The Most Meritorious Order of Saint Andrew

[artificer]

WONDERFUL!

While I'll never be nominated myself (not being Scottish) I think the idea has great merit and should help raise the profile of Scottish-Americans (and hopefully, the kilt).

[MacBean]

I think that is really grand; well done!

However, I can envision a wee problem. Many Scots of the diaspora, arrived here 240 years ago or more, so their Scottishness may be a bit diluted. How are we do judge who is Scottish? If they say that 25% of the US can trace ancestry back to the Mayflower, I might venture that more than 50% of the US can connect to Scotland in some way or another, with few being able to prove it.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I think that is really grand; well done!

However, I can envision a wee problem. Many Scots of the diaspora, arrived here 240 years ago or more, so their Scottishness may be a bit diluted. How are we do judge who is Scottish? If they say that 25% of the US can trace ancestry back to the Mayflower, I might venture that more than 50% of the US can connect to Scotland in some way or another, with few being able to prove it.

Actually the award recognizes the excellence of those within and without the diaspora. For example:

Mr. DeGrazzio (resident in Pasadena, California, and with not a drop of Scottish blood in him) decides to fund a Chair of Scottish Studies at his local university. This act of philanthropy would qualify him to be nominated for the award of The Most Meritorious Order of Saint Andrew.

In other words, one need not be Scottish or of Scottish ancestry. Any individual whose accomplishments have in some way been of benefit to the Scottish diaspora, or to the wider community as a whole, may be nominated for the award.