The Scottish North American Leadership Conference is an annual gathering of Scottish societies and clan organizations from across North America who gather to share views, values, experiences and best practices. Last year, the conference was held for the first time in Canada at the University of Guelph.

Across the continent, Scottish societies face the same challenges of reaching out to their communities -- both the Scottish and non-Scottish -- and in engaging a younger demographic. We can take heart from the leadership and best practices that have been demonstrated elsewhere. 

This year, the 15th annual SNALC will be held October 19-21 at the Kilgour Centre in Troy, Michigan, hosted by the Detroit St. Andrew's Society.  The will be "Transferring our Scottish Heritage to the Next Generation through Music, Art and Culture."

The following comes from the organizers:

Using panels and presentations by experts in the genre, SNALC will listen for the blended voices of our speakers, our attendees, and our younger guests. There will also be performances by musicians and artists representing traditional and modern Scottish performing arts. 

FRIDAY EVENING 

Leadership Conference Reception and Banquet, with whisky tasting.

Entertainment by Michigan's premier youth fiddle performers,

The Chelsea House Orchestra.  

Banquet address delivered by  Kirstin Bridier, National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA. 

SATURDAY 

A full day of programming with panel discussions and forums for the exchange of ideas. 

Special Conference Guest Speaker: Joni Smith, Scottish Affairs Counsellor to North America

For greater audience involvement, the program will include webinars for remote observation and participation in the Conference.

SATURDAY EVENING

Mix and Mingle - informal evening at the Kilgour Centre

SUNDAY MORNING 

Opportunity to discuss and summarize reflections on the theme, a time to draw lessons on how Scottish North American leaders can utilize the arts to promote a broad multi-generational interest in Scottish Heritage and Cultural Tourism. 

REGISTRATION WILL OPEN SHORTLY

A complete list of panelists and guest speakers will be available shortly on the SNALC website.

 "The St. Andrew's Society of Detroit looks forward to welcoming back The Scottish North American Leadership Conference to Detroit and to welcoming Joni Smith, Scottish Affairs Counsellor to North America, Scotland's Official Representative, to North America's industrial heartland where our ancestral Scots powered America's Industrial Revolution."   Lt. Governor John Cherry, Chairman SNALC 2018, St Andrew's Society of Detroit.

We look forward to having you join us in Michigan in 2018.

If you have questions, please contact us at

Snalcinfo@gmail.com

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BACKGROUND

The conference is presented by the founding partners, 

The Chicago Scots and The American-Scottish Foundation in association with the hosting partner, St. Andrew's Society of Detroit and additional co-sponsors, Council of Scottish Clans & Associations (COSCA) and Ontario-based Scottish Studies Foundation.

The hosts encourage all members of the Scottish-North American community to attend and participate in this conference and to take full advantage of the opportunity to meet with North American Scots and visitors from Scotland. 

Attendees will have the opportunity to exchange experiences and ideas with key figures from Scotland, America and Canada on topics affecting and involving the Scottish-North American community both here and in Scotland.

2018 marks the 15th Annual Scottish North American Leadership Conference which has now come together in Chicago, Detroit, Edinburgh, New York and Guelph.