Scottish CDs are offered for your listening pleasure ...and to help The Family Tree
When our friend and knowledgeable person of antique Scottish instruments, D. J. Adams McGilp, was in Moultrie for Scottish Weekend, he came with an abundance of CDs to offer to the public. However, upon leaving, several CDs stayed behind.
D. J. has generously offered to make these CDs available to you, The Family Tree readers, for $20 each, with a portion of that amount being donated to The Family Tree by D. J. Bless his wee Scottish heart!!!
The Kilmartin Sessions, the Sounds of Ancient Scotland, represents original instruments and reconstructions. For the first time, you will have a chance to hear the sounds that would have been familiar to our forebearers thousands of years ago. It includes the first commercially available recordings of the two-thousand-year-old Caprington horn, the 8th century iron bell of St. Adomnan, the 9th century Pictish triple pipes, and many other remarkable items, including a traditional Gaelic quern song and its use as melody for St. Columba's visionary poem, the Altus Prosator. The music ranges from ringing rocks to bird-bone flutes; Bronze Age horns and drums to the extraordinary sound of the Celtic war trumpet, the carnyx, specially recorded for The Kilmartin Sessions in Smoo Cave. This CD has its own reverberations reaching into our remotest past and our deepest subconscious.
Scotland's Richest Prehistoric Landscape by Rachel Butter is another extraordinary CD. Recreating the text of Argyll's award-winning museum, Kilmartin House, this audio guide introduces a rich and diverse archaeological landscape. The story is read by our friend, D. J. Adams McGilp. With its standing stones, enigmatic prehistoric rock carvings, imposing burial tombs, hill top forts, crannogs and the earliest Christian monuments, the Kilmartin area contains evidence of the most important and fascinating developments in early Scottish history. The story ends with the establishment of Dunadd, the seat of Scotland's earliest kings.
The Family Tree has at this time less than 40 of The Kilmartin Sessions and only six of the Rachel Butter CD. If you are interested, please contact Beth by emailing her at <bethscribble@aol.com> or writing to her in care of The Family Tree, PO Box 2828, Moultrie, Georgia 31776. Be sure you tell her the name of the CD you are ordering. And be sure to let her know your mailing address!!! Thanks.

Evelyn Murray & John Cope Abbot are awarded first ever TECA
Tartan Assistant certificates
Congratulations to Evelyn Murray and John Cope Abbott! They are the first in the world to earn the title "Tartan Assistant."
Evelyn and John took the examination in the Boston area and were recognized at the annual general meeting in Atlanta last October. With the title go two copies of a certificate, one for home and one for display at the "Tartan Information Ten." Evelyn and John also may insert the letters TA after their surnames and before the FSA Scot to which they are also both entitled.
There is a $15 fee for the examination. Applicants must be members of the Internal Association of Tartan Studies and Tartan Educational and Cultural Association, Inc., but the membership fee can be paid at the time of the examination.
Persons interested in taking the examination for Tartan Assistant (TA), Tartan Associate (TAS), or Tartan Specialist (TS) can get details from Dr. Philip Smith, Director of Tartan Studies.
Thanks to The Tartan Banner, IATS/TECA, Dr. Philip Smith, Editor, 442 Freedom Blvd., Coatesville, PA 19320.

