CATHY HASSE
Highland Games Chair, St Andrews Society of Detroit
Cathy Hasse, a native Detroiter and lifelong resident of Michigan is a retired educator having taught in Michigan public schools for 36 years.
Cathy has been active in history groups for the past forty years. She was a founding member of the Friends of Historic Fort Wayne. Cathy served as the president of the Abraham Lincoln Civil War Round Table of Michigan and served on the Midwest Civil War Round Table Conference Planning Committee for over twenty years. She was the newsletter editor of the Greenfield Village paper for over ten years and served as a docent at the Village.
Cathy is involved with Children’s Hospital of Michigan in major fund-raising events and served on the Board of the Michigan Philharmonic for over six years. She is an active member of the St. Andrew’s Society of Detroit, including serving on the Highland Games Committee for twenty years, and several years as the Games Chair.
The Annual Highland Games sponsored by the St. Andrew’s Society of Detroit are the oldest, continuous Games in North America. On August 6, 2022, the Games will celebrate their 173rd year. Originally held at a park in downtown Detroit, the Games have been held in many locations. For over fifty years the games were held on Bob-Lo Island. They have been held at Kensington Park, Ford Field in Dearborn, the University of Detroit campus, Historic Fort Wayne, the Eleanor and Edsel Ford House. The Games have called historic Greenmead Village in Livonia home for the last twenty years. The Games have become a way for those of Scottish lineage to share their love of Scotland, its music, traditions, and culture with others, as well to pass traditions to future generations.
The three main areas of the Games are the Highland Dancing Competition, the Heavy Athletic Competition, and the Bag Pipe Band Competition. There are many other areas of interest and events, too long to list in this space.
Great Scottish and Celtic music can be heard and enjoyed all day in the entertainment tent. A Whisky Tasting is held twice during the afternoon for guests to enjoy the main export of Scotland – a good Single Malt Scotch. On the Friday night before the Games a Celiidh (pronounced Kay-Lee) is held. Bands perform in the tent delighting guests as they enjoy adult beverages and celebrate friendships.
The St. Andrew’s Society of Detroit is the oldest benevolent organization in the State of Michigan. Continuing in the tradition of helping others, all money raised at the Highland Games is donated to charities in the Detroit area and Scotland. The raffle profits from the Games are earmarked for scholarship funds, including a special scholarship for the continuation of Scottish Arts, such as highland dancing or bag piping.
The Games are put on entirely by volunteer members of the St. Andrews Society.