You may contribute news and photos by email to Info@BlackHillsCelticEvents.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do not miss our annual celebration of Robert Burns’ Birthday.  The Bard was born on January 25, 1759.  We celebrate his life on a weekend close to his birth date.  To learn more about the man credited with saving Scottish culture, look further down in this newsletter and online at www.BlackHillsCelticEvents.org

Menu
Highlander Soup
Haggis

  Beef in Claret

Chicken in Heather Honey

Tatties N' Neeps

Red Cabbage and Apples

Scones and Breads

Desserts
Midge's Bread Pudding

Armagh Apple Cobbler

Shortbreads

You will not want to miss this.  A social will be followed by the above menu, traditional Burns Birthday observances and Celtic music on January 27, 2006, beginning at 6:00 pm.  It will be held at Emmanuel Episcopal Church at 717 Quincy Street.  Music will be provided by String Thaw and Scottish pipers featuring Susanne Karl.  Tickets must be purchased in advance at the Dahl Fine Arts Center, at the next membership meeting on January 18 or by contacting the Scottish and Irish Society at info@BlackHillsCelticEvents.org.  The cost is $15 for members of the Scottish and Irish Society and $17 for non-members. 

SEE YOU THERE!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The house was full of wonderful smells and music for the Hogmanay at the Hamilton’s.  Proof is in the pudding, or should we say ‘pictures’:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We took a group photo that we could send to Kirk to let him know we were thinking and praying for him.  We took up a collection that night that was going to be deposited into the bank account fund that was set up to assist the Spell family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

Jan 17	6:30 p.m.	Celts of America Annual meeting and Awards Program; American Legion Post 22, 818 East St Patrick Rapid City
Jan 18	7:00 p.m.	SIS general membership Meeting, American Legion Post 22, Rapid City PROGRAM:  Robert Burns & Election of Board
Jan 27	6:00 p.m.	Scottish and Irish Society Annual Robert Burns Birthday Celebration; First Emmanuel Episcopal Church
Feb 1	7:00 p.m.	Board Meeting
Feb 15	7:00 p.m.	General membership Meeting, American Legion Post 22, Rapid City PROGRAM: TBA
Mar 1	7:00 p.m.	Board Meeting
Mar 15	7:00 p.m.	General membership Meeting, American Legion Post 22, Rapid City PROGRAM:  TBA
Mar 17	6:00 p.m.	St. Patrick’s Day Dinner / Celebration; First Emmanuel Episcopal Church
Mar 31	6:00 p.m.	International music festival at the Surbeck Center

 *American Legion Post 22, 818 East St. Patrick St, Rapid City

 

 

 

Well, this is the last “President’s Message” of my term.  Hold the applause!

The year 2006 has been a good one for SIS and our Celtic friends.  I vote for another one just like it in 2007.

Helping us from outside of SIS were the Black Hills Scottish Athletes, Celts of America, String Thaw and that loosely defined group of people that we refer to as the “pipers”.    They were all there when we needed they and you did their best.  It showed.  Let’s not forget those friends in Sturgis, Hot Springs, Custer, Deadwood and other parts of the Black Hills.  They are doing their part to knit this community back together again.

Fellow board members, thank you for your constant encouragement and support over the term.  I hope that all SIS members realize what good, dedicated and upright people you are.  Your hearts and your efforts are in the right place.  Bill Knight, Carol Conrad, Sally Knight, John Burke, Jim Marrs, Kerry Smith, Midge Schmidt and Aliyah Sanders; great job.

I will make the obligatory blanket thanks to all of the rest of the SIS members, including my wife, Pat.  It seems trite, but I mean it.  Ten or so names come to mind at the moment.  If I name them, several will be left out.  Again, thanks to all of you.

This is not good-bye.  As Past President I intend to continue my involvement in all of our activities.  If you, SIS members, continue your involvement as you did this past year, we can do anything that we set our collective labors to do.

Thanks.

Gary Hamilton

 

 

            The report of the nominating committee was presented at the December meeting.  The members opened the floor and accepted more nominations.  Having filled the entire slate, the nominations were closed.  Nominations may be opened to the floor again at the meeting on January 18.  Then elections will be held.

