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Orange County
Ceilidh
Newsletter of the Orange County Branch of the RSCDS
Volume 32, No. 6November/December 2014
Visit our website at www.rscds-oc.org
“For naught can cheer the heart sae weel, As can a canty Highland reel” — Robert Ferguson
Greetings from the Chair
Our dancing season has officially begun! The
25th annual Interbranch dance was held on
Saturday, September 27. Approximately 65 dancers
from all four Southern California Branches gathered at the Tustin Senior Center to dance to and
thoroughly enjoy the music of Peat Fire Flame
Plus — Shauna Pickett-Gordon, piano, Colyn
Fischer, fiddle and Roland Sturm, bass. Everyone
with whom I talked was in agreement. The music was wonderful! Professionals that they are, the band was able to solve a glitch in
“Cadgers in the Canongate”, (not their fault) and add an extra eight
bars of music on the spot. Thanks again Shauna, Colyn, and Roland.
The LA Branch sponsored a dancer’s workshop on October 5 featuring guest teacher Robert McOwen from the Boston area. This
was a wonderful opportunity to review technique, whether you are
relatively new to SCD or you are a seasoned dancer. In the coming
months we will be able to practice these skills. There are four dances in
our future – LA’s St. Andrew’s Ball on November 22, OC’s Christmas
Ball on December 13, Hogmanay on New Year’s Eve, and, of course,
OC, joining with LA, to present the Robert Burns Supper and Ball
on January 24, 2015, along with our monthly dances in November
and January. Save these dates as you won’t want to miss anything.
As always, we thank our teachers for making us prepared for everything. We couldn’t do it without you!
Happy dancing, everyone.
Jan Lauer, Chair
Orange County Classes
MONDAY
First Presbyterian Church
146 Grand Ave., Orange
Beg/Inter. 7:00 – 9:30 p.m.
Bob Harmon (714) 774-8535
WEDNESDAY
Columbus-Tustin Activity Center
17522 Beneta Way, Tustin
Beg/Inter. 7:00 – 9:30 p.m.
Shirley Saturensky (714) 557-4662
THURSDAY
The Neighborhood Community Center
1845 Park Avenue, Costa Mesa
Beginners: 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Interm/Adv: 8:35 – 9:45 p.m.
Bob Patterson & Renee Boblette
(714) 731-2363
FRIDAY
WISEPlace Event Hall
1411 N. Broadway, Santa Ana
Interm/Adv: 7:30 –9:30 p.m.
Shirley Saturensky (714) 557-4662
The Next Big Event
Andrew Rankine Memorial
Christmas Ball
December 13, 2014, 7:00 p.m.
Tustin Area Senior Center
Live Music by
Hood, Wink & Swagger
HERE
Calendar of Events
October 2014
26
Asilomar Dance Review conducted by Shirley
Saturensky, WISEPlace, 1411 N. Broadway, Santa
Ana, 1:30-5:00 p.m., $5.00. (recorded music)
November 2014
1
OC Branch Beginner Dance, Anaheim Downtown
Community Center, 7:00 p.m. (recorded music)
December 2014
13
Andrew Rankine Memorial Christmas
Ball, Tustin Senior Center, 7:00 p.m., live
music by Hood, Wink and Swagger
January 2015
10
OC Branch Dance, Anaheim Downtown
Community Center, 7:00 p.m. (recorded music)
24
Burns Supper and Ball, joint with LA Branch,
Ports O’ Call Restaurant, San Pedro.
Live music by StringFire
February 2015
14
OC Branch Beginner Dance, Anaheim Downtown
Community Center, 7:00 p.m. (recorded music)
March 2015
14
OC Branch Dance, Anaheim Downtown
Community Center, 7:00 p.m. (recorded music)
THERE
October 2014
19
SGV Branch Autumn Tea Dance, Church of our
Saviour, San Gabriel, 4:00 p.m. (recorded music)
25
LA Branch Halloween Dance, First Christian
Church, Studio City, 7:00 p.m. (recorded music)
November 2014
15
SGV Branch Harvest Dance, Lindberg Park,
Culver City, 7:00 p.m. (recorded music)
22
LA Branch St. Andrew’s Ball, South Bay
Masonic Center, El Segundo, Dinner 6:30
p.m., Grand March 7:30 p.m., live music by
Andy Imbrie and Deby Benton Grosjean
December 2014
31
LA Branch Hogmanay, El Segundo Women’s
Club, El Segundo, 8:00 p.m. (recorded music)
Committee of Management Meeting of
September 14, 2014
Meeting Highlights:
• Corresponding Secretary’s Report:
New RSCDS Rules and Procedures have
been received. Membership information must now be submitted online.
