The Gathering 2014

[Jock Scot]

Shy?

Most people say they had a wonderful time at the 2009 Gathering.

I think some vendors are still unpaid and Edinburgh city should pay them, but that is a different story.

The event itself was awesome!

Was it?

I am delighted that you/they had a good time, it was a shame that the locals were not invited. When you say "most people" I assume that you are not including those from Scotland!

Please, I hope that this 2014 thing is a great success, but I think that many locals are entitled to be rather cynical.

[AcuteEnigma]

Well, many Scottish people knew about it. Anyone getting clan newsletters knew and certainly over 100 Clan Chiefs knew. People reading XmarksTheScot knew about it.

What are your suggestions for getting the word out to the locals this time?

Anything I can do from California? Of course, I'd rather help from Scotland, but I am not lucky enough to live there.

[Jock Scot]

Well, many Scottish people knew about it. Anyone getting clan newsletters knew and certainly over 100 Clan Chiefs knew. People reading XmarksTheScot knew about it.

What are your suggestions for getting the word out to the locals this time?

Anything I can do from California? Of course, I'd rather help from Scotland, but I am not lucky enough to live there.

Had I not been a member of Xmarks I would have probably never heard of the Homecoming and there are a large proportion of Scotland who would have been in the same position.Those that did eventually find out about it, at the eleventh hour, decided that they did not like being an afterthought and stayed away.

Many of the Clan Chiefs were more "dragooned" into going rather than being invited and as we don't have strong Clan associations(Newsletters? What are they?We, on the whole, don't do Clan Associations) when "they"eventually decided to become involved they discovered that, more often than not, American(for example) clan associations had got the spot ahead of them, for a particular clan. Clan Cunningham, for example, had this problem if I recall correctly.

There are a few threads here that covered the points at the time, so a search might pay dividends for you .

I think most of the problems stemmed from a "management" who were not thinking local and thought worldwide and sadly by in large ignored the locals which has left a legacy of cynicism. Had the locals been involved earlier then perhaps the event may have paid its way, which leads us on to another problem entirely!

[kilted scholar]

The following is taken from the website in the link supplied by the OP. The site is described as run by a family run Scottish company.

"The Scottish government has also designated 2014 as Scotland’s second year of homecoming. The first took place in Edinburgh 2009. It was a hugely important event for Scottish Clans all around the world becoming the largest clan meeting. So excitement about this next event is starting to build.

Stirling council are going to be organising a summer long programme of events.

Provost Fergus Wood said it was a chance to put Stirling on the “world stage”.

“Let’s all rise to the occasion and start planning now for a terrific 2014. I’d like to encourage everyone in the Stirling family to help shape our celebrations,” he said.

“I hope as many local people as possible will join in by giving us their ideas and getting involved in their communities.”.

We’d love to hear what people are thinking about Bannockburn 700. We have set up a facebook page: The Gathering 2014."

********
It seems from this that it is the Scottish government that has designated 2014 as Scotland's second year of homecoming and that it is Stirling council that is in the vanguard of organization. This seems to me to be about as local as one can get.

[Oldhiker]

Was it?

Please, I hope that this 2014 thing is a great success, but I think that many locals are entitled to be rather cynical.

I was shocked when I got to Scotland and found out how few people from Scotland knew about the previous event. I saw the same people I see all the time in Seattle, I wanted to interact with Scots. I did see/meet some and did enjoy some of the events but it could have been so much better. I will be back to Scotland but not to one of these events. The potential was huge to start a tradition.

[billsides]

I was shocked when I got to Scotland and found out how few people from Scotland knew about the previous event. I saw the same people I see all the time in Seattle, I wanted to interact with Scots. I did see/meet some and did enjoy some of the events but it could have been so much better. I will be back to Scotland but not to one of these events. The potential was huge to start a tradition.

I was at The 2009 Gathering but point out that locals were not being focussed on simply because the Gathering was part of The Year of the Homecoming, a Government supported idea to get people to visit Scotland. Locals had endless opportunities to read about it and take part. It was very successful and I saw claims that 40,000 overseas visitors attended. Even if overstated, an enormous number of overseas visitors left vast amounts of overseas money in Scotland so to say it was bad is mischievous. I for one added over 20,000 pounds to the Scottish economy but only my Gathering entry fee was counted because nobody knew about the rest. I had two weeks of accommodation, the Tattoo, special dinners, saw shows that were part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, had a quality kilt made, went on the fabulously expensive Royal Scotsman train, hired cars and toured the country and of course bought meals there. I spent it because I went to The Gathering. Crying still going on over its losses because they don't consider the greater picture and reason for holding it. Most visitors left big money in the country, locals don't do that. To hold another Gathering in 2014 aimed at overseas visitors makes commercial sense but sadly many opportunities were missed in 2009. Despite pleas not all Scottish Clans synchronised activities with when overseas clan members were there. They all knew about The Gathering because many had tents at it. Locals have many Highland Gatherings to choose from so, for the Gathering to be special, it must be pitched at those living outside Scotland with Scottish links. Will I go in 2014? Yes and I am actually going to Scotland this August solely because of the great time I had prior so income from the 2009 Gathering actually continues to this day but detractors won't consider that of course!

