Newsletter

Don’t miss our exciting July program on the Rosslyn Chapel. It has gained more visibility this past year with the release of the DaVinci Code movie which features the chapel. Jim Marrs will be presenting.

July 20	7:00 p.m.	General membership Meeting, TREA Building, Rapid City PROGRAM: Rosslyn Chapel
July 29	All Day	Irish Fest in Sioux Falls, SD
Aug 3	7:00 p.m.	Board Meeting
Aug 11-13		Montana Irish Fest Butte, Montana
Aug 17	7:00 p.m.	General membership Meeting, TREA Building, Rapid City PROGRAM: Gathering of the Clans plans
Sept 1-2	Noon Friday – Saturday evening	Dakota Gathering of the Clans; Memorial Park, Rapid City FREE ADMISSION … will be needing volunteers for this fun even
Sept 7	7:00 p.m.	Board Meeting
Sept 21	7:00 p.m.	General membership Meeting, TREA Building, Rapid City PROGRAM: TBA

*TREA = The Retired Enlisted Association building, 1981 East Centre Street, Rapid City

The Jun 17 Midsummer’s Night Festivities at the Knights was a HUGE success. There were LOTS of activities and fun for all:

· Fierce fighting Norweigian

· Caber toss demonstrations and newbies got to try!

· WONDERFUL food

· Wallace Sword – demonstrations by Mark Renken

· Midsummer’s enchanting ceremonies burning various woods for various wishes

REMEMBER the fun or See What You

MISSED with the photos below:

When you leave the drawbridge down, look who sneaks in. Our favorite Norwegian Warrior, Gordon Magnusson came suited up for a fight!

Bill Knight accommodated Gordon’s thirst for a fight.

All ages and sizes gave it a try….. (the youngest ‘broke’ the caber – don’t mess with him!)

This is your lucky month! It is 103 degrees outside and I am sweating just sitting here at the keyboard. Brevity would seem wise.

My message his month; let’s be thankful for cool breezes up the kilt.

Gary Hamilton

Gathering of the Clans
Labor Day Friday & Saturday

Highland Festival

Planning

The festival board has been

busy organizing the “Gathering

of the Clans”. They continue to

meet every two weeks.

By the time that you receive

this newsletter we will be down

to about six weeks for planning

and organizing the Gathering.

Some details are filling in, others are still in flux. The goal is to have the planning complete by August 1 and begin final execution of the plan during August.

1) Gathering Report:

2) We are seeking Vendors and Clans. Efforts include attending other festivals, handing out handbills, postering around town and press releases.

3) Our current Clan count is 9 and Vendor count is 4 paid, 3 pending payment. We have several more who have expressed serious interest. We are following-up with letters and phone calls.

4) Our total break even budget is at about $7000 including services in kind. We are attempting to finalize sponsor and donor pledges for about $1000 more to meet that budget. We have come a long way.

5) SIS members committed to raise about $600 thru fund raisers. We have secured a vendor that will make our event T-shirts. We have given exclusive rights to the vendor in exchange for a percent of the gross. Therefore, SIS will need to raise another $250 to $350 by some other means. Celtic food is a likely income source.

6) The Gathering is to be a 2-day event (Friday and Saturday) pending change to our park use permit, addition of at least five more vendors and $600 more in entertainment funds.

7) We still have some important positions to fill:

Entertainment Master of Ceremonies

Workshops Chairperson

8) Port-a-potties will cost much more than last year, we are seeking the best quote that we can find but this could have a severe impact on the event.

9) During August we will need to find shift work volunteers for the Gathering. When asked, please be ready to help.

Go to our website (BlackHillsCelticEvents.org) and check out the Gathering schedule.

A reminder, if any of you have connections with an organization or business that might help support this event, please contact a board member. We are soliciting vendors and clans. Donations and sponsorships are welcome. Participating businesses and organizations will be credited in various ways during our public ad campaign.

Contributions are tax deductible.

Planning Board chairs & committees:

Chairpersons – Gary Hamilton, Mike Lemay, Matt Murraine

Sponsorships/Donations – Carole Conrad

Venue/Grounds/Facilities – Bill Knight, John Burke

Publicity – Sabrina Shull

Athletics – Kirk Spell

Vendors – Sandra Lassle

Entertainment/Events – Lemays

Clans – James Marrs

Pipes – Mark Rowland

Hospitality – Carole Conrad

Children’s Activities – Matt Murraine, Janice Murraine

Workshops - Open

Courtesy of Carole Conrad

Nor were these Celts the barbarians that their Roman conquerors would make them out to be. The Brehon Law, finally written down in the 5^th Century AD is said to have originated under Ollamh Fodhla the High King of Ireland in the 8^th Century BC. This rule of law was not local, but was said to hold true throughout the Celtic world from Galatia in Asia Minor to the West of Ireland. There were both men & women administering the rule of law. Indeed, within the ruling caste of Druids there were also Druidesses. It seems that intellectual ability and personal presence was the ruling criteria among this class & women were not excluded. They are said to have had equal rights to property and the right to divorce their husbands without any negative social consequences.

Left: carved sandstone slab shows hunting scene with

horsewoman and 2 trumpeters. (800 A.D.)

Right: this strange piece of armour protected the faces of

horses that dew the war chariots of Celtic cheiftans.

