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ALERT: Be On The Lookout
COSCA will soon be inviting you to join us at KILTR.com
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We have an admission to make:
We have grown weary of the non-Scottish noise on Facebook.
Finally, it occurred to us:
(duh)
Who needs it?
Sure we need a great social networking site that makes it easy for Scottish Americans to connect and share awesome Scottish content, events and collaborative projects with Scots all over the world.
OK, no sweat - we already have that site (lucky to be Scottish I guess).
It is called KILTR, it is homegrown out of Glasgow and we are delighted to be working together with the good folks over there to build and launch a fun new COSCA Group on KILTR.com. We are still under construction but check us out at www.KILTR.com/COSCA.
They say KILTR is made in Scotland from electrons. We can't tell yet about the electrons but it is a fun and energetic place to connect when you are thinking about anything Scottish. We encourage you to hop across the virtual pond and visit the KILTR folks at www.KILTR.com to learn more about what they are doing and plan to do.
And be on the lookout for our invitation to join COSCA and thousands (soon to be millions) of like minded Scots and people of Scottish descent to share, connect and enjoy about all things Scottish on KILTR.
Slainte!
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BE A PIONEER !
Scottish Aviation (Prestwick) Pioneer
1947
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Take the First COSCA Survey
Of All Time
(that we know of)
We are trying to get a better grip on the Scottish American world around us. We have a few questions that we would love you to answer if you have a minute or two. We will use your answers to serve the Scottish American community better.
Click Here to take the COSCA Survey
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CHECK THIS OUT:
Verb: look here, see this. Often used in a situation concerning something considered awesome.
Ice Is Not Just For Scotch Anymore
Grab your favorite dram (if yer old enough), kick back for 26 minutes (you can spare it) and watch this little ditty about something you can do in Scotland that has nothing to do with golf ...
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Scottish Ice Trip:
Ben Nevis
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Join Our List
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An interesting blog:
The Scottish Emigration Blog:
Notes on a wandering people, their homeland and more.
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The Scottish Emigration Blog is a good place to visit for historical resource recommendations and historical news about Scotland and her diaspora. Try it out.
Blogger Amanda E. Epperson's brief profile:
I completed my PhD in history at the University of Glasgow with a specialization in Scottish migration. I am also interested in bridging the gap between academic and "armchair" historians. When not busy with my own writing, research or blogging, I can be found cooking, reading, knitting or daydreaming.
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COSCA's Cèilidh Corner
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Part of COSCA'S mission is to promote the heritage and culture of the Scottish people. In many ways, music is an ideal reflection of that culture. Our Cèilidh Corner hopes to help connect you to the wide variety of Scottish music available today; both live and recorded. ____________ Finding Scottish Traditional Music Online: A Few Suggestions Most people who attend Scottish games and festivals take time to visit the musician's tent to enjoy the musical entertainment - hearing beautiful ballads, rousing fiddle tunes, and harpers that will bring tears to the eyes when playing beautiful traditional tunes. After they perform, we often visit with the musicians and purchase their CD's. Question: If you are limited in the games you can attend, where do you go to purchase that special CD that you wish you had purchased at the games but didn't? Answer: Go to the web of course ... -- First check to see if that band, group, duo or individual has their own website where you can order online directly from the entertainer; -- Scan the internet for a music distributer (ie: Amazon among others); -- If you have iTunes, go through the iStore and you can either order the CD or download it directly. So, OK, you have all the tunes from the bands you already know - where do you get turned on to new artists from other parts of the country or from Scotland directly? PODCASTS: One great relatively new way get to listen to full tracts of new and sometimes older CD's is via Podcast. If you have iTunes on your computer, you can go to the store and search for podcasts - be careful though when you see the description including "celtic" because that often means "Irish". One podcast that should be highlighted is from Scotland and can be obtained through iTunes or directly from the music distributer and it can be linked to by going to: Footstompin' Choices: Presently, there are over 100 podcasts available to download or just listen to. Each is about 28 minutes long and there is a description of each tract played which names the artist and CD. Then you can order the CD online. By listening to the podcast you decide what you do and don't care for and be your own judge of the music and style. Even if you don't purchase a CD, you will have a great collection of music and will know better who those great musician and singers are out there that (unfortunately) will never make it to your local games. Enjoy! |
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COSCA Store
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Available Now!
