gurus ? were each awarded a jar of the 2B or Not 2B Canning Company?s famous Dilly Beans at the Book Launch at Merlin?s Rest on December 2. Lonnie Johnson, entrant No. 3, sent his solution in almost a week later on December 6 and alas, no Dilly Beans for Lonnie. Thanks to you all. Oh, the solution: Audrey - "The moving finger writes" is a verse from the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (1048-1131, born in Persia, became a famous mathematician and astronomer), translated by Edward Fitzgerald (1809-1883). Scott - The question is- first written in which language? If in English, then Edward Fitzgerald's liberal 1859 (published) interpretation of the poem The Rub?iy?t of Omar Khayyam probably qualifies. In the original language of the author that inspired it, the 11th century, specific date debated. 'Course, that's just off the top of my head, could be wrong. (wink wink) And finally Lonnie - Quote is from the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, stanza 71, originally written c.1070-1123, translated by Edward Fitzgerald first in 1859, then in four more later editions. Well done, everyone. Now here is this month?s reward for sticking with the SNIM to the end. This came from Norma Macdonald in a holiday greeting from the Twin Cities Scottish Club. Here is a poem in Scots by Alexander Gray telling the familiar tale of "No room at the inn". Christmas Carol 'Twas a cauld, cauld nicht i' the back o' the year; The snaw lay deep, and the starns shone clear; And Mary kent that her time was near, As she cam to Bethlehem. When Joseph saw the toon sae thrang, Quo' he: 'I houp I be na wrang, But I'm thinkin' we'll find a place ere lang;' But there wasna nae room for them. She quo', quo' she: 'O Joseph loon, Rale tired am I, and wad fain lie doon. Is there no a bed in the hail o' the toon? For farrer I canna gae.' At the ale-hoose door she keekit ben, But there was sic a steer o' fremmyt men, She thocht till hirsel': 'I dinna ken What me and my man can dae.' And syne she spak: 'We'll hae to lie I' the byre this nicht amang the kye And the cattle beas', for a body maun try To thole what needs maun be,' And there amang the strae and the corn, While the owsen mooed, her bairnie was born. O, wasna that a maist joyous morn For sinners like you and me? For the bairn that was born that nicht i' the sta' Cam doon frae Heaven to tak awa' Oor fecklessness, and bring us a' Safe hame in the hender-en'. Lord, at this Yule-tide send us licht, Hae mercy on us and herd us richt. For the sake o' the bairnie born that nicht, O, mak us better men! **************************************************************************** **** Meaning of unusual words: starns=stars thrang=crowded quo'=said loon=lad fain=want farrer=further keekit ben=peeked through sic a steer o' fremmyt men=such a crowd of strange men ken=know syne=since kye=cow thole=endure strae=straw owsen=oxen bairnie=child fecklessness=weakness, incomptence hender-en'=latter days of life 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 we send 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 publishes 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. Each current issue of Scottish News in Minnesota is posted on our web site www.tartandaymn.org soon after publication. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://tartandaymn.org/pipermail/news_tartandaymn.org/attachments/20071227/255bb0f7/attachment-0001.html