June 19th, 2020

Dear ASF Members and Friends of the Foundation, 

Summer has arrived and on behalf of the ASF Board send strong thoughts for the weeks ahead - this has been a Spring like no other.  

Below we share updates of events now virtual that we hope you will join - collaborations that we are proud to be a part of and hope you will be too. helping  our community feel closer through the sharing of our love of Scotland. 

With strong thoughts from all of us at the American-Scottish Foundation.

Camilla G Hellman
President


This Sunday is Mid Summers Day and ASF are delighted to be celebrating the Solstice by  joining Make Music NYs Virtual Celebration of the day.  

This weekend free concerts will be taking place and ASF are bringing together a groups of Scottish musicians to share  SOUNDS FROM SCOTLAND.

ASF will be live streaming on our  Facebook page on
Sunday June 21st from 12pm - 4pm EST

Visit our Facebook page for a list of times and performances  from: 
Alan Frew, Colin Hunter, Laura McGhee, Craig Weir,  Jamie McGeechan, 
John Rush and Mike Nisbett.  With thank you to Jamie McGeechan for coordinating.
ASF COMMUNITY NEWS UPDATES

HIGHLAND GAMES:
After hearing of the cancellation of so many of the Summer Highland Games, this week comes heartening news in regard to the late Fall Highland Games schedule.

Michael Reid, ASF Board Member shares the following news: .... "I have just learnt that several Highland Games have been able to reschedule their events later this year.  I n particular, the Red Stone Highland Games in Utah, scheduled for mid-April, will now be held mid-October; the Victoria Highland Games, Canada, slated for mid-May, will be slimmed down and delayed until late summer (date to be confirmed at the end of June); and the Dunedin Highland Games, Florida are moved from April 4 to November 20 and 21.  We have also learnt that the Scottish Highland Games, Decatur, TX and the Iron Thistle Scottish Festival, Okl will be taking place in October and Scot Fest Oklahoma is still planned for September.

Please stay in touch with the organizing committee of the games you normally attend and check status."

ASF will share updates as we learn more.  Keep up to date with ASF News on our website and Facebook pages.

Going Virtual - The British American Summer Societies Garden Party 

Wednesday 15 July - 6pm 
Tickets are $15 - Use on line LINK HERE
(all tickets via St Georges Society)

Every Summer over 25 British American Societies and Organizations in New York come together to celebrate our rich history, culture and community at a wonderful annual summer Garden Party
 
Although we won't be gathering in person this year, the tradition will continue in 2020 as we take the Garden Party virtual!
 
Join us for an exclusive evening featuring:
A Cocktail Class, a virtual tour of a Garden, a 'Garden Glam' Competition, live music and special appearances from members of our community. 
 
Guests will receive: 
A DIY Garden Party Guide with garden-inspired food and drink recipes, details of how to enter the 'Garden Glam' competition, and ideas for celebrating with family and friends (socially distanced and following government guidelines of course!)
AS PAUSE CONTINUES - A LOOK BACK:

The Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra performing for the American Scottish Foundation in NYC
The Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra 2017 - American Scottish Foundation in NYC
A wonderful look back to July 2017 and the Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra performance in New York during their US - Canadian visit.

The American-Scottish Foundation® arranged a concert for the 70 young musicians aged 12 to 17 in  Bowling Green Park, Financial DistricT NYC.   With grateful thanks to  New York City Parks & Recreation for their help that day - one of the hottest days that summer!

We hope to welcome the AFO back to  the US again soon - THANK YOU fo  Passionfornyc - another great moment captured by Cissy Paul 
Come join the Dance : Scottish Country Dancing 

ASF Members and Friends - many of you join us for our Annual Burns Night Celebration where we "enthusiastically" take on Scottish Reels.  Now is an opportunity to take part from home and help increase your knowledge of the reels.

And so, during this period of pause, there are still  opportunities to enjoy  the vigorous, lively traditional  Scottish dance form.  

In New York, the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society  has two groups that are active in Manhattan.   While both  have suspended classes until it is safe to resume them,  they recently resumed classes by Zoom.  

SCOTIA host on Zoom RSCDC' Thursday's Dance Classes 
at 7pm - Contact Scotia for a secure Zoom link, meeting ID # and password.  

Join in the dance for 45 minutes or so, with a short virtual tea time to socialize with other Scottish Dancers in the area.   Their email is  [email protected]  or contact the RSCDC New York Branch 
Gary Maclean - Inspiration - On Line Cooking Class!

Gary Maclean, Scotland's National Chef
has been holding Weekly Cooking Classes full of great ideas and demonstrations. 

Visit Gary's Facebook to catch up on
great recipes and videos.  Click HERE 


He has just been featuring  scrumptous desserts:  Summer Strawberries,  Passion fruit, lime and vanilla syrup
and theres:
Sticky Toffee Pudding with Honey glazed 
figs and cinnamon ricotta cheese - and Gary just  featured Cullen Skink.   

