Newsletter of the Muirhead Clan Society Published by Sandie Morehead-Smith Secretary, Muirhead Clan Society

Volume 4, Issue 1 March 2003

"Slàinte Mhòr Agad!" THE 2004 INTERNATIONAL GATHERING OF CLANS HUNTER AND MUIRHEAD

As President/Chief Elect of Clan Muirhead it gives me Date: August 6, 7, and 8, 2004 great pleasure and honor as a Father to announce to Place: Hunterston Castle, , , our membership the Wedding of my son, Adam KA23 9QG L. Morehead founding member of the clan and his soon

to be wife Jessica L. Adams. The wedding and Announcing to our membership and friends the first reception will be held Thursday the twenty-seventh of international gathering of Clans Hunter and March, 2003 at The Victorian Manor, Snohomish Muirhead. Washington. Seating is limited therefore I cannot invite

the clan membership to attend, but wish to at least It has been historically customary for clans with their inform you of this joyous event as our family and clan own seats and presence in Scotland to extend the grows. hand of friendship and co-operation to others, who

for various reasons no longer have a clan seat in If you wish, cards can be sent to me, or if you prefer, Scotland. This is the first such link of friendship emails may be sent to me as well and I will see they get known to be made by Clan Hunter in this tradition them on there wedding day at the reception. and it was an honor to Clan Muirhead. I was

pleased to accept this Link of Friendship and now Yours in the Clan, announce to Clan Muirhead Members and our Raymond L. Morehead Esq. FSA Scot Friends the date of this historic event.

An official letter was written to Raymond L. Morehead, President/Chief Elect Clan Muirhead,

received from Madame Pauline Hunter of Move Completed!!! Hunterston and of that Ilk, 30th Laird of Hunterston

Castle, dated, 23rd June 2001, stated; I’m back. Still in the process of unpacking and soon have to clean the old place, but we’re pretty much On the 23rd June 2001, the Clan Chief of the settled in the new place. Hunters, Madame Pauline Hunter of Hunterston and of that Ilk, 30th Laird of Hunterston Castle and all We’ve had to install cable internet, due to the her Officers, agreed that a Link of Friendship should remoteness of the new place. Connection with dialup be offered to Clan Muirhead. Clan Muirhead have was VERY slow and impossible to work with. formed a strong bond with Clan Hunter through their both losing Clansmen at the In any case…you can reach me at: in 1513.

Sandie Morehead-Smith As Clan Muirhead no longer has any in 10949 Summit Lake Rd. NW Scotland, Madame Pauline Hunter of Hunterston Olympia, WA 98502 and of that Ilk, Clan Chief and 30th Laird has invited 1-360-867-4865 Clan Muirhead to join their International Clan [email protected] for clan business Gathering held every three years at Hunterston [email protected] for personal business Castle.

Newsletter 1

We welcome this Link of Friendship in the Scotland Featured at the knowledge that it will forge stronger links between 2003 Smithsonian Folklife Festival Clan Hunter and Clan Muirhead for the mutual benefit of both our Clans. In summer 2003, the Smithsonian Institution will bring the vitality and diversity of Scotland's traditional culture This letter is signed by Madame Pauline Hunter of to the heart of America's capital city as part of the Hunterston and sealed with her official seal as internationally renowned Smithsonian Folklife Chief of Clan Hunter. Festival. The 37th annual Folklife Festival runs from June 25-29 and July 2-6. Admission is free. Clan Hunter, set the dates of the gathering for the 6, 7, and 8th of August so that it would More than 1 million visitors are expected to attend this accommodate those who are coming from so far outdoor event on the National Mall, surrounded by the wishing also to attend the Edinburgh Tattoo. U.S. Capitol, the Washington Monument and Smithsonian museums. Events and details of this historic International Clan gathering have yet to be announced. At this time, I Through dynamic performances, demonstrations and thought it most important to get the dates out to educational programs, ”Scotland at the Smithsonian" you as soon as possible giving you over a will feature more than 100 of Scotland's finest year to prepare and plan for this trip. In the months musicians, storytellers, cooks, craftspeople, dancers to come I will inform you of further details of and and scholars who will explain and celebrate the living about the Gathering. traditions that make and sustain Scotland's distinctive culture. From the Highlands and Islands in For now I would like to hear from all who would the north to Ayrshire in the south, from Glasgow Green wish to attend this event in Scotland with me. I will to Edinburgh's Royal Mile, and from the textile mills of research the possibility of acting as an the Borders to the oil fields of Aberdeen, Scotland's un-official booking agent for the trip to Scotland heritage, regional cultures and occupations will be and back in hopes of getting a group discount highlighted. provided there are at least 15 members wishing to attend. Please let me know if this is of interest to The Festival provides a forum for Scots representing a you. wide range of talents and traditions to speak directly to the American public, sharing their enthusiasm about For Clan and Kindred's Cause, what makes Scotland Scottish. It will inform visitors about traditional culture in contemporary Caledonia, Raymond L. Morehead Esq. FSA Scot. showcasing fiddlers as well as industrial workers, poets President/ Chief Elect, Clan Muirhead whose works celebrate the beauty of the Gaelic Email: [email protected] language, songwriters whose lyrics reflect the richness Address: 6522 194th Ave. E. of the Scots tongue, tweed weavers, silversmiths, Bonney Lake, WA. 98390-8835 cashmere designers, cooks, pantomime artists, bagpipe makers and whisky blenders.