Get In The Spirit For 2014!!!
Very Limited Quantities Remain
 The official DVD documentary of the historic Gathering in Edinburgh - July 2009. Click Here to purchase!
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COSCA Dues 411
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COSCA has moved to a calendar year billing cycle (Jan - Dec). Dues are still only $25 per year and should be paid by January 1st annually.
You can always find out if your membership is current by visiting the " Members" page of our website.
Want To Join or Renew? You can pay for your membership one of three ways:
1. Pay online using PayPal. PayPal accepts credit cards or checks.
2. Mail a check. Send checks to: COSCA, P. O. Box 427, Pinehurst, NC 28370. If you're paying for a clan or organization, make sure the name is on your check.
Regardless of the payment method used, please make sure that you complete an online membership form and submit it with your payment.
If you prefer, you can email the form to coscainfo@gmail.com
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From Scotland To Stone Mountain 2012:
Chiefs and Clans Connecting To Sustain Our Common Future
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What: An historic Scottish and American Clan Caucus
When: Friday, October 19, 2012 from 2:00pm - 4:30pm ET
Where: Stone Mountain Highland Games, Stone Mountain, Georgia, USA
Contact: COSCAinfo@gmail.com
 | | The Chiefs on the steps of the Scottish Parliament - Homecoming 2009. Click Here for a key to identify the Chiefs. The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs is the definitive and authoritative body for information on the Scottish Clan System. Visit www.clanchiefs.org to learn more. |
The Council of Scottish Clans & Associations and The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs are delighted to bring together an unprecedented gathering of Scottish Chiefs and Scottish American leaders for a Scottish American caucus at Stone Mountain, Georgia, USA. The event will be available via live webcast for those who cannot be in the room and it will be recorded for posterity.
2012 brings around the 40th anniversary of the prestigious Stone Mountain Highland Games. A remarkable list of Scottish guests are making the trip across the Atlantic to attend and celebrate Stone Mountain's anniversary. In order to capitalize on the historic opportunity to bring Scottish Chiefs and American clan leaders together in the same room to discuss common issues, COSCA and SCSC have collaborated to host: From Scotland To Stone Mountain 2012: Chiefs and Clans Connecting To Sustain Our Common Future.
Click here for a list of Scottish Chiefs, Commanders and heirs who plan to participate in the COSCA/SCSC Stone Mountain Clan Caucus.
THE EVENT: The caucus will include an interactive panel of Scottish Chiefs and American clan leaders discussing topics that get to the heart of the long term vitality and sustainability of our common future. We will include interaction with the audience both in the event room and participating via live webcast.
ON THE AGENDA: Following on from the first international Clan Convention in Edinburgh in 2009, we will discuss progress made and challenges that remain as well as ways that we can overcome those remaining challenges. We will also bring news and update on Scotland's 2013 and 2014 heritage celebrations.
COSCA and SCSC understand the historic dimension of what Stone Mountain Highland Games has brought together for its 40th anniversary celebration and we are honored to ensure that the experience and discussion of the Stone Mountain clan caucus is made available to the greatest number of Americans and others who are interested but cannot be in the room.
Please plan to join us on October 19th for this gathering and discussion in Georgia or via live webcast wherever you are. If you cannot make it, fear not, the event will be recorded and available at www.COSCA.net and www.SCSC.org following its successful conclusion.
For more information or to register for the live webcast, contact us at coscainfo@gmail.com.
 
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Clan Leader Boot Camp 2012:
Join us on December 8, 2012 from 1:00pm - 2:30pm ET for our second online workshop
| |  "Building and Sustaining Your Organization's Membership"
We are thrilled to bring you our second online 'nuts and bolts of running a Scottish American organization' workshop. Our first workshop back in June was a great success and we collected really useful input and feedback from our attendees to improve and target what you need. If you weren't able to attend our first workshop you can view it online at www.COSCA.net.
