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Stories

This page features stories and articles taken from our quarterly enewsletter, the Shank Bone. It is a beautiful family album of articles, photos, recipes, book reviews, historical stories, birth announcements, member profiles, travel tips, upcoming events, and more. All contributions come from our members. Become a member today to start receiving (and contributing to!) the full Shank Bone. Don't miss out on any MacKinnon stories!

8/12/2020

Hello from New Membership Secretary, Lisa Lucas

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.
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Lisa & Rob Lucas at the 2016 General Meeting held in Chicago, IL.
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Grandma Diane, Lisa's mom, with grandson Rory Lucas.

8/12/2020

Clan MacKinnon Society Grant Winner Announcement

As of 2020, Clan MacKinnon Society now offers three grants awarded annually. Thanks to contributions from many generous supporters during a fundraising campaign in late 2019 and early 2020, over $6,000 was raised to support Clan MacKinnon Society's grants and clan tent stipend fund into the future. As a result of the funds raised, the Society can now award more grants and each can be given at a larger amount than in years past. Each grant applicant can apply for up to $400 in funds. The funds awarded are based on strength and merit of the application, and cost of the endeavor for which the applicant is seeking funds.
 
This year we actually had four applicants whose combined total amount requested came to less than the $1600 set aside to be awarded. Therefore, all four applicants were chosen to receive a grant.
 
This year’s winners and their endeavors are:
  • Shannon MacKinnon from Washington, USA who will learn Gaelic using Duolingo.
  • Diane Jackson from Colorado, USA who will conduct ancestry research using ScotlandsPeople.
  • Robert Schoones from Netherlands who will receive tenor drumming training.
  • Dominique Lessire from Belgium who will receive Drum Major training.
 
Congratulations to all four grant recipients!

8/12/2020

Commissioner Interview-Steve Mills, Arizona

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Hi Steve! Please share an interesting thing about yourself that not many people would know about you.
Steve: This question is so hard to answer! How about this – when I was in the Navy, we pulled into port in Boston during the Tall Ships 2000 maritime festival. While there, one of the sailing ships had a problem with their primary navigation radar. The interesting part is that the ship was a foreign vessel used for training sailing officers from Denmark – the S.S. Danmark. It’s been in continual use since being launched in 1932! Anyway, a shipmate of mine and I, being radar technicians, were sent over to help them diagnose and, if possible, fix the problem. After a couple of hours (and with a bit of help from a civilian technician), we found a bad transistor, soldered in a replacement, and the radar fired right up. The crew was so happy they insisted we stay to have dinner onboard the Danmark...and let me tell you, the Danes eat far better than US Navy sailors!
 
Open up your refrigerator and tell us about your top 5 favorite items in there.
Steve: Only five? Beer is always good. Cold pizza - a crowd favorite. Breakfast isn’t complete without English muffins (we keep ours in the fridge), marmalade, and a fried egg.

If you had a superpower, what would it be and why?
Steve: As a history fanatic, mine would be time travel. Can you imagine what it would be like to witness the Jacobite rising, or the War of Scottish Independence? Or, closer to home, the Gettysburg Address and the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

If you won the BIG lottery, what would you do with your winnings?
Steve: This I have thought about often. There is the usual – take care of family, etc. etc. However, I would like to build a Clan MacKinnon museum on Skye, either at the ruins of Caisteal Maol or Dun Ringill. If it was a big Powerball jackpot, then start a nonprofit to purchase and manage the Strathaird estate (currently owned and managed by the John Muir Trust). One can dream, right?
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What is your favorite way to spend your day off?
Steve: Spend time with my family. Other than that: writing, camping, fishing or golf.
 
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
Steve: Skye, to see my family’s distant cousins. Also, Tuscany - to enjoy a nice Chianti while looking out over vineyards stretching across rolling hills.
 
Why did you decide to become a State Commissioner for the Clan MacKinnon Society?
Steve: There was no CMS representation. I contacted John and asked if there would be a clan tent in Phoenix, and he said something like “yes, if you’d like to host it!” And here we are.
 
What is your favorite Cocktail (or non-alcoholic beverage)?
Steve: The Dalmore King Alexander III...only on special occasions.
 
Who is your favorite author?
Steve: This is a tough one. I’d have to go with Bernard Cornwell at the moment.
 
What person had the most influence in your life?
Steve: Another tough question. I can pick only one? I would have to say my father, who instilled in me work ethic and a desire to join the Navy. After that would be my mother, who gave me my love of writing.



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