The Clan MacLachlan Association of North America
CMANA Constitution
The CMANA Newsletter
The Clan Association publishes an organizational newsletter, The ROEBUCK
four times per year.
The CMANA Genealogist
The Clan Association has recently established an archival arrangement
with the Odom Genealogical Library and has established a MacLachlan
folder within the Mormon Church's genealogical repository.
| Genealogist |
Jack W. McLaughlin
1475 Beringer
San Jacinto, CA 92583
buffalo@lasercom.net
|
What Does The CMANA Participate In?
Clan MacLachlan participates in the Scottish community through sponsorship of clan tents at events
across North America, sponsorship of regional gatherings, active participation in COSCA and
CASSOC, and sponsorship of educational efforts such as thier web site.
Scottish and Celtic Games and Festivals
The CMANA currently has representation, in a Clan Tent, at over 40 Scottish and Celtic Festivals,
Games and Fairs across North America each year. These tents provide a central location for our
membership to socialize and participate in sponsored activities such as Tartan Parades and Clan
Competitions (for example, the Haggis Hurl). The CMANA provides its members with information
on any of the approximately 250 annual events held across North America each year. This
information is published in The ROEBUCK and can be requested separately.
Regional Gatherings
The Association will be having its Annual Grandfather Mountain Dinner on the second Saturday of
July during the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in Linville, North Carolina. We will again be
holding the annual 1997 dinner at the Appalachian Conference Center of the Quality Inn in Boone.
The Annual Gathering in July will represent our 27th year of having a "tent" on Grandfather
Mountain.
Besides the activities in North Carolina, the Association holds an Annual New England Regional
Gathering. This gathering is held in conjunction with the Tam O'Shanter Scottish Highland Games in
Easton (near Boston), Massachusetts. This gathering is held on the first Saturday of August.
The Association now holds its Annual Great Lakes Regional Dinner on the Fourth Saturday of June
during the Ohio Scottish Games in Oberlin, Ohio (near Cleveland). The dinner has been traditionally
held at Mountain Jack's Restaurant, which is next to the Holiday Inn in Elyria, Ohio.
For the past several years, the Association has also gathered on the Saturday Evening of the Labor
Day Weekend, during the Scottish Gathering and Highland Games of San Francisco, for its Annual
Middle Pacific Regional Gathering. The games are actually held in Pleasanton, California. The site for
the dinner is published annually.
Other Activities
Cotton Tartan
Orders are currently being taken in anticipation of purchasing a bolt of MacLachlan tartan in (100%)
cotton. Information on the tartan can be obtained by contacting the Secretary.
History of The Clan MacLachlan Association Of North America
The roots of the family tree for the Clan MacLachlan Association of North
America are deep in the rocky soil of the beautiful Blue Ridge
Mountains of western North Carolina. Our clan association was one
of the first to support the first Grandfather Mountain Highland
Games held near Linville, North Carolina. We have continued this support
this event for over 30 years.
Frank J. MacLachlan and his wife, Madge, from Jacksonville, Florida,
were the first MacLachlan representatives at the Grandfather Mountain games.
They were joined shortly thereafter by James C. and Ida MacLachlan
from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Ellen K. MacLauchlin from
Columbia, South Carolina, George and Ruth Buelow from Castle-Hayne,
North Carolina, and Howard and Buelah Claflin from Christiansburg, Virginia.
The original Clan MacLachlan Association membership centered in the
southeastern states with approximately 50 members. Today, the Clan
Association encompasses most of North America. Major membership
concentrations are found in the Southeast, the Southwest and New
England. From a few Scottish events in the early days, the Clan
Association now is sponsored at over 30 functions annually throughout
the U.S. and Canada.
In 1977, the members present at the clan tent during the Grandfather Mountain
Highland Games agreed to sponsor a dinner meeting the following year after
the events on Saturday. This dinner would then become the center point
for the newly organized Clan MacLachlan Association of North America.
