Monthly news & updates
March 2021
27th February, 2:00 p.m. via ZOOM
Please RSVP indicating your attendance to the Treasurer

An Annual Meeting of all members of the SOCIETY entitled to vote shall be held in the County of Los Angeles during the month of February at a date, time and place to be determined each year by the Board of Trustees.

The purpose of the Annual Meeting is to report the conditions of the SOCIETY as at the close of the calendar year immediately preceding said meeting, to elect trustees and to conduct such other business as may come before the meeting. Each Annual
Meeting shall be conducted according with standard corporate procedures and basic parliamentary rules, but no failure to comply with said rules shall, in and of itself, have the effect or invalidating any such Annual Meeting. Business shall be presented in the following order:

(a) Declaration of a quorum
(b) Call to order by the President
(c) Minutes of last AGM (unless waived)
(d) Report of the President
(e) Report of the Secretary
(f) Report of the Treasurer
(g) Election of Trustees
(h) Other Business
(i) Adjournment
IN THIS ISSUE
  • President's Message
  • Letter from the Editor
  • Poet's Corner
  • Join Our Clan
  • Podcast with Gerard Burns
  • Scotland's Inventions
  • Movie Night
  • Book Corner
  • What Language
  • News from Montréal
  • Advertisements

Service Spotlight

Society website
Kimberlee Blair Bradford, FSA Scot President
St. Andrew's Society of Los Angeles

From the President

Welcome to a new year! 2021 has finally arrived and I’m confident that we can navigate through it with much more ease and certainty. 2020 was an historic year - no doubt about it - but we weathered the storm and came out of it to see a clear, sunny day. The pandemic has ushered in a new way of doing things which has also brought about more creativity, and our passion for all things Scottish, but also a commitment to you - our members, to receive the best experience that we can deliver. Our virtual events are all about you, and we create them with you in mind. And if you haven’t listened to our podcasts, I urge you to do so - they are interesting and I promise that you'll learn something new from each one which consists of incredibly talented individuals most of which have been featured all over the world. Our amazing team of St. Andrew’s Society members post incredible stories, and fun facts on our social media platforms, i.e., Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc., and we will always attempt to keep you current on news about Scotland. Stay tuned for our new series called TartanTalk which gives you quick soundbytes of up and coming individuals that you should know. 

St. Andrew’s L.A., has come a long way and now we’ve started our 91st year. As I end this message to you, I think back on all of the President’s that came before me. They gave all that they could to this society to keep our close knit Scottish family together. I salute them. I’d also like to say how grateful I am to all of you who support our society whether it be by donation, or attending events. Whether you are a Scot, or not, you are always welcome! And as Len Pennie says:

“A Scot's a Scot,
no matter what,
what counts is what’s inside”

Please stay safe!

~Slainte Mhath~
Letter from the Editor

Dear members and friends of the Society. Welcome back to The Thistle. The newsletter was on vacation for most of February but now it is back with news and views from our membership and others across the country and overseas. I would like to add my welcome to all those who have recently subscribed to our distribution list. Many of you are new to the Society and may not have already applied for membership. If you are not already a member I urge you to join us. Joining is easy and can be completed online. Our annual membership dues are a major source of revenue for the Society and by becoming a member you will be part of an organization dedicated not only to the promotion and preservation of Scottish culture and history but to supporting and through our grants program aiding those who are pursuing Scottish disciplines such as piping, dancing, and the Gaelic language. In addition and in the tradition of original St. Andrew's Societies everywhere the Society donates to worthy charitable organizations helping those in need.

MEMBERSHIP DUES

Annual Membership Dues for 2021 are payable 1st January. CURRENT MEMBERS may RENEW their membership HERE

NEW MEMBERS may complete their application HERE

MEMBERSHIP DUES may be paid online with credit or debit card or with PayPal.

If you prefer to pay with a check please make it payable to St. Andrew's Society of Los Angeles and mail to:

St. Andrew's Society of Los Angeles
256 S. Robertson Blvd. #122, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Welcome to The Thistle – Official Newsletter of the
St. Andrew's Society of Los Angeles
Enjoy this issue of The Thistle. It's full of articles and information I hope you will find interesting and useful. Please email any comments or suggestions to the Editor rees1@mac.com.

