Are You A Clansman?

[macwilkin]

Can I trace a "Scottish Clan" relationship? Yes. McDonald septs to Clanranald and Keppoch.
Do I pay the someone so I can claim membership in a group, who in return, grant me a newsletter, and notice of a few dinners? No.

HOWEVER...Do I belong to a clan in the sense of a group of friends/family who I know I can rely on in a crisis, and in return they can rely on me in a crisis?

Yes. Clan Kizzier and The "Auld Blue Clan" (police officers). And by extention, my cousins - The "Auld Red Clan" (Firefighters).

Otherwise, Steve said it best:

I do hope you are not suggesting that those of us who do choose to participate in a clan society and its functions in the spirit of Sketraw's post are somehow in error.

I have made some very good friends through a membership in a clan society.

T.

[macwilkin]

Sadly true for some, but not for all. There are some groups that are very active in hosting various activities through out the year.


Okay, what drives me nuts however, is when someone asks me "what am I going to get out of joining"? It seems like everyone expects something for (almost) nothing.
I turn it around & say to them "as much as you give".

As state commissioner I am one person, an unpaid volunteer! I am not a millionaire, and have limited funds. I have ideas, and wish to provide more for my kinsmen in my area, but some of them need to step up to the plate & become involved, then "I/we" can do more as a clan society.

So if you choose to join a clan society, don't just sit back & wait for your monthly newsletter. Contact your area or nat'l rep and ask them what can I do to help? Or if you have an idea for an event, contact them, organize it, make it happen. The results might surprise you.
And that too is being a "Clansman"



(...oh, and Streetcar, I don't want you to think this was directed at you, it wasn't.
I was speaking in generalized terms )

Well said, sir! That's the same thing I tell folks as well -- don't sit on the sidelines and grouse about something, get involved.

T.

[Ozman1944]

My ancestors were all Scots on my mother's side (Stewart), and Welsh/Cornish on my Father's side (Harris). But I don't make any Clan claims. Being a Celt is enough for me.
As I'm now in the U.S. I don't have ready access to South Australia's record's etc. and have little information even to start checking.
Besides, I'd still wear my Kilts - even if I were Chinese.

[Jack Daw]

Sadly true for some, but not for all. There are some groups that are very active in hosting various activities through out the year.


Okay, what drives me nuts however, is when someone asks me "what am I going to get out of joining"? It seems like everyone expects something for (almost) nothing.
I turn it around & say to them "as much as you give".

As state commissioner I am one person, an unpaid volunteer! I am not a millionaire, and have limited funds. I have ideas, and wish to provide more for my kinsmen in my area, but some of them need to step up to the plate & become involved, then "I/we" can do more as a clan society.

So if you choose to join a clan society, don't just sit back & wait for your monthly newsletter. Contact your area or nat'l rep and ask them what can I do to help? Or if you have an idea for an event, contact them, organize it, make it happen. The results might surprise you.
And that too is being a "Clansman"



(...oh, and Streetcar, I don't want you to think this was directed at you, it wasn't.
I was speaking in generalized terms )

I agree 100%. I chose not to serve as an officer, but as a clan rep. It's the only way our clan association can maintain membership. Our website doesn't get many hits. It started when I went to a clan gathering at a Scottish festival in Texas in 1999 and there was no Clan MacIntyre tent. I immediately saw my calling.

[macwilkin]

I believe gilmore clarified himself, by correctly stating the clan system is now dead. Anyone can romantically cling to the idea that they are a member of a clan, but I think we need to remain on firm footing by understanding there is a tremendous difference between what it meant to be a member of a clan and being a member of a contemporary clan society.

Let's not split hairs on this thread, else it will be headed to the bin, same as similar threads before it.

Respectfully, though, Mike, I think that some people who have had a negative experience with a clan society, or those who are not "joiners" sometimes lump all clan societies under the same tent (pun intended). While we are all familiar with the downright "brigadoonery" that goes on at many games, there are also great examples of how clan societies can make a difference in preserving the history of their clan and Scotland in general.

Regards,

Todd

[Drillagent]

Through genealogy research and a lot of historical reading, I am lead to feel that I am a MacGregor. I once read somewhere (can't remember where now) that there were three ways to join a clan. You were born into the clan (ie surname of the clan), married into the clan, or you asked the protection of the clan. Through my research I learned that the ancestor I can trace back the furthest (I carry his surname) came from "the North of Ireland". Upon arrival, he was one of the founders of his local Presbyterian Church. I have been told that back in 1750 that would make him what some of us now call Scotch-Irish. Because my surname is a "sept" of MacGregor, I contacted the American Clan Gregor Society and asked to become a member, and they agreed. Does this make me a clansman? I think so. Is it right? Does that matter? As long as I don't say or do anything derogatory in the name of the clan. I belong to other clans as well. As mentioned before, I am a member of the US Army clan, and have stood next to my fellow clansmen in battle. I am also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars clan. Soon I will become a member of the Scottish American Military Society clan. When it comes down to it, I think it's what's in your heart that makes you a clansman. Whether or not you belong to an organization or can trace your lineage. If you have the heart of a Scotsman, then you're a Scotsman.

[Cawdorian]

I don't carry the surname of the clan, but I am the descendant of several of the clans and their associated families. I can prove my descent by genealogy for at least two of the Clan associations I belong to. Does that make me a clansman, probably not. But I have have made some very good friends in my clan association and I do enjoy the time I spend with my kith and kin.

I know there is Scottish blood in my veins. It is always a thrill to wear the kilt, hearing "Scotland the Brave" on the bagpipes still make the hair stand up on the back of my neck and sends chills up and down my spine. I suppose I do have the heart of a Scotsman.

[BoldHighlander]

I agree 100%. I chose not to serve as an officer, but as a clan rep. It's the only way our clan association can maintain membership. Our website doesn't get many hits. It started when I went to a clan gathering at a Scottish festival in Texas in 1999 and there was no Clan MacIntyre tent. I immediately saw my calling.

Good for you Jack!
The MacIntyre's have a pretty sizable presence at our local games & are a great bunch of people!

[BoldHighlander]

See my post above for Sean Murphy's series of articles on the issue of "Irish clans".

T.

I am well aware of Mr. Murphy's articles, have even corresponded in the past with him.

However, while the Irish clan system might have differed from the Scottish one, they did have a clans of their own at one time. That & the fact that Irish clan socities exist today was the only point I was trying to make.

Thanks for pointing that out just the same.

[Streetcar]

I do hope you are not suggesting that those of us who do choose to participate in a clan society and its functions in the spirit of Sketraw's post are somehow in error.

I have made some very good friends through a membership in a clan society.

T.

Absolutely not! Upon reflection (and Boldhighlanders post) I realized that my response might have come off differently than intended.

A year or two back, I had spoken with a local Clan rep about the very subject. I asked what the benefits were to "formally" joining the clan. What did my dues get me?

The answer he gave was the basis of my original post.

Had that clan rep given me a response similar to Boldhighlander's, I likely would have had a different view on the subject.

So by no means was I intending to disparage those who are active in their clans - and I apologize for giving that impression.

In fact, once my girls have gotten a little older (hopefully providing the missus and I with a little more "free time") I would like to see if I can be a little more involved in the local Clan Donald.