A hankering for haggis: Lewisville, Texas man builds a business on traditional Scottish food
Used here with permission from Lewisville Leader (Texas), Nicole Bywater, Reporter
A Lewisville resident and true American Southerner, Jim Walters, is one of the last people most would guess to be behind the manufacturing of a food known as the national food of Scotland - haggis.
Despite the food's bad reputation - which comes from the traditional method to making haggis by stuffing a sheep's stomach with oatmeal, onions, fat and chopped-up parts of the sheep that most of us would rather see thrown away - Walters got hooked on the stuff. He was traveling with his wife in Scotland in 1989 to trace their Scottish and Irish heritage and ended up enjoying the sausage-like dish at many of the bed-and-breakfasts they stayed at.
"Only dying was a worse reputation than haggis," Walters said. "It wasn't at all what we expected. We really liked it and thought other people would too."
After their return home, the couple went to the Texas Scottish Festival and Highland Games in Arlington, expecting to be able to enjoy some native foods such as haggis. Instead, they found more traditional American foods.
"I was complaining and said 'I didn't go there to eat nachos and hot dogs'," Walters said.
Strict regulations based on mad-cow disease fears made it hard to import haggis from its native country. So, the wheels started turning and Walters went to work to create haggis that Americans would enjoy. He started cooking up batches in his kitchen, using U.S. Department of Agriculture-rated sirloin beef instead of the traditional mutton, plus liver, onions, spices and oats. He created the company Caledonian Kitchen.
Walters said he's a good cook, a skill he picked up while in the Army. Luckily, he had an authentic tasting panel to try his recipes out on thanks to a native Scottish woman, with whom Walters worked, and her friends.
"One morning, she said, 'I hope you wrote it down, because I think you've got it'," Walters said.
This weekend, he'll be hawking his favorite food, by the plate or in cans, at the North Texas Irish Festival. The annual event will be at Fair Park in Dallas and it is the largest Celtic festival in the southwest.
He began cooking up batches of haggis at the annual Texas Scottish Festival and Highland Games in Arlington and ignored people's requests for him to can the product.
"It was more like a deranged hobby at that time and I wasn't interested in doing more," Walters said. "Then about three years ago, I started getting serious and realized that any cannery that cans chili can can haggis."
After discovering there weren't any "mom-and-pop" chili canneries in Texas, Walters came across "Taylor's Famous Mexican Chili," a 99-year-old family business in southern Illinois. His first year of production was in 2001 - with 7,500 cans.
He's since outgrown that small operation and moved production a few weeks ago to southern Ohio. Walters also discovered that in the surrounding agricultural community are two people who raise Scottish Highland cattle, a breed that's been dated back to historical Scotland.
His web site, <caledoniankitchen.com>, received about 9,000 separate visitors last month, Walters said. Orders for his haggis is sent as far away as Korea and to all over Canada and the United States.
Caledonian Kitchen Haggis was the only American haggis invited to compete against the legends of Scottish haggis-making in Scotland Magazine's 2003 Haggis Tasting in St. Andrews, Scotland. They were honored with fifth place, Walters said.
A 29-year employee of the national office of the Boy Scouts, Walters, 56, retired two months ago and has more time to devote to the business. Walters, a self-declared "history buff," was a Civil War re-enactor before the business began to keep him busier.
Walters grew up in Alabama and lived in Louisiana before moving to Lewisville in 1986. He is a lover of all things Scottish, from the food to the music to the history, and is a member of several associations dedicated to the spreading of the Scottish culture. In September, he'll be part of a Scottish-themed cruise called Kilts in the Wind.
But his most important job now that he's got the time and the inventory is sharing haggis at more and more Scottish festivals.
"Way back when, it was made with leftover parts and was poor people's food," Walters said. "Everyone's fixated on the sheep's stomach, but all that was is a cooking vessel."
Other future plans for the "Laird" (lord) of the Caledonian Kitchen include several varieties of haggis, including lamb, venison and vegetarian. He even half-jokes about making "rustic haggis" with sheep's tongue and all sorts of horrible stuff just to test people and have fun with.
Besides on the company's web site, Caledonian Kitchen haggis (the normal beefy kind, nothing rustic) can be found locally at the British Emporium in Grapevine, Texas. .

1837 travel hints make today's travel look easy easy easy
Individuals who wish to travel through the interior of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, etc., will find that the most convenient, sure, economical and independent mode is on horseback. Their expenses will be from seventy-five cents to one dollar fifty cents per day, and they can always consult their own convenience and pleasure as to time and place. Stage fare is usually 6 cents a mile in the west. Meals, at state-houses, 37-1/2 cents.
Steamboat deck passengers - the deck for such passengers is usually in the mid-ship, forward of the engine, and is protected from the weather. Passengers furnish their own provisions and bedding. They often take their meals at the cabin-table with the boat hands and pay twenty-five cents a meal. Thousands pass up and down the rivers as deck passengers, especially emigrating families, who have their bedding, provisions, and cooking utensils on board.
The whole expense of a single person from New York to St. Louis, by the way of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, with cabin passage on the river, will range between $40 and 45, with travel time being from twelve to fifteen days. Taking the transportation lines on the Pennsylvania canal, and a deck passage in the steamboat, the expenses will range between $20 and $25, supposing the person buys his meals at twenty-five cents and eats twice a day. If he carries his own provisions, the passage, etc. will be from $15 to $18.
Emigrants and travelers will find it to their interest always to be a little skeptical relative to statements of stage, steamboat, and canal boat agent, to make some allowance in their own calculations for delays, difficulties and expenses, and above all, to feel perfectly patient and in good humor with themselves, the officers, company, and the world, even if they do not move quite as rapidly and far quite as well as they desire.
Thanks to Kishwaukee Genealogists Newsletter, PO Box 5503, Rockford, Illinois 61125.

