Andrew MacThomas of Finegand ~ 19th Clan Chief Volume # 2 Issue # 4 December 2011 Official Clan Website: www.clanmacthomas.com Clan MacThomas — U.S. & Canadian Branch Official Newsletter Volume # 2 Issue # 4 December 2011 The U.S. & Canadian Branch of the In This Issue Clan MacThomas acknowledges Feature Articles 3 US & Canadian Branch of the and yields allegiance to: Clan MacThomas/ Andrew MacThomas of Finegand MacThomas North America 19th Chief of the Clan MacThomas Our Branch Finances — The Chief Andrew MacThomas of Finegand 6 From the Executive US AND CANADIAN BRANCH 3 Cathy‘s Convener Corner EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 4 James‘ The View from My BRANCH CONVENOR Saddle Cathy McComb Ludemann US & Canadian Branch 1653 Hydram Avenue North 4 Ken‘s Northern Hi Lights Oakdale, MN 55128 USA Scholarship Essay 5 Cindy‘s Perspective [email protected] 11 Contest 2011—2012 5 Chris‘ Bio TREASURER 5 Charles‘ Contemplations Charles S. Tam 2917 Algonquin Drive 5 Clan MacThomas/MacThomas Lafayette, IN 47909 USA Clan Members North America [email protected] 12 Newlyweds (continued from page 3) Our Branch Finances — 6 COMMITTEE MEMBER ~ USA US & Canadian Branch James L. Thomas 7 Gift Ideas / Clan MacThomas N1198 - 29th Avenue Berlin, WI 54923 USA Merchandise for Sale Membership [email protected] 8 Upcoming North American Renewal 14 Highland Games COMMITTEE MEMBER ~ CANADA 9 Clan Quiz 2011 New Membership Ken McComb Part #1 & Part #2 1433 - 151 Country Village Road NE Applications 15 10 Feature Recipe Calgary, AB, Canada, T3K 5X5 [email protected] 11 Scholarship Essay CHANGE OF ADDRESS Contest 2011 — 2012 COMMITTEE MEMBER ~ USA EMAIL or POSTAL ADDRESS 12 Family News From North John C. (Chris) McComb American Clan Members 6171 Cedar Creek Way Please remember to advise the Branch Convenor / Farmington, NY 14425 USA Treasurer when you change your postal or email 13 State & Province address. If you fail to do so, we will be unable to [email protected] Representatives advise you of all upcoming activities. Mail or email your changes to: 13 Answers Clan Quiz EDITOR 14 Membership Renewal (2012) Cindy McComb BRANCH CONVENOR Cathy McComb Ludemann GRAPHIC DESIGNER 15 New Membership Application Ken McComb 1653 Hydram Avenue North (2012) Oakdale, MN 55128 USA MAILING ADDRESS [email protected] 1433 - 151 Country Village Road NE Calgary, AB, Canada TREASURER T3K 5X5 Charles S. Tam EMAIL 2917 Algonquin Drive [email protected] Lafayette, IN 47909 USA WEBSITE [email protected] www.clanmacthomas.com Photos on the front cover courtesy: ―This Newsletter is for member use and may be printed for Jas Thomas—Wisconsin Highland Games in private use only – no part of this newsletter may be duplicated Waukesha with Scott Thomson 2011 and published for any other purpose without the express Cindy McComb—Canmore, Calgary and Red written consent of the Executive Committee of the US and Deer Highland Games 2011 Canadian Branch of the Clan MacThomas‖ Official Clan Website: www.clanmacthomas.com 2 Clan MacThomas — U.S. & Canadian Branch Official Newsletter Volume # 2 Issue # 4 December 2011 ``DEO JUVANTE INVIDIAM SUPERABO`` — WITH GOD’S HELP I SHALL OVERCOME ENVY! A Message From Our Chief Cathy’s Convenor Corner Andrew MacThomas of Finegand Cathy McComb Ludemann US & Canadian Branch of the Hello fellow Clan members! Clan MacThomas Society and It is hard to believe that Christmas is just around MacThomas North America the corner. The cold temperatures and snow on The following comments are primarily aimed at the ground are a good indication that the end of those of you who are members of both the Clan the year is coming. The Committee members wish you all MacThomas Society (Clan MacT) and MacThomas North a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year. America (MNA). Please pass on these comments to others A big thank you to all those members who sent in who may be members of MNA but not Clan MacT. graduation announcements for their children for the last Clan MacThomas is not one of the largest Clan Families in newsletter. I enjoyed reading them all and could see the Scotland and members of the Council of the Clan gleam of pride in their parents‘ eyes! I think we should MacThomas Society understandably were very upset make this an annual event so keep those announcements when, almost a decade ago, the late former Convenor of coming! And any other family news you may have. After Clan MacT, Robert MacThomas, decided to start MNA in all, we are all family, even if a bit extended! direct competition to the existing Clan Society in the USA, The Executive Committee has been making some which had been first formed in the