Announcement from the Council of Scottish Clans and Associations:
The pieces of the 2014 Clan Gathering are finally being shaken into
place - and the resulting picture is actually pretty exciting. While it
has taken some time for the concept of the 2014 Clan Gathering events to
materialize, the developing vision and approach are fresh and
energetic.
The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs (SCSC) has
released a press release that speaks to the current plan in broad terms.
CLICK HERE to read the SCSC press release.
Here are the highlights:
1. Previous plans for a Gathering at Stirling on July 11 -13, 2014 have
been scrapped. The highland games scheduled for that weekend will, we
understand, continue, but there is no longer any "Gathering" event being
planned at Stirling.
2. The revised plan is to center a
general clan gathering directly around the Bannockburn 700th Anniversary
activities (June 28 - 30, 2014). An extra day of reenactment has been
added to accommodate the clans. Additionally, a Clan Village is now in
the works. Bannockburn events are being very capably organised and
designed by The National Trust for Scotland and promise to be
spectacular (See for yourself at the NTS Battle of Bannockburn website
HERE). Bannockburn is a natural pairing for the second Gathering as is
explained in the SCSC press release.
3. The Bannockburn
gathering activities will be complemented with several regional Clan
based events that gather clans and celebrate history and heritage all
across Scotland. There are already some very exciting ideas well into
development.
4. Finally, the clans will convene a 2nd
International Clan Convention to coincide closely with the Bannockburn
gathering activities and to conduct the continuing business of the
international Scottish clan community.
This is a developing
story and we will continue to bring you updates as we can, but here are
just a few thoughts and a bit of background and perspective for now:
Background
In putting together the upcoming Stone Mountain Chiefs and Clans
conference set for Oct. 19th at the Stone Mountain Highland Games, it
occurred to us (COSCA and SCSC) that there was still precious little
further to report about plans for the 2014 Gathering. It actually was
occurring to many people. Oh Oh.
So, several months ago, we
began to make our voice of concern heard as well as our offer to help.
The upshot is this: SCSC, through the keen leadership of Sir Malcolm
MacGregor of MacGregor, is now deeply and rightly integrated in the
correct channels and places in Scotland to begin to kick start and
directly influence planning efforts.
What's Different Now
"More details will be coming". Of course we have all heard that before. But here is what is different and very encouraging now:
1. We have Dates and a Place to Gather. We have pretty solid dates and a
place/event around which to now organise, and as you point out, it's a
good one (Bannockburn). The event is well funded, well directed by
National Trust for Scotland, and will be by all appearances, spectacular
and energizing. It is solid. Truly something to remember and pretty
much something to travel to Scotland in 2014 for, all by itself (CLICK
HERE). COSCA will continue working to encourage integration of the clans
into Bannockburn events in creative and exciting and meaningful ways.
2. We Have Leadership. We now have a very effective and very reliable
pipeline for information and ideas and input straight to the very
center of planning for 2014: Sir Malcolm MacGregor currently sits on the
right committees and in the right meetings to really communicate and
advocate for the clans and greater Diaspora interest. The SCSC is an
outstanding partner.
3. We Have Partners. The Scottish
Government has been extremely responsive to our concerns and we are
confident that we have found an able and effective partner with which to
work on 2014 heritage events. We will continue to work with the
Scottish government through Robin Naysmith here in North America and the
Homecoming 2014 team in Scotland in fine fashion.
4. We Have
Ideas. The idea of regional events swirling around the Bannockburn dates
and a 2nd International Clan Convention is, to me at least, a truly
exciting one. While Bannockburn will give us the opportunity to gather
together, the idea of a feast of regional gatherings in various clan
homelands around Scotia is tremendously appealing. I believe the
possibilities are truly limited only by our own creativity and the idea
has real legs within the planning team.
5. We Have Goals. This
experience has re-emphasised something that our great friend Robert
McWilliam openly suggested to the first Clan Convention in 2009 and that
many of us have often contemplated: The Clans need a hame in Scotland -
a place that will provide a home and reliable opportunity to gather and
conduct our business that lies under our own control.
6. We
Are Working. This experience has also drawn together a growing alliance
of Scottish Diaspora leaders and organisations that will prove critical
in future months and years as we tackle all of the opportunities and
challenges of which we so often speak.
I hope the take away
from all of is indeed an exciting and optimistic one. I clearly
understand that the early announcement of dates from Scotland has
created difficulties for some folks who have made plans. Here is the
lesson: the clans need much closer - indeed direct - involvement in the
2014 planning process itself. I am quite confident that we now have that
and we will continue work to enhance it.
Yours aye,
Susan L. McIntosh, President
Council of Scottish Clans & Associations
