Dear List & Members Here is a link to the guidelines for submitting stories for the OLDE MECKLENBURG COUNTY HERITAGE BOOK PROJECT. http://www.geocities.com/bjbarnhill/Sample.html Thanks for helping support this effort by submitting your story and speading the word to others. Sheila <sheilaw@webkorner.com> ------------------------------------- ********NOTICE TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES ********* For more information contact: Dick Taylor Catawba Valley Scottish Society PO Box 1009 Huntersville, NC 28070-1009 704-875-3113 <highlandgames@lochnorman.org> or http://www.lochnorman.org The nineth Loch Norman Highland Games will be held at historic Rural Hill Farm in Huntersville, NC on April 19, 20, and 21, 2002. Loch Norman Highland Games Distinguished Guest- BILLY KENNEDY Learn a little about your relatives... those doggedly-determined cantankerous Scots-Irish with author, Billy Kennedy. The seminar is hosted by the Catawba Valley Scottish Society on Friday April 19th at Rural Hill Farm from 3:00-4:30pm. Adults $10. He will be available for book signings at the Loch Norman Highland Games on Saturday and Sunday. Call for information about group rates. Billy Kennedy was born in Belfast, Ireland in 1943 and comes of Scots-Irish Presbyterian roots. For 30 years, he has been one of the leading journalists in Northern Ireland, covering the major stories of the Ulster troubles and as a prolific columnist on a variety of issues. For 18 years, he was a news editor with the Ulster/Belfast News Letter, Northern Ireland's leading morning newspaper and the oldest English language newspaper for 5 years, he was the lead writer and wrote about religious affairs, local government correspondent and was the literary editor. He now operates as a full-time freelance journalist, public relations consultant, author and lecturer. Billy Kennedy has a deep fascination for his forebears of that tradition who moved to America in such numbers during the 18th century. His abiding interest is in the history of the Scots-Irish settlements on the American frontier, and through his authorship, Billy Kennedy has lectured on the Scots-Irish Diaspora in America in major cities and towns in the south eastern Appalachian region and on the eastern seaboard. In the establishment of the United States, the Scots- Irish were one of the most highly influential groups, both in the drawing up and signing of the American Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and in the Revolutionary War that followed. This group of dedicated stalwarts, whose families immigrated to America from the Irish Province of Ulster thoughout the 18th century, were resolute and uncompromising champions of the movement for American independence. Bitter expericence of religious discrimination and economic deprivation in their Scottish and Ulster homelands gave impetus to the Scots-Irish people throwing off the shackles of the old order when they moved to the American colonies and opened up the greater frontier lands. The Scots-Irish were in the vanguard of American patriot involvement on all fronts of the War, but it was on the frontier that they made most significant contributions. Quite uniquely, as a people, they rose to the awesome challenge of the American frontier - its danger, its in accessibility and its sheer enormity. Billy Kennedy has written a highly popular series of books about the inspiring story of how a highly determined and very courageous God-fearing people from the north of Ireland stamped their distinctive Presbyterian character on the various facets of American life, from they first traveled across the Atlantic in large numbers in the early 18th century. Heroism was a distinct characteristic of the Scots- Irish immigrants who settled on the American frontier during the 18th century and the raw courage shown by these dogged, determined people in very difficult circumstances helped place the United States on the high plain where it is today. Forging a civilization out of a wilderness was a real challenge for the tens of thousands of immigrants from Ulster, and how well they succeeded in molding a decent, law-abiding society. For research on his books, Billy Kennedy traveled extensively through Virginia, Tennessee and the Carolinas and met and talked with many people with direct links to the Scots-Irish settlers of 200 years ago. Information about his books will be at the seminar on Friday, April 19th at 3:00-4:30. Date: (Friday) April 19th Time: 4:00 Place: Rural Hill Farm Speaker: Billy Kennedy (from Northern Ireland) Cost: $10 (Adults) Be There! --------------------------- Please let Dick Taylor know if you need directions or follow the signs off of Beatties Ford Rd Charlotte... Go south off of Hwy 150 from the store at 150 and Beatties Ford Rd. go south to Charlotte, look for Neck Rd... go to the Rural Hill Farm. you can't miss it. See ya There! Sheila R. Weaver _____________________________________________________ __ WebKorner Internet Services - http://www.webkorner.com/