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June 8th, 2020
Dear ASF Members and Friends of the Foundation,
Summer has arrived and on behalf of the ASF Board send strong thoughts for the weeks ahead - this has been a Spring like no other. As we begin to move forward to the new "normal", sharing our weekly news of webinars, podcasts and ideas for the week ahead, we look
to make our community feel closer through the sharing of our love of Scotland.
Please email us with your questions or concerns -
Follow us on Facebook Twitter and Instagram - and watch for future news of virtual events in the days ahead - more details below.
With strong thoughts from all of us at the American-Scottish Foundation.
Camilla G Hellman
President
ASF COMMUNITY NEWS UPDATES
 HIGHLAND GAMES:
For the many thousands of Americans of Scottish descent, Highland Games and Scottish Festivals are a vital connection with our Scottish roots, with the Scottish-American community and good, old-fashioned fun. But in this moment of pandemic pause, 2020 is proving to be a year with very few such opportunities to gather and celebrate, particularly on the scale expected at a successful games.
We had already learnt of the cancellation of so many of the  Highland Games, from Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, to the Long Island Scottish Festival & Highland Games, to Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games. Like so many ASF were hoping that perhaps some of the Games scheduled for September and October might happen, but that hope has almost completely faded as we received word in the past week of the cancellation of the
New Hampshire Games
& Festival
and
Virginia Scottish Games & Festival
are now being added to those cancelled or postponed. We appreciate what difficult decisions these are for games organizers.
ASF will share updates as we learn more.
Under these challenging circumstances, opportunities to stay in touch by Zoom classes, live blogs or webinars are more important than ever. Keep up to date with ASF News on our website and Facebook pages.
BROOKS BROTHERS: 
ASF and our Members have long enjoyed our partnership with
Brooks Brothers - especially the offering of Membership discounts and promotions to our members at this historic clothier, which counted James Madison among its first customers.
 We were greatly saddened to read in a recent New York Times, article, that Brooks Brothers plans to closes its factories in North Carolina, New York and Massachusetts. This will impact nearly 600 employees who primarily manufacture shirts and ties. If the 'made in America' label means anything to you, we urge you to use your ASF discount within the next few months.
ASF Members will have received from us a Discount Code and way to activate their Brooks Brothers Membership Card. If you have lost this please email us directly HERE 
We should add that once these factories close, Brooks Brothers does plan to source factories in other countries.
Brooks Brothers has had a long relationship with Scotland and a major customer of Harris Tweed, of many Scottish suppliers and Mills. Claudio Del Vecchio, President and CEO of Brooks Brothers is a past recipient of the ASF Wallace Award.
As Brooks Brothers notes: ... " Our signature Brooks Tartan is a tribute to our highland heritage-a connection that stretches back to our earliest days and the heart of the Brooks Brothers story.". (a right handsome one at that!).
AS PAUSE CONTINUES - FROM HOME EVENTS:
Come join the Dance : Scottish Country Dancing
ASF Members and Friends - many of you join us for our Annual Burns Night Celebration where we "enthusiastically" take on Scottish Reels. Now is an opportunity to take part from home and help increase your knowledge of the reels.  
And so, during this period of pause, there are still
opportunities to enjoy
the vigorous, lively traditional
Scottish dance form.
In New York, the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society
has two groups that are active in Manhattan.
While both
have suspended classes until it is safe to resume them,
they recently resumed classes by Zoom.
SCOTIA host on Zoom RSCDC' Thursday's Dance Classes
at 7pm - Contact Scotia for a secure Zoom link, meeting ID # and password.
Join in the dance for 45 minutes or so, with a short virtual tea time to socialize with other Scottish Dancers in the area.
Their email is
scotiadancers@gmail.com
or contact the RSCDC New York Branch
Gary Maclean - Inspiration - On Line Cooking Class!
Gary Maclean, Scotland's National Chef
has been holding Weekly Cooking Classes full of great ideas and demonstrations.
Visit Gary's Facebook to catch up on
He has just been featuring
scrumptous desserts:
Summer Strawberries,
Passion fruit, lime and vanilla syrup
and theres:
Sticky Toffee Pudding with Honey glazed
figs and cinnamon ricotta cheese - and Gary just
featured
Cullen Skink.
