News & Columns > Michael P. Neufeld > Robert Burns Dinner Set for January 24

Robert Burns Dinner Set for January 24

Reservations Due by January 6

By Michael P. Neufeld
Saturday, January 3, 2009

San Bernardino, CA - Every year, on January 24, millions of people all over the world, representing the Scottish Diaspora — hard-core poetry enthusiasts, dialecticians and linguists — get together to celebrate the birth and the life of the great Poet Laureate of Scotland, Robert Burns.

It is with this in mind that the Scottish Society of the Inland Empire (SSIE) joins so many other Scottish, Caledonian, St Andrews, Poetic and Masonic Societies in holding their Second Annual Robert Burns Dinner. This year, The Robert Burns Dinner will be held at the Arrowhead Country Club (3433 Parkside Drive - San Bernardino).

Robert Burns was one of the all time great contributors to Scottish culture. His poetry, mainly written in the Scots dialect, (some linguists contend that Scots is its own language), is some of the best-known poetry in the world. He will be honored January 23 with a special dinner hosted by the Scottish Society of the Inland Empire. (Photo by SSIE.)

The Burns Dinner is a formal dinner, held with much tradition and ceremony. This year's events include the traditional Toast to the Lassies and the Toast to the Laddies, offered up by past SSIE President Tress Maksimuk and her husband Nicholas.

"We invite everyone to come and participate in this wonderful and culturally significant event", current SSIE President Aaron Creighton, from Crestline, told RIMOFTHEWORLD.net.

We cannot forget the Haggis ceremony, including the piping in by the award-winning piper Cameron Tillery playing the Great Highland Pipes. He will also be playing a medley of Robert Burns tunes for the Immortal Memory address.

William Campbell will recite the Address to the Haggis by Burns, and Tom McKerlie will recite the Selkirk Grace by Burns.

Clan Roll Call will be piped by Jeff Frazier, playing the Great Highland Pipes and the Clans will be called by Paul Blandford.

Creighton will serve as master of ceremonies for the evening, and there will be Celtic Harp music by Jerry Ripley.

The Scottish Society of the Inland Empire will stage their Third Annual Robert Burns Dinner on Saturday, January 23. (Photo by SSIE.)

Closing the ceremonies, the traditional Auld Lang Syne is sung. This was written by Robert Burns, and is one of the world's most famous and well-known songs.

There will be several items up for raffle including a full kilt package donated by R.P. Blandford and Son, LTD. This package includes the kilt, the hose, the sporran, and a kilt belt.

Appropriate attire is formal/semi formal.

Tickets are available until Tuesday, January 6. Please contact Bob Leeton, Secretary of the Scottish Society of the Inland Empire at ipabob@earthlink.net or (909) 425-8427. Tickets are $35 for SSIE members and $45 for non-members.

The Scottish Society of the Inland Empire has members from all over the Inland Empire and several States. Sheena Easton is an honorary member. About 35 percent of the members are current, or former, residents of the Mountain Communities, including four of the five members of the Board.

Membership is open to all people, regardless of ethnicity, cultural background, religious affiliation, or any other consideration, who have an interest in Scottish culture, history, and art. All new members are welcomed into this non-profit organization, formed for the celebration of and education in all things Scottish, and for the performance of charitable and community service work.

For membership information, please see SSIE's website at http://www.iescots.com or contact Aaron Creighton at (909) 338-3450.

This article was first published on Thursday, January 1, 2009 at 10:53 am. This article has been viewed 1103 times.

Michael P. Neufeld, RIMOFTHEWORLD.net Managing News Editor, is a graduate of the Dwight Bentel School of Journalism at San Jose State University. His first job out of San Jose State was with the Associated Press in Los Angeles as overnight Radio Editor. Prior to joining RIMOFTHEWORLD.net, Neufeld was editor of two weekly newspapers—THE MOUNTAIN NEWS and CRESTLINE COURIER-NEWS. He also has experience as editor of an employee newspaper for a major utility company and during his tenure as executive director of the San Jose State University Alumni Association served as faculty advisor to the association's monthly newsletter. He also spent eight years in commercial radio doing everything from news to advertising sales and writing commercials to being an announcer and on-air personality. Neufeld is actively involved the mountain communities including serving as master of ceremonies for the Arrowhead Arts Music Festival held each summer.

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of RIMOFTHEWORLD.net. This column is copyrighted by Michael P. Neufeld.