Come on 2014, Scots should learn from their mistakes and stop their endless knocking. It was still being knocked this week with front page headlines in the Scotsman newspaper. That sort of attitude won't help them get 2014 off the ground.

Bill

[Mael Coluim]

I was at The 2009 Gathering but point out that locals were not being focussed on simply because the Gathering was part of The Year of the Homecoming, a Government supported idea to get people to visit Scotland. Locals had endless opportunities to read about it and take part. It was very successful and I saw claims that 40,000 overseas visitors attended. Even if overstated, an enormous number of overseas visitors left vast amounts of overseas money in Scotland so to say it was bad is mischievous. I for one added over 20,000 pounds to the Scottish economy but only my Gathering entry fee was counted because nobody knew about the rest. I had two weeks of accommodation, the Tattoo, special dinners, saw shows that were part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, had a quality kilt made, went on the fabulously expensive Royal Scotsman train, hired cars and toured the country and of course bought meals there. I spent it because I went to The Gathering. Crying still going on over its losses because they don't consider the greater picture and reason for holding it. Most visitors left big money in the country, locals don't do that. To hold another Gathering in 2014 aimed at overseas visitors makes commercial sense but sadly many opportunities were missed in 2009. Despite pleas not all Scottish Clans synchronised activities with when overseas clan members were there. They all knew about The Gathering because many had tents at it. Locals have many Highland Gatherings to choose from so, for the Gathering to be special, it must be pitched at those living outside Scotland with Scottish links. Will I go in 2014? Yes and I am actually going to Scotland this August solely because of the great time I had prior so income from the 2009 Gathering actually continues to this day but detractors won't consider that of course!

Come on 2014, Scots should learn from their mistakes and stop their endless knocking. It was still being knocked this week with front page headlines in the Scotsman newspaper. That sort of attitude won't help them get 2014 off the ground.

Bill

***

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I was at The 2009 Gathering but point out that locals were not being focussed on simply because the Gathering was part of The Year of the Homecoming, a Government supported idea to get people to visit Scotland. Locals had endless opportunities to read about it and take part. It was very successful and I saw claims that 40,000 overseas visitors attended. Even if overstated, an enormous number of overseas visitors left vast amounts of overseas money in Scotland so to say it was bad is mischievous. I for one added over 20,000 pounds to the Scottish economy but only my Gathering entry fee was counted because nobody knew about the rest. I had two weeks of accommodation, the Tattoo, special dinners, saw shows that were part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, had a quality kilt made, went on the fabulously expensive Royal Scotsman train, hired cars and toured the country and of course bought meals there. I spent it because I went to The Gathering. Crying still going on over its losses because they don't consider the greater picture and reason for holding it. Most visitors left big money in the country, locals don't do that. To hold another Gathering in 2014 aimed at overseas visitors makes commercial sense but sadly many opportunities were missed in 2009. Despite pleas not all Scottish Clans synchronised activities with when overseas clan members were there. They all knew about The Gathering because many had tents at it. Locals have many Highland Gatherings to choose from so, for the Gathering to be special, it must be pitched at those living outside Scotland with Scottish links. Will I go in 2014? Yes and I am actually going to Scotland this August solely because of the great time I had prior so income from the 2009 Gathering actually continues to this day but detractors won't consider that of course!

Come on 2014, Scots should learn from their mistakes and stop their endless knocking. It was still being knocked this week with front page headlines in the Scotsman newspaper. That sort of attitude won't help them get 2014 off the ground.

Bill

***. A spot on analysis, Bill.

[Neil Clark]

Guys. I knew about the original event, but didnt pay too much attention as due to work, I would have been unlikely to have been involved.

Now, I DIDNT know about the next one, so thanks for that. I will definately be retired from the present job by then, so as soon as I saw the link on this site, I sent an email to Stirling Council tendering my services. They will receive at least one per month until they weaken and (sensibly) take me on.

So thanks for that.

And Stirling will do it much better than Edinburgh anyway!