"Scotland at the Smithsonian" is being made possible On Dec. 22, 2002 a letter was sent to the Rt. Hon. with financial support from the Scottish Executive, the Scottish Arts Council, and VisitScotland with the Sir David Steel KBE MSP Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, by Raymond Morehead, Esq, cooperation of cultural organizations throughout requesting Roland E. Muirhead’s name be Scotland. inscribed on a commemorative plaque in the new Scottish parliament building for his dedicated work Vicki Moeser (202) 357-2627 ext. 111 on the Scottish Constitution. Linda St.Thomas (202) 357-2627 ext. 108

On Jan. 14, 2003 Received a letter from Mrs. Vicky http://www.si.edu/ Smithsonian Website O’Donnell confirming receipt of the letter/request and that it has been forwarded to the Corporate Body.

We’ll keep you updated on the results.

Newsletter 2

President's Financial Report

Y OUR S UPPORT….. To the Council of Elders: Year Ending 2002

INCOME: We’d like to thank all of our members for your support of Members Dues: $ 2642.90 the Muirhead Clan Society. Without your continued Donations: $ 92.00 support, we could not be what we are today. Please Items Sold: $ 453.14 continue to support the Muirhead Clan Society by Scholarship Fund $ 250.24 renewing your membership dues and/or purchase items Total Income $ 3438.28 for yourself or as gifts for others from our Clan Store. EXPENSES: Office/Admin. $ 661.97 H OT! HOT! HOT! Advertising $ 145.00 Copy/Printing $ 416.65

Muirhead Clan Society Fund Raiser 2003 Purchases for Resale $ 460.00 Research $ 475.74 ow in stock Piper Muirhead Note Cards Postage & Shipping $ 578.40 Rents & Fees $ 344.02

$10.95 for 10 cards and matching envelopes. Total Expenses $3081.85 [Muirhead Ancient]

Income: $ 3438.28 Can also be ordered in [Muirhead Modern Tartan] Expenses: $ 3081.04 Income: $ 357.24 For Shipping Costs per value of order of cards, add:

Year End Highest Members Numbers 116 Value of order Shipping per U.S.Address

Voided 19 Members - No dues paid 2002: Up to $22.00 = $3.25 $22.00 - $75.00 = $6.75 97 Remained on rolls

$75.00 - $100.00 = $8.75 Over 100.00 = $10.00 As of 2/25/03 there were: 28 Unpaid members on rolls for 2003

Current paid membership: 69 [including 4 life members]

NOTE: In 2001 we lost 19 members .

In the year 2002 we expect to lose 28 members for non - payment of dues. [Two reminders have been mailed to all unpaid members].

NOTE: Profit and Loss Statement for 2002 projected a net loss of $(885.41)

NOTE: Actual net profit for 2002 amounted to $357.24

Newsletter 3 Observations of the physical appearance of the Just for Fun!!!! female of this species on the other hand reveals the total lack of this prominent muzzle feature and produces a far less pronounced call, yet communicates far more through body language.

Unlike its highland relative the Bog Haggis possesses rather large ears, which undoubtedly enhances its hearing capabilities making it far less vulnerable to predation. The young of this species is born fully covered in fur and are born in the darkness of the longest night of the year in deep peat bog burrows. The female and young are inseparable for about the first six months or until weaned. Litters of up to 6 are common. Soon after the young are weaned they leave for parts unknown and the males haunting courtship calls begin once again to be heard during the warm summers nights of the Scottish Moorlands. Haggis hunting has become a popular sport in Scotland especially during the famed poet Robert The Moorland Wild Haggis Burns birthday calibrations, yet few modern hunters AKA have mastered its unique and complex mating call. In [Bog Haggis] recent years, limits have been placed on hunters by the Ministry of Wild Game and Fisheries. The Moorland wild Haggis was first discovered by Tcharlock Muirhead, in the year 1513, while akin to is No known attempts have been made to domesticate Highland Haggis counterpart, the Lowland Haggis, or this beastie but do to lowland population growth as it is nicknamed bog haggis, has evolved and sightings by rural families have increased as these adapted to its lowland habitat with great success. bulbous beasties have been known to come in the The need for the ability to run the rocks and hills of night to feed on the milk and cream set out for the the highlands overtime gave way to the need to swim Brownies by home owners and farmers. and live in the peat bogs, and marshes of the A most popular recipe with the Muirhead Clan lowlands. President while visiting his homelands of Scotland was Haggis Crepes with Whiskey Sauce. No doubt Today’s lowland wild Haggis has far less need for a the quality of the sauce plays an important part in its full fur coat of its highland ancestor and developed popularity. webbed, and clawed feet for its life digging, Haggis crepes with whisky sauce recipe can be swimming and foraging in the moorland peat bogs of obtained by contacting him at his e-mail address the wetlands of Scotland. [email protected] .

When observed in the wild the lowland Haggis may appear to have a full coat of fur but a close examination of this wee beastie reveals that once properly washed and freed of its peat covering reveals its Bulbous, tail-less, semi-transparent body, yet its legs and head and shoulders have retained their ancestral fur.

The adult male of this species can be identified by its prominent, enlarged and wrinkled muzzle. It is thought that this wrinkled muzzle acts not only as a protective covering for fighting and foraging, but also acts as an enhanced nasal chamber, which aids the male in its unique reverberating mating and warning call, which only the male’s are known to produce while standing in an upright position on is hind feet for display or warning to the others of his clan.

Newsletter 4