Clan MacMillan International

Clan MacMillan International

Clan MacMillan Society of North America 2024 Gathering

The 2024 CMSNA Gathering

The Twenty-Ninth Gathering of CMSNA took place in Jackson, Mississippi, October 23-28, 2024, under the attentive leadership of Hubert S. “Butch” MacMillan, president 2023-2024. On Wednesday evening, a "Meet and Greet" was held in the hospitality room at our hotel, the Springhill Suites, in Ridgeland, Jackson. It was good to see old friends from Canada and the United States. Gordon MacMillan, last President of the Clan MacMillan Society, UK (which was folded into the Clan MacMillan Centre in 2005), delighted us with his attendance. Butch’s family provided refreshments, and many MacMillans (of course!) brought a variety of single-malt Scotch whiskys for everyone’s tasting and enjoyment. Unfortunately, our chief’s son and "An Tanisteair" (heir to the chiefship), Arthur and his wife Barbara MacMillan, who now run the Finlaystone estate, were delayed in their travels and did not arrive to join us until the second day. Undaunted by the travel confusion, they took a very active part in our gathering.

Thursday we were off first thing in the morning on our tour-bus to enioy two historic Southern plantation homes, Longwood House and Stanton Hall in historic Natchez. We enjoyed our choices from an authentic Southern menu at "Biscuits & Blues" in Natchez for lunch. The evening was free for visiting with each other and exploring Ridgeland’s eateries and sights. On Friday Mississippi’s contributions to music were highlighted, with tours of the B.B.King Museum in Indianola. King’s career, from being an orphaned fourteen-year old playing on street corners, to becoming Rhythm and Blues’ most iconic performer, was quite inspirational. In the afternoon we toured the equally informative Grammy Museum in Cleveland, MS. We were surprised to see how many Grammy winners had roots in or connections with Mississippi! Their feature display was on Taylor Swift, however, who made no claim to a Mississippi connection! Once again, the evening was free for fellowship in the reception room, presided over by Butch McMillan, and decorated with many MacMillan tartans and heraldry, and a surprising and informative collection of posters highlighting Mississippi’s many contributions to sports, science, industry, culture and the arts, as well as its famous music.

Saturday morning first featured a coach-tour of the Civil War Battlefields of Vicksburg Military Park. From May 18 to July 14, 1863 the Confederate Army held off a 47-day siege of the city, before it eventually surrendered on America’s Independence Day, in a gesture of respect and the seeking of reconciling terms. Then Butch, who himself served for eleven years in the state legislature, gave us a tour of the stately, marble capital building in Jackson. Butch’s son now serves as a representative. After a return to the hotel to enjoy a box-lunch and don our tartans, on Saturday afternoon we enjoyed an Investiture Service of the Community of the Tonsured Servant at St. Columb’s Episcopal Church in Jackson. Three new companions of the community were inducted during the worship service: Lee McMillan, Michael Drotar, and Deborah Sirianni. Our retiring Abbot, Blanche McMillan, gave a stirring sermon on the clan motto, and transferred her office to the Rev. Chaplain Gary Eno.

CMSNA Business Meeting

Later that afternoon, CMSNA held its Business Meeting. The Minutes of the 2022 Gathering in Calgary, Alberta were adopted, and Debbie Sirianni’s Financial Report was also accepted. Debbie and Chris Wittenberg were re-elected as Treasure and Secretary respectively. Michael Drotar of New Hampshire was elected Vice President. God willing, he will host a Gathering in New Hampshire in 2026. Vice-President, the Rev. Dr. Chris McMullen was elected as President. Past President Keith MacMillan of Calgary, Alberta, gave a report on the creation of a "Roll of Honour" highlighting significant leaders and contributors who were members of our society, or indeed of the clan generally. This will be an ongoing project for the new executive. The 2024 Gathering ended, of course, with the formal banquet. Arthur MacMillan gave his first memorized recital of Burn’s Ode to the Haggis - with only a couple requested hints needed from Connall Bell! The haggis itself was prepared by a close friend of Butch's family. Arthur also presented an engraved quaich to Blanche McMillan, given by the chief and members of the Community of the Tonsured Servant, upon her retirement as its second abbot. As incoming President, I received the Chromag, Targe, and now ceremonial dirk from Butch. A lively auction of donated items by society members raised $ 765 US for the Clan MacMillan International Centre.

Tentative Plans for the Next Gathering, in Cape Breton, Canada

I hope to hold my CMSNA gathering in Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia in late July, 2026. Information on that will be available as the time approaches and plans are made. A MacMillan gathering in "the Celtic Heart" of Atlantic Canada can include tours of the Highland Village in Iona, the Gaelic College in St. Anne’s, and the Alexander Graham Bell Museum in Baddeck. All of these are short bus drives from Sydney. Visits to Fortress Louisbourg and the Glace Bay Miners' Museum might also be arranged. Then of course, there could be authentic Cape Breton ceilidhs, and perhaps a play on Cape Breton life by a local theatrical troupe. 176 MacMillans and kin took part in different parts of the previous CMNSA Gathering in Atlantic Canada, that I hosted during my first time as President in 2001. I will work and pray to make sure the Thirtieth Gathering of our society will be equally successful.