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Western States Clan MacLaren Society
The Scottish Thistle Newsletter
Winter 2018 Volume 3 Issue 1
New Year, New Scottish Festival for WSCMS
A new Scottish festival in Oregon? Yes, and the MacLaren name is appearing quite prominently in the organization and planning.
The McMinnville Scottish Festival will be held for the first time Saturday and Sunday, June 9 and 10, and is organized and presented by the Celtic Heritage Alliance. The festival will be held on the grounds of Linfield College, right in the center of McMinnville, Oregon.
This is an exciting opportunity to support not only the Western States Clan MacLaren Society, but also the MacLarens who have become the leaders in planning the new games. Chris McLaran is the new president of the Celtic Heritage Alliance, the overall organization presenting the games, and an active member of the McMinnville community. Ray Mabey, a member of WSCMS, and a medal-winning Scottish athlete, has taken on the task of running the entire event. So, we have two great reasons for WSCMS to support these new Highland games by making it the location for the next annual meeting.
Technically, this is a re-start for the games. Beginning in 2011, and in the years following, the CHA held games at the Oregon coast, in Newport. However, when the facilities at the Newport fairgrounds had to be renovated and could no longer be used as a location for the games, the CHA could not find a new location. Eventually, the Newport games had to be suspended, and then cancelled for good. Now they are re-formed, to be held inland, in McMinnville for the first time. Many in the town have embraced the new event with enthusiasm.
The links just below will help you find more information about McMinnville and the festival. If you are in the area, you might also be interested in the Burns Supper put on by the CHA on Saturday, February 24. More information is available through the first link to the festival in the following lines.
For more information regarding the McMinnville Scottish Festival see their website at https://www.macscottishfest.comOr contact the Celtic Heritage Alliance at: celticheritagealliance @gmail.com For more information from the McMinnville Chamber of Commerce
http://mcminnville.orgFor more information from the McMinnville Visitor’s Associationhttp://visitmcminnville.comMore information about the WSCMS annual meeting will be forthcoming in the next issue of this newsletter in March. Make sure you put June 9 and 10 on your calendar now and plan to be there.
Note: Read the minutes for the 2017 annual meeting in Boise at the end of this newsletter. These minutes have been approved by those in attendance.
View of the Academic quad on the Linfield college campus in McMinnville
Message from the PresidentHello all, and welcome to 2018! A quick update on our two active military members. Nick, Navy Corpsman is doing well. He took an extended leave over the Christmas holidays, before his deployment to goodness knows where, soon. Robyn, a Navy Aerographer (I have no idea), is, by the time of this printing, in Norfolk, Virginia. I will beg for photographs for our next issue. At our AGM last year, we discussed increasing our social awareness footprint by donating to a worthwhile charity. To that end, I know blankets have been made to raffle off for a charity. A couple of ideas were loosely chatted about – but with no real substance to the conversations and no actual good cause emerged. However, in a general scope – sort of way, the idea of donating to a charity responsible for assisting the children of military personnel or first responders who died in the line of duty, was mentioned, as was something to do with training service dogs. So, before we get too far into our year of fun, we need to decide on a particular charity, and we need to decide rather quickly so we can make the necessary connections. If anyone has any organizations in mind, please let Norm or me know as soon as you can. This year we have a new event on our horizon in McMinnville in June. I will be attending. Let’s make a big splash. More on this event as information emerges. That’s all for now – I hope the year is good to all of us. Keep in touch, keep the faith, and enjoy yourselves.
Hugs, NinaService organization: Northwest Battle BuddiesA suggestion for an organization that the WSCMS can help, as requested at the last annual meeting, is Northwest Battle Buddies. This organization trains service dogs to give to returning military service members to help them through PTSD. The dogs are trained and then given to the service members at no charge to help them regain freedom and independence. See more information at their website: http://www.northwestbattlebuddies.org If you have a comment on this or another possible organization to support, contact Nina Garcia or Norm English.
