Homecoming Scotland Leadership Conference

[Tartan Gavin]

“Scotland and Her Diaspora – Partners for the Future”

The American-Scottish Foundation® and The Illinois St. Andrew Society are to jointly host a Homecoming Scotland Leadership Conference at Queen Margaret University’s Musselburgh Campus, on Monday July 27, 2009.

The conference comes directly after the Gathering 2009 weekend and provides a forum which aims to capitalise on the unique opportunity that Homecoming Scotland 2009 creates. The conference will bring together leaders of Scottish affiliation groups from around the world with Scottish groups based in Scotland.

It is hoped that the conference will act as a catalyst for the formation of long term mutually beneficial relationships between leaders of public or private sector Scottish and diaspora organizations that wish to engage with one another, particularly in the arts, culture, education, heritage and not for profit sectors.

Michael Russell MSP, Minister for Culture, External Affairs and Constitution is to deliver the opening address and will be participating in the panel discussion entitled "Homecoming Scotland and The Scottish Diaspora - a Dialog". The forum will be led by VisitScotland and is designed, under Chatham House Rule, to encourage an open exchange of views regarding way in which to enhance, for mutual benefit, the relationship that exists between Scotland and its Diaspora. Philip Riddle, CEO of Visit Scotland will be participating and the panellists will include Australian-Scots, Wayne Hercules Broun Bt, 14th Baronet of Coulstoun and Susan Stannard, Editor of Scots Heritage Magazine.

There will be a presentation from Dirk Rinker, Founder and President of Campbell and Rinker, a firm that concentrates on marketing research for the non profit world. Dirk will be discussing the findings of his firm’s national study “American Attitudes to Culture and Heritage” and their implication for those wishing to engage with the U.S.

The conference is also very fortunate to have Nike Whitcomb, President of Nike B Whitcomb Associates who will be giving a presentation entitled “Fundraising in the U.S. and in Scotland – Comparisons and Contrasts” Nike will be discussing the strategies and pitfalls associated with fundraising in the U.S. and Scotland. This will include workshops which will cover fundraising for the Annual Fund and Major Gifts and the growing importance of social networking as a fundraising tool.

To find out more information regarding the Homecoming Scotland Leadership Conference and buy tickets go to Illinois Saint Andrew Society - home.