fojmb newsletter 2009 09

8/7/2019 FoJMB Newsletter 2009 09

1/12

Newsletter No. 11, September 2009

Dear Friends,

In my June letter, I expressed the hope that the summer

weather would be a good one. Well, at least here in Scotland, it was

not to be. I trust it was better for you. Perhaps it was the weather but

visitor numbers at the Birthplace have been good with many taking

the time to give glowing and encouraging comments in the visitors

book.

Autumn is now just about upon us and we are thinking aboutthe AGM and a calendar of events for the winter session. Susan, our

hard working secretary, has again come up with an excellent

programme and a card giving all the details is enclosed with this

newsletter. I am particularly intrigued wit the December event. For

it to work we need your co-operation. So, if you have a photograph

or an artefact or an experience you could share with us, contact

Susan at the Birthplace. And even if you, yourself, cannot be there,

share it with us and send whatever you have electronically or bypost to Susan (we will get it back to you).

By the way, Will Collin and I look after the Birthplace

reception desk each Thursday on a volunteer basis so please feel

free to look in and say hello.

Sincerely,

Jim Thompson


2/12

2

Notice of Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the Friends of John Muirs Birthplace will be

held on

Wednesday 7th

October, 2009 at 7.15pm for 7.30pm

John Muirs Birthplace, 126 High Street, Dunbar

Agenda

(i) Report on years activities

(ii) Filling any vacancies on Council*

(iii) Other competent business*

Non-members will be warmly welcomed

Following the AGM there will be an illustrated talk

A Scotchman Comes Home

by Will Collin

* Please note that nominations for Council accompanied with the nominees agreement in

writing and items for consideration under other competent business should be lodged with

the Secretary, c/o 126 High Street, Dunbar, East Lothian, EH42 1JJ before Monday 5thOctober, 2009

Visitors at the Birthplace

There have been a large number of visitors to the Birthplace this summer,

particularly from England and North America. 24 counties of the former and

18 states of the later appear in the visitors' book during June and July.

Whether due to the weak pound, Homecoming publicity or whatever, numbers

have been up by 40% over 2008. The total for the calendar month to 13 August

was 1,696.

As well as those mentioned later in this newsletter, among the July visitors was

Penny Cole who commented An excellent and fascinating exhibition. Ms

Cole is environmental editor, critic and writer for A World to Win, a left-wing

environmental group formed in 2005. She was co-author of Running a

Temperature: An Action Plan for the Eco-Crisis.


3/12

3

Muir Quarter Designer Visits John Muirs Birthplace

The designer of the Californian Quarter, Garrett Burke,

fulfilled a long-held ambition when he visited John Muir's

Birthplace in mid-July. Garret brought with him severalrolls of Muir quarter coins that he donated to DJMA.

These coins will be used to replenish the rapidly

diminishing stock of the John Muir and the Californian

Quarter presentation packs produced by DJMA as a

fundraiser in support of John Muirs Birthplace.

Garrett, his wife Michelle and daughter Katie were delighted with the people

and scenery of East Lothian. The family were treated to guided walks around

Dunbar and entertained by Friends throughout the weekend. Garrets visit also

coincided with the Friends of John Muir's Birthplace annual Sand Sculpture

competition held on the East Beach, Dunbar and so it seemed only fitting that

Garret be asked to judge the competition! A task that he readily agreed to.

The Garrett family are currently designing and writing a book about the

quarter dollar coins that have been produced by the US mint to commemorate

the 50 states joining the Union. [Editors note: for Friends that may not recall

the news about the release of the California State Quarter, heres an extractfrom DJMA Newsletter No. 27, April 2005]

Governor Celebrates the Release of the 2005 California State Quarter

On Monday, January 31 2005, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger celebrated

the release the 2005 California State Quarter in to U.S. circulation.

Accompanied by First Lady Maria Shriver and U.S. Mint Director Henrietta

Holsman, the Governor reflected on John Muirs contributions to Californias

conservation legacy displayed in the quarters design. Muir lit the torch ofconservation in our state and he has inspired generations of Californians to

preserve our natural beauty. Yosemite would not be the cathedral it is today

and the California Condor would be extinct if John Muirs ideas were not

embraced as central to the California experience, the Governor said.

Recognizing two of John Muirs grandsons, John and Ross Hanna, who were

attending the event, the Governor addressed them saying Your grandfather

would be happy to know that our commitment to protecting our natural

heritage is stronger than ever.


