June 2014 - Scottish American Society of the Southern Tier

The Caledonian
VOL. XXXII, NO. 3
JUNE 2014
THE SCOTTISH AMERICAN SOCIETY OF THE SOUTHERN TIER, INC.
MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF
2014 Officers & Board of Trustees
Chief: Blake Mayo
1433 State Route 244
Alfred Station NY 14803
[email protected]
First VP: Bill Mackinnon Sitzman
110 Podunk Road
Trumansburg NY 14886
[email protected]
Secretary: Jan Kostolansky
7 Highland Drive
Corning NY 14830
[email protected]
Treasurer: Alastair Cormack
76 University Street
Alfred NY 14803
[email protected]
Editors: Linda Ferris, [email protected]
Nedra McElroy, [email protected]
Editor Emeritus: Herb MacDonell
[email protected]
Pipe Major: Lee Adelsberg,
We had a wonderful response to our concert in April, resulting in a flurry of new
memberships. Fáilte roimh: welcome, new
members! We hope to see you at the picnic!
Ray & Barbara Gibson, Bath
Patricia & John Mahon, Elmira
Kathi McCauley, Odessa
Jason & Krista Mendoza, Elmira
Stan Panosian, Elmira
Nancy Peters, Beaver Dams
George Rose, Horseheads
Randy Ziegenhagen
& Allison LeVine, Elmira
Summer brings the chance to take in Festivals here and there… the Belmont Celtic
Festival is past, but we are anticipating the
Ithaca Celtic Festival on June 28 and 29,
always a treat to attend. Help in our booth
is welcome and encouraged. It’s a good
opportunity for shopping, people watching,
pipe band listening, and the heavies always
put on quite a show with the sheep tossing,
etc. Try it, you’ll like it, and even if you
can’t offer any time to our booth, do stop
and say hello!
Slainte, Your Chief,
[email protected]
Drum Major: Stuart Brown
TRUSTEES
Gilbert Ferris, [email protected]
Susan McLaren
Alan Hutchinson, [email protected]
Brenda Knapp-Mason, [email protected]
Rick Mason, [email protected]
Visit our website at www.SASST.org
Webmaster: Sean McElroy, [email protected]
THE 2014 ANNUAL PICNIC AND
AWARDING OF SCHOLARSHIPS
This year’s Annual Picnic will be held on Sat.
July 19 from 12 Noon-3 pm at Mossy Bank
Park in Bath. http://mossybankpark.com/
index.php
Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided,
along with coffee and lemonade. Bring a
dish to pass and table service, please. RSVP
to Linda Ferris (607-776-7101) by July 16 so
we can have a count for the food preparation!
It will be a joy to meet these young people
and their families. They, in turn, are looking
forward to hearing pipe music and eating
haggis.
DIRECTIONS TO MOSSY BANK PARK
An Englishman, an Irishman and a Scot are all
sharing a friendly pint together in the local pub.
Coincidentally three flies which had been buzzing round their table dropped one into each
glass, plip, plop, plunk. Like that.
A (VERY) WEE BIT OF HUMOR
"Blimey", cries the Englishman and waves for
the barman's attention. "Excuse me good man,
but there appears to be a fly in my ale. Could I
get another"?
The Scholarship competition this year was
fierce. There were 12 applicants, 6 of whom
expressed an amazing connection to their
Scottish heritage. The committee was
delighted with their essays and had difficulty choosing only 2 (which turned into 3.)
The Robert Burns' Scholarship will go to
Juliet Downie of Painted Post. In her application, she included a picture of herself,
tartan clad, giving a report on Scotland. Her
essay was delightful and we will be sharing
it in a future issue.
The Bruce Stewart Memorial Scholarship
will be given to Tristan Ponader of Beaver
Dams. He is from Clan Stewart so this is
most appropriate. The committee loved
that he ended his essay with "Lang may yer
lum reek!"
There was a third applicant whose essay
was so outstanding that the Scholarship
committee was moved to mostly fund and
create the George Cunningham Scottish
Essay award of $500. It will be presented to
Toni Olkey of Painted Post.
All three winners are Seniors at Corning
West High School. Their scholarships were
recognized at the school's awards night and
they will be presented with their checks at
our SAS picnic.
"Faith and begora", is heard from the Irishman
as he gingerly scoops the insect from his glass
with a spoon and continues drinking.
Both then look to the Scot who can be seen
holding the offender over his own glass and
screaming, "Spet et oot ye wee critter. SPET ET
OOOOT"!
Chief Mayo and several Trustees attended a
recent meeting of the Corning Rotary Club
where Our Chief gave an informative and wellreceived presentation about Tartan Day and our
Scottish Heritage.
Please be advised that if you are
not current with your dues (Single
$10, Family $15, Patron $25, Benefactor $50 or more, Life $250) you
should please remit them to
Alistair Cormack straight away!
Bill and Ian getting caught up
*Faireagan , Lassie & Lad! Well played...
*Bravo
The Welsh Cookie Guy with Blake
Herb, Carl and the TV guy--who came
complete with his own kilt!
George and Stuart share a smile
Past Chiefs of the Scottish American Society of the Southern Tier
George Cunningham
December 1973 to December 1985
Don Campbell
December 1985 to December 1991
Doug Coburn
December 1991 to December 2000
Donald Flatt
December 2000 to December 2003
Tom McIntyre
December 2003 to December 2009
Blake Mayo
December 2009
Nedra McElroy
4 Lackawanna Avenue
Bath NY 14810-1650
Address Service Requested
DATES TO REMEMBER
June 7: Allegany County Celtic Festival, Belmont https://www.facebook.com/
AlleganyCountyCeltic
June 28, 29: Ithaca Celtic Festival https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ithaca-CelticFestival/225138227531203
July 19: Annual Picnic and Scholarship Awards, Mossy Bank Park, Bath, 12 PM
August 23-24: Cortland Celtic Festival www.cortlandcelticfestival.org
Sept. 6: Dundee Scottish Festival of the Finger Lakes http://
dundeescottishfestival.com/
Nov. 15: St. Andrews Dinner, Location TBA
January 24, 2015: BURNS DINNER, Radisson Hotel, Corning