Tartan Day in the U.S.of A

[auld argonian]

It's good that the St. Andrew's Societies have celebrations but I wonder if the average person feels that Tartan Day is limited to members of the Societies.

Love to see a campaign of historical information about the influence of the Scots in the framing of the American Democracy and Scottish Americans of note. It should probably be Tartan MONTH rather than Day.

Best

AA

[beloitpiper]

It's good that the St. Andrew's Societies have celebrations but I wonder if the average person feels that Tartan Day is limited to members of the Societies.

I'm not a member, but that has never deterred me! But I think you're right, some people may be shy about asking whether the celebration is open to the public. As the newly elected President of the Celtic Society at Beloit College, I'm working really hard to create awareness of Tartan Day on campus and throught the town.

[macwilkin]

It's good that the St. Andrew's Societies have celebrations but I wonder if the average person feels that Tartan Day is limited to members of the Societies.

Love to see a campaign of historical information about the influence of the Scots in the framing of the American Democracy and Scottish Americans of note. It should probably be Tartan MONTH rather than Day.

Best

AA

The majority of the programs presented on Tartan Day are open the public, and in the case of some, such as the Missouri Tartan Day parade in St. Charles, the public cannot help but take notice of the occasion, since the parade goes up historic Main Street! Other groups send volunteers into the schools and to community organizations to speak on the holiday and its significance.

And many groups do sponsor programs that highlight many of the themes that you mention, especially the Scottish-American connection.

I should point out, though, that St. Andrew's/Scottish societies are overwhelmingly all volunteer organizations (save larger ones like in Chicago, NY and DC) and can only do so much. And even then, the news media doesn't always print press releases, etc. -- I am the Public Information Officer for our society, and the local fishwrap is very inconsistent in publishing our information -- and I was a journalism minor in university, and had classes on how to write press releases. Thankfully we have a connection inside the newspaper now.

We can always use more volunteers, AA -- I'm sure the St. Andrew's Society of Illinois could find a job for you!

T.

[auld argonian]

When I suggest putting out historical information, I guess that I'm thinking in terms of little television spots like those that we here get in Black History Month and Hispanic History Month. I know that these amount to "sound bites" but they would just put a little bit more information out in the public's way. Tartan Day gets very little coverage in Chicago...it gets lost in the crowd of ethnic "days" here in a city that has just about everything except "Canadian Day"...

We recently ran a month celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Louis Sullivan through the City Council.

Best

AA