A Few Thoughts from Vice-President Norm English
Continuing along the historical theme of WSCMS, Inc. and of our attempts at showcasing our Scottish heritage in the Northwest, particularly as it pertains to Clan MacLaren, I wanted to encourage our ongoing efforts in getting the word out about what great opportunities there are for our organization.In a little more than two years, we have been able to build up our exposure moving forward. Worthwhile endeavors generally take time to accomplish, and increasing awareness of WSCMS is gradually ‘taking hold’, and we’re seeing a very good result from our efforts. Looking back on our activities, our organization was involved in the following:1st Year (2015/2016): *Treasure Valley Celtic Festival in Boise, Idaho *Robert Burns Supper in Newport, Oregon
*Oregon Scottish Heritage Festival in Albany, Oregon *Eugene Scottish Festival in Eugene, Oregon*Kelso Highlander Festival, Kelso, Washington
2nd Year (2016/2017): *Treasure Valley Celtic Festival in Boise*Oregon Scottish Society Tea in Albany*A ‘Remembering Robert Burns’ event in Vancouver, Washington*Kelso, Washington Annual Meeting
3rd Year (2017/2018):*Treasure Valley Celtic Festival in Boise*Robert Burns Dinner in McMinnville, Oregon*McMinnville Highland Games, McMinnville (Coming in June, 2018)
We can take much pride in what we’ve been able to accomplish in our 2+ years of existence. A number of other Celtic festivals in the Northwest provide opportunities for WSCMS to gain additional exposure. If any of you would like to convene a coming event on behalf of our society, please get in touch with one of the officers/board members, and we can help you get organized.
NormNotice to Members of a Proposed Bylaws Change
At the 2017 Annual Meeting, the Board/Officers voted to recommend a bylaws change to be voted on at the 2018 Annual Meeting to be held in conjunction with the McMinnville Scottish Festival, June 9 and 10. The following is the current wording in the bylaws for Article 2, membership, and the proposed addition in the boldface bracketed sentence. The current wording is in regular face. The wording in boldface italics is the addition that will be considered at the next annual meeting. ARTICLE 2 – MEMBERSHIP
A. Classes of Membership shall be: Regular: Any person aged eighteen (18) years or older who by birth, marriage, descent, or interest in the name of MacLaren or any of the clan’s sept name(s). [In addition, membership may be offered to any person meeting the stated criteria of surname and/or interest in MacLaren, who resides outside the geographical boundaries of the Society as stated in Article 1 of these bylaws, who is recommended by a member in good standing and endorsed by an officer or board member] Each member has one vote on Society matters.
If you have any questions, contact Norman English, vice president, at the contact information below.
Membership in WSCMS
Thanks for being a member of WSCMS. We hope you continue to be part of this group, focusing on getting together with other MacLarens in the west. If you don’t recall if you have renewed, please contact Tim McLaren, membership, and he can let you know your status. . Dues are $10 per year for each member. If you have not yet paid your dues for 2018, we hope you will rejoin by sending your check to treasurer Tom Martin. Contact information is on the last page.
