[davidlpope]

I'm trying to gauge interest among fellow X-Markers for starting a St. Andrews Society-type group that would primarily operate in the Asheville/Marion/Morganton/Hickory/Linville/Lenoir area of North Carolina. I'm envisioning a monthly or bi-monthly kilted evening that rotates between cities/towns in this area to discuss topics or hear presentations relating to Scottish culture and history with perhaps a few formal events per year (Burns Supper?/ Tartan Ball?, etc.).

For those of you in this area:

1) Do you know of an existing group of this type?
2) Would you be interested in this sort of thing?
3) What is a reasonable geographic boundary? (i.e. Do we go as far east as Statesville, as far south as Shelby? How far would you be willing to drive to attend such events?)

Thanks for your input.

Cordially,

David

[BEEDEE]

Montreat Scottish Scoiety? http://www.montreatscottish.org/index.htm

Brian

[piperdbh]

I'm for it. Montreat and the Catawba Valley societies are the two that I know of around here, and they're kind of far apart.

[Tartan Hiker]

I'd be interested in exploring this. The Montreat Scottish Society has never been very active. Other than games tables, they have a Gala (which is very nice, BTW) but that only takes place every other year and is in March (not a Burns Night by the calendar, although there are Burns readings and haggis presentation). Their membership is not by writ exclusive to Montreat residents, but that's how it is in reality. I'm a memeber of MSS, but I work there every summer and my son plays for their pipe band, so that's my excuse.

I would think that there would be ample interest in the Asheville area. This was one of my back-burner projects that I was going to tackle after I retired, but I'd be interested in it now if there is a movement in that direction.

As for geography, I think that Asheville needs to be included as it is the largest metro area in this end of the state, has a large population that would be interested, and is easily accessed from outlying areas via interstae highway. (And I'm not just saying that because I live here!)

[thatcelticband]

I'd be in.

[davidlpope]

Originally Posted by thatcelticband

I'd be in.

Where are you located?

Cordially,

David

[Tartan Hiker]

Originally Posted by davidlpope

Where are you located?

Cordially,

David

The Hooligans call Asheville home, David.

[davidlpope]

If any of you are in driving distance of Morganton, NC and free Thursday the 18th, please consider getting tickets for the "Celtic Crossroads" performance at the City Of Morganton Municipal Arena (COMMA). Ticket info is here:
http://www.commaonline.org/
It should be a good show.

This will be the first "unofficial" gathering of the fledgling "Western Piedmont/ Foothills St. Andrew's Society". Piperdh and I will be there to welcome you.

Cordially,

David

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I'm not in the specified area, but Asheville (the far western region of your geographical run-down) is a reasonable drive from me, so I would be interested in participating occasionally in any events you had going on in Asheville.

[davidlpope]

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

I'm not in the specified area, but Asheville (the far western region of your geographical run-down) is a reasonable drive from me, so I would be interested in participating occasionally in any events you had going on in Asheville.

Matt,

Thanks for your interest. I was hoping that you'd be willing to attend one of the Asheville meetings as a "guest lecturer."

I sat down and looked at a calendar and it looks reasonable to have quarterly events:

January- Burns Supper
April- Tartan Day Highland Ball
July- Annual Meeting/ Tent Sponsor at Grandfather Mt. Highland Games
November- St. Andrew's Day Dinner

These could be rotated throughout the region so that no one has to drive too far every time.

Cordially,

David