One things most of us I think can agree that has happened during "the Pause" has been a focus on food - on cooking - on really making meals, and Gary's Cookbook is a great roadmap.
Kitchen Essentials - The Joy of Home Cooking
Amazon CLICK HERE
ASF SUMMER COCKTAIL OF THE WEEK SPOTLIGHT
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Arbikie Mule: A Tattie Bogle Vodka Cocktail - Enjoy!
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ARBIKIE MULE
Ingredients
- 50ml Tattie Bogle Potato Vodka
- 10ml lime juice
- 2 dashes orange Bitters
- Top up with ginger beer (Old Jamaican or Belvoir)
- Ice cubes
Method:
Build all ingredients in a Highball glass over cubed ice.
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Spotify |
Garnish with a sprig of mint or a lime wheel.
#ScotsInUS PodCast May 25th - available to listen
ASF #ScotsInUS FORTNIGHTLY PODCASTS
Every second and fourth Monday ...
Monday June 8th - 7pm EST
Come Dance - The World of the Ceilidh
hosted by Jamie McGeechan
With musical interludes from Whisky Kiss and Noisemakers
Catch all our Podcasts -
Pod and Zoom Library
We are looking to add interesting content in the weeks ahead
..Take a listen if you missed
 APRIL 27 A LOOK BACK AT APRIL 2020
"In Conversation" - With all events cancelled due to Covid-19, a pivot was made around the leading April events.
Camilla Hellman, President, American Scottish Foundation,
discussed the virtual recognition of National Tartan Day,
The Declaration of Arbroath Anniversary and other important
April events that we looked to not overlook.
With music from Alan Frew, Hannah Read and Colin Hunter
MAY 11 CLANS, THE LORD LYON AND HIGHLAND GAMES 2020
Bellassai discusses the state of the US Scottish Clans and role played by the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs and role of
Joseph Morrow, Lord Lyon King of Arms is explained and challenges facing the Highland Games in 2020.
With music from Whisky Kiss, Fellswater, Tullamore and Ed Miller
ASF SHARE SOME UNIQUE GIFT IDEAS FROM SCOTLAND
Scotland Shop
ASF MEMBERS ENJOY 10% Scotland Shop
DISCOUNT CODE ASF2019 on all purchases or custom orders
From Made to Measure services, to gift items.
Tartan Face Masks are now being offered by the Scotland Shop who WILL DONATE 20% from all mask sales to the NHS
. As Scotland Shop explain, in purchasing one you are supporting self-employed seamstresses who have lost a huge amount of their income due to Coronavirus.
SCOTTISH CREATIONS
ASF MEMBERS ENJOY 10% Scottish Creations
DISCOUNT USE CODE ASF10
HC Apron, HC Tea Towel and Wooly Ewe Apron & Tea Towel:
As owner Hilary Creighton explains -
"We Scots do love our Highland Coos and Sheep and these delightful Aprons and Tea towels come with their own gorgeous Highland Cow or Sheep Pin. Designed in Scotland and all made in the UK". 
Scottish Creations work with small independent artists and designers across Scotland, allowing them to bring you the very best in contemporary and traditional Scottish designs.- A great source for unique gifts and a favorite of the ASF Team
Enjoy a Taste of Scotland:
ASF are delighted to announce our new ASF Member Benefit with our partners - and offering during this period our discounts to our Friends as well as Members:
(free freight on orders over $90- exclusive of frozen goods)
HARNEY & COMPANY ASF Scottish Teas: Support us as you enjoy our wonderful Scottish Morn or Scottish Afternoon Teas from Harney & Company, a portion of all sales goes to support ASF programs.
Walkers Shortbread who have a large selection of wonderful Scottish shortbread and biscuits
Ways to Support the American Scottish Foundation
Membership:
A corner stone of organizations is Membership. If not yet a Member of ASF we invite you to
join and take advantage of all of the Foundations benefits
and ways to be involved. 
Your only qualification for Membership is to have
Donations: At this time please consider a donation to the ASF. Click here
to help support of our Heritage, Arts, Culture and
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