Welcome to the Online Clann Tartan Newsletter for August 2007

November 3rd 2007 Staff Elections and Meeting!

Clann Tartan will hold its next membership meeting on Saturday, November 3. The agenda will include:

Staff Elections

The November meeting is the occasion for Staff Elections. Positions open are Captain, Head Camp Follower, and multiple other Staff (“Henches”). Mia McDavid’s term as Chief of Staff runs until November 2008.

Tactical Considerations

Every year Clann participates in a Tactical event at our Historic Site on Don Chesney's land near Duluth. This is an opportunity to actually act out military situations, complete with (blank) mortar and musket fire. It's a fun and challenging event for all involved, and is a chance for members of Gaffney's to actually acquire "combat experience".

However, the Board is concerned about the current cost structure of Tactical. Don charges a head fee for the use of his land and facilities (privies). In addition, Clann, as always, buys groceries for all of its members and reimburses members for haulage. Further, it is not uncommon for people to join Clann at the event for the express purpose of eating and having their head fees paid, with no intention at all of participating in any other Clann events.

Clann makes no money at all at this event. If somebody eats at budgeted rates and we cover a head fee of $10 per person, we are out $25.75 just in groceries and fees, without reference to haulage and wear and tear on the equipment.

Tactical is a valued event and we want to continue to participate, but we need to figure out a different way to do this; Clann can't afford the outlay. Please plan to attend the Members' meeting to discuss this issue.

White Oak Rendezvous at Deer River, MN is Aug 1 - 5.

Although we are contracted only for the three public days (Friday the 3rd - Sunday the 5th) the 1st and 2nd are well worth attending. In addition to the above, various workshops are provided by and for living historians with a nominal fee at most. Some that have been done in the past are birch bark canoe making, glass bead making, various weaving techniques, fur trapping workshops, and blacksmithing. Check White Oak's website (see below) to check what workshops are scheduled for this year - more will be added as the event draws nearer.

Drive on hours are Monday and Thursday 7 am - 10 pm, Tuesday & Wednesday 7am - 10 am and 7pm - 10 pm, and Friday and Saturday 7am - 9:30am.

The site opens to the public at 10am all three public days and closes Friday and Saturday at 7pm and Sunday at 4pm.

This event takes historical accuracy more seriously than most events we do, so please be extra careful in keeping modern items out of sight.

To keep abreast of additions to the workshop listings, or find out more details about the rendezvous, go to http://www.whiteoak.org/index.shtml

Please let Staff know that you are coming to this super event (mia_mcdavid@comcast.net), and we'll see you there!

Big Island and Mankato History Fair coming in October

Big Island Rendezvous is the crown of our show year, and it will be especially exciting this year as this is is the 20th anniversary encampment. It is a large rendezvous with historical re-enactors from our period through early America and all the way to the Civil War. There are always wonderful re-enactors and craftspersons, including blacksmiths, flint knappers, and beadmakers. The vendors are also a paradise; though many of the wares are targeted towards the 18th century, leather and fur are always in period, as are basics like firestarting kits and other everyday items. More information on the show is at http://www.bigislandfestival.org/

The 4th and 5th are school days, and the weekend is public. We need enough of us during the school days to run about six demos simultaneously. Organization and scheduling is tight, so even those who don't feel ready to give demonstrations are needed to act as traffic cops and prepare meals. We put on presentations of roughly 20 minutes on some aspect of 17th century Scottish life. On the weekend, we normally have some scheduled presentations like dance and drill, and we may be asked to participate in other event activities, such as the parade. Saturday night is usually a big party near the main stage.

We are allowed to set up the weekend before the event; please check Staff announcements for Corporate setup time. As we did the year before last, we have the prime real estate right inside the gate; we will be the first group that people see!

For a fee you will be able to park at the private residence on the road to the park entrance. Free participant parking is available at Snyder field (not the athletic field, but a lot on the North side of the high school.). Shuttles run from the parking area to the park on a regular schedule. Shuttles run to shower facilities at high school. Showers are free for show participants. Personal vehicles are prohibited from event grounds during show hours.

Location
Big Island Rendezvous is located in Albert Lea, MN - just off Interstate 35 about 98 miles south of the Twin Cities.

Drive Time
Allow about 2 hours from the Twin Cities.

Directions
# From Minneapolis or Saint Paul, take I35 South to I90 in Albert Lea.
# Take I90 West to the 90 west take exit 157 (one mile)
# Turn Left and head South on Bridge Avenue to Hammer Road (about 1 mile).
# Turn Right and head East on Hammer Road to the park entrance.
# You will be able to drive on-site before and after show hours. Our camp will be located inside the park area.

