CMSNA Charter
CMSNA is a 501(c)(3) Organization
Contributions to CMSNA are exempted from Federal Income Tax
Purposes:
1. To encourage interest in the history, arts, and tradition of Scotland and of Clan MacLaren.
2. To sponsor Society Gatherings.
3. To collect genealogy and family traditions and provide a permanent repository for such records.
4. To publish a newsletter.
5. To administer monies of the Society for general, specific, or benevolent purposes.
6. To encourage perpetuation of Highland dress, traditions, and customs and promote Highland Games and Gatherings.
7. To foster a feeling of kinship among Society members and provide a means of contact between Society members and those in Scotland and other parts of the world.
The membership list and records of CMSNA are used only for official contact with members and facilitating distribution of our digital version of the newsletter, The MacLaren Standard.
CMSNA Structure
The Officers of CMSNA consist of an elected President and Vice-President; and officers are appointed for the roles of: Recording Secretary, Membership Secretary, Treasurer, Liaison Officer, Editor of The MacLaren Standard, Quartermaster, Genealogist, and Assistant Secretary/Treasurer. The Immediate Past President serves as an officer in addition to the preceding. These Officers manage the day to day affairs of the Society. There is a Council consisting the Officers and the Commissioners of the multiple regions into which North America has been subdivided. The Council is consulted and gives guidance regarding the convening, gatherings, festivals, and field activities undertaken by the Society. An Annual General Meeting (AGM) is held at one of the larger highland games events variously around North America. The Officers meet regularly (~monthly) using video conferencing technology. The Council meets at the AGM and on another occasion about 6 months later using video conferencing technology. Elections occur every second year using electronic balloting, with results announced at that AGM. In addition, other Society activities are handled by various standing or special committees, or appointed facilitators or coordinators. A Registered Agent is appointed in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation of the Society as required by statute.
Highland Games
The Clan MacLaren Society of North America is a fixture at most of the major Highland Games held in the US and Canada.
A list of upcoming events is published on our Events webpage.
The Clan MacLaren Society in Scotland maintains a tent at the Lochearnhead Games in Scotland and are always delighted to welcome clans folk from all over the world. The Games normally are held on the third Saturday of July each year. Lochearnhead has become a famous water sports center and excellent accommodations are available in the area.
Communications
CMSNA digitally publishes a newsletter, The MacLaren Standard, four times each year for the purpose of informing the Society membership of Clan activities, as well as to feature articles on history, culture, genealogy, etc. A link to the newsletter is sent to the active members.
As required to enhance the importance of select communications regarding events, activities and actions, CMSNA members may be sent emails and/or directed to website pages for these important communications.
CMSNA Genealogy Project
The Clan MacLaren Society of North America
maintains a vigorous and active Clan Genealogy Project dedicated to assembling a body of data for posterity of all MacLaren and sub-families. https://maclarengenealogy.org
This information, along with that of over 100 other Scottish Clan organizations, is deposited in the Ellen Payne Odom Library in Moultrie, GA.
The repository is updated periodically as the dataset is expanded and revised.
The CMSNA Genealogy Project gives MacLarens a starting point in their own individual research, as well as a place to record and preserve
records of their own family histories. The records are such that individual records are combined with the goal of producing an overall
record of the "MacLaren" family.
The Balquhidder Educational Trust
The MacLaren (Balquhidder) Educational trust is a joint project of The Clan MacLaren Society in Scotland (CMSS) and The Clan MacLaren Society of North America (CMSNA). It was established to provide financial and other support to the young people connected with the Parish of Balquhidder with the general aim of developing their skills and talents in life by means of educational and sporting activities. It also promotes student exchange and educational visits involving the young people of Balquhidder. In meeting these goals, the Clan Societies will raise the profile of the Clan MacLaren in its traditional Clan homeland. Pupils and students who have attended schools in the parish of Balquhidder or who are residents in the Parish while attending schools or colleges elsewhere are eligible for support. Group activities such as school trips may also be considered eligible.
Assistance is intended to be in addition to and not in place of funds provisioned by the state or by the local educational authority.
CMSNA President's Award
An award of $250.00 at the discretion of the
President may be awarded annually to persons studying Celtic Heritage subjects, such as Highland Dancing, Piping, Genealogy, etc.
This award is controlled by rules set forth by the Officers and
CMSNA seeks competent Instructors of the subject to provide input and assist in guiding the award of Funds for students' advanced studies costs. Nominations must be sent to the president thirty or more days before any Annual General Meeting of any year.
Further Reading
The MacLarens by Margaret MacLaren of MacLaren (the present Chief's mother) The Pentland Press, Ltd.
The Settlements of Western Perthshire by Dr. James Stewart. The Pentland Press Ltd.
The Braes O' Balquhidder by Elizabeth Beauchamp. (An Historical Guide to the District).
Walks in the Trossachs by Rennie McOwen
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