The Friends of the Elphinstone Institute was formally constituted at an inaugural meeting held at the Queen's Hotel, Aberdeen, 12 March 2001.

The aims of the group are:

• to support the work of the Elphinstone Institute and its objectives of studying, recording and promoting the cultural traditions and language of communities in the North and North-East of Scotland;
• to establish closer ties between the Elphinstone Institute and communities in the North and North-East of Scotland;
• to help the Elphinstone Institute raise funds.                                                  

The officers are:		The committee members are:
Robbie Shepherd	Honorary President	David Northcroft	Kenny Hadden
Jenny Shirreffs	Chairperson	Malcolm Reavell	Margaret Forbes
Barbara-Ann Burnett	Secretary	Elizabeth Campbell	Janet Byth
John Ledger	Treasurer	Thomas A. McKean	Ian Russell

Annual membership of the Friends of the Elphinstone Institute costs £12 (or US$20). You will receive newsletters and a copy of the constitution. Look out for news of forthcoming Friends events. To join please download a membership form here, and send it along with a cheque made out to 'The Friends of the Elphinstone Institute' to:

The Friends of the Elphinstone Institute, The Elphinstone Institute, MacRobert Building 040, King's College, Aberdeen AB24 5UA Scotland.