MIDTERM MEETING-EDINBURGH
MAY 7-11, 2025
The midterm meeting was expertly planned to be the right mix of both business and social experiences. An enormous amount of thanks to our wonderful hosts Mason and Hayley Bloom. To start, their excellent choice of the highly regarded Caledonian Hotel was the perfect venue as it sits in the heart of historic Edinburgh with sweeping views of the Castle.
Early arrivals on Wednesday explored the many sights and sounds of the area and a lively group of “duffers” hit the links for a round on the Gullane Golf Course. The Board met for a working dinner followed by the next morning’s in-depth meeting. On that warm and sunny afternoon (never were we blessed with Scottish raindrops!) we took a guided walking tour of the city en route to the illustrious Palace of Holyrood House, the Scottish official residence of the Royal Family. The grand interiors and expansive grounds were stunning. Many of us meandered through the famed Royal Mile afterwards. That evening we strolled along Princes Street to a wonderful local restaurant and had a most relaxing and enjoyable dinner.
Friday’s Social Day opened with a grand tour of Edinburgh Castle. We had a few hours to explore this vast place with its great depth of history and the striking views of the region. Luncheon was at a classic Scottish pub and included many a persons first taste of haggis! We then took a drive out into the beautiful countryside to the Glenkinchie Distillery, which is home to the iconic Johnnie Walker Scotch Whiskies. A great tour was taken throughout ending with ( of course!) a fun time in the tasting room. To cap off this great day was a lovely dinner in the Caledonian’s gorgeous Castle Suite.
Saturday started off early at the Business meeting with a full agenda of topics to present and discuss. Ben Sheldrick gave a highly informative presentation of current Immigration Law in the United Kingdom.
Accompanying persons were treated to a most interesting round table on the origins and history of Scottish tartans and the exacting practices of hand-making authentic Scottish kilts. A wee bit of sewing, as a way to demonstrate these skills, was done by all.
Following the close of the meeting all gathered for a greatly enjoyed Trivia Contest! Teams competed against each other with much laughter and a lot of strategy.That evening’s Gala was the epitome of elegance along with the opportunity to have a once in a lifetime experience. We sipped , dined, and danced on the famed HMS Royal Brittania which is permanently retired in Edinburgh Harbor. The whole evening was planned to perfection with a tour, bag pipes and culinary delights. Many of the men outfitted themselves in classic Kilts and accessories to the delight of all. This special evening included a wonderful speech by our President Pim Nuiten who praised our wonderful administrator Sarah Leonache and of course thanking Mason and Hayley for all their many efforts in creating such a fantastic meeting!
PAM BROKATE