clanforum
General Category => Games & Festivals => Topic started by: Forum_mgr on February 23, 2009, 09:12:10 AM
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We're all set for the 2009 Clan Thom(p)son AGM at the Glasgow Highland Games. Tentative plans are to hold the AGM at the Barren River State Park Campground which is right across from the games. Specific site location and/or changes will be available at the society tent on Saturday.
Plans are for everyone to leave the games at the end of the day, grab a quick bite and a shower and head to the campgrounds for the AGM at 7:00 PM.
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We'll bring our big tent Mary so we can have lights, fans and be comfortable. :D
We are looking forward to seeing everyone.
Barbara
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Love to be there, but a trip to Kentucky doesn't seem to be in the stars for this year. Maybe later. Or perhaps we can host the AGM here in Colorado one of these times? We not only have the Estes Park Highland Festival in September, but also the Colorado Scottish Festival and Rocky Mountain Highland Games, usually held in August. http://www.scottishgames.org/ (http://www.scottishgames.org/) I'm sure something could be arranged for either one.
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I will be there! Bryan is coming with me, he wants to see what all the hoopla is about! I can't wait to see you all!
I am about ready to get active again. I have a few additions to the genealogy database and then will tackle more!
Talk to you all soon!
Cathy
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Hey Cathy McTavish :-*
It's sooo nice to hear from you once again and I hope its ALL of my family that you've found ;D
Donna
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Donna, I just e-mailed you! I found that your grandfather was married and divorced! William Walter married to Clara Boucher, his first wife was Eliza Cooley! did you know that already?? anyway the person that contacted me has a wedding picture you might be intereseted in, let us all know how this turns out!
cathy
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Welcome back O Warrior Princess! Good to see you back on the board! I hope you are fully recovered now from whatever had you down for so long.
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YAY!!!
Now, as Jackie Chan said in Shanghai Noon......."That which you have promised, you must perform......" Ooooeee! What a time we'll have!
Can't wait to see you again!
Michael --- I don't see Estes Park in MY future unless we can find a LOT cheaper way to go than when Tom, Harold and Patsy went! But it would be a lovely place for an AGM.... ;)
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I know what you mean Mary, it's the same reason I'm not in Kentucky. Same distance both ways, as my father tells me when I don't come visit. If we do have it in Colorado, I'll sure do my travel agent best to get some discount flights for people, but I know times are hard.
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Maybe we should try to find a games mid-way???
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Midway between what? We're an international organization. No place is going to be convenient for everybody.
My wife and daughter are currently in Philadelphia for the World Irish Dance Championships. It's the first time they've been held outside of Ireland and my daughter's dance school qualified to take their dance drama to compete. For her, it may be the only chance she ever gets to compete at a World level, so they went, even though Philadelphia is pretty far from us. It's at least closer than Ireland, but I suppose the Irish teams may be miffed that they have to travel so far to compete. :-)
I offered to look into hosting an AGM in Colorado partly to be helpful and partly for selfish reasons. I'm not sure how likely I am to ever travel to Kentucky just for a meeting, or you to Colorado for the same thing. But either one, or even other places are going to be convenient for someone and not convenient for someone else.
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I'm looking forward to the AGM. I hope to arrive sometime on Friday, weather permitting (I'll be on the bike).
At sometime in the future, it would be nice to have the AGM at Estes Park. But for that to happen, in my opinion,we would need more members in the mountain states area in order to shift the geographic center of our membership farther to the west. So Michael, its up to you and me to see that that happens.
We will have a spot at Estes this year. So I have to get off my dead butt and rally the local troops to help populate the tent, which is something I'm working on.
Last year was such a success for us here that we will continue doing it even as the cost of participating is increasing. To help lower the cost, a friend of mine is loaning me/us his mobile home so we can camp right outside of the gate. The motel rate at Estes was a killer, something like $ 165 per night.
Regards to all,
Booner
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Hey Cathy and Booner! I can't wait to see you all at Glasgow. Wow! are we going to have fun or what!!!! ;D You camping in your tent Booner?
In Clanship and Friendship
Barbara
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At sometime in the future, it would be nice to have the AGM at Estes Park. But for that to happen, in my opinion,we would need more members in the mountain states area in order to shift the geographic center of our membership farther to the west. So Michael, its up to you and me to see that that happens.
