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NEWSLETTER OF THE SCOTTISH SOCIETY OF TIDEWATER The Thistledown Volume 19, Issue 2 Mar-Apr 2003
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| President’s Message |
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All,
The Beatles song, The Long and Winding Road, seems to come to mind as I come to this point. As I step down as your President, I look back and see that the road has indeed been long and winding. It was a great ride with lots of ups and downs. It has also been full of bumps, pot holes, dangerous curves, and blind turns that often times came out of nowhere or from where I least expected them. I joined the Scottish Society of Tidewater three years ago after discovering my Scottish roots. I spent the first few months pursuing and learning about Scottish heritage, history and the like. I made new friends and was introduced to single malt whisky and haggis. Then two years ago, I was approached by the nominating committee and asked if I would consider running for President. I was honored and as I believed in the mission of the Scottish Society, I accepted. When I accepted the office I gave my word and when I give my word to do something I do it. I have been accused of being too intense when undertaking a task or commitment. Well I ask you, do you want someone who is intensely committed to the cause or just doing it to boost his self-image and bio? I had no agenda when I took office. The only agenda I had was to work for the improvement and betterment of the Society; to have organized functions that can be enjoyed by all and to improve the functionality, or should I say the business, of the organization. I was not in this job for wealth, or fame, and I sure the heck was not in it for my health. I was in it for you. I am proud of all that we accomplished these past two years. We, and when I say “we”, I am referring to all of you, the Board of Directors and myself, came up with the Scottish Society night at the International Tattoo. We organized the Alexandria Christmas walk bus trip. This trip was such a success that we already have people signing up for the 2003 trip. We took the Tartan Day Festival and watched it grown in popularity and attendance. We got the Society involved in WorldFest and the Multi-Cultural Alliance of Virginia Beach, the Neptune Festival parade and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. I remember all the fun everyone had who came over to my house to help plaster Nessie and got plastered themselves. We’ve set up our tent at the Williamsburg Scottish Festival and let it be known we are there to stay. A lot of what we did brought new members to the Society. We accomplished a lot. For anyone to say otherwise would be to trivialize our endeavors. To all of you who had faith and confidence in me, who worked with me over the last two years to make things happen, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your e-mails of encouragement and words of appreciation that you have given me will always be with me. The one thank you that I hold high above all others came in the form of one very delicious banana bread that was hand-delivered on Christmas Eve. The large number of calls and e-mails from all of you that begged me to reconsider my decision not to run touched me dearly. I appreciate your encouragement and support very much, but I feel two years is long enough time to service. It’s time for new blood and new ideas to take on the beast, and besides there’s someone that I need to get in touch with again - me. To those that disagreed with me over the years, let us agree to disagree and work together in friendship and Scottish kinship for the betterment of the Society. In closing, I’ll just say, “Bye and thanks for all the haggis!”
Yours aye,
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| Tartan Day 2003 |
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The Scottish Society of Tidewater Once again we’re almost upon our annual Tartan Day Festival to celebrate our Scottish-American culture and history, while promoting Scotland’s many fine assets. The committee has been working hard all year to again present another great celebration-our sixth. The Scottish Dance Theatre of Virginia, lead by our own Eleanor Unger, will be explaining the origins behind the different highland dances like the “Highland Fling”, while her young highland dancers will demonstrate. The local British Isles Country Dancers will be giving demonstrations in Scottish and English country dances and they welcome audience participation. Join them for a really good time dancing. New Society President Mike Lawler, along with his warriors, will be presenting his medieval Scottish weapons presentation. Watch out as these items are sharp and can inflict extensive damage to the unwary. Mike and the Cuideagh o’Corn o’Uisghebeathe-Society of Tasters of the Water of Life-will be giving the Scottish Single Malt Whisky tasting. Learn about distilling history while actually tasting the unqiue differences that identify the various regions across Scotland. New the year, our area’s premier pipe band, the Tidewater Pipes and Drums along with several of our society members, will be hosting an Amateur Solo Piping competition during our Tartan Day Festival. They have competitors coming from across our region and from out of state. Last, but not least, be sure to check out the various information tables hosted by a variety of Scottish clans and societies. If you have questions about Scotland, its people or colorful history, these are the people to ask. Visit the Tartan Day web page at www.tidewaterscots.com for the latest on who’s participating and what’s happening throughout the day. Don your kilt and your tam o’shanter, or your t-shirt and jeans, and present yourself, ready for a good time, at the Khedive Hall Greenbrier, 645 Woodlake Drive, Chesapeake, Virginia. In addition to wonderful Celtic related items for sale, there will be clan information, bagpipers, dancing, children’s athletics and tons of fun. |
