The Gathering 2014 – Upcoming Event News

[CameronCat]

Can anyone provide info on which clans are to be represented at the Stone Mtn. meeting (either by their chief or a designated representative)?

Also, seeking an address or site for the webcast of the meeting. Any info appreciated.

Thanks.

[AcuteEnigma]

Register for the webcast here:
http://coscastonemountain.eventbrite..._medium=email#

found on this webpage: http://www.cosca.net/

Keep in mind there will be MANY other things discussed in addition to the Gathering 2014.
Things like:
Authenticity and Inclusivity: How can we best sustain important clan traditions whilst encouraging inclusivity?
Clans and Families without Chiefs: What are the problems and how can COSCA and SCSC help? and
Economic contribution of the clans to the economy of Scotland: What is the impact? How can this significant economic effort form the groundwork for a long term strategy for the future of the clan network?

[Jock Scot]

I wish to send a humongousthank you to the Chiefs for taking this on. It is a difficult and thankless task if we remember how Jamie was treated by some.

Well let us be positive here and hope SOME ONE pulls the fat out of the fire! Thus far, I am not impressed with the arrangements(are there any that we can rely on?) one bit.

As I understand it, "Jamie" was at the head of the company that ran the last Gathering and as it cost the Scots taxpayer more than a few thousand pounds(£) to make the books balance and there are those who, allegedly, still lost out financially and as there is still considerable resentment that the "locals" felt that they were not included in the event, then frankly, I think he was treated rather well.

[AcuteEnigma]

CameronCat:
* Sir Malcolm MacGregor of MacGregor, Chief of Clan Gregor (Moderator)
* The Earl of Caithness, Chief of Clan Sinclair
* Donald MacLaren of MacLaren, Chief of Clan MacLaren
* Dr. John Ruairidh Morrison of Ruchdi, Chief of Clan Morrison
* John Robert McInnes, President, International Association of Clan MacInnes
* Susan McIntosh, President, Council of Scottish Clans & Associations

[AcuteEnigma]

Websites to watch:
1. www.cosca.net (also read http://www.cosca.net/scscsmhg.htm)
2. www.clans2014.net run by a private company Rodger Moffet of ScotClans
3. http://www.battleofbannockburn.com/Home/
4. http://www.homecomingscotland.com/
5. http://www.nts.org.uk/Home/ - The National Trust for Scotland

[Chas]

Jim and tripleblessed,

We are suffering with a communications breakdown, not least by the Chiefs. I have obviously not expressed myself well. There are quite points here and hopefully I will cover them all. Any I miss, let me know.

To discuss 2014, we really need to go back to the 2009 event. You only need to read some of the threads on here to understand. Some made a lot of money out of it, but others lost their businesses. Youngsters were left stranded, entertainers were not fed nor watered and at least two men went personally bankrupt. So you can see that there is some 'unease' in the country about the upcoming event. That is why I said that the chiefs would do well to promote the event at home. It is no good if this happens and there is ill will towards it in the land.

Now these 10 Chiefs. They were going to Atlanta anyway. But it reads like they are going on a fact finding mission specially for this event. Now every time one of these type of things happen, there is always some 'pump priming' money (tax money) available to cover the start-up costs. I really and truly hope that these Chiefs will not be claiming back any transportation or living expenses for what amounts to a holiday that they were going on anyway. But we will not find out till the final accounts are published in 2015 or 16 or ... That is, if we are the privileged few who will get to see the accounts.

My comment about Pakistan was not flippant; I was being very serious. There are very many Pakistani acrylic kilts sold to young Scotsmen to enhance their drinking enjoyment. Many of the so-called Tartan Army wear them. Why? Because they can be covered with mud and blood, all sorts of food stuff and human waste (both solid and liquid) and then at the end of the night be thrown away. Next time, they will spend another £24.99 and buy another. Now if an event is going to happen in 18 months time, with 50,000+ people coming, would it not be wise to make sure that suppliers were ready? I would never suggest that any of our guests will act in any manner that is in the least unbecoming, but when they arrive for a two week holiday they won't want to wait six weeks to put their name on the end of an ever growing kilt makers list. They want to be part of it; they want to jump in; they want to experience it NOW. So they buy a cheap acrylic kilt - if there is enough stock. Where do they come from - Pakistan.

So we come to the event. I keep calling it that, because we don't know what it is going to be. First of all, the Bannockburn celebrations were going to happen anyway - Chiefs or no Chiefs. That is fixed in time and place and can't be altered.

No Gathering. They have said that it has been cancelled. But they keep talking about a gathering. We have all seen the pictures of the homecoming march up the Royal Mile. That alone was an event to tell the grandchildren about. But if it is not happening in Edinburgh, will it happen in Stirling? A City of only 45,000 people. There could be more marchers than watchers.

