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Heat. Rain. Mud. Cloudy.

These four weather events seem to be dominating our news throughout these United States. Their impact can be felt everywhere. However, reports from our various conveners, the many Highland Games SDFA has convened, crowds have been large interested in their Scottish ancestry. New members are signing up and and we could not be happier.

Our many conveners are doing a fantastic job. They are going above and beyond in their quest to assist new members and people who are only slightly interested. As any convener will tell you, the majority of people we meet at our tents, at the games, are happy just to find out their surname can be associated with a clan or a district. However, many people want to know even more. If a person’s surname is associated with a clan, they are provided with that information. If that clan is at that game, we at the SDFA tent will direct these people to “their” clan tent. Many clans and associations will also look up names and many will send SDFA those people who seem interested in learning more about “their” new district information. We thank these clans. Because of all this, SDFA is experiencing phenomenal growth. Welcome to everyone who has recently joined.

I want to tell you a little bit of what is going on within SDFA and our Executive Committee. Many discussions are being had regarding the improvement in member service. Discussions center on adding to and improving our members experience related to genealogy, education, media relations and other areas. SDFA is currently in discussions with COSCA (Council of Scottish Clans and Associations) on how we may possibly partner to enhance both those with clan affiliations and those who have distinct affiliations. Both SDFA and COSCA are 501 c3 Charitable Organizations and our missions are quite similar. We, SDFA and COSCA will continue having discussions to try to determine if the cooperation between our two organizations can benefit both of us and the Scottish diaspora here in the USA.

Your Executive Committee is also working on strengthening our infrastructure. Adding to and building upon our current conveners, regional representatives and committee members. In this way, you as a member of SDFA receive as many benefits as SDFA can provide. YOU can join any of these committees. One of the ways we want to improve is to strengthen our conveners by establishing a Conveners Committee. This committee, will have three co-chairs- our regional representatives and Lew Bowlby, a long time convener. I am hoping that this committee working with your Executive Committee will be able to prepare a Convener Handbook which would be a valuable resource for current and potential conveners. Also, this committee would be tasked to be personal informational centers for you! Another committee under consideration is a District Committee. This committee would be tasked to prepare info for the various districts. Perhaps, informational packets.

Also, we can use your expertise. We would like you to become a convener, or help on the Genealogy committee, or media Committee. We would like YOU, if you have this expertise, to assist with our webpage, facebook, or newsletter. Please call me. I would love to talk to you.

See you at the games!

Quite a few things have happened,

First, as most of you know Bill Boyd is our new Membership Secretary and we could not be happier. Bill will be able to answer all of your membership questions and he has become an invaluable member of your SDFA team. Thank you Bill.
Second, the winter/spring games here in Florida have been a mix of good and bad. Some of the bad was weather related and some organizational weakness. Jacksonville reopened their games after a 13 year hiatus. The effort of the new organizers showed. Unfortunately, really bad weather also showed. Saturday, the rains became a deluge and rivers of water flowed into the clan tents. Mud and water became our nemesis. Cars became stuck in the mud and all of the people went home. The clan village was partially destroyed and several of the vendor tents were also destroyed. (THE BEER TENT). Our SDFA tent was “secured “ Saturday night. Nope! When we arrived Sunday morning the SDFA tent was on top of an adjoining clan tent. Much of our materials were destroyed. Fortunately, all of the important materials, books etc., were in sealed containers so were fine. Admitting defeat, we packed up and went home early Sunday morning.

Third. We attempted to partake of the Mt. Dora Scottish games here in central Florida. This event is managed by the City of Mt. Dora. SDFA never received any correspondence or emails, phone calls,or texts even after numerous calls to the City Parks and Recreation Department. We were cheerfully advised, every time, that we would receive a call as to tickets, parking, set up etc.. None ever came until 23 hours prior to the event. An email advising that the clan and association venue was a street. Parking was not available and we would have only a couple of hours to set up before we would have to remove our vehicles. Since the venue was a city street, sandbags would be required to secure our tents. Unable to obtain sandbags on such short notice, I decided it would be impossible to go, so SDFA took a pass and did not show up. I am not aware of anything like this happening before. However, hope springs eternal.

Fourth. This weekend, SDFA we hosted a tent at the Dunedin Scottish Highland Games. This is a wonderful event which the organizers use the proceeds to fund the Dunedin School System with pipes, drums, kilts, rain gear and lessons to every child in their school that wants to become part of their impressive marching band. the weather cooperated and they had a great turnout. We were able to sign up two new members, Kelly Cruz, and the Barry Balmer family. Welcome to you all.

Lastly, and on a personal note, I am selling my home here in Florida and will be moving to Pittsburgh to be with my daughter and grandson as she has taken a position at the University of Pittsburgh beginning June 1st. I have been busy preparing my home to sell and have been unable to contact each of you as much as I would like.
SDFA needs more conveners. I hope you would consider becoming a convener here in Florida or any place that you live. Being able to help people begin their search into their Scottish heritage is very fulfilling and worthwhile. We will provide you with the training, books and other materials along with training to help you get started. Please contact me to learn more.

Sincerely,
Dennis Blythe, President
Scottish District Families Association
(352)262-2118
djblythe1@gmail.com

Hello to you all.

