Date: August 31, 2019

Place: Barrington Hills Park District Riding Center

Time: 3-7 pm

Committee: Chrissie Mena, Julie Linnekin, Judy Gibbons, Caroline Milne, Jenne Lennon

Events Committee at BACT (board members): Matt Vondra, Meghan Norton, Cindy Galley, Karen Trzaska, Jan Nestrud, Jennifer Lucas

Mission:

The mission of the Barrington Area Conservation Trust is to preserve our community’s rare and exceptional open spaces for current and future generations. 

Sponsors:

“Chieftains”$25000

Elizabeth and James Bramsen, Cressey Family Foundation

“Raifil”$15000

Bluestem Ecological Foundation

“Lords&Ladies”$10000

Stephenson Family Foundation

“Clansman” $5000

The Beaubien Family

Kimberley Duchossois

Stuart and Bette Bilton

The Norton Family

“Order of the Thistle” $2500

Barrington Hills Park District, Larry and Laura Ekstrom, Lindahl Brothers, Mackie Consultants, John Keno &Co, Inc. Northern Trust, The Vondra Family

“Tartan Team” $1000

Lou Flannery, Rich and Peggy Judd, Kelleher&Buckley, LLC, Long&Co Jewelers, Joe, and Ann Messer, Jan Nestrud, Stephen and Mary Smith, The Care of Trees

Vendors:

• Balmoral Restaurant, Camden, IL generously donated a whiskey tasting
• Onion Pub Restaurant generously donated cans of their IPA beer

Other Vendors:

Kona Ice for the kids and Region restaurant had appetizers available.

Entertainment:

• Master of Ceremonies: Andy Milne
• Shannon Rovers bagpipers.
• Green Meadow Boys pub band.
• Rosie Simoes did a dressage demonstration in the sand arena.
• Character Fleadh pub band.
• Jenne Lennon singer

“Knobbly Knees” contest for anyone daring to go on stage in a kilt.

Soul Harbor Ranch also attended with their mini horses and therapy dogs. Kids’ activities included a caber throw, crown and shield making, face painting and ribbon wand making.

The Riding Club of Barrington Hills also provided a welcome table with shortbread cookies and water.

This first time Celtic themed concert for Barrington Area Conservation Trust was a huge success. 350 people of all ages donned their tartan attire and headed to the Barrington Hills Park District Riding Center for the first “Tartans for the Trust”. The event raised funds to protect our community’s rare and exceptional open spaces, provide educational opportunities to the community as well as programming for high school students, and make a significant contribution to ongoing efforts which include stewardship and restoration at our nature preserves.

BACT has had concerts for 8 consecutive years and this year with the suggestion of Chrissie Mena, a seasoned charity event committee chair, BACT decided to try a new theme.  Encouraging and inspiring future generations is part of BACT’s mission and having a family-oriented event in the Barrington area’s exceptional open spaces was the perfect fundraiser this year.

The Barrington Hills Park District Riding Center was not only beautiful but Dennis Kelly and Kim Keper of the Park District were supportive and helpful throughout the entire planning process. The cost was reduced this year since most of the entertainment either donated or allowed a reduced rate allowing for BACT to use the funds as needed for their conservation efforts.

The weather was perfect and even by the end of the evening when the clouds rolled in it was reminiscent of actually being in Scotland. Andy Milne was amazing as a master of ceremonies and kept the crowd entertained throughout the entire event especially during the “Knobbly Knees” contest.

At the suggestion of several board members the live auction, reverse auction and silent auction components were all removed from the event this year. BACT sold raffle tickets prior to the event and at the event. Bluestem Ecological Services was one of the first to sign up to support Tartans for the Trust. They sponsored the raffle and donated $7500 worth of ecological services as a prize. The other two prizes included an amazing trip to Scotland and one to Ireland. Elizabeth Bramsen, dressed in her Chieftain sash, drew the winner George Yapp out of a ticket spinner. Everyone agreed with all of his community involvement and support George Yapp was truly deserving of a prize.

Another new idea used to raise funds was called a “Giving Tree”. This was a drawing of a tree with many branches explaining BACT’s funds needed for local conservation initiatives.  Attendees were encouraged to buy leaves for the tree and have their name posted on the tree as a donor. Donations ranged from $50- $1000. Leaves were sold before and during the concert as well. Special thanks to Jennifer Lucas for taking this new idea from conception to reality.

Chrissie Mena- Committee Chair: “I have always wanted to do a Celtic event in Barrington. We pulled together a great committee and focused on outdoor fun for the whole family!”

This being a first time running a concert for BACT for Michelle Maison, Executive director of Development, “I was pleased to see so many residents and families embrace the event wholeheartedly.  I really think bringing “like-minded” people of all ages together in a social outdoor setting is a beautiful representation of our mission as an organization.”

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