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2003 OFFICERS
President--Jude McKenzie
Vice President--Elizabeth Brown
Secretary--Kathleen Walters
Treasurer--Sean Duffy
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THANKS
--to Mary Wolfe for the donation to the Society of the Saltire flag
lovingly hand made by her mother, the late Mary Toerner, and carried by the
Society in our very first parade.
BREWSTER'S INVENTION
Bic Waterman came across an interesting article. Here's a
condensed version:
Sir David Brewster, born in 1781 in Jedburgh, Scotland, was a child
prodigy. He built a telescope by the age of 10, with only a little help
from an adult mentor. Originally intending to become a minister, he found
public speaking unnerved him, and turned his attention to science,
specifically the physics of light.
Brewster was elected to the prestigious Royal Society and was
knighted in 1831. A symposium marking the bicentenary of his birth was
held at Edinburgh's Royal Museum of Scotland in 1981. But Sir David's most
enduring contribution to society is one with which every child is familiar:
the kaleidoscope.
From Scotland Magazine, May 2003
Contributed by Bic Waterman
TARTAN DAY
The Society sponsored an extremely successful Tartan Day--organized
by Society President Jude McKenzie and member Nancy McPherson--on Sunday,
April 6, at Charly's. After a warm welcome from Jude, the audience of
over 100 listened to Mayor Joe Donaldson read a proclamation declaring
April 6 official Flagstaff Tartan Day. Richard Ferguson explained the
origins of the celebration, and Jim Buell read a poem expressing pride in
wearing the tartan.
Entertainment included piping by the Arizona Highlanders; vocals,
violin, and guitar of Sheryl and Sara Vrba; and a solo on the practice
chanter by seven-year-old piping student Chance Glenn. Other events were
a Silent Auction, Poetry Contest (winner was Larry Steeg--see results
elsewhere in this issue), Tartan identification Contest (won by Sean
Meehan), Bonny Knees contest (won by Dorothy Irwin and Sean Meehan),
Awarding of Scholarships (see article elsewhere in this newsletter), Haggis
Tasting, Tartan Parade (Best Dressed Award won by Richard Ferguson), and an
explanation (by Martha Shideler) and demonstration (by Nicki Keesee) of
Piobaireachd, the classical music of the bagpipe.
This was the fourth Flagstaff Tartan Day, and there are obviously
lots of Northern Arizonans who take pride in their Scottish ancestry!
CORRECTION
In last month's N.A.C.H.S. minutes, it was stated that Guinness
remitted a sponsorship check in the amount of $2,000. The amount was
actually $1,000.
LETTERS
Dear Jude and members of the Celtic Heritage Society.
I would like to thank you very much for your support in your
generosity of a piping scholarship.
Thanks to the also generous Jim Thomson, I have received piping
lessons for the last two years. being able to attend the piping school
will improve my skills and provide me with a great opportunity.
Thanks again,
Deb Kamzelski
* * * *
Jude,
Many thanks to you and the Northern Arizona Celtic Heritage Society
for the much appreciated scholarship to attend the piobaireachd workshop
April 5-6 in Flagstaff. Iain Macey is a fabulous and patient piping
instructor, who was very gracious with his time and expertise. Kudos
'grande' to Mark Hamilton for pulling the workshop together from thin air,
and to all the other participants (and their families!) who traveled from
as far away as Los Alamos, Phoenix, and Las Vegas to study with Iain.
Thanks also should go to Martha Shideler and Ann Callan for logistics, and
of course to Jim Thomson, who provided the venue and warm hospitality for
the workshop.
The workshop was a great success, and again, thanks so much for the
opportunity to attend.
Cordially,
Freddi Steele
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Northern Arizona Celtic Heritage Society:
Thank you so much for the scholarships that enabled four Northern
Arizona pipers to attend the Piobaireachd Workshop with Iain Macey in
April. This was a rare opportunity for pipers, isolated from teachers and
instructional opportunities, to get top notch tuition in the classical
music of the Great Highland Bagpipe. The No Borders Ceol Mor Society's
purpose is to provide familiarity with, appreciation of, and instruction in
piobaireachd, and it is so exciting to have an instructor the caliber of
Iain Macey come to Flagstaff (the workshop drew participants from three
states!).
Your ongoing support of piping in Northern Arizona--which so many
of us have benefited from--is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Martha Shideler
POETRY CONTEST
Entries from the Tartan Day Poetry contest are printed below. We
would also like to locate Patricia who wrote a poem about "My Scottish Boy"
to publish her poem too.
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#1 WINNING POEM
From the Highlands to the lowlands
Wherever you may go
You'll find a friend to greet you
Ah, 'twas ever so.
Elgin, Islay, and Inverness
As to the rest I'll let you guess
The malts in the north
But the blends still hold forth.
Scotland, my Scotland, I miss you every day
The bairns, the lassies--what more need I say.
Johnnie Walker born 1820 is alive yet
I sample him oft--how can I forget?
Larry Steeg
#2
We hiked down, out of the hills
The Highland rising around us to crown Scottish skies.
Terraced slopes and stone huts dot a valley's sides
And the the fields...
And the village...
And the loch...
Travis Adreon
#3
There was a young lady from Perth,Who had been very large since birth,
She went on a Haggis diet,
Although warned not to try it,
But it only increased her girth.
