Board of Directors Election 2023

Candidate Statements

Each candidate was asked to provide 3 paragraphs answering the questions, “Why would I make a good Board member?” and “What do I bring to the Board?”. Find what they provided below and form your own conclusions. When finished reading, return to https://acga.wufoo.com/forms/acga-election-2023/ to make your selection.

Candidate #1:

Barbara Lynn Rice

Barbara Lynn Rice joined ACGA in 2012 when she began learning Scottish Gaelic through classes at the New York Caledonian Club (NYCC). She has served previously on the ACGA Board and in observance of the by-laws, has waited a year before re-running again. Barbara would like to return to the Board to continue outreach to Gaelic communities, as well as to support teachers of Gaelic and to encourage the further education of Gaelic learners. She currently volunteers as one of the editors for ACGA’s newsletter, as well as the chair for NYCC’s Scottish Studies Committee and also, as its newsletter editor.

Barbara has been involved with the first of the ACGA Gaelic celebrations, Latha Chaluim Cille. She also has participated in the Gaelic Song & Language Week at Grandfather Mountain and the U.S. Mòd since 2013. For the U.S. Mòd, during 2015-2017, she has won the poetry recitation category and, also, for an original poem written in Gaelic. Later on, her poems were published in Steall 07, and more recently won first prize in the intermediate category, in the 2023 Gaelic Society of Toronto’s Gaelic Poetry Contest.

She brings her organizational experience, from her past work, including many years in the theatre as a stage manager and running props in New York City, leading to eight years as an editor and writer at the theatre trade newspaper, Back Stage. In addition, her nonprofit experiences includes promoting the NYCC Gaelic classes; organizing a BBC Alba interview with Alasdair MacLeòid and the NYCC Gaelic students; the July 2015 concert in NYC with Gillebrìde MacMillan and Kyle Carey; working with the Gaelic Books Council with its NYC production of “In My Father’s Words”; organizing various workshops including Gaelic Singing with Christine Primrose (MBE) and on Robert Burns.

Candidate #2

Andi Damewood

Halò a h-uile duine. Is mise Andrea (Andi) Damewood. Please consider voting for me for the Board of the American Scottish Gaelic Society for these reasons:

I am a serious Gaelic language learner and am looking to challenge myself and others to learn and grow in the language, culture, and history. I want to be part of the future of the Gaelic language, and I want to serve the needs of the members of the ACGA.

I bring to the Board a sense of humor, dedication to fulfilling my role as a board member, and an inquisitive mind. I’m smart, a good problem-solver, enjoy being helpful and working with others. I have advanced degrees in Communications and Adult Learning and over 20 years of experience working on and with committees in a public higher education institution. I believe these are useful experiences to bring to the Board and the members ACGA. Please allow me to serve you by voting for me. Taing!