To the Forum regarding the XMTSAS Saltire

[Mike_Oettle]

Actually, Alan’s vehemence in defence of Jamie and the Saltire is way over the top.
I have not demanded that Jamie hand the Saltire over, nor that it be regarded as X Marks property.
I simply remarked that it had far from fulfilled its mandate of travelling around the world.
It would be nice to have another token of our friendship as X Marks members that might also go from kilt night to kilt night. Or on the other hand, there might not be a suitable replacement for it.
Let’s see what suggestions come up, without unnecessary bombast.
Regards,
Mike

[macwilkin]

Post deleted; comments taken to PM.

[Alan H]

Mike,

You certainly did not, but there were others on here that made some fairly perjorative statements about Jamie and his decision to retire the Saltire. Those were the comments that Alan was reacting to, not necessarily yours.

T.

What Todd said! Not aimed specifically at you at all, Mike.

Actually I was just pointing out some facts, and an inescapable conclusion.

Fact: The saltire is at Panache's house.
Fact: Nobody here on X Marks can make him send it to someone else.
Fact: He's stated that he won't be sending it on to anybody else except possibly Hamish.

Conclusion: Therefore, from a totally practical and emotionally-detached point of view, if the XMarks membership wants to have something to send around to participants, wherever they may reside, there will need to be a new "thingamabob" created.

all the writing in the world on this forum does not change the facts, listed above. I mean no offense, I'm just telling the truth.

All the stuff about talking and writing on the internet about it being a waste of time is just me being generally curmudgeonly. I think it's the truth, though. Nothing will happen until SOMEONE does what Panache did, and just MAKES something and starts sending it around. Talk means nothing and results in nothing.

[Big Mikey]

To the Ladies and Gentlemen of X Marks the Scot,

As the first recipient of the XMTSAS Saltire, I believe I have some entitlement to profer my feelings in public. I beg your indulgence and thank you for your time.

On August 27, 2008, my wife and I arrived in San Jose, California to spend some time with people we had met over the internet. We had spoken a time or two on the phone prior to our departure but the majority of our contact was through this forum.

Our desire to meet these people was greatly due to the show of hospitality, fun and friendship that was evident in the stories and pictures that were posted on this forum.

My wife and I were welcomed into their home as members of the family not the total strangers that we were. In a matter of hours it was like we had been there all the time. At the conclusion of our first night together, I was presented with the Saltire and instructed to carry it home. It was to spend some time with me and then be sent off to another member of the forum, promoting the friendship that begins on the forum and grows from there.

Over the next four days we had a great time, some spent with our new friends and some exploring on our own. The Saltire visited some funky eateries and saw great sites. It attended its' first kilt night at my local.

I sent it on its' way knowing that the journey it was beginning would be most wonderous indeed. And it most surely has been.

But like any journey, it would eventually end and so it seems that time has come. It is only fitting that the saga will end whence it began.

The Saltire was crafted and intended to be used as a rallying tool, something that Xmarkers could gather around and call their own, a "reason" to hold a kilt night, a barbecue or any gathering where people would get together and enjoy the fellowship and good times that wearing a kilt and being a forum member embodied.

But in reality, it is still only a piece of painted wood. The joy I have experienced in making new friends and reading of the friendships that others have made is invaluable. That is the Saltires' legacy. I am certain that no member that has hosted the Saltire will forget their time with the good ship but it is time to move on.

As others have posted, perhaps a new "mascot" will come about, perhaps multiples. If they are created and forwarded in the same spirit of "clan" that the Saltire was, we are in good shape.

Jamie, thank you for whatever prompted you to begin this project, this uniting of the Xmarks clan. May the wee ship now rest at ease, her journey ended and her mission accomplished.

Ladies and Gentlemen, your passion for the Saltire and what she represents is truly admirable and I hope that you will welcome as warmly whatever the next item is that unites us and gives us cause to join together and share a pint, a laugh, a good meal and anything that makes life just a bit more enjoyable.

[CDNSushi]

As others have posted, perhaps a new "mascot" will come about, perhaps multiples. If they are created and forwarded in the same spirit of "clan" that the Saltire was, we are in good shape.

Jamie, thank you for whatever prompted you to begin this project, this uniting of the Xmarks clan. May the wee ship now rest at ease, her journey ended and her mission accomplished.

Ladies and Gentlemen, your passion for the Saltire and what she represents is truly admirable and I hope that you will welcome as warmly whatever the next item is that unites us and gives us cause to join together and share a pint, a laugh, a good meal and anything that makes life just a bit more enjoyable.

Well said, Mikey. Thank you!

[Nighthawk]

I was on my way to the post office today to mail a hip flask that I had made for one of our members when it popped into my head- a flask is an almost universal sigh of friendship! Why not an X Marks flask to send around, and at gatherings, to pass around? The recipients fills it with his beverage of choice (which in my case is water) and gets together with other X Markers and friends, and takes a lot of pictures, etc, and when it's empty, cleans it well and sends it on! I would be more than happy to create and donate the flask. I thought perhaps someone could send me a scrap of X Marks to sew onto it. I have a few design ideas in mind already. I personally think that the wee Saltire was a brilliant and unifiying thing, and something that I thought was an important part of this community. IF I do this, it's with the understanding that this flask, and it's accompanying log book, will be no one's property, that it is to circulate for as long as it exists, and as long as this forum exists, or until we all get bored with it and collectively retire it. What do you all think?

[gary meakin]

I think this is a great idea Nighthawk, and it appears we have the same beverage of choice

[Nighthawk]

I think this is a great idea Nighthawk, and it appears we have the same beverage of choice

I do love my Highland Park, but I only take my flask to festivals. Alcohol + Colorado sun = bad things! At least, when you're a participant...

Made a comment, but changed my mind.

Yeah, I was opposed to a new thingamabob myself. But then this idea hit me, and it seemed like something that really fit the spirit of what I thought the Saltire was.

[Bugbear]

How nice of you, Hawk.
Good luck.

[CDNSushi]

IF I do this, it's with the understanding that this flask, and it's accompanying log book, will be no one's property, that it is to circulate for as long as it exists, and as long as this forum exists, or until we all get bored with it and collectively retire it. What do you all think?

Although I understand why you would make this stipulation (in light of the fate of the Saltire), I still think that it's best if something like this has an actual end goal... (As I mentioned in the thread I started in the Comments & Suggestions forum).

A part of this is because I do agree with Jamie's thoughts about current members doing something that is significant for them... Then, that opens the door for a future "generation" of XMarker friends to exchange and send something else in the future as well... I would really like it if, at some point in the future, once the goal of the thingamebob has been met, to have the option to have a memento (such as a coffee table book that has been printed from the original pages of the logbook and photos).

What do you think?