. CLAN ROSS Association of Canada, Inc. Founded 1960 David C. Ross of Ross, Chief WINTER ISSUE FEBRUARY, 2008 An Cirean Ceann Cinnidh Photo by PDR Brig o’ Doon Bridge, Burns National Heritage Park, Alloway, Ayr, Scotland THE CLAN ROSS ASSOCIATION OF CANADA, INC. Motto: Spem successus alit (Success nourishes hope) Gaelic name: Clann Aindrias (Clan Andrew) Crest: A hand holding a garland of juniper, proper Badge: Juniper Pipe Music: The Earl of Ross March Septs: (according to Scottish Kith & Kin/Chief of Clan Ross) Anderson Denoon Gear MacCulloch Taggart Andison Denune Gillanders MacLullich Tullo Andrew/s Dingwall Hagart MacTaggart Tulloch Corbet/tt Duthie Haggart MacTear Tyre Crow/e Fair MacAndrew MacTier Vass Croy Gair MacCullie MacTire Wass EXECUTIVE OFFICERS: President: 1st Vice-President: Denis Fletcher Andrew Ross Thibodeau COMMUNICATIONS: Treas/Mbsp: Barb Fletcher 910 Dearness Drive Newsletter Editor: 66 Crestwood Crescent London, ON N6E 1N5 Patricia D. Ross Winnipeg, MB R2J 1H6 Phone: 519-680-7332 Webmaster: Phone: 204-257-7511 Email: [email protected] J. Douglas Ross, FSA Scot Email: [email protected] 15 Tepee Court 2nd Vice-President: North York, ON M2J 3A8 Past President: Denis Ross Phone: 416-491-1861 J. Donaldson Ross 929 Saugeen Street Email: [email protected] 84 Brant Street East Kincardine, ON N2Z 1A9 Email: [email protected] Orillia, ON L3V 1Z2 Phone: (519) 396-8791 Phone 705-326-3438 Email: [email protected] Fax: 705-325-6639 (April to November) Association Website: Email: [email protected] [email protected] http://www.GreatClanRoss.org (November to April) Secretary: Ian M. Ross 273 Stradford Street Winnipeg, MB R2Y 2E1 Phone: 204-889-6125 Email: [email protected] COMMISSIONERS: Ontario: Nova Scotia: Wendy F. S. Ross Christopher Rayworth 74 Queenston Street 520 Tattenham Crescent St. Catharines, ON L2R 2Z2 Hammonds Plains, NS Phone: 905-684-7758 B4B 1V3 Phone: (902) 832-9280 Manitoba: Email: [email protected] Christine Turnbull 19 Abraham Bay British Columbia: Winnipeg, MB R2P 1E9 Dorothy O’Donnell Phone: 204-633-5888 1415 Hamilton Road Email: [email protected] Victoria, BC V8R 2Y2 Phone: 250-595-5365 Email: [email protected] 2 FROM THE EDITOR Dear Readers: Another year of events has begun with Burn’s Day celebrations. The photograph on the front page shows Brig o’ Doon Bridge, made famous in Burn’s poem, Tam o’ Shanter, the story of a curious man who spied on witches. The hero of the poem, Tam, galloped across this bridge over the Doon River on his mare, Meg, to escape the devils and witches who were trying to capture him. It was a well known fact that witches and devils could not cross running water: Ah, Tam! Ah, Tam! thou'll get thy fairin! In hell, they'll roast thee like a herrin! In vain thy Kate awaits thy comin! Kate soon will be a woefu' woman! Now, do thy speedy-utmost, Meg, And win the key-stone o' the brig; There, at them thou thy tail may toss, A running stream they dare na cross. But ere the keystane she could make, The fient a tail she had to shake! For Nannie, far before the rest, Hard upon noble Maggie prest, And flew at Tam wi' furious ettle; But little wist she Maggie's mettle! Ae spring brought off her master hale, But left behind her ain grey tail: The carlin claught her by the rump, And left poor Maggie scarce a stump. Robert Burns, 1790 Have you registered for the Clan Ross Association Annual Gathering and AGM in July? What a wonderful way to greet old friends, meet new ones, and participate in the activities of the Clan Ross Association of Canada. The details of the program given in the last newsletter are repeated on the last page of this newsletter. The deadline for submissions for the Spring (May) newsletter is April 27, 2008. CLAN ROSS – MANITOBA CHAPTER BURNS DINNER – 2008 By Len Perry A turnout of 79 fans of Robert Burns gathered in the Club Room at the Fort Garry Hotel this last January 19th for the 11th Annual Burns Dinner. Chapter Past-President Don Ross and Dinner Committee Chair Denis Fletcher greeted guests, as they arrived, while Patricia and Roger Stagg circulated, selling silent auction tickets. MC David Ross officially started the proceedings by introducing Past-President Don Ross for a formal welcome. Mary Ross presented a Burns grace before dinner. Then, with the skirl of pipes, Ian Ross came forward to give the “Address to a Haggis”. After haggis, neeps, and a wonderful pork dinner, dancers from the Manitoba Highland Dance Association and the Southglen Fiddlers provided entertainment for the group. Following these performances, Donna Fletcher, our keynote speaker of the evening, gave us a most entertaining “Immortal Memory”. Then, Bob and