Editor’s First Words
Happy 2008 Clan MacLennan! As we celebrate a new year, new beginnings and fresh starts, lets also celebrate Family. Clan MacLennan USA, your extended family, has accomplished wonderful things this past year and we would like to thank all of you who supported the changes, who supported those who stood for truth, honesty and integrity in forming a new organization and who continue to support the organization with membership! This is your organization, your extended family and you made your choices known with proxie votes, letters to Interim Committee and by attending the 2007 festivals and the AGM. We hope you are happy with the changes and will continue to keep us updated with your likes, dislikes, suggestions, contributions and most of all, membership.
One of the changes brought about by the Interim Committee was to make Clan MacLennan USA's membership year align with the calendar year so It is now time to renew your memberships! Please take a moment to renew your membership by clicking the link and remember, membership in Clan MacLennan USA makes a wonderful gift!
Please read the Minutes of the AGM below to see exactly what occurred at the AGM, who was elected, which offices remain open and which positions need filling. Then please consider volunteering a few hours a month on behalf of Clan MacLennan USA and fill an office or position by contacting David.
In October I proposed that every household receiving this Newsletter help Clan MacLennan USA grow by ensuring that 3 more family members become members or receive membership as a gift so that Clan MacLennan USA starts the new year off with growth. Thanks to those who took up the cause and purchased memberships for family as gifts and to the rest of you, remember membership in Clan MacLennan USA makes a wonderful gift for someone of any age on an Holiday - Valentine's Day, President's Day, St. Patrick's Day & Easter. Please keep us in mind and help us grow!
A big thanks to those members who sent in information of any kind for inclusion in the Newsletter, it makes my job much simpler and a lot more fun to have feedback, family news and photos and tidbits to include! So please continue to write, e-mail and call with information and photos, Stay involved, share your lives, your family and your interests with us. We are all one big family.
Colleen MacLennan - Editor
A Message From The Chief
Chief’s message – February 2008
Dear Clansfolk
Once again I find myself sitting in our living room at Dores looking out across Loch Ness and deep in thought considering the highlights of the past few months. Life always seems to be extremely busy but at times like this, having to consider what I have actually being doing over the past few months, I often draw a blank as to interesting news to share with you!
We have had some good weather over the past couple of weeks which has made a pleasant change. Although there has been very little snow this year, especially in the Inverness area, there has been a lot of rain and some flooding. Loch Ness once again flooded for a period of a few days and managed to erode yet more of our garden here in Dores, finally prompting me to start a beach defence strategy. We have been experiencing flooding since the 1980’s and are at a stage now that by not carrying out beach defence work, we are going to start loosing a lot of the garden. Lorna, never one to take matters seriously is keen to resist carrying out such works in the hope that the Loch will flood the cellar within which she can have an indoor swimming pool! Anyway, the daffodils have started to appear and the days are getting longer as we slowly move into Spring, one of my favourite times of the year.
Life has continued to be busy but it is the constant activities that seems to drive me and whilst I complain about being too busy, my failure to say no to getting involved in further tasks makes me realise that it is in fact my own fault that I am busy all of the time! I am enjoying my work where my time is split 50: 50 between working for public utilities carrying out land acquisitions and pipe line compensation claims and then private estate management and consultancy. The latter mainly involves valuation and planning matters as well as an increasing amount of crofting law matters. All of these take me all over the Highlands & Islands. I was recently back in the Western Isles and last week found myself in Dunnet Head which is the most northerly point on the British mainland. By the end of our meeting, I was unable to write any further notes due to the bitterness of the cold wind!
