THE BURNETT BANN ER Burnett Newsletter Edition No 11 (including House of Burnett September 2010 News) BURNETTS AT GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN HIGHLAND GAMES (Further details and photographs of Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, see pages 12 & 13) BURNETT GATHERING 2013 Our next Burnett Gathering is in 2013. I am already receiving enquiries for 2013 and will start to provide more details early in 2011. All Burnetts will be welcome and, as always, we will endeavour to ensure that each visit will be particularly memorable and will have original events and activities. BURNETT REUNIONS I am aware that Burnett reunions and gatherings take place in many countries. We are always pleased to know of these and would be pleased to include photographs and other details in the Burnett Banner or on the website. James C. A. Burnett of Leys MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Alexander and Vinny and was pleased to meet two of their three children. We especially I can’t begin to tell you how excited I was that enjoyed having dinner with Jamie, Fiona and we completed my number one task for the their friends at their home. It was a wonderful year…revamping our Constitution and By Laws. trip, one that we had looked forward to for a This was something that needed to be done for a couple of years. We even picked up a length of long time and even though the job had been Burnett of Leys tartan that we plan to have a kilt talked about for over a year, we were able to made for our son, who just became a member at make the needed changes in a matter of a couple Grandfather Mountain Games. of hours. Hopefully, the minutes of the meeting and the new Constitution will be ready for printing in this issue of the Banner, but I just want to hit some of the highlights and report on other decisions that were made at the meeting, We revised the Officers duties to include them in the Board of Directors, with the President being the President of the Board of Directors. We, also, clarified details on the election of Members of the BOD and their term commitments. A decision was made to look into the registration as non-profit in the state of North Carolina as our new “headquarters.” God bless you all and remember that courage is strengthened through adversity. It was mentioned that since the BOD is not a “secret organization” that our private message Phyllis Esler, President, House of Burnett board on Yahoo really had no value as far as continuing with that venue. We will instead be using the Burnett forum on the HOB website, and mass email directives to our members YOU ARE WANTED! instead. At the end of this year, there will be an election We also decided to give pins to our new of officers and Board of Directors. We need you members (you probably saw pictures of them in to participate. a previous Banner.) Current members will also be allowed to order pins at a reasonable price. First of all we need you to toss your hat into the ring. Even though we have some who are so Business cards of a generic nature were completely loyal to the House of Burnett that purchased and sent to every board member in they have told us that they would “like to step July. The cards are blank on the back for each down” but if we can’t find a replacement, they member to write in their names and contact will stay on…….(Now doesn’t that sound as if information. The front of the card is glossy with they REALLY DON’T want to go?) Do you get a full color logo, names of our clan chief, James the impression that what we do is fun? Burnett; our President, Phyllis Esler; and our secretary, Leland Burnett. Cards are to be Here are some things you should know: There is available at Festivals and other gatherings no mandatory travel involved. You would where our family members may be interested in basically be helping the ruling body to make hearing about the benefits of joining our group. decisions about things that come up during the year. We take care of a lot of business by It was my pleasure to make a pilgrimage to Internet. If you are a “frequenter” of Highland Scotland in July/August with my husband and Festivals and would like to get more involved in renew our newly formed friendship with representing the House of Burnett, we will be glad to help you do this. Other responsibilities are spelled out for each office in the Constitution Elections for Board of Directors and Officers to which can be viewed on the Burnett website. take office in Jan. 2011 will be taking place soon. Two Board Members will be elected for three Second of all, we need you to vote. When you year terms. Throw your hat in the ring! hear from our secretary, Leland Burnett, please respond right away and vote your favorites. Membership dues are due on December 31st, Look back into the more recent Banners and 2010. Some of you paid early and adjustments read the articles about meet the Directors. were made to others. Please look at your membership card to determine if owe dues or The Officers are elected for one year terms an are good until Dec. 2011. Those who pay thru include: President…Secretary…Treasurer PayPal auto pay may have to go to PayPal and reset your payment so the payment is in Dec. of The members of the Board of Directors are each year. If there is any confusion contact me elected for 3 year terms and are the voting body and I will sort it out. of our organization. The revised Bylaws will be on the Burnett web We need one more Board Member, and someone site soon. to take over some of the secretarial duties working with Leland Burnett until the new Yours Aye person can be trained. Leland Burnett, Secretary If you are interested in becoming involved, please let us know by sending an email to either myself at [email protected] or to Leland Burnett at [email protected] . MINUTES OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HOUSE OF BURNETT Looking forward to having you aboard! 10 JULY 2010 Phyllis Esler, President At 2:08 PM meeting was called to order by House of Burnett President Phyllis Esler. Present were Board members Jim Burnette, Barbara Kreider, Secretary Leland Burnett, NOTE FROM THE SECRETARY President Phyllis Esler and Vinny Burnett. Alexander Burnett joined the meeting later after Greetings to All; returning from another meeting he attended was completed. The President holds the Proxy I hope everyone had a great summer. I know I vote for Board member Kim Marie Graham and did, except for the heat in KY and NC, followed Treasurer Mike Burnett. Barbara Kreider holds by the cold wind at the Wisconsin Games. the proxy vote of George Kreider. It was exciting to see the number of Burnett’s A discussion was conducted on what need to be showing up at the events I attended and I know done to the Constitution and Bylaws. others noticed the great turnout: A motion was made by Jim Burnette seconded At the Glasgow, KY Games 29 Burnett’s checked by Barbara Kreider to make the Executive in and 2 new members signed up. At Officers voting members of the Board of Grandfather Mountain, NC we had 54 Burnett’s Directors and the President will also be the with 4 new members. In Sloan’s Valley, KY there President of the Board. Motion Carried. was 57 Burnett’s at a Burnett Gathering. Even with the cold winds, the Wisconsin Games had A motion was made by Barbara Krieder, 17 Burnett’s and 4 new members. seconded by Jim Burnette to look into I’m also happy to have gotten several emails incorporation in the State of North Carolina. from members commenting on the grand time Motion carried. they had at Scottish events in their areas. Secretary Leland Burnett made the suggestion for dinner and were able to appreciate the to revise the Bylaws rather than amend each extent of Phyllis’s activity for the House of Article. The changes being considered have been Burnett discussed for almost a year, so revision is fitting. The persons at the meeting agreed. We were very pleased to be able to welcome John and Melisa Burnett from Canton, North The Members present reviewed the Articles that Carolina in August together with Melissa’s had been discussed earlier and changes were mother, Nancy McLean and with whom we had a made. At the conclusion of the discussion Leland very enjoyable tour of the Castle. They had just Burnett made a motion to except the revisions been visiting Duart on the Isle of Mull and home to the Bylaws. The motion was seconded by Jim of the McLean’s of Duart from whom Nancy is Burnette. Motion Carried. The President ask the descended. Coincidentally, Sir Lachlan McLean Secretary to make the changes and return it to of Duart’s daughter and her husband are our her by Mid August for her review. nearest neighbours living in Woodbine Cottage, 200 metres from House of Crathes. A motion was made by Barbara Kreider seconded by Jim Burnette to buy the new lapel pins, that are now available on the Burnett web site and to give them to members upon paying their dues in Jan 2011 and to new members as they join in the future.