Editor’s First Words
Greetings Clan MacLennan and a Wonderful Fall. It has been some time between newsletters due to massive computer/server issues here in Colorado and I am still recovering documents and materials one day at a time. It also appears that I had e-mail issues long before the big crash and so I apologize to anyone who contacted me for either the newsletter or as Clan MacLennan Communications Secretary. If you contacted me for anything and I have not responded in these past months, please accept my apology and contact me again.
DumSpiroSpero_1@msn.com
We are considering going to 3 newsletters a year instead of the current 4 issues as I am not getting much feedback from the membership. It is not a newsletter if we don’t have news of/from the membership, so unless I hear back from a number of you wanting me to continue with the 4 issues per year, we will issue newsletters for 2009 in January, May and September and a Bulletin going out in November with an update as to the AGM. I think the 4 issues is needed and would love to continue but I need input from each of you – vacations, birth, celebrations, photos, recipes, suggestions, etc., so please let me know what your feelings are as to this matter.
Please read the note from the President and a Treasurer's Report is included. Please read the Membership Note from Banning McKeon - Membership Chairman and be sure to see the update with regard to the 2009 ‘Gathering’. We have an update from Chief Ruairidh with mention of the upcoming 2009 ‘Gathering’ and photos. A final note, please read the incredible project in the 'Youth Spotlight' section below by Jordan Ranier - this will warm your heart!
Please note that the difficulties with the Clan MacLennan International website and the USA page have been resolved. Make note/bookmark the following Clan MacLennan web addresses for your convenience:
Have a Wonderful Fall and a Happy Holiday Season,
Colleen
Colleen MacLennan - Editor & Communications Secretary
Message From The President
President’s Report
October 2008
Dear Members:
There’s not as much to report as I would like to have! But I am to blame…
I was diagnosed with cancer in May and had surgery in early September. Fortunately, they seem to have caught everything and I am now getting back up to full speed. We moved in mid-October and are still settling in from that, with a sudden unplanned trip to MA for a funeral. Never a dull moment! Unfortunately, this meant that I could not get over to Charleston SC to visit VP Jim Logan; nor to Stone Mountain, where Don Waugh convened our tent.
I did visit the Grandfather Mountain HG in North Carolina in July, although I wasn’t able to convene a tent there. I attended the COSCA AGM, since we pay a modest annual membership there and get good coverage in their publications. Lord Semple made an interesting presentation and invitation to www.thegathering2009.com Ann and I plan to attend the Gathering and hope that many of you will be able to make the trip.
On the Executive and Clan website, technical gremlins hit us… Secretary and Membership were offline with a major system failure, and the clan website had to be relocated to a new host this Fall. It’s back up at www.clanmaclennan-worldwide.com thanks to massive effort by Bruce McLennan of Sydney Australia. As soon as his basic reconstruction is finished, I’ll be able to get up some new pages, including my President’s Report for the Year, Dale’s Treasurer Report and some fascinating stories by Eileen Johnson from CA who convened a number of Games and events over the summer.
The Executive had been considering waiving a formal Annual General Meeting in favor of presenting Reports from the President and Treasurer. I’ll be asking the Executive to formally ratify this, since we were not able to have an AGM at Stone Mountain.
The Executive will also be addressing Membership. It would help us considerably if we were to receive input from any and all of you… it’s difficult to know just what to plan and foster without a two-way communication from all members. My new e-mail address is:
Clandotmaclennandotpresatgmaildotcom
Sorry about the “code”, but robots comb through these pages and highjack addresses for their spam lists. You’ll recognize how to substitute dot and at. For those using conventional mail, I’m at:
David Jones
740 Chapman Loop,
The Villages
FL 32162-4508.
352-753-2996.
Yours aye!
David Jones
President
Clan MacLennan USA
Membership Report
Clan MacLennan Members,
I have included an update on Membership so that each of you is aware of the problems that Membership is trying to recover from since last spring. We had a server crash with massive date loss and as a result we multiple personal computers crash as well, with additional data lost or corrupted. We had to replace two computers and are still in the process of completely recreating some of the Clan MacLennan documents – welcome packets for new members included.
I am aware of the frustration (thanks to several stinging e-mails) some of you have experienced as a result of delays in responding, cashing of checks and getting out ‘new membership’ packets. Please understand that all checks mailed and received for new/renew memberships have been forwarded to David at this time. Everyone who has a paid 2008 membership in Clan MacLennan USA will be receiving a laminated ‘Clan MacLennan Membership Card’ with their membership number. By issuing new membership cards to everyone, we can ensure that you know your membership has been renewed and in the case of new members, you will also be receiving a new member packet. If you have not received either the packet with membership card or simply the membership card itself by December 4th, please contact me at: bpmckeon@msn.com
As Colleen mentioned above, the website problems have also been an issue and the online registration page has been malfunctioning off and on for several months due to the international website problem. Every time we thought the issue had been addressed, we would get another e-mail letting us know someone had tried to utilize the online membership webpage and was getting error messages. We are addressing this issue as well and with both the international and USA websites up and functioning once again, this problem appears to be resolved.
