Have a problem? Have a Question? Meet the Moderators!

[Panache]

Welcome New Members to xmarksthescot.com!

As with virtually all online forums, ours has a Moderating Staff that assist with questions, problems, and watch over discussions here to maintain our rules.

If you are on the Portal page of XMTS and scroll to the bottom of that page you will see a box titled "Online Users" followed by a number. This box lists all the current members and guests viewing XMTS at the moment. Those names that are bolded are the "Mod Squad" (as we Moderators are known here).

Here is our current roster

Panache Captain Panache The Kilted Captain of the Moderators and our site's owner's second in command.

The Mod Squad

BEEDEE BeeDee
Splash 4 Splash 4
Kiltedmusiclover Kiltedmusiclover
Tartan Hiker Tartan Hiker


To get in touch with one of us just click on any of the names and you will be taken to a page where you can send a "PM" (Personal Message)

Now we do have a forum set up for Technical questions / problems. It is generally far better to post this with your concern instead of contacting the Mod Squad

Here is the Tech Questions forum

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/t...155/index.html

We also have a forum for Comments and Suggestions here

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/c...102/index.html

Lastly almost all official announcements are posted to our Forum News here:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...145/index.html

Now let's meet the Mod Squad!

[Splash_4]

Name- Mike:
Screen Name- Splash_4 (it's a reference to an old GDW board game 'Air Superiority')

I joined XMarkstheScot in October of 2006 and at that time did not own a kilt. I used XMarkstheScot.com as a primary source of information to decide what my first kilt should be (a Stillwater Kilts Black Stewart Standard). This was after my wife and I traveled to Scotland in August of that year and she jokingly bought me the book "So, You're going to wear the kilt!". Upon reading it and visiting the local shops on the Royal Mile, I decided to give it a try. That was 3 years and 10 kilts ago. My original kilt was passed on to my nephew who also got hooked and was married in a kilt!

I have been married to the same wonderful woman for 19 years and looking forward to many, many more. I have no children, but two dogs that act like children. I love to travel and do photography (they go together well, don't they?) and have visited or lived in 48 of the united states and 19 foreign countries. (leading Jamie to create the game "Where's Mike this week??") My passion for travel marries well with my vocation as I work as a global sourcing manager for a large financial institution that has allowed me to travel all over the world.

[BEEDEE]

Name: Brian
Screen Name: BEEDEE

X-marker since Jan 2007. First kilt was a MacRae weathered hunting in 2005. Since then the collection has grown to 13. Full time kilt wearer since Aug 2007.

I like to think I bring an international perspective to XMTS. Born in New Zealand I have lived in England (twice), South Africa, France and, of course, the USA and traveled and worked widely around the world in my past life. I retired in 2004 and went sailing for a year and finished up in North Carolina. Still sail as much as I can, but came out of retirement last year and now work part time as Executive Director for a Community College Foundation.

My wife Jude and I have a restored 1900's farmhouse on 1 acre of partly wooded land that we are slowly beating into shape. Our kids are grown but we have supplemented them with a three legged beagle, two cats and eight chickens. We are also active with our local Scottish Heritage Society.

[Tartan Hiker]

Name: Bill
Screen name: Tartan Hiker

Since childhood (I was born in '57) I have heard the story of how my Scotland-born great-grandfather and his twin brother, both 9 years of age, were placed aboard a ship bound for relatives in America. They were the last children in a large family that was financially unable to care for them. His name was William, and he eventually settled in Georgia where he fathered a single son, also named William. That man, my grandfather, moved to North Carolina and fathered a single son, my father, also named William. Following 4 years in France with the U.S. Army, he returned to North Carolina, fathering a single son, also named William, and that's me! Now it's my turn as I have an 18-year-old son named William (screen name MadBagpiper), and for the first time in four generations, I have produced a second son (who at 15 is a dedicated kilt-wearer but has never become active on this site).

Until discovering this forum in January, 2006, I was under the common misconception that there was only one kind of kilt (high-yardage formal wool) and that kilts were only for special occasions...thus I didn't even consider owning one on my school teacher salary. After a bit of browsing here on XMTS my eyes were opened, to say the least, and the rest is history. I've now made upwards of 20 kilts, from a gaggle of poly/cotton hiking kilts to an 8+ yard heavyweight wool band kilt. I also do all my own leather work (belts, sporrans, etc.). For formal or semi-formal wear, I am an unabashed fan of the 4-yard box pleated kilt in 16 oz. wool.

I am employed as a biology teacher, serving my town's high school for 23 years. I also teach anatomy at the local community college (kilted most evenings!) Each summer I direct a wilderness program (hiking, trail maintenance, search-and-rescue) for a local conference center with 3,000 acres of conserved wilderness.

My other interests include traditional archery and bowhunting, waterfowl hunting, birdwatching, reptile and amphibian natural history and husbandry, and carpentry. I've recently begun making my own knives.

I've been married to the same wonderful woman for 25 years. She is a professional archivist and historian, and is my best hiking and camping buddy.

[Kiltedmusiclover]

Name: Nelson
Screen name: Kiltedmusiclover

I have been a member of Xmarks since its first week. I became really interested in Scottish history as I did family genealogy in the late 80’s.
A friend of mine invited me to Grandfather Mt. Highland games in 1993. After hearing the pipes as the massed band marched across the field, I felt something stir deep within my blood and soul. I like to think it was my Scottish heritage being awakened. I knew I wanted a kilt so in 1994 I found a local kilt maker who I really liked. I have love wearing my kilts ever since. I now own 6 kilts.

I began researching my Scottish side of my family with great vigor. I soon realized that some of the words my Grandparents had used all their lives were actually Scottish words that were integrated into the Southern Appalachian Mountain dialect. Reek, Muckle, Lass, Eejit, Crabbit, Yonder are just a few of these words.

With research and family stories I found out that the Wallace’s had been in Rutherford county since 1773. They have lived in the foothills near the same area for over 200 years.
While attending local highland games I also developed a love for all kinds of Celtic music. Seven Nations and Ed Miller are two of my first two favorites. The list of my favs has grown by leaps and bounds since then.

I meet my wife in 2001 and proposed to her at the campfire ceilidh at Grandfather. We married in 2001 and have since traveled to both Ireland and Scotland.
Along with genealogy and Celtic music I have love of photography, travel, attending live concerts, and hot sauce.
I am currently employed as an Executive Director for a local non profit agency and have been for the last 10 years.