Tartan Talk - Scottish Heritage Society of Eastern North Carolina

Tartan Talk
The Newsletter of the Scottish Heritage Society ENC
Judy Harkin, Editor
September 2014
Volume 22, Issue 1
From the President’s Desk...
President:
Bill Ritchie
633-2396
Vice President:
Margaret Fowler
Secretary:
Heather Harley
649-1123
Treasurer:
Nancy Fisher
636-1734
Board Members:
Beverly Costa
638-6916
Meredith Inserra
634-9776
Rosie Wood
636-0508
Membership Chair:
Judy Harkin
636-0794
Society Website:
www.shsenc.com
The Scottish Heritage
Society of Eastern North
Carolina, Incorporated,
(hereafter the Society), a
nonprofit organization,
is dedicated to the
perpetuation and
enjoyment of the history
and culture of Scotland
handed down to her
descendants in Eastern
North Carolina and to
the support of activities
of an educational nature
which promote and
enhance our common
Scottish heritage.
BYLAWS, ARTICLE II
Last November at the
St. Andrews celebration,
I volunteered to serve as
your president to
prevent the imminent
abandonment of our
mission as stated above
in the Bylaws. My first
self-imposed task was to
take stock of the
Society. What I found
was very revealing.
The bad news first. It
came as a shock to me
in January of this year,
that the Society had lost
its tax free status with
the IRS as a nonprofit
501 (C) (3)
organization. It was
revoked in November of
2011 for not filing a
Form 990 for three
consecutive years. With
David Henderson’s able
assistance we are
working to get it back.
The success rate is high.
The good news is that
the Society has done
fairly well. Over the
years, the Society has
participated in the
following activities:
Moore's Creek
Battlefield memorial
service, St. Patrick's
Day, National Tartan
Day, Kirkin' o' the
Tartans services at local
churches, Memorial
Day at the National
Cemetery, Scottish
Highland Games, New
Bern’s Mumfest, St.
Andrews Day, Lunch
and Learns, and the
Burns Night Supper. A
laudable list of
accomplishments.
Sadly, that was then and
this is now.
The Society’s support
of educational grants to
promote our Scottish
heritage has, although
underfunded, been an
unqualified success
from Jennifer Licko in
1997 to Conner Civatte
in 2014. We have
provided over 15 grants
of financial aid to
individuals and groups.
Pipers are no longer a
rarity in Eastern North
Carolina.
The state of the
Society reached a low
point last November,
but, I am pleased to
report the following: the
Annual Picnic has
recaptured it’s luster;
Membership Directories
have been produced; the
Calling Tree; Tartan
Talk newsletter; and
Mumfest have been
reinstated after a hiatus
of several years. A
Facebook page has been
Page 2
Tartan Talk
From the President’s Desk…. (continued)
“When asked
to serve, please
give it serious
consideration.
We can do
great things
together.”
initiated; the Kirkin O’
the Tartans has
experienced a revival;
and last but not least,
the Officers/Board
Members notebooks,
the backbone of the
organization which
provides the guidance
for all activities, have
been revived.
BYLAWS to include:


In the proposal stage
or underway:
(1) The support of a
cooperative venture
with a local dance
studio to teach
Highland Dancing.
(2) A five year plan to
foster a vision for the
Society for future
direction and growth.
(3) Changes to the


Safe guards to
insure that the
Society will not fail
to file IRS returns
or notices.
Elevate the
Scholarship –
Education
Committee from a
special committee
to a named
committee and to
spell out duties of
the same.
To provide for dates
and places for the
Annual Meeting to
be set by the Board
of Directors.
To increase the
number of board
members from 7 to
9, and other
technical
corrections as
required.
I would be remiss if I
did not thank the Board
Members and the
members at large who
contributed over the
past nine months.
Thank you one and all.
When asked to serve
please give it serious
consideration. We can
do great things
together. We still need
a few good men and
women.
We should all look
forward with optimism.
Our best days are still
ahead.
__Bill Ritchie
Upcoming Events and Activities
Mark Your Calendar
TBA.
