Virescit Vulnere Virtus (Courage Flourishes at a Wound)
The House of Burnett is the worldwide Burnett Society
Conveners and Convening
What it means to be a House of Burnett Convener
What is Convening?
Convening is all about fun, family, community, and connection.
Convening is meeting people and talking with them about heritage, ancestry, and family culture, but also mostly hanging out with people having fun discussing all things Burnett.
It is a great way to make new friends, socialize, and bring a sense of connection and kinship to people who are not sure they belong to a Scottish or Celtic House or Clan. Convening is the act of volunteering and sponsoring fun Social Events for the House of Burnett, like your local Highland Games.
What is a Convener?
A House of Burnett Member who volunteers to be an official event representative.
A Convener is the House of Burnett’s official representative at Highland and or Celtic games, festivals, and or events in their state, region, and or country. Also known as a House of Burnett member volunteer.
What does the job of the Convener entail?
The Convener sponsors a tent, table, and or booth at a Scottish and or Celtic function, like the Highland Games or a Celtic festival.
The Convener then serves as the sponsor and official House of Burnett representative at that event.
Who can be a House of Burnett Convener?
Any House of Burnett Society paid member is eligible to become a House Convener.
We are always looking for new conveners! If you are not already a member of the House of Burnett, you will need to first become a member before you can convene an event.
If you would like to be a convener you should identify a game or event you would like to attend and see if it has a Burnett Convener or Sponsor. Then get in touch with the convener or sponsor to help out with the event, they will happily teach you the ropes and train you to be a future HoB convener.
If there is no Burnett representation at your nearby festival, game, or event we can teach you how to become a HoB convener, just email our HoB House Commissioner, Kent Burnett at info@houseofburnett.org and he will get you all the details you will need.
What are the responsibilities of the Convener?
The Convener is responsible for setting up and operating the tent, table, and or booth representing the House of Burnett.
The duty entails being present to greet visitors, handing out House of Burnett literature, answering questions, and talking to the visitors about House of Burnett. For those individuals visiting the tent that are not members of the House, but are eligible to join, it includes explaining the privileges and benefits that come with membership and ensuring they receive a membership application, email, or text on how to sign up.
What does the Convener need?
You must bring your own gear and displays.
The Convener is responsible for supplying the canopy or tent, table(s), chairs, (if not provided by the event planners or venue), and other display accessories, such as books, a coverlet for display, maps and/or photos, and other things House of Burnett or Scottish to "dress up" the tent, table, and or booth.
You can print many of the brochures that come in the Convener kit yourself by downloading them from our File Cabinet. Also available on that page are HOB Posters that you can download, print, and assemble onto foam core boards or presentation boards.
What does the House supply?
A HoB Event Kit is given to each Convener.
The House gives conveners a kit that includes literature, brochures, and membership applications. Also in the kit are table coverings in the Burnett tartan, a tent banner, a marching banner, and a 3 ring binder of information and with displays, relevant to the House. At the conclusion of the games, the Convener is responsible to return the kit to the House.
What are the costs of Sponsoring Events and Convening?
Conveners are responsible for bearing the costs of all of their activities.
Currently, Conveners are responsible for bearing the costs of their activities, though if sufficient revenues are generated at House of Burnett's online store, some cost deferral may be available in the future.
Most highland games charge Clan or House registration fees (also referred to as Clan/House Sponsorships) of about $100.00 to $150.00 for a one to two-day event. (This fee sometimes includes a tent, a table, chairs, and two entry tickets along with on-site parking depending on event and venue). The costs for these activities are all borne by the convener at this time, but may be picked up by the House in the future.
Many conveners find that the cost of sponsoring a house tent at games is often-times (but not always) not much more than the general admission charge for two at the gate and costs associated with parking at the games venue.
What should Conveners know?
As a Convener, you represent the House of Burnett and our Chief.
As a representative of the House of Burnett, your actions speak volumes. We are a small House and want to show our House Chief and the other Clans, Houses, and Societies that we are proud of our heritage. As such, we want to make the best impression possible on our visitors.
Our attitude and appearance while at functions are important to those who visit the display or attend Burnett-sponsored functions. The more positive you are, the more of a feeling of kinship that will be felt by our visitors and the more fun everyone will have. You want to make everyone feel welcome.
How should a Convener dress?
At HOB events and functions, the House tartan or the Burnett Crest will be worn at all times.
For some, depending on what you may have or can afford, you may only have a few items to wear and not a full kit. Others of you who have the full outfit of a kilt, brogans, sporran, etc., please wear it. Note: It is of questionable taste to wear more than one tartan simultaneously, it is also in bad taste to mix different setts (e.g. hunting with modern or dress).
For women: You may want to wear a white, red, or black dress with a sash of the house tartan. Put a pin in the sash in the middle, such as a crest pin. The bow and sash should be worn on the right shoulder. For those who can afford a kilted skirt, please wear it. Note: it is of bad taste for a woman to wear the gentleman's kilt unless she is a participant in a band.
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For functions held on both Saturday and Sunday, you may want to dress casually on opening day. This dress is the native shirt with leather ties at the neck. If there is a kirkin (formal tradition), you will want to dress in more formal attire. That would be a Prince Charlie coat or Argyll jacket, a white shirt, and a tie. If you don't have a coat or jacket, just wear a white shirt with a tie.
