Celtic Life magazine recently did an interview with Larry Henderson, President, Clan Henderson Society.

Read the article here: Celtic Life Magazine

Thursday, July 11, 2013

8:30am – 4:30pm

Grandfather Mountain Scottish Clan Caucus

Lees McRae College

Banner Elk, North Carolina, at the foot of Grandfather Mountain

The Council of Scottish Clans & Associations is delighted to announce the return of an old tradition – Clan and Scottish Organization Workshops and Conferences at Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.  This year, to kick it all off, we are hosting a very special day long conference on Thursday prior to the opening of the games at Grandfather Mountain.

The 2013 Grandfather Mountain Scottish Clan Caucus is designed to bring Scottish American clan, family and organization leaders and active members together to explore and debate how we can bring Scotland and America and the global Scottish diaspora much closer together as we continue to move into the 21st century.

• What is our role?  The discussion about what’s happening in Scotland in 2014 has highlighted the critical need for the Scottish American community to continue our dialogue about what we need, what we want and how we can best help the global Scottish diaspora community to grow and thrive in the 21st century.

• How can we grow closer to Scotland?  We can never take for granted that Scotland will remain as supportive and protective of its ancestral traditions, sites, culture and language as it is today.  We need to understand what Scotland needs from us and how we can best meet those needs – and how we can best communicate what we need from Scotland to do our job.

We are absolutely delighted to announce that Sir Malcolm MacGregor of MacGregor, Convenor of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs will co-chair Thursday’s Grandfather Mountain Scottish Clan Caucus on behalf of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.  Sir Malcolm MacGregor will be joining the official 2013 Chief of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games Sir Malcolm Colquhoun of Luss in making the trip across the pond to be at Grandfather Mountain this year and we hope that other Scottish Chiefs can come as well.

Most of all, we hope that our Scottish American members and friends can join us for this important conference in the cool and beautiful North Carolina highlands this July. The 2013 Grandfather Mountain Scottish Clan Caucus is YOUR conference and an opportunity for you to learn more about what other people are thinking and doing and to make sure your own thoughts and ideas are heard and discussed.  We are fortunate to be working in a time of great change in Scotland and in the Scottish American community.  It is important that we continue to come together, organize and grow as a national and international Scottish family.

We will be bringing you further details and opening registration later this month.   

Please stay tuned and we hope to see you in July!

Yours aye,

The COSCA Board of Trustees                

Big News:

It is with great satisfaction that we announce a permanent price change for the basic DNA test kits offered by Family Tree DNA

Prices:
Due to the recent upgrade of our state-of-the-art laboratory, coupled with research and development into increasing lab efficiency, we are able to permanently offer the basic Y-DNA12 test for $49 beginning April 1, 2013. We are also working on bringing down the price of the basic mtDNA test as well; we hope to have that accomplished during the first half of this year.

We hope that you can encourage family and friends who saw the price as a barrier to now come on board. It is our goal to ensure every single person is able to have the “DNA experience,” at least at the basic level.

Click here to order

The Henderson Paver is the 6^th paver in position–there will ultimately be a total of 14 pavers in the “honored” position leading up to the memorial..  The President of the St. Andrews Society of Philadelphia, Mr. Stephen Palmer,  remarked:  “The pavers look absolutely beautiful and are a credit to the project, our society and to the individual societies who possessed the vision to participate.   To date, 8 pavers are in place.

The National Scottish Immigrants Memorial, the first to honor ethnic Scots was unvieled on October 8, 2011, in Philadelphia, PA.  The National Scottish Immigrants’ Memorial statue is located in a small park near Penn’s Landing.  The memorial is positioned in the same park as an existing Irish Memorial—tying together two cultures that had such a bearing on Colonial and early American history.

 The Scottish Memorial consists of four slightly larger than life figures, plus a dog, standing on a 6x6x4 ft, granite base.  Memorial pavers lead up to the monument and memorial bricks complete the walkways.  The monument depicts a Scottish Family, led by the patriarch of the clan, with his faithful deerhound by his side.  His son, who arrived in advance of the rest of the family, is already dressed as a frontiersman, ready for his life in the new world..  Along with his wife and children, they set forward to contribute to the development of America.

The statue is sponsored by the St. Andrews Society of Philadelphia, founded in 1747 at Tuns Tavern—once located close-by to the present day memorial.

A longtime member of Forest Hills Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, he most recently was a member of Mifflin Presbyterian Church in Gahanna. He was fond of his Scottish heritage and became active in the Clan Henderson Society. Quick with a smile and a laugh, he was beloved by many, a reliable friend and neighbor. He will be remembered for his sense of humor, his caring and selfless character, and the passions he shared with those he loved. In addition to his
parents, George was preceded in death by his sisters, Mildred Garis and Janet Hartt.

