top of page
White Sheet
1110489839.jpg

MISSION

The purpose of Clan MacKinnon Society is to promote and foster the spirit of Clan MacKinnon, to provide a focal point and means for expressing MacKinnon sentiment, and to aid members in establishing and maintaining contact with each other and with others of Scottish heritage. Society membership encourages, promotes, educates, and supports the preservation of Scottish and MacKinnon history, tradition, and cultural activities.

SOCIETY HISTORY

On December 22, 1891 at a meeting held in Glasgow, Clan MacKinnon Society was born. Twenty-five clansmen were present at the first meeting. During the preliminary meetings the matter of who held the chiefship of the clan was raised. William Alexander MacKinnon of Kent, whose father had been recognized Chief of MacKinnon by the Lord Lyon in 1811, was declared by the Society to be the recognized Chief of the Clan. The Society grew rapidly during the years around the turn of the century and sponsored events throughout the year. At its founding the purpose of Clan MacKinnon Society was understood to be fostering clan sentiment, hosting social events for members, providing assistance to deserving clansmen, encouraging education, collecting and preserving clan records and traditions, and supporting Celtic literature and Highland arts and industries. For several years after World War II, Clan MacKinnon Society continued to enjoy considerable popularity and a vibrant membership. British society, however, began to change. Throughout the 1960s enrollment markedly declined as the membership aged. In 1975 Clan MacKinnon Society in the United Kingdom closed its books. As Clan MacKinnon Society in the United Kingdom was finalizing its affairs, Mrs. Joanne MacKinnon Osbourne and her brother, Clinton, began investigating the possible establishment of a society in the United States. Neil MacKinnon of MacKinnon, then Chief of the Clan, gave his permission to found a new society. By 1980 Clan MacKinnon Society of North America was constituted and two years later boasted some 57 members. The purpose of the North American society echoed that of its predecessor. During a 2005 reorganization meeting in Pleasanton, California, then Representative of the Chief and some 20 clansmen gathered to affirm the spirit of the modern Clan MacKinnon Society and acknowledge its Scottish roots and heritage. The “of North America” was eventually dropped to better show inclusivity for the many international members who had joined over the years. Clan MacKinnon Society is headquartered in the United States with members from all over the world. We show fealty to the Chief of Clan MacKinnon in Great Britain, Madam Anne Gunhild MacKinnon of MacKinnon, who named Stephen MacKinnon (of Massachusetts, USA) her Representative. Clan MacKinnon Society is led by a Board of Directors, all volunteers, who meet on a monthly basis year-round via Zoom, and in person every two years at a Society Gathering to discuss the direction and future of the Society. The Board is guided by a set of bylaws voted upon by our membership. To help advance our charitable and educational goals, Clan MacKinnon Society was granted 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in the United States.

IMG_0183_edited.jpg

BYLAWS

CLAN LEADERSHIP

Clan Chief

Madam Anne Gunhild MacKinnon of MacKinnon

 

Representative of the Chief

Stephen MacKinnon

Board Chairman Emeritus

John McKinnon

SOCIETY LEADERSHIP

Elected Board Directors (Term)

Steve Mills (2024-2028), Board Chair

Shannon MacKinnon (2024-2028), Vice Chair

Barbara Beckers-Lingener (2024-2028), Member-at-Large

Carl Johengen (2022-2026), Secretary

Kevin McKinney (2022-2026), Comptroller

Appointed Board Officers

Genealogy Consultants

Carron MacInnes and Valeria Greenwood

 

Historian

Caomhìn Mac Fhionghuin

 

Membership Secretary & Webmaster

Lisa Lucas

 

Shank Bone​ Newsletter Editor

​​Stacey Solemslie

 

Treasurer

Melinda Wiens

COMMITTEES

Commissioner

Kay LaRue (Chair)

Carl Johengen

David MacKinnon

John McKinnon

​Steve Mills

Communications

​​Lisa Lucas (Chair)

​Carl Johengen

Shannon MacKinnon

Andrew McKinnon

Steve Mills

Stacey Solemslie

Fundraising

Steve Mills (Chair)

Grants/Philanthropy

Carl Johengen (Chair)

​Kay LaRue

​John McKinnon

Steve Mills

Stacey Solemslie

COMMISSIONERS

Commissioner Committee Chair: Kay LaRue 

United States

Alaska - Tom Hendrix

Arizona - David Corlett

California - Larry McKinnon

Florida - Ashley Hunter

Georgia - Samantha Riggs

Idaho - Jennifer Ellison

Illinois - Kevin McKinnon

Kentucky - Melinda Wiens

Maine - Stephen MacKinnon

Massachusetts - Stephen MacKinnon

Michigan - John McKinnon

New Hampshire - John McKinnon

New York - Carl Johengen

Ohio - Chris Jordan

Tennessee - JW McKinney

Texas - Ami Hooper

Utah - James Love

Virginia - Tom Ward

Washington - Daniel DuPont

Wisconsin - TariAnn Thompson

International

Australia - Andrew MacKinnon

​Benelux - Marc Frère

Canada (Nova Scotia) - David MacKinnon

Canada (Ontario) - Cole MacKinnon

Canada (​Québec) - Kathleen McKen

Continental Europe & France - Robert Amyot

Germany - ​​​Thomas Göbbels

Scotland - Colin MacKinnon

Sweden - Staffan Nordström​​​​​​​​​

​Switzerland - ​​​​Joachim Morgenthaler

IMG_0183_edited.jpg

COMMISSIONER CORNER

Commissioners are responsible for spreading information and excitement about Clan MacKinnon in their regions. They also set up and host clan tents at Highland Games in their area. If you are interested in becoming a Commissioner, contact us. We can provide you with a free MacKinnon banner for display at your tent. We also offer $100 clan tent stipends to help you offset hosting expenses. See below for other resources:

bottom of page