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| Member News |
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| Welcome to our Newest Members |
Tony & Elizabeth Goodwin - Clan: MacKay
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| Kirking set for National Tartan Day at Christ Church, Irvington |
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The annual Kirkin O’ the Tartan service at historic Christ Church, Irvington, is scheduled for National Tartan Day, Sunday 6 April 2003. Schedule: 10:30am Welcome coffee and pastries hosted by the Foundation for Historic Christ Church in the Bayne Center located on the grounds. 12:00pm Assembly of all in attendance who are presenting their tartans. The color guard made up of the Tidewater/Williamsburg organizations and the Kilmarnock and District Pipe Band will assemble and all other persons, families and friends may enter the church during this period. 12:30pm Chruch service and the Kirkin o’ the Tartan. The Rev. Hugh C. White III, rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Kilmarnock will officiate. Special music during the service will be provided by the Kilmarnock and District Pipe Band. 1:30pm Following the service, the Kilmarnock and District Pipe Band will perform a short music program. Dress: Members are asked to wear Scottish daywear, trews or normal Sunday wear. Directions From Norfolk/Virginia Beach, take Route 17 N to Saluda. Turn right at the light in Saluda onto Route 33 and continue on Route 33. After about 5 miles, at Harmony Grove Baptist Church (on the right), turn left onto Route 3. Once you cross the Rappahannock you will come into White Stone. For Christ Church, continue straight through the light until the first left, Route 646, which will lead to Christ Church. From Williamsburg: 64 W to Route 33 through West Point to Saluda (follow balance of Norfolk/Virginia Beach directions) Questions may be directed to Jim McCaig, White Stone, Virginia jamccaig@crosslink.net |
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| Newsletter Editorship Changes Hands With Next Issue |
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After several years as Editor of The Thistledown, Carolyn Barkley has asked to step down to devote more time to her several personal and professional publication projects. Under her editorship, The Thistledown has progressed from a six page newsletter to a 12 page publication reporting news and events of the Society as well as news of current and historical Scotland. A partnership with the Virginia Beach Public Library provides a list of new Scottish related materials in the Library’s collection and a partnership with the Tidewater Friends of Folk Music advertises upcoming concerts of celtic interest. Throughout her editorship, individuals have submitted articles about Scottish related activities they have participated in or that a local Scottish organization has hosted making The Thistledown increasingly the voice of the larger Scottish community in the Tidewater Area. In June 2002 The Thistledown was awarded second place in the Family Tree Newsletter Contest in the category of Scottish Societies other than Clans. Since 2001, Thistledown issues have included The Tidalaire, the newsletter of the St. Andrew’s Society of Tidewater, for which Carolyn will continue as editor. The new editors of The Thistledown will be Marcey Burton and Rita Hamilton beginning with the May-June 2003 issue. They bring a wealth of publication experience with them, Under their editorship The Thistledown will continue to evolve as a quality publication educating and informing the Scottish community in our region. |
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| News from Scotland |
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For many, the trip ‘over the sea to Sky’ has never been the same since the construction of the Skye Bridge in October 1995. The loss of the romance of the slow ferry crossing is in part made more pallatible by news that the onerous tolls may soon be abolished. Although not a certainty, there have been strong hints from Jack McConnell, the first Minister, that the government could move to scrap the much protested charges. It appears that the issue will rank near the top of upcoming election discussions. |
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| TP&D Concert |
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On June 26th, the Tidewater Pipes & Drums will appear "In Concert" at 8:00 p.m. in Tidewater Community college’s Roper Performing Arts Center in Norfolk. Special guests will be Martin Marron & Charlie Austin [no, not "our" Charlie-a different one], and the Scottish Dance Theatre of Virginia. The pipe band’s performance will be recorded for release as a CD. For more information, visit http://tpandd.exis.net or contact Jim Roberts at 757-623-4262 or jamrob98@yahoo.com |
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VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL TATTOO |
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APRIL 25-26-27 Come and join us for the Virginia Arts Festival Scottish Society Night at the Tattoo is scheduled for Saturday, April 26th. Reduced price tickets are no longer available via the Society, but check ticket sales locations for the availability of seats in the Second Tier or contact Larry McCauley at 471-4952 or lmccaule@bellatlantic.net for more information. JOIN YOUR FELLOW SOCIETY MEMBERS AT AN AFTER TATTOO GET TOGETHER AT JACK QUINN’S. |
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