Friday, September 19: Last Kilt Nite of 2014. Meet at Morgan’s Tavern
& Grille, 235 Craven Street, New Bern at 6:00 p.m. Order off menu.
Saturday and Sunday, October 11-12: Tent at the MumFest. Helpers are
needed. Two hour shifts. Contact Meredith Inserra at 634-9776
Saturday, October 18: Lunch and Learn, a “Journey Through Scotland.”
The Chelsea, 335 Middle Street, New Bern. Social Hour begins at 11:00.
Lunch will be served at noon with program to follow. Reservations are
required. Judy Harkin, 636-0794 for information.
Saturday, November 22: St. Andrews Celebration and Annual General
Meeting. Christ Church Ministry Center, 311 Middle St., New Bern. Time
TBA.
Wednesday, December 31: Hogmanay (Scottish New Year). Time &
place TBA
Saturday, January 24, 2015: Robbie Burns Supper. Time and place TBA
Volume 22, Issue 1
Page 3
Join us for a “Journey Through Scotland” October 18
Your are cordially
invited to join us for a
Lunch and Learn on
Saturday, October 18
for a pictorial “Journey
Through Scotland.”
Judy Harkin will be
our guide as we visit
the Borders, home to
hauntingly beautiful
ruins of once great
abbeys and powerful
border families who
made their living as
reivers.
Edinburgh Castle,
perched high on Castle
Rock, dominates the
skyline of Scotland’s
capital city and its
history.
The Orkney Islands
have sheltered people
since time immemorial,
their stone homes older
than the pyramids of
Egypt.
We will journey
“across the sea to
Skye,” visit mysterious
stone circles, and feel
the enduring sorrow of
Glencoe and Culloden.
Scotland is an ancient
land, full of natural and
man-made beauty, we
invite you to join us on
this journey.
We will meet at the
Chelsea Restaurant (the
corner of Broad and
Middle Street) in
downtown New Bern, on
Saturday, October 18.
A social hour begins at
11:00 a.m. Beer ($3.00)
and wine ($5.00) will be
available, and good
c o n v er s a t i o n is a
guarantee.
Dinner will be served at
12
noon,
with
the
program to follow. The
lunch is $15, with your
choice of three entrées.
The price includes tea
or coffee.
Please wear Scottish
attire (what a great way
to show pride in our
heritage!) and your
Society name tags.
The luncheon is open
to members and guests
— this would be a
great opportunity to
introduce friends and
neighbors to our
Society! — but we
need your reservation
no later than October
14.
You will receive a form
via email with the three
entrée choices.
Mark your calendar
now to join us. No
passport required.
St. Andrews Celebration and Annual General Meeting
On Saturday,
November 22, 2014,
we will gather at the
Christ Episcopal
Church Ministry
Center,
311 Middle Street, for a
St. Andrews
Celebration and the
Annual General
Meeting of the Society.
Arrival is 5:30 with
dinner served at 6:00.
Please bring a large
main dish, side dish or
a dessert to share.
The society will
provide tea and coffee.
Bring wine and beer
if you wish.
Melrose Abbey in
the Borders
There is a $5 per
person or $10 per family
fee due at the door, to
cover the cost of the
room rental.
Please RSVP to Nancy
Fisher, 636-1734 or
tanafish@suddenlink.net
__Nancy Fisher
The Queen’s View
Loch Tummel in
Perthshire
Page 4
Tartan Talk
Society Doings….
Kilt Night … Kilt Nights have continued to be
successful events. In the three years that I've been
on the board, we have averaged about 19-21
members at each Kilt Night event. We broke that
record this August, with 29 in attendance.
If you've never been to a Kilt Night, you should
join us sometime. It's a very casual dinner where
we all order from the menu and pay for our own
meal. You can be as thrifty or as extravagant as
you like.
Annual Picnic ... Our annual picnic was held
at the Red Sail Park in Fairfield Harbour on
Saturday, June 6th. The park was a new venue for
us this year and we were impressed with the
location. There was a nice shelter with more than
enough picnic tables, lights, ceiling fans,
restrooms, and electric outlets for music and crock
pots.
