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.
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!)
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.