Please note a change in my address for snail mail as I needed just one more thing to make life difficult! Several members, Dale our Treasurer included, have had mail addressed to me returned to them as undeliverable. I have contacted the post office on 4 occasions with mail in hand and we have come up with the following change to the address to ensure the delivery of all mail. Again, thanks for your patience and understanding in all matters.
Banning P. McKeon
Clan MacLennan Membership Chairman
11757 W. Ken Caryl Avenue #134
Littleton, CO 80127-3719
As of October 15th, we have 9 new adult members, 3 new youth members and 1 new lifetime member for 2008. We appreciate your support and hope to have all our issues dealt with soon so we can start the new year in good fashion.
Sincerely,
Banning P. McKeon
Membership Chairman
TREASURER’S REPORT
October 10, 2007 to September 30, 2008
Receipts
Fabric & Patches $ 317.50
Disbursements
Convener Reimbursement $ 75.00
Membership Expenses $ 35.22
*COSCA amount of 0.00 reflects a check for $25.00 paid last year but never cashed.
David Jones paid that amount to COSCA this year and was reimbursed by the Assn.
A Message From The Chief
Chief’s message – October 2008
Dear Clansfolk
Now that we are in October, Autumn weather has very much come upon us here in Scotland. The last week has seen temperatures drop quite noticeably and the days are getting shorter. However, there have been some beautiful sunsets in recent weeks and I do quite enjoy the crisp winter days which are just around the corner. I have some friends up staying with me this weekend from Edinburgh and I have just driven around a number of petrol stations trying to find coal for the fire but everyone seems to have panicked with the cold weather and it was a struggle to find any at all. I have a bag of peat which we can use which gives of a lovely smell that reminds me of the west coast!
Things have been fairly busy over the past few months. Kirsteen and James are getting used to life with a small baby, although it has to be said that young Charles is getting bigger by the day! All three of them are well and they seem to be adapting well. Importantly, their social lives have not been too badly impacted by the arrival of Charles. Last month, Kirsteen, James, young Charles and myself drove down to Newcastle, boarded a ferry for Holland and spend a week in Brussels visiting friends. Young Charles coped very well with the trip and didn't interupt my sleep too much! He seems to enjoy the motion of cars and boats so slept a lot which was good. Kirsteen has been taking him through to Dores for regular visits so we are seeing him a lot which is lovely. Lorna and I tend to fight over him when he arrives which is quite funny. When he starts crying he is quickly returned to his mother! Lorna is busy with work as well as her ever hectic social life. Between trips to music festivals, following Robin and his band around various gigs and holidays, I have no idea how she manages to fit in any work! She is organising a charity ball later this month in the Station Hotel in Inverness which we have all been ordered to attend. She recently organised a boat trip down Loch Ness for another charity, known as the "booze cruise" which was very successful. Her boyfriend Robin recently had his 40th birthday party and she told him the night before that he had to pack his bag as she was taking him down to Edinburgh for a couple of nights. He informed her that he couldn't go as he was working the next few days. She informed him that she had spoken to his boss and arranged holidays! Once they arrived in Edinburgh, Lorna handed him his passport, headed to Edinburgh Airport where a group of Robin's friends and mother were waiting. Not long later they all arrived in Poland for a holiday! Life is full of surprises when Lorna is around!
I have had a fairly eventful summer, the main thing being that I changed jobs last month. I have taken up a position as a senior surveyor with the District Valuer's Office which is part of HM Revenue & Customs. We are basically Government valuers responsible for valuing and negotiating all land and property for the Government. This includes a very diverse range including acquiring land for new roads, hospitals, military sites, graveyards, sewage and water works, local government houses and valuations of private property for tax purposes, mostly Inheritance Tax. I will be covering the Western Isles, West Coast and have to do farm and estate valuations for tax purposes all over the north of Scotland which will keep me out of mischief for a while! I had a few weeks of between jobs during which I managed to fit in a trip to Cyprus to visit a friend and then the trip to Brussels.