4/12

4

To conclude the ceremony, the Governor spoke to students from the Los

Arboles Elementary School in San Jose, encouraging them to keep Californias

natural heritage alive. After presenting the students with their own

Commemorative California Quarters, the Governor proclaimed the day State

Quarter Day in the Schools and told the children he hoped that they wouldnot only spend the quarters, but would use them as a tool to learn more about

Californias conservation legacy.

The 2005 California State Quarter makes California the 31st U.S. state to

release a quarter as part of the United States Mints "50 State Quarters

Program." The quarter, designed by Los Angeles artist Garrett Burke, featuresconservationist John Muir, the Yosemite Valley, and the California Condor. In

all, the US Mint will produce 450 million California quarters. [Editors note:

see also http://gov.ca.gov/photos/2409/]

Muir Quarter Designer Thanks DJMA

DJMA were delighted to receive three 'proof' Californian quarters in

presentation boxes in advance of the launch from the designer, Garret Burke.

The proof coins are struck on specially adapted coining presses and are

burnished to a high level. Garrett sent the coins as a thank you for our support

for his design in the competition to choose what would be depicted on theCalifornian coin.

In his covering letter, Garrett said: Generations of Americans and worldcitizens will be touched by this lasting keepsake of John Muir's international

legacy of embracing nature and allowing nature to enrich one's soul. The

journey ended in California but his deep Scottish roots started Muir on a

proper path. Congratulations to Dunbar."

Of the three coins received, one has been given to the John Muir Birthplaceand one to Dunbar Community Council, a partner with DJMA in the

Birthplace Trust. The third coin, the presentation box of which was signed by

Garrett, his wife Michelle and daughter Katie, was sent personally to DJMA

convener Jim Thompson.


5/12

5

McGregor Family Backpack Around Scotland

Eric McGregor from Wisconsin had a long

held ambition to visit Scotland. This

summer, Eric, his wife Rebekah and theirthree children Sarah, Kaitlyn and Alick, set

off on a mammoth walk across and around

Scotland.

Take a deep breath the family started in

early June in Portpatrick and backpacked

811 miles through the Southern Upland

Way, the John Muir Way, most of the

Forth and Clyde Canal, the Rob Roy Way,

Glen Tilt, the Cairngorms, the Lairig Ghru,

most of the Speyside Way, the Moray

Coastal Trail, the Great Glen Way and the

West Highland Way. They also took a

train from Inverness to Thurso and walked

to Dunnet Head and John OGroats! The

McGregors completed their saunter

arriving back in Milngavie at the end ofAugust.

Birthplace staff were delighted to welcome the McGregor family towards the

end of June when they visited John Muirs Birthplace after completing the

Southern Upland Way. They kindly posed for a photograph outside the

building. The family are great admirers of John Muir and certainly know how

to follow in his footsteps! We wish the McGregors a good journey home to the

States and a well-earned rest. We hope to see more photographs and stories of

their travels soon.

New Friends Logo

Eagle-eyed Friends will have noticed the new

logo used for the first time in the masthead of

the newsletter. It was chosen from a selection

of designs produced for FoJMB by Emma

Westwater of Source Design in Edinburgh.


6/12

6

More Muir Quarters Given

As mentioned earlier, Garret Burke

has donated several rolls of Muir

quarters to DJMA. As its more than4 years since they were struck, pristine

coins are now in short supply and this

donation will be used to restock the

John Muir and the Californian

Quarter presentation packs.

4th

Annual Sand Sculpture Competition, 18th

July

The rain cleared just in time for the start of the Friends Annual Sand

Sculpture Competition. Highlights were a beautiful mermaid sculpted by

Seona Mason, the Californian Quarter, a family castle, turtles and a sand

representation of the cartoon characters Spongebob Squarepants and Patrick!

As befits a good judge, Garret remained impartial and despite the blatant

attempt by Duncan Smeed and Jo Moulin to sway the decision in their favourwith their sand replica of the Muir quarter, Garret awarded first prize to Seona.

.

Photo: Garret Burke presents more

Muir Quarters to Jim Thompson


7/12

7

[Editors note: you can judge for yourself whether Jo and I were robbed as

here are the some of the other entries in the competition ;-)]

No quarter given: Garret is struck by this sand sculpture

by Jo Moulin and Duncan Smeed!

