Polls and Pictures

Polls

Greetings all. On our clan subforum is a pair of polls, asking you if we as a clan should (a) be involved with the United Clans of Scotland political party, and (b) if we do, what level of involvement that should be (if we become involved). Please take the time to go and vote in both polls.

By the way, I split the poll into two parts to make it 'fairer'. The main question is SHOULD we be involved. If I had put up a three way poll, the vote for those who want involvement would have been split two ways, versus the vote for those who don't want involvement which wouldn't have been split. Also, doing it this way, if we choose to get involved, those who voted against involvement get a say about what level of involvement we end up seeking.

If you need to know more about the issues before voting, theres notes on the poll thread about where you can find information. If still having trouble, mail me.

Pictures

Our clan's Coat of Arms has been delivered to us by the Court of Lyons (Scotland's heraldry authority). It is now official. Again, there's an announcement thread on the issue posted on our clan subforum.

"Clans rule" of "Mob rules"?

The governmental project of Scotland, a group with representatives from all of scotland's 'estates' (eg. clans, army, church, court of Lyons), is beginning to publish on the forums the various draft articles it has devised for our proposed national constitution. Our representatives on the Project are Ragehammer and Malons_knight. Now we all have a chance to read and debate. To do so, click here.

For your information, I will pop in and out of the public debate. I intend doing so in my individual capacity. In my case, that encompasses my role as Clan Chieftain. Therefore, I will have a tendency to promote as much power as possible to the clan system. Of course, if you think differently to me on these points, all the more reason for you to consider publishing your own views!

Seriously.

Departures and Goodbyes

Minuet has gone into retreat, being totally frustrated at a game system which keeps locking her out and penalising her. After a long battle with the system and much talk with the admins, she called it a day in disgust. Will wait until she has been inactive for 3 months before removing her.

Soltario had real life creep up on him. Something had to give. Online gaming drew the short straw, so he too went into retreat. He's working long long shifts in Iceland, hopes he'll be able to return one day. Will wait until he has been inactive for 3 months before removing him.

Telets has relocated ingame to be near the university of his home country in eastern europe. I wouldn't be surprised if we'll see him again one day, but have had to remove him from official list.

Reinaert wrote me, asking release from our clan. I granted that release. She is no longer a member. Part of her reason was that she was the only member in Ayr after Telet's departure. The other reason was that she couldn't maintain membership after some of the opinions expressed about her friends on our subforum. She is involved in many good things in her hometown and county, works with these folk every day, and in good faith could not countenance the opinions of some of us. A very sad loss in my opinion.

Clan Update

Scotland seems to have a population which varies between 3100 and 3200 souls across its two counties. Around 320 are presently in one of the various clans. There are 30 MacTavishes at time of writing (this includes 3 who appear to have either gone 'inactive' or who have told me they will shortly do so).

Their are seven towns in Scotland at the moment. MacTavishes are in 4-5 of them. The average scottish town seems to have 430 - 470 inhabitants, with around 120 level 1, 22 level 2 and 4 - 10 level 3. Our clan presently has 0 level 3, 4 level 2, 26 level 1. Several level 1s are on the cusp of going to level 2. The majority or our clan was 'born' in scotland ingame, and in that sense we remain a 'young' clan.

Our greatest concentration is in Whithorn (Galloway), where around half of the clan presently resides. Drummore has now got 6 members, 3 in Wigtown, the remainder in County Ayr.

It took us 2 months and 1 week to double in size from November 1, when we had 15 members. We were the third largest clan then, we are the third largest clan now. There are five applicants at present, likely to all become MacTavish within the next week.

Newsflash - War Approaches!

The scottish nation marshalls itself for war! If you are already in the Royal Scottish Army (RSA) you should contact your local town band leader and ask for orders (check on the forum for the Regiment if you don't know who your local leader is). If you want to join the RSA, you should contact the RSA by posting on the forum for the royal scottish army at the Highland Hall (or contact your local leader if you know who it is).

For those who will be marching to the muster (gathering of the army), you should ideally take a weapon (shaft or sword), shield, 6 days food and some spare money. If you will need to manage your fields while you are gone, you should take enough money to do that as well. We don't know how long we will need to stand to arms or march around the countryside. Also, we don't know if we will actually have to fight. If we fight and die, we come back. If this happens, won't be able to fight again for another 45 days though.

If we have to fight, you get a bonus for every 50 points of strength or charisma you have. you also get one point bonus for having a shaft, and either 2 or 3 bonus points for having a sword. A shield will help defend you. If you go into battle as part of a (mounted) 'retinue' you will get another bonus for being mounted (even if you are not an ingame lord). At least, that's how I understand the IG rules about war.

If you stay behind, we will need the economy going at full speed. The army will need food and other supplies if this goes on for a long time, as well as people to carry the supplies to the front.

If this gets heavy, it will require maximum effort from all of us!

I have posted this on the forum also...

Auld Lang Syne - Happy New Year! Hogmany!

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And auld lang syne?

Chorus: For auld lang syne, my jo,

For auld lang syne.

We'll tak' a cup o'kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

(On the last verse, traditionally, each clansmember extends his right hand of fellowship to the member on his left, then the left hand to the member on his right. This symbolizes two things: firstly, that they are crossing their hearts; secondly, that they automatically form a smaller and more intimate circle of friendship. Now they have an unbroken chain of brethren who are close friends.)

And there's a hand, my trusty frier!

And gie's a hand o'thine!

And we'll tak' a right guide-willie waught,

For auld lang syne.

http://www.masonmusic.org/music20/auldlang111.mid