There were 24 members in attendance and the
weather was perfect.
Robbie Burns Supper …
On Saturday, January 25, 2014, Robert Burns’
birthday, SHSENC celebrated its 28th Annual
Robert Burns Supper at the Emerald Golf Club in
New Bern. Fifty-four SHSENC members, decked
out in Scottish and formal attire, attended and
participated in the evening’s events.
SHS member, Denny Thompson, piped as the
guests gathered, mixed, and seated themselves.
Following this, 2014 SHS President Bill Ritchie
conducted the Failte, welcoming all to the Burns
Supper, explaining that the supper is a traditional
Morgan's Tavern on Craven Street has been kind
enough to accommodate our group. Their food is
delicious and the company is always excellent.
Our last Kilt Night of 2014 will be Friday,
September 19th at 6:00pm. Anyone planning to
attend please RSVP to Heather Harley at
252-649-1123 (please leave a message)
or email: heatherharley@hotmail.com
__Heather Harley
Meredith Harley Inserra and Connor Civatte
provided musical entertainment after lunch.
This is an annual event that has always been very
popular. If you have little ones at home, consider
bringing them next year. In the past, we've held
mini Highland games for the young ones we'd love
to hold them again. Red Sail park has plenty of
space to "host" a few games for the children and
grand-children of our members.
__Heather Harley
way to honor the popular Scottish poet and his life
and poetry. After this opening of the event, David
Henderson recounted the history of the Society.
Bill delivered the 17th century grace known now
as the Selkirk Grace, followed by Denny’s “piping”
in the haggis. As per custom, the haggis was
carried in on a large platter to the standing host and
guests. Brian Dodds, creator of our splendid
haggis, then addressed the dish reciting Burns’
“Address to a Haggis.”
Guests were again seated to enjoy the Farin’
featuring, in addition to the Haggis, a choice of Rib
September 2014
Page5
Society Doings … (continued)
Eye Steak, Panko Salmon, or Chicken Cordon
Bleu.
During the meal, the program continued with
traditional “Toasts an’ Sentiments.” Bob Costa
began with the “Toast to the Lassies” with Bev
Costa giving the “Reply to the Laddies;” Nancy
Fisher delivering the toast “To the President”; Roy
Jackson “To the Queen”; and Gordon McLeod
offering the toast “To the USA Armed Forces and
the Commonwealth.”
Special features of the program were Meredith
Inserra’s video presentation on The Robert Burns
Birthplace Museum, the toast “To the Immortal
Memory of Robert Burns”, and SHS 2013
scholarship recipient Connor Civatte’s fiddle
performance of Scottish songs. Connor was joined
by Meredith on guitar for a group sing-along.
A 50-50 drawing that netted $93 to the Society
and the gifting of the table floral arrangements
created by Nancy Fisher were followed by the
official closing of the event singing “Auld Lang
Syne”.
(Flower and Supper pictures can be seen in the
photo section of Facebook.com/SHSofENC)
__Rosalie Wood
Flowers of the Forest
Barbara Hesketh, a long time member of the Scottish
Heritage Society, passed away on June 24, 2014, at the age
of 75.
Barbara lived with her husband Al in Long Island, NY
and then retired in Fairfield Harbour.
Barbara attended many of our Scottish functions. She was
also an accomplished artist. Most of her paintings
were water and sunset scenes. Her one great portrait was of
her husband Al.
She also painted a bear that is displayed in Fairfield
Harbour. Most of you may have seen the Christoph Von Graffenried bear she painted,
which is on display on East Front Street.
Barbara is survived by three children, seven grandchildren and one great-grandson.
__Beverly Costa
Page 6
Tartan Talk
The Darien Expedition
Editor’s Note: On September 18, 2014,
registered voters living in Scotland will go to
the poll to answer one question, “Should
Scotland be an independent country?”