Want to help with Bible records online?
Bible Records Online, a site maintained by Tracy St. Claire, contains transcriptions - at last count - of 940 bibles with 2929 different surnames. Names are both searchable and browseable. St. Claire asks for submissions of family bibles and points out that bible records found in U.S. publications printed before 1923 are in the public domain.
Tracy needs transcribers and also translators who read German, Swedish, Finnish, Spanish or Welsh. More information can be obtained from <www.biblerecords.com>.
Source: Ke Ku'auhau (The Genealogist), Honolulu County Genealogical Society, PO Box 235039, Honolulu, Hawaii 96823-3500.

They heard the call for the Haggis...from the UN!
On January 13, 2004 at the United Nations in New York City, a Robert Burns dinner was celebrated. The Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, ended his Inaugural Robert Burns Memorial Lecture with these words: "Finally, while I know this is not a traditional Burns supper, I do hope you will let his hungry Secretary-General try some haggis at some point in the near future."
Because of that last sentence in Annan's speech, Jim and Jean Cunningham, president and secretary of the Robert Burns Association of North America (R.B.A.N.A.), who reside in Canada, sent forth an urgent call to members in the U.S.A. to answer the request and provide the Secretary-General with a wee taste o'the Haggis. To have Kofi Annan talk so eloquently about Burns made us all proud and this was the least we could do.
Barbra Bartz, a Florida Burnsian, alerted colleague Frank Campbell and together they approached The St. Andrew Society of Sarasota with a mandate to take up the challenge.
Jim Martin, president of The St. Andrew Society of Sarasota, and Sheila, owner of "Scots Corner" in Sarasota, who could supply the Haggis, were contacted. Together they agreed with the Burnsians (Barbra and Frank). Why not send a Florida Haggis to Kofi at the United Nations so that he may partake of the scrumptious delicacy?
President Jim Martin bestowed an honorary membership on the Secretary-General as follows:
"I hereby decree that Kofi Annan be inducted as an Honorary Member of The St. Andrew Society of Sarasota, Inc. for his contribution to the culture and heritage of Scotland in the outstanding delivery of the Inaugural Robert Burns Memorial Lecture to the United Nations on January 13, 2004. President Jim Martin, The St. Andrew Society of Sarasota, Florida."
A call was made to Kofi Annan's office at the UN to see if the gift of Haggis would be acceptable and clear security. It was packed in dry ice and sent overnight by FedX with cooking directions.
Thanks to Frank Campbell and Barbra Bartz for this article.

Noteworthy websites for your review
The LOC.gov Wise Guide: http://www.loc.gov/wiseguide The federal government and the Library of Congress, in particular, maintain and develop hundreds of web sites. The Library of Congress has partnered with the Ad Council to create the Wise Guide, which is updated monthly and offers links to "the best of the Library's online materials." The site offers the most current edition and some archived issues.
Medieval Writing: http://medievalwriting.50megs.com/writing.htm Developed and maintained by Dr. Dianne Tillotson, this site is a good location to begin learning about handwriting and manuscript production in the Middle Ages. Read the "What is Paleography?" essay first to learn about the decoding process. Sections of the site describe the life of a scribe during the Middle Ages, the tools utilized to produce the manuscripts, and the various forms that manuscripts took during this historical era.
Source: Newsletter, Collin County Genealogical Society, PO Box 865052, Plano, TX 75086-5052.

Lieutenant General Dan K. McNeill invited to be a Distinguished Guest at 2004 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games
Lieutenant General Dan K. McNeill has been invited to be a Distinguished Guest at the 2004 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games this coming July near Linville, North Carolina.
He is a native of the State of North Carolina. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Infantry through the ROTC Program at North Carolina State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1968. His formal education is consistent with that of a career infantry officer and includes graduation from the U.S. Army War College in 1989.
General McNeill has commanded airborne infantry units at the company, battalion, and brigade levels. His service as a staff officer includes tours as an S3 or G3 at brigade, division, and corps levels. As a general officer, General McNeill has enjoyed assignments as an assistant division commander, corps chief of staff, and deputy corps commander. Tours in the Republic of Vietnam, Republic of Korea, Italy, Saudi Arabia/Iraq, Afghanistan, and numerous stateside posts have afforded General McNeill unique professional opportunities. Duty in Operations Just Cause, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Uphold Democracy, and Enduring Freedom has given Lieutenant General McNeill experience in joint and combined operations and warfighting. He has most recently served as the Commanding General, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, and Commanding General, Combined/Joint Force (CJTF)-180.
General McNeill is grateful to have been awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with four oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge with gold combat star, the Army Aviator Badge, and the Special Forces Tab.
General McNeill is married to the former Maureen Flanagan. They have one son, Dan K., Jr., who is a senior at Wake Forest University.