Mankato History Fair, October 11-13

This is a smaller, lower-key event, but always pleasant and charming. We will set up on the evening of Wednesday, October 10th. The 11th and 12th are school days. It’s unstructured, which means groups come when they come and may be together or breaking into smaller groups, with no set amount of time for presentations. Friday night is always a pot luck among all the groups participating.

Saturday is a public day. We are allowed to remain in camp Saturday night and leave Sunday. Clann equipment will be packed after closing Saturday. Mankato is within day-trip range, but vehicles have to removed before opening.

Directions
From the Twin Cities, follow 169 through Mankato.
Left at the Hillcrest Health Care Center ( if you go past the flashing lights at Co Road 68 you've gone too far);
Left onto Shamrock Lane, which is the second left after crossing the Blue Earth River;
follow this to its end (Jack McGowan's on the map)

GAFFNEY'S SUTLER SEEKS WARES

You can either bring your goods to Heidi at events, or entrust them to her beforehand. We ask that items be small and not terribly fragile if Heidi is to transport them.

Thank you for your support of Clann Tartan.

Staff Announcements

Board Minutes

Clann Tartan Board Meeting.  June 19, 2007

Board Members Present: Marty Byers, Mary McKinley, Glenn McDavid, 
Bruce Yoder, Diana Steben
Board Members Absent: Cate Hesser (excused), Sean McCanna

Staff Present: Julie Yoder, Mia McDavid

Minutes of the May meeting were accepted as corrected,

VP -- Possibilities for new members at Twig, but nobody actually signed
up.  Marty is working on more publicity.  We might get some former
members of the 42nd to join us.

TREASURER -- May financial statement were presented, which do not
reflect the check from Twig.  The annual insurance premium was paid, so
the overall numbers do not look good.

June will include the Twig Payment and $200 from the Sutlery.  Pigasus
is selling our cookbooks and even took on 5 sets of paper dolls.  The
Sutlery has directly sold some games (MacGregor's) and Marty's bonnets.

Still waiting for the payments from Ramble and the Scottish Fair.  [The
payment from the Scottish Fair has since come in.]

SECRETARY -- Glenn has not heard lately from John D about how the
website revision is coming, but someone else reported that he is having
considerable trouble with hard-coded absolute references to pages on the
current web site, as opposed to relative references.  Glenn was not
surprised by this news.

QUARTERMASTER -- No Report from the QM, but Marty reminded the Board
that after Muster the Trailer will be due for a 500 mile checkup.  He
will arrange unloading it.  So far the trailer on its new axle is
behaving well.

CAMP and COMPANY REPS -- Nothing to report (No news is good news)

MUSIC GUILD -- David is trying to schedule meetings.  They will be at
the Yoders'.

DANCE GUILD -- The Lake Hiawatha reconstruction is not complete, so
Wednesday dance is still at the Yoders'.  Cat allergies are a concern
for some members there.

FIBER GUILD -- Mia is keeping busy.  She will be mustering members in
spinning at Mankato.

HISTORIC SITE -- No report.

SWORD -- Marty will announce meetings when the schedule is settled.

UPCOMING EVENTS
===============
White Oak:  Marty is planning to attend, and can bring the trailer.

Perham is on.  We have a contract.

Winona:  Nobody has heard anything from Luke Accord.  Looks like he will
be running it.

Des Moines:  Mia is very concerned about hauling cargo there.  One
option is that Betsy B may be able to borrow a conversion van.

OTHER BUSINESS
==============
Mary is on the Board of the new local Scottish American Center.  She
proposed that Clann donate $25 to it.  After some discussion the Board
decided to refer it to the membership.

Membership Renewals:  Most of the usual suspects have renewed, though
Bruce noted a couple exceptions.  He also suggested that a couple
members who have not renewed and not showed at any recent event be
dropped from the roster.  No argument about this.

Next Meeting:  Tuesday, July 17, at the Yoders'.

Board & Staff

If you need to contact someone associated with Clann Tartan, here is where you find out how. If you are unsure who to contact, you can always email us at: info@clanntartan.org

Guilds

Contact:
Marty L. Byers
orthodoxdruid@gmail.com
651-483-1173

MUSIC!!!!!!!!!!

We will sing and play music of many styles and places from our period. Bring your voice and/or your instrument(s). Neither need be period correct.

The Yoders have graciously offered to host music once a month. We will meet at their house at 4736 12th Ave S, Minneapolis, date and time TBA.

To contact the Yoders, call 612-825-4519 or email to Julieyoder@juno.com.

To contact your Music Chair, call David at 612-378-1973 or email to baethan1630@yahoo.com

Thanks, and I look forward to making some noise with y'all!