Connie MacLachlan Ashworth, of Gibsonville, North Carolina, had the
privilege of arranging for this first dinner, which was held at the Sugar
Mountain Lodge near Banner Elk, North Carolina in 1978. Out of this
dinner meeting came the adoption of the Articles of Association and
appointment of the first area Commissioners (in 1979).
Upon the retirement of Frank J. MacLachlan as the first President,
James C. MacLachlan was elected President of the Clan Association. William
H. Ashworth, Jr., from Greensboro, North Carolina, was elected Vice
President. Ellen K. MacLauchlin continued as Secretary-Treasurer,
a position she had held since her appointment in 1974.
In 1980, Hollace McLachlan Bryson succeeded Ellen MacLauchlin as
Secretary-Treasurer. By then, the Clan Association had more than 80
members. This era also saw the formation of the Clan MacLachlan Society
in the United Kingdom. Tom McLachlan, from London, England, Chairman of
the Clan MacLachlan Society, was to that organization what Frank J.
MacLachlan had been to the Clan MacLachlan Association. Through the
friendship of Ruth Buelow, then our Clan Association Genealogist, and Tom
McLachlan, lines of communication were opened between both organizations.
Meetings with Bill Ashworth, Jr., James C. MacLachlan and Tom McLachlan
resulted in the exchange of the Clan Association Newsletter and the Clan
Lachlan Magazine.
Connie M. Ashworth became Secretary-Treasurer upon the resignation of
Hollace M. Bryson (in 1983). The membership had grown to over 150
members.
Hugh W. Gilchrist of Greenville, South Carolina, was elected the third
President of the Clan Association. His tenure of office saw significant
growth, particularly in the Southwest (through the efforts of Roger Dale)
and Michigan (through the efforts of Tom McLaughlan). Membership also started
to grow in New England (through the efforts of Jim Finegan).
With the increased publication of the Association newsletter, an
association wide contest was held to rename the newsletter. Hollace Bryson
had the winning suggestion of The Roebuck. She explained that her
choice came from the incident in the Clan history where the Clan Chief
tied a bag of gold to the antlers of a roebuck. The May issue of 1985
was the first one to carry the new title.
Bill Ashworth, Jr., was elected the fourth President of the Clan
MacLachlan Association in 1987. His tenure in office saw even greater
expansion in the Southwest through the efforts of Jack W. McLaughlin
as well as a continued dialogue with the U.K. Society. The bi-annual
reproduction of the U.K. Society magazine was suspended that same year as
a cost saving measure. Chairman Tom McLachlan, meeting with Bill
Ashworth and Vice-President Robert E. McLaughlin (from Knoxville,
Tennessee), proposed a single worldwide organization for Clan MacLachlan.
This suggestion was tabled pending further review.
In 1987, Hugh Gilchrist accepted the position as Editor for The Roebuck.
The once bi-annual newsletter has been expanded and restructured into a
quarterly publication.
In 1989, Bill Ashworth became the first CMANA President to visit Highland
Games outside of the Southeastern United States when he attended the New
Hampshire Highland Games.
By the election of 1990, the continued growth saw the division of offices
for Secretary and Treasurer. At that time, Robert E. McLaughlin was
elected the fifth President, Jack W. McLaughlin, from San Jacinto,
California was elected Vice President, James A. Finegan from Warrenton,
Virginia was elected Secretary, and Robert G. McLachlan from Dearborn Heights,
Michigan was elected Treasurer. As of the end of 1990, the Clan
Association membership topped 250 members.
The First Clan Association Tour of Scotland also occurred during the summer
of 1990. This fifteen day tour, arranged by Jack and Marge McLaughlin,
was highlighted with a visit to Castle Lachlan where the group met
Madame MacLachlan of MacLachlan, our 24th Chief. As the North American
Representative of the Association, Jack presented Madam MacLachlan with
gifts from the Association and the Southwest Region. The mandela
(a wall hanging made by Southwest Indians) was from the Southwest Region.
An engraved brass jewel box containing a gold leaf Aspen leaf pin was
presented from the Clan MacLachlan Association of North America.