Many historians believe it was the failure
of the Darien Scheme that led to the 1707 Act
of Union with England. The referendum on
September 18 will decide if Scotland continues
to be a part of the United Kingdom, or if it will
once again become an independent nation.
The article below can be found at
www.historic-uk.com
The Darien Scheme
John Senex. A new map of ye Isthmus of Darien in
America, the Bay of Panama...
Scale: 45 miles to 1 inch. 47 x 28 cm
By Ben Johnson
William Paterson, a
Scot who's other major
claim to fame was the
foundation of the Bank of
England, was born in
Tinwald in Dumfriesshire
in 1658. He made his first
fortune through
international trade,
travelling extensively
throughout the America's
and West Indies.
Upon his return to his native Scotland,
Paterson sought to make his second fortune
with a scheme of epic proportion. His plan was
to create a link between east and west, which
could command the trade of the two great
oceans of the world, the Pacific and Atlantic.
In 1693, Paterson helped to set up the
Company of Scotland Trading to Africa and the
Indies in Edinburgh to establish an entrepôt on
the Isthmus of Darien (the narrow neck of land
separating North and South America now known
as Panama). It was claimed that the company
would prosper through foreign trade and
promoted Darien as a remote spot where Scots
could settle.
The original directors of the Company of
Scotland were Scottish and English in equal
numbers, with the risk investment capital being
shared half from the English and Dutch, and the
other half from the Scots. However, under
pressure from the East India Company, afraid of
losing their trade monopoly, the English
Parliament withdrew its support for the scheme at
the last minute, forcing the English and Dutch to
withdraw and leaving the Scots as sole investors.
There were no shortage of takers though, as
thousands of ordinary Scottish folk invested
money in the expedition, to the tune of
approximately £500,000 - about half of the
national capital available.
September 2014
Page 7
The Darien Expedition (continued)
Almost every Scot who had £5 to spare invested
in the Darien scheme. Thousands more
volunteered to travel on board the five ships that
had been chartered to carry the pioneers to their
new home where Scots could settle, including
famine driven Highlanders and soldiers discharged
following the Glen Coe Massacre.
But, who had actually been out to see this
Promised Land, this remote spot where Scots
could settle? Well not Paterson apparently! The
pioneers had wrongly believed, on the basis of
sightings by sailors and pirates, that Darien offered
them a colony where entrepreneurs could establish
trading links with the world and bring prestige and
prosperity to their country. And so it was with
much fanfare and excitement that the ships sailed
from Leith harbour on 12 July 1698 with 1,200
people on board.
It was however, a depleted and less excited
group of pioneers that arrived on the mosquitoinfested scrap of land known as Darien on 30
October 1698. Many were already sick and others
were quarrelling as power struggles arose among
the elected councillors.
They struggled ashore and renamed the land
Caledonia, with its capital New Edinburgh. The
first task was to dig graves for the dead pioneers,
which included Paterson's wife. The situation grew
worse because of a lack of food and attacks from
hostile Spaniards. The native Indians took pity on
the Scots, bringing them gifts of fruit and fish.
Seven months after arriving, 400 Scots were dead.
The rest were emaciated and yellow with fever.
They decided to abandon the scheme.
Sadly, news did not travel quickly in the 17th
century. Six more ships set sail from Leith in
November 1699 loaded with a further 1,300
excited pioneers, all blissfully ignorant about the
fate of the earlier settlers. Whoever said that bad
news travels fast was obviously not a Scot as a
third fleet of five ships left Leith shortly after.
Only one ship returned out of the total of
sixteen that had originally sailed. Only a handful
survived the return journey. Scotland had paid a
terrible price with more than two thousand lives
lost.
Together with the loss of the £500,000
investment the Scottish economy was almost
bankrupted.
It has been argued that the Darien Scheme
crippled the country's economy to such an extent
that it triggered the dissolution of the Scottish
Parliament and led to the 1707 Act of Union with
England.
Was this a mere coincidence, or had the
English withdrawal from the scheme been
deliberately engineered to ensure its failure?
Images from Glasgow University Library, Dept.
of Special Collections