early 1970s. Council felt financial decisions about how to maximize our treasury, so that Robert MacThomas should have remained a member look for the article Our Branch Finances in this newsletter. of Clan MacT and fought for his beliefs instead of jumping I want to remind our members that the Branch Essay ship. Neither group benefits from such a split. Contest is on again with the submission deadline on Following the sad death of Robert MacThomas last year, January 31, 2012. Contest rules were in the last the Clan MacT Council asked Cathy to approach MNA to newsletter and can also be found in this edition as well as see whether the time was right to put any differences to on the Clan website under Branch news in the members one side and bring the two organisations together for the section. Encourage your sons and daughters and sake of the wider Clan family. There is an indication that grandchildren about this excellent opportunity to win a MNA has shown interest in this approach. $500 prize and learn something about our Clan and/or Over the last ten years, Clan MacT has gone from strength Scotland at the same time. to strength. It is a democratically run international Clan Past issues of our electronic newsletters can now be Society in its fullest sense with branches in Europe, found on the Clan website in the Members Secure area, in Australia, Canada and the USA; it undertakes a wide range the US&C Branch section. If you haven‘t looked at the of activities and has an excellent on-going website website lately, I urge you to do it. It is full of interesting www.clanmacthomas.com. The various branches of Clan information on all aspects of our Clan and related topics. MacT have their own rules, structure and elected officers. The Genealogy section has recently been updated with There are some forty million people around the world of new articles. There is a special section on MacThomas Scottish descent and many wish to join their Clan Societies. sept names, including lists of Clan emigrants to the USA Clan means ―Children of the Family‖ and they do so for a and to Canada in the mid 1800s. It is obvious that number of very different reasons, such as: Sennachie Grahame Thom has been very busy expanding To seek personal assistance this area of the website and our webmaster, Jon Hedges, To create a sense of belonging and kinship within a deserves a continuing round of applause for his dedication larger clan family in keeping the website current and interesting! To be a member of a Society which protects the interests Lastly I need to mention that it is now time to renew your of your Clan Family membership for next year. The form is included at the end To obtain information on Clan history of this newsletter. Those of you who did not renew your To use the Clan‘s genealogy service to help them trace membership in 2011 did not receive the 2011 Clan their family history magazine as it was mailed only to those whose To sustain the Clan‘s heritage sites membership was up to date. You can still receive it by paying dues for 2011 and we hope you renew for 2012 as To attend Clan gatherings within Scotland and other well. We do appreciate the support our members give the social events around the world Branch and the Society and thank those who have already To use for networking purposes and having links with sent in their 2012 dues. people with a common heritage (Continued on page 5) Cathy McComb Ludemann BRANCH CONVENOR, U.S. & Canadian Branch of the Clan MacThomas Official Clan Website: www.clanmacthomas.com 3 Clan MacThomas — U.S. & Canadian Branch Official Newsletter Volume # 2 Issue # 4 December 2011 James’ The View From My Saddle significant savings have been realized as Convenor Cathy notes elsewhere. If a paper copy is desired by one of the James Thomas 75%, simply hit the "Print" button on your computer, as I Greetings from the Wilds of Northeast do. Wisconsin. Fall has come in with a vengeance Third, since the purpose of our new Newsletter is to contain with cold, high winds, some rain and many, News, we do depend on the Members to furnish a many leaves, alternating with exceptional Indian significant portion of the content. Thanks to those who Summer weather this month and last month, which came through with stories and pictures last time, and permitted a pleasant end to the SASS shooting season. shame on those who sit in the back bleachers and There is a topic I would like to revisit this time — complain about lack of News or Newsletters without Our Newsletter! There are some basic misconceptions contributing anything. If you go to a Games in kilt or plaid, afoot that need to be put to rest. send a picture.