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CLAN MACPHERSON ASSOCIATION
HONORED BY NATIONAL TRUST FOR SCOTLAND FOUNDATION USA
National Trust
for Scotland Foundation USA Appoints CMA/US Branch as official Ambassadors
to represent Foundation
By Jack W.
Raines, Chairman, US Branch
Why are we all so drawn to
Scotland? Is it because it is our home of heart? Is it because of our
beautiful and majestic Clan Lands and our wonderful Cluny? Yes. And it is
something more as well. Scotland to all of us is a land of magic, music,
heritage and culture. Our souls soar at the sound of the pipes, our feet tap
to a gig and our eyes open wide at the glorious tapestry that is Scotland.
Scotland is sparkling lochs,
deep green glens, stately castles, mysterious ruins and remarkable plants
and animals. We take special pride in our ancestral homeland. But what if
you came to Scotland and instead of Sterling Castle you saw a high-rise.
What if you climbed the Munros and saw nothing but wind farms. What if our
Clan symbol, the Scottish Wildcat, disappeared from the face of the earth
and Culloden was nothing more than a garbage dump? This would be tragic.
Thanks to the on-going efforts of the National Trust for Scotland and its
Foundation USA branch our treasures are safe.
Clan Macpherson Association
US Branch has now taken up the torch to guard our beautiful Scotland. We
have been highly honored to become the first official Clan Ambassadors for
of the National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA.
Without the National Trust
for Scotland and its very important Foundation USA, there would be no
guardian for Scotland’s many special treasures. It is the job of the
National Trust for Scotland and the Foundation USA to maintain and continue
to protect the wonderful elements of our heritage.
In early winter CMA was
contacted by James Hare, Executive Director for the Trust’s United States
branch to become the first Clan to represent all the good works of the Trust
by appointing Clan Macpherson Association, US as the first Clan to help
create greater awareness of the activities of the National Trust for
Scotland.
“It is with great pleasure
that we invite Clan Macpherson Association, U.S. Branch to become the first
official Clan Ambassador for the National Trust for Scotland Foundation, USA
for a term of one year to begin on May 31st of 2013,” stated James Hare. “In
recognition of the Clan Macpherson’s long history of support for the
protection of the history, heritage and natural beauty of Scotland I am
delighted that the CMA US Branch has accepted this honor. In doing so, CMA
is the inaugural partner of a new coalition created by the National Trust
for Scotland Foundation USA, called the Clan Heritage Circle, which will be
invaluable in helping the National Trust for Scotland to have a more visible
presence at games and gatherings beyond the few our very small Boston-based
staff can attend in person, ” Continues Hare.
I wrote to Cluny to see what
he thought of the plan. He was delighted and said, “Dear Jack, WHAT a
splendid connection! As a keen NT Member I am delighted to endorse it all.
We will get good publicity as well….VERY cold here but all well. Excellent
news from you has cheered me up in the snow!”
Next came the approval of all
the Commissioners and the scheme was met with a resounding yes. The National
Trust for Scotland and its USA branch have worked tirelessly to protect
everything from our beloved Scottish Wildcat to important buildings, art
treasures, gardens and much more. The pictures accompanying this article
show four of the NTS sites, preserved for us and our families. The
photograph are all by David Ross and used courtesy of NTSUSA,
The National Trust for
Scotland Foundation USA has granted more than $6.7 million to support the
work of the National Trust for Scotland since its inception in 2000. Through
their generosity, Americans have played a significant role in the stewarding
of 129 heritage properties, ranging from castles and great houses to
battlefields and mountains. In fact everywhere one goes in Scotland there is
bound to be a National Trust site or project nearby. The Trust has saved
1,000,000 seabirds on the islands and sea stacks of St. Kilda. It has
discovered over 100,000 artifacts, from everyday tools to the finest
examples of artistic craftsmanship. It has identified and saved over 13,500
plant varieties including national collections. In the area of science there
have been 45 sites of special scientific interest and seven National Nature
Reserves that are now protected forever.
If it were not for the
National Trust for Scotland and its USA Foundation, much of our heritage and
culture could now be lost.
Our involvement as the first
Clan Ambassadors for the Trust allows us to take a proactive stance to
protect more of what we love about Scotland and share the Trust’s importance
with people who visit us at games. It also allows us to open up a dialogue
about the special qualities that make Scotland so important to the rest of
the world and to clans specifically.
The National Trust for
Scotland Foundation USA is supplying all of our conveners with brochures,
copies of the awarding winning glossy magazine published by the Trust, a map
of Trust properties and projects and a plaque honoring CMA in its official
role as first Ambassadors. In addition each Commissioner will receive copies
of the 2013 Trust Guide to Scotland and a perfect lure to entice new members
with a chance to win a year’s membership in the Trust. The membership offers
free entrance to all of the Trust properties and projects, discount lodging
and dining and much more. Each Region will have the opportunity to pick a
winner from new members enrolled from May 31st, 2013 to May 1st, 2014.
Best of all there are no
costs to the CMA. The National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA does not
expect us to collect membership dues nor recruit new members for them.
I am delighted that we are
the leaders in this unique program which not only helps promote Clan
Macpherson through shared links on the National Trust for Scotland
Foundation web sites, but also in their blog and magazine. Not only is this
a singular honor for the CMA USA but also puts us in the front lines of
helping to preserve what we hold most dear, the land and the stories that it
tells.
Check out the website for the
National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA for more information.
http://www.ntsusa.org/ The closer
relationship between our two organizations will soon be part of both
websites. And, because of his keen interest in this organization, I have
asked former Branch Chairman, John Charles Macpherson to coordinate the
program for us. For more information please contact him at 518.851.9670 or
email at: dameannemac@gmail.com
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