Nobles & Ladies

We bid you greetings from the City of Lakes

Minneapolis, Minnesota

And the count-down continues with only a short time before Minneapolis hosts the Membership of SCOTS-International at the 140th Imperial Shrine Session.  The schedule and event planning are progressing well and your committee is working together to ensure that everything necessary to plan for this event is addressed.  Please visit the following links to review the schedule and other important information regarding the 140th Imperial Session.  And don't forget to click the countdown link above for the opening of Pipe Band Central.

�  The 140th Imperial Shrine Session (www.imperial2014.com)

�  The SCOTS-International website (www.scots-international.org)

�  The SCOTS-International Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Shriners.SCOTS)

The following is the currently planned schedule for SCOTS-International activities.  Any changes to this information will be reflected in this monthly newsletter.

Pipe Band Central:  Monday, July 7th through Wednesday, July 9th, 2014  -

Once again, all SCOTS-International activities will be taking place within Pipe Band Central, located at DeLaSalle High School on Nicollet Island.  Our centralized location will allow all of our Associations membership to be together in one venue during our SCOTS-International activities.  In addition, Pipe Band Central will have both a food concession and a beer garden, which will be available during the activities taking place.  The Food and Beverage Committee is working hard to provide delicious foods and beverages for our Pipe Band Central participants and guests. Costing and budget numbers are currently under review.

Imperial Parade:  Tuesday, July 8th, 2014

The Imperial parade will be held in the evening. The Massed Pipes & Drums will be leading the parade.  The parade route has been established, a map of which is available on the 2014 Imperial Shrine Session website.  Barnstorming after the parade is being discussed in order to take advantage of the large band and full crowds in the downtown area.  This may be a logical event considering that some of our participants may be leaving town before Wednesday evening.  Additional information regarding  all events will be posted as they change and/or become available.

Solo and Pipe Band Competition:  Monday, July 7th, 2014 at Pipe Band Central.

• Competition Registration begins at 8:00 am. (Advance registration is available through the SCOTS-International website.
• Solo competition in pipes, side drum, tenor drum, and bass drum will begin at 8:30 am.
• Pipe Band competition will begin following the completion of the solo competition events.
• Competition rules for both pipe bands and solos is posted to the Scots-International website.
• All competition results and the presentation of trophies and awards will take place at the Ceilidh on Monday evening, July 7th, 2014.
• NOTE: The fee for competing is the same as band membership in Scots-International.  Why not take a moment and join today!!!

SCOTS-International Annual Meeting:  Monday, July 7th, 2014 at Pipe Band Central.

The SCOTS-International Annual Meeting will be conducted at the conclusion of competition - (estimated at 1:30 pm), to allow everyone an opportunity to enjoy lunch.  This meeting will be held in the Florence Center, which is also the location for the Ceilidh later in the evening.

Ceilidh: Monday, July 7th, 2014 at Pipe Band Central

• Join your brothers and ladies for great social fun, wonderful food, and good Celtic entertainment during this evening event at Pipe Band Central.  
• The event begins with a social hour at 6:30pm. (Registration for the Ceilidh is available through advance registration through the SCOTS-International website).
• The presentation of the solo and band competition trophies and/or awards will take place during this event.  Additional information for this event has been published.

**Ceilidh Note**

A registration/reservation will be required to attend this event. Please ensure that when registering for the 2014 Imperial Session that you also register for the Ceilidh if you intend to attend.

***BREAKING NEWS***

Announcing the first annual, first ever..........

"Ceilidh Quartet Competition" 

The Rules are simple -  

• Arrive in Minneapolis early and greet your brother pipers and drummers from around the planet.
• Invite some of your brothers to compete with you.
• A minimum of 4 participants is required to create a quartet competition team - but no more than 4.
•  The competition team may consist of any combination of pipes and drums..............even 4 pipes or 4 drums.
• The competition consists of playing anything you want for the crowd at the Ceilidh.
• The winners will be judged and chosen by crowd applause - and will be awarded a special prize
• Registration for this event will available at Pipe Band Central during the day, on Monday, July 7th.

Practice for the Massed Pipes & Drums will take place on the field at Pipe Band Central in the early to mid afternoon both Tuesday and Wednesday - (Time T.B.D.)  Massed band tune sets are being reviewed with all tunes, music, and drum settings to be posted on the SCOTS-International website.  At the conclusion of massed band practice, we will be dividing the band up to create a couple of smaller bands for those who wish to take part in Tuesday evenings barnstorming of the pubs and bars of Minneapolis.  More information will be available in later issues of this newsletter.

Barnstorming:  Wednesday, July 9th, 2014 beginning at Pipe Band Central

The groups put together at the massed pipes & drums practice earlier in the day will depart for a round of barnstorming of venues in the Minneapolis area.  Each group will have a number of establishments to play in.  The time and schedule will be determined, and will be available in later issues of this newsletter.  

PLEASE NOTE:  As indicated above in the Imperial Parade Section, 

Barnstorming after the Tuesday Parade is being discussed in order to take advantage of the large band and full crowds in the downtown area.  This may be a logical event considering that some of our participants may be leaving town before Wednesday evening.   

 Ladies Programs:  (Dates & Times T.B.D.)

The ladies programs committee is continuing their work with the 2014 Imperial Shrine Session Committee.  Tours will be available and scheduled in conjunction with the Imperial Tours Program.  While further information will be published in this newsletter, you are encouraged to also review the 2014 Imperial Website (www.Imperial2014.com) for further information.  Questions or comments should be directed to the Ladies Programs Chair, Colleen McFarlane at the contact information below.

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Contacts:

Please feel free to contact us at the numbers or emails below, or through the SCOTS-International website with any questions or comments.  We remain;

Yours in the Faith,

The 2014 SCOTS-International Imperial Session Committee:

• Dean "Mac" McFarlane, Chairman: 612-919-2008 
• macthedrummer@msn.com
• Joseph McCauley, Secretary/Treasurer: 612-594-9910 
• mccauley.joseph8651@yahoo.com
• Colleen McFarlane, Chairman - Women's Events Committee:  612-919-0549 
• colleen.mcfarlane731@gmail.com
• Mike McKenzie - Chairman, Communications Committee:  mikelohol55@gmail.com
• Jeff Ansel - Co-Chair - Food & Beverage Committee
• Betty Ansel - Co-Chair - Food & Beverage Committee
• Eric Knutson - Chairman - Marketing & Promotions Committee
• Adrian Skytland - Zuhrah Shrine Divan - Zuhrah Shrine & Shriners International Liaison
• Jeff Hunt - Chairman, Competition Committee