I just wanted to take a moment to say hello to our outstanding members and introduce myself as your new Membership Secretary moving forward. You probably know me already as a former Board Director (2016-2020). I enjoyed serving in this capacity, but I think Membership Secretary aligns even better with my tidy and organized nature. I am also continuing as your webmaster. Sharon MacKinnon served as your Membership Secretary for 8+ years before me, and I know I have big shoes to fill. She did an amazing job keeping our members updated and the member files organized. I appreciate her mentorship as I move into this role. Thank you, Sharon, for all you have done for CMS!
 
So you can get to know me better, I thought I’d share here a little about myself and my Scottish connection. I am a dual British-American citizen who grew up in the USA (born in New York State and raised in Arizona). My mother, Diane McIntyre Jackson (née McKinnon), was born and raised in England. Her parents/my grandparents, Malcolm and Ann McKinnon, were from Greenock, Scotland. They moved to Bebington, England in the 1930s for better work opportunities. My grandfather was an engineer on ships and later an engineering professor, and my grandmother was a professional tailoress and stay-at-home mother. Malcolm and Annie were both born in 1908 and lived into their 90s, so I am fortunate to have known them in my childhood and teenage years.

After my grandfather died, my grandmother decided to immigrate to the USA at the age of 93 and lived with my family in Arizona. She was so brave to have done this, and I am grateful for those final years we shared together. She used to talk about the old times growing up in Scotland after having a wee nip of sherry in the evenings. I loved her stories! I always thought it was neat that there were so many accents in my house growing up: my dad’s distinctive Upstate New York accent, my mom’s English accent, and later my grandmother’s Scottish brogue.
 
Currently I live in Colorado Springs, Colorado where I work remotely for Iowa Donor Network helping families navigate tissue/cornea donation by phone. My husband, Rob, is a high school English teacher. We welcomed our first child, a little boy named Rory Bruce, last October. He is the apple of our eye! My mom moved to Colorado Springs from Arizona in 2018 as well.
 
I joined Clan MacKinnon Society in 2015 because I stumbled across the organization’s website and was excited at the prospect of meeting fellow Mac/McKinnons from around the globe. Indeed, I have met many friends by being involved in CMS. I am hoping to get more involved at the local level by helping out at or hosting a future Clan MacKinnon tent at a Scottish festival. It is a great organization with great people. I look forward to serving as your new Membership Secretary.