A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
The New England Scottish Alliance is an alliance newly made and held between the Saint Andrews Society of Maine, the Fort at Number 4, and the No Fame Games.
A strategic alliance one might add and is by definition, a form of affiliation that involves a mutual sharing of education, Scottish heritage, and resources for the benefit of all of the strategic partners named , but more importantly any individual or group that seeks fellowship with others that honor our motherland, Scotland.
Within my tenure as President of the Saint Andrews Society of Maine, as with the Board of Directors, it is my duty to promote not only our Society but to further the interests and assist those that wish to contribute to our culture and heritage. This was the perfect opportunity to do exactly that, and a vision of mine which through many discussions within the Society and Directors, and Directors of the Fort and indeed with the Athletic Director of No Fame Games it was brought to life !
Not simply constraining ourselves to Maine, but to reach out to those that are of the same mind, this idea or concept was accepted and welcomed, and, I might add, excited everyone involved. Of course, we are still fully committed to our now well established Maine Highland Games, the “Alliance’ is the forging of yet another gathering. A gathering similar to the original ‘gatherings’ where clans musicians and strongmen would seek kinship.
This year, on the 29th of June, at Fort at Number 4, in Charlestown New Hampshire, our Founding Games will be held.
Our Founding Highland Games as part of the New England Scottish Alliance !
Now, as well as our annual Maine Highland Games, we have another venue that will only strengthen our bond and provide a place, a home, a gathering for our esteemed Clans and Athletes; the bread and butter of Highland Games.
Come and be part of our kin and our alliance too !
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An address by the Athletics Director.
The Fort at No. 4 will become home to a new Highland Games and Festival which celebrates Gaelic culture, heritage, arts, and strength. It's birth marks the needed continuation of and passing of the torch of elite Heavy Athletics in New England. At the moment, our New England athletic community needs a zenith; a place for the giants and greats of the sport to compete, battle, and win glory while having a blast. We need a special place for all athletes and spectators to visit and leave feeling highly inspired, motivated, educated, and rededicated. Every Games is important to the whole as we are all interconnected, regardless of state lines. We believe in collaboration, that every Highland Games and Festival should feed off and encourage one another. In the state of affairs of our world and society, this is the time to work together. We are called to put aside differences, quarrels, and create a more dynamic, inclusive, and complete whole.
No Fames Games is dedicated to helping fulfill this mission at The Festival at Fort 4. The amount of effort, passion, logistics, resources, and unity needed to have made this festival a reality is gargantuan. First and foremost, we need to honor Jimmy and Shari Rodden of the St. Andrew's Society of Maine. They are the reason the Festival at Fort 4 exists and will become a reality. They are the visionaries who first saw and believed in its potential. Decisions then went to the entire Board of the Saint Andrew's Society of Maine and I am grateful for the Board's unanimous vote to take this project on and therefore plant seeds for future generations to enjoy fruit. In meeting with the Board of The Fort at No. 4, we were struck by their receptiveness and excitement to host us, and we immediately knew that this was a unique opportunity to do something great. More stars aligned when we learned we will have the honor of having Dr. Bill and Holly Crawford and Steve Conway spearhead the professional athletes, stonelifting competition, and moreover as advisors and counsel. For those of you who may not know, Dr. Bill and Holly Crawford and Steve Conway are leaders in the Highland Games as Athletic Directors and also run the Scottish Heavy Athletics World Championships. We could not be in better hands. To top this off, we received word that The Stone Man himself, Martin Jancsics, would receive sponsorship to return to New England to continue passing on the lineage and history of traditional Scottish Stonelifting with demos, try-it classes, and judging the stonelifting competition. Truly this will be a special event.
As all the pieces fell into place, attention needed to be turned to the design, marketing, and promotion of the Festival. What you see here online is a brainchild of the talents and skills of Jarrett McPhee of New England Stonelifting and Clan Shenanigans. His expertise, time, advising, and dedication to this project is very noteworthy. As you see, the Festival at Fort 4 is happening because of various groups coming together and working in harmony. It is an Alliance. One that's mission is unity under the banner of everything that makes Scotland and her heritage great. We all see and uphold the interconnectedness we have to one another. As time passes, it is my goal and hope that these threads we are now weaving together create a great tartan that flourishes and develops for generations to come. For, not only is this a way to honor those who have come before us, it is a way to honor what we have been given and create something better with it for those yet to come.
Nemo me impune lacessit. Alba Gu Bràth!
Joshua Mackintosh
An Address by the Board of Fort at Number 4.
We, at the Fort at No 4, are honored to be partnering with the St. Andrews Society of Maine and NoFame Games to bring The Festival at Fort Four & Highland Games to Charlestown, NH. Located on the gorgeous banks of the Connecticut River, steeped in the history of New England, with the unique backdrop of the recreation of the 1744 Fort at No 4, the Festival at Fort Four & Highland Games will facilitate a deep connection to our communal heritage and shared ancestors. Through this affiliation with the Saint Andrew's Society of Maine and NoFame Games, the Fort at No 4 seeks to draw people to our beautiful community and promote the culture and customs of the earliest settlers. We welcome you to Charlestown!
Alissa Bascom, Fort at Number 4
LETS DO THIS TOGETHER!
Dream it
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Build it
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Grow it
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Dream it • Build it • Grow it •
