The slate of office bearers that has been nominated for the coming year is shown in this Newsletter. Cheryl May is to be congratulated on having put together a team that when elected will serve Heather & Thistle well. You have heard me say that times are tough for societies like ours. One of the consequences is that a small group of people tend to have their work cut out to keep things going. It is particularly gratifying that for the coming year we have new people coming forward to serve as well as former office bearers returning after a well-earned break from service. This bodes well for H&T for 2010-11. Please be sure to come out to the March meeting to elect this slate and see the new office bearers sworn-in.
After all the gloom and doom we experienced in the long preparation, the Society's 57th Annual Robert Burns Supper & Ball held in the Marriott Westchase on January 23 turned out to be a great success. As you all know, ticket sales were extremely slow this year until the last two weeks, when thanks to a last minute push by all concerned the total attendance was brought very close to our committed target of 350. Our Treasurer will report on this in March, but H&T avoided what looked like being a huge financial hit and was able to make charitable donations after all. Congratulations to planning chairman Ken Sorrels and his committee and all who helped to make this possible. Congratulations also to Ted Hirtz and all the other performers on the night. It is very likely that, to be financially prudent, our 2011 Supper will be a smaller affair. The planning committee for next year's event is already engaged in researching alternative formats and venues. Any suggestions are most welcome. See our website for photos and a link to a YouTube video clip from this year's Burns Supper.
On the Sunday afternoon following the Burns Supper about 25 members met for a short ceremony to honor Robert Burns at our Bust in Hermann Park followed by a fun meeting in the Churchill Room at the Black Labrador Pub. The H&T Burns Club gave its annual performance, a Scottish Trivia Quiz was held and the evening was capped by some enthusiastic singing of Scottish songs. This format has proved very popular with members.
The next meeting of H&T will be on Monday, March 22 at 7:30 PM in the Churchill Room at The Black Labrador, 4100 Montrose. There will be a short business meeting to report on the 2009-10 year and the Burns Supper followed by the election and swearing-in of the new slate of office bearers for 2010-11. There will then be a Scottish Karaoke complete with a DJ. Judging by the success of the sing-along at the January meeting this should be a lot of fun. I encourage everyone to attend and bring some friends along.
Eileen Moore missed the Burns Supper because of a recent fall. We wish her all the best for a full recovery. Please send sunshine items to info@heatherandthistle.org.
H&T is running a table display about Scotland at Wilchester Elementary School, 13618 St. Mary's Lane, Houston, TX 77079 on Thursday, March 11 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. We need volunteers to cover this and to provide suitable materials like books, maps, photographs, banknotes, coins and leaflets and all things Scottish. Please contact any office bearer or e-mail info@heatherandthistle.org.
Our webmaster Robin Mills has done a great job for the last three years in revitalizing and maintaining our website, all on a purely voluntary basis. Robin wants to step aside within the next few weeks, so we urgently need someone to take over the maintenance of the site. Please contact me if you would like to take this on or know someone who might.
For Past Chieftain Ted Hirtz to thank him for his moving musical Immortal Memory. Check out Ted's tartan at www.heatherandthistle.org.
Robert Boyd
Chieftain