We are now at the start of a new year and The Thistle with its new look is reaching more members and followers than ever before. The Thistle is now published each month and delivered directly to your in-box. Archived issues going back to 2008 are available on the website.

Please submit articles and newsworthy information to The Editor at: rees1@mac.com

The publisher accepts no responsibility for the opinions expressed, accuracy of information, or similarity of names submitted by authors.

Archived editions of The Thistle starting 2008 may be viewed here.

PUBLISHER & EDITOR Ian J. Skone-Rees, FSA Scot email

The Policies & Procedures of the Society have been updated. Current members of the Society may view these in the member restricted area of the website.

Social Media: Kim Attebery, Hana Baig, Heather Griffith
St. Andrew's Society Trustees – Then and Now
Steve Adams
Kim Attebery
Patrick Benn
Kimberlee Bradford
Gary Carr
Sallie Olmsted
Eileen Skone-Rees
Ian Skone-Rees
Barry Stripp, PhD
David Warburton, MD, OBE
The St Andrew’s Society of Los Angeles:

This society was founded in 1930, by Alexander Cowie and James Loudon, two Scotsmen who moved into the Los Angeles area and were determined to help those in need. In the years since, the society has focused its efforts on a wide range of worthy causes, benefiting communities both at home and abroad.

More recently, due to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, it has been helping those dealing with the many problems this pandemic has caused. This has included everything from those dealing with the immediate health concerns of the virus, to the knock-on effect of things like unemployment. As a result, the society has worked with institutions such as the L.A. Regional Foodbank, The Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and Project Angel Food.

Not content with helping their own community, the society has also embarked on a series of initiatives in Scotland – creating a deeper connection with the country that inspired its creation. Investing in the National Libraries & Galleries of Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland and even the restoration of Robert Burns’ house in Ayrshire, the St Andrew’s Society of Los Angeles has helped to ensure that the culture and history of Scotland remains intact and accessible to future generations for years to come.
PLEASE HELP

This year your St. Andrew's Society has re-focused its charitable giving to include support of organizations helping those in distress as a result of COVID-19. Already this year we have given significant financial donations to Project Angel Food, Keck Street Medicine, LAUSD Grab & Go Food Bank, The LA Regional Food Bank, and the British Benevolent Society. This has been made possible by generous contributions to the St. Andrew's Society by its members and friends. Our continued support can only be possible through your ongoing help. At the end of this newsletter there is a DONATE button. Any amount, no matter how small, can help. Even the most modest contribution can make a real difference.

St. Andrew's Society is an IRS registered 501 (c) (3) not for profit organization and your contributions are tax deductible. The Society treasurer will issue a letter of receipt for all contributions.

Please do what you can.
Thank you
Poets' Corner
War Photographer
by Carol Ann Duffy

Dame Carol Ann Duffy is a British poet and playwright. She is a professor of contemporary poetry at Manchester Metropolitan University, and was appointed UK Poet Laureate in May 2009, resigning in 2019. She is the first woman, the first Scottish-born poet and the first known LGBT poet to hold the position.



In his dark room he is finally alone
with spools of suffering set out in ordered rows.
The only light is red and softly glows,
as though this were a church and he
a priest preparing to intone a Mass.
Belfast. Beirut. Phnom Penh. All flesh is grass.

He has a job to do. Solutions slop in trays
beneath his hands, which did not tremble then
though seem to now. Rural England. Home again
to ordinary pain which simple weather can dispel,
to fields which don’t explode beneath the feet
of running children in a nightmare heat.

Something is happening. A stranger’s features
faintly start to twist before his eyes,
a half-formed ghost. He remembers the cries
of this man’s wife, how he sought approval
without words to do what someone must
and how the blood stained into foreign dust.

A hundred agonies in black and white
from which his editor will pick out five or six
for Sunday’s supplement. The reader’s eyeballs prick
with tears between the bath and pre-lunch beers.
From the aeroplane he stares impassively at where
he earns his living and they do not care.

