PO Box 765, Rapid City SD 57709 BlackHillsCelticEvents.org 605-343-2884 Volume 8 Issue 1 January 2006 Robert Burns Dinner January 28, 2006 This always sells out so get those tickets NOW! Tickets are available at the Dahl Fine Arts, via the S.I.S. Web site: www.BlackHillsCelticEvents.org . Tickets will also be available at the January 19th Society membership meeting. Menu will be: pork and chicken Scottish style, tatties and neeps, minted peas, shortbread, bread pudding, scones and cullen skink soup. The dinner will be at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 717 Quincy, 6:00 p.m. social and 7:00 p.m. dinner. Please buy your tickets by January 25th. Visit the web site to learn more about Robert Burns. January 19th Membership Program Learn about Robert Burns and why he is so important to the Scots! Scottish Movie: “Rivers & Tides” at the Elks, 6:30 p.m., January 30 There is a wonderful opportunity to see a film about a Scottish artist on the big screen at the Elks. In a nutshell, the film is a gorgeous documentary based on the work of Scottish nature artist Andy Goldsworthy. He explains and demonstrates his (mainly) ephemeral art works, often composed of such transient materials as icicles, or chains of leaves in a stream. It may sounds a little crazy, but as he talks about his philosophy of life, a person can begin to wonder if he isn't onto something important we may have missed. Perhaps some would like to migrate over to the pub across the street in the Alex Johnson after the film!  Our thanks to Mary Garry for bringing this to our attention. EVENT SAFETY GUIDELINES The board approved safety guidelines to be posted at appropriate Society events. It covers responsible drinking and safe handling of ceremonial weapons. MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS ARE DUE Check it off your list of things TO DO and send in your renewal today! Renewals can be made online via our website or mail to P.O. Box 795, Rapid City, SD 57709. Dues are $20 per individual or $30 per family. Members get discounts at Society events. Invite your friends to join the Society. We don’t want anyone missing out on any of the exciting activities coming up! MEGGA THANKS TO ROBERT MILLILCAN!!! Robert has single handedly done a tremendous job enhancing our website over the past several months. He has kept it fresh by routinely adding new information and fun and attractive graphics. Robert will be going on temporary duty to Korea in early February. Take time at the Robert Burns dinner to shake this man’s hand and thank him for all his efforts. (You could also try to coax him into some ‘long-distance’ on-going involvement in our web site!) :) January 19 7:00 p.m. General membership Meeting, TREA* Building, Rapid City Program: Importance of Robert Burns in Celtic history January 28 6:00 p.m. Robert Burns Dinner, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 717 Quincy St, Rapid City January 30 6:30 p.m. “Rivers & Tides” - Movie about a Scottish artist at the Elks January 31 7:00 p.m. + Celtic music will be played starting at 7:00. Musicians and Listeners wanted! Musicians eat free! February 2 7:00 p.m. Board Meeting February 16 7:00 p.m. General membership Meeting, TREA* Building, Rapid City March 18 6:00 p.m. St Patrick’s Day Dinner, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Rapid City To be announced Rummage Sale *TREA = The Retired Enlisted Association building, 1981 East Centre Street, Rapid City The Gathering of the Clans The New Year brings a new focus for the SIS: “The Gathering of the Clans”. To me this means more than getting together for a festival or highland games etc. It’s a chance for us to bring together our thoughts our ideas our histories as a society and as individuals to promote our great Celtic heritage. The Gathering of the Clans brings alive our ancient truths and myths through written documents and countless stories. It brings forward our Celtic heritage’s greatest victories and most devastating defeats as if they occurred yesterday. It allows us to feel today what they might have felt ages ago. Each time we wear our Tartans or sing our songs or attempt our cultural dances, it’s as if our Celtic ancestors are there with us guiding us, and telling us to get the word out that the Celtic history is meaningful and to never let it die. Yes the “Gathering of the Clans” is so very much more than an event--- it is the pride we feel! 2006 was ushered in with a spectacular Celtic concert by the Black Hills Symphony Orchestra followed by a Ceilidh/Hogmanay which was nothing short of fantastic. Those of us who attended this wonderful event will be talking about this one for years to come. It was one of the most fun and successful events I feel the SIS has ever had and I express my many thanks to all who attended and all who helped with the event. I continue to hear from many folks throughout the community who attended the event what a wonderful time it was, the food was excellent, the music great and the Hogmanay was truly a Celtic experience. Many asked if we were going to do it again next year. January brings a couple of major items to the SIS, first being the general elections, which will be held at our general business meeting. I encourage all members to attend and to vote as the elections of the officers and Board appointments represents what you the members want for the SIS. Remember this is your SIS and your vote counts. Just as a reminder your membership dues must be current in order to vote. So please make sure your dues are up to date so that you can vote! The dues help us