4th Annual Scottish Caucus.Agenda.docx 2

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4th Annual Scottish Caucus Meeting
Friday, April 17, 2015
8:00am – 4:30pm
“Launching The Future Of Scottish Heritage
Without Losing Sight Of Our Past”
Welcome To COSCA’s 4th Annual Scottish Caucus (8:00am – 8:15am): S. McIntosh,
President of COSCA and Robert McIntosh, Chairman of Historic Rural Hill, Inc.
Global Greetings and Updates (8:15am – 8:45am)
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Malcolm Buchanan, President, Scottish Australian Heritage Council
Alene McNeil, President, Clans And Scottish Societies Of Canada
Sir Malcolm MacGregor of MacGregor, Convenor, Standing Council of Scottish
Chiefs
Opening Address (8:45am – 9:15am):
Dr. Joseph Morrow, Lord Lyon King of Arms
The Reverend Canon Dr Joseph John Morrow CStJ is
Scotland’s current Lord Lyon King of Arms. Dr. Morrow is
additionally an advocate and president of the Mental Health
Tribunal for Scotland and in 2009 he was appointed as Vice
Lord Lieutenant of the City of Dundee, having previously
served as a Labour councillor for the Maryfield ward. Dr.
Morrow served as the 108th Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland (2004 2005). Dr. Morrow will be introduced by Dr. Bruce Durie.
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4th Annual Scottish Caucus Meeting Agenda 1
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I. Morning Business Session (9:20am – 11:15am)
“Launching The Future Of Scottish Heritage (without losing sight of our past)”
In America, we Scots form the 8th largest ethnic community in the nation, yet we
currently have no place to call home. No place where the study and preservation of
Scottish and Scottish diaspora heritage is the single driving mission and where Scots
and Scottish descendants can bring their families and re-ignite their own cultural pride
and understanding no matter what their particular flavor of Scottish heritage might be.
Historic Rural Hill, Inc. and The Council of Scottish Clans & Associations will discuss a
project to create a world class home for the global Scottish Diaspora at Historic Rural
Hill. It is a great vision and we are excited to tell you more about what we have been
up to. That is the ‘launching the future’ part.
For the part about ‘not losing sight of our past’, our panel will take a look at several
enduring questions and challenges facing the Scottish ancestral diaspora as we
progress forward into a new century. The discussion will be interactive with the
audience. Expect the panel to touch on such topics as:
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Historical and Traditional Accuracy and Authenticity
Diaspora Engagement with Scotland
Clans without Chiefs and Chiefs without Clans
Scottish and Scottish American heritage and history in U.S. education
Integrating Clans & non Clan Scottish Societies together into a greater Scottish
ancestral community
4th Annual Scottish Caucus Meeting Agenda 2
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Discussion Moderators:
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Susan L. McIntosh, President, Council of Scottish Clans & Associations
Robert McIntosh, Chairman, Historic Rural Hill, Inc.
Discussion Panel:
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John McInnis, President, International Association of Clan MacInnes
Michael T. McAlpin, President, Clan MacAlpine Society
Lt. Governor John Cherry, St Andrews Society of Detroit
The Lord Montgomerie, Heir to the Name and Arms of Clan Montgomerie
(invited)
The Rt. Hon. Viscount Dunrossil, Chairman, Society of Scottish Armigers
Sir Malcolm MacGregor of MacGregor, Chief of the Name and Arms of Clan
Gregor and Convenor, Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs
Malcolm Buchanan, President, Scottish Australian Heritage Council
Alene McNeil, President, Clans And Scottish Societies Of Canada
E. Brian Wilton, Scottish Tartans Authority
Dr. Joseph Morrow, Lord Lyon King of Arms (Scotland)
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II. Mid Day Fun (11:30am – 12:25pm)
COSCA’s 2nd Annual Scottish Academic Food Fight
A lively debate featuring Dr. Bruce Durie and Dr. Michael Newton on a topic known only
to the two of them but certain to entertain as well as stimulate thought. Lunch will be
comfortably and deliciously served by The Scottish Cottage in the conference hall while
the Doctors go at it.
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III. Afternoon Education Session (12:30pm – 4:30pm)
“When Gaels Meet The World: Tracing the cultural impact of Gaeldom’s encounters
with Vikings, British and Americans.”