WSCMS Membership as of January 2018
Current renewing members: 24 Members needing to renew: 5
Remember to check out our website:http://westerstatesmaclaren.weebly.com/
Downtown McMinnville, Oregon, location of 2018 AGM
Coming Events in 2018
4th Saturday in May--Saturday, May 26, Eugene, OR Scottish Festival2nd Weekend in June--Saturday and Sunday, June 9 & 10, McMinnville, OR Celtic Festival/Games
3rd Weekend in July—Saturday, July 21, Portland, OR Highland Games1st Weekend in August—Saturday, August 4, Spokane, WA Highland Games
3rd Weekend in August—Saturday and Sunday, August 18 & 19 Winston, OR Celtic Highland Games 2nd Weekend in September—Saturday and Sunday, September 8 & 9, Kelso, WA Highlander Festival
4th Saturday in September—Saturday, September 23, Boise, ID Treasure Valley Celtic Festival1st Weekend in October—Saturday and Sunday, October 6 & 7, Eugene, OR, McKenzie Highland Games
17January
Western States Clan MacLaren Society, Inc.Officers/Board Members through December 31, 2019
President Vice-President SecretaryNina Garcia Norm English Karen [email protected] (503) 874-8101 (360) 576-4969
[email protected] [email protected]
TreasurerTom Martin(208) [email protected]
Board MembersBarbara Allen Gard Margaret English Pete Woodall(971) 599-5759 (503) 874-8101 (360) [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Tim McLaren(360) 546-2271
Web manager Newsletter Editor Membership Tracey Martin Penny McLaren Tim McLaren(208) 764-2882 (360) 546 2271 (360) 546 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Western States Clan MacLaren Society, Inc.WSCMS, Inc. is a duly registered non-stock, non-profit organization
incorporated in 2015 under the laws of the State of IdahoThe Scottish Thistle Newsletter is a quarterly publication printed
expressly for WSCMS members
The deadline for the next issue of The Scottish Thistle is March 21, 2018
WSCMS Meeting Minutes September 29, 2017 Boise, Idaho
A Quorum was established. The meeting was called to order by the President at 8:20pm.
Present: Nina Garcia, Tracey Martin, Norman English, Margaret English, Barbara Gard, Pete Woodall, Karen Woodall, Chris Martin
Approval of the Minutes: The minutes from the previous meeting were reviewed. There were no additions or corrections. Norm moved that the minutes be approved as written. Tracey seconded. The minutes were unanimously approved.
Financial Report: In Tom’s absence, Chris gave the report. Current Balance: $464.09
Membership: Norm reviewed the breakdown of the member numbers and demographics. There are 26 active members and 3 who have not renewed. Idaho – 7 California - 4 Oregon - 7 Washignton – 4 Montana - 1 Wyoming - 2 British Columbia - 2
There was a correction in the demographics. Colorado has 2 members. A suggestion was made for the members who have not renewed for a year, to invite them to rejoin and renew with one year s dues to become active.
Website Report: Tracey will add the member demographics on the website. She will also add the minutes of the last meeting. She has been very active in posting articles and stories on Facebook.
Building Membership/Advertising: Discussion regarding opportunities to build the membership by being present at the various games that members attend. If a member does attend a games to take photo’s and write up a short article for the newsletter.
Discussion regarding placing an ad in the Highlander for one year if the cost remains between $75 and $100. Barbara moved that we place the ad. Pete seconded. Motion carried.
Election of Officers and Board members: The president has contacted current officers and board members and asked them if they would agree to serve another 2 year term. Everyone has agreed to continue for another 2 year term. We need to cultivate other members to take on some of the roles. Barbara moved that we unanimously re-elect the current slate of Officers and Board members. Pete seconded All approved.
The President announced that Tim McLaren will take over the Membership role and Penny McLaren will be doing the newsletter.
AGM Meeting site for 2018Discussion regarding having the AGM at the McMinnville Highland Games in McMinnville Oregon in June of 2018. That would not quite be a year but it is the inaugural event for the games and there are two MacLarens involved in the planning. Barbara moved that we go to McMinnville if the group can make it work for the AGM. If not, then we will return to Kelso in September. Tracey seconded and the motion was carried.
New Business: Norm had three items he wanted to present.
1. Donating some funds to a worthy cause. All thought that was a great idea. Nina to think about different causes that members feel are worthy and we will decide at the next AGM.
2. Norm proposed revision in the bylaws under membership. The Bolded section add the addendum: “who is recommended by a member in good standing and endorsed by an Officer or Board member”A notification will be placed in the newsletter. Norm will send out a ballot to the entire membership letter with by-law change in the membership letter
3. ProxyNina will review the Idaho Corporation rules regarding Proxies. Barbara moved that we approve pending rules and be sure there are no conflicts regarding the use of proxies. Tracey seconded and the motion carried.
Meeting was adjourned at 9:20pm
Addendum: Meeting at the games tent, on Saturday morning September 30th, discussed making military themed lap blankets for raffles at the games. All thought it was an excellent idea.
Karen Woodall, Recording Secretary