One things most of us I think can agree that has happened during "the Pause" has been a focus on food - on cooking -  on really making meals, and Gary's Cookbook is a great roadmap.  Kitchen Essentials - The Joy of Home Cooking  Amazon CLICK HERE 

ASF SUMMER COCKTAIL OF THE WEEK SPOTLIGHT
ANGUS SOUR
Ingredients
  • 40ml Arbikie Strawberry Vodka
  • 10ml Arbikie Kirsty's Gin
  • 20ml lemon
  • 10ml egg white
  • 1 dash Peychaud Bitters
  • float of red wine
Method 
Pour all ingredients apart from red wine starting with egg white. Seal it well and dry-shake vigorously then add ice and shake again. Double strain over cubed ice into whisky glass. Pour red wine slowly on the top. Garnish with lemon peel and dash of Peachuds.
 
ASF #ScotsInUS FORTNIGHTLY PODCASTS
Every second and fourth Monday ...
   
Pod and Zoom Library
We are looking to add interesting content in the weeks ahead 
..Take a listen if you missed  on 
MixCloud   and  Spotify  :   # ScotsInUS Podcast

APRIL 27 A LOOK BACK AT APRIL 2020
"In Conversation" - With all events cancelled due to Covid-19, a pivot was made around the leading April events.  

Camilla Hellman, President, American Scottish Foundation,  discussed the virtual recognition of National Tartan Day,  The Declaration of Arbroath Anniversary and other important  April events that we looked to not overlook.

With music from Alan Frew, Hannah Read and Colin Hunter

MAY 11 CLANS, THE LORD LYON AND HIGHLAND GAMES 2020 
"In Conversation" with John King Bellassai, Council of Scottish Clans and Associations.  

Bellassai discusses the state of the US Scottish Clans and role played by the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs and role of Joseph Morrow, Lord Lyon King of Arms is explained and challenges facing the Highland Games in 2020.

With music from Whisky Kiss, Fellswater, Tullamore and Ed Miller

"In Conversation" Greg King, Brand Ambassador of GlenDronnach

With music from  John Rush Laura Mcghee  and  Have Mercy Las Vegas

JUNE 8,  
Come Dance - The World of the Ceilidh
and  award winning musical theater  composers,  Noisemaker

With musical from Whisky Kiss and Noisemaker

JUNE 22, ScotsInUS PODCAST Spring Roundup
Presenter Jamie McGeechan takes a look back at the ASF Pods
during this time of Pause.  An hour of Music and Conversation 
             

ASF SHARE SOME UNIQUE GIFT IDEAS FROM SCOTLAND 

Scotland Shop  
ASF MEMBERS ENJOY 10% Scotland Shop 
DISCOUNT CODE ASF2019 on all purchases or custom orders
From  Made to Measure services, to gift items.

Tartan Face Masks are now being offered by the Scotland Shop who WILL DONATE 20% from all mask sales to the NHS .  As Scotland Shop explain, in purchasing one you are supporting self-employed seamstresses who have lost a huge amount of their income due to Coronavirus.


SCOTTISH CREATIONS 
ASF MEMBERS ENJOY 10% Scottish Creations 
DISCOUNT USE CODE ASF10

We love these new gift ideas  Click Here
HC Apron, HC Tea Towel and Wooly Ewe Apron & Tea Towel:  
As owner Hilary Creighton explains - 

"We Scots do love our Highland Coos and Sheep and these delightful Aprons and Tea towels come with their own gorgeous Highland Cow or Sheep Pin. Designed in Scotland and all made in the UK".

Scottish Creations work with small independent artists and designers across Scotland, allowing them to bring you the very best in contemporary and traditional Scottish designs.- A great source for unique gifts and a favorite of the ASF Team


Enjoy a Taste of Scotland:
ASF are delighted to announce our new ASF Member Benefit with our partners - and offering during this period our discounts to our Friends as well as Members:

- 20% discount 
(free freight on orders over $90- exclusive of frozen goods)
 Link HERE - Code ASFM20



HARNEY & COMPANY ASF Scottish Teas: Support us as you enjoy our wonderful Scottish Morn or Scottish Afternoon Teas from Harney & Company, a portion of all sales goes to support ASF programs. 




Walkers Shortbread who have a large selection of wonderful Scottish shortbread and biscuits 
ASF Members and Friends a special 20% discount on 



Ways to Support the American Scottish Foundation 
Membership: A corner stone of organizations is Membership.  If not yet a Member of ASF we invite you to  join and take advantage of all of the Foundations benefits 
and ways to be involved.

Your only qualification for Membership is to have

Donations: At this time please consider a donation to the ASF.  Click here
to help support of our Heritage, Arts, Culture and 
Youth Bursary programming, Your support would be greatly appreciated 

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