In May of 1991, then Treasurer Robert G. McLachlan resigned for personal
reasons. Michaele G. Finegan was appointed to fulfill the duties of
Treasurer for the remainder of the term. Late in 1991, the CMANA released
its first version of the Handbook for Commissioners and Conveners. Since
its release, several other Clan associations have used this handbook as a
template for their own effort.
In 1992, Daphne McLachlan, President of the Australian Chapter of the Clan
MacLachlan Society, visited with the CMANA during the Grandfather
Mountain Highland Games. Marjorie Warren, an active weaver within the
Association, presented Daphne with a hand woven gift of a tam and a
scarf in the newly sanctioned North Carolina Tartan.
In 1993, the CMANA added a covered dish picnic to the schedule during the
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.
During his three years in office, Robert E. McLaughlin has traveled East,
West, North and South to visit with CMANA members at numerous Highland
Games across North America. He attended festivities in New Hampshire,
California, Florida, Mississippi, Michigan and Canada. Through his
continued efforts, many members in regions remote to North Carolina were
able to put a face and a voice behind the Presidency.
In the election of 1993, Jack W. McLaughlin was elected as the CMANA's
sixth President, Herbert B. Jacobs, from Wayland, Massachusetts, was
elected as Vice President, James A. Finegan from Raleigh, North Carolina,
was re-elected as Secretary, and Michaele G. Finegan from Raleigh,
North Carolina, was re-elected as Treasurer. As of the end of 1993,
the Clan Association membership topped 280 members.
In the election of 1996, Herbert B Jacobs was elected as the CMANA's
seventh President, Stephen Gilkeson, from Nashville, Tennessee, was
elected as Vice President, James A. Finegan, relocated to Sterling, Virginia,
was re-elected as Secretary, and Michaele G. Finegan, also relocated to
Sterling, Virginia, was re-elected as Treasurer. As of the end of 1996,
the Clan Association membership topped 290 membership units.
In August of 1996, Herbert B. Jacobs travelled to the U.K. to begin
negotiations with the CMS in an effort to unite both oraginizations into
one Clan MacLachlan Worldwide. By March of 1997, the CMANA and the CMS
entered a joint venture on the Internet.
What Does The CMANA Participate In?
Scottish and Celtic Games and Festivals
The CMANA currently has representation, in a Clan Tent, at over 45
Scottish and Celtic Festivals, Games and Fairs across North America each
year. These tents provide a central location for our membership to
socialize and participate in sponsored activities such as Tartan Parades
and Clan Competitions (for example, the Haggis Hurl). The CMANA provides
its members with information on any of the approximately
250 annual events
held across North America each year. This information is published in
The ROEBUCK and can be requested separately.
Regional Dinners
The Association will be having its
Annual Grandfather Mountain Dinner on the
second Saturday of July during the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in
Linville, North Carolina. We will again be holding the annual 1996
dinner at the Appalachian Conference Center of the Quality Inn in Boone.
The Annual Gathering in July will represent our 26th year of having a
"tent" on Grandfather Mountain.
Besides the activities in North Carolina, the Association holds an
Annual New England Regional Gathering and Dinner.
Traditionally, this dinner is held in conjunction with the New Hampshire
Highland Games in Lincoln, New Hampshire.
The Association now holds its Annual Great Lakes Regional Dinner on the
Fourth Saturday of June during the Ohio Scottish Games in Oberlin, Ohio
(near Cleveland). The dinner has been traditionally held at Mountain Jack's
Restaurant, which is next to the Holiday Inn in Elyria, Ohio.
For the past several years, the Association has also gathered on the
Saturday Evening of the Labor Day Weekend, during the Scottish Gathering
and Highland Games of San Francisco, for its Annual Middle Pacific Regional
Gathering. The site for the dinner is published annually.
Other Activities
Cotton Tartan
Orders are currently being taken in anticipation of purchasing a bolt of
MacLachlan tartan in (100%) cotton.
Trip To Scotland
Plans are currently being made for sponsoring a second trip to Scotland in 1997 or 1998. For
further information, contact Jack McLaughlin.
Thanks to the Clan MacLachlan Association of North America (CMANA) for providing information for this page. Please visit their site for more information.
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