The St. Andrew's Society of the Adirondacks began its way to existence on September 8th, 2001 at the Whiteface Mountain Highland Games in Wilmington, New York. At the end of the two day event, there were forty paid members, who reached out to the calling of the Celtic ray, and made this Society happen.

After only one year, the membership almost doubled! The current membership is based in New York, but members are located as far away as New Jersey, New Hampshire, Texas, Quebec and Alberta, Canada.

The founders of the St. Andrew's Society of the Adirondacks made some ground breaking history when they elected a woman as president to open the Society. The St. Andrew's Society of the Adirondacks is open to anyone who has an interest in Scotland.

The Society, named after Scotland's patron saint, was originally a vehicle for Scottish immigrants to help incoming immigrants who were in need. Today, we recognize that Scots are no longer in need, and so we carry on the history and perpetuation of Scotland.

Several recent newsletters can be downloaded as pdf files (Adobe Acrobat Reader format).

• The current issue, March 2008, is about 300 kb in size. It includes our April 5th Tartan Day plans, and articles and photos from several recent Robert Burns Nights.

• The current issue, December 2007, is about 200 kb in size. It includes upcoming winter programs, reports on recent events, and members news.

• The September 2007 issue is about 900 kb in size. It includes our fall and early winter plans, member news and stories, and other news from Scotland.

• The June 2007 issue is about 200 kb in size. It includes our summer plans, a report on our 2007 Tartan Day celebration, member news, and other news from Scotland.

The St. Andrew's Society of the Adirondacks offers an annual Joseph McCallie Scholarship. Named for one of the founding members of the Society, the scholarship is awarded to support study of Scottish music, dance, and language, as well as writings in the areas of Scottish history, Scots in America, and Scottish culture.

One or more scholarships in the amount of $250 are awarded at the Society's annual meeting in mid-November. This is limited to residents of the Adirondacks. Applicants should send an outline of their intended area of study and their background in that field to:
St. Andrews Socitey of the Adirondacks, PO Box 1424, Lake Placid, NY 12946

The Joseph McCallie scholarship for 2008 has been awarded to Michael Murdoch, a 13-year-old piper from Schroon Lake. Michael became interested in bagpipes after hearing a piper play on the beach in Schroon Lake one summer. He studies under David Jones and Jerry Cashion, and has been a member of the Adirondack Pipes and Drums for 3 years. In addition to playing bagpipes, Michael also plays classical violin, fiddle, baritone trumpet and piano. He is 2nd violin in the Saratoga Springs Youth Orchestra. His other interests include fly tying and practicing wilderness skills with the Adirondack Guides, a 4-H affiliated organization. Michael will attend the Crane Music Camp in Potsdam this summer.

A Joseph McCallie Scholarship was awarded to Michael Miller, Jr. of Lake Luzerne in December, 2006. Michael is a 6th grade student at Saratoga Cen­tral Catholic School. He has been studying the pipes for two years. He plays with the Scotia-Glenville Pipe Band and is the second youngest member of the Galloway Gaelic Pipes and Drums. Michael will use the award to attend a summer music camp. An article and photo are online here.

During the winter of 2006, another Joseph McCallie Scholarship was awarded to 12-year old Adam Blaine of Peru. Adam entertained with piping at the Society's Burns Supper in February. He is a 7th grade student at Peru Middle School and will study piping this summer (2006) at the Ontario School of Piping and Drumming in Aurora, Ontario. Photos from his appearance at our 2006 Burns Night are online here, as a pdf file.

Song, dance, and just plain fun were the focus of "A Day in Scotland" hosted by the St. Andrew's Society of the Adirondacks at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts on July 15th, 2006. Dr. Edward Brash first explained the history and pronunciation of Gaelic language and then led the group in singing songs such as "Old MacDonald's Farm" in Gaelic. Lynnette Fitch Brash taught several social dances such as "Dashing White Sergeant" and "Eightsome Reel". She also demonstrated Scottish step dancing. Dr. Brash is President of the Scottish Society of Tidewater, www.tidewaterscots.com.

The evening was devoted to a ceilidh in which everyone participated. Cameron Anderson played his pipes, and Lindsay York and Lynnette Brash performed dances. Edward Brash played guitar and sang Gaelic songs, and Peter Fish recited poems of Robert Burns. There were jokes and stories by several members of the audience. Following a very lively set of dances the evening was closed with "Auld Lang Syne".

The weekend continued as the Lake Placid Sinfonietta's Sunday concert was "Scotland Forever". Kilted members of the St. Andrew's Society served as ushers. Piper Tom Kirkpatrick led the Parade of the Clans and also piped in the haggis. Peter Fish recited Burns' Address to the Haggis. Bill Burke introduced our scholarship winners: Cameron Anderson from 2003 and Adam Blaine who received a scholarship for 2005. They each played a short piece. The concert closed with Tom joining the Sinfonietta in Amazing Grace.

Tartan Day 2007 is online here

Photos of our April 2006 Tartan Day Celebration are online here

Photos of our April 2005 Tartan Day Celebration also are online here

For more information, please contact us:

• by mail:
  St. Andrew's Society of the Adirondacks
  PO Box 1424
  Lake Placid, New York 12946

• or e-mail: adkscot@bearpond.org

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