Please support our vendors, who have supported us from the beginning! Below is a message from Gayle Baker, of the Rampant Lion. If you're looking for Scottish and Celtic gifts and more, please contact her! 
 
RAMPANT LION CELTIC TRADERS: www.rampantlion.com
The cancellation of Scottish, Irish and Celtic festivals across the country has impacted everyone, whether it’s planning a vacation, looking for some volunteer time or getting together with friends. But it has impacted our friends at Rampant Lion Celtic Traders even more. Out of more than 20 festivals they vend at annually (including our own Burns Dinner), this year they could only attend 5 before the whole world shut down events of any size! Since then, they have been doing whatever they can to make ends meet. At one point, before face masks were readily available, they were making and selling face masks to those who had no source for them otherwise. They have used the time off to the best advantage possible and one of the projects they tackled was updating their website. Removing products no longer available as well as adding in items that were in good supply was the basis for the update.
 
Now that they have updated the website, they hope to get back to the business of selling Scottish, Irish and Celtic gifts, something they have been doing since 1986. Currently, they can only do mail order, but that’s something they have always done. They will even ship a gift directly to the recipient, with your personal message included. Gayle Baker hopes they will be able to return to our Burns Dinner in 2021, but only time will tell. “We have attended every SASQC Burns Dinner since 1987, have made many friends there and really hope we don’t have to miss the next one!” You can visit their website at www.rampantlion.com and see what they have to offer. They are also available on Facebook and Instagram.

We also want to thank Minuteman Press for their support over the years. Sue Grant works with Judy Hawthorne to produce our printed Porridge Pot newsletter, as well as many other printing needs. Stop in and see Sue and Derek Grant for any print, copy, fax, banner/sign or apparel needs you might have. Open Monday thru Friday from 8am-5:30pm. www.davenport.minutemanpress.com. Mention SASQC friend for special pricing. 
 
Additional thanks go to: Baked in the Village, Caddy's in Bettendorf, Neckers Jewelers, The Clubhouse, 11th Street Precinct, Dan Dolan, Putnam Museum, Wide River Winery, MAC’s Tavern, Pepsi, Channel 6, Fox 18, Channel 4, CW, Bierstube, US Golf, STERN Beverage Rock Island, John Deere TPC, Starbucks, Galaxy Golf, Walkers, Lexus, Highland Kilt Company, River Bandits, Great Revivalist Brew Lab, Green Family Hyundai, Genesis, Green GMC and Chevy Moline and Davenport, Franks Pizza, RIAFCU, Blackhawk Bank & Trust, Quad Cities International Airport, Mint Green Boutique, Cafe Express, Highland Springs Golf Course, Colona Chiropractic, QC Storm, as well as individual members Ty Thomson, Mike Olsen, and Derek Grant.
 
We express our appreciation for their support on so many endeavors. 
 

Genealogy: 
 
Researching Scottish roots? Try these helpful sites: 
  •  Interactive Clan Map of Scotland -- Do you know what part of Scotland your clan is from? Open this interactive map, and enter your clan name. It highlights the geographical area of the Clan's history and provides some brief information about the clan.
  • Scotland's People -- Great information from a site that is a partnership between the National Records of Scotland, the Court of the Lord Lyon, and DC Thomson Family History.
 

Travel: Trips to Scotland on your list?
  • Ask us for ideas! The Scottish American Society hosted trips to Scotland in 2018, 2019, and 2022 (which also included Ireland.).
Other Celtic Events You Might Like: 
  • Are you running a Celtic event in 2023? Let us know, and we'll list it here! 
  •  We will post updates as we learn more about the status of other local and regional events. 
Please check individual websites for final details. The Scottish American Society of the Quad Cities is not responsible for date or location changes. If we're missing an event, let us know! 
 

 
Scottish Culture & History: 
  • The Legend of the Thistle: The thistle is the National Emblem of Scotland. Legend says that in the Battle of Largs in 1263, Norway's King Haakon invaded Scotland. Seeking to attack by stealth, the King instructed his soldiers to remove their footwear. The shrieks of pain from one soldier after stepping on a thistle woke the Scotsmen, who were able to repel and defeat the invading army. The Order of the Thistle is the highest honor that can be awarded in Scotland. The Order was created in 1540 by King James V. 
 
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