Lieutenant General Dan K. McNeill, Deputy Commanding General/Chief of Staff, United States Army Forces Command

Visiting Australia? Here are some interesting facts about Australian Scots...and some fun things to do!
Several interesting items of news were received from Max M. Macalister, Esq., president of clan Macalister Australia. You might want to consider them whenever you make your plans to travel to Australia.
Highland Games at Jubilee Park, Ringwood, Melbourne, Victoria: This is where some 35 or so Clans erect display tents and all of the Pipebands compete in Piping competitions. The World Championships were held there two years ago. Also, several Scottish dancing groups attend where approximately 150 to 200 dancers compete. This year's Ringwood Games were held on Sunday, March 28th. There was a massed bands parade, a gathering of the Clans parade, heavy games events, and mock battle displays. Sue Macleod, president and organizer, can be reached at <suemacleod@bigpond.com.au>.
Bundanoon Games (affectionately known as Brigadoon) in New South Wales: These games are usually held around the time of the Ringwood games. They have a very large attendance, some 15,000-20,000 people. A special steam train is run from Sydney and passes by the parade oval with whistle blowing and belching coal smoke, with hundreds of people hanging out of windows waving and cheering as it chuffs by. The main street of Bundanoon/Brigadoon is decked out in Scottish paraphernalia, and there is a serious competition by all of the town's shopkeepers to have the best decorated window. A grand parade is then held, where all of the Clans and various Scottish groups march along the main street and down to the sport's oval, some three-quarters of a mile. Additional information may be obtained from Warren Glase at wpglase@hinet.net.au .
Scottish Week in Sydney: This event is usually held at the end of November and the first four or five days of December. It is usually the biggest and best Scottish event held in Australia. It is organized by The Scottish Australian Heritage Council. David Campbell is secretary of SAHC and can be reached at davidcam.cron@bigpond.com or sahc@pip.com.au . Their website is www.pip.com.au/~sahc .
The Ring of Australian Standing Stones, Glen Innes, Northern New South Wales: This is a ring of stones after the style of stones at Stonehenge. There are 38 stones that make up the Ring. Only eight of these stones are dedicated to Scottish Clans. Clan Macalister of Isle of Skye has Stone No. 12, due East. The rest are made up of Scottish associations and clubs, locality names, and individual family names. For more information, contact <www.gleninnestourism.com> or The Glen Innes and District Tourist Centre and click on Standing Stones.

Neil Hugh McInnis of Bayside, Queens, New York died February 8, 2004. Neil was the grandfather of Life Member Michael McInnis. He married Elizabeth Walker who predeceased him in 1984. He claimed 54 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild.
McInnis owned the McInnis Ironworks in Queens from the 1940's to 1976 and was a creator of large and unique projects in iron and steel, such as Ferris wheels.
Neil remembered presidents back to Theodore Roosevelt, was a lifelong FDR Democrat and recalled stories about the many subsequent Presidents. As a young boy in Boston, he was acquainted with legendary Mayor James Michael Curly. He recalled that the loss of the HMS Titanic was as huge in its time as was the September 11, 2001 assault on New York City.
Neil was descended from the Novia Scotia MacInnis' and traces back to Aonghais MacInnis, a printer born in Scotland in 1831.

The International Association of Clan MacInnes offers Scottish/Gaelic scholarships
You may apply for one of their small scholarships, if you are involved in or plan to attend any of the following:
* Study of Scottish arts, such as piping, dancing, drumming, etc.
* The learning of Gaelic
* Studying Scottish history.
These scholarships may partially or completely cover expenses related to classes, lessons, tuition, and/or registration, etc., but do not apply to living expenses to attend such classes.
Consideration for the scholarships is regardless of age, gender, religion, heritage, and/or Clan MacInnes Association affiliation. However, some preference is provided to Association members and the financial need, assuming all other criteria are equal. Often we have few applicants and many times all or some scholarships are awarded to non-members of the Clan MacInnes Association.
If you are interested in applying, please send your name, address, phone, and email address (if applicable) along with detailed information about your field of study, dates, fees involved (please break them down), financial need (if applicable) and any reasons why you should be deserving.
Please submit applications in letter format to: Randy McInnis, Chairman, Scholarship Committee, 1413 Autumn Ridge Lane, Fort Mill, South Carolina 29708 or email to rmci@comporium.net .
Applications must be received by June 1, 2004. Winners will be announced during the Clan MacInnes gathering during the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games July 8-11, 2004.