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 The Clan Piper Newsletter February 2007
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Editor's Corner
Change is in the Air

Welcome to the newly designed quarterly MacLennan Clan Newsletter. We are hoping to make this newsletter more about you the readers. In this edition we are introducing a new format that will include: the Editor's Corner, Membership, Caring & Sharing, History Tells Us, Clan News Around The World and an Events Calendar.

Many thanks from your new editor to our Membership Chairperson and Convener, Jennifer Young, for all her support, emails and "gentle nagging" which kept me on track

Welcome to the "Family"

The McLennan family pictured below came all the way from Sun City and Apollo Beach, Fl, Little River, NC and Framingham, MA to have their own family reunion in Stone Mountain, GA. They were surprised and thrilled to have the opportunity to join the larger MacLennan clan that weekend.

From left to right back row:James Duncan McLennan (Jay) William Alan McLennan (Bill) Lois Anne McLennan (Lois)

From left to right front row: Donna McLennan, Frank McLennan and Joseph McLennan (Joey).

For any questions about membership please contact Jennifer Young or write to her at:
Clan MacLennan Assn. USA
Jennifer Young, Membership
288 White Road
Portland, TN 37148
615-323-7891

Caring & Sharing

History Tells Us

In Scotland and Nova Scotia names beginning with Mac were traditionally listed under the first letter of the last name. The US lists them under M or the 1st letter of the last name. There are however exceptions to this rule. Some families have an Irish/Scot connection and Pict or Viking connection, example: Innes/ MacInnes. The Innes families are of Pictal roots . The MacInnes families are of Gaelic origin from the west coast.

Because of these above situations following the origin of some names is very difficult and one must have a great deal of information before making a wise decision

In the United States these changes came primarily from census takers. In Scotland up until the late 18th century the Scots were Illiterate. Only the Chief and ministers could read. Most of the commoners were not taught to read or write. During this time spelling differences were trivial because most names came from the profession, or country area, re: carpenter, riverbank.

It was not until 1948 that a written Gaelic Language came about. This was when surnames were written for the first time.

In Scotland the practice in the South and Ireland was to write two names as one, ex: MacGill/ Magill.

Youth Pages

Click here to visit the Youth Pages on the Mountain Region web site.

Coming Attractions

Sally Jo McLennan Truhlar has written that she has "a couple of old letters, from the early and mid 1800's, written by Neill McLennan, Sr.'s second daughter and his nephew to relatives in Florida describing events in the McLennan Family in early Texas." "As you may, or may not know, Neill McLennan was the first white settler of both Walton County, Florida and McLennan County, Texas?."

Please add her to your Caring and Sharing mental list as she had knee replacement surgery recently. Here's to a speedy recovery, Sally.

In response to your request, Win has offered to research and write a piece on how the Logan and the MacLennan clans are related. Stay tuned??.

Membership dues and applications should be sent to Jennifer Young as she is membership chairmen. Her address: 288 White Road, Portland, TN, 37148

Also a new newsletter editor, Ms Lois McLennan, was appointed. Any information for the newsletter should be forwarded to her at: MCLENNANLOIS@COMCAST.NET

Also we have appointed Alexandre McKeon to put together a Youth Program to attract this age group to our association. She can be reached at: DumSpiroSpero_1@msn.com

Many other suggestions were offered but it was the feeling of the members in attendance that we really need to get these three items in a secure operational mode before any more changes are made in 2007 Additional changes and appointments will be made at the next Annual meeting in the fall of 2007.

With the changes made we should have a much better exposure to the MacLennan name in the country and will increase their awareness to our existence.

One of our conveners, Jay Park has returned to military duty and returned for another two year tour in Iraq. The Clan Association wishes him Godspeed and safety while on tour.

Contributed by Win MacLennan, President

The page you are reading now is within the USA section of the Worldwide site.

To check out the rest of the USA site, click here..

To see what's going on in other countries, just click on the Worldwide Home link at the left of this page.

Clan MacLennan Crest

MacLennan Clan Motto: Dum Spiro Spero (while I breathe, I hope).

History of Clan MacLennan: the history of the MacLennans is complicated in that the Chiefship remained dormant for over three hundred years. In addition, they are closely associated with the Logans, both having originally settled in Kintail, although the Logans later grew to prominence in the Lowlands of Scotland, becoming Lords of Restarlig.

In the highlands the MacLennans supported the Mackenzies. When the Marquis of Montrose rallied the Clans to the Royalist Cause in 1645, the 2nd Earl of Seaforth, the Mackenzie Chief, and a Covnenter, opposed him. In the ensuing Battle of Auldearn, the men of Kintail, led by the MacLennan Chief, who carried the Seaforth Standard, were decimated.

This information is courtesy of http://www.scotsconnection.com/clan_crests/MacLennan.

Event Dates and Locations 2007

On a different note...

Here are two of my mantras for 2007 which you are all welcome to borrow,

"Stone Mountain or Bust"

&

"Grow the Clan"

I borrowed that one from L. Jay Parks who is currently in Iraq. If you would like to email Jay and send his your best wishes from the U.S. his email address is:

rockettman6699@a4isp.com

OR

rockettman_99@hotmail.com