There will be a games, but then again, that was always going to happen. So I come back to my question - What is the draw? Ignoring food and accommodation, it would cost me £100 to get there - why would I want to go? What special thing is happening that would induce me to come in 2014 rather than 2013 or 2015? There are only 18 months to go and each day without answers makes it harder to book facilities.

The last thing is a small point, but could be contentious. This is the thing that I didn't explain properly.

I think I have shown in a previous post that Scotland can organise International events quite well. As we would expect every country to do so. So much of what goes on by way of organisation and infrastructure is mandated already. Somewhere all the laws and by-laws and regulations have long since been written down. So much of the organisation will come down to "50,000 people coming: book 175 portable toilets and 25 disabled toilets." It has already been worked out.

Every highland games is different and has its own unique flavour, the experience at one will not be the same as the experience at another. So this is why I asked the question - Just what are these Chiefs consulting on?
Surly if the people of Georgia spend a great amount of money to come to Scotland, they would want to experience a Scottish event with a Scottish flavour and not the Atlanta games transposed to Scotland. If they wanted that, they could stay in Atlanta and save their money.

I have no objection to the Chiefs consulting with anybody and everybody, but at the end of the day, I hope and pray that the event, whatever it is, is 100% Scottish - otherwise what is the point?

Finally, I hope you all come. I would dearly like to meet you all.

Regards

Chas

[ThistleDown]

You are all making some good points, but perhaps a few things need clarifying. First of all, the Scots have a very finely-tuned ability to plan events and carry through with that planning. What they have concluded, however, are the following: (1) that their manner of politeness is often used against their best interests by others; (2) that the Standing Council of Chiefs is a body of people who have inherited their titles and roles, but are entirely unpaid for the duties most in the diaspora believe they should be performing; (3) tourism authorities in Scotland recognise the value of the country's historic connection with the Highland (in particular) clan system and would like to utilise it in promoting the country; (4) these same authorities (and most of the country) were taught very real and important lessons during and following the 2009 debacle, one of which was that the endeavour of an international gathering must be controlled from home and the control must remain in the public domain; (5) it is recognised that the diaspora (particularly the clan association sector in America) is extremely powerful and -- not to mince too many words here -- very loud and aggressive.

The upcoming Stone Mountain Games’ committee invited the Earl of Caithness as its primary guest of honour at its 40th birthday celebrations; Caithness represented the chiefs at the time of the 2009 'Gathering'. One of the subjects the Committee had on its agenda was a Gathering in 2014, but not under the same control has had been in place in 2009.

Caithness, the present Convenor, Sir Malcolm Macgregor of Macgregor, and the last Convenor, Maclaren of Maclaren, offered to lead a small contingent of chiefs to Stone Mountain with two purposes in mind: get a handle on what was in the mind of the predominantly American Council of Clan Associations, and come away with primary control in Scotland but a gathering truly international in its planning and follow-through.

In order to begin that process it was necessary for the formative body for the 2014 Gathering to be dissolved. Pressure came to play and that has been done. Next, it was imperative that the Gathering benefit not a single person, corporation or town, but the outlying regions of the country – the old clan lands. Done; Stirling has agreed that it is not able to host something the size of an international gathering.

That’s where things stand at the present time. Let’s wait and watch.

[chewse]

Thank you Chas for your explanation. Honestly, I was confused by the announced events and the spirited dialogue that has ensued. I like the concept of the special gathering of the clans but I would hope it would be a successful event for all who participate including the merchants and governmental organizations. I’m in the “cup is half full” camp right now since I have not experienced the pitfalls of the 2009 gathering.

[Chas]

Thank you, Rex.

Regards

Chas

[cessna152towser]

Thistledown wrote:-

tourism authorities in Scotland recognise the value of the country's historic connection with the Highland (in particular) clan system and would like to utilise it in promoting the country; these same authorities (and most of the country) were taught very real and important lessons during and following the 2009 debacle, one of which was that the endeavour of an international gathering must be controlled from home

So very true. I am perfectly happy with the Clan Chiefs going to Stone Mountain to muster support for 2014. From my perspective, we are already off to a far better start as the Scottish clans and family societies are being included in the plans. As I have said before, what was the point of the Edinburgh Gathering 2009 when there were few if any Scottish based hosts on the clan tents to welcome our guests from the diaspora?
I firmly believe Stirling 2014 and the other regional events throughout that year will be really enjoyable and I sincerely hope that the fiasco of Edinburgh 2009 will not deter the Scottish diaspora from returning to visit the home land in 2014.