Aside from work, I have been busy in my capacity as Chairman of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Area Committee for the Highlands & Islands. This weekend we have our annual dinner in Inverness which is the highlight of the year in the social diary. I am still involved in the local Community Council where most of our time is taken up by planning and development matters and the “Rockness” music festival which takes place just outside Dores on the shores of Loch Ness. This year the anticipated crowd capacity is in excess of 40,000. I am still active in my capacity with the Territorial Army, predominantly the pipe band. I have my annual tests coming up which means having to take to the field for a few weekends to do shooting, patrolling and other activities which I now feel I am getting too old to partake in! On the piping front, we have a couple of competitions coming up as well as another trip to Luxemburg for the Military Tattoo in April this year. The band will then be touring the Western Isles later this summer as part of our two week annual camp.
I have been continuing to tick away at various DIY projects on the house over the winter, mainly in preparation for the summer weather when I hope to get more painting carried out as well as many other projects, both on the house at Dores and our bothy in Shieldaig on the West Coast. The task of keeping up with property maintenance is tedious and once one job is finished, often another problem springs up creating an endless list of “to do” jobs.
Kirsteen and Lorna are both well. We are pleased to announce that Kirsteen and her husband James are expecting their first child, due in June. Kirsteen has not been working since the start of her pregnancy and I suspect she is now getting restless wishing June would come sooner rather than later. James seems to be thrilled that his dinner is on the table each night when he gets home from work as well as having a permanent driving to hand! The two of them spent Christmas in New York and then came home to celebrate the New Year at home in Fochabers where I joined them. Lorna is currently in Cuba with her boyfriend Robin. They seem to spend an incredible amount of time travelling about and will be out there for two weeks. They have already booked a holiday in Poland for June so that they have something to look forward to when they return! Lorna is working in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness (when not on holiday) and seems happy with her work.
There has been a lot of interest in the Clan Gathering in Edinburgh in July next year. This event will be the first of its kind and we are hoping that many Clansfolk will come over and join us at this event. The gathering will take place in Edinburgh on 25th and 26th July 2009. Details can be found at www.clangathering.org
Our intention is that we will have a MacLennan Clan tent at this event where Clansfolk can congregate throughout the weekend. In addition, it is proposed that we have a function of our own on Friday 24th July in Edinburgh. The exact format of this event has yet to be finalised but details will be provided in due course. This information will be made available on the Clan Web Site. We hope to see many of you over at this event.
Yours aye,
Chief Ruairidh
The 'Gathering'
This is an event of a lifetime and Clan MacLennan USA will most definitely want play a role in supporting not only our Chief but Clan MacLennan worldwide at this event. Anyone interested in attending the 'Gathering' or wanting to serve on a '2009 Gathering Committee' should contact either David or myself. Here is a short piece from the website - a January Update to whet your interest!
Holyrood Park, Edinburgh
Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th of July 2009
The Gathering 2009 will take the form of an international clan gathering and the largest highland games ever held in Scotland, and will be one of the key events of Homecoming Scotland. It is estimated that there will be over 80 clan tents, with around 7500 clan and Scottish association members from around the world. The highland games will attract a further 30,000 people over the two days. It will showcase competitors from all disciplines that constitute a traditional highland games such as piping, dancing, and heavy athletics. The special clan ceremony will take the form of a clan parade on the Royal Mile culminating in a unique clan pageant on the magnificent esplanade of Edinburgh Castle.
Tickets
To attend the major events of The Gathering 2009 you will need to get hold of a 'Passport'. This includes entry to both days of Highland Games at Holyrood Palace, a place in the Clan Parade and a seat at the Clan Pageant on the castle esplanade.
Passports
Passports will go on sale via our website at the end of March but a pre-booking form will go online on February 26th. We would encourage anyone who is keen to book their tickets prior to the general release that they fill in the form and post it back to us with payment details. This form is particularly aimed at large groups looking for tickets as you will only be able to buy 6 online.Full details can be found on the ticket page of our website.
Clans and Clan Tents
There are now over 100 clans attending The Gathering 2009. Clan tent applications have been flooding in and we now have over 50 tents registered. If your clan has not yet applied for a tent but would like to do so then please fill out the form available from our website and return to us before the 1st April 2008.
