Newsletter

Celebrate our Festival Success
at Kerry Smith's house:
Sat, Sept 16th - 4:30 p.m.

Our September membership meeting is being hosted by Kerry Smith, long time member and supporter. He lives in Sundance, WY, a short 60-minute drive. Folks intersested in carpooling should meet in Knecht’s Home Center parking lot at the corner of West Boulevard and Omaha at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, 9/16. Bill Knight is organizing this.

DIRECTIONS:

Coming from I 90 take first exit into Sundance a BP gas station will be in front view, take a left on Cleveland toward Sundance, find 8th street make a left follow all way through our house will be marked. To help I will try to put markers on the street post to mark where to turn. I look forward to seeing all. Street address is: 301 S. 11^th St, Sundance, WY. Ph (307) 283-1661

Halloween is coming soon. Did you know that many of our customs come from the Celtic end of summer celebration called Samhain (pronounced SOW-in)? You can get more information at:

http://www.celticspirit.org/samhain.htm

We are planning a Samhain Celebration of our own in with the Celts of America. Mark your calendar for October 28.

Sept 16	4:30 p.m.	General Membership Meeting and ‘PITCH IN’ (Potluck) at the home of Kerry & Pat Smith (details later in newsletter) PROGRAM: Jim Byrne’s trip to Ireland
Oct 5	7:00 p.m.	Board Meeting
Oct 19	7:00 p.m.	General membership Meeting, TREA Building, Rapid City PROGRAM: History & Lore of Halloween (Sally Knight); Celtic Catalog & Web site Review (All)
Oct 28	TBA	Samhain (Celtic End of Summer) Party: Watch for details
Nov 2	7:00 p.m.	Board Meeting
Nov 16	7:00 p.m.	General membership Meeting, TREA Building, Rapid City PROGRAM: TBA
Dec 7	7:00 p.m.	Board Meeting
Dec 29	TBA	Hogmanay – Celtic New Year Celebration

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

Celtic Festival
Gathering of the Clans
HUGE SUCCESS !!!!

WOW…what a Gathering it was!!

Actually, Friday morning gave us a big scare. We awoke to rain and the sound of thunder. Well, that made rain for three of our four Celtic festivals held in Rapid City since 2003. The only thing to do was to go to Memorial Park as planned, set-up and hope for an improvement.

Through the dreary afternoon several hundred people walked through the clan and vendor areas. The Black Hills Scottish Athletes held a Highland games demonstration. They presented a Strongman Competition in the early evening.

Our hopes were rewarded with blue sky breaking through at about 3:30 in the afternoon. By that time some of our evening entertainers had decided on there own to go to our “inside” venue to set-up. That brought us to a decision point. Move to Dublin Square for the evening or hope the blue sky pushes the rest of those clouds away.

The optimists decided to stay at Memorial Park. We were all rewarded, again, with more glorious blue sky. The festival finally felt like it would be a true celebration of both our heritage and South Dakota’s sunshine.

String Thaw, Morgan Black and Bennett School of Irish Dance entertained until the Children’s Music Competition at 6:00. At 7:00 String Thaw, John Savery on Pipes, J. Paul Koehler, and Morgan Black, lead other participants from the audience in a Ceili. Attendance numbered about 75.

The single Malt Scotch Tasting was a hit with 15 in attendance. The surprise taste was a 30 year old Macallan Sherry Oak. ($800 per bottle) It was exquisite! The Indulgers, Celtic rock band, closed out the evening at Dublin Square.

All things considered, in spite of a little rain, it turned out to be a good day and a memorable evening for all who attended.

Saturday dawned bright and sunny. The clear weather held all day, reaching the mid-sixties. It was a Celtic heat wave! We had a grand day to wear wool.

The first events of the day started at 9:00. The Highland games and music workshops were well attended. People began to come through by the hundreds every hour. The 30 vendors found brisk business. Eight clans were present for the Parade of Clans. Dozens more tartans were represented at the opening ceremonies. Entertainment continued throughout the day with String Thaw, Morgan Black, Bennett School of Irish Dance and bag pipers (Darren Williams, Mark Rowland, John Savery, Suzanne Karl, Terry Rathbunn on drum).

The evening closed with several hundred watching the Indulgers at the bandshell at Memorial Park.

By the end of the day thousands of people had come through to patronize the vendors, inquire about family history and watch the entertainment. Vendors were happy and plan to return. Clans were pledging to come back and promising to recruit other clans for next year. The SIS food concession was a sellout.

Most would call the Gathering of the Clans 2006 a SUCCESS!

Be sure to thank the Gathering Planning Committee! Collectively they spent hundreds of hours preparing for the festival.

Chairperson – Gary Hamilton, Mike Lemay, Matt Murraine

Sponsorships/Donations – Carole Conrad

Venue/Grounds/Facilities – Bill Knight

Athletics – Kirk Spell

Vendors – Sandra and Jim Lassle

Entertainment/Scheduleing – Holly and Mike Lemay

Clans – James Marrs

Pipes – Mark Rowland

Hospitality – Carole Conrad

Children’s Activities – Matt Murraine, Janice Murraine

Special Events Coordinator - Pat Hamilton

SIS Food Concession – John Burke

FESTIVAL PHOTOS:

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Many photos are courtesy of “Pet Antics and Picture You”

Thanks SO MUCH!!!

(Copies can be ordered from Jackie Lake 721-7388)

Pet Parade

Our vice president has many talents!!!

