Welcome to 2024 Scottish North American Community Conference

The 2024 Scottish North American Community Conference will take place on December 6th-7th, during the weekend of the Alexandria Christmas Walk at the Sheraton Suites, Alexandria. SNACC Organizers are delighted to share further details of the upcoming panels and discussions for the 2024 Scottish North American Community Conference.

Friday:

Friday afternoon will begin with opening remarks given by Colin Gray, Head of Scottish Government in the USA.

Sir John McEwen will then be in conversation with Gus Noble, President of the Chicago Scots and Maggie McEwan, Scottish Studies, Canada.. They will have a discussion of Scottish artist and musician Rory McEwen, Sir John’s uncle. An exhibition of Rory’s incredible botanical art is currently touring the USA from Kew Gardens. Next, they will turn to The journey to Chiefship: A look into the process of becoming the first Chief of Clan McEwen for 500+ years.

Featuring a reading from Scotland – Whit Like Is It?, an acclaimed one-man play Sir John wrote and is planning to bring it to the USA in 2025 when Clan McEwen will be honoured at Chicago’s Highland Games. Sir John has updated the play to include a new emphasis on how Scotland has influenced American thinking.

Growing upon the introduction to the Clan Chiefs Heirs Project in 2023, a panel discussion will take place, led by Iain Cochrane, Earl of Dundonald, his son Lord Cochrane, and John Cochran as "Sennachie to the Chief”, moderated by John Bellassai, president of the Council of Scottish Clans and Associations (COSCA).

“Now in its 22nd year, the SNACC conference has evolved into a real sharing of useful information about what is happening today--both in Scotland and here in the North American Diaspora. This extends not only to heritage-related topics but information about current cultural and artistic happenings and other events. I believe we've struck a good balance between the two,as we both look backward on heritage formation and history, and forward on current affairs and cultural evolution. Attendance these days can be either in-person or remotely. This allows for the widest possible audience to attend and participate in SNACC, regardless of location.” - John King Bellassai, President Council of Scottish Clans & Associations

‘Scottish Connections’ was introduced last year by the Scottish Government as a tool for the Scottish Diaspora. Taking part in this Panel will be Eilidh MacKinnon, Deputy Head of Scottish Government USA, together with Ian Houston and Gus Noble, president of the Chicago Scots. This will then continue into a panel looking at Youth Engagement, with Rory Hedderly, head of Business Development at the Saltire Foundation. The day will conclude with a wine and cheese reception with a chance to mix and mingle.

Saturday:

Following the Alexandria Christmas Walk, the afternoon session of the second day of the SNACC will continue with remarks from The Rt. Hon. Henry Baird McLeish, former First Minister of Scotland, titled “Moving Scotland Forward in Turbulent Times”.

We will then have a Roundtable discussion, “Meeting our Challenges”, with the St Andrew's Society of Detroit, St Andrew’s Society of LA, Chicago Scots, American-Scottish Foundation, Scottish American Women’s Society, St. Andrew's Society of Washington, DC, and St. Andrew's Society of Toronto.

The next panel is “Youth Involvement: Growing our Young Scot Platform”, led by Cameron Steer, ASF Youth Ambassador.

Camilla Hellman, ASF President and Brendan Fyfe, of St Andrews Toronto will then moderate “Highland Games; Challenges and Ways Forward” with leading organizers of Highland Games in the US and Canada.
Scotland in 2025 is a year of many celebrations, Camilla Hellman, President of American-Scottish Foundation, will lead a roundup on, spotlighting key milestones in Scotland in 2025.

“All of us involved in the Scottish North American Community Conference are excited to once again return to Alexandria and to hold SNACC during the Weekend of the ALexandria Christmas walk. Through the introduction of Hubs, we hope to encourage and develop the conversation, bringing the community together and sharing ideas.” - Camilla G Hellman, President, American-Scottish Foundation

The day will end with a reception.

We invite organizations to look to gather members to act as a hub, joining us online and adding their voice to the conversation. www.scottishleadershipconference.com/home