I'm up for that Booner. Does anybody have something on the geographic distribution of Society members? Be curious to know how the regions stack up now.
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Dearest Barbara,
Yes, I'll be tenting it, unless I get "lucky," of course.
--yours,
Big, hairy & scary
And Michael,
I need to write a letter to all the contacts we made in ESTES, and to my regret, I have not done so, In order to get some help to run the tent. I know I can count on you, but the event lasts 4 days and if it's just the two of us, we'll be worn out, and that'll take the fun out of the whole thing. Plus, with more help, you get to enjoy the gathering, not just work the table
--What are your ideas about Highlands Ranch?
regards,
Booner
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Michael,
I need to write a letter to all the contacts we made in ESTES, and to my regret, I have not done so, In order to get some help to run the tent. I know I can count on you, but the event lasts 4 days and if it's just the two of us, we'll be worn out, and that'll take the fun out of the whole thing. Plus, with more help, you get to enjoy the gathering, not just work the table
--What are your ideas about Highlands Ranch?
If you've got e-mail addresses or something, I'd be glad to help start recruiting. I've got a contact or two I can work on as well.
Highlands Ranch is similar to Estes but smaller. Still good to have a booth. I think they're only two days, but it's a great festival. Well worth our trouble if we can get a few people to help in the booth. Elizabeth Celtic Festival is great too. Our band usually plays there, but I could help out in between.
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For the AGM----
Does anyone know the campsite they reserved (the lot number) ?
I need to call & reserve a site and would like to camp close to the "family"
Booner
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Hi Booner -
Tom and I are in 92......John and Barbara, Heidi and Allan are right up there too. It's on the hill on the left as you drive into the campground. Go to the bath house/dump station and turn left up into the sites along the brow of the hill. I don't know why you can't camp on one of our sites like you did before....?
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Mary, i plan on camping next to you guys, I know you'd enjoy the company!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But If'n i had the choice when I make my selection of open campsites, I wanted to know where you all were.
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Oh, and I should be able to make it to the AGM even _IF_ I don't get re-hired. I have a part-time job now-painting at my condo ($20.00 hour!!!). (this is why I didn't run for another term on the board- so I could work there (and get paid for it !)
Actually, I got the job for my son (aka, The Fruit of my Loins) but I get the feeling that i may have to apply the parental boot to the seat of his pants to get him to start by 0800 everyday.. I love this kid more than life itself, but SOMEDAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TEENAGERS!!!!!!
(I'm sure my father NEVER felt this way about me)!
Booner
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Mary, i plan on camping next to you guys, I know you'd enjoy the company!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"We'll leave the light on............." Of COURSE we want you up there next to us! I've started shopping and getting the 'vittles' figured out. I don't think you necessarily want to be cooking outdoors as well as sleeping out there!
Are you going to be able to come to TN for a day or so before we go to the games? I don't know how fast and far you can push your butt on that bike!
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Mary--
Just to get a heads up, (and a Sam's list together) what do we need to bring for the get-together
Saturday night? And about how many are planning to have?
Paula
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Hi Paula -
This year, everyone's on their own for meals. Trying to organize and find foods everyone likes/can eat is a pain......so this year, eat on your own. I think if we had some desserts/snacks for before/after the meeting to sit and visit would be great. So.....cake, chips, cookies...stuff like that. Ideas? We'll probably have cold drinks in a cooler available.......
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I have a job!
I'm looking forward to seeing the family at the AGM
Booner
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WOO HOO!!!
Knew they couldn't lay off a nice boy like you.............now, get out of having to work the day after Memorial Day so you can come early!
Mary
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So last week, before I knew if I would keep my job--I took a part-time job for my son & myself to do some much need painting around our condo. ($20/hr--i'm not turning that down)
So now i'm busier than ever---but very much employed--so no complaints from me.
May not be posting very much for awhile.
