I've been lurking here for a while, but as I made my first post today (well, yesterday now) I thought I should make a proper introduction. My name is Kenneth Mansfield and I live in Central Kentucky.

I put on my first kilt when I joined the Grandfather Mountain Highlanders Pipe Band (Hunting MacRae Weathered) as a drummer back in 1997. Having moved around some, I've since been the drumming instructor with the Prince George's County Police Pipe Band (Prince George's County Police tartan), and played with the Louisville Pipe Band (Henderson Ancient) and the Cincinnati Caledonian Pipes and Drums (MacKenzie Ancient). Work and a new baby have kept me away from drumming for a few years now, but I'm itching to get back to it. In the meantime, I thought I'd hang out here.

Some may note that my avatar is the Carolina tartan; that's my "clan." Most of my family have been in North Carolina since long before the Clan Tartan rage began, though I have many Scots and Scots-Irish in various branches of the tree. I own a kilt in the Carolina tartan (a special-weave order from LochCarron a while back) which I wear mostly for formal occasions, though those opportunities seem fewer and further between these days.

I recognize a few members here from some heraldry-related forums and I have met Matthew Newsome when visiting his fine museum in the lovely mountains of the Old North State (though there is no reason for him to remember me).

I probably won't post much at first, as I'm still trying to keep up with the threads - this is a very active forum - but I'm glad to make your (collective) acquaintance.

Sláinte,
Kenneth