2022 was an exciting year for SDFA growth. New members nearly doubled our membership rolls. As such, for the first time in the history of SDFA, we now have a Membership Secretary- Bill Boyd of Marietta, Georgia. With the increased membership, the duties of Treasurer, maintaining membership roll and monies, became too time consuming and since this appointed position of Membership Secretary has always been in our constitution, the time was right. Your Executive Officers want to thank Bill for stepping up. SDFA is growing. You, our members, deserve the finest operating organization possible. With Bill’s experience and commitment, SDFA is well positioned to continue to grow in 2023. And I personally want to thank Diane Strout our Treasurer and Chair of our Genealogy Committee for all of her hard work and professionalism. Without people like Diane and Bill, SDFA would not b able to assist our members. So thank you both.

I attended the COSCA Annual general meeting via Zoom. For your information, COSCA or better known as the Council of Scottish Clans and Association, helped establish SDFA many years ago. Our Past President and Founder, Judi Lloyd would not have been able to establish SDFA without the assistance and experience of many people, including COSCA. SDFA has maintained a membership in COSCA all of these years in grateful appreciation. The AGM (Annual General Meeting) discussions centered around membership retention and growth. COSCA has determined that due to the increased interest in DNA and Scottish heritage, more people are expecting more from their clans and associations. As such, COSCA wants to help facilitate anyone attempting to resurrect a dormant clan or association.

Our conveners had a remarkable year as I stated above. To all of you, your Executive Officers and membership thank you. Your SDFA conveners, Shanks and Cathy Sellers, Isabel Taylor, Janet Battistoni, Catherine Lieberman, Dennis and Paulette Fowler, Heidi and Bruce Thibodeau, Jeannie and Ray Minchak, and myself attended many games and had a blast. BUT, we need more, newer, younger, members to join in the fun. Being a convener is a hoot. You get to meet so many wonderful people all of whom are interested in the very things you are. Being a convener is not hard. It will take up a weekend or two but you determine what games you want to attend. Your Executive Officers and Regional Representatives Janet Battistoni and Jim Gibson will provide you with the training, books, and other resources you might need.
So, come on, call me and stick your toe in. Attend a game near you, try it and see if it is for you. WE NEED YOU!

Please check out our Facebook page and our website. We would like to ask for more volunteers to join the Communications Committee (Newsletter, Facebook, Website). If you have the desire to become more involved in SDFA and this appeals to you, contact me. We want everyone interested in becoming more involved in SDFA to do so. If you like to write short stories, poems, travel articles or anything Scottish at all, then we invite you to contact me and we will try to get you published on our sites.

Everyone is invited to join any committee they desire.(Genealogy, Communications, Convener etc.) We want you. We want your expertise. We want you to have fun.

Finally, please forward your 2023 dues ($15 Single and $25 Family) to Bill Boyd, FSA Scot at 1791 Hasty rd. NE, Marietta, GA 30062. OR you may renew on line on our website.

It is a privilege to serve as your President and I want to hear from you.

Sincerely,
Dennis Blythe, President
SDFA
(352)262-2118
djblythe1@gmail.com

Hello to you all,

2021 is over and 2022 has begun. Hopefully, COVID-19 will abate and we can get on with our “usual” lives. I hope and pray you and your family have been spared this pandemic’s wrath.

Soon, you will be receiving your personal ID and unique password to our newly created website’s “Members “ area. Ben Kuhn and Jennifer Fowler have done a remarkable job and the Executive Officers are very happy with its outcome. The Executive Officers have been playing with the website, and as Ben instructed, “Try and break it.” Once the tweaks are all in, the website will be fully operational. Thank you Ben and Jennifer.

2021 is turning out to be “different” to say the least. Our conveners are busy at the few games still underway. Smaller crowds, fewer clans and associations seem to be the theme this year. The enthusiasm, however, is as high as ever. Our conveners all express their enjoyment and what a great time they had. Highland Games are somewhat unique to the casual event goers but once they come to a game, they are generally hooked.

Everyone that is a current member fondly recalls their first game. Whenever I speak to our members, the sense of pride in the SDFA comes across loud and clear. Janet Battistoni just convened the Maine games with our good friends Heidi and Bruce Thibodeau. Drizzle did not stop them or the crowds that did show up. However, the arrival of storm “Henri” did force an early departure on Sunday.

In other news, longtime member Lew Bowlby has had a fall and injured his right arm and hand. We all hope for a speedy recovery Lew!

Isabell Taylor convened the Grandfather Mountain games in North Carolina and had BLAST. As she explained, the GMHG were FANTASTIC! BEST EVER!

To our members that have not yet become conveners, please consider becoming one today! If you are interested please call me or any of our currently serving conveners. Conveners are a critical piece of our goals to grow the SDFA.

Stay well. The games are slowing down now until the winter when the southern games commence.

See you there!

Dennis Blythe, President SDFA

Hello from very warm central Florida. My names is Dennis Blythe and currently I am your Treasurer for our Scottish District families Association. SDFA is a wonderful organization that provides a number of services to our members and non-members alike. I would like to ask for your support to become your next president.

My wife and I enjoyed the many Highland Games in Florida when we convened a tent for SDFA. The Central Florida Highland Games were the largest and generally drew better than 30,000 in attendance. Smaller, but just as charming were games at St. Augustine and Jacksonville. We even visited with Lew Bowlby one day as he convened the Maine Highland Games.

Sadly, my wife Christine passed away. She loved the pageantry, the games and music but most of all she enjoyed manning the SDFA tent assisting those who came in search of their ancestral surname and its location in Scotland. Seeing the delight in the visitors to our SDFA tent when we found their surname and the district where it was first recorded, also made us smile. I want to continue working for SDFA. I hope you will honor me as your next president.