[Duncanofcolorado]

I was contacted by the Clan Sutherland Society of North America asking me to become a member. I am a Sept (Gray) of the Sutherland.There is an annual fee and I was wondering if anyone belongs to this or any other Clan Society and if they are worth the annual membership.
The membership is under $100.00 a year.

[St. Amish]

What's your definition of "worth it"?

As a paying member of Clan Stewart Society of America, I get a four page pamphlet every 6 months or so telling me what great things are happening in the association. That's it.

My fiancee's Gunn membership gets her the same kind of pamphlet, but also invitations to bbq's, phone calls, e-mails... Basically, the minute she introduced herself, she became a member of a very large family.

It all depends on the association, who's running it, and what your motivation is. If you want to be a member to get perks, check them out. If you want to help fund preservation of your Clan history, pay up and see what happens.

[cajunscot]

Originally Posted by St. Amish

What's your definition of "worth it"?

As a paying member of Clan Stewart Society of America, I get a four page pamphlet every 6 months or so telling me what great things are happening in the association. That's it.

My fiancee's Gunn membership gets her the same kind of pamphlet, but also invitations to bbq's, phone calls, e-mails... Basically, the minute she introduced herself, she became a member of a very large family.

It all depends on the association, who's running it, and what your motivation is. If you want to be a member to get perks, check them out. If you want to help fund preservation of your Clan history, pay up and see what happens.

Of course, membership works both ways -- have you attended any of their functions? Volunteered to help man a tent at the local games?

Not meaning to be arguemenative or anything, just an observation.

T.

[HeathBar]

As an officer of a clan society, Clan Barclay International, I can tell you that they are very beneficial. But you will get out of it, exactly what you put in it. If all you do is pay the dues, then you will get you your periodic newsletter telling you the "going on's" of the society. You might even get a certificate and/or membership card. But if you participate and help out, you will meet many exciting new friends and have a chance to learn about the modern day clan structure.

Now it is odd that they are recruiting new members this way. We usually gather members through the clan tents at highland games. When you say the dues are under $100, can you be more specific? Is it $25 or $99.

[cajunscot]

Originally Posted by HeathBar

As an officer of a clan society, Clan Barclay International, I can tell you that they are very beneficial. But you will get out of it, exactly what you put in it. If all you do is pay the dues, then you will get you your periodic newsletter telling you the "going on's" of the society. You might even get a certificate and/or membership card. But if you participate and help out, you will meet many exciting new friends and have a chance to learn about the modern day clan structure.

Now it is odd that they are recruiting new members this way. We usually gather members through the clan tents at highland games. When you say the dues are under $100, can you be more specific? Is it $25 or $99.

You said it so much better than I did.

T.

[St. Amish]

I don't like your assumption, but I'll bite anyway.

CSSA does not attend any Games in NorCal. I have not seen a Stewart tent in Pleasanton or Woodland in 4 years. There are no "functions" in Northern California. There is no one to contact within the organization to volunteer for anything. I made several phone calls after paying my first dues trying to reach someone, anyone who could answer questions that I had about the society (including how to volunteer). After leaving no fewer than 10 messages, I gave up and tried the internet. Their website is terribly difficult to navigate, is not current, and does not have a members area. It's basically the login page for the officers.

Gunn, on the other hand. My fiancee had never been to a G&G, and was interested in researching her possible Scottish roots. We went from clan tent to clan tent checking sept names and associated names until we came to Gunn. Robinson, her grandmother's maiden name, is a sept of Gunn. We were immediately welcomed into the society. They didn't care that the connection hadn't yet been verified, or that I had absolutely no connection to Gunn. We started getting e-mails, phone calls, invitations to post-Games barbecues in the camping area, dinner at members' homes that lived near us...


Different organizations, different ways. Like I said initially, whether or not it's "worth it" depends on your motivation. Fulfillment means different things to different people. Some people want to make a donation for the preservation of history (CSSA). Others want participation (Gunn). I don't begrudge the CSSA their bi-annual fees, but I sure do have fun at the Gunn tent twice a year.

[cajunscot]

Originally Posted by St. Amish

I don't like your assumption, but I'll bite anyway. CSSA does not attend any Games in NorCal. I have not seen a Stewart tent in Pleasanton or Woodland in 4 years. There are no "functions" in Northern California. There is no one to contact within the organization to volunteer for anything. I made several phone calls after paying my first dues trying to reach someone, anyone who could answer questions that I had about the society (including how to volunteer). After leaving no fewer than 10 messages, I gave up and tried the internet. Their website is terribly difficult to navigate, is not current, and does not have a members area. It's basically the login page for the officers. Gunn, on the other hand. My fiancee had never been to a G&G, and was interested in researching her possible Scottish roots. We went from clan tent to clan tent checking sept names and associated names until we came to Gunn. Robinson, her grandmother's maiden name, is a sept of Gunn. We were immediately welcomed into the society. They didn't care that the connection hadn't yet been verified, or that I had absolutely no connection to Gunn. We started getting e-mails, phone calls, invitations to post-Games barbecues in the camping area, dinner at members' homes that lived near us... Different organizations, different ways. Like I said initially, whether or not it's "worth it" depends on your motivation. Fulfillment means different things to different people. Some people want to make a donation for the preservation of history (CSSA). Others want participation (Gunn). I don't begrudge the CSSA their bi-annual fees, but I sure do have fun at the Gunn tent twice a year.

As I stated before, no offence was meant or intended. I'm sorry if you took it that way, and I'm sorry with your difficulties in reaching someone in the CSSA to volunteer. Perhaps trying a convenor from another state might be the route?

T.

[Duncanofcolorado]

I went to the Highland Festival in Estes Park, CO last year. One of the featured Clans was the Sutherland. Unfortunately all that was there the 1st two days was a folding table with a Sutherland sign on it. On the 3rd day I went back and there was a sign in sheet so I left my name and email address. That was last September. They contacted me last week. I was looking for information about the organization and they gave me their web site so now I have something to look at to see what they are about.

[St. Amish]

Originally Posted by HeathBar

As an officer of a clan society, Clan Barclay International, I can tell you that they are very beneficial. But you will get out of it, exactly what you put in it. If all you do is pay the dues, then you will get you your periodic newsletter telling you the "going on's" of the society. You might even get a certificate and/or membership card. But if you participate and help out, you will meet many exciting new friends and have a chance to learn about the modern day clan structure.

Those are awfully broad statements. You may or may not get out of any organization what you put into it. Not every society is run as efficiently as yours.

I made a statement about two specific groups and how they operate in my part of the state. I do volunteer, I do pay dues, and I do participate in events in any way that I can.

I really don't like being told that I am either being dishonest, or that my experiences are invalid.

[Duncanofcolorado]

The membership fees are broken up into 4 payments. They were something like $25, $20,
$15, and $30.