Castelo de Panton!


8/12

8

Your Bakery Kneads You

is the rallying call of Dunbar

Community Bakery Limited. This

community owned cooperative israising the capital in a bid to re-

open the bakery next door to the

Birthplace. In fact, in 1841 the

Muir family moved from the

Birthplace into this very building

at 130 High Street.

As is often the case, the local

people who are amongst the most

active supporters of Friends have also invested their time, and money, in

helping Dunbar Community Bakery Limited get off the ground. The

photograph shows Friends Isobel Knox and Ute Penny fending off the June

sunshine under their black umbrellas as they help to raise awareness and

funds for the proposed bakery at their stall in front of the property.

Dunbar Community Bakery Limited has so far raised 44,000 - more than half

of the original target identified by their business plan as the sum needed tolease the former Smiths Bakery in Dunbar High Street and reopen it as a

community bakery. It is hoped that the financing package will be completed by

the end of November and the bakery re-opened before Easter 2010.

More than 160 people have so far bought shares in the bakery, raising 18,000

in shareholder equity - half way towards the target of raising at least 35,000

through the share issue. Existing shareholders are being encouraged to "bring a

buddy" into the Dunbar Community Bakery project. Potential investors can

download and print the Invitation to Invest form from the Sustaining Dunbarwebsite at www.sustainingdunbar.org.uk

John Muir would undoubtedly have been be proud, and supportive, of this

community effort as bread - and tea - kept him sustained during his saunters

and about which he wrote: "I rolled up some bread and tea in a pair of

blankets with some sugar and a tin cup and set off. and Everybody needs

beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal

and give strength to body and soul.


9/12

9

Fourth Generation in Yosemite

Among visitors to the Birthplace in August were Moira Donohoe and her

teenage kids Will and Sophie. They flew in to Edinburgh early on 23rd

August

and were hosted by Val and Will Collin until the 26th

when they left forInverness en route for Skye. Moira is an artist and art teacher whose great

grandparents John and Bridget Degnan established Degnans stores, the first

concession in Yosemite Valley, in 1884.

Moiras great grandparents knew John Muir well and he frequently bought

soda bread from Mrs Degnans bakery before embarking on one of his

saunters. Degnans still operates but now also boasts a caf, a delicatessen

and a pizza restaurant.

John and Bridget had been born in Ireland. As Johns uncle owned a gold mine

in Coulterville, California, they lived there for a while before moving into the

Valley. The Degnans raised eight children including Moiras grandfather.

Moira had family stories to tell of John Muir, Galen Clark, James and Elvira

Hutchings and their daughters Florence (Floy) and Gertrude (Cosie) and

other early Yosemite pioneers. Floy, whom Muir called Squirrel, was the

first white child born in the Valley, in 1864. A renowned tomboy, she was

killed at age 17 by a rock fall while climbing to Glacier Point. Her sister

Cosie, also considered a tomboy, became a teacher and lived to the good old

age of 89. She was still hiking in Yosemite when in her 80s.

Moira now lives with her husband, retired after 30 years as a National Parks

ranger, Will and Sophie at Alturas, in the extreme northeast of California. The

small town of 3,000 people has an elevation of 4,370 feet and 200 days with

lows of 0oC or colder! Will and Sophie arrived in Dunbar having just finished

two months vacation work in Yosemite.


10/12

10

John Muir A Great Scot

STV wants to find out who the nation really thinks is our biggest hero. The

criterion for inclusion is: "anyone born in Scotland or anyone who lived or

lives in Scotland and who has played a significant and lasting contribution toScotland or humanity at large." John Muir has been included in the list of

nominations and will feature in a major new STV series in November. STV

viewers will then be able to vote for the person they think is the Greatest ever

Scot. The winner will be revealed on STV on St Andrew's Day and will be

commemorated forever in a major new work of art. The STV website -

http://scotland.stv.tv/greatest-scot -has details. [Editors note: details of Muirs

nomination can be found using the http://tinyurl.com/stv-great-jm link.]