Poets’ Corner is the name given to a section of the South Transept of Westminster Abbey due to the number of poets, playwrights, and writers now buried and commemorated there, including Scotland’s own Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, Thomas Campbell, and Robert Adam.
TO ANY SCOTTIE by Margery Doud
He knows no fear; he knows no treachery
Alert and brave, affectionate and wise
Watching for those he loves, into his eyes
Comes sudden light, the flash of fealty!
With a heart as honest as the wind-swept moor
With courage rugged as the stony earth
Of Scotland, hardy country of his birth,
He battles to the death. And thus secure
Within our hearts his place is permanent.
I read this tribute, words so richly spent
And ask, “What one is this to win such a praise?
Lives there a man so valiant in these days?
But, reading, farther on the answer lies
A shaggy little dog with wistful eyes.
Show Us Your Tartan!
Fine dress accessories in the official Society Tartan registered with the
Gentleman's Ties • Ladies Sash • Men's Polo Shirts • Rosette • Kilt • Lapel Pin • Cap Badge – New
Blazer Badge – New Face Masks – New
Visit our online shop to order and express your SASLA membership in our 90th year
Embroidered Blazer Badge.
Beautifully detailed with gold and silver metal threads. Comes with three clutch pins or may be permanently sewn to your favourite jacket.
Shop these and other items in St. Andrew's Society of Los Angeles' official tartan here.
Official registration certificate recorded with The Scottish Register of Tartans.

The St. Andrew's Society of Los Angeles tartan colours mirror those found in its shield registered with The Lord Lyon.

WHITE - signifies truth & sincerity
GOLD - signifies generosity & glory
BLACK - signifies constancy & prudence
BLUE - signifies loyalty & strength
Tartan Face Masks
Now For Sale

Face masks in dupioni silk double lined
in our Society tartan.
Flat, (as shown) mask style.
Limited quantity available.
Please specify Adult or Child.

All proceeds support SASLA donations to the LA Regional Food Bank.

Place your order NOW to avoid disappointment.
A fund has been established in Jack Dawson's name to help support all those individuals who are striving toward excellence in traditional Scottish pursuits. Jack was a long-time member of the Society and a former president.

PLEASE CONSIDER A DONATION TO
THE JACK DAWSON MEMORIAL FUND
St. Andrew's Society is an IRS registered 501 (c) (3) not for profit organization and your contributions are tax deductible. The Society treasurer will issue a letter of receipt for all contributions.

Apply online or download a membership application.
Existing members may also renew their membership here.

Click below to see what fun we have!
Meet A New Member
Shawn at Eilean Donan Castle
Shawn Ledingham
Shawn Ledingham is the great-great-great-grandson of Scottish emigrants who came to the United States from Aberdeenshire in the mid-1800s. Shawn is a trial lawyer for a law firm in Century City and a member of his firm's Pro Bono Committee. He finds joy in traveling, geology, and film photography and darkroom printing. He also has a keen interest in Scottish history and single malt whisky. Shawn and his wife Amy were married in Scotland, where they tied the knot – literally – in a secret elopement on the banks of a loch in the Trossachs. They enjoy the merriment and warmth at the Society's Burns Suppers, Garden Parties, and other events, whether in person or virtually, and they look forward to reconnecting with the other members when we can all meet again.
Stay tuned for our series of St. Andrew’s PodCasts
Fascinating interviews with entertainment personalities,
government leaders and community advocates.

St. Andrew's Society of Los Angeles
where Scotland meets the City of Angels …
Gerard M. Burns
Artist
Gerard M. Burns
interviewed by Jowanna Lewis
& Eilidh Miller


Born in Glasgow in 1961, Burns graduated from Glasgow School of Art in 1983 with a degree in Fine Art. Drawing and Painting have been his passion since childhood. He shared this enthusiasm throughout his teaching career, later leaving a successful post as principal of art at St Aloysius College Glasgow to pursue his painting full time. Since 1999 this commitment has resulted in his current standing as one of Scotland’s most respected artists.
“The Rowan” This painting by Gerard Burns achieved national and international prominence due to the fact that it hung behind the former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond’s desk in the Scottish parliament for the duration of his tenure.
Andy Scott
The St. Andrew's Society of Los Angeles & BritWeek presents an intimate portrait of renowned sculptor Andy Scott. He talks about his history, projects, the process of creating sculptures and the challenges he faces.