• Treasurer’s Report: The current balance in
the checking account is $3520, the Andrew
Rankine Fund has $1641 and the Dorothy Craik
Memorial Dance Scholarship Fund has $950.
• Membership: Current 2014-2015 memberships are 39 members and 31 associate members.
RSCDS is moving to permanent membership numbers, but this is not complete so our
cards will have a local number for now. Kim
Cunningham will be assuming the duties of
membership and insurance upon Shirley’s retirement from this position at the end of this year.
• Non-Profit Status: Our application and payment for non-profit status
with the IRS has been submitted.
• Interbranch Dance: Orange County is
hosting, we will provide a dinner buffet.
• Burns Ball: Musicians (StringFire) are coming
from San Francisco and Denver. Roberta Gotfried
will provide housing. Prices will probably remain
at $55/person – will be decided in Ocrober.
The next COM meeting will be held November 2,
2014. Copies of the full minutes of the meeting are
available from Recording Secretary Randi Kraemer.
ELSEWHERE
November 2014
7-9
San Francisco Branch Asilomar Weekend
Workshop, more info at asilomar.rscds-sf.org
2
Orange County
Ceilidh
Flowers of the Forest
Robert (Bob) Douglas Lawson
October 27, 1919- August 17, 2014
It was with a heavy heart that
I learned of the passing of one
of our own. Bob Lawson wore
several hats during the emergence
of the Orange County Branch. He
served in several Board positions
including Chairman. The OC
Ceilidh (Vol. 2, #6, November/
December, 1984) makes note
that Bob was “instrumental in
setting up the RSCDS tent at the Chino Games,” as
well as thanking him for his help overall including
making up our cue sheets for the dances. With his
lanky arms and legs, his dance style was a bit gangly,
but he loved the music, the figures, the social atmosphere, and participated with joy for as long as he
could push his body to respond. He was, however,
a beautiful waltzer and could be counted upon to
make the last dance of the evening a special one for
the lucky partner who shared the floor with him.
He was a tremendous promoter for Scottish events
in general. He was a well-known figure at the Scottish
Games and Queen Mary Festivals where he manned
the MacLaren clan tent as well as helping out at the
RSCDS booths. There was more to Bob than his
love for all things Scottish; he was a man who traveled far and wide and had a variety of interests.
He was born in San Francisco, raised in Beverly
Hills, spent his summers with family in Pierce, Idaho,
and lived in Crystal Cove. During WWII,
he was a proud member of the US
Merchant Marines. In 1944 he crashlanded in Africa. Luckily the entire crew
walked away from the wreckage without
major injuries. After the war he returned
to Beverly Hills where he was a movie star chauffeur,
an assistant to Howard Hughes, and had other connections to the Hollywood studios. It was during this time
that he met the love of his life, Eleanor Jeanne Lawson.
They met at a photography studio where Eleanor
was doing a photo shoot for her acting career. Bob
nicknamed her Chris (for reasons unknown) and they
married in 1953. Along with a dearly loved uncle, they
toured Europe in a VW bug that Bob kept restored
Orange County
Ceilidh
on the family property in Pierce until his passing.
Restoring things was another of Bob’s talents.
He was instrumental in the arrival and preservation of the SS Lane Victory moored in the Port
of Los Angeles. Bob went as far as Benicia, CA to
salvage parts for the ship as well as spending countless hours aboard her doing whatever was needed to
keep her shipshape for cruising and educational purposes. As a veteran, he was very proud when she was
designated a floating National Historic Landmark.
The Navy and Merchant Marines are special
in my family. My Mom was a Master Electrician
during WWII, working mostly on the Victory ship
fleet, my Uncle was a USMM who also survived
a deadly wreck at sea, my Grandmother served in
Africa, and there have been many USN sailors in
our family as well. When Bob spoke to me about
his adventures he knew I truly appreciated the part
he played in our country’s history and freedom.
The USMM Academy’s motto is Acta Non Verba:
Deeds not Words. During WWII, the USMM could
be counted upon to “Deliver the Goods.” Bob
Lawson’s life was a personification of both mottos
and could be counted upon to get things done.