                Current slate of nominees: President – Bill Knight, Vice President – John Burke, Secretary – Heather Payden and Sally Knight, Treasurer – Carole Conrad, Board Members – Paul Smith, Jim Byrne, Jim Marrs, Kerry Smith. Additional Board Positions – Aliyah Sanders (School of Mines Student Rep), Gary Hamilton (Past President), Midge Schmidt (Honorary Lifetime Member)

 

 

 

 

                Things are happening quickly.

1) We have formed a corporation in the state of South Dakota to manage the Gathering of the Clans Festival. 

2) The next step is application for non-profit status. 

3) The festival has a new website. www.DakotaClans.com   You can also link to the festival website from the SIS website.

4) The vendor mailing is out.  Clan mailing is soon to follow.

5) We are organizing our sponsorship and Grants application campaign.

                Basically, we are several months ahead of last year’s planning schedule.   This could be a big one!

 

 

Remember, Celts of America are holding their Annual Awards Banquet on January 17, 2007.   It will be at American Legion Post 22 Hall, 818 St Patrick St.  It starts at 6:30 sharp.

Several SIS Members will receive awards for their help in the planning and conduct of the Gathering of the Clans 2006.

Contact Celts of America for tickets.  (605) 381-9133   It is quite inexpensive.  ($6 to $9)

           

 

Rob shared an update on what’s been keeping him busy:

·          He is teaching English to 10 elementary aged kids using Korean translation where possible. He was nervous the first time, but found it to be a very rewarding experience. He also plans to share a little bit of his Celtic heritage and bagpipes.  He’s leaving a permanent positive mark in some of the Koreans and Chinese minds.

·          His public domain page is at :
www.myspace.com/nb3201062

·          His fathers' struggle with cancer has ended.  He died last summer.

·          "I'm not coming back to the Black Hills until Feb 2009. Right now I am working on school.  I am enrolled in Howon University, which is a Korean University.  I never thought I'd see myself in a foreign University, studying amongst all Chinese and Korean students. According to the director of the International department, I am the first ever American to attend their University. My current degree is towards International Business, but first they are making me take all Korean Language classes (which makes sense) because I wouldn't understand the business classes if I don't understand Korean, ha ha. So I think there is 200 Chinese students learning Korean, and then me...It makes for a steep learning curve, since most of the professors only speak Chinese/Korean. So if things go well, I'll be coming back with my Air Force degree and a degree in International business with emphasis on Korean and Chinese.”

·          His e-mail is robmill75@yahoo.com if you want to touch bases with him.

 

 

During a time of Scottish political unrest, the British banned many things of cultural significance to the Scots.  Among them were the famous Highland plaids, most literature and the Gaelic language.  Robert Burns, the Poet Laureate of Scotland, is credited for helping to rescue the culture and music of Scotland from extinction in the 1700’s.  Burns toured the country writing down folk songs and poems.  In addition he wrote many original works.  Burns translated a Scottish bar anthem called, “Auld Lang Syne”, keeping it alive for us all to enjoy in our modern New Years Eve celebrations.

You will find more about the bard at http://www.BlackHillsCelticEvents.org/Events/Burns.htm

Study this for The Burns Dinner.

English Translation :Address to a Haggis

Fair full your honest, jolly face,
Great chieftain of the sausage race!
Above them all you take your place,
Stomach, tripe, or intestines:
Well are you worthy of a grace
As long as my arm.

The groaning trencher there you fill,
Your buttocks like a distant hill,
Your pin would help to mend a mill
In time of need,
While through your pores the dews distill
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour wipe,
And cut you up with ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like any ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm steaming, rich!

Then spoon for spoon, the stretch and strive:
Devil take the hindmost, on they drive,
Till all their well swollen bellies by-and-by
Are bent like drums;
Then old Master of the house, most like to burst,
'The grace!' hums.

Is there that over his French ragout,
Or olio that would sicken a sow,
Or fricassee would make her throw-up
With perfect disgust,
Looks down with sneering, scornful view
On such a dinner?

Poor devil! see him over his trash,
As feeble as a withered rush,
His thin legs a good whip-lash,
His fist a nut;
Through bloody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit.

