Starting a State Tartan

[g koch]

Anyone here have experience getting a State Tartan adopted?

[beerbecue]

Check this out for a story on how the Iowa folks designed/registered their tartan.

http://www.haggis-iowa.com/iowa_tartans.html

[macwilkin]

I'm a little familiar with it -- our St. Andrew's Society has toyed with the idea off and on for a couple of years now -- a friend of mine in Louisiana was very active in their process to establish the La. state tartan, and he has some stories.

His basic advice: involve almost EVERY organisation -- Scottish, Irish, Pipe Bands, dancers, etc. that you can -- so that way no one can complain that you didn't consult them! :mrgreen:

Cheers,

Todd

[Thistle Stop]

Anyone here have experience getting a State Tartan adopted?

I designed a Maryland State Tartan but have not had the time, energy, or money to push recognition of it through the state legislature. I'd say the things you most need are:

- tartan yardage to give as samples to the legislators

- one, or preferably a few, sponsors in the legislature to introduce a bill and champion your cause

- sponsorship from others, such as state St Andrews Societies, Caledonian Societies, etc. is a help

- time to spend lobbying for the tartan, or some dedicated and capable volunteers who can do it for you

- documentation of the whole process, to make sure everyone involved gets plenty of press (these are politicians, after all!) -- take lots of pictures!

- someone on your team to handle the PR aspects, including press contacts, literature, etc.

Talk to some others who have been through the process (as you're trying to do with your message here): Rupert Ferguson (KY tartan), rfurgerson2@juno.com; John R. Austin (MA tartan), Boltonpan@att.net -- these are two I know of -- I've had contact with others but don't have those emails where I can access them at present. These two have been very encouraging and helpful. Here is some advice John sent me:

1. You really need to have something woven to get the "real effect". People like to have something tangible that they can hold and feel. Odd but true. Computer print outs just don't make it. Having said that, it's not cheap to have woven material. Ingles-Buchan Textiles, Dalgleish both in Scotland or Fraser Kirkbright in Canada via escot.net. Scarves, ties are helpful to "persuade" legislators. (Look for someone with deep pocket$)

2. Try to enlist the help of your local St Andrews Society. They're a treasure trove of info and have addresses of everyone of Scottish descent in your area. !!!!!!!

3. Having said that, it helps to include everyone's ethic heritage.

4. Having school children with with the campaign is invaluable. Legislators loathe shooting down kids' proposals in these PC times.

5. Find out exactly how legislation is passed in your state and follow the Committee members. Mail info to those influential legislators. It helps to have about a year from the time you've had woven material (ties, etc) to the legislative calender. Contact local newspapers for stories about your campaign.

6. Design a "windowbox". On a 8.5 x 11 piece of foam core, place a cut-out frame, enclosing both the tartan and the reasoning,and thread counts. It's handy, looks nice, and is a formal way of proposing your tartan to legislators and interested bodies.

If anyone in MD wants to get involved in MY state tartan project, please contact me! See www.mdtartan.us to get a look at the proposed Maryland State Tartan.

[Big Paul]

His basic advice: involve almost EVERY organisation -- Scottish, Irish, Pipe Bands, dancers, etc. that you can -- so that way no one can complain that you didn't consult them! :mrgreen:

Cheers, Todd

And the louder voice you will have!

[Tim Walker]

Interesting. I'm from Iowa myself. I want to get a traditional kilt eventually, but I have been undecided as to which tartan. Maybe this one?

[macwilkin]

Check this out for a story on how the Iowa folks designed/registered their tartan.

http://www.haggis-iowa.com/iowa_tartans.html

Beerbecue, many thanks for this link. I contacted the lady listed on the site, and now my mom will have an Iowa tartan sash for Tartan Day -- Mom was born & raised in Iowa, and she was tickled pink to find that Iowa has a tartan!

Cheers,

Todd

[beerbecue]

Glad I could be of service. I think it is a really attractive tartan, and very representative of Iowa. It is much nicer than the Illinois tartan....

Now that we have brought up state tartans, I was wondering if anyone has designed tartans for these states:

State of Confusion
State of Panic
State of Motion
State of The Art
State of Disrepair
State of Mind

[highlander_Daz]

Whats Tartan day?????

[Avonlea22]

Whats Tartan day?????

I honestly don't know much about it either, but here is a link to the U.S. Tartan Day website:

http://www.tartanday.org/