Bob never got over the death of his beloved
wife in 1975. His son noted that they will be
laid to rest together in Pierce, Idaho where he
spent his final years among his loving family.
Renee Boblette
To Brief or Not To Brief
by Michael Hanson of Seattle, as resurrected from an
article in the LA Branch Ghillie Callum in 1996.
To brief or not to brief, that is the question:
Whether ‘tis nobler on the floor to suffer
The flings and errors of unbriefed dances,
And take hands around in a sea of troubles,
Or by briefing, what end then? To wait; to sleep;
To snore; and with briefings we see no end to
The headache and the thousand natural shocks
That dance is heir to.
(with apologies to William Shakespeare, 1564-1616)
(editor’s note: It seems that in California, at least, we have
decided that the delay of briefing is worthwhile for a
better dancing experience. This doesn’t hold everywhere, as seen by our branch travelers to Scotland this
summer.)
3
Black Mail / Balquhidder
Rob Roy — The Highland Rogue.
It would be nice to see the dances “Rob Roy” and
the “Balquhidder Strathspey” on the same program
because of the close
historical connection
between the famous Rob
Roy and the village of
Balquhidder, for that
is where he had a farm
and was buried in 1727.
Both are forever linked
in Scotland’s turbulent
history between the
catholic Jacobites and
protestant supporters of
William of Orange and
the German Geordies.
Rob Roy was christened Raibeart
MacGriogair in Glengyle, near Loch
Katrine, in March 1671. Because
of his red hair (ruadh), his mother
called him Raibeart Ruadh (hence:
Rob Roy). Like his father Donald Glas MacGregor
of Glengyle, a chief of the Clan McGregor, Rob
made his living mainly as a cattle drover, a cattle thief,
or in protecting the herds of other landowners.
In those days, landowners to the south, i.e. east
of Loch Lomond to the outskirts of Glasgow and
towards Stirling, would pay protection money to
the highlanders to protect their cattle and livestock.
This was called “mail”, the Scot’s word for rent,
and came to be known as “blackmail’’. It was just
like extortion or protection money but was often
legal. For example, in 1658 the Privy Council authorized the MacGregors of Glengyle to maintain a
“Watch” to protect the cattle of Lennox and for the
landowners of Dumbarton and Stirling to maintain (pay for) the “Watch”.* If the landowner did
not pay his “mail” then he would lose his protection and no doubt shortly thereafter, his property.
Rob Roy became one of the best cattle drovers and
one of the best at maintaining a Watch. But his life
and that of the MacGregors became very complicated
and hard. The MacGregor’s support of the House
of Stuart, (King Charles, James ll) and the Jacobite
risings in 1715 and 1719 made them many enemies,
and when Rob was branded an outlaw by the Duke
of Montrose he was forced into hiding. His exploits
4
made him famous and the subject of many books.
The first, The Highland Rogue by Daniel Defoe, was
published in 1723, four years before Rob’s death.
I was fortunate to stay in Balquhidder on a high
school cycling trip round Scotland. On our way north
we slept in the Balquhidder
Youth Hostel, and for boys
from the big industrial city of
Glasgow, we had the unforgettable experience of waking
up in a beautiful highland
glen to the sounds of a piper.
(Balquhidder was pronounced
with the hard Q as in “quit”).
At that time, there were lots
of little farms in Balquhidder;
sadly, the last time I was there
it appeared the farms were
gone and the homes were
filled with retirees or vacationers.
P.S. The Liam Neeson movie Rob Roy
has great scenery, costumes, and acting,
but the piping and dancing are ridiculous.
You would think they were in Riverdance!
* The Black Watch was a regiment which wore a dark
plaid kilt and was raised to keep peace in the Highlands.
Norm McCallum
Orange County
Ceilidh
The Lighthouse Stevensons– Part Deux.
Since my article in the last Ceilidh on “The
Lighthouse Stevensons” and how Robert Louis
Stevenson had worked briefly in the family business
helping build lighthouses around the Scottish coast,
I suddenly realized that
sailing to the lighthouses
would have been the
inspiration for his poem,
“Sing Me A Song”.
The poem describes
a voyage he made
in 1874 aboard the
Schooner Heron as it
sailed from Mull, round
Arnamurchan and north
between the islands of
Eigg and Rhum to the
island of Skye. I believe
he may have written the poem twenty years later as
he lay dying from tuberculosis at his mountain home
Vailima on Samoa where he was known as Tusitala,
the teller of tales.