Andy Scott's talent explained by the man himself with illustrations of his most famous sculpture – The Kelpies. A truly unique insight into the artist. Thank you Andy and BritWeek for collaborating with us.
Click the YouTube icon below for all the latest podcasts. Enjoy!
McLaren
In 2017 McLaren of Beverly Hills brought along a current day model of the iconic marque to the Society's annual Garden Party held at the official residence of the British Consul General to
Los Angeles.
The very name McClaren says Scots, what else? But the car and founder of the company was named after Bruce McClaren, a New Zealander and a Formula One great who came on the scene in 1963.

Bruce made the team's Grand Prix debut at the 1966 Monaco race (of the current Formula One teams only Ferrari is older). His race ended after nine laps due to a terminal oil leak. The 1966 car was the M2B designed by Robin Herd, but the programme was hampered by a poor choice of engines: a 3.0-litre version of Ford's Indianapolis 500 engine and a Serenissima V8 were used, the latter scoring the team's first point in Britain, but both were underpowered and unreliable. For 1967 Bruce decided to use a British Racing Motors (BRM) V12 engine, but due to delays with the engine, was forced initially to use a modified Formula Two car called the M4B powered by a 2.1-litre BRM V8, later building a similar but slightly larger car called the M5A for the V12. Neither car brought great success, the best result being a fourth at Monaco.

Bruce McClaren was killed in 1970 aged 32 when his CanAm car crashed at Goodwood circuit in England. The name McClaren went on to become one of the most respected names in Formula One racing, attracting some of the leading drivers including, James Hunt, Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, and Ayrton Senna.

Today McClaren produces one of the most sort-after ‘supercars’ and can be driven on the streets by anyone with upwards of $200,000.
Highland Games
Explained
Peter Sawkins Crowned
Great British Bake Off Champ

Well done Peter. Crowned The Great British Bake Off Champion of 2020!

Peter is the youngest winner the show has ever had AND the first Scottish winner.

If you missed the original broadcast you can view it now on Netflix.
Photo Channel 4
Scotland's Inventions
How Scots invented the Modern World

How Scots invented the modern world and everything in it. By Arthur Herman
Vacuum Flask
What’s not to love about the vacuum flask? It keeps your hot drinks hot, it keeps your cold drinks cold – picnic baskets around the world simply wouldn’t be the same without it! Well, the next time you’re pouring a drink from your flask, raise one of those cups to Sir James Dewar – the Scotsman who invented it back in 1892. Amazingly, Dewar actually stumbled upon the invention while working in the field of cryogenics. Though most commonly known as a household item, the vacuum flask also revolutionised the scientific world, becoming a significant tool for chemical experiments.
Toaster
Next time you wake up in the morning, stick a slice of bread in the toaster and patiently await the satisfying ping on your breakfast, spare a thought for Alan MacMasters - the Scotsman who invented the first electric toaster. Born in the capital city of Edinburgh, MacMasters developed the electric toaster way back in 1893 - a full 35 years before the invention of sliced bread! Legend has it that MacMasters came up with the idea thanks to 'inspiration' from another Scottish invention - whisky. After drinking half a bottle of whisky one evening while working on lighting technology for the London Underground, he noticed that the electrical elements ran so hot they were burning his nearby bread.
MRI Scanner
The MRI scanner is an incredibly important piece of technology in the medical world, which has had a major impact on how we view the human body. The breakthrough for the MRI scanner was made by a team working at the University of Aberdeen. In 1980 the team obtained the first clinically useful image of a patient's internal tissues. Nowadays the MRI is considered to be a safer diagnostic tool than X-rays, and is more useful for soft tissue imaging. The device works by building up a picture of the human body using high frequency radio signals.