The Chief's Award
Chief Ruairidh D. G. MacLennan of MacLennan and Clan MacLennan USA would like to announce the creation of the 'Chief's Award' to be awarded to those members of Clan MacLennan who performance as a volunteer, leader and/or mentor for Clan MacLennan USA is outstanding and as such, merits recognition by both the Clan MacLennan USA organization and Chief Ruairidh. This form of recognition is a medal hanging from a ribbon of Green and Gold in the tradition of a military medal. If you have someone in mind who you think should receive one of the first 'Chief's Awards', then please forward there name and address to either Colleen or David.
Letter from the President
David is currently touring Australia with his wife Ann and will brief us on his trip with photos when he returns.
Caring & Sharing
This is your section please send us your news, information and photos of your MacLennan families. Share with us, brag a bit, introduce yourselves to the Clan! We are anxious to meet you all. We would love to share in your Graduations, Anniversaries, Birthdays, Births, Promotions, Good News and support you in your losses also, so send us your news, this is your Newsletter. Suggestions and recommendations are always welcome.
1st Quarter Birthdays
Margaret Ann Farley January 27th
Banning Patrick McKeon February 4th
Phyllis Parnell MacLennan February 9th
Margaret Susan McLennan March 7th
Franklin Alexander Bever March 3th
Gwenivere Aislinn MacLennan March 29th
Contributions from Murdo MacLennan
Births
Isabelle Aspen Lareen Tandy January 5, 2008
Contribution from Mary Jeanette MacLennan Ludeman
Our Military Heroes
Please remember the following Clan MacLennan Heroes in your prayers as they serve our country by serving in the military:
L. Jay Parks 
Serving another tour of duty in Iraq
Barron McKeon Redeployed in November to Bahrain aboard the U.S.S. Dextrous. Named Sailor of the Quarter in October 2007 and Sailor of the Year for in December.
Braxton McKeon Redeployed and serving aboard the U.S.S. Nimitz. Recently promoted to Petty Officer 3rd Class.
Adults In The Spotlight
Dean's List
Alexandre McKeon, our Youth Program Chairman has made the Dean's list the past two semesters. She attends University of Colorado as a Junior where she is double majoring in Nursing/Anthropology.
Scottish Field Athletics
Banning McKeon participated in for the first time in Scottish Field Athletics this past fall and took one 1st, two 2nd and a 3rd place in the events. He continues to train for the 2008 events. Banning is a full time student attending University of Colorado as a Junior where he is majoring in Architecture. Banning supports his new endeavor with bartending at several locations in Denver/Littleton.
Youth In The Spotlight
We introduced Lexi Ludeman last fall as one of our first Youth Members and she sent us an update! Lexi is in 8th grade in Aurora, CO where she plays volleyball this year. Her team advanced to the finals where they took 4th place year! Lexi is a budding artist, loves almost all sports - volleyball and basketball being her favorites - and is a computer nut. We will see Lexi later this year at several of the Colorado festivals where she will work to encourage other MacLennan Youth to join the Clan.
Youth Pages
Welcome to the YOUTH PAGES! We are seeking youth of all ages to not only join Clan MacLennan USA but to get involved by acting as a Youth Photographer and sending us your photos of all things Scottish/Celtic. Send us a photo of your pipe band practice, or one of you competing in dance, or one of your family at a festival. Represent your Clan by participating as a Youth Reporter and write a short piece about your day at a festival or how it felt to get your first kilt or whether you want to learn to play the bagpipes, drums or harp. So join us, write to us, send a photo or two and get involved!
The Youth Pages are available on the Website at http://clanmaclennan.org and there is also a link on the main website to the Youth Pages. There are new Youth Pages every quarter with puzzles, coloring pages and interesting information for youth of all ages regarding Clan MacLennan, the Chief, Coat of Arms, and lots of other interesting topics. There are contests, drawings and prizes so please make sure your MacLennan youth views the Youth Pages and has a chance to participate, learn and win a prize too! Please bookmark the above link and visit the Youth Pages often with your children/grandchildren and enter to win!