--and I on the way to ky I have to stop at my mom's--- the recent storm have taken off some shingles on her house and I have to be the good son and replace them. So I think I'll leave on tues but don't know how long it will take me at my mom's (central Missouri--Boonvile)
Booner
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I just want to let you know, that I regret Bryan and I will not be attending this weekend's AGM. Bryan was just diagnosed with Stomach cancer.........and the outlook is not promising. We are headed to the Mayo clinic for an appointment tomorrow morning at 7:00am, please pray for us. We have a saying in my family, that we never let the big ones get away, and that is how we feel about Bryan, we are not going to let him get away.
Love to all of you!
Cathy
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Cathy,
Mayo Clinic is one of the best but we'll still keep you and Bryan in our prayers. I imagine you'll be very busy for awhile but try stay positive and keep us posted.
Stu
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Cathy and I talked about this on the phone, so I won't post all that here ---- our prayers are with you both.
Mary and Tom
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Cathy and Bryan, I just wanted to tell you how sorry I was to hear about Bryans' prognosis and that you are in our prayers. We will start a prayer chain here in Kentucky and with Gods help and positive thinking all things can and will be done! Stay strong and positive the way this family has always done!
May the best you've seen be the worst you will ever see!!
Yours in family and spirit! Bev
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Cathy, I want to extend our thoughts and support for you and Bryan in your journey down this rutted road. :( We, just last week, had a brother-in-law diagnosed with colon/rectal cancer and his battle will be a long and strenuous one. We have hope he will be fit for the fight. I am an RN and I know how taxing the treatment can be. Mayo is clearly one of the best. So I know you'll get good care there. One of my friends had bone cancer about 10 years ago and she sought treatment there and she is cancer free now! Set the hook and hold on tight! Karma
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Kathy and Bryan,
You'll be well covered with prayers from me as well and
God is just so good at what He does!
Donna
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2009 Glasgow Games Report
I thought the attendance was down, but the games committee said the gate was close to last year’s. There were 63 clan tents and 25 vendors and at least 17 Clan Thompson Society members at the games this year.
We were one of the Harp contest sponsors and got a photo of the winner of our “Most Promising Harpest” trophy – Candace Anderson. She has only been playing for two years and was very pleased with the silver tray.
Saturday night we again used John and Barbara’s garden tent for the AGM. I was disappointed in the number of ballots we received by email but our intrepid director from CO, Dan “Booner”, reported that all the reports were accepted and 42 aye votes for Directors Harold Bennett, Barbara Moore and Tom Thompson as president. The motion by Thomas Thompson (IN) and seconded by Harold Bennett. “It is resolved by the directors and members of Clan Thompson Society that the Society Petition Lyon King of Arms for Corporate Arms after 2011. Further it is resolved that the society Treasurer establish an account for donations and funds to be used for fees and costs associated with obtaining arms for the society. Hereafter, one dollar of each membership dues collected will be allocated to this fund” received 38 aye votes. There were no nay votes cast by any the members on any ballot item.
Barbara Cash moved that the 2010 AGM be held at Glasgow Ky. This was tabled until all members were able to vote by email. Alternate locations will be considered if submitted,.
If you have a suggestion or preference for the 2010 AGM location please email me with your suggestion no later than 20 June 2009. I will then send all members a ballot for their consideration.
There being no further clan business, the meeting was adjourned and we got down to the serious business of christening new kilts and electing our next ‘Grand Poo Bah’.
The only new kilt was worn by James Hall. The kilt was anointed in Scotch supplied by Ed Dietz and all the members participated in the ritual accepting of a shot of the elixir of Scotland.
By voice vote, Fred Cash was elected as our new ‘Grand Poo Bah’ after Hannah Thompson was ruled under age and John Moore was not allowed to withdraw his nomination.
We then demolished all the goodies brought by the members and someone managed to empty most of the bottle of Scotch.
In one of the pictures on Mary’s post, you’ll notice the small camel tartan banner with a Thompson shield. It was made by Allan Thompson’s mother and was quite beautiful. A nice addition for the weekend!
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As always, a great time! We had quite a few members who had planned on attending who couldn't make it at the last minute, but those of us who were there had a busy weekend and great times around the table.
The weather, for once, was a rather pleasant 85+ degrees. OK, not that pleasant, but compared to the years we've had 100+.................:) The south's reputation for humidity was sustained in full force and Booner (Colorado boy, don't ya know) declared the south 'unfit for humans.' We had our tents almost in the same spot as last year - which gives us shade most of the day, a nice breeze, and we could here the music of the entertainers.
