| Alex Murray, Beltane Festival Chairman |
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CONGRATULATIONS ALEX!
2016 Award Winner
Alex joined the Scottish American Society not that long ago (as
he will readily tell you) but he has become such a driving force that we do not know what we would do without him.
Born in Scotland with a commensurate accent
(we call him "the Rogue with a Brogue') his charm, quick wit, and enthusiastic participation have generated positive responses
from everyone who meets him.
When the time came for award recipient nominations there were many, but every one was for Alex. Congratulations to you, Alex - contrary to your denial, the award is well deserved.
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2015 AWARD
Congratulations
to:
DAVE and DIANNE ALLISON
Presented at
St. Andrews Dinner December 4th
The winners of the Rose and Thistle award this year have
been part of the organization since the very beginning. They have been there
lending their love and
support right along. If it wasn’t for
them, we might not even exist. It was at
their urging that we formed the Scottish American Society and they have been
there, ready to serve and quietly competent, ever since. If we needed a task
done, they did it. If we needed a program, they provided
one. If we needed someone to represent
us, they were there. They have represented us at various venues, always making
us very proud of their efforts.
Dianne & Dave Allison are our winners. They have won the
award and our love and
thanks as well. ***************************
| Bob and Ida Morehead |
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| Photo by David Belvin |
Ida Morehead 2014
Award Winner Presented at St. Andrew's Dinner - December 5th,
2014 CONGRATULATIONS! This is a long deserved award. Ida has been a vital part of almost all Scottish
American Society activities, almost from the very first. At our first Spaghetti Dinner Fund Raiser, Ida ran the kitchen
like a dictator. She knew what she was doing and more important, she knew what we should do!
At our first very chilly Beltane Festival it
was Ida there with a warming pot of soup. She maintained that tradition for several festivals after that. Whenever asked,
Ida was there to roll up her sleeves and get the job done. No organization can long exist without members like our Ida.
Thank you, Ida, for all you do and all you have done.
Congratulations
to our newest Rose and Thistle Award Winner Presented at the St. Andrews Dinner - December 6th 2013
Dreama Powell
NEO Harpers is the NorthEast Ohio
chapter of the International Society of Folk Harpers and Craftsmen (ISFHC).
Members include all levels of harpestry, from new beginner to professional
players. Dreama is a past president and currently maintains the membership
roster.
Dreama is on the Board of Trustees for
Ohio Scottish Games, and serves in the Ohio Scottish Arts School. She teaches
the Celtic harp and is interested
in the history and genealogy of those of Scottish Descent in America.
Dreama
has always been willing to help out with programs for our group and by playing
her harp at various events in the Scottish American community.
******************* Dreama left us on June 6th, 2016. She is now playing her harp with a group in Heaven.
Dreama was a charter member of the
Scottish American Society. She was our
2013 winner of the Rose & Thistle award for her work in the Scottish
American community. Dreama was on the
Board of Trustees for Ohio Scottish Games, and served in the Ohio Scottish Arts
School. She taught the Celtic harp and
was interested in the history and genealogy of those of Scottish Descent in
America.
Dreama was also a member and officer of
the Daughters of Scotia, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and did
extensive research into the relationship between Scottish immigrants and the
Native American community. She was loved by many and will be sorely missed.
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| Beltane 2012 |
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| Jim on the left, Bob Morehead on the right. |
Bob Morehead
2012 Award Winner
Presented at St. Andrew's Dinner - November 30, 2012
Bob is a member of the Council of Elders of the Clan Muirhead Society and has received the Order of the Saltire from that
society. It is Clan Muirhead’s highest honor for exceptional service. Bob came to our rescue with the first Beltane
Festival, providing the much-needed music and sound system. He and his brother have been with us ever since. Bob frequently
gives programs for our meetings and has been there for us whenever we’ve asked him. His wife, Ida, is also an active
member. Ida is a super cook and an excellent baker. She provided the cakes last year and this year for the St. Andrews.
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BETTY & GENE MARCUS
2011 Rose & Thistle Award Winners
Presented at the St. Andrews Dinner, Dec. 2, 2011
Our much loved Gene Marcus is now getting a chapter organized on a different
plane. He left us on Sunday, July 31, 2016 and a Memorial Service was held on Saturday, August 13th at the Northminster
Presbyterian Church in North Canton, Ohio. Inurnment will take place at a later date in Lakewood Cemetery in Holland,
Michigan where he was born December 22nd, 1928. He will be missed by all of us, but especially by his wife, Betty.
