Welcome to the Online Clann Tartan Newsletter for July 2008

Dun Gowan Tactical:

The Dun Gowan Tactical is one of a very few events in which members of Col. Gaffneyis Regiment can fully immerse themselves in the time we are trying to recreate. With a period fort, complete with palisades and earth fortifications and several acres of woods which include a small creek, bridge, and swamp, the site is secluded and perfect for practicing the military techniques we tell the public about. Telling patrons about what battle in the Thirty Years' War is like is much easier after trying to reload while being shot at yourself.

A tactical is basically a live chess game. One member of Col. Gaffneyis will be chosen to lead each side, and will funciton as a captain of their own company against the other. Because there are no scripts, or a battle to recreate, everyone involved, from commanders to soldiers to civilians, can make the decisions and take the actions they think best benefit them and their side.

Members who do not have an interest in portraying military characters are encouraged to attend. We always need impartial messangers, hostages, and civilians to protect and capture, and the long weekend is good for practicing new recipies, visiting, and trying out new demo items to see how they work in camp without the public there to see if it doesn't.

Set up begins Wednesday the 11th and goes through Thursday the 12th, all day both days. Friday is a training day, to be sure that everyone is comfortable using and firing all weapons we will be using. The entire event is closed the to the public, but a period camp is expected as soon as you set up.

Directions:

From Duluth, Minnesota- Take US Highway 53 northwest out of town - take a right turn on the Ugstad Rd./Lavaque Rd. Bypass, and travel north about ten miles. Take a left turn on the Fish Lake Road, and travel west about 3/4 miles. At this point I am the only house on the right hand (north)side of the road.

From Mineapolis/St.Paul, MN- Travel north on Interstate 35 out of the Cities for about two hours or so. After you pass the Esko/ Thompson exit, but before you get to Duluth, take the Midway Road exit. Turn left on the Midway road, which will head you north. Continue north on the Midway Road for about 12 miles or so; crossing three stoplight intersections, and then you will come to a stop sign. Turn right there onto County Road 9, the Martin Road. Travel east on the Martin road for three miles and take a left turn onto the Lavaque Road. Travel north on the Lavaque Road, for about 7 1/2 miles until you come to the Fish Lake Road. Make a left turn there, and travel west about 3/4 miles. At this point I am the only house on the right hand (north) side of the road.

5261 Fish Lake Road. Large grey garage, small grey house.

Public days are Friday through Sunday, August 1-3. The site has a beautiful fur trading post, a formal fund-raiser dinner on Thursday night (We will want to set up Thursday night), a tavern that serves beer and peanuts to participants only after hours, and the best Saturday night dance ever!

The site *really* emphasizes authenticity; you will not find renfaire juggler ripoffs here. Les Fils du Voyageurs, an a capella singing group, always offers wonderful music, as does Northwinds Crossing (see Saturday night dance) and other groups. There are a number of worthwhile traders. There is a main stage and we will have stage time.

In the earlier part of the week, there are classes available given by re-enactors for re-enactors, if you have the extra time these can be well worth attending.

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 As usual, please let the Head Camp Follower (anstice_demalkuth@yahoo.com) know if you are coming to this excellent event.

Yours in Service

Mia McDavid

Perham:

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.

FOR SALE

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.

Board Minutes

Clann Tartan Board Meeting, May 20, 2008

Board Members Present: Julie Yoder, Bruce Yoder, Marty Byers, Glenn McDavid, Cate Hesser

Staff Present: Mia McDavid

Minutes from the April meeting were accepted as presented.

REPORTS:

Vice President:

Marty has prepared a recruiting flyer. It leaves a blank space to add for sponsorship messages.

The Swensons prepared a really nice flyer for Baldwin. Something like that would be good at other events. There would be practical difficulties in arranging for the local sponsors at each event. Somebody who knows the local scene would have to take care of that.

Treasurer:

Not much happened in April. Our insurance bill went down somewhat. We have not yet been paid for Woodville or Farmington

Secretary:

The June newsletter needs a write-up for Pioneer Village

Quartermaster (absent, but submitted report)

The new pike heads have arrived but they appear to be too small.

The broken musket is still at O'Duggans.

Company Rep

No news (=good news).

Camp Rep

No report.

Music Guild

Going well. Good attendance.

Dance Guild

Going well. Good attendance.

Fiber Guild

The weaving project for the fall waulking at Big Island is under way. We will have Kathryn Grant as chantix there--she was great at Farmington.

We will need a project for next spring's waulking at Farmington.

Historic Site

The May 10 work weekend went well.

Sword Guild

Looking to meet on the last Thursday of the month in Roseville. Lots of interest at Farmington.

Garden Guild

Not meeting.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Twig (June 14-15):

The picture ID requirement is being worked on. Marty will not be going, but Laura can haul the trailer.

Pioneer Village (June 21-22)

Need to clarify what the show hours are. Marty noted that small towns like this really like our shows.

Tactical (July)

We will pay Don Chesney a flat rate. Staff will need to arrange logistics.

Deer River (August 1-3)

On track. No Board issues.

Perham (August 16-17)

On track. No Board issues.

Members Meeting (August 23)

Proposed to hold this 10 AM-noon at Yoders'. The May meeting was cancelled because it conflicted with Baldwin, and the normal August date conflicts with Deer River. We certainly don't want to miss a paying event, but we do need to have a meeting.

Big Island (October)

On track. No Board issues.

