Maxwells leading the Parade of Clans at the New Hampshire Highland Games
The 2003 Annual General Meeting of the
Clan Maxwell Society of the USA was held in conjunction with the
New Hampshire Highland Games in September. New England
Commissioner Mike Ramsden handled the arrangements for this
year’s gathering, the first of our annual business meetings
held in New England. Clan Maxwell was one of two honored clans at
the games, and it was a superb event. For the business session,
held on Saturday of the games weekend, our President, Laurence
Maxwell Long, presided. The following are hightlights of that
meeting.
Elections: Changes in the by-laws which were approved in
2002 were reviewed, with special attention on the upcoming
election of two new officers in 2004 – the Treasurer and one
Vice President. The President will appoint a Nominating
Committee, and the vote will be taken in the Fall of 2004.
Annual General Meetings: A discussion of possible
locations for future annual meetings resulted in a decision to
hold the 2004 Annual General Meeting next October in conjuction
with the Stone Mountain Highland Games, outside of Atlanta,
Georgia.
The members also voted to once again be a sponsor at the annual
Grandfather Mountain Games this year.
Secretary and Treasurer Reports: Catherine Long, our
Secretary, reported that Clan Maxwell USA membership stands at
453 (as of September) after a careful scrub of the rolls to
eliminate those no longer active. She also gave the
Treasurer’s report, showing a balance for the Society of
$7,708.67 as of June 30, 2003.
Genealogy Database: The President announced that the
genealogy database, long a Society goal, is temporarily stalled
because the recording of material has not been completed. We are
currently without a Clan Genealogist, and that position needs to
be filled.
Archives: A discussion was held regarding a potential site
to be the Society’s archives repository. Facilities in
Moultrie, Ga., and Boston, Mass., were discussed as
possibilities, but a decision was postponed. A key concern is to
ensure that the archives are available to members, and there was
consensus that the archives should be put on on CD (DVD) which
individual members could use in home computers. A committee will
be appointed to study the cost and logistics of such a project.
Newsletter: There was discussion of whether the quarterly
newsletters should continue being mailed or switched to an online
format. Mailing costs are far higher than would be incurred with
an online version; however, there is concern that we need to
continue reaching members who might not have or use personal
computers. For the present, we will continue with the printed,
mailed newsletters and with having portions of the newsletter
content later posted on our website.
By-Laws Proposal: There is a proposal by William Latimore
that a by-law change be made in 2004 giving all members full
voting status. This would allow spouses the equal right to vote.
Since many spouses are very active members at games and other
clan activities, there was significant support for this proposal.
Flowers of the Forest: It was reported that long time
member and former Alabama Commissioner Kenn Fairbanks Maxwell
died in August.
— Catherine Long, Secretary
Mike Ramsden (left), our
New England Commissioner, and Clan Maxwell USA President Larry
Long (right) accept the Honored Clan plaque from Ken McCormack,
the Clan Co-ordinator for the New Hampshire Highland games.