I managed a few trips over the summer with the TA pipeband including a trip to the Isle of Barra in the Western Isles which was good fun. I took part in a canoe challenge in July which involved canoing the length of Loch Ness to raise money for charity. I opted to do this in my father's old kayak which I had to renovate prior to the event. The kayak, which is older than me, is still in good condition and is very fast. The trip took over 9 hours but was enjoyable and very rewarding. I have started a routine of coming home from work and jumping in the kayak before it gets dark and cross to the other side of Loch Ness before heading back home. When the weather is good, it is an excellent way to spend half an hour or so before heading home for dinner. Tomorrow I am running a 10K run in Inverness along with a couple of friends which I am looking forward to. I am planning a half marathan in a couple of months so am trying to get a few 10K's in to help with the training. The weather has been quite poor so we are hoping for some sunshine tomorrow. If it goes well, we will perhaps reward ourselves with a small dram in the Dores Inn!
Kirsteen and I are working towards arrangements for the gathering in Edinburgh next July and should have more information available soon. We are very much looking forward to seeing many of you there next year to what we hope will be an excellent event.
Wishing you all the best.
Yours aye,
Chief Ruairidh
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 Organizations worldwide whose performance as a volunteer, leader and/or mentor for Clan MacLennan Organizations worldwide is outstanding and as such, merits recognition by both the Clan MacLennan organization and Chief Ruairidh. This form of recognition is a medal hanging from a ribbon of Green and Gold - Clan MacLennan Colors - in the tradition of a military medal. The first 'Chief's Awards' will be presented by Chief Ruairidh at the Clan MacLennan dinner July 24, 2009 in Edinburgh prior to the 'Gathering'. If you have someone in mind who you think should receive one of the first 'Chief's Awards', then please forward their name and address to Colleen - DumSpiroSpero_1@msn.com or the appropriate international organization.
The 'Gathering'
October 2008 Newsletter
A truly international gathering
The Gathering 2009 passports are continuing to sell well, alongside our Highland Games tickets which became available to buy online last month.
We are delighted to confirm that The Gathering 2009 will be a truly international celebration, with visitors already coming from 23 different countries at our last count. These are: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, USA, and in Europe, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Wales and, of course, Scotland.
Within the USA alone, we have visitors coming from 48 of the 50 states. It would be amazing if our visitors “came home” from all of the American states so, if you know of any friends of Scots descent living in North Dakota or Wyoming, why not let them know about The Gathering 2009?
Holyrood Park, Edinburgh
Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th of July 2009
The Highland Games Weekend
Our online ticket shop is now selling 1 and 2 day tickets for the Highland Games weekend.
These tickets give you access to a fantastic weekend of events taking place in Holyrood Park, events include:-
The top ‘Heavies’ from around the world competing in 'The 2009 Deuchars World Highland Games Heavy Events Championship'.
The Gathering 2009 Championship' for Scottish Highland Dancing.
The ‘Clan Village’ with representatives from over 115 clans.
A fantastic array of Scottish products and produce in our ‘Flavour of Scotland’.
The Gathering 2009 Invitational Solo Piping Competition'.
Musical artists and bands showcasing the best of Scottish music.
Hill racing around Holyrood Park taking in parts of Edinburgh’s famous Arthur’s seat.
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.
Clan MacLennan has a Clan Tent for this event as confirmed by Chief Ruairidh on 09/25/08!
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 forward to us your news, this is your Newsletter. Suggestions and recommendations are always welcome.
3rd and 4th Quarter Birthdays
Jeanette MacLennan Ludeman July 6th
Douglas Allan Bever July 17th
Sue Fundis McLennan August 2nd
Margaret MacLennan Nelson August 6th
Murdo Alexander MacLennan August 26th
Duncan Alexander MacLennan September 3rd
John Gillie Bever September 25th
Sharyl Ann MacLennan October 11th
Catherine Ann MacLennan Bever October 12th
John Byron McLennan October 25th
Mark Alexander MacLennan October 27th
Dale Peterson MacLennan October 29th
John Finlay MacLennan November 11th
Contributions from Murdo MacLennan
Our Military Heroes
Please remember the following Clan MacLennan Heroes in your prayers as they serve our country by serving in the military:
Daniel Herr Serving 2nd tour of duty in Iraq with MP Company, USMC
L. Jay Parks Serving another tour of duty in Iraq
Barron McKeon Currently back in the USA until February serving aboard the USS Reliant
Braxton McKeon Currently back in the USA until January serving aboard the USS Nimitz
Youth In The Spotlight
A young man, Jordan Ranier of British Columbia wrote to Clan MacLennan in late April asking questions about Ruairidh, our Clan Chief. What follows are excerpts of our e-mail exchanges regarding his interest in Clan MacLennan, heritage, family and the result - a fantastic school project. Please go to the Clan MacLennan 'Youth Pages' http://www.clanmaclennan.org/ClanYouthPage.html to see Jordan's completed Project. Jordan is our newest Clan MacLennan Youth Member through 2009!
