The Chieftain's Letter

May 2006

Jim Monteith

OK Members!!!. I am officially worried about the member turnout at the last two H&T meetings. Only 15 members showed up for our March meeting and then only 16 showed up for our April meeting. Is it me or what? Our April program featuring cowboy poet and story teller Scott Baumgardner was excellent. Thanks, to our Program Director Cheryl May for working so hard. See what you members are missing out on, excellent entertainment and free food. How can you beat that?

I was saddened earlier this month when I learned that member Ellen Johnson had died at home unexpectedly. Her mother, Janet Johnson, fell and suffered a broken hip in early March and is recovering in an area nursing home. Also, member Ed MacAllister, suffered a broken hip and was hospitalized. Our thoughts and prayers go out to these members and their families.

Former member Virginia Staat’s church, Timber Ridge Presbyterian, is having their second Kirkin O’ the Tartans on May 21st in The Woodlands. H&T will be supplying tartans for this event. I will try to talk her into rejoining our Society when I see her there. Maybe we can start a new tradition of a Kirkin in the Spring.

Our May 2006 meeting has been moved to the 3rd Monday of May due to the Memorial Day Holiday being on the fourth Monday. So don’t forget to show up on May 22nd. Our May program will be Reverend Dr. Douglas Harper Jr. speaking on The Reformation. Doug is presently Associate Pastor at Grace Presbyterian Church. He is retired from St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church where he served for many years. He was best friends with Past Chieftain Ed Brodie.

The Houston Highland Games appear to have had another successful year. Our Society sponsored an open bag piping competition on Friday, May 12th at the host hotel. Officers of H&T awarded $1000.00 in prize money to five pipers that competed. Many thanks to Chuck Monteith, Ken and B.J. Sorrels, Mark Monroe and my wife Sharon Monteith for being troopers and manning the H&T booth both Saturday and Sunday. Lots of present and past members of H&T stopped by the booth to visit. We had a refreshment budget this year and we passed out water, soda, and snacks to prospective members. This year H&T had a free drawing for a nice gift on both days. On Saturday Jere L. Wilson Jr. won a free membership to the Houston Fine Arts Museum. Included with this gift was a mug, a ball cap and a book about the Museum. On Sunday, Jeff Burns won a Sunday brunch for four at the Marriott Houston Westchase. The tartans of our Society, which represent the families past and present who have supported Heather and Thistle, were displayed proudly around the arena and at our booth and were the topic of many interested families.

Your Chieftain ,

Jim Monteith

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