He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Elaine (Kolesar); adoring son, George (Vivian) Henderson IV and his little girl Sandra (Warren) Philipp; grandchildren who treasured their Pap, George Alexander Henderson V, Kyle Henderson, Henry, Grace and Reagan Philipp; several nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Interment at Church Hill Cemetery in Pennsylvania. In lieu of flowers, contributions in George’s memory may be made to the Clan Henderson Society.  Donate Here

Background:

Duties: The Commissioner (RC) is the primary Society Leader/Representative for the Region. The RC seeks out and gathers support to sustain membership and further the goals and objectives of the Society. The RC puts together a management team to support activities in the Region, prepares and manages an annual budget, supports the Clan Awards and Scholarship Programs, supports youth programs and helps develop leadership within the Society. The RC serves at the pleasure of the CHS President.

Candidate Qualifications: Candidates should have experience convening Highland games. Also, desired is an ability to communicate well, a proactive attitude and a willingness to help further the goals and objectives of the Clan Henderson Society. Management/Leadership experience is an important plus and a successful candidate should be able to write short articles and have a familiarity with Excel spreadsheets. Candidates are expected to be able to communicate by email and on the internet and should have read the Clan Manual, Part B, before applying for the position (available on this website)  Click Here.

If interested: Submit a photograph and written text addressing why you want to be a Regional Commissioner and why you believe you are qualified to the CHS President, Larry Henderson. Submission can be by email or US Postal Service.

Zoe Kilan won three medals in Womens Divison athletics at the Central Florida Scottish Highland Games, held in Winter Park, FL January 19-20, 2013.  Zoe proudly wears her Clan Henderson tartan in the games.  Zoe won 2nd place in the 14 lb throw-she threw it 44′ 9″; she placed 3rd in the caber with a 60 degree and 2nd in the 28 Lb for height of 11′ .

Zoe is the daughter of Clan members Jean and John Graczkowski who also have been competing in the Scottish Athletics in the south east area since 2007. Zoe participated in her first Highland Games three years in Orlando at the age of 16. Her favorite event is the caber toss and she practices regularly in the back yard. Zoe is a student at the College of Central Florida where she is studying to be a registered nurse.

Thank you, Zoe…for representing the Henderson Tartan so grandly!

Inside the Cultural Center, May Davidson Hall, Rural Hill, NC

The site of the Loch Norman Highland Games near Huntersville, NC now has newly built all-purpose building, known as May Davidson Hall.  The large central room can be used for many indoor activities–dancing, gatherings, meetings, arts and crafts, and whatever.  Other rooms for smaller meetings, a kitchen, and restrooms are provided.

On January 1, 2013 the Dedication was held, in conjunction with the annual First Footin’.  Clan Henderson Chaplain Fred Sanford delivered the Stone Soup meal grace, a Burn’s reading and then the Dedication Prayer.  The Loch Norman Pipe Band provided the music, and piped in the Haggis for the Address.  Clan Henderson Recording Secretary Peggy Sanford accompanied Fred, and brought her delicious Scottish Shortbread.

Miss May Davidson, for whom the hall is named, was the last to live in the house at the old Davidson plantation, and her will generously offered the plans and funds to build this facility.

Come see this facility and ALL the wonderful events at the Loch Norman Highland games, held in April each year.  You can learn more by clicking here: Loch Norman Highland Games

To learn the story of “Stone Soup”: Click Here

Former CHS Treasurer and CHS member since 2001, Stephen George Walker Murphy, 77, of Malvern, PA passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 26th, 2012 at the Bryn Mawr Hospital, after a long illness. Born in Fairmont, West Virginia to Waldo and Mary Helen Walker on November 2, 1935.  He lived the last 35 years in Malvern, PA.

Steve was a passionate man who loved his country, God and his family. He was still involved with his business at Medical Data Management as the CFO. He was  CFO at Brandywine Hospital in Pennsylvania from 1977 through 1993.  Before that, he was a CPA at Arthur Anderson & Company in WashingtonD.C. from 1960 through 1977. He enjoyed traveling and playing golf and studying the Bible and US history. He was a faithful member of the King Of Prussia Church of Christ and a proud American who served in the US Navy during the Korean Conflict.

Steve was extremely loving and proud of his three children, Jill Byrne Murphy of Nashville TN, Paul Murphy of Somers Point NJ, and Michael Murphy of Stavanger, Norway and his grandchildren, Mikayla and Nina. He is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 44 years Jane Lovell (Wooten) Murphy.