Hello my name is Jordan and I am 12 years old. The same age our current chief was when he became chief. I have been doing a Heritage School Project on Clan MacLennan as my mother is a MacLennan and thought I would like to learn more about this side of my family. I have made it to the Regional with my heritage project and would like to ask a few questions about the chief. What was it like to be chosen as chief for the MacLennan Clan when you were only 12 years old? What are your duties as chief? How long have you been playing the bag pipes? Do you have a family of your own? If so will one of them eventually become chief? Thank you for your time. Jordan
Hello I just received your letter as I was away for a couple of days. I am from Canada not USA but I will give you this information anyways. This a school districts heritage project and our whole school participates. The objective is for students to heighten their awareness and interest in Canadian history. This could be a family history or an important Canadian event. The teachers in our school, 'Barriere Elementary' give us directions and the criteria's for the project which include timelines, bibliographies, and conclusions. We learn how to research and keep track of our work by keeping a journal of the researching process. We are encouraged to do interviews, gather newspaper clippings, photographs, get information off the websites and history texts. Then we display it on a three dimensional backboards. Then our school sets up the gym and we display our work and it is judged by the citizens of our town. The top projects go onto the Regional's which is held in Kamloops B.C. Canada this year on May 8 to the 10, 2008 and the top 20% receive gold medals and other awards, a few participants are also chosen to participate in a youth exchange. This year there is also a Provincial Fair on May 29 to June 1 2008 and some projects will be chosen to go on to participate in this fair as well. I chose to do the Clan MacLennan titled, 'Tracing my roots from Scotland to Canada', because my Great Grandfather James D. MacLennan emigrated from Scotland to Canada in 1902 and was one of the first settlers in this area. For my project I did a 3 dimensional project with pictures, MacLennan Motto and Tartans and a drama presentation. For the drama presentation I reenacted my Grandfather first impressions of Canada and I wore a kilt and spoke in a Scottish accent. My report included when the Clan first started way back in 500 AD right up to present day. The MacLennan's are still living on the original land my Great Grandfather James D. MacLennan homesteaded on in Canada years ago. If you would still like some pictures I could get you some. Thanks you for helping me get in contact with the Clan Chief this will be great for my Heritage project. Jordan
Hi Colleen. I am just writing to give you an update on the Clan MacLennan project. I made it to the Nationals with my project. This is a far as you can go. The top 15 project from each Canadian province get to go. This year it is held in Victoria B.C., they fly us there and we spend a week getting to do lot of cool things and one day is spent presenting our projects to the public. Thanks Jordan
Hi Colleen. Just a update on my Clan MacLennan project. I made it to the Nationals with my Heritage project. They were held in Victoria B.C. from July 7 to 14th. 165 children from across Canada were chosen to go to this event. It was a lot of fun, they showed us all around Victoria and I met some nice people from all across Canada. Jordan.
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 Bradyn, Caiden and Byrony for sharing your pictures! We hope you enjoy your Clan MacLennan Bears. Thank you Jordan for sharing your incredible project and for sharing it with us! You did a fantastic job and congratulations.
Alexandre McKeon
Clan MacLennan Youth Program Chairman
11757 W. Ken Caryl Avenue #134
Littleton, CO 80127-3719
Clan MacLennan Merchandise 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 can order directly online or contact Murdo below and send him a check. We currently offer:
Clan MacLennan Tartan Fabric @ $20.00 per yard + shipping
Clan MacLennan Crest Patches - Iron-on @ $8.00 each + shipping
Clan MacLennan Bears @ $15.00 +shipping
3498 Cascina Place Unit 'C'
Highlands Ranch, CO USA
80126
Membership
It's time to renew your membership for 2008 and don't forget memberships for 2009, they make wonderful gifts for family for the upcoming Holidays - Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year's.
Please contact Banning P. McKeon for any questions relating to membership at: bpmckeon@msn.com
New Members
Please join us in welcoming the following new members to Clan MacLennan: Jordan Ranier, Brian Johnson, James Johnson, Terry Lorance, Kathy Kasley, Katherine MacLennan Conway, Joseph McClendon, Mary Herr, Daniel Herr, & Thomas MacLennan.
Clan MacLennan USA is rebuilding, revitalizing and renewing its pledge to support the Clan, its members and the organizations' goal. Please join today and help Clan MacLennan USA grow and represent you and the Clan.
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: www.clanmaclennan-worldwide.com
