President’s Greeting

 

It’s spring!!!   I’m looking forward with anticipation to our meeting on April 23rd.  It’s been a long winter and we will be able to share our winter stories.  There will be new babies to ooh and aaah over, vacations to hear about, and maybe some members that have not been so healthy.  These reunions we have twice a year keep us bonded.

 

We will be viewing the latest and greatest DVD from the Isle of Man.  I encourage you all to attend.

 

Remember that the North American Manx Association will be holding it’s convention in San Diego, California this coming August. I’m looking forward to combining the conventions with a family visit.

 

Come to the meeting on April 23rd!!! - Georgene Voutila

 

2006 NAMA Convention

 

When: August 27 - 30

 

Where: San Diego, Bahia Resort Hotel

 

Cost:    Hotel convention rate is $119 per night for single/double. Convention registration is $160 per person.

 

Events:

August 27 - Convention registration, NAMA Board meeting in the afternoon, a day for sightseeing for conventioneers, evening welcoming reception.

August 28 - General membership meeting in the morning, afternoon free for sight seeing. At 4:00 PM leave for reception and tour on the "Star of India:,e reception move to adjoining ship for dinner. Entertainment provided by a musical group from the Isle of Man - King Chiuallee.

August 29 - Showing of works by Myci Corrin from Ramsey, noted landscape photographer,  in the morning. An optional harbor tour in the afternoon, for a fee. Farewell dinner in the evening. Noel Cringle,  president of Tynwald, is the honored guest speaker.

 

Spring Meeting-April 23

 

Mary Kelly is sharing an Isle of Man presentation not available in stores.  TJ’s Catering from Sauk City continues to provide us an excellent soup and sandwich lunch buffet.

 

Make your reservations for the Spring Meeting by calling Judith Bonnett by April 17th.  The cost is $10.00 per person, payable at the meeting. When leaving a message,  include the number of reservations, your name, the spelling of your name, and your phone number.

 

 

Manx Language (Gaelg)

 

“Manx is a Celtic language spoken on the Isle of Man (Ellan Vannin). It is closely related to the Gaelic dialects of Ulster and Galloway and was brought to the Isle of Man by settlers from those areas. Manx began to emerge as a distinct language in the 13th-14th century after the collapse of the Norse kingdom of Mann and the Isles and prior to the long settled period of English control through the Stanleys.

Manx was once spoken by almost the entire population of the Isle of Man until the 1765 Revestment Act by which the Duke of Atholl sold the island to the British Crown. After that the number of speakers went into decline as a result of the collapse of the Manx economy and large scale emmigration. The decline of Manx was further accelerated by immigration from North West England during the later 18th and early 19th centuries, and the large numbers of English-speaking tourists who start to visit the island from the 1830s onwards.

By the 1960s only two 'native' speakers of Manx remained: Mrs. Sage Kinvig of Ronague (d. 1962) and Mr. Edward (Ned) Maddrell of Glenchass (d. 1974, aged 97). After which many academics declared the Manx language extinct. However a revival of interest in the language began in the 1930s and since then many people have learnt Manx as a second language.

The numbers of Manx speakers recorded on censuses taken during the 20th century are: (1901) 4,419, (1911) 2,382, (1921) 896, (1931) 531, (1951) 355, (1961) 165, (1971) 284. The question about Manx was not included on the 1981 census. In the 2001 census, 1,689 people claimed to be able to speak, read or write the language.

In 1985, the Island's Parliament, the Tynwald, passed a resolution to give the Manx language limited official recognition for the first time in Manx history. The government- sponsored Manx Heritage Foundation (Undinys Eiraght Vannin) and the Manx Gaelic Advisory Council (Coonceil ny Gaelgey) was also set up to regulate and standardise the official use of Manx.

Manx has been taught in Manx schools since 1992 and Manx classes have proved very popular. Since 2001 a number of Manx medium nursery and primary schools have been set up. Manx language classes for children and adults are now so popular that there is a shortage of teachers.

 

Manx first acquired a written form in around 1610, when John Phillips, the Welsh-born Bishop of Sodor and Mann, had the Book of Common Prayer translated into Manx using an orthography based on Welsh, though this translation was not published until 1894. In the early 18th century Bishop Thomas Wilson had his Principles and Duties of Christianity translated into Manx, using an orthography based on English. That orthography, with some modifications, has continued to be used to the present day.”1

 

 

1 http:/www.omniglot.com/writing/manx.htm

 

 

Minutes of Wisconsin Manx Society, Inc

October 23, 2005

 

When the Wisconsin Manx Society, Inc. met at Midvale Church in Madison on October 23rd, Willard Reese and Charlotte Ravenscroft, our oldest and youngest members were among the 34 in attendance. After an opportunity to renew acquaintances and socialize during registration, our President encouraged some self-introductions and sharing with the entire group while eating our catered lunch. In her presentation, which preceded the business meeting, our member and nationally known storyteller, Joan Gill helped us realize the past and present importance of Manx women. In the past, they did more than what we might consider “the work of housewives and mothers” but also the necessary maintenance of home and fields while husbands were often fishing or “at sea” for other purposes.  Wise and nurturing, Manx women became necessarily resourceful and learned to cope under very difficult circumstances. In a superstitious culture, it was inevitable that those who worked with herbal cures should sometimes be blamed for poor health or misfortune and fall into disfavor as witches. Punishment ranged from imprisonment to public embarrassment. 

 

As the result of inheritance, Manx women became property owners and received the right to vote in 1878. They have held responsible positions in government; and have been active in the arts, and health and environmental causes.

