This Friday, Scottish Heritage Society of the Blue Ridge will hold a meeting in Mount Airy, and the group is hoping that people come to learn more about Scottish culture and to consider joining.

The meeting will be held Friday at 7 p.m. at St. Andrew Lutheran Church at 1403 Old Fancy Gap Road, Mount Airy. The meeting is free and open to the public. The society regularly meets every three months. Group leader Beth Day said, “This meeting is very important. We need people to come out.”

Day holds the title of society convener, which is the equivalent of a president or chairperson. She said members will vote this week to elect officers for three positions for the coming year. Non-members can come also to enjoy Scottish deserts and coffee or tea, learn more about Scottish culture, and find out more about the society. Entertainment may also be provided.

There are around 30 to 40 people in the society, Day estimated, and she said half are probably from Virginia and half from North Carolina. She said although the group focuses on Scottish heritage, people of Irish descent might also find it enjoyable to come to the meetings.

“The groups are so intertwined and closely related. We’re all Celtic peoples,” she said.

But people do not have to have any Celtic roots to join the club. “It’s for people of Scottish heritage or who wish they were,” Day said with a laugh.

Day said that like many other societies and groups around the nation, the Scottish Heritage Society of the Blue Ridge is having a hard time finding people who are willing to join and be active in the society. The group would like to start hosting the yearly Burns Night once again, but the club needs additional members to help plan and work on events.

Burns Night used to be held at Cross Creek Country Club each year in February. It was a night to honor Robert Burns, a famous Scottish poet. The event included dinner, poetry, Scotch, bagpipes, and “talk about all things Scottish.” Day said the event was popular in the community and even drew people from as far away as Georgia, Tennessee, and the Virginia coast. She hopes it can be revived.

Other events the society helps sponsor are the annual Tartan Day Celebration and the Kirkin of the Tartans. The group also participates in the highland games at Laurel Hill, Bethabara, and Lake Lure. The group sponsors some of its events in conjunction with the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History.

Day said Friday night will be a good time for people to come out and see if they’re interested in joining the society. Dues for the club cost $15 a year. Day said dues will also get members a subscription to Scotia Script, a nationally acclaimed newsletter produced by Tom Scott.

There are several different nationalities in Day’s family tree, but as she became more aware of Scottish history she was impressed by the nation of Scotland and its people. Day said she has heard they are responsible for tweed, argyle, tarmac, the Macintosh or raincoat, modern banking, and more.

“They are an incredible nation. It’s just amazing what the Scots have accomplished,” Day remarked.

Day encourages everyone to come to the meeting on Friday. She said, “It’s interesting to learn what your ancestors did.”

For more information about the Scottish Heritage Society of the Blue Ridge, contact Beth Day at her business by calling 276-728-8434.

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.