The clans were down this year with many of even the larger ones missing. Vendors also were thinned out a bit, but that's an opportunity for others to apply and come in for next year! Talking with games management about the clans being down, she said a lot had canceled or not booked, explaining that this year they were saving their traveling funds for the Gathering 2009 in Edinburgh. Makes sense, I guess but you would think they could have had at least one person at a tent! The gate was almost normal, but that included the pro athletes and there were more of them than last year....fewer people walking around the clan and vendor areas though. Sunday was really off, but it made for a relaxing day at the tent!
So, how did it go? Well, we sponsored a trophy for the harping competition and the "Most Promising Harper" was Candace Anderson of Lake St. Louis, MO. We have a nice picture of her (with trophy) and with Tom in front of our tent.
(http://www.clanthompson.org/Temp/AGM%202009%20002.jpg)
Barbara Moore donated a beautiful Mizpah kilt pin as a drawing award....all you had to do was buy a button or bumper stick or make a donation and you got an entry put in for the pin. The winner was drawn at closing on Sunday and the pin was won by Sharon Hall. (Our members were eligible for the drawing since it wasn't a raffle, but a thank-you for support). We had lots of books, handouts of various kinds, our Teddy Bears dressed in their finest Thompson Dress blue and a herd of various sheep (one wearing a kilt, tam AND a blue ribbon!). We had two tents FULL of members and on Sunday, expanded into the (then) empty tent next to us so we would have more room for chairs. THAT's a success. We had one of the largest contingents in the Parade of Tartans again!
AND......we won the BEST CLAN TENT AWARD!!! WOO HOO! And THAT (snapping my fingers) to those who claim we aren't a clan! And there were 63 clan tents, so this is no small honor! I think Tom is going to post the criteria they judged on --- if not, I'll post it later! The award was presented by Lord Ailsa, Chief of Clan Kennedy and Chief of the Games. (we were in the stands....off stage, left, clapping!)
(http://www.clanthompson.org/Temp/AGM%202009%20006.jpg)
Our AGM was held Saturday night at the campgrounds. We had a good turnout and munched our way through the agenda. Thanks to Pam and Ted Herring for bringing the pop, Heidi and Allan Thompson for the chips, Ed Dietz for a wonderful chocolate brownie cake, Paula and Jim Womack for a pastry-chef made carmel cheesecake (I didn't get a piece!!!), Sharon Hall for donating energy bars and homemade brownies for the tent and AGM and special thanks to Barbara and John Moore for putting up their 10x20 screen tent for us to use for the weekend and Harold and Patsy Bennett for once again providing the cooler and all the cold drinks for the clan members at the clan tent. Without all of you, our clan events would be impossible.
We missed having Our Warrior Princess Cathy (McTavish) and Bryan Hulstedt with us for the weekend as planned but trust they will be with us next year! The only other sad note was the absence of Albannach - especially hard hit by this were Pam, Barbara and Babs. ;D
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I thought some of you might be interested in an article in the 2009 Glasgow program.
THE SEARCH FOR CLAN CHIEFS
What is an officially recognized clan?
In Scotland, a clan or family is a legally recognized group having a corporate identity similar to that of an American company. In fact, it is thought of as a “noble incorporation” because it has an officially recognized chief or head who, being a nobleman of Scotland, confers his noble status on his particular family or clan. In an Act of Parliament of 1597, we have the description of the “Chiftanis and chieffis of all clannish…duelland in the hielands or bordouris” thus using the word ‘clan’ to describe both Highland and Lowland families. Both of these groups consist of aggregates of families, comprising presumed cadet branches of the central stem. Additionally, both name groups are distinguished by their members bearing the surname of the chief or family head. A name group which does not have a chief, has no official position in Scottish law and this is causing numerous problems in modern Scotland.
Today, a large number of clans who had chiefs in the 16th or 17th centuries now find the genealogical blood link to the last known chief has died out or been lost. Consider that 99 of the 202 clans in the ‘lists of clans’ on ‘Electric Scotland.com’ are without a chief. Three additional clans are in the process of applying for official recognition. An example: Thomson, the 4th most numerous surname in Scotland and with the distinction of being included as a West Marche clan in the Scottish Parliamentary Acts of 1587 and 1594 (Roll of Clans), had no official position because the clan chief’s name was not known.
