UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

from Bev Sheirer

My new address is 516 Eau Claire St., Butler, PA 16001-4610. My phone number is (412) 282-0850.

We attended a small festival on Saturday April 24, 1993 in Edinboro, P A which is about 90 miles north of Butler. The people in western Pennsylvania are trying to get another clan gathering started. They feel that having just one in Ligonier is not enough. This was their first attempt at doing so. Edinboro is located about 24 miles south of lake Erie. It was cold and rainy and windy. There were good points and bad points about the festival:

Good point 1: We could park our car right beside the tent, unlike Ligonier were we have to carry our equipment such a great distance. With the car beside the tent we could sit in the car to try and stay warm.

Good point 2: The back of our dining fly tent was between us and the wind that was whipping across thc "playing field". The playing field wasn't used because it was too cold for any games.

Good point 3: It didn't cost us anything to attend. There were about 6 clan tents and 5 vendors. It was too cold for many people to venture outside. To show you the mentality of the people I was dealing with, two different people thought Clan Hunter meant people who went out with guns to shoot things. We pulled up the stakes shortly after 2 p.m., before the wind blew our tent down or ripped it. I did talk to several people who said that they had friends, neighbours etc. with the name Hunter. I sent home with those 4 or 5 the small "Clan Hunter" brochure that contains the short history , line drawing of Hunters ton, and a map of the area. I explained that there was a castle and wrote my name, address and phone number on the back, and told them if the person had any questionsto contact me or Hunterston Castle. I advised them not to purchase Hunter tartan from the vendors but to write to the Castle instead, and that it was very reasonably priced ...

They plan to try again next year with this festival, thinking ofhaving it in May when maybe the weather will be kinder. I plan to try again next year, when maybe some of the Hunters in the,area will show up.

Meanwhile we have sent our $25 to reserve a space at the "McHenry Highland Festival" in Deep Creek' .

May we congratulate our Clan Chief Neil Hunter of Hunterston, his family and all clansmen for conducting a magnificent Clan Gathering at Hunterston castle last July 1992.

Our chief representatives of Australia were Fred and Pam Bowers from Blacktown N.S.W. who were fortunate to participate in all the happy events, meet and mix wi~ many overseas Hunters and fmally to enjoy a grand tour by car all around Scotland and its famous scenic sites.

No doubt Claire and I will be over again sometime in the near future and we look forward to renewing many acquaintances.

Clan membership in Australia is continuing on a gentle increase however all clansmen are urged to seek out their relatives and all their Hunter friends, membership forms are available from me and of course this entitles you to many items of news, history ofour clan and contacts in many parts of thew0rld. A fair stock of excellent clan goods is available from my home.

The most important coming event is the Scottish-Australian Highland Ball organised by the Highland Society at Sydney Town Hall on Saturday 26th June 1993. All are welcome, it's a grand event.