Our Business Meeting Agenda is open to suggestions before the meeting and on the actual day of the meeting. Total of 3 envelopes returned, one = unknown, one = new address and one = no longer actively participating. Mail-out was 46, plus a couple of telephone calls.

Entertainment: Sound/Vido recording for the day, Choir, Master of Ceremonie à la MaGoo of Folk Festivals fame, old fashion-style photographs... like museums, using cardboard outlines of Nathaniel and Jane, or else full assortment of old looking clothing and wigs... done like at the Exhibition...digital camera... mail-out... or print during the day???? e-mail to some???? ) Various prizes including draws at exactly starting time, and at exactly ending times. Perhaps a major draw as an incentive to have people present during a group photo shoot? Could somehow we get each person to say their name and record a short message on a video camera? Also to be recorded, for those who dare, a small unrehearsed attempt at part of HMS Pinafore or the re-enactment of the Davidson trip over from the old country to the new World, might be of some challenge and certainly could provide no small quantity of levity.

A trip to Cobourg this weekend should prove fruitful in getting more things organized.

In advance of the reunion, if you want some feel of the Community, here is the web site for Hamilton Township

gives a “History of Hamlets in Hamilton Township” including Cold Springs. An interpretation of that history and some tall tales are readily given if you drop into the community. As Charlotte says “the McIntosh General Store, operated by descendants of the founders of the area, is worth a visit”. Ask about the Butter Story, Paul knows it... and believe me it is a good one!

Minutes of 16 August 2003 Davidson Reunion, West Adelaide Presbyterian Church, West Adelaide Ontario were typed and placed onto this web page.

The 2003 reunion took place following the Aug 14 blackout of Ontario and Northwestern United States. Only 20 people registered for the reunion. There was a question as to whether the blackout affected the turnout.

After visiting and registration, a delicious pot luck meal was enjoyed in the basement of the church. Anne Dymond and her granddaughter made the draws for the Roots Raffle.

Anna Jean McCoskery chaired the business meeting. Regrets were received from Elizabeth (Davidson) Perkins who was unable to attend because of ill health and Ted Taylor who would be attending his son’s 25^th Anniversary.

Frank Perkins, Mary (Davidson) Bateman, David Harris, Harold Wilson, Lestor and Edna Wallace, Yvonne Eagleson, Audrey Davidson, Mavis (Minifie) Lister, William Conkey, Ruby (Timlin) Grogan, Margaret Hammond.

In lieu of the skit which was scheduled, Anna prepared a concise history of the Davidson Family showing how all the different branches are related.

A copy of West Adelaide Cemetery Records was made available at a cost of $2.00. Tombstones of interest to our group were notated.

Anna issued a warm welcome to all who attended, especially to Jim and Denise Davidson, who travelled from Ottawa.

The minutes of the Aug 98 reunion at West Adelaide and the minutes of the Aug 12, 2000 reunion were read. Moved by Norman Conkey, seconded by Vivian Northcott that the minutes be accepted.

Thanks to Elizabeth Perkins who made many excellent suggestions to improve the plans for the next reunion.

Jim Davidson and Suzanne Bradshaw have offered to organize a reunion in the Cobourg area in 2006.

The financial report from the Aug12, 2000 reunion was presented by Doris Robotham and had been prepared by Ross Davidson. A balance of $117.53 was sent to the Adelaide Committee.

With sincere regret the Adelaide Section of the Davidson Reunion discontinue the organization of further reunions in this area.

(1) The work of Anna and all those who have worked so hard to plan the Adelaide reunions has been greatly appreciated, but at this time, because of the age and health of our interested members, it is not possible to continue.

(2) Because there are no relatives with the name Davidson in this area it is hard to raise interest in the event.

(3) If there is a reunion in Cobourg it will be advertised and we will attend if possible.

It was agreed that the proceeds from the reunion be divided as follows: $122.51 to Ross Davidson for the Cobourg reunion, $25 to West Adelaide Church and $110 to the Cemetery Committee.

