I have registered the Armstrong Clan Society as marchers in the NYC Tartan Day Parade down sixth avenue on April 14, 2012. You have plenty of advanced notice - SO PLAN TO BE THERE IF YOU'RE IN, OR CAN BE IN, THE AREA.  I registered for a small number of participants, so I hope they will accept our registration. Well it's worth a shot that we can get a good number of attendees. Give me some feedback if you can join us and I'll update the registration and provide more information when I get it.
As far as I'm concerned, you do not need to be an ACS member to show support for our society. Contact your friends and relatives in the area to march with us. Scottish attire MAY, OR MAY NOT be required.
There is a Ceilidh on Friday evening, and I think, a party after the parade. See the website www.tartanweek.com and the attached picture.
I'm also sending this email to our sister organization members in Scotland - "The Trust".

If you would like to contact Bill, his email address is billjohn@hotmail.com

Those of you who have visited the present Museum will know that, superficially, it looks charming… a "picture postcard" former church set amongst trees. The reality, sadly, is rather different. The church was built in 1883, entirely of wood. With little maintenance carried out over the subsequent 130 years, you may be able to imagine its present condition.

Things are worsening rapidly. The overall dampness, for example, is posing a very serious threat to the state of our artefacts and book collection. Some are already spoilt. There is no fixed heating system in the building and no insulation. Neither does it possess amenities which most of us would consider essential in a modern visitor centre. There is no kitchen in which to prepare a welcoming cup of tea or coffee and, more crucially, no toilet facilities whatsoever.

A very significant amount of money needs to be raised to rectify this situation. Faced with this, the Board of the Trust is exploring the possibility of acquiring a building of our own. We should no longer be tenants but owners, with the freedom to do as we choose and with a substantial asset of our own. A potentially ideal building is currently available in the very heart of Langholm. This is the former Catholic Church. Unlike our present venue, it is stone-built and sturdy. It has also been well cared for by its previous occupants.

We are excited by the possibilities that a move to this new location could provide. Because it is bigger and lighter and well-heated, it would allow a much better environment in which to display our artefacts and house our archives. It has a modern kitchen, proper disabled access and a toilet. The new building would also enable us to create a safe and stimulating "learning space" for children to discover the history of the Armstrongs and the heritage of the Borders. We have held several meetings with local primary schools and other organisations working with young people. They are all very keen to make use of the resources that we could offer and have expressed their support for the Clan Armstrong Trust in this project.

Our vision is to create a Museum that is fit for the 21st century, of which all Armstrongs can be proud. Various authorities have described our existing facility as "one of the best Clan museums in Scotland". Our ambition is to make it The best!

To achieve this ambition we need to obtain the funds. Ideally, we should like to raise £200,000. This would allow us to acquire the building, to carry out work such as the creation of the "learning space" and to provide us with sufficient reserves to run the Museum into the far future.

Many members of the Trust across the world have already pledged generous financial support for this exciting venture. We are optimistic that we shall be able to go ahead. Nonetheless, the Board must act prudently and we need to be confident of having sufficient funds in hand before agreeing to acquire the former Catholic Church. Therefore, may we make a plea to those of you who have not yet committed yourselves? If you do wish to see this ambition achieved, can you please let Frank Wherrett know as soon as possible how much you would be willing to donate. We are not asking for money to be sent at this stage… just pledges to allow us to make a proper decision as to the viability of the project.

Frank can be contacted by email at Frank.wherrett1@talktalk.net. Please be assured that all your replies will be treated with the utmost confidence. At all stages of the fundraising process, any requests with regard to anonymity that you make will be respected totally.

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create something, by and for the Armstrong family, which would be a centre of excellence amongst all Clan Museums and Archives. We do hope that all members of the Trust, and other people with an interest in our mission will wish to help.

A CAMPAIGN group has been set up to oppose the industrialisation of the historic landscape around Hermitage Castle by a proposed wind farm. Their objective is the stopping a plan by developer Infinis to put up 20 turbines, each 125m high at Braidlie and Sundhope Farms. The wind farm would be next to the historic Hermitage Castle and the turbines would be taller than the Forth Rail Bridge which is only 104m high.

Please support the Hermitage Action Group by contacting Malcolm McGregor at malcolm.rmcgregor@btinternet.com.

Click here to sign an epetition - you do not have to pay to sign the petition.

Click here for more information about HAG

Click here to find out about writing a letter of objection

Click here to read the March 2012 Newsletter