I'm honored to be your Chieftain for 2008-9. I'm also proud to be the first Scots-born Chieftain since Bob Gilbert in 1982-3. My family and I came to Houston directly from the U.K. just over twenty years ago, and it was a great move for us. We've been made so welcome here, and being members of Heather and Thistle and its Burns Club since 1988 has been an important part of our settling here permanently.
My goal for the coming year is to try to boost our membership numbers and attendance at our monthly meetings. I'm confident this can be done, especially with the able assistance of my new team of office-bearers, which I think brings an excellent blend of youth and experience. I'm delighted that Ardeth Brodie has taken on the difficult role of Sergeant-at-Arms, and Carmelita Orr will bring new enthusiasm to the Secretary's job. It is great that H&T veterans Melvyn Douglass as Sub-Chieftain and Walter May as Treasurer will be able to keep us on the right track. I'm also pleased to welcome fellow Ayrshire Scot Gordon Macleod as Program Chair.
At the April 28th meeting, H&T member David Hutton will entertain us with an evening of Scottish songs. Those of us who heard him for the first time at our Burns Club meeting last month know what a treat is in store. So please do come along and bring as many friends as you can.
The Society is once again pleased to support the Houston Highland Games, being held May 17-18 at the Farm & Ranch Club at Bear Creek Park. We need volunteers to man our booth at the games on both days. Please sign up at the April meeting. We are also once again sponsoring the Individual Open Piping Competition and donating the prize money of $1,000.
I look forward with anticipation to a challenging but good year, and yes Past Chieftain Ken, I accept your challenge to wear the kilt at every available opportunity!
See you all on April 28th.
Robert Boyd
Chieftain
Robin Mills our web-master has come up with what I think is a great idea. The tartan background of the H&T website www.heatherandthistle.org will be changed each month. For example in honor of the new Chieftain the background has already been changed to Boyd. Other ideas are Texas Bluebonnet, Burns, etc. or as a special thank-you to anyone who does something for the Society. Comments and suggestions on this are welcome.
RB