Caesar wrote: “They did not deem it lawful to commit their knowledge to writing because they would not have those who learn them neglect the exercise of memory, since it generally happens that owing to the safeguard of letters, they relax their diligence in learning as well as memory. They did use Greek letters to record their public and private accounts.” Words had great power. “Truth” was the “word” and the word was a sacred thing not to be dispensed casually or to be profaned by transcription. This central belief in “Truth above all things” was the cultural glue that held Celtic societies together. This belief in the power of truth was not limited to use by the Druids. In Ireland there existed the custom of the “troscad” – a person who felt he had been wronged or treated unfairly by someone of higher social position would sit before that person’s door without food until the wrongdoer agreed to make things right, or agree to accept the arbitration of a third party.

Other accomplishments of the Celts: The first hospital in Ireland was said to have been established in 377BC – this was almost 800 years before any such institution was seen in Europe. Archeologists are now finding that the sub bases of roadways still in use in all parts of Europe were not constructed by Roman Legions, but by the Celts! Some of the best Roman writers, Virgil & Cattalus among them, were Romanized Celts. We can see this trend continue in our own age in the contributions of the Irish to English literature. (Gaelic has many times the number of rhyming schemes and rhythm patters in its poetry than does the English language.) In ancient Ireland a hostel was provided for the weary traveler. Here he could find food and lodging free of charge, this service being provided by the local chieftain.

What a wonderful legacy the Celts passed on to us…a love and reverence for learning & mind development, an appreciation for the art of language, the values of truth and honesty, a respect and caring for all humans (not just the ones in power) as evidenced by their public hospitals & legal system which included women as well as men

Your Input Needed & WELCOME!

This newsletter would be far more interesting with your input: news, events, culture, history, photos, new Celtic businesses, anything. Submit your articles in MS Word doc and photos in jpg format. E-mail to info@BlackHillsCelticEvents.org .

Holly and Mike Lemay have made it official and rejoined the Scottish Irish Society. They are familiar faces to most of us as are our entertainers (along with their son Ben and several of their talented friends) at many of our events. They have CD’s for sale

and they are a real treat to listen to.

We welcome any Scottish or Irish trivia from any member. Please submit your thoughts to Info@BlackHillsCelticEvents.org

or contact Pat Hamilton, newsletter editor.

Aliyah Sanders has volunteered to update our story boards for display at events. If you have photos, graphics or suggestions please email to the SIS mail box: Info@BlackHillsCelticEvents.org

Ireland forever!

Eireann go braugh! (Air-in go braw)

A health to you, A wealth to you, And the best that life can give to you.

May fortune still be kind to you. And happiness be true to you,

And life be long and good to you, Is the toast of all you friends to you.

Montana Irish Festival : If you need a bit more exposure to the Irish, the Montana Irish Festival, Butte, MT, is Aug 11-13.

Telepsychiatry Award: Dr. Mark Garry, past member of S.I.S, was recently honored for his work in using technology to provide psychiatric services to American Indian children from rural reservations. The Department of Health and Human Services presented the Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service to Mark in Washington, D.C. He was one of 15 honorees to receive the award and one of 4 HIS employees honored at the ceremony. Congratulations Mark!

Geneaology

The genealogy association meets every 3^rd Friday of each month at the Canyon Lake Senior Citizen’s Club. Contact Nila Boone if you have any questions.

Celitic &
Norwegian
Dancing

The Sons of Norway host dancing lessons at the Canyon Lake Senior Citizens’ Center each Monday evening at 6:30. We’re learning some Norwegian dances and are preparing to learn some Celtic dances. Call John or Nancy Burke if you’re interested in attending as their summer schedule may vary a bit.

PROGRAM: Midsummer’s night festivities @ Knight’s house

MEETING CALLED TO ORDER @ 8:15 P.M.

It was agreed that the meeting would be brief and summarized due to the celebration of Midsummer Eve.

TREASURER’S REPORT: None

OLD BUSINESS:

Gary called the meeting to order by the backyard fire. Gary briefly reviewed old minutes.

Gary requested that SIS members vote on the proposed festival budget, which was unanimous by SIS members.

NEW BUSINESS:

Wyoming Celtic festival: Gary asked for SIS members to attend and volunteer this June 24-25.

Next program for July will be on Rosslyn Chapel.

Meeting adjourned at 8:40 with continuation of celebration.

Sally Knight, secretary.

The July board meeting was held early, June 29, due to holiday conflicts.

Megan Matsen of Promark presented a proposal to return 25% of her gross receipts at the Gathering of the Clans for a free vendor site and exclusive rights to sell Gathering t-shirts and other promotional items. Motion passed.

Board discussed other fund raisers of SIS members for the Gathering. The SIS will look into selling Celtic foods at the Gathering. Haggis, shepherds pie, pasties and bangers are all possible.

Aliyah Sanders volunteered to re-make our story boards for display at SIS events. Many photos are outdated and the boards have suffered handling and water damage. She will need new photos from members.

John Burke volunteered to ask his wife, Nancy, to research Celtic genealogy and history books to purchase for display at SIS events.

President Gary Hamilton, info@BlackHillsCelticEvents.org

Vice President Bill Knight

Secretary Sally Knight

Treasurer Carole Conrad

Board Members Aliyah Sanders, Kerry Smith, Jim Byrne, James Marrs, John Burke

Membership Open

Web Site Robert Millican with apprentices: Gary & Pat Hamilton, and Aliyah Sanders

Newsletter Pat Hamilton, info@BlackHillsCelticEvents.org

If you would like to contribute an article or story, list an event, submit a photo, etc. to the newsletter, please email the item to me by the 5th of each month.