Spectator - Fall 08 6

Robert Burns Homecoming Celebration in Glascow Cathedral
On January 25 at 4:00 pm Scotland time (11:00 am Eastern Standard), Jim White, a Past-President of the St. Andrew’s Society of Williamsburg, VA, participated in a unique celebration of the 250th birthday of Robert Burns. Three participants in the US and one in Russia brought greetings to a congregation in Scotland celebrating the 250th birthday of Robert Burns at Glasgow Cathedral by means of state-of-the-art technology. Greeters from the distant sites were seen on a large screen and heard by the congregation and viewers around the world. Participants hailed from Rostov on Don, Russia; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Chicago, Illinois; and Williamsburg, Virginia.

This “homecoming” was made possible by Skype, a computer software program that turns a computer into a telephone/video phone. Wheatley College in Glasgow provided the computer/servers that produced the streaming video from Glasgow Cathedral and transmitted the service over the world-wide net. Computer programs such as Cyberlink-Yucam enabled participants to use personal computers to produce streaming video that was relayed to Glasgow Cathedral over Skype. The software program Microsoft Media Player then received the streaming video of the service, allowing it to be viewed on personal computers world-wide.

Two weeks of planning sessions included the greeters, who were able to chat as well as receive instructions related to their participation in the service. Directions were provided from Glasgow by Session Leader Glen Collie by means of e-mail and video-phone. Each greeter was assigned an order and told that at the appropriate point in the service, the Minister Rev. Lawrence Whitley would ask each to say a few words. Jim White was the first greeter. Near the beginning of the service, Rev. Whitley asked, “Is James here?” As his image appeared on a large screen, Jim answered with a resounding “Yes!” Jim and his wife Joyce were relieved to know the connection had indeed been established, and Jim proceeded to deliver the following greeting to the congregation:

“Warmest Regards from the St. Andrew’s Society of Williamsburg, VA, to our fellow Scots at Glasgow Cathedral, and around the world! As we celebrate the birthday of Robert Burns, we are pleased and grateful to be included in this high-tech venture, which reaches across the ocean to gladden the hearts of Scots away from home.”

Thanks to technical assistance provided earlier in the week by Wayne Craigmiles, Webmaster and member of the St. Andrew’s Society Board of Directors, the transmission was excellent. After Jim’s greeting, the Whites were privileged to watch as the service proceeded. The other participants followed in assigned order, and each brought greetings to the congregation. Session Leader Glen Collie subsequently reported that over 400 people attended the service. From his vantage point, he noted that the congregation was “extremely impressed and appreciative.”

At the beginning, this venture was touch-and-go. At one point the goal to produce video streaming appeared to have fallen through. Only a few days before the service, participants were notified that the college had come up with the necessary hardware and all was a “go.” This project required the co-operative efforts of a group of determined Burnsians ready to go the extra mile to celebrate this special anniversary of Scotland’s beloved bard. Byron Adams, a Past President of the St. Andrew’s Society of Williamsburg and current member of the Board of Directors, provided the information and contacts to make this project happen.

Jim & Joyce White

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