Sing Me A Song
Sing me a song of a lad that is gone,
Say, could that lad be I?
Merry a soul he sailed on a day
Over the sea to Skye.
Mull was astern, Rum on the port,
Egg on the starboard bow;
Glory of youth glowed in his soul—
Where is that glory now?
Give me again all that was there,
Give me the sun that shone!
Give me the eyes, give me the soul,
Give me the lad that’s gone!
Billow and breeze, islands and seas,
Mountains of rain and sun,
All that was good, all that was fair,
All that was me is gone.
I have always thought that a sailing trip on
the west coast of Scotland would be truly
memorable just as experienced by RLS.
Norm McCallum
IRELAND § NORTHERN IRELAND § SCOTLAND
Dancing Tour with Christine Grobler of OC Branch
Summer 2016
Tour starts in Dublin, 3 days, dance; drive into Northern Ireland
and Belfast, 2 days, dance; Ferry over to Scotland, Glasgow, 2 days,
dance; Edinburgh, 2 days, dance; and 3 days in the Highlands.
12-14 days total trip in a small van with 6-9 dancers.
Email Christine to get on her list. Deposits will be due Oct 2015.
Approx costs $4500 - $5000 includes airfare.
Christine Grobler: chrisgrobler@cox.net — (949) 412-2088
toursbychris.com
Orange County
Ceilidh
5
2014 Interbranch Dance
Huckleberry’s Roasted Carrots
with Avocado
New 2015 Tour!
DANCING TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND
October, 2015
A 10-12 day tour in a small
van with 6-8 passengers.
With Christine Grobler of RSCDS,
Orange County, CA
North Island: Auckland,
Rotorua & Farm Stay.
South Island: Queenstown,
Fox Glacier & Christchurch
Dancing in Auckland,
Rotorua and Christchurch.
Contact me to get on my list! Deposit
will be due January, 2015
Costs: approx. $4500 – $5000 Includes airfare,
accommodation, travel and tours.
Please email or call me with questions:
Christine Grobler
chrisgrobler@cox.net — (949) 412-2088
www.toursbychris.com
6
as printed in the Los Angeles Times, September 4, 2014
and prepared by Dianne Wilson for several dances
Total time: 45 minutes, plus cooling time
Serves 4 to 6
1½ pounds carrots
Olive oil
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
Salt and pepper
¼ cup lemon juice,
more to taste
½ bunch cilantro, leaves chopped
1 large avocado
Heat the oven to 425 degrees.
Peel the carrots and cut into ½-inch-thick pieces.
Toss with just enough olive oil to lightly coat,
along with the cumin seeds, a generous ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper, or to taste.
Spread the carrots onto a rimmed baking sheet
and roast until the carrots are tender and golden
brown, about 30 minutes, tossing occasionally for
even coloring. Remove from heat and cool.
Place the cooled carrots in a large bowl and
toss with the lemon juice and cilantro. Peel, seed
and dice the avocado and toss with the carrots.
Taste and adjust the seasonings and flavorings
as desired. Chill completely before serving.
Each of 6 servings:Calories 168; Protein 2 grams;
Carbohydrates 15 grams; Fiber 6 grams; Fat 12 grams; Saturated
fat 2 grams; Cholesterol 0; Sugar 5 grams; Sodium 173 mg
Orange County
Ceilidh
November Branch Beginner Dance
November 1, 2014, (note date change!)
