The James Wilson McCracken Memorial Trophy was awarded to both the House of Boyd Society and Clan Stewart Society in America at the 123rd Sacramento Valley Scottish Games and Gathering, April 24th & 25th, 1999. This award is presented for the best clan tent display. The trophy is a handsome pewter quaich, Scotland's "cup of friendship". The Clan names will be engraved on a perpetual plaque, next year we will sport a banner that proclaims we were the best clan tent and will be the honored clan that leads the clan march. The award is based on overall appearance, educational value, hospitality and neatness.

House of Boyd Society and Clan Stewart Society in America won this award through their shared efforts. We bring all our own equipment. The only thing supplied by the Caledonian Club is the marking on the ground to let us know what space is ours!

Our setting this year was near a stand of walnut trees, under a shared 10' x 20' carport tent facing the east, with a netted in hospitality tent for the food and drinks and a 10' x 10' pop-up tent behind the larger tent set up for sitting and visiting. The folding panels with parts of the Boyd History as well as Lord Kilmarnock's crest and announcements of other events served as the north wall facing the crowd and as a backdrop for the seating area.

Clan Stewart's banners were on the south and east sides of the large tent while House of Boyd's banner was on the east side and the Confido banner on the north side. The Stewart side of the tent sported their banner in Royal Stewart with the Stewart of Galloway Badge emblem, along with the Stewart of Appin banner. There was a St.Andrew's Cross flag shared at the front and the Boyd tartan banner flew from the northeast corner of the Boyd side of the tent.

We had the tartan clad tables arranged to allow for visitors to walk between them and into the tents. Between both Clans we have a considerable amount of resource books that we share. Maps of Scotland and genealogy of the Monarchy serve us not only as research and information items, but also as decoration. The two handed Claymore and the basket hilted Broadsword were handy on the tables and seemed to get quite a bit of attention. The Stewart Coats of Arms hanging at the back of the tent near the hospitality tent really add to the effect.

We keep the books in small book stands and stow the gear under the tables with a table cloth so long that you can't see what is lurking under it! Applications and other papers are stacked in file bins ready for handing to those we are assisting. The coolers are all neatly lined up around the interior walls of the hospitality tent and under the table. Garbage sacks are relegated to the interior of the hospitality tent.

I must thank Al Stewart for training me in the "fine art of manning the clan tent." It is only with his encouragement and assistance that I was able to carry out my appointment as Convenor. Our President, William Barneyback died soon after my appointment without having been able to send instructions. Al put a tent over my head and told me who to contact.

The volunteers at the tents this weekend were, our Genealogist, Cal Boyd, members, Colt Pierson [ both clans claim Colt!], Chris & Nona Boyd, Clan Stewart's Al & Darlene Stewart, Stewart S. T. & Eiko Stewart-Cramer, Jacky Phuvanatnaranubala, Sally Stewart, Ted & [his twin] Fred Reeves, & Cory Mann. It is through the efforts of all that this award was won. Thanks! And well done!

Lauren M. Boyd

From The Dean Road, Vol 12 Issue 44.
Copyright © 1999 House of Boyd Society Inc.