The Interview
With Richard MacKenzie, MDCM
Patrick Benn
Patrick Benn
Patrick, even though you live in Riverside, your commitment to the St Andrew’s Society of Los Angeles is obvious by your participation as a member of the Board of Trustees and with your hands-on support at signature events. You, in a sense, are the prototype of what any Society would want in a member. You wear your enthusiasm on your sleeve so to speak. Tell me a little of your Scottish roots.
Both of my mother’s parents were from Scotland. My grandfather, Donald MacIntosh, grew up near Dingwall, but he was born in Resolis, a small village on the Black Isle deep within the Highlands, as was his mother. My grandmother, Charlotte Cowie, grew up in Gamrie, a small village in Banffshire in northeastern Scotland. They both independently emigrated to Canada in the 1920s, where they met. Later, they emigrated to the United States, where they married.
A Few Suggestions (click on the links to view the trailers)
 
Whisky Galore (1949, Dir. Alexander Mackendrick) Trailer
 
Whisky Galore - The Remake (2016, Dir. Gilles MacKinnon) Trailer
 
Tunes of Glory (1960, Dir. Ronald Neame) Trailer
 
Gregory's Girl (1980, Dir. Bill Forsyth) Trailer
 
Local Hero (1983, Dir. Bill Forsyth) Trailer

Mrs Brown (1997, Dir. John Madden) Trailer
Book Corner
Clanlands
SAM HEUGHAN & GRAHAM MCTAVISH

"The story of two men who know nothing."
Sam and Graham

'It's a dangerous business, Graham, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep
your feet, there's no knowing where you might be
swept off to.'

Sam Heughan on behalf of J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

“A brisk and accessible guide to a thousand years of reiving and rivalry in the Highlands.” ―The Scotsman
Highland Clans
by Alistair Moffat
The story of the Highland clans of Scotland is famous, the names celebrated, and the deeds heroic. Having clung to ancient traditions of family, loyalty, and valor for centuries, the clans met the beginning of their end at the fateful Battle of Culloden in 1746.

Alistair Moffat traces the history of the clans from their Celtic origins to the coming of the Romans; from Somerled the Viking to Robert the Bruce; from the great battles of Bannockburn and Flodden to Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite Risings; and from the Clearances to the present day.
Scotch Corner
"The king o'drinks as I conceive it, Talisker,
Isla or Glenlivet."

The Scotsman's Return from Abroad
R.L. Stevenson 1880.


Lagavulin is one of the three Kildalton Distilleries in the south of Islay and sits comfortably in between Ardbeg and Laphroaig at the "Hollow by the Mill", translated from the Gaelic lag a'mhuilin. Lagavulin is pronounced as La-ga-voolin.

Lagavulin Distillery officially dates from 1816, though records show illicit distillation on the site as far back as 1742. Originally there were two distilleries operating on this site, the first established in 1816 believed to be named "Kildalton", and the second in 1817 named Lagavulin. There were also other small distilleries on the same site, Malt Mill Distillery and Ardmore Distillery.
Editor's Choice.


Legends take time

The definitive Islay malt—intensely flavoured, smoky and rich. The windswept Isle of Islay instils a strength of character into everything it produces and it's here, nestled in a small bay that our beloved whisky has been made for over 200 years.



What Language?
There is no single language that has ever historically been spoken by all Scots.

How many did you get right last issue? See if you can do better…

In the southern areas, Lowland Scots traditionally was the norm.

Gaelic was spoken in central and northern areas.

The off-shore islands to the far north (Orkney Isles and Shetland Isles) spoke 'Norn' (a form of Old Norse).

Rogue words from this extinct language still pepper the speech of the people who live on the islands. 

Although the traditional Gaelic is still spoken in some areas, and today Scotland is moving towards becoming a fully dual-language country (English and Scots Gaelic), 'Scottish English' is what is spoken by the majority of Scots.