Hamilton Township Hall are scanned and into this web page. Shamrock potting-out went well, the little leaves close at night which is when the job was done, so we will see how the wee flowers greet the daylight Monday morning. They love sun.

invitations be sent to family contacts who are aware of all family members. It was suggested that lists of family members names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses be submitted by the contact persons. A master list would ensure that all family members could be contacted and informed about upcoming reunions.

Item #4 Bill Perkin recommended that the "Davidson - Donaldson teapot" brought over from Ireland by Nathaniel and Jane be on display in the Adelaide Reunion of 2003. (This teapot belonged to Jane Donaldson and was passed on to Isabelle Davidson - her eldest daughter. It is believed that her direct descendant Cameron Bell of Thunder Bay now has the teapot.)

Item #5 Treasurer’s Report" by Ross Davidson will be prepared and sent to Jim Davidson, Susanne Bradshaw, Anna Jean McCoskery, Doris Robothom, Bruce Eagleson and Bea Timlin.

Item #6 Jim Davidson congratulated everyone on the reunion and thanked all for coming. He thanked Art Jones for singing and thanked his committee - Susanne Bradshaw, Denise Davidson, Dorothy and Ross Davidson, Bruce Eagleson and Bea Timlin and many others who had contributed to the reunion.

--- In closing Art Jones led everyone in singing "Auld Lange Syne", hand in hand.

#1 That Susanne Bradshaw serve with Jim Davidson to undertake the organisation of the 2006 Reunion in Cobourg. Susanne has agreed to do so.

#2 Christmas card info ---people should be informed of the reunion of 2003 both at Christmas of 2001 and 2002 so that people are made aware and able to make plans (long distance travellers). Could ask for return of information such as e-mail address, relatives and connections that might be interested.

#3 A handbook of advice and method 'Step by Step” to organize the reunion - contact people, hall phone numbers, people who can help in Cobourg area etc. This is important to have in writing.

#4 More interaction activities to help the different family lines interact and get to know one another. (More of the re-enactment of the trip from Ireland for example).

#5 Activities for the younger set - “children” along the lines of a church picnic etc. Involve all ages. Attention has to be paid to time.

#6 Books exist for planning family reunions in libraries etc. It would be interesting to consult one for new ideas.

#7 Two groups (committees) meet at end/before meeting to make joint decisions etc..

The window shopping was interesting, and I think there will be a pickup of one item next week and a second item which will lead to some interesting little projects. Sunday gardening will include transplanting an Angelica, a tall plant that attracts butterflies and is quite an interesting plant. My parsley just got little eggs laid on it by a lovely butterfly, so we will hope they all survive, I am not in commercial operation, and do not need to worry about crop damage! I just want to have beneficial insects around.

A little shopping trip to a favourite store is planned for tomorrow, and it is will hopefully provide some trinkets for the Reunion. (Also, this is a store that inspires, so there could be some home-grown gifts come from the exercise).

The month of August is just around the corner, and today an Antigonisher and myself were just talking about the fact that his Highland Games (July) and the Cobourg Highland Games (June) have both come and gone. We agreed the heavy-weight highland events were a real thriller, and he mentioned that Cobourg had a band named “Billy Talent” which I did not know about. He says they are 20 year olds who are really good. I praised the Antigonish band “The Trews”

http://www.thetrewsmusic.com (I have not checked out this web site either), but I know the band has quite a great reputation.

From all this you may have gathered that I might have lived in Antigonish for a while, in fact I did for a year, and I saw two Antigonish Highland Games. They were fantastic events in their own right, with a Friday Night Concert Under the Stars which was step dancing and fiddle music (Cape Breton Style... there is a distinctive little step up in the pace of the fiddle that you watch out for and love), with Bagpipe Band Competitions in Piper’s Glen, Highland Dancing competitions and track and field all day Saturday at the same time. That evening there is a Massed Pipe Bands show in the evening).

Calling all Davidson pipers, “ye are all welcome to bring ye wee bag-pipes along” --- especially if you actually know how to play ‘em.

Newspaper advertisements announcing the Davidson Reunion have been ordered for The Cobourg Daily Star and will run on the 14^th August, in the Port Hope Evening Guide on the 14^thAugust, in the Colborne Chronicle on the 17^th August and in the Northumberland Weekly on the 18^th August.