Some of our

FESTIVAL VENDORS:

CROWDS ENJOYED THE FESTIVAL:

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Festival T-shirts Available
ONLY until 9/16/06

If you would like a Gathering of the

Clans T-shirt let Gary Hamilton

know size and how many. Black or

Green with the Gathering logo.

$15 ea

We sold all but one at the festival so

will need to make a special order lot.

The screen will then be destroyed.

Get back to Gary by September 16

if you want one. (605) 484-1982.

Midge Schmidt was recognized for her commitment and support of the Scottish & Irish Society of the Black Hills by being given an EMERITIS LIFETIME MEMBER award by the S.I.S. board. She has served as an officer over the years and could always be counted upon to bake tasty and huge batches of a Society favorite: Bread Pudding!!! Her recipe is in the cookbook. Midge has recently taken up residence at Good Samaritan Center, 412 S. Madison Ave , New Underwood, SD 57761. Front office phone 754-6489. She would enjoy visitors.

President’s Message

This is my second opportunity in 4 months to congratulate the members of the Scottish and Irish Society for a great accomplishment. In April we paid of our festival debt from last year. In September we conducted another festival, coming through it with no debt. Great job everyone!

We do not have all of the money counted but the festival and the SIS are projected to come out in the black. We expect to have some money to put aside for next year’s Gathering of the Clans. We will have dollar figures next month when the bills are paid.

As with any big effort, there are others who deserve much of the credit. They are listed in elsewhere in this newsletter. Be sure to thank them.

But, this message is to you, the SIS members. In April, as a result of paying off our debts I wrote ”Outside vendors know that we are people of our word and we remain a good credit risk. Anyone dealing with us knows that we will do our best to do the right thing.”

A direct result of that effort is that we had the help from sponsors, vendors, musicians, dancers, Highland athletes, clans and other Celtic organizations to sponsor the Gathering. Others know that “we are people of our word” and “we will do our best to do the right thing”. When you look at that list of others that helped, remember that they helped us because we are honorable people. We all succeed when we can all trust each other.

You can be proud to be a member of the Scottish and Irish Society of the Black Hills.

Gary Hamilton

Sally Knight is working on a third S.I.S. cookbook and is soliciting recipes (include any family stories that might go along with them). Please dig in your kitchens & corners and share your Celtic recipes with Sally.

We’ll try to highlight some titles in future newsletters.

Your Input Is 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 .

DID YA KNOW: Walt Disney commissioned North Carolina's, The Scottish Weaver, to create a McDuck tartan!

Thanks Sally Knight!

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

or contact Pat Hamilton, newsletter editor.

If you have photos, graphics or suggestions please email to the SIS mail box: Info@BlackHillsCelticEvents.org

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 Are BACK!!!

The Sons of Norway dance group has returned! On September 11 they will resume dancing 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 this fall.

PROGRAM: NONE

The meeting was called to order at 1915 by Gary Hamilton, President.

Treasurer’s report: $6,089 in checking. $3,751 reserved for the festival.

Old Business:

Gathering of the clans festival: Volunteers still needed. See Carole for schedules. Food may not be prepared at home and brought into the festival for sales. Bangers will be cooked on site by grill. Novaks will supply. Baked goods will be made by SIS volunteers and sold separately. T-shirt’s will be done by Promark. Genealogy and library books will be at the hospitality tent.

General Membership meeting 9/16: Road trip to Kerry & Pat Smith’s on 9/16. Arrive at 4:30 and plan to eat at 6:00pm. It will be a Pitch-In (Potluck). Kerry will provide main dish. BYOB, and chairs.

Catalog sessions possibly in October. Focus will be on web sites and mail orders.

Story board by Aliyah will carry over to next meeting.

New cook books will be done by Sally and Kerry as a sub-committee.

New Business:

Midge Schmidt is now residing at the Good Samaratin Nursing Home in New Underwood. SIS plans to make a plaque for her regarding her many years of

Service, Membership voted to make Midge a life time member.

Tartan Ball or Halloween party? Discussion to be continued at next meeting.

Sally asked for a vote for an inflatable “Loch Ness Monster” to float at the Memorial

Park pond. This would cost SIS $100. Seven members voted yes, 4 members no.

Majority wins. (Please note that Sally later found “Nessie” for a reduced rate of $50.

Bill and Sally Knight decided to become sponsors instead).

Standing Business:

Website would like to see interesting news bits, suggestions, or “cool” links to other websites.

Programs:

September: Jim Byrne’s trip to Ireland.

October: Halloween by Sally Knight

November: no program at this time.

Meeting was called to order by Gary Hamilton, president at 7:15 pm.

Treasurer’s report: Approximately $6,000 in checking. Treasurer ill, so exact amount was not given.

Old Business:

Celtic festival showed good traffic on Saturday, and SIS is showing a profit. A post-festival meeting is scheduled for next week.

Plans continue for road trip to Kerry & Pat Smith’s on 9/16.

Midge Schmidt will be staying at the Good Samaritan versus traveling to DeSmit.

New Business:

New members and interested people - we need better follow-up for new prospects and to welcome new members after they join.

Officer nomination for 2007: It is time to begin searching for next year’s board members. A nominating committee should be named in October.

One of our SIS members will receive a special recognition gift for years of service. Announcement will be made later.

Standing Business:

Website will have pictures of the festival and news clips.

Next board meeting will be at the Burkes’s on 10/5.

Hogmanay will be 12/29. Need someone to volunteer their house.

Meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm. Sally Knight, secretary

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.

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