Allison Darling presented an enjoyable, light-hearted “Toast to the Lassies” and “Response”. To wrap up this fine evening, Patricia and Roger Stagg conducted the silent auction and Donna Fletcher led one and all in singing “Auld Lang Syne”. We look forward to the 12th Annual Burns Dinner next year. 3 ONE POSITION DOWN … THREE TO GO! - National Secretary Ian Ross - We have an excellent candidate for 2nd Vice President, to be elected at the July, 2008 Clan Ross Gathering/AGM in Cape Breton. Donald Fraser Ross of Halifax has “thrown his hat in the ring”. Don, along with Nova Scotia Commissioner Christopher Rayworth, has been instrumental in organizing the 2008 Gathering. Here, in his own words, is some information on Don, plus a picture of Don and wife Caroline in Scotland: I descend on my father's side from a Ross - McCaskill marriage, and on my mother's side from a Ferguson - MacLeod marriage. (My Mother was a Ferguson. She was a member of the Cape Breton Gaelic Choir). My parents, four grandparents, and predecessors, are all of Scottish descent. My wife is Caroline Marie Boudreau, of Acadian - Irish background (Boudreau - Snow, a Cape Breton - Newfoundland mix). We both grew up in Cape Breton (C.B.). We have two daughters and one son. Our oldest lives in B.C. and the other two live in Ottawa. We now have four grandchildren. Caroline and I are 'empty- nesting' in Halifax. In addition to our modest home here, we own a cottage on the Bras d' Or Lakes in West Bay, C. B. and a small piece of land at the old Ross homestead at Little Narrows, C.B. (We'll drive right by it on our 2008 Gathering Saturday tour). Caroline and I were recently able to visit Scotland, which helped me with my Ross family research. Due to my 33 plus years of work (the last 14 with the federal government -TSB, and before that almost 20 years with the CNR), I have lived in six Canadian provinces and have worked in all of them. I've traveled extensively throughout Canada (and driven all of it by car). This allows me a pretty good understanding of, and respect for, the many different and interesting areas of our country. I think this would help should I get the chance to respond to member's needs as part of your Executive. There are still openings for any of you who would like to volunteer for three other national level positions that will become vacant as at the 2008 AGM: Secretary and Treasurer These positions are for 2-year terms, with the right to run for unlimited repeat terms. Secretary Ian Ross (in the position since 2000) and Treasurer Barb Fletcher (in the position since 1993) will not seek re-election, so we must elect a new Secretary (who looks after all correspondence and meeting minutes, and maintains the by-laws) and new Treasurer (who looks after national funds). Membership Chair The Executive appoints this position, which processes new member applications, maintains the mailing list and solicits annual dues payments. Barb Fletcher (also in this position since 1994) will retire as of the 2008 AGM. Barb advises the positions of Membership Chair and Treasurer are closely related, especially regards membership dues. She suggests the two positions either be held by one person, or by two persons in the same area working closely together. It is, of course, still possible to declare yourself as an alternate candidate for 2nd Vice-President (which ultimately can lead to the position of National President). These are all excellent opportunities for members to be directly involved in decision-making and serve their fellow Clan Ross members. There is a flurry of activity at AGM time, but typically it only requires a few hours monthly. The requirements for being nominated are straightforward. You must have been EITHER: an officer in a formal regional Chapter, OR an appointed Regional Commissioner, OR a member in good standing for at least two consecutive years, AND … IN ALL CASES, you must be a permanent resident of Canada If you would like to be nominated, contact President Denis Fletcher or Secretary Ian Ross. Contact info is on the inside front cover of this newsletter. 4 A VISIT TO BALNAGOWN CASTLE By Donald Ross, Halifax During our recent trip to Scotland this September, Caroline and I visited Tain, and while we were in the area, Balnagown, northeast of Inverness. While in Tain we were told that the Ross Castle, Balnagown, was privately owned and not open to the public. However, later while shopping in a bookstore (for a book about Balnagown) the chap working there stated that the castle owner (i.e. Mr Mohamed Al Fayed) was known to entertain polite requests on occasion, depending on whether they are currently using the place or not.