Long-time John Muir enthusiast Harold Wood from the USA first brought this

to the attention of Friends in August. Harold also wrote a compelling argument

why Muir should be in the running for the accolade of Greatest Scot [Editors

note: see http://tinyurl.com/jm-harold-comment]:

Scotland certainly produced great literary figures, scientists, political leaders,

philanthropists, etc. But it is not enough to evaluate these persons by their

historical body of work alone, whether it is writing, poetry, art, or scientific

discovery. To me, the important criteria is which of their ideas or actions aremost relevant to our world today; how their ideas and actions are most

crucially needed today. Using that criteria, John Muir leads the list. In an era

where our world civilization's survival is threatened by global warming, where

technology threatens to overwhelm our daily lives so much that we spend more

time on computers and cell phones than enjoying the sunset or a walk in the

woods, John Muir's message is not only the most relevant, but the most

inspirational. His message and actions continue to inspire hugely needed

groups like the one he founded in America, the Sierra Club, and the John Muir

Trust in Scotland, as they try to tell the world how important it is, as Muir said,

to "climb the mountains" and to really understand the most fundamental

principle of ecology as Muir stated: "When we try to pick out anything by

itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." The entire green

movement owes everything to John Muir, and the National Parks that he

inspired as a system are now a global phenomenon that are increasingly

recognized as "America's Best Idea." Scotland's John Muir transcends

Scotland - he is the ultimate figure of importance in the world today, given

where our global civilization is at this crossroads in history.


11/12

11

Walks and Talks Programme 2009 10

The session begins on Wednesday 7th

October with a talk on John Muirs

Homecoming visit to Dunbar and his tour of Scotland. Will Collin carried

out research on John Muirs travels including places John visited and peoplehe met for our most recent publication A Scotchman Comes Home. This

information was also used in our current temporary exhibition of the same

name. Come along and hear the whole travel story. Our AGM takes place on

the same evening. Meet at 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start at JMB.

Well done to Friends member Alistair Mackie who has recently returned from

a grueling six week trek crossing the Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the

Mediterranean Sea; a journey of approximately 500 miles. Alistair will show

us photographs and talk us through his journey on Wed 4 th November. Alistair

used the trek to raise money for Cancer Research UK and has already raised

well over 1000. There will be an opportunity to make a donation at the talk.

Meet at 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start at JMB.

Then its over to you! At our Christmas Social on Wed 2nd

December, along

with the mince pies and mulled wine, we hope to have a selection of members

favourite photographs with a short story attached. Landscape, nature, people

as long as you can make a John Muir link - however tenuous - wed love to seethem! We are limiting entries to a maximum of 3 photos per person so that as

many people as possible can join in. Please let us know if you are interested in

sharing your photos. We plan to put them all on to one disc. If you would like

some slides or photographs scanned we can do that for you too. Please contact

Susan Panton by e-mailing [email protected] or by phoning 01368

865899. Meet at 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start at JMB.

Walks and Talks Programme Card

All of the events in Walks and Talks Programme have been summarised on the

Programme Card that has been included with this newsletter. Our Secretary,

Susan Panton, has pulled together a great series of events so please come along

to as many of these as possible to support the Friends of John Muirs

Birthplace. Future newsletters will highlight the upcoming events and report

on the ones that have past. [Editors hint: the card is a handy size to stick to the

fridge door or pin to a noticeboard.]


12/12

12

John Muirs Dunbar Walks

Friends members led a series of John Muirs Dunbar Walks around the town

during the summer months as our contribution to the Year of Homecoming.

Many visitors and residents enjoyed finding out more about John Muir andalso Dunbar in Victorian times. Many thanks to Jim Thompson, Will Collin,

Robert Russel and Robert Blair for helping to organise and lead these walks.

If you have friends or relations visiting Dunbar, remember that there is often

an opportunity to go on a free guided walk led by John Muirs Birthplace staff

or Friends volunteers. It is best to phone the Birthplace a few days ahead on

01368 865899 to make the necessary arrangements.

Incidentally, the Edinburgh, Fife and East Scotland section of the BBC websitefeatures John Muirs Dunbar and a

gallery of pictures .

FRIENDS CONTACTS

Official address: Friends of John Muirs Birthplace, John Muirs Birthplace,126 High Street, Dunbar EH42 1JJ: tel: 01368 865899

Friends Website: www.muirbirthplacefriends.org.uk

Birthplace Email: [email protected] Website: www.jmbt.org.uk

Convener: Jim Thompson, Secretary: Susan Panton, Membership Sec: DuncanSmeed, Treasurer: Will Collin. All can be contacted through the Birthplace.

fojmb newsletter 2009 09

Documents