It is with a great deal of pleasure that I announce the Executive Council’s recent decision to reactivate the St. Andrew’s Society of Tidewater Scot of the Year Award. This award, begun during the administration of Bo Barkley, was awarded only twice, to George Macrae at the Burns Night Supper in January 1997, and to former member Margaret O’Leary at the same event in January 1998. The reinstitution of this award has been a goal of my Presidency this year.
Each member of St. Andrews will receive a nomination form and procedures by the first of October. While specific information will be included in that mailing, in general, nominations may be made by St. Andrew’s members only, but nominees are not restricted to the membership. The major criteria for nomination is an individual who has made a marked contribution to the Scottish community, either locally or elsewhere, and who has been substantially involved in Scottish activities. Nominators will be asked for specific activities, projects and events to support a nomination.
This award is an important way to honor those individuals who devote time and passion to the continuance of Scottish history and culture and who steadfastly make the presence of the Scottish heritage known to the community at large.
Having written the previous paragraphs, I am led to ponder the responsibility of being a member or leader of a Scottish organization, whether this one, a clan, or other society in the United States at this point in time. It is often said that Scottish Americans are more Scottish than Scots still living ‘across the pond’. I think, however, that the majority of members in either community has the same shadowy understanding of Scotland—the real historic Scotland, not the romanticized version of Scott and others. Scottish Americans add to that less than accurate understanding, the lack of a real understanding of the Scotland of today. It’s easier to think tartan and thistle than to think about grim and gritty inner cities, unemployment, etc.
I think that each and everyone of us has an obligation to educate ourselves—or to take the opportunity to be educated by others—of the accurate facts of Scotland’s history and the men and women who effected it. This knowledge is more than an ability to recite dates and places of famous battles. It is, instead, a clear knowledge of the forces that led to those battles or other events, that made the people who they were, and that made them act in different ways. It’s the ability to discuss knowledgeably the whiskies, the weapons, the records, the geography, the customs, and the music. It’s the understanding of the celtic and nonceltic heritage of the country, including the Dalriada migration, the Picts, the Normans, the Norse, and all of the groups who came together over thousands of years to create the people and history that we recognize today as Scotland.
There are many opportunities to add to our understanding, both historical and contemporary. In each issue of the Thistledown there is a list of new materials at the library. Check one out. Concerts are announced. Attend one. Information is often provided as context for songs and tunes that illustrates specific events or musical traditions. Speakers are scheduled at meetings of local organizations. Attend one and then follow up with additional reading on the topic. Browse the wonderful Scottish sites on the Internet Be an active part of the learning in your organization and share your new perspectives and knowledge.
These actions are the way that each of us can truly support our heritage by understanding it accurately and more fully and by finding opportunities to share it with others.
Leah Bernick is a 15-year-old honor student at Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach who began her highland dance instruction with Eleanor Unger at age 11. Highland dance for her is ‘an excellent way to exercise, a fantastic way to meet new people and make friends, a perfect outlet for my competitive spirit, and a tool that helps me spread my Scottish heritage and culture throughout the Hampton Roads community.’ She will use the award to further her knowledge of Scottish heritage, improve her skills and to learn new dances. Additional instruction will help her as a novice dancer by providing her with the opportunity to improve her kills, the knowledge of new dances and the ability to compete and perform in community shows.
Katharin Shaw is a 10th grade student at Coastal Christian Academy. She enjoys a variety of opportunities to share the culture of her ancestors with citizens in the Tidewater community. She looks forward to extending a knowledge of Scottish culture by performing for community groups such as the Girl Scouts, senior citizens and business executives. One thrill of the past year was participating in the Virginia International Tattoo. She will use the scholarship award for workshops and lessons to enhance her knowledge of highland dancing.