Clan MacNicol confirms with great pleasure that it will hold its 2009 North American Gathering along with the Society’s Annual Directors’ Meeting on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, U.S.A. from Friday to Monday, October 9-12 (Columbus Day Weekend in the U.S., and Canadian Thanksgiving Day Weekend).

All members, families and friends are cordially invited to join the Society’s Officers and Directors for an extended weekend of leisure activities, sightseeing, socializing, entertainment, information sharing and dining.  Participants may choose to attend for one or two days only, or for the whole weekend.

Hilton Head Island, one of the premier seaside resorts on the U.S. East Coast, offers a host of leisure activities as well as touristic and gastronomic attractions.  Bill and Joan Nicol have kindly volunteered to set up a full program for the long weekend.  Planned events include:

Friday evening       Informal dinner

Saturday                 Group leisure activities, meals and evening Ceilidh

Sunday                   Directors’ meeting, group leisure activities, and informal evening dinner

Monday                  Optional group leisure activities and meals

The principal venue for the Gathering will be the Holiday Inn Oceanfront at 1 South Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina 29928-6423, U.S.A.

Bill has reserved a block of non-smoking rooms (with either two double beds or one king bed) at the Holiday Inn for the rate of US$99 per night plus 11% tax and a daily resort fee of US$6.95 per room. These special rates can be extended to 2 days before the event (October 7 and 8) and 2 days afterwards (October 12 and 13).

Gathering participants must make their own reservations as soon as possible but absolutely no later than the deadline of September 8.  Please contact the Holiday Inn Oceanfront Reservations Department directly by phone at 843-785-5126, or by fax at 843-785-7753.  Callers must mention the Code CMN/GR05 and group name Clan MacNicol to ensure that they receive the appropriate rate and are included in the guest room block.

We are particularly pleased to hold this Gathering, the first of its kind in North America since the last one in Montreal in 2006.  Previous gatherings took place in Chicago, Illinois (2005) and in Williamsburg, Virginia (2003) with great success and enthusiastic attendance.

U.S members should note the proximity of Hilton Head Island to several neighboring southern states.  Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia are all within a day’s driving distance.  Hilton Head Island can be also reached by air, since it has its own airport which handles regional commuter flights.  Alternatively, participants can fly to the closest major airport in Savannah, Georgia and drive the remaining 50 miles to Hilton Head.

To register your attendance, please complete the attached form and send it to Bill Nicoll at Secretary@ClanMacNicol.org absolutely no later than Tuesday September 8.