The purpose of the Youth Pages is to educate, inform and promote interest in all things MacLennan and Scottish. The youth of today are the conveners, Chief's Lieutenants, bagpipers and drummers, dancers and leaders of tomorrow. We hope to provide information on a variety of subjects important to the Clan and Scots to youth of all ages and it is our goal to do that in fun, informative and interesting ways. We are always open to suggestions and appreciate your comments both positive and negative and we especially enjoy receiving the entries and papers from the youth.
Thank you Tyler, Kayley and Marissa for sharing your pictures and puzzle! We hope you enjoy your Clan MacLennan Bears.
Clan MacLennan Youth Program 11757 W. Ken Caryl Avenue
Littleton CO USA 80127
Clan MacLennan Goodies For Sale
As we continue to improve and update the Clan MacLennan USA website we want to remind you to visit the website and view all the items we now have for sale. You will be able to purchase these items online with a credit card by November or you can order any of the items by sending a check to the Secretary.
Colleen MacLennan - Secretary/Communications Secretary
11757 W. Ken Caryl Avenue
Littleton, CO USA
80127
1st Quarter 2008 Event Dates & Locations
Feb 15-17 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mid-Winter Scottish/Irish Festival & Fair
Feb 16-17 Long Beach, California Queen Mary Scottish Festival
Feb 16-17 Saint Paul, Minnesota A Scottish Ramble
Feb 16-17 Savannah, Georgia Irish Festival
Feb 23 Green Cove Springs, Florida Scottish Highland Games and Celtic Festival
Feb 23 Charleston, S. Carolina Citadel Indoor Games
Feb 23-24 Arizona Mesa, Arizona Scottish Gathering & Highland Games
Feb 29-March 1 Illinois Manhattan Irish Fest
Feb 29 -March 2 Dallas,Texas North Texas Irish Festival
Feb 29-March 1 Manhattan, Illinois Manhattan Irish Fest
Feb 29 -March 2 Dallas, Texas North Texas Irish Festival
March 1 Wheeling, W. Virginia Wheeling Celtic Celebration
March 1-2 Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Winter Classic
March 1-2 Zephyrhills, Florida Zephyrhills Celtic Festival and Highland Games
March 7-9 Midland, Texas Scottish-Irish Fair
March 7-9 Henrietta, New York Genessee Valley Indoor Meeting
March 7-9 Calgary, Alberta Caledonian Indoor Piping and Drumming Competition
March 8 Libby, Montana Irish Fair
March 8 Panama City, Florida Panama City Highland Games
March 8 Yarmouth, Massachusetts Cape Cod St. Patrick's Day Parade
March 8-9 Sonora, California Sonora Celtic Faire
March 8-9 Pomona, California Los Angeles County Irish Fair and Music Festival
March 8-17 Seattle, Washington Irish Week
March 9 Punta Gorda, Florida Peace River Celtic Festival
March 9 Greenville, South Carolia Return to the Green Festival
March 9-17 Burlington, Vermont Irish Heritage Festival
March 10-15 Clare, Michigan Clare's Irish Festival
March 12-16Vancouver, British Columbia Celtic Fest Vancouver
March 14-15Muskegon, Michigan St. Patrick's Irish Fest
March 14-15Toledo, Ohio. Patrick's Day Festival
March 14-16Watertown, New York North Country Goes Green Irish Festival
March 14-17San Antonio, Texas Alamo Irish Festival
March 14-17Portland, Oregon Portland Irish Festival
March 15 Phoenix, ArizonaSt. Patrick's Day Irish Parade and Faire
March 15 Murphy, California Murphy's Irish Days
March 15 Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk St. Patrick's Day Parade
March 15 New London, Wisconsin Grand Parade and Irish Fest
March 15 Corpus Christi, TexasSt. Patrick's Day Celtic Festival
March 15 Hermosa Beach,CaliforniaSouth Bay St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival
March 15-16Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati Celtic Lands Festival
March 15-16West Palm Beach, FloridaWest Palm Beach Irish Fest
March 15-16Tyler, Texas Four Winds Faire - St. Patrick's Celebration
March 17 Hot Springs, Arkansas World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade
March 28-29Yukon, Oklahoma Iron Thistle Scottish Heritage Festival & Games
March 28-29Mint Hill, North Carolina Mint Hill Scottish Festival and Highland Games
March 29 Sarasota , Florida Sarasota Scottish Highland Games
We will be happy to include it in the next ‘Clan Piper’ in April!