 

BUSINESS MEETING  

 

MINUTES – Approved, with request from Secretary for Henry Turville’s death date. It will be included in the Spring 2005 Minutes. (Ed. Note: H.Turville died March 1,2005 to be noted in Spring ’05 minutes )

 

TREASURER’S REPORT –

Balance 10/23/05 - $1177.87 Receipts since 4/24/05  $550.00 and expenses of $725.03 account for a decrease of $175.03 since the Spring 2005 meeting.

 

Joan itemized expenses, which included those for the Laxey picnic, Newsletter, and an ad in the International Celtic Women’s Conference Program.

 

LIBRARIAN, Norma Bircher is concerned about two IOM maps, which are missing from the WMS Library. Since the check-out card wasn’t left at the table, she has no way of notifying the borrower. If found, please mail to Norma Bircher.

 

Members are reminded that all library materials should be checked out appropriately with the cards provided.

 

NAMA TRUSTEE, Joyce Benjamin’s article about the Wisconsin Manx was printed in the Manx Steam Packet publication   A copy of the magazine is now in our library.

 

Joyce is already involved in the planning for the NAMA ’06  Convention which will be in San Diego beginning August 26. Convention  rates at the Bahia Resort are very reasonable for the luxury and location it affords. We’re advised to plan early to attend. The Star of India, Manx-built sailing ship is expected to be a big attraction.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

The President reported on the Laxey Picnic. The entire day went quite smoothly and we were grateful for the use of the Linden Church and Fellowship Hall. The history of the Little Manx Church on the Hill, as presented by Mae Reese was an appropriate inclusion in the Church Service and the Pastor has shown interest in our history.  Mae was thanked again for representing us in the lectern.

 

The Jean Robertson Memorial funded the Bagpiper, Andy Willett, whose music added a wonderful dimension to the entire day.  The Laxey “picnic” was appreciated by those in attendance. Georgene, chief organizer, was grateful for the help of other members. Special efforts had been made by Callin descendents to “tidy-up” the cemetery. Laxey Committee paid for labor to paint the shelter with paint, donated by Roselyn Voights. Expenses for cemetery cleanup and a gratuity for use of the Linden church hall were paid from WMS Treasury.

 

Discussion of the care of the stones brought questions about recording and reporting the information from the inscriptions. Stone rubbings were made at the ’82 Laxey Picnic. Dorrie Alff remembers hand-carrying the rubbings and photos taken by Mary Kelly to the Manx Family History Society in 1984. There is a printed Laxey Cemetery Record with birth and burial dates of the Manx persons buried there. A copy is now in the hands of the Secretary, who will make several copies to place on file and be available upon request.

 

President, Georgene carried the Manx flag in the opening procession of the Celtic Women’s Conference in Milwaukee on October 20th.  A WMS ad was placed in their bulletin.

 

Brief Reports on the ‘05 Homecoming were given by those who attended. It sounds like we all “should have been there”! Tynwald Day was especially impressive with our member, Bob Kelly, Honorary President of NAMA and Brad Prendergast, NAMA President participating in the ceremonies.

 

Motion that Andy Willett be presented with an Honorary WMS Membership and named “Official Piper of the Wisconsin Manx Society”. Moved by D. Alff, Seconded by Benjamin, Passed unanimously.

 

Mary Kelly, in response to a request for Wisconsin  Manx  lapel  pins, suggested that Erffmeyer and Sons in Milwaukee might be contacted to purchase a new supply.

 

A UW Platteville Museum Committee, of which Mary Kelly is a member has offered the NAMA and Wisconsin Manx the opportunity to help develop a Manx Museum room, which could be a museum and repository for “all things Manx” that are now stored in the homes of NAMA and WMS members. After discussion of some of the conditions and implications of the proposed plan, a motion carried that the Secretary write a letter for the President to send to James Hibbard, University Archivist, accepting the offer to place historical records, manuscripts and artifacts of WMS in the care of the Southwest Wisconsin Room and eventually in the new museum (Luce Center), as presented in his letter of  October 21, 2005. Representatives from WMS are willing to work out the details of the agreement with members of the UWP Museum Committee.

 

It is possible that sometime after our artifacts and manuscripts are part of a “collection” in the museum, UW Platteville  might be a good location for a NAMA Convention. Locations for Conventions are usually chosen by the NAMA 1st VP. One of our members might be nominated to serve as 3rd VP of NAMA with that possibility in mind for the year 2010 or later.

 

NEXT MEETING – APRIL 23, 2006    M. Kelly hopes to share a new Isle of Man  DVD

 

Respectfully Submitted, Doris J. Alff, Recording Secretary

 

 

Manx Phrases

 

Good morning                         Moghrey mie                                       (Maw-ra mye)

Good afternoon/evening          Fastyr mie                                           (Fas-tur mye)

Good night                               Oie vie                                                 (Ee vye)

Hello                                        Dy bannee diu                                     (Di bannee deeoo)

How are you                            Kys ta shiu                                          (Kus ta shoo)

Fine thanks, and you?             Braew, gura mie eu as shiu hene?     (Brow goora mye eeoo as shoo  heen?)

Please                                     My saillu                                              (Mi sall-yoo)

Thank you                               Gura mie eu                                        (Goora mye eeoo)

Good bye                                 Slane lhiu                                            (Slen lee oo)

Good health                             Slaynt vie                                             (Slant vye)

 

 

Manx Pudding (Crusnos )

 

Crusnos was a custard-like pudding made with milk from the second milking after a cow had calved.

 

The milk, mixed with a little salt and sugar, was placed in a double-boiler to prevent curdling and sprinkled with nutmeg. It was left to cook very slowly until firm and golden brown.

 

http://www.iofm.net/community/recipes/Puddings/crusnos