put on so many fun events. January 28 marks the Robert Burns Dinner which promises to be as much fun as ever, with good Celtic food, fun and music and as always anyone wishing to assist with the dinner please let us know. Hope to see you there. Additional information on the dinner will follow in the newsletter. In closing I am happy to announce that the SIS has gained three new members: Joe and Vicki Wallace, Janice Law Murraine, Christine and Matthew Murraine. Welcome to SIS! We look forward to meeting you! Bill Knight, President interim Events like the Robert burns dinner require publication in a variety of media. The Society would like a member to serve as a publicist. You do not need to do it all, but can work with others to publicize our events through flyers, posters, news releases, etc. If you are interested please contact a board member. If you have an interest in how Scots have influenced the world, take a look at the book entitled “How the Scots Invented the Modern World” by Arthur Herman. The title borders on boasting but the author presents a worthy narrative of how Scottish warriors, political leaders, scientists and common laborers have contributed to the world that we live in today. * A Scottish physician by the name of James Lind is responsible for British sailors being called “limey”. His work to prove that citrus fruits cured scurvy may be the first ever “controlled experiment” in medical history. Of course it took the Brits a few years to catch on but when the Admiralty finally implemented Lind’s new treatment they used lime juice. * James Hutton conceived the process of geological upheaval and erosion which formed the earth as he saw it in the 18th century. He suggested that such geological action would have taken much longer than Biblical accounts. In addition Hutton claimed that geological layering and fossils could tell much about the earth’s ancient history. * Another physician named John Pringle reasoned that the spread of disease through epidemics could be controlled by improving sanitation, ventilation of buildings and clean toilet facilities. As Physician-General of British forces he developed the concept of medical personnel as non-combatants. He located field hospitals away from battle and clearly marked them. This custom quickly spread throughout Europe saving countless soldiers’ lives ever since. If any of these factoids interested you, Arthur Herman has many more. I may share a few next month. Gary Hamilton Unfinished business: The decision was made to ask the Civic Center to prepare the soup for the New Year’s Eve Celtic event and include enough to serve the symphony members that the symphony organization requested. We will request members to contribute desserts and sweets. Elections: Nila Boone with the nominating committee presented a list of people who will run for election: Gary Hamilton and Bill Knight are running as president. Jim Byrne, Kerry Smith, Jim Marrs, Midge Schmidt, and possibly Aliyah Sanders for Board members. Carole Conrad as treasurer, Sally Knight as secretary. Nila Boone will bring in ballots. Membership renewals are due January 1. New prices are $20 for single and $30 for family. Burns dinner: Ticket prices are $15 for members and $17 for non-members. Tickets will be sold on line through the SIS website or through the Dahl, and also at the Hogmanay. The Dahl will pass posters throughout the city which will cost SIS about 17 cents a piece. Menu is still being discussed. Food will be purchased according to ticket sales. Safety Guidelines: Revised version was reviewed. Carole Conrad made a motion to approve the safety guidelines. Gary Hamilton seconded. Guidelines will be posted at events. Website: With the loss of member Robert Millican who will leave for overseas duty in February, Pat Hamilton agreed to attempt to learn the operations of the website. New Business: St. Patrick’s Parade: members agreed they would like to participate in the parade, but has requested a Piper. Also discussed was a menu for the St. Patrick’s dinner more of an Irish cuisine. Sally Knight, secretary. Old Business: Hogmanay. Net for entire evening was approximately $700. We gained 3 new members. We have 2 interested in SIS. We sold 7 Burns tickets. New Business: Discussed menu for Burn’s dinner. SIS members had agreed in the past to a change in menu to be more Scottish for the Burn’s dinner and more Irish for the St. Patrick’s dinner. Menu for Burn’s dinner will be: pork and chicken Scottish style, tatties and neeps, minted peas, shortbread, bread pudding, scones and cullen skink soup. Entertainment will be String Thaw, and pipers. Carole Conrad and Robert Millican will be in charge of programs. Dahl Fine Art Center will also hand out our posters in the downtown area, and do press releases. Gary Hamilton plans to arrange an appointment with Bobby Marcaso for radio advertisement. He will also contact Weekly News for a news ad. Robert Millican will place an ad in Quick Quarter. Kerry Smith will pursue contacts in Sundance, Wyo. Gary Hamilton suggested we advertise through the SIS newsletter that a publicity manager is needed. Sally Knight, acting secretary. President Vacant Vice President Bill Knight (Interim President) Secretary Sally Knight Treasurer Carole Conrad Board Members Gary Hamilton, Midge Schmidt, Aliyah Sanders, Kerry Smith, Jim Byrne Membership Open Web Site Robert Millican & Pat Hamilton Newsletter Pat Hamilton, path@rushmore.com 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. ?? ?? ?? ?? C:\Documents and Settings\Gary\My Documents\SIS\Newsletter 01-2006.doc 1