A question for the powers that be at xmarks and the rabble alike

[gazbot]

Hello all,


Not sure if this is in the right place but I would be interested to know your thoughts.

I am attending a lot of burns night as usual in January (any excuse to get the tartan out) I am also hosting a small informal family burns supper. I know many of you will be burns club members all over the globe but what do you think of the feasibility of this. Just an idea so don't shoot me down.

Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if a very informal "club" was formed. No membership fees no committee no hard and fast rules just a group of people that hold informal suppers in their own homes. These people would send each other news and pictures of their respective suppers and toast each other from all corners of the world. Would it be possible to be affiliated with X marks in some way????

The idea would be that you:

Host the event as near to burns night as possible

Splashes of tartan must be on show in some way (preferably kilts... I am sure nobody here will disagree with that)!?

The Selkirk grace is to be given

Haggis and whisky must be served

The haggis must be addressed


The loyal toast is to be used (for countries part of the commonwealth)

The immortal memory toast,
Toast to and response from the lassies should be included

A song or poem must be recited

The new "x marks the scot burns club" must be toasted and letters or communications from each participating host read out

Auld lang syne must be sung.


I just think it would be a wonderful thing to do. It would make our small burns nights so much more special and I think. Marks is a brilliant starting board to et something like this going. As I say it wouldn't be anything official or profit making in any way just a loose affiliation would be great.


Just an idea, I hope I don't upset anyone at xmarks by suggesting this and I hope it gives people food for thought and maybe comes to fruition in one way or another.

Regards


Gareth

[Laird_M]

Interesting idea, but might take a long time to read the despatches given how big we are now...

[Chas]

I believe that something of this kind was done once before via Skype. I think Todd (Cajun Scot) was involved.

But I might have that all wrong.

[TheOfficialBren]

A 'live' Skype party wherein several groups in different geographic locations can participate in the same event at the same time might be worth considering.

An acquaintence had family on both sides of the country. They wanted to have a family reunion but it was not possible to travel. Their solution was to each set up a webcam and Skype. Family from hither and thither were all able to attend their virtual family reunion.

The technology is certainly there and it's much-improved compared to even a short time ago. One need only ask if the spirit is willing to put forth the effort to make it happen.

Just an idea.



I can see that this will be a neat thread, indeed, Gazbot.

[McClef]

I wonder why the loyal toast has to be included for Commonwealth countries?

Have not seen that done at any Burns Suppers I have attended in the UK (I have not yet been able to attend a Lodge one where it might happen at a white table event but we are talking about homes here).

[Steve Ashton]

I'm all in favor of your idea. In fact I think I once saw something on the web that was just like what you describe. I think it was called X Marks or something like that.
These people would get together and enjoy an evening and then write about it. They would even show pictures of what they did.

It was real strange though 'cause they all seem to like kilts.

[gazbot]

Thank you all so far, interesting stuff.

I am not sure my technical skills are up to a simultaneous Skype linkup but if any one else is holding a wee burns supper am would be interested in taking this further (now I know Xmarks will not disagree with what we are doing) send me a message an I will take it further.

McClef, the loyal toast was just a thought I'm a traditional sentimental Royalist at heart and usually do inude it but point taken maybe an optional extra for those that want to? Surprised that you have not been to a burns supper that has not included it most f the ones I attend do. Is your first toast at lodge festive board not normally The Queen and the Craft (I know with the adition of the craft I is not strictly speaking a traditional loyal toast but still toasting the Monarch) I guess it's these little variances that make suppers am festive boards all the more enjoyable.
Also Sir my provincial kilt walk is still going ahead next year, you mentioned a while back you may be able to assist those who do not own a kilt?... I have one brother who is kilt less.


I look forward to further comments from you all.

[Steve Ashton]

Gazbot,

The point I was trying to make, perhaps too sideways, was that our members already do this. There is no reason to duplicate it.

Many of our members attend Burns dinners. Each year we have threads and posts with pics and stories of local dinners.

From what I am reading, may I ask, how is your idea different from what we already do?

[McClef]

Oh yes gazbot, providing the brother has a suitable kilt waistline there is no problem there! What would his waistline be?

Of course the first toast at a Lodge Festive Board is "The Queen and the Craft" but at a "white table" (social) event (when ladies and other guests are also present) the toast is The Queen only. A Burns Supper hosted by a Masonic Lodge is normally the latter arrangement as otherwise there might be a toast to the ladies but a reply would not be possible. Interestingly enough, the Caledonian Society of Norway do not allow ladies to attend their annual Burns Supper.

In a home setting, a Loyal Toast, if the host decides upon it is fine of course, but it is not de rigeur by Burns Supper etiquette and I speak as an equal at heart Royalist.

But Burns Suppers elsewhere do not have the Loyal Toast as part of the agenda, certainly none of those non-Masonic ones I have attended in Scotland from St Andrews to Dumfries have included this, including one attended by a former Speaker of the Scottish Parliament.

[CDNSushi]

...our members already do this. There is no reason to duplicate it.

Many of our members attend Burns dinners. Each year we have threads and posts with pics and stories of local dinners...

And if might chime in, there is also a section on the forum for our members to organize events. So you could easily coordinate with other XMarkers in your area to all attend a particular Burns night together... Or even organize one with other XMarkers. (I don't think there's any rule that it has to be a St. Andrews Society that puts on such an event, after all)... The framework is certainly here for that. I would encourage you to explore that section of the forum a bit. Find out who's near you, and see if you can meet up and get to know each other in person.