CMSNA Gathering in Ottawa marks the twentieth anniversary of the CTS Chief George, who will celebrate his 85th birthday a few days before the gathering, to remember his father in special Sunday morning talk The Continuing Success of the CTS The Unique Mission of the CMSNA It was in the summer of 1995 that Rev. Malcolm It was 37 years before the foundation of the CTS MacMillan organised a special gathering of Clan that Chief George’s father came to Canada to be MacMillan in the beautiful up-state New York town of invested in Hamilton, Ontario, as the Chief of Clan Chautauqua to launch the Community of the Tonsured MacMillan. He was of course already the Chief, and by Servant [CTS]. Twenty years later the CTS goes from agreeing to a procedure that many in the Scottish strength to strength. It currently has over 100 establishment would have regarded as highly irregular, members and in the last 20 years has raised over he was conferring a particular honour on his North $40,000US for the Clan Centre and other good causes. American clanspeople. He did so in recognition of There has been at least one CTS Investiture every their zeal in joining forces to create the Clan year since its foundation - with the exception of 2004 MacMillan Society of North America [CMSNA] which and 2006 - with those in Scotland often held in historic he was also to inaugurate on that historic visit. churches, cathedrals, or abbeys. Chief George The CMSNA was founded by Americans and MacMillan has attended all but one of them - Canadians working together, and as soon as the including those in Australia and New Zealand - which formalities in Canada were over, Sir Gordon and Lady surely constitutes an unparalleled feat of devotion to MacMillan crossed the border to celebrate it with his clan. It’s to be hoped that many in the clan, from McMullens in Florida and the ancestors of the both Canada and the USA, will take the opportunity of Appalachian Branch of Clan MacMillan in Raleigh NC. the Ottawa gathering once again to greet their chief on As his son said on its 50th Anniversary, “CMSNA North American soil, and in doing so to celebrate the was, and still is, the model for what is now a world- achievements both of the CTS and of the CMSNA. wide network in which friends of immensely diverse CTS Service at Benbecula, Scotland, in 2014 is pictured above. backgrounds can meet and return home enriched.” CMSNA Gathering 25-29 June. For details and booking please go to www.mcmillen-design.com/cmsna/ Clan MacMillan International Centre, Finlaystone, Langbank, PA14 6TJ, Scotland. Info on the Clan Centre & membership of Clan MacMillan International can be found on the clan’s official website: www.clanmacmillan.org The Clan Centre publishes The Clan MacMillan International Newsletter each May/June and The Clan MacMillan International Magazine each December. They are sent free to members of Clan MacMillan International, the worldwide body that supports the Clan Centre’s work. From the Chief There have been several significant events about unbroken series of investiture services, usually in which Members of Clan MacMillan International association with Gatherings – a task in which she has deserve to know. had John’s help. Trustees. The Centre is governed by a group of As a Trustee her thoughtful questions have often able and dedicated clanspeople invited by me after produced illumination, while her suggestions and her consultation with long-established members of Clan actions have helped the Centre forward. I’m glad to Societies. We aim for as wide a geographical spread say that she is not leaving her post as Abbot of as possible, mainly because local conditions vary C.T.S., where she has ensured a steady stream of enormously round the globe. But we’ve found it financial support for the Clan Centre. important to keep the group small, to ease Blanche is succeeded by Anne Neuman (also a communication. Though we have been known to Canadian) who is the Almoner (Treasurer) of C.T.S. meet physically, we tend to depend on e-mail, backed Anne has held office in the Clan Macmillan Society up by a Skype hook-up at least once a year; and such of North America. As President she organised a conferences are difficult to manage if numbers are Gathering (at Kingston) – always a testing task. large. The Clan Centre is lucky to find a Trustee with such When the Trustees were originally appointed (by a a proven track record. conference held at Finlaystone many years ago), it By now members must be aware that the was envisaged that they would retire in rotation after, ‘clanmacmillan.org’ website has been given a radical perhaps, a three-year period in office. That proved make-over by Graeme and Mike McMillen too tidy a system to work well. So many