David

Dance

Questions? call Mary at 651-699-6853 or Julie at 612-825-4519

2nd & 4th Tuesdays
Saint Christopher's Episcopal Church, 2300 N Hamline Ave. in St. Paul.

It is at the northeast corner of Highway 36 and Hamline Avenue (Hamline is between Snelling and Lexington). The church is actually encircled by the highway entrance ramp.
The Dance Guild gathers weekly from 7PM-9PM to learn and practice historic Scottish country dances.
For more information call:

Mary at 651-699-6853 or Julie at 612-825-4519

It's a great place to meet people!

Other Guilds

Calendar of Events

Event Schedule for the 2007 Season:

The following is a list of the dates of the events that are currently on the schedule for this year. The staff has met and decided to keep this running list of events in the newsletter to give you a chance to get an idea of what is going on this season as well as keep you updated to changes in the schedule.

The column titled status will include the following information.

Tentative- this means that an event organizer or Clann has expressed a strong enough interest in doing this event that it warrants reserving space on the calendar for the event.

Pending- this is the next stage of an event. This means that Maeve has entered serious discussion about Clann doing an event but we are still not committed to the event. You should however if possible think about wether or not you may be able to attend this event.

Scheduled- this level means that the board and staff have approve the event and we are committed to providing manpower to making the event happen. When an event is assigned this level please let Julie know as soon as possible if you can or can not attend this event.

Canceled- This means that for various reasons an scheduled event has been removed from the current season. We will try and give as much notice as we can prior to canceling an event.

If you have any questions about this, please feel free to contact me regarding this matter

Thanks,
Maeve Kane.

Maps

Map to Board Meetings &1st and 3rd Wednesday Dance Bruce and Julie Yoder's Home 4736 12th Av S, Minneapolis, 55407	Map to St. Paul location St. Christopher's- Dance
Map to /Quarterly/Annual Meetings Corcoran Neighborhood Center, 3334 20th Av South, Minneapolis, MN	Map to Marty & Judy Byers home 2821 Churchill, Roseville MN

Deer River Rendezvous Deer River, MN Aug 1st-August 5th 2007

Although we are contracted only for the three public days (Friday the 3rd - Sunday the 5th) the 1st and 2nd are well worth attending. In addition to the above, various workshops are provided by and for living historians with a nominal fee at most. Some that have been done in the past are birch bark canoe making, glass bead making, various weaving techniques, fur trapping workshops, and blacksmithing. Check White Oak's website (see below) to check what workshops are scheduled for this year - more will be added as the event draws nearer.

Drive on hours are Monday and Thursday 7 am - 10 pm, Tuesday & Wednesday 7am - 10 am and 7pm - 10 pm, and Friday and Saturday 7am - 9:30am.

The site opens to the public at 10am all three public days and closes Friday and Saturday at 7pm and Sunday at 4pm.

This event takes historical accuracy more seriously than most events we do, so please be extra careful in keeping modern items out of sight.

To keep abreast of additions to the workshop listings, or find out more details about the rendezvous, go to http://www.whiteoak.org/index.shtml

Directions:

Take I-35 north to exit 237--MN 33 N toward Cloquet/Iron Range, and follow that for 11 miles. Take the US 2 ramp towards Grand Rapids/Duluth and make a left onto US 2 West. Follow US 2 for 60 miles approx. and turn left onto US 169/NE 4th St/US 2, and follow US 2 for another 15 miles. Turn right onto MN 6/Division St and follow MN 6 for a mile and a half to 33155 Hwy 6.

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Perham Pioneer Festival Perham, MN- August 18 and 19 2007

Col. Gaffneyis Regiment will be at the Perham Pioneer Festival August 18 and 19 this year. The Pioneer Festival is located in Perham, MN, about a three and a half hour drive from the Twin Cities. We will be setting up on Friday, August 17. I have not yet received information from them about public hours or drive on times, but I will make that information available as soon as I have it. Please contact staff if you have any questions closer to the date.

Our purpose at this American history/Minnesota heritage festival is to provide a background for why people left Europe for the Americas, and the culture they both left and took with them. In your interpretations, you don't need to worry about addressing American history directly, but think about how and why what we as Col. Gaffneyis Regiment do is relevant or important to German, Scottish, and other immigrants to Minnesota. The festival can be found online at www.perhampioneerfestival.com

Directions from the Twin Cities:

Take I-94 West to Exit 167B, MN15 N, toward Saint Cloud.

After about 10 miles, merge onto MN10 West. Follow for about 30 miles, and stay with MN 10 W toward Motley for about another 80 miles.

Turn right on CR 80 and follow for 2 miles.

Turn right on N 1st Ave/CR 8.

End at 230 1st Avenue North.