It should be noted that the various Sept lists, published in the various Clans and Tartan books, have no official authority. They merely represent some person’s view of which name groups were in a particular clan’s territory, which is why we find a particular surname listed as a Sept of several different clans.
The revival of all things Scottish led the Lord Lyon, King of Arms, to address the problem of having a recognized clan without a noble chief by implementing two different procedures:
· The most common method was to expand the concept of the corporate identity of a clan to include clan societies or associations. For example, in 1984 Lord Lyon issued a warrant of matriculation for the name of Armstrong Clan Society, Inc. acting world-wide to further the interests of the Armstrong family.
· The second method involves armorial bearings. This procedure is a modern invention
dressed up as an old Highland tradition. To understand this concept, the following is from Learney’s Legacy, a lecture delivered to the Heraldry Society of Scotland by John Hamilton Gaylor on 29 September 2007.
“ Lyon Office issued guidance on resuscitation of dormant and extinct chiefships that is essentially the composition of an electoral college for choosing a chief. The group of electors is called a ‘derbhfine’ or ad hoc derbhfine. Learney (Sir Thomas) reasoned that the clan structure required the heads of five ‘houses’ of common descent to comprise a gilfine, the lowest level of organized clan government, considered to be the descendants of a grandfather. The next level of clan government is the derbhfine, the heads of nine houses descended from a common great grandfather. In the case of chiefly intestacy, they would act to determine who should be the next chief. Reduced to its simplest form, the derbhfine could be considered as a conclave of the clan lairds. A modern derbhfine would consist of 8-9 armigers of a name or proven landholders. Meeting under the guidance of Lord Lyon and electing a commander or captain, subject to Lyons approval. The elected leader would then serve for a period of time sufficient to allow a person directly descended from the last known chief to have made a claim. Usually considered to be 10
to 20 years. If no claimant was found, the elected leader would become the clan chief.”
A synopsis of the Clan MacAulay petition to the Lord Lyon Court is provided as an example of such a meeting. An ad hoc derbhfine was convened by Ross herald in August 2001. In all, 6 armigers and 10 landowners were contacted. The 5 landowners proved title by submitting title deeds and 2 of the armigers provided statements. The decision of the derbhfine to propose to Lyon that Iain McMillan MacAulay be appointed as chief was unanimous.
Lyon refused the Petition and supplied the following rational: In other meetings of derbhfines for chiefs, there was a candidate with an imperfect blood-link. Here there was no blood-link, merely the derbhfine as authority. The derbhfine is the last resort where there is no real hope that a genealogically related descendant can be found. This was the first instance of a petition for a chief having no genealogical link to the last known chief. An additional factor is that a 10 year period must elapse between the appointment as Commander and as “chief” with no such genealogical link. This case was further frustrated by the age of the petitioner (80) and his elder son, as heir, having to be considered becoming the chief within a relatively short span of time.
Tom Thompson
President
Clan Thompson Society
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I know I'm late in reporting on Glasgow and I can't add to what Tom and Mary said, but once again it was a wonderful gathering with family and very dear friends. I was so proud seeing our Thompsons marching in the Parade of Tartans, and having the most members except Clan Raknar (and they are not a real Clan) just people like us who love to get together to honor our ancestors and have fun. Our AGM went great and the visiting and laughter afterwards was wonderful as always. As Mary said "WOO HOO" on the Best Clan Tent Award. :D It was great to finally meet my cousin Paula after emailing back and forth for years. Booner and I compared ancestors and found out we are closer than we thought we were. :D He's big and hairy but not as scary as he likes to make us think he is. ;D
Cathy, I'm so sorry about your husband's health problem and please know you all will be in my thoughts and prayers. I was really looking forward to meeting you, our Warrior Princess. Sometime in the near future we will meet. :D
If John will give me enough time I will post some of the pictures I took. Since he retired he keeps me so busy that I hardly know what day it is most of the time. :-\
Barbara
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Barbara's pictures are posted in the Gallery section of the society's website.......go to GALLERY, and Glasgow 2009. There's a slide show of all the pics sent in so far...........