HELP- a call to arms!

[Panache]

But is he not right?

Pity the poor schlep at the office as probably left school at the 6th form and is confronted on a daily basis by his .......

Nanook,

Robertson's complaint was of rudeness and insult given to one of his friends and guests at Ferintosh. He seeks an apology for this. I see it little profits us to show equal rudeness by being insulting the employee.

Panache

[ccga3359]

"Mr. Matthews; 'There is, in fact, one loud-mouthed American living in Dumfries, who owns a guest house, struts around the town in his kilt and even does his shopping in it!'”

But is he not right?

No. Robertson may have been born American, but surely he's as Scottish as Ferintosh itself.
Don't know about the loud mouth part but I'm sure glad that he learned English for this though.

[IEScotsman]

It's been a few hours now. None of the e-mails have bounced back, but I have not received reply yet either.

[McClef]

The same here.

So wonder why some have been acknowledged and others have not.

[elitekiltedcommando]

I sent Pour1Malt's message to the original three. With a subtle hint that I will be reconsidering my vacation to Scotland. Heheh.

[JayFilomena]

Visit Scotland staff;

After serving a year in Baghdad, I wanted to take my family for a memorable holiday. I had been staying in London for more then a week, and only planned to visit Scotland for a couple of days. I ended up staying a week. I enjoyed Scotland so much, that I was encouraged by a friend, and fellow operator in Baghdad, to consider moving to Scotland, if only for a year. Alas, I did not, but wanted to very much.

My brief visit to your wonderful country and the impact of your history and culture, have created a longing for a return trip. About 5 years ago, while attending a Celtic festival, I bought a kilt that I only wore for special occasions. I now own 5 kilts, and my pride is an 8 yard Operation Iraqi Freedom: PSD tartan that was registered at the Scottish Tartan Authority. My kilts have been all over the world with me. Baqhdad, Jordan, Ireland, Germany, Amsterdam, and of course, America.

You may or may not be able to appreciate my concern, that as I am discovering a rich and unique heritage, I hear stories how members of Visit Scotland, i.e. Mr. Kerr Matthews, consider me a "Loud Mouth American", and my desire to connect to a time long forgotten is somehow considered obnoxious.

I am sending my mother on another visit to Scotland this summer. I will not let Mr. Kerr Matthews inconsiderate and ill spoken words stop her from a repeat of the wonderful and special time she had on our last vacation. It was people like Mr. Matthews that made me leave London for a week in Scotland. Too bad you have him working for you at VisitScotland.

It would have been considerate of you to send an apology to Mr. Robertson for the horrible things Mr. Matthews is saying while representing your company, and your country.

With Deepest sympathy,

Jay T. King

[mrpharr]

Emails sent. I think we all know that off the cuff remarks are made on occation but you have to know your audience. Im not saying it was right to say what he did but why in the wide wide world of sports would you say this to anyone at a visitation center. This guy has an I-D-10-T problem or as my father would say, "that boy is ate up with the dumbass." It just isn't using the ol noggin.
steve

[Streetcar]

I had to wait until I got home to send this as an email. But it was also sent in letter form, in case it gets picked up by a spam filter:

Dear Mr. Beattie,
I have recently learned of a situation involving one of your employees, which you should be made aware of – and likely all ready are.

Over the last year or so, the owner of a Dumfries guesthouse (Mr. Robertson Wellen) has been posting an online pictorial journal of the sights, experiences, and history of regional Scotland. It is to his credit that the gentleman in question does not advertise or feature his business in these photos – rather he posts of his own personal hikes to scenic overlooks, ruins, items of historical interest, local events, and distilleries to name a few. His pictures, while not that of a professional photographer, are nevertheless spectacular and capture (in my opinion) the beauty of Scotland both past and present. He is quite simply an outstanding advocate for Scottish Tourism, and as a direct result of his journals, I have begun planning a trip to Scotland.

However, I have learned that guests of Mr. Wellen’s guesthouse were recently visiting the Dumfries branch of the VisitScotland offices. One of the guests was from the United States. A question was raised about the popularity of the kilt. One of your employees, Mr. Kerr Matthews, reportedly said something to the effect of, “The only kilts we see are on loud-mouthed Americans.”
He apparently went on to say, “There is, in fact, one loud-mouthed American living in Dumfries, who owns a guest house, struts around the town in his kilt and even does his shopping in it!” The person Mr. Matthews referred to was, in fact, Mr. Wellen.

I do understand that in this day and age, the kilt is considered an unusual garment. I also understand that there are many people who do not like to see the kilt being worn by anyone – especially someone who is not “Fully Scottish.”

What I do not understand – and what I take offense to – is a representative of your company, while in his capacity as a representative, being so openly hostile about Americans in general, and specifically about one who is doing so much for Scottish Tourism. How exactly does one promote tourism, while simultaneously insulting both the tourist and those that would host them?

It is my hope that Mr. Matthews’s behavior is not typical of your organization, and that Mr. Wellen may expect some form of apology for Mr. Matthew’s clearly unprofessional behavior.

Additionally, it might behoove your organization to provide Mr. Matthews with some sort of instruction on the merits of reserving his personal prejudices until he is on his own time, and not representing your company.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

Sincerely,



Kyle Kizzier

(Address included in the letter)

cc: Malcom Roughead - Director of Marketing
Denise Hill - Head of International Marketing
Ewan Colville - Marketing Manager (North America/Asia Pacific)
Donna Black Press Manager - VisitScotland
Elaine Murray - Member of the Scottish Parliament for Dumfries Constituency

[pbpersson]

I sent the email - keep us up to date on this issue.


Phil in Phoenix

[Riverkilt]

Sent my email. Titled it: Son of an RAF Pilot who protected Dumfries

My father was an American boy from Montana who flew Hurricanes for the RAF during War II. His letters home mention flying sector protection over Dumfries. He joined the RAF because our family is from Staffin, Skye - sent to Canada in the clearances.

I am one of those loud mouth Americans who wear kilts. I own over 50 kilts. Most sewn from material woven in Scotland or Great Britain.

I wear the tartans of my ancestral clans proudly.

And, I'm a freind of the gentlemen your Mr. Kerr Mathews insulted in January that your agency has not seen fit to apologize for you.

While at age 62 I am unlikely to visit the country my ancestors were cleared from - and the country my father protected as an RAF pilot, it was a possibility, a long term goal.

Knowing I would be so insulted by the local tourist agency has made planning a trip to the homeland much less of a goal for me.

I am taken even more by the lack of response, than the insults.

Ron Macdonald
Page, Arizona USA
by way of Skye Glen, Nova Scotia and Staffin, Skye.