4th Annual Scottish Caucus Meeting Agenda 1

!

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)

• 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.

BREAK

4th Annual Scottish Caucus Meeting Agenda 2

!

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:

• 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 3

!

Discussion Moderators:

• Susan L. McIntosh, President, Council of Scottish Clans & Associations • Robert McIntosh, Chairman, Historic Rural Hill, Inc.

Discussion Panel:

• 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)

BREAK

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.

4th Annual Scottish Caucus Meeting Agenda 4

!

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.

4th Annual Scottish Caucus Meeting Agenda 5

!

The British: English and non Gael Scots (1:50pm – 3:10pm)

• 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 6

!

• 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 top ics a t 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.

BREAK

4th Annual Scottish Caucus Meeting Agenda 7

!

Scots In The American West: A Special Presentation of COSCA’s Wandering Scots Book Club (3:15pm – 4:15pm)

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)