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Hello, CMAA Members!
As we settle into a rhythm with our new monthly newsletter, we're also making room for occasional Members Only updates.
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Our goal isn't to repeat what you've already seen in the regular newsletter. Instead, this is a place to share opportunities specifically for members, things happening within the Association, and, whenever we can, news we think members should hear first.
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We have a few of those things to share today.
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Members Know First: Scotland, Summer 2027
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Plans are in place for the 2027 Clan MacNeil Gathering in Scotland, August 16–28, 2027, and we're sharing the details with CMAA members first.
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We'll have our own dedicated coach and tour guide as we travel from Edinburgh through the Outer Hebrides and Highlands. At the heart of the trip are three nights on Barra, including a visit to Kisimul Castle and the Clan MacNeil Gathering. The Chief has already begun planning the Gathering for the weekend we'll be there, with more details to come.
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There is room for just 32 travelers, and we need at least 20 for the trip to go forward.
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We've put together an overview with the itinerary highlights, pricing, what's included, and, most importantly, a little more about why this particular trip to Scotland is special for Clan MacNeil.
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- [Read About Scotland 2027] You're getting an early look before we share the trip publicly this weekend. Log in with your CMAA member website account to read more.
Ready for all the details? Scotland Folk Tours has the complete day-by-day itinerary and booking information.
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Have questions before booking? <!-->Email Kenny--> (president@clanmacneilusa.org) and he will be happy to help.
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Going to a Highland Games This Fall?
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We still have several Highland Games on the 2026 calendar where Clan MacNeil isn't currently represented. If you're near one of the upcoming Games in California, Tennessee, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Idaho, New Mexico, Mississippi, Utah, North Carolina, Arizona, or Arkansas, maybe you'd like to change that.
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And you don't have to sign up to become a commissioner or make a long-term commitment. Recently, a few of our members in Montana simply decided they wanted Clan MacNeil represented at their local Games, so they set up a tent. You can do that, too. If there's a Games near you and you'd like to try hosting a Clan MacNeil tent once, we'll help you figure out what you need and support you along the way.
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You bring the willingness to show up. We'll help with the rest.
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Help Us Tell the Stories of Clan MacNeil
Clan MacNeil has a long list of ancestors and related figures whose stories are waiting to be told, and Vice President for Genealogy Alissa Nolan is looking for a volunteer Research & Content Assistant to help tell them.
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The work is research turned into short pieces for our newsletter and social media: following a name, checking sources, and shaping what you find into something worth reading. You don't need a background in genealogy or a list of story ideas, since we already have plenty. What matters is that you enjoy the digging, care about getting the history right, and are comfortable working from reliable sources on your own.
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AI-assisted research and writing are welcome, as long as the underlying facts are independently verified.
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If that sounds like your idea of a good afternoon, send Alissa a short note about yourself: any experience with genealogy, history, writing, libraries, or archives, professional or personal, along with a small sample of something you've researched or written. It doesn't need to have been published.
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For the History Curious
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This one came to us from outside CMAA. It asks less than the role above: occasional records to check from home, no ongoing commitment.
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Andrew Simpson, a doctoral candidate at the University of St Andrews, is building two searchable databases from Scottish sources that exist only in print, and he needs volunteers to check the entries.
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If names, family history, Scottish places, and the occasional historical puzzle sound like your idea of an enjoyable afternoon, Andrew will even send you a sample batch so you can see what the work looks like before deciding.
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That's it for this Members Only update.
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We'll continue sending our regular CMAA newsletter each month, and when we have something specifically for our members, an opportunity to participate, Association news, or something we think you should hear first, we'll send a Members Only note your way.
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Thank you for being part of Clan MacNeil Association of America.
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