Mankato (October)

On track. No Board issues.

Big Muddy (October)

Cancelled: We cannot do that amount of work for the price offered.

OLD BUSINESS

None

NEW BUSINESS

Bruce proposed that because of the increase the price of gasoline that the reimbursement rates for hauling Clann equipment be increased, retroactive to this year's Charles City show:

Note: "Clann equipment in a personal vehicle" means a non-trivial fraction of an event's total, i.e. more than one or two pots.

As before, members who drive their personal vehicles to an event are eligible to request a reimbursement for gasoline expenses.

This was moved, seconded, and passed.

Meeting adjourned at 7:53 PM.

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, from 7 - 9pm the 4th Monday of each month.

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

We have a yahoo groups email list for the guild that we use for reminders about the meetings and topical discussions. If you want to be on the email list, request an invitation to join from Bruce at bruceyoder@juno.com.

Dance

It is at the corner of 27th Av S and E 44th Street. Both streets are one way. That block of 44th between 28th and 27th Avenues is one way westbound and that block of 27th Av between 44th and 43rd Streets is one way northbound. You must enter turning west onto 44th St from 28th Av and exit from 27th Av onto 43rd St.

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!

We have a yahoo groups email list for the guild that we use for reminders about the meetings and topical discussions. If you want to be on the email list, request an invitation to join from Bruce at bruceyoder@juno.com.

Other Guilds

Fiber Guild Meetings

Clann Tartan has our own historic site near Duluth MN. Dun Gowan is an ongoing project, which is the site of Gaffneyis Annual Tactical in July. We are finishing the fort and beginning the construction of a village this year. Contact David Vavreck at 612-378-1973 or baethan1630@yahoo.com for further information, or to volunteer to help.

Drill

Articles

Pioneer Village is a large museum site in the tiny town of Cameron, WI, on Highway 8. It has wonderful old buildings and also new buildings full of exhibits. I had never seen a flapper wedding dress before . . .

It's a great site and it was a great weekend. Flat ground; soft grass; first-class, split, dry poplar for the fire pit (one match both days); plumbing and showers. We set up camp right in the center of things and were full of interested, enthusiastic patrons all weekend. We were trying to figure out why it was such a relaxing show and decided it was because, as were were the entire show, we didn't have to try to adjust to anybody else's schedule or expectations. If military drill was running late because a bunch of young men wanted to try the pikes, no problem. We would just start dance when that was finished. Nobody ran parades at noon for us to schedule lunch around. So long as we were talking to patrons and teaching people we were doing our job. I got called over to a large group to give an impromptu lecture on highland dress and the history of the tartan; that one wasn't on the schedule at all but I had leisure to do it and it was very well received.

The management couldn't have liked us more. They said that the gate for the weekend alone paid our fee; the revenue from the gift shop, the kitchen, and the snack shop was pure gravy for them (we contributed to all those things too; the gift shop was really very nice. We are already invited back for next year.

We closed at 5:00 and tore down; between the timely close, a lot of cooperation packing the trailer, and the fact that it was midsommar weekend, it was still full light when we got home; tired, sore, and happy, but very pleased.

Come and try this one next year; it was a blast!!!

Yours in Service
Mia McDavid

Calendar of Events

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 the Contracts Administrator 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 whether 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,
Lisa Gillstrom McCanna

Maps

Map to 1st and 3rd Wednesday Dance Lake Hiawatha Neighborhood Center 2701 E 44th St., Minneapolis	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
Map to Bruce and Julie Yoder's Home Music and Board & Staff Meetings 4736 12th Ave S, Minneapolis	Map to Glenn & Mia's home Hosts for staff meetings and Fiber Guild 340 Brooks Ave Roseville, MN

Dun Gowan Tactical July 18-20 2008--Fredenburg MN

From Duluth, Minnesota- Take US Highway 53 northwest out of town - take a right turn on the Ugstad Rd./Lavaque Rd. Bypass, and travel north about ten miles. Take a left turn on the Fish Lake Road, and travel west about 3/4 miles. At this point I am the only house on the right hand (north)side of the road.

From Mineapolis/St.Paul, MN- Travel north on Interstate 35 out of the Cities for about two hours or so. After you pass the Esko/ Thompson exit, but before you get to Duluth, take the Midway Road exit. Turn left on the Midway road, which will head you north. Continue north on the Midway Road for about 12 miles or so; crossing three stoplight intersections, and then you will come to a stop sign. Turn right there onto County Road 9, the Martin Road. Travel east on the Martin road for three miles and take a left turn onto the Lavaque Road. Travel north on the Lavaque Road, for about 7 1/2 miles until you come to the Fish Lake Road. Make a left turn there, and travel west about 3/4 miles. At this point I am the only house on the right hand (north) side of the road.
5261 Fish Lake Road. Large grey garage, small grey house.

Deer River Rendezvous Deer River, MN Aug 1st-August 3rd 2008

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.

Perham Pioneer Festival Perham, MN- August 16 and 17 2008

Col. Gaffneyis Regiment has been invited back to the Perham Pioneer Festival, this year on August 16 and 17. 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 15. Last year we had a lot of fun setting up camp in a spacious site (right next to Ole!!!) and performing in our turns on the main stage. The site has convenient participant parking just on the other side of the museum buildings and, during the day, access to the canteen/cafe/flush toilets!

They also have a terrific indoor dance in said cafe on Saturday night. Those of us who went last year had a blast; we hope to see you there!

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.