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread,
Clap in his ample fist a blade,
He will make it whistle;
And legs, and arms, and heads will crop
Like tops of thistle.

You powers, who make mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill of fare,
Old Scotland want no watery ware,
That splashes in small wooden dishes;
But is you wish her grateful prayer,
Give her a Haggis!

 

 

 

As we communicated in e-mails to our members, Kirk was in a surfing accident in Hawaii while on vacation with his family over Christmas.  He suffered a spine injury that left him unable to feel the lower portion of his body and underwent surgery.  The surgery identified that the spinal cord and vertebrae were not broken, only bruised and they were optimistic that as the swelling continued to go down that Kirk would start to regain some feeling. 

 

Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers.  The Celts of America established a fund for donations: 

First Western Bank 

PO Box 3133

Rapid City SD 57709-3133

 

There is also a paypal donation button on their website The url is http://celtsofamerica.org/ks.html

 

 

 

 

            You should recall Bridget Medbury.  She has been selected to participate in the People to People Student Ambassador program (www.studentambassadors.org)   She will be touring the British Isles this coming summer.  Her special interest is in Ireland. 

                SIS will be sponsoring a raffle for Bridget at the Burns Dinner.  Keep this in mind.  Prizes are yet to be determined and purchased but will probably include several things Celtic.

                Please bring some spare cash to buy a few chances on the raffle.

 

 

 

 

Thanks go from the Exchange Club to those SIS members who helped with the Exchange Club Annual Christmas Gift Wrap Fundraiser.  It is a big undertaking, about 1000 volunteer hours, between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  The profits are used for local efforts to prevent child abuse and promote American patriotism.  You made a difference!

 

 

We received an e-mail from a gentleman, Tim McNair (tbatmcnair@msn.com), in early Dec:.

 

“I am looking for clubs in Sioux City Iowa to explore our families lineage so if you can lead me the right direction that would be good my last name is McNair”

 

If anyone has an idea how to help Tim out, send him an email.

 

 

 

 

 

Your Input Needed

            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 .

 

 

 

   

 

Heather & Lucieid Payden – Heather has already been active and you may have met her at the Hogmanay or our last General Meeting.  She has volunteered to assist at the Robert Burns and given us some ‘massage’ gift certificates for raffle/drawings.   It’s great to have such an energetic and friendly new member.

 

Gary Cole & family and Peter Scheckel are our newest members.  We look forward to meeting and getting to know you.

 

 

 

 

 

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

or contact Pat Hamilton, newsletter editor.

 

 

 

 

 

Ray Graff informed us that he is relocating the popular pub to the old Venue 8 location, kiddy-corner across the street from the present location.  That means 4 things:

1:  They will be closed from early February and reopening in time for St Patrick’s Day.

2:  They will feature an Irish Restaurant in the basement of the new building.  What a treat it will be to have a full service Irish restaurant in town! 

3:   We will have access to meeting rooms in the restaurant.

4:  Best of all, 20 beer taps on the bar!!!!

 

Mark your calendars to frequent the new and improved Dublin Square.

 

 

 

“Scots facing kilt shortage”

That headline was in the RC Journal on 12/21.

It referred to the fact that the Royal Regiment of

 Scotland has only one kilt for every 15 soldiers.

 “A shortage of ceremonial kilts could leave

 thousands of soldiers without a stitch of plaid to

wear as they parade to the skirl of the bagpipes.

 Military officials said Monday that more than

5,000 Scottish soldiers are having to share their

 kilts because defense chiefs have not finalized a contract to buy enough of the garments to go around.”  A planned ‘deployment’ of kilts will be completed by January 2008 when the soldiers will not need to ‘share’. 

 

‘Younger’ Bill Knight in the RC Journal

Did ya notice the photo at the end of 2006 in the Journal’s photo montage?  It was out very own Bill Knight 21 years ago after he got bonked on the head while fighting a fire.  Even with that black foo-man-choo mustache, we could recognize our handsome Bill!

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This will be a regular feature of our Newsletter with your help.  Please share any of your favorite Celtic Shopping locations with our Newsletter editor, Pat Hamilton.  Send any suggestions to info@BlackHillsCelticEvents.org .