Do you know what these words mean?
(answers at the end of this newsletter)

  1. "Chore."
  2. "Dreich!"
  3. "Peely-wally!"
by Steve Adams
Scotland Win at Twickenham for the First Time Since 1983
Scotland opened up their 2021 6 Nations Campaign with an impressive 11-6 win over England at a COVID restricted Twickenham to bring the Calcutta Cup north of the border to Scotland in a win that was more comprehensive than the score would Indicate.

A first half try by winger Duhan van der Merwe gave the Scots an 8-6 halftime lead that should have been bigger. The Scots enjoyed 78% ball possession and their swarming defense gave England flyhalf Owen Farrell great difficulty distributing the ball to his speed demons like Johnny May. England was not able to make many threats to Scotland’s try line for the entire game.

Scotland flyhalf Finn Russell, Captain Stuart Hogg and debutant center Cameron Redpath put in fantastic performances for coach Gregor Townsend’s squad.

Both teams had periods of playing a man down. For the Scots, A huge turning point in the game was their ability to hold England scoreless while Finn Russell was in the sin-bin for a yellow card for tripping an opponent with the ball. Intense Scottish defending prevented England from taking advantage of their man advantage.

This was the 150th episode of the oldest series in world rugby. Scotland will welcome Wales to Murrayfield in Edinburgh for their second match of the 6 Nations.
The Sport of Curling
Playing with Stones the Scottish Way


The Royal Montréal Curling Club

The Editor was introduced to Curling as a player in 2016 and made his Curling debut in his Kilt!

Only Scotland can give humankind two sports as vastly different as Golf and Curling.

One of the world's oldest team sports, curling originated in the 16th century in Scotland, where games were played during winter on frozen ponds and lochs. The earliest-known curling stones came from the Scottish regions of Stirling and Perth and date from 1511. In 1605, stones with handles were introduced.

The first rules were written in Scotland, and then spread across the world in the 19th Century with the emigration of Scots to cold weather places like Canada, the USA, Norway, New Zealand, and Switzerland. Today the sport of curling is played by men and women at the Winter Olympics, along with annual world championships. Unlike it’s spartan origins played outside, today the sport of
curling is played almost entirely in indoor rinks.

Teams are made up of 4 members each. The Curling Sheet is a rectangular area of ice, carefully prepared to be as flat and level as possible. The curling stone is granite (Often mined from Scotland and Wales), and weighs from 38-44 pounds.

The objective is for a player to slide the stone around the ice towards “the house”, the target area made up of 4 concentric circles. The house consists of a center circle (the button) and three concentric rings, of diameters 4, 8 and 12 feet, are usually distinguished by color. A stone must at least touch the outer ring in order to score- otherwise the rings are merely a visual aid for aiming and judging which stone is closer to the button. Players from either team alternate in taking shots from the far side of the sheet. An end is complete when all eight rocks from each team have been delivered, a total of sixteen stones. (Olympic matches are 10 ends, recreational 8 ends).

It’s a game that can be played by all age groups. Curling is a sport that has caught on with great popularity after the American men shocked the curling world by winning a gold medal in the 2018 Winter Olympics.
ADVERTISEMENTS
The Highlander magazine that we are all familiar with has been sold to The Chelsea Magazine Co. Ltd. in the UK. The magazine has been amalgamated with two other titles, 'Scottish Life' and 'Scotland Magazine' into one new publication: Scotland.
Click the image above to read a digital edition of the September/October 2020 edition.
Courtesy of Sally Coffey, Editor, Scotland


SCOTLAND MAGAZINE
Published six times a year, every issue of Scotland showcases its stunning landscapes and natural beauty, and delves deep into Scottish history. From mysterious clans and famous Scots (both past and present), to the hidden histories of the country’s greatest castles and houses, Scotland‘s pages brim with the soul and secrets of the country.
Scotland magazine captures the spirit of this wild and wonderful nation, explores its history and heritage and recommends great places to visit, so you feel at home here, wherever you are in the world.
Did you know that every time you buy something from Amazon, you can help St. Andrew's Society of Los Angeles? Simply go to https://smile.amazon.com and register or sign in, and choose St. Andrew's Society of Los Angeles as your charity! Once you're signed up, Amazon will donate a portion of your purchase to help support our mission!