7:00 p.m., Recorded Music
Anaheim Downtown Center, 250 E. Center St
Cost: $10 Members; $12 Non-Members
Bethankit Maxwell’s Rant Monymusk The Raven’s Dance Bruce’s Men Currie Mountain J
R
S
J
S
R
B
I
B
I
I
B
RSCDS/3rd Graded
Book 18
Book 11
Haynes/5th Carnforth
Goldring/Scotia Suite
Pugh/New Brunswick
Collie Law Rob Roy Bedrule Hooper’s Jig Mist O’er the Loch The Selkirk Settlers J
R
S
J
S
R
B
A
B
B
I
B
Goldring 24 Grd & Soc
Foss/Waverley
Book 13
MMM 2
RSCDS/Diamond Jub
Zadworny/Let’s All Dance
The Jubilee Jig J
Maureen and Paddy R
The Braes of Tulliemet S
IP’s Farewell to Auchterarder J
Pittenweem R
B
I
B
A
B
RSCDS/Leaflet
Ker/York Book 2
Book 7
Hamilton/Leaflet
Brandon/Mem of Fife
January Branch Dance
January 10, 2015, 7:00 p.m., Recorded Music
Anaheim Downtown Center, 250 E. Center St
Cost: $10 Members; $12 Non-Members
The Jubilee Jig Maureen and Paddy Bedrule Rodney’s Rant Linnea’s Strathspey Scotia Sea J
R
S
J
S
R
B
I
B
I
I
I
RSCDS/Leaflet
Ker/York Book 2
Book 13
RSCDS/Diamond Jub
Book 47
Goldring/Scotia Suite
Bethankit Finnan Haddies Bethankit Best Set in the Hall The Braes of Tulliemet Polharrow Burn J
S
J
J
S
R
B
A
B
I
B
I
RSCDS/3rd Graded
Drewry/Bankhead 4
RSCDS/3rd Graded
Book 46
Book 7
RSCDS/3 by H Foss
Seton’s Ceilidh Band Lady Dumfries Tuolumne Tournee Fugal Fergus The Highland Rambler J
R
S
J
R
I
B
A
A
B
Fordyce/Morison’s Bush
MMM 1
Saturensky/Leaflet
RSCDS/3 by H Foss
Goldring/Silver Jub
Andrew Rankine Memorial Christmas Ball
December 13, 2014; 7:00 p.m. (Doors open 6:30);
Buffet supper will be served at the break.
Tustin Senior Center, 200 “C” St., Tustin
Music by Hood, Wink & Swagger
Cost: $25 Members; $28 Nonmembers , $10 Nondancers
Bethankit John of Bon Accord Bruce’s Men Fair Jenny’s Jig Linnea’s Strathspey Currie Mountain J
R
S
J
S
R
B
I
I
I
I
B
RSCDS/3rd Graded
Book 33
Goldring/Scotia Suite
Wallace/Redwood For
Book 47
Pugh/New Brunswick
The Jubilee Jig Maureen and Paddy Diamonds & Rubies Seton’s Ceilidh Band Barbara’s Strathspey The Selkirk Settlers J B R I M I J I
S I
R B RSCDS/Leaflet
Ker/York Book 2
Miller/Leaflet
Fordyce/Morison’s Bush
Book 46
Zadworny/Let’s All Dance
Hooper’s Jig Scotia Sea Mist O’er the Loch Best Set in the Hall Mairi’s Wedding J
R
S
J
R
MMM 2
Goldring/Scotia Suite
RSCDS/Diamond Jub
Book 46
Cosh/22 SCD
Orange County
Ceilidh
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7
OC BRANCH SCHOLARSHIPS
Orange County Branch has scholarship funds available to dancers and musicians which are to be used to
further the interest of Scottish Country Dancing in the
Orange County area and to help perpetuate the RSCDS
tradition by encouraging the development of dancing
skills and above all, enjoyment of the dance.
The Dorothy Craik Memorial Dance Scholarship
offers funds to dancers. To be eligible applicants must
be current members of the Orange County Branch and
adhere to the criteria listed in the guidelines. The grant
is intended to help members with financial need cover
some of the expense of a training program (workshops,
etc.). Applicants may be awarded only one grant per event
and recipients may be asked to help out with operational
functions at the event. All requests and awards will be
kept confidential. Assistance
will be granted without discrimination on the basis of
race, religion, sex, color,
nationality, ancestry or place
of origin. Applications must
be received at least 30 days
before funds are needed.
If not deliverable, return to:
The Orange County Branch of the
Royal Scottish Country Dance Society
P.O. Box 26271
Santa Ana, CA 92799
Volume 32, #6, November/December 2014
Subscription Rate: $6 (domestic)
$10 (overseas)
Editor:
Terri Speakman
Email:
tjspeakman@verizon.net
Thanks to all contributors!
THE ORANGE COUNTY CEILIDH IS
PUBLISHED 6 TIMES PER YEAR.
Deadline for the January/February Ceilidh is
December 1, 2014.
The
Andrew
Rankine
Memorial Fund is for
musicians. It is open to all.
Information and application
forms for either scholarship may
be obtained from your teacher,
or write to: RSCDS-Orange
County Branch, P.O. Box 26271,
Santa Ana, CA 92799.