SNP NORTH AMERICAN NETWORK NEWSLETTER
Issue 1, May 1998

NOTE-- due to regulations set by the Labour party in London

Welcome to the first edition of the Scottish National Party's e-mail newsletter for North American supporters. My name is John MacInnes, the designated contact for dealing with enquiries from North American supporters of the SNP.

I am 30 years of age, married with three children and live in the county of Ross-shire in the Highlands. I have been involved with the party for over 10 years and was the Press and Research Officer for the party's MPs in the House of Commons. I have since worked for the SNP at numerous elections and during last year's referendum on a Scottish Parliament I was the Press Officer for Scotland FORward - the all-party campaign for a Scottish Parliament.

BUILDING A NORTH AMERICAN NETWORK

The object of this Newsletter is to build a network of North American support for the SNP and full Scottish self-government. That is why we are writing to you as an SNP member or supporter of Scottish self-government who has previously contacted the party.

The aim of an SNP North American Network will be to bring together all those supporters to help the SNP achieve full Scottish self-government. If you know of any other supporters please send me their e-mail addresses and I'll put them on our registered supporters database. Even if they don't have an e-mail address please send their address and we'll write to them.

In the meantime we would be grateful if you could send us your resume with personal details and an outline of your skills and experience so we can build a database of what our known supporters have to offer.

SNP AHEAD IN THE SCOTTISH POLLS

With just under a year to go to the first Scottish Parliamentary elections in 300 years the SNP is leading Labour in the opinion polls. The latest Systems 3 poll put the SNP at 41% and Labour at 36%.

Over the past few months polls for Scottish Parliamentary elections have shown the electoral battle is between the SNP and Labour with other polls showing both parties neck and neck. However the SNP is not complacent and knows that keeping the pressure up till next May will be a marathon electoral race.

SALMOND CONGRATULATES TRENT LOTT ON TARTAN DAY

Alex Salmond, the leader of the Scottish National Party, has congratulated the Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott and the 27 other Senators who sponsored 6 April - the anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath - as Tartan Day in the United States.

Furthermore Mr Salmond said: "The Scots can now learn from the American Constitution. What we seek, in its words, is 'a more perfect union' as an independent member state of the European Union".

SUCCESSFUL CEILIDH IN CINCINNATI

The party is immensely grateful to the Cincinnati Caledonian Pipe Band for organising a ceilidh on 25 April at which SNP supporters were invited to promote the cause of Scottish independence. Over 650 people attended and a well received speech was delivered by Professor David Young of Columbus on the role of Scots and Scottish-Americans in the birth and growth of the USA.

Overall, this event was extremely positive for the SNP. A table with party literature was on hand and useful contacts were made. David Palladino of the Cincinnati Caledonian Pipe Band felt the reception showed "immense goodwill for the SNP in Scots-American circles".

SNP PREPARING OVERSEAS BOOKLET

The party are already preparing an overseas booklet for use by supporters in North America. It is planned to contain information on the role of Scots in the birth and growth of North America; the development of the Scottish traditional values of social responsibility and community in Scotland and North America; the promotion of Scots entrepreneurial skills for wealth creation and trade in Scotland and North America; and an explanation of the SNP's key policy of an independent Scotland within the European Union and its stance as a moderate, mainstream Scottish political party which, in keeping with the Scottish political tradition and the majority, is to the left of centre.

SNP LEADER MAY VISIT USA IN THE FALL

Tentative plans are underway for a visit by SNP Leader Alex Salmond MP to the United States in the Fall of this year. Time and events permitting, it is envisaged that Mr Salmond will visit the Eastern Seaboard to meet prominent Scottish-Americans involved in buSiness, politics and Scottish cultural organisations.

CAN YOU HELP?

Like all political parties the SNP is always grateful for help in any form whether it is financial, professional or intellectual. To achieve our goal we need resources, support and encouragement; and that is why we seek the assistance people like you who can identify with Scotland culturally and politically.

If you feel you would like to help the SNP please offer what you can. You could join the party, give a donation, or ask to organise an official fundraising group to raise funds in North America. You could also spread the word to Scots-American organisations, like the Caledonian Clubs, or contact other sympathisers over the Internet, by e-mail or through the letters pages of your local and state press. Ask them to get in touch with me at this e-mail address or at the SNP's website on www.snp.org.uk.

If you have any queries, suggestions or know supporters please get in touch. See you next month.

SNP