You shop. Amazon gives
A Tale Of Cake

Some time ago, our Director of Whisky Creation, Dr Bill, found himself musing over how some of his most joyful memories came from cake — from the pineapple upside down cake his daughter made for his birthday to baking with his Granny in her kitchen.

He devised this whisky to conjure the magic of a cake moment, finishing his favourite Glenmorangie Single Malt in the finest Tokaji dessert wine casks.

The liquid is a rich copper, but the taste is pure technicolour, luscious, sweet and complex with multi-layered bursts of honey, white chocolate and fruits with a lilting hint of mint. As you might expect, it tastes incredible when enjoyed with actual cake.
I would be interested to know if anyone has tried this yet. If you have please send your tasting notes to the Editor.
What is Single Malt Whisky?
Single Malt Whisky is malt whisky from a single distillery. Under the UK's 'Scotch Whisky Regulations', a Single Malt Scotch Whisky must be made exclusively from malted barley, must be distilled using pot stills at a single distillery, and must be aged for at least three years in oak casks of a capacity not exceeding 700 litres (185 US gallons).
It's Simple to Shop, Save, and Support
SAVE 10% and DONATE 10% to SASLA

  1. Shop for gifts (or for yourself) from our Scottish designers
  2. Use the code SASLA2020 at checkout to save 10% off your total purchase
  3. Feel good knowing that 10% of your total purchase will also be donated to The St. Andrew's Society of Los Angeles
A Few of Our Favourite Things
If you're looking to get your Scottish fix of food and drink from hame try these online sources:
Make sure you try Irn-Bru – Scotland's 'other' national drink
Scotland is one of the few countries in the world where a locally-made soft drink outsells Coca-Cola.

Brewed from Girders.
Shop with Scottish Treasures (aka Celtic Corner) online or in our store and we will donate 10% of the sale to the St. Andrews Society of Los Angeles. Upon checkout online, simply mention you are a member of the St. Andrews Society and we will do the rest! If you shop in our store in Coronado, please mention to the staff you are a member. 
MacLeod Ale
Like many small businesses MacLeods is facing challenging times but with typical Scottish ingenuity proprietor Alistair Boase is meeting the challenges head-on. MacLeods' support of our Society is without bounds and now it is time for us to reciprocate. What better way than to order beer and a pizza, pick-up or delivery – learn how here…
Belhaven Brewery
Belhaven – or “Beautiful harbour” – nestles among the rolling barley fields of the beautiful East Lothian coast, around 20 miles east of Edinburgh. For nearly 300 years, we have brewed in this place using only the finest local barley and choicest hops!

Established in 1719, Belhaven is Scotland’s oldest working brewery. With abundant local barley, fine water from the brewery well and access to markets up and down the coast, Belhaven was the perfect place for a brewery back then, and it still is today.
Many thanks to David Montoya of St. Killian Imports for supplying Belhaven for our events.
Scottish Government
SCOTLANDISNOW is a collaborative marketing campaign which relies on partners outside of government promoting it in their wider communications/engagement work. Our St. Andrew's Society is proud to partner with Scottish Counselor in the US Joni Smith and her office in promoting Scotland in southern California and beyond.
Language Answers

  1. To steal, nick or nab. If a person were to chore your stuff, then you can say goodbye to it.
  2. It is no lie that Scotland has its fair share of gloomy weather. For the days that are drab and grey, dreich is a just description.
  3. Pale and sickly. It’s also used to tease people with a lack of a suntan.
St Andrew's Society LA Scots is a common law registered mark of the St. Andrew's Society of Los Angeles
The St. Andrew's Shield is registered with the Lord Lyon King of Arms, at Edinburgh, as a Society Noble in the Noblesse of Scotland, attested by Ensigns Armorial and our motto “Scotia Semper Patria."
The St. Andrew's Society has donated to key charities helping those most in need during these turbulent times. Please help us continue this outreach by making your own donation.
St. Andrew's Society is an IRS registered 501 (c) (3) not for profit organization and your contributions are tax deductible. The Society treasurer will issue a letter of receipt for all contributions.