Vikings: Raiders and Traders (12:30pm – 1:45pm)
• Professor Donna Heddle, MA (Hons), PhD, FHEA; Director of the Centre for
Nordic Studies, Orkney and Shetland College, University of the Highlands &
Islands
Prof Donna Heddle is Director of the interdisciplinary Centre for
Nordic Studies at University of the Highlands & Islands based in
Kirkwall, Orkney and Scalloway, Shetland. In terms of academic
achievement, her undergraduate program in Scottish Cultural
Studies won a Times Higher Education Supplement award in
2005. She has also developed postgraduate programs in
Highlands and Islands Literature and Culture, Orkney and
Shetland Studies, and Viking Studies.
• Thor Ewing: Medieval, Celtic & Viking Scholar, Storyteller,
Musician and Author
History isn’t just a series of dates and events for Thor
Ewing, but the story of real people whose lives and
thoughts helped shape our world. A fascination with past
cultures and how they connect with us today underlies much of his work. Thor’s
books and story telling help us rediscover that connection with our past, whether
through the myths and religion of the Vikings, or the forgotten wisdom of the
medieval Celts.
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The British: English and non Gael Scots (1:50pm – 3:10pm)
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Fiona Armstrong: Broadcaster, writer, historian and First Lady of Clan Gregor
Fiona Armstrong (Lady MacGregor) has worked in the media for
more than 30 years and is currently presenting ‘Border Life’ a
current affairs programme which sees her making films on subjects
ranging from prison life to kilt making, forest management to a
Robbie Burns festival. Fiona worked as a national anchor in London
for many years with BBC News among others. News reporting and
production work took her to Uganda to report on the plight of Aids
orphans, to Cambodia to cover land mine removal, and to West Africa to cover the
medical work of the Mercy Ships. One of Fiona’s loves is angling and she presented the
series, ‘Fiona on Fishing’ and Sky TV’s ‘Tight Lines’ in addition to authoring two books
on the subject.
The depth and intimacy of Fiona’s understanding of Scottish clans and families is tough
to beat She has made more than twenty films on borderland clans and families. She has
links with the US Diaspora, not least with an aunt in Texas. She has also visited several
American Gatherings, made a film on Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, and
writes regular columns for the ‘Scotbanner’, Scottish Field magazine and Scottish
Courier newspaper.
As far as her own family, Fiona is the chairman of the Clan Armstrong Trust and helped
establish a clan museum in Langholm. She set up the Border Reiver Trail in southern
Scotland. Fiona lives in Scotland and is married to the chief of Clan Gregor, Sir Malcolm
MacGregor of MacGregor, Convenor of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs. Fiona is
finishing a PHD in HIghlandism and working on a biography of a MacGregor who was
Scottish literary confidante to Queen Victoria.
4th Annual Scottish Caucus Meeting Agenda 5
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Dr. Michael Newton: Celtic and Gaelic scholar, author and performer
Michael Newton was awarded a Ph.D.
in Celtic Studies from the University of
Edinburgh in 1998 for his dissertation
The Tree in Scottish Gaelic Literature
and Tradition. He has given lectures
and taught workshops on Scottish
topics at venues such as the
Smithsonian, the U.S. Library of
Congress, Slighe nan Gaidheal in Seattle, and the Toronto Scottish Gaelic Learners'
Association. Michael spent 5 years in Nova Scotia teaching Celtic Studies at St Francis
Xavier University (2008-13).
Michael has written several books and numerous articles on many aspects of Gaelic
tradition and history, including Bho Chluaidh gu Calasraid (1999), We're Indians Sure
Enough: The Legacy of the Scottish Highlanders in the United States (2001), and
Warriors of the Word: The World of the Scottish Highlanders (2009).
His research interests and areas of expertise include Scottish Highland immigrant
literature and history; ethnicity and identity politics; human ecology; dance traditions.
Michael is a very prolific writer on a broad range of Gaelic related topics and in addition
to the books cited above, Dr. Newton writes a blog called The Virtual Gael.
Last April, The University of St. Andrews Scottish Heritage Center in Laurinberg, NC
awarded Dr. Newton the inaugural “Saltire Award” for his many significant and
innovative contributions to the study of Scottish history and culture. We are delighted
that Michael is joining us at the Caucus for the second year in a row.
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4th Annual Scottish Caucus Meeting Agenda 6
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Scots In The American West:
Book Club (3:15pm – 4:15pm)
A Special Presentation of COSCA’s Wandering Scots
Sit back and enjoy an expert Scottish literary and
historical panel exchange views about the life and
writings of John Muir and Lady
Isabella Bird two late 19th century
visitors to the as yet untamed
western American landscape.
This
discussion will open the Wandering Scots Book Club upcoming
topic exploring a range of Scots in the American West and tracing
their traditions right back to Scotland.
IV. Wrap up, Next year & Thank YOU! (4:15pm – 4:30pm)
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