 

Dream Shoes (Bald Mountain):  http://www.DreamShoes.com/ 

They have great sandals and shoes for both men and women.

 

Pyramid Collection:  http://www.PyramidCollection.com/

Clothing, jewelry, goblets (mail-order catalog available)

 

Creative Irish Gifts: www.ShopIrish.com

Clothing, trinkets, jewelry, caps, mugs (mail-order catalog available)

 

Cashs of Ireland:  www.cashs.com

Dishes, glassware, clothing (mail-order catalog available)

 

Shannon:  www.ShopShannon.com

Clothing, trinkets, glasses (mail-order catalog available)

 

Sofi’s Stitches:  http://www.sofisstitches.com/ 

Medieval and renaissance clothing

 

Gael Song:  http://www.gaelsong.com/ 

 (mail-order catalog available)

 

Celtic Croft:  www.kilts-n-stuff.com

Kilts, clothing, jewelry, etc (mail-order catalog available)

 

The Celtic Shop:  http://CelticShopDunedin.com

This is our old friend Coleen Coble’s web site.  Check out her wide assortment.

 

 

 

 

PROGRAM:  Celtic Christmas customs

 

TREASURER’S REPORT: 

$3,103.91 in checking. $1,281 of that balance is for the 2007 festival.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

n        Midge Schmidt’s daughter informed SIS that her condition has worsened and she is now at Lake Preston. Carole will mail her the gift from SIS.

n        Bridget Medbury will be offered a chance to sell raffle tickets at the Burn’s dinner as a fund raiser for her trip.

n        Nominating committee has reported who will be running for positions for 2007:

o         Bill Knight for president.

o         John Burke as vice president.

o         Gary Hamilton will fill a board position as Past President.

o         Board member positions: Jim Byrne, Kerry Smith, Paul Smith, Jim Marrs.

o         Heather Payden and Sally Knight in a combined effort for secretary.

o         Carole Conrad for Treasurer.

o         Elections will be held during January’s general meeting.

NEW BUSINESS:

o         Celts of America will have their Christmas party at the Garry’s on Dec 22. The theme will be “An old fashioned Irish Yule”. Potluck style. COA has invited SIS.

o         SIS  may be changing its meeting times and place to the last Thursday of the month at the Legion. 

o         Exchange Committee is looking for volunteers to wrap gifts at the Mall.

o         Membership dues are due in January.

o         Celts of America is putting together an awards dinner for COA and SIS festival members. The dinner will be at the Legion on January 17  between 6:00p-6:30p

January Program:  Robert Burns birthday and elections.

 

 

 

 

 

MEETING CALLED TO ORDER 7:15 p.m.

 

TREASURER’S REPORT:  None

 

OLD BUSINESS:

n        The plaque for Midge Schmidt has been completed and Carole has the gift.

n        Burns Dinner: SIS will offer COA membership price for tickets.

n        Bridget Medbury will be added to the email list so that she will be able to attend

n        SIS events with fund raisers for her trip to Ireland (student ambassador’s gpa).

n        Festival corporation: the statement of intent was delivered at the last festival meeting and a festival board was formed. Mike LeMay will be the board president.

n        Storage shed for SIS supplies was tabled.

n        Dahl membership was renewed.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

n        COA invited SIS to their celtic Christmas party at the Garry’s. on 12/22. Potluck.

n        COA is having an awards banquet of 1/17 at the Legion and has asked SIS to help select people that were on the festival board to be nominated. COA has asked that $150 be donated as SIS’s share for the awards. John Burke made a motion to support the monetary amount. Bill Knight seconded. One nay to the vote. Majority rules.

n        Exchange club is doing gift wraps for Christmas at the Mall. They have asked if any SIS members would be interested to helping.

n        SIS will have a new listing in the Highlander newsletter.

n        Dues are due for SIS membership.

n        Upcoming cultural event: International music festival at the Surbeck Center on 3/31 from 6:00p to 8:30p.

 

STANDING BUSINESS:

n        Website has no new news, but the festival board will have their own website.

n        Next board meeting will be at Jim Byrne’s office: Clock Tower plaza suite 204.

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:20. 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           Sally Knight

Web Site                  Gary & Pat Hamilton

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.