Places to Find Dress Attire:
(Our preferred retailer, Burnett-Store UK operated by the HOB Cheif and Burnett of Leys Estate.)
https://burnett-store.myshopify.com/collections/clothing-and-fabrics
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(These companies are not affiliated with HOB and did not solicit this advertisement. This information is simply provided to help you find Burnett dress attire.)
https://www.scotlandshop.com/us/tartan-finder/burnett
https://www.usakilts.com/gallery/13-16-oz-wool?keywords=Burnett
https://scottishlion.com/search.php?search_query=burnett§ion=product
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How to make your own kilt:
https://web.stanford.edu/~ahebert/X_Kilt_adobe.pdf
https://people.hamilton.edu/documents/Box%20pleat%20low%20res%20ver%201.1.pdf
https://www.scottishdance.net/highland/MakingKilt.html
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Extra Information of Importance
Most functions have a parade.
No matter how big or small the function, we as a house are expected to participate.
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You may carry a sign with the House of Burnett displayed, a crest banner, or a tartan standard. (If you have enough marchers, carry all three items!) You may invite as many Burnetts as you wish to participate in the parade, however, all should be dressed in the house tartan, whether it be a scarf, a shawl or the full regalia (or in extreme cases a T-shirt with the tartan and crest).
Please be aware of any limits placed on the parade by the function's sponsor. (As some permit only men to march. Others permit no more than two representatives from each clan or house.) Please do not have people participate who are not wearing something representative of the clan.
Have everyone march behind the banner or sign.
For the convener, blue jeans, cut-offs and shorts are not appropriate. (Remember - your dress should be appropriate for the weather. You don't want to wear a heavy woolen kilt at a function where you have 100% humidity and 100 F temperatures.)
Only those who are members of the House of Burnett should join in the parade, unless invited to do so by the Convener or Commissioner. Only a Lieutenant, Lieutenant Emerita, or ranking officer from the organization's Board of Directors may march in front of the Clan banner.
Must-Have Convener Items for your Tent, Table, and or Booth
You will find the following items to be absolutely necessary:
A Guest register sign-in sheet.
A clipboard/binder for securing papers (most essential for outdoor events)
A handout with the house history on it
Applications for membership and a place for filled out applications for membership.
A handout or sign with the different spellings of Burnett.
A table with a table Burnett cloth.
A genealogy sheet to be handed out for those visitors who are interested.
Burnett sign or banner to be placed in front of the tent so that visitors will know who you are.
Chairs to sit on. (Usually 4 to 6 are sufficient.)
A map of Scotland.
Pens, pencils, black sharpies and paper.
Name tags and badges.
If provided by the event sponsor, a map showing where the clan and house tents are.
Tape: duct, masking, and painters.
A small first aid kit (band aids, alcohol wipes, and hand sanitizer)
Items which you may want to include in your tent, table, and or booth
These items are helpful but are not absolutely necessary:
A cooler full of drinks to serve to the guests who may come to the tent, table, and or booth. Don't forget the bottle opener.
A picture or drawing of the Burnett crest.
Pictures/postcards showing the Burnett Chief and castle.
Samples of the different tartans of the House: dress, modern, ancient, weathered, and hunting.
If you have one, a business card.
Shortbread or some form of Scottish food to hand out as samples. This is extremely helpful for making friends and or starting conversations.
A copy of any cookbooks used to produce the samples given out. (You will be asked).
Other books you may have about Scotland or written by/about Burnetts.
Any other House of Burnett paraphernalia you may have.
A copy of the current Burnett Banner Issue.
Vendor catalogs showing where to purchase house-related items.
An "Items on Display Are Not For Sale" sign or a "NOT-FOR-SALE" stamp that can be used on your personal display materials.
Any photographs you have of Scottish functions, particularly ones of the same function from previous years.
Coloring pages with crayons or other activities for kids
Lawn games like Lawn Bowling, ring toss, cornhole, horseshoes, or washers
Tips for a new House Convener
Some useful thoughts from a veteran convener...
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Learn all you can from the internet and other sources about House of Burnett, Scottish history, and the Highland Games. Be prepared, as you will be asked lots of questions, especially about the location of the bathrooms. Know where or how to point people in the right direction of the answers to a variety of questions before you set-up.
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Download and print out all House of Burnett-related information and keep it in a three-ring binder or on clipboards. (The clipboards and binders will keep you from chasing papers all afternoon, trust me).
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Figure out how to sign-up new members and take payments before the first day of the event! This can become really overwhelming at the table, especially if you get a crowd.
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Assemble an assortment of inexpensive Scottish-related gear, that you can manage by yourself, and store it in one or more large plastic tubs which you can keep in a closet or storage area at home in between games.
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Try to look and set up a display that is as authentic and Scottish as possible. This will probably be a work in progress and could take a year or longer to gather items of interest or authenticity. (I'm still building and finding new items for my 'kit' after 10+ years).
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A lot can be learned by studying other Scottish Clans and House tents, tables, and booths while attending games. Learn from them, ask questions, and take their advice! There is no use in reinventing the wheel, use everyone's suggestions on how to create a fun and authentic display.
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You are here to have fun, enjoy yourself and your display. But remember as a convener you are the official representative of the HoB please act as such. Don't make a fool of yourself or the house!
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Don’t be shy. Talk to people passing the tent and invite them to sit with you. Ask about their backgrounds. Be willing to listen to what visitors are interested in, and not just your own issues. This isn't about you, it's about the House, don't forget that you are representing everyone and everything about the Burnetts, including our Chief, James C.A. Burnett of Leys in Scotland.
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Be a good and gracious caretaker of the House of Burnett name. Be willing to help other neighboring clans and houses with the setting up of their tents and offer to watch their tents if they want to wander around and whatnot. This creates goodwill, trust, and friends that you will have and see for years to come.
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Ready to Become a Convener?
Get Started Now
Submit your details to the House of Burnett to become a future house convener.