_____________________________________________________________
For the first time we have dual award winners. Gene and Betty Marcus have been stalwart supporters of our group
from the very beginning. They've helped immeasurably. From providing refreshments for our meetings to overseeing
many operations in our various events, we simply don't know what we would do without them. Our congratulations to these
two wonderful people. And a very sincere "Thank You" for all they have done.
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| Donne at Christie Walshes "Taste of Scotland" event. |
2010 Award Winner
Our 2010 Award Winner was announced at the
St. Andrew's Dinner on December 4th.
It is Donne Shepperly.
Donne is the Great Lakes Regional Commissioner of the Clan Donald
Society USA. She is on the Board of the Ohio Scottish Games and active in the Scottish Heritage Association of Northeast
Ohio. She is also active in Sas'y and helps with many events including the Beltane, the St. Andrews Dinner, and the
recent Water Aid benefit.
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Our Rose and Thistle award for 2009 went to our Scottish American Society piper, Brian McElhiney. Brian and
his wife, Julie, (not to mention the lovely Miss Meghan) brighten our lives in so many ways.
He is always willing to help out whenever we ask - for sad occasions and glad ones. He is also the Pipe Sergeant of the
Akron & District Pipe Band and represents the Scottish American community in many venues. He has spoken to our group on
more than one occasion, and performed for us at the St. Andrews. Congratulations to our Brian, a very deserving winner.
*Photo by Lew Stamp
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| (L-R) Frances Acar with Julie Kennedy |
This year the Rose and Thistle Award was won by Frances Acar. Frances heads our Beltane Celebration
and is on the Board of the Scottish American Cultural Society of Ohio. She supports many area Scottish
efforts, teaches Scottish Gaelic and song, presents participants in Gaelic mods, and teaches Scottish
Country Dancing. Her students have won many prizes in competitions over the years. She now
teaches Gaelic via the Internet (don't know how she does that) and thus reaches far outside our community.
We are very proud of our Frances and pleased to present her with the 2008 Rose and Thistle Award for service to the Scottish
American community.
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| Christy Urquhart Walsh |
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| Performing at Sas'y Beltane Festival in 2007 |
Christie Urquhart Walsh was our Rose & Thistle Award winner for 2007. Christie instructs
and manages the Tigh na Creige Highland Dance Group and has for many years. A top award winning dancer herself, she
and her dancers perform in many venues, including a recent performance in conjunction with the Akron Symphony Orchestra.
She uses such opportunities to convey information about the Scottish Culture to those who are not familiar with it. Christie
is a Certified B.A.T.D. Dance Instructor in Highland and National levels. Christie's father is the Chief of Clan
Urquhart and she is the head of that clan in this area. Christie and husband Tim have three daughters and a son, all
involved with the art of Highland Dance.
Rick Neidert was our Rose and Thistle Award winner, which was presented at the Sas'y Solstice Celebration.
Rick was Convener of Clan Gordon in Ohio and a very active participant in SACSO and the Ohio Scottish Games. He passed
away suddenly and unexpectedly in October of 2006. Lori Neidert accepted the posthumous award for her husband at our
Solstice celebration. Along with Rick, the following were awarded Certificates of Merit for their wonderful contributions
to Scottish Heritage and Culture: Frances Acar, Don Mellen, and Christie Walsh.
Congratulations to all. We are fortunate to have so many candidates who work so hard for the Scottish American community.
| Rose & Thistle Award Winner |
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| Agnes Bagley & Gene Marcus |
Our Rose & Thistle Award winner for 2005 was Agnes Bagley. Agnes continued to be active
in the Scottish American community despite the fact that she turned an amazing 96 years young on September 27th of 2005. Agnes
volunteered throughout the area, not just for Scottish events, but at Summa Hospital, hospice, and alzheimer's care.
She once was the mainstay of the Akron & District Pipe Band, has held several offices in the Daughters of Scotia,
and even held her own in Scottish Country Dancing until she reached the age of 98. Agnes' Scottish Shortbread is legendary.
She won every contest hands down. Born in Scotland, she was happy to tell you that her father worked on the Titanic
and that she walked on the decks of the Titanic - fortunately before it made the disastrous journey for which it is well
known. Agnes left us early in the morning of May 8th, 2016 at the age of 106. She left an amazing legacy
of laughter, charm, duty and perseverance. Even as her life was on the wane, she would roll herself down the corridor of the
assisted living quarters where she stayed, singing :Roamin In The Gloamin. Somewhere in a kitchen
far, far away, our Agnes is probably rolling out a tray of shortbread for her heavenly companions. I have no doubt she
is still singing a Scottish tune as she works.
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