Contributed By Colleen MacLennan
Membership
It's time to renew all memberships for Clan MacLennan USA! Use the link below to renew your membership for 2008 and don't forget memberships for family for the upcoming Holidays - Valentines Day, President's Day, St. Patrick's Day & Easter!
Please contact David Jones for any questions relating to membership at:
Please join us in welcoming the following new members to Clan MacLennan: David Clapp, Donald McLennan, Ann MacLennan Bever, Robert Hale Sr., Christina Ludeman, Mary Jeannette MacLennan Ludeman, Ronald C. MacLennan, Banning P. McKeon, Sarah Givens (youth), Lexi Ludeman (youth).
Clan MacLennan USA is rebuilding, revitalizing and renewing it's pledge to support the Clan, its members and the organizations' goal. Please join today and help Clan MacLennan USA grow and represent you.
And to make it easier... we're pleased to announce that you can now subscribe online and pay with your credit card!
VISA / MASTERCARD / AMEX or PayPal account
Click here to go to the Membership Application form, and from there link directly to make your online payment.
Clan News Around the World
Check in often to the Clan MacLennan Worldwide website. This website is full of interesting information regarding Clan MacLennan and its Associations worldwide: http://www.clan.maclennan.com/
2007 AGM Minutes
Clan MacLennan USA
Annual Meeting
October 20, 2007
The meeting was called to order at six-ten p.m. by David Jones, Chair,
per by-laws.
Marilyn Baumeister was appointed secretary for the meeting.
Attending were Dale Young, Jim and Carol Logan of PA, Will Baumeister,
Marilyn Baumeister, and David Jones with seven Proxies.
David Jones, Interim President, Report appended.
The Treasurer’s report was accepted as presented, Report appended.
David Jones summarized the By Laws as every one had a copy to look over.
Jim Logan of PA moved that the bylaws be accepted as presented. Carol
Logan of PA seconded the motion and the motion passed.
The elections were all accepted by acclimation.
President Nom: Dale Young, Second: Marilyn Baumeister, Agree: Yes.
Result: acclaim David Jones
Vice President Nom: David Jones, Second: Dale Young, Agree: yes/D Jones
Result: acclaim Jim Logan
Secretary, Nom: David Jones, Second: Marilyn Baumeister, Agree: yes/D Jones
Result: acclaim Colleen McKeon
Treasurer Nom: Jim Logan of PA, Second: Carol Logan of PA, Agree: yes
Result: acclaim Dale Young, At Large
1. Nom: Will Baumeister, Second: Jim Logan of PA, Agree: yes/D Jones
Result: acclaim Don Waugh II
2. Nom: Dale Young, Second: David Jones, Agree: Yes
Result: acclaim Marilyn Baumeister
Comm. Secretary
Deferred for Executive to seek a nominee to appoint.
New business/discussion: The President commented about the Executive
Committee and decision-making, as referred to in the By-laws.
Coordinators are likely to be needed for Merchandise, Membership, Youth,
Newsletter, Conveners, Clan Historian/Genealogist, Gathering of the
Clans Edinburgh 2009 &c.
We adjourned at seven-fifteen p.m. M W Baumeister, Ed D Acting Secretary