A limited number of Shamrocks will be potted-up this weekend and will be taken to the reunion.

Thousands of people don a shamrock on St Patrick's Day but how many know their trifolium repens from their oxalis acetosella? BBC News Online unearthed the truth rooted behind the myth.

It is commonly believed the shamrock is a clover - the Gaelic word seamrog means "little clover" - but the botanical world is not so sure.

There is much debate about which species is the real thing and some of the likely candidates are not even classified as clover.

This confusion is partly down to the mythology of the shamrock and the different representations that have appeared in Celtic artwork through the centuries.

According to Irish legend, the druids in Ireland looked at the shamrock as a sacred plant because its leaves formed a triad. Three was a mystical number in the Celtic religion.

Then St Patrick, who was thought to be born in Wales, used the shamrock in the 5th century to teach people about Christianity as he travelled around Ireland.

He told people that each of the three leaves illustrated the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit of the Holy Trinity.

WHICH IS THE TRUE SHAMROCK?

trifolium dubium (lesser trefoil) 46%

trifolium repens (white clover) 35%

medicap lupulina (black medick) 7%

oxalis acetosella (wood sorrel) 5%

trifolium pratense (red clover) 4%
Source: Survey of Irish people by Charles Nelson, 1988

Old Irish manuscripts make no reference to this in connection with St Patrick, so this is likely to be pure mythology.

According to Nathaniel Colgan, the botanist and author of The Flora Of County Dublin in 1904, people even ate the shamrock in times of famine.

In the 19th century it became a symbol of rebellion against the English and began to be strongly associated with Irish identity. Apparently anyone wearing it risked death by hanging.

Botanist Charles Nelson carried out a shamrock survey in 1988 for his book Shamrock: botany and history of an Irish myth.

He asked Irish people to collect what they imagined to be shamrocks and send them to him.

The shamrock is known from artwork and not from an exact botanical representation, so to fix a species to it is quite difficult
James Armitage,
Royal Horticultural Society

The top five species can all be found in northern Europe and all but two are forms of clover. Only the trifolium can strictly be called clover.

The trifolium dubium, which can be found throughout the British Isles, was the most common in Dr Nelson's survey.

It is an annual plant which grows to 25cm in height, and can be bought in seed packets.

The trifolium repens, or white clover, is commonly found on lawns as a wildflower.

James Armitage of the Royal Horticultural Society in Wisley told BBC News Online the five species were all similar looking plants.

"They have this trifoliate leaf so if you are not an expert they can be easily confused.

"The shamrock is known from artwork and not from an exact botanical representation, so to fix a species to it is quite difficult.

"The plant itself is not particularly fascinating. It's slightly weedy and grows in grassy areas and open ground."

He said there was a similar conundrum surrounding the Scottish thistle because no one was sure what species it was meant to represent.

The four-leaf clover is said to be a lucky charm and it comes about when the plant mutates.

Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/3519116.stm

Published: 2004/03/17 12:32:57 GMT

Â© BBC MMVI

26 July, 2006

As President of the Davidson Family Reunion, I take great pleasure in inviting you and yours to this yearsÂ€™ celebrations, which will include a special birthday. Indeed, my records indicate that this is the 225^th anniversary of NathanielÂ€™s birth. We will have to raise a glass in his honour!

It is exactly a month until the Family Reunion, which is being held about three weeks later than previous years, and will be just in time to enjoy some of CobourgÂ€™s late Summer harvest bounty. Corn and apples should be going strong.

Some news is coming in, as a couple of letters have come back. We have received an e-mail from Arkansas, regretfully declining this year due to extreme heat and fuel prices, but hoping to make it in one of the future gatherings.

At least one of our distant, but still close-to-us-cousins only exists by e-mail, so keeping in touch is rather interesting at times. We will await news from him through the internet.

In the name of the Davidson Family and all its friends, I encourage you to try to attend, and if you are able to be in Cold Springs, to play an active role in this year's Davidson Reunion.

All are welcome to send news which will be shared, and if not this time dear cousins, well, until we meet again.