Trustees (Minneapolis). We’re deeply indebted to them both, have been ‘in with the bricks’, so to speak. but particularly to Mike, who has given his Feeling it was about time to give Trustees a professional skill and vast quantities of time with no chance to retire, I asked for volunteers, and was hope of reward. Those who know about these things amazed by the their enthusiasm for the idea. It was tell me that the effect is excellent. The site is full of then that I realised how much I’d come to depend on information of high quality provided by Graeme. the experience and support of the group. Certain sections are for ‘Members only’ – members To avert a complete clean-out of the board, we of Clan MacMillan International itself or of any decided to accept the resignations of the first-comers, Branch affiliated with it (i.e. supporting the Clan Margaret Pool (New Zealand) and Blanche McMillan Centre with an annual donation). All such members (Canada and C.T.S.). are entitled to the password essential for entry. Margaret founded and developed the N.Z. Branch They’ll be changed annually on 1 March. of Clan MacMillan with astounding success, despite Though I know I’m straying ‘off-piste’, so to its huge geographical spread. Her practical speak, I must take this chance to thank John B. suggestions and level-headed support have been (husband of Blanche) for all he has done for the invaluable to me personally and also to the Clan Clan, both in Scotland and in North America almost Centre’s development. Margaret has been succeeded from the foundation of the North American Society by her husband, Peter, who is the current President in 1958. He took responsibility for the Society of the N.Z. Society. Peter has shown his devotion to Newsletter/Journal in 1968, and is only now the Clan Centre by organising our Skype sessions stepping down. His meticulous mastery of detail and with the minimum of fuss. his adroit handling of the camera have made his Blanche and her husband, John B., have probably publications an invaluable record of the Clan’s life contributed more to the Clan than any other living over about half a century. member (forgive me, anyone who has done more). Both have served as Trustees. John has edited the North American Society Newsletter from time immemorial. Blanche, as Abbot of C.T.S., has put enormous energy and careful planning into an almost News from the Clan Around the World Sad losses for the clan in the UK We regret to report the death in February of Marion McMillan, Rothesay. She was a leading light in The Clan MacMillan Society in Scotland in the 1990s, along with other members of her family. We were shocked to hear of the sudden death in April, from a heart attack, of Tom Szczepanik. He was only 62. He and his wife Lynette, who had the MacMillan connections, and their daughter Tessa, became enthusiastic attendees in the last 15 years at Clan MacMillan events on both sides of the Atlantic. Tom’s family are requesting donations in his memory to the British Heart Foundation https://lastinghope.bhf.org.uk/ Appalachian Branch Winners TomSzczepanikTribute. Grandfather Mountain once again saw Clan MacMillan to the fore on the games Walking the Great Wall for Colour edition of 28 page field. Pictured above are Tucker Runnion, Macmillan Cancer Support “Brief Introduction to Clan 1st Caber Toss/2nd Sheaf Toss; Quinn Margaret Saunders’ niece, Rosemary MacMillan” now available Runnion, 3rd Kilted Mile; Isla MacMillan, McCallum, is doing a sponsored trek along 2nd Kilted Run for 4 & under (pictures the Great Wall of China in May of next year Contents from Appalachian Branch’s fine newsletter). in memory of her father Mike Turnbull who The Story of Clan MacMillan Clan MacMillan Lands and Places Genealogist at Glasgow Games died of cancer last June. You can donate at www.justgiving.com/Rosemarytrekschina. Clan MacMillan Today Graeme Mackenzie will be in Appalachian The Chief of Clan MacMillan Branch territory again when he lectures at Coming Soon - Clan Land Tours Symbols of Clan MacMillan Glasgow KY Highland Games 29-31 May. Famous Descendants of the Tonsured One for MacMillans, by MacMillans New Zealand Society at Games Carol Millican Morris (Maryville TN) is Spellings of the Clan Surname The Clan MacMillan Centre The Clan MacMillan Society of New setting up a series of week-long Ancestral Community of the Tonsured Servant Zealand’s excellent newsletter reports their Tours of the MacMillan Lands in Scotland Clan MacMillan Branches & Societies attendance at the following games so far next year. The small groups, led by clan historian Graeme Mackenzie, will tour from Clan MacMillan Septs and Related Names this year: Waipu (1 Jan), Turakina (31 Jan), Clan MacMillan Tartans Paeroa (14 Feb).