President’s Corner

April 2008

By Rick McConnell

Well “Faith and Beggorah!” Oh Yeah! That was for St. Patrick’s Day. Speaking of St. Patrick’s Day, Caledonian Society of New Orleans members attended a couple of Scottish functions this past month. The first was the monthly meeting followed by a presentation on “Tartans” by Christyn Wise. Clad in an older “arisaig” styled tartan and with a table piled with plaids of almost every “colour” and combination, she adeptly covered the one thousand year history and trivia of Scotland’s National Cloth. ‘Nice talk Christyn!

On Sunday, March 16 the Crescent Caledonian Cinema Connoisseurs gathered at Louis Greer’s home for a viewing of “Hills of Home,“ a “Lassie” movie, starring Edmund Gwen. Our next showing will be “The Drum,” starring “Sabu,” Raymond Massey and Roger Livesey. A Highland regiment stationed in India combats a rebellious religious sect. 1938. We will meet at the McConnell’s, on Sunday, April 20^th, at 3 P.M, at 8217½ Plum St. on the Metairie side of Carrollton Av. adjacent to Oak St. (Has anyone noticed that it has been two years of such movies and we have not yet shown “Brigadoon” or “Braveheart”)?

NOTICE: I am also informing you that Laurie McConnell has assumed the position of Editor of “Thistle ‘n Dixie.” I would like to thank Kathleen Calder for her years of service as editor.

As March closes we prepare for our National Tartan Day celebration. As most of you remember, National Tartan Day was established by the U.S. Senate in 1996 as April 6^th, the anniversary of the “Declaration of Arbroath” in 1320, Scotland’s “Declaration of Independence.” SO WEAR YOUR TARTAN PROUDLY! ! We will set up our displays on Sunday, March 30 at 2 P.M. at the Jefferson East Bank Regional Library at 4747 W. Napoleon Av. between Clearview and Transcontinental. Our activities and will be in the afternoon from about noon to 4 P.M. on Sat. and Sun. April 5^th and 6^th. Pick-up of displays will be Sunday, April 13 at 2 P.M.

Dave Grissett announced that there will be another “Heritage Day” featured at St. Charles Presbyterian Church on Sunday April 13^th. The service will commence at 10:30A.M.with Bob Grubb’s bagpipes and Scottish traditions incorporated, this congregation being a member of the “Church of Scotland.” Scottish entertainment and delicacies will be present in the form of the N. O. Strathspey and Reel Society and baked Scottish fare as we share fellowship after the service. Wear your Tartans!

We enthusiastically welcome each of you to each of these events. Remember we do try to keep a current schedule of events on the Schedule page of our website: www.caledoniansocietyofneworleans.com.

Tom Mungall is the chairman of our Election Nomination Committee for the upcoming term. Please contact him soon if you have any suggestions.

As many of us are still in the throws of recovery from our devastation and losses of recent years, I pray that you can find the solace in something larger than yourselves as we observe this Easter season.

Yours aye,

Rick