Nancy McPherson
#4
There once was a feisty old Scot
Who liked to drink Scotch a lot.
Though the Scots thought him a sot
He avowed that he certainly was not
Which gives us this sobering thought,
How Scotch is a Scot, if the Scot likes Scotch not.
Fred Vrba
#5
Listen to those pipes
As they play the music so very ripe
And as the player blows and blows,
That music continues to flow and flow.
But I don't understand how they play with no flaw
Maybe it has something to do with the alcohol
Or maybe I should just ask
if it has something to do with that pre-play swig of the flask
Cole Watson
#6
There was an old bag from Dunmaglass
Who crafted many a haggis
With liver and brains
She took culinary pains
Her concoctions twas said
Could make a lad dead
Twasn't the heart or lungs or spleen
That made the big laddies turn green
Though she garnished the thing with plenty of nuts
The lads could not handle the puree of guts.
Dan Neary
#7
Roses are red, violets are blue,
Tartans come in every pattern and hue.
Joe Meehan
#8
At Culloden the English we fought
And our music is still piping hot
Our men are well built--
Look great in the kilt--
Which is why we are proud to be Scot.
A Scotsman feeling quite frisky
Indulged in a flagon of whisky
With kilt only pinned
He went out in the wind
And that, doncha know, was quite risky!
There once was a piper named Syd
You wouldn't believe what he did--
He posed as a sniper
Said, "You must pay the piper,"
Oh Syd how he did like to kid!
A piper named Peter was duped
Into hunting snipe till he drooped
They asked him to play
A piobaireachd that day
But Peter the piper was pooped.
Martha Shideler
APRIL 1 MINUTES
ATTENDANCE
Nine members and one guest attended the April 1 business meeting of
the Society.
SHIRTS
Jim Thomson can do this year's Festival shirts with heat transfer
designs. He can get grey or white shirts in sizes up to 4X. The shirts
will cost us $6.50 and will be sold at $10.00. Heat transfers don't wash
as well, but these only have to last for a year. The design will be our
logo with the Festival Date. On the back will be "Let's Celebrate" in a
myriad of Celtic languages.
DONATION
The Society donated a bottle of Laphroig Single Malt to Mesa
Caledonian Pipe Band for their Tartan Day Silent Auction.
TARTAN DAY
Nancy McPherson and Jude McKenzie organized the April 6 Tartan Day
Program.
LIBRARY DISPLAY
The Society was invited to set up a display for the month of April
at the Public Library. Jude organized the display based on the two books
we have donated to the library-- How the Scots Invented the Modern World
and The History of the Irish Race).
ARTS AND CRAFTS GRANT
Jude and Sean Duffy have prepared the application for a grant from
Flagstaff Cultural Partners, and Jude has turned in the application.
SCHOLARSHIPS
At the beginning of the year our scholarship fund totaled $2550.
We have already awarded $900 of this--$200 to James Hill, $200 to Deb
Kamzelski, $200 to Martha Shideler, $300 for the piobaireachd workshop (to
be taken by Ann Callan, Michael Donelson, Martha Shideler, and Freddi
Steele). Also approved at this meeting was $200 for Chance Glenn to attend
piping school and $200 for Kari Barton to pursue Irish studies.
[Subsequent to the meeting, $200 was approved for Ed Glenn to attend piping
school.]
LAS VEGAS GAMES
Rick Ferguson and Nancy and Rory McPherson will be attending.
BAGPIPING JAM
The next pipe jam is April 27 at Charly's. Jude won't be there but
has items to raffle.
PATRIOTIC PARADE
The City of Flagstaff will be doing its patriotic parade on Fourth
Street on June 14 in case we want to be a part of it with the Arizona
Highlanders.
FESTIVAL
Bob Sutherland suggested creating a flow chart, a working document
so all of us concerned with the Festival will know precisely where we
stand. (Up to this point we've been working individually from everyone's
separate lists.)
We need volunteers for tent set up, staffing a soda pop tent, water
warriors, piping stewards.
The 1745 Jacobite Society will put on an educational show with
blackpowder. Since they will be in the piping area, Marthleen will tell
them (in the nicest possible way) when and where they can shoot off their
guns.
HERITAGE SQUARE FRIDAY CONCERT
The Downtown Business Alliance wants to set up crafts booths in
addition to showing their usual Friday night movie after our concert. Jude
will check to see if our special event application and insurance policy
covers this.
CRAFT WORK DAY
The next Craft day will be at Barb Law's starting at 10:00 a.m. on
Saturday, April 19. Call 522-9263 if you want to help make crafts for the
children's area. Richard McKenzie will see if we can get sheets from
Mission Linen.
DIANA GABALDON TEA
Rick Ferguson will do a historical presentation at next year's
Diana Gabaldon Tea.
TEA AND TAROT
The owner of the Kilted Cat has refused to let us use that facility
for next year's Tea & Tarot, so we will check out the Beaver Street Brewery
Banquet Room.
SHENANIGANS
The Society had an information table and display at the Irish
Foundation's Shenanigans celebration. We also participated in the
Scavenger hunt and sold magic fairy wands and Connemara marble. The
Orpheum was a good location but too small.
Kathleen Walters