St. Andrew's Society of Washington, D.C. | St. Andrew's Society of Washington, D.C.

Looking for a bagpiper or bagpipe band? Contact the Pipes and Drums of the St. Andrew's Society of Washington, D.C., also known as the Washington Scottish Pipe Band.

St. Andrew's Society of Washington, D.C.

The Whin & Thistle - Spring 2012
Volume 5, Issue 1 of The Whin & Thistle newsletter is now available.

Wee Dram - Wednesday, May 17, 2012

Once again we are celebrating the opportunity to enjoy a wee dram. We will be gathering at Georgetown's City Tavern Club, 3206 M Street, N.W Washington, DC 20007, on Thursday, May 17th at 7:30 PM. We'll be gathering in the upstairs library for drinks and a friendly game of bread roll Cricket. Please wear a necktie and jacket (club rules) and bring enough cash to cover your bar tab. And as always, highland attire is not mandatory, it is always encouraged!

Society Members Meeting and Dinner - Thursday, May 24, 2012 McLaren

Please join your Society brethren for the May Members Meeting and Dinner on Thursday, May 24, at the Belle Haven Country Club, 6023 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria, Virginia. Genealogist Robert McLaren will discuss Scottish family genealogy and DNA testing. Bob started his genealogical pursuits in 1976, shortly after he and his family moved to Fairfax County, Virginia. Since then, he has researched in county courthouses, county libraries, state archives, and state libraries throughout the United States and Canada. He used the National Archives, the Library of Congress, the DAR Library, Family History Centers, and now uses a number of databases available via the Internet. He also researched in record repositories in Dublin (Ireland), Belfast and Londonderry (Northern Ireland). In 1994, Bob became a professional genealogist. In 2004, Bob started the Clan MacLaren Surname DNA Project with the intent of using DNA as another tool in researching the genealogies of the Clan. Bob is also the Administrator of the Lindo Surname DNA Project and the Braham Surname DNA Project as well as the Co-Administrator of the Silva Surname DNA Project.

The business meeting is scheduled to begin at about 8:30pm. One critical item on the agenda is the selection of the 2012 Nominating Committee that will research, evaluate and propose the Society officers, trustees, and managers for the next elections.

If you wish to join us for dinner, you will need to make a reservation and pay $65 (plus $3 fee if purchased online) in advance. You do not need to pay for dinner to attend the business meeting, We will begin the evening at 6:30 PM with cocktails followed by dinner at 7:15 p.m. Before we enjoy dinner, new members will be piped in and inducted into our august body. The program will commence at about 8:00 PM and the business meeting will begin at about 8:30 PM. Please note that both protocol and tradition require gentlemen to wear jacket and necktie at evening dinner meetings. Highland dress (daywear jacket and kilt) is encouraged but not required. Members are encouraged to bring guests to join us for dinner and to hear the presentation. However, only members may attend the business meeting. The cost of the dinner is $65 (plus $3 fee if purchased online). Please see the RSVP form here.

You can charge your purchase to either your Visa or MasterCard, or use your PayPal account. Please have your charge card information available. You can select the number of tickets you wish to purchase using the drop-down menu below. Once you click "Add to Cart" you will have the opportunity to change the number of tickets, or remove your order if you wish.
Select the number of tickets you wish to purchase:

Names of my guests or please seat me with:

For more information, please contact Pat Cummins at vicepres@saintandrewsociety.org.

Combined Scottish Societies of Maryland Dinner – Saturday, June 23, 2012 McLeish

Make your reservations now for a truly extraordinary event -- the Combined Scottish Societies of Maryland Dinner. You will have the privilege of meeting and chatting with the Rt. Hon. Henry McLeish, Former First Minister of Scotland and author of several books, including Wherever the Saltire Flies, in which the Society is prominently mentioned. The event is scheduled for Saturday, June 23, 2012, at the Loews Annapolis Hotel, 123 West Street, Annapolis, MD 21401. From 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, the Rt. Hon. McLeish will host a special afternoon discussion on the upcoming referendum on Scottish independence from the United Kingdom, followed by a book-signing. The evening event will commence with cocktails at 7:00 PM and the three-course dinner will be served at 8:00 PM. After dinner, guests will be treated to comments by the Rt. Hon. Henry McLeish, plus an award-winning Scottish fiddler, the Pipes, Drums & Highland Dancers of the Society -- and of course the camaraderie of the members of the other societies of Maryland! Advance reservations are required and the guest list will be held at the door. The evening dress is Black Tie, Highland Evening Wear, or Military Dress for the gentlemen and Semi-Formal for the Ladies. Please see the reservation form here. For more in formation, contact John King Bellassai, Event Chairman, at (202) 258-4876 (mobile) or by e-mail jbellassai@DANYA.com.

Jefferson Cup Luncheon - First and Third Mondays

Gentlemen of the Society meet at the Pier Seven restaurant at 11:30 AM for a luncheon gathering on the first and third Mondays of every month. Luncheon begins at 12:10 PM and finishes in time for those who must leave to meet their needs or commitments. Cost of a mere $30.00 and includes three hours of parking so remain and take advantage of a benefit. The restaurant is located on the waterfront at 650 Water Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024. For more information, please contact Jim Campbell at soupy.campbell@verizon.net.

Sign Up as a Society Associate!

Membership in the Society is open to men of Scottish birth or ancestry. However, anyone can become a Society Associate! You will receive a monthly electronic newsletter of all public Society events and other local Scottish-American activities. Please see the online form on the Society Web site under "About." Also, please notify the Secretary of any upcoming local events and activities to be included in the newsletter.

Board of Managers Meeting

The Board of Managers (BOM) of the St. Andrew’s Society of Washington, D.C., usually meets on the first Tuesday of every month, except for July and August.The next Board of Managers meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 5, 2012 -- however, this may be rescheduled. Please check back at least oine week in advance. All members are invited to attend. Contact the Secretary for more information.

Consider a Bequest to the Charity and Education Fund

If you have been involved with the Society in any way, then you value the vital impact the Society has made in the Scottish-American community of the Washington, D.C. area. The Washington Scots Charity & Education Fund extends that impact by making a positive difference in the world far into the future. Consider a bequest to the Charity and Education Fund.