Don't miss our next workshop on December 8th from 1:00pm - 2:30pm eastern time. We will focus on what seems to be the heaviest burden on a clan leader's mind these days - building and sustaining clan and organization membership over time. We will introduce you to some methods that folks are using successfully as well as some tempting tricks that have proven more trouble than they are worth. We have a few ideas about ways that we can work together to create a bigger bang with our education and outreach programs across the country.
You can join in for some or all of the workshop - your choice.
Stay tuned to COSCA for details and send us an email at coscainfo@gmail.com to pre-register. Space is limited!
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Another Successful COSCA AGM at Grandfather Mountain Highland Games
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A Note Of Thanks to the outstanding staff of Grandfather Mountain Highland Games:
Thank You from the bottom of our hearts to the generous and talented staff of Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. Not only do you put on a remarkable games in a magical place but you patiently host COSCA every year and provide a home base so we can more efficiently serve the clans and organizations of the Scottish American community.
You guys rock.
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REPORT FROM GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN
July 14, 2012:
Thanks again to all of the clans that attended this year's AGM at Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. We had a larger and more interactive meeting this year and the COSCA Trustees fielded several great questions and suggestions.
COSCA shared special greetings from our friend Chairman Mike Cantlay of VisitScotland as well as well wishes from Sir Malcolm MacGregor of MacGregor from the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs. Visit www.COSCA.net to read Mike's and Sir Malcolm's greetings.
We were delighted to announce at our AGM two new programs available for member clans and organizations this year:
1. COSCA Web Meeting Host Program: COSCA will host and facilitate online web meetings for our clan and organization members (up to 100 internet connections) at no charge. This program is up and running and we are accepting reservations for meeting times beginning October 1, 2012. Contact us at COSCAinfo@gmail.com to learn more or to schedule a meeting time.
2. COSCA Mentor Program: COSCA will do our best to use our resources to match experienced mentors to member clans and organizations that are facing thorny issues that defy easy resolution. The program's aim is to find Mentors that can work cooperatively with the organization to help resolve the problem. Contact COSCAinfo@gmail.com for more information or to request a mentor appointment or if you want to serve as a Clan Mentor.
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COSCA Trustee D. Pickens addressing COSCA AGM 2012
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For those of you that were not able to send a representative to this year's AGM the 2012 AGM Packet can be viewed at www.COSCA.net, including 2 012 - 2014 COSCA Strategic Plan and 2012 President's Report.
We hope to see you next year at Grandfather Mountain Highland Games for our 2013 COSCA AGM!
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Grandfather Mountain Highland Games MacRae Meadows, Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina, USA |
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GATHERING AGAIN:
Scotland 2014:
Your Clan Will Be There - Will You?
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 With each newsletter, we like to bring you a bit of the latest news from Stirling Council, the Scottish Government, the National Trust For Scotland, Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs - basically all of Scotland - brought right here to you via the world wide web.
Although there is much meeting and discussing going on, we have nothing further of significance to bring you on Homecoming 2014 at present. Representatives of Homecoming 2014, Stirling Council and National Trust for Scotland have been invited to give presentations and updates to the Stone Mountain clan caucus in October and we hope they can attend.
For now, as always, common sense tells you to start planning your 2014 trip to Scotland now. Here are a few dates to help you figure out where you want to be and when you want to be there:
June 23 - 24, 2014: Opening of the new Bannockburn centre by the National Trust For Scotland (NTS).
June 28 - 29, 2014: Reenactment of the battle of Bannockburn at Bannockburn itself (NTS).
July 11 - 13, 2014: Clans 2014 - International Clan Gathering and Highland Games in Stirling, Scotland.
July 23 - August 3, 2014: Commonwealth Games, Glasgow/Stirling
September 26 - 28, 2014: Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, Scotland
Stay tuned for more information and details as we hear them.
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But why wait until 2014 to visit Scotland?
Battle of Flodden 500th Anniversary
September 9, 2013
2013 sees the 500th anniversary of the last great medieval battle between England and Scotland. It was Scotland's greatest defeat. The battle shaped British and European politics for the next 100 years, culminating in the Union of the English and Scottish crowns in 1603.
To learn more about the considerable program of projects and events commemorating this important battle go to www.flodden1513.com
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