Below are short descriptions of the Standing Committees of the Society.
If you wish to join a committee, or have questions or comments, please send us a message.
Awards
The Awards Committee develops and maintains criteria for the selection of individuals for special honors and awards. Specific duties include:
- Identifying candidates and making appropriate recommendations to the Board of Directors
- Designing and purchasing medals, certificates or other memorials for awards
- Conducting appropriate presentation ceremonies
- Notifying appropriate Officers / Committees / individuals of awardees
- Recording the names of award winners in order to maintain a historical record and annually forwarding it to the Society’s Archivist.
The Committee also prepares an expenditure forecast as required for inclusion as an item in the annual budget.
The Awards Committee meets on an “as needed” basis.
Budget
The Budget Committee receives the anticipated financial expenditures from Officers and each Standing Committee and prepares an annual budget covering the upcoming fiscal year for the Society. This budget is presented at the Board of Directors meeting prior to the fiscal year it takes effect, for approval. The Committee makes the approved budget available to all Society members, upon request.
Communications
The Communications Committee includes the editors of The Tartan and the e-newsletter, and our electronic media Administrators. As the official media relations committee for the Society, the Committee is responsible for the dissemination of all Society information to the public. This includes, but is not limited to: feature stories, announcements, publications, and advertisements in all media – Internet, visual, print, audio etc. The Committee strives communicate accurate and current content, and to enhance the profile of the Clan MacDougall Society of North America and its two clans on the web and social media.
The Committee has a mandate to reach out to our youth, seek their ideas and involvement, and create programs to broaden their knowledge of our heritage.
The Committee coordinates and administers the Internet and electronic media efforts of the Society and governs its content, with the approval of the President and Vice President(s) concerned. We use the Internet to maximize our exposure and visibility as a way to reach out to current and prospective new members, and when possible to conduct our business electronically with Members and prospective members. Primary internet media are our website, Facebook Group. The Raven is our electronic newsletter which provides brief timely reports of current activities on a wide range of topics of interest. It is published monthly, except in months The Tartan is published. The Tartan is the official journal of the Society. It provides longer articles often dealing with historical subject matter, book reviews, biographical articles and other topics. It is published three times each year.
The Committee welcomes input and assistance from our general membership and from others who share their knowledge. The Committee prepares an expenditure forecast of its media as required for inclusion as an item in the annual budget.
Genealogy
The Genealogy Committee reviews the Society’s genealogy materials and the options for electronic organization and data management. With the assurance of privacy protections, the Committee may support the collection of genealogical information and seek to make it accessible to Society members (excluding private non-public personal information contained on our membership, dues, or donor forms described in Standing Rule II. 1. c.). The Committee fields queries from Society Members and will assist them in research but does not have the resources to do research for them. The Committee prepares an expenditure forecast as required for inclusion as an item in the annual budget.
Heritage
The Heritage Committee, with the help of the members of the Society and other resources, seeks to provide, as comprehensively as can be established, a historical look into the significant events and traditions in the history of Clan MacDougall and Clan MacDowall. This is accomplished by members and others interested in our history and willing to share their information for the benefit of our two Clans. We welcome contact with those who share their knowledge with the Committee. This information can then be further researched and documented for archiving or publishing. We hope that many members of the Society will submit material for this endeavor. We hope to be able to put all of these stories into a book titled “Tales from the Clan.” The Committee supports the efforts of the Society’s Communication Committee to deliver its media content with continual additions or updates to information on our web site pages and media which may be open to the public, or in some cases only to Members. The Committee prepares an expenditure forecast as required for inclusion as an item in the annual budget.
Hospitality
The Hospitality Committee is available to provide guidance to our Society Tent Sponsors and events organizers to help them make Society members, guests and visitors feel welcome at Society events and gatherings, thus enriching the experience of active membership. It continually seeks ways to establish the Society as an open, inclusive and welcoming organization, and is available to help coordinate major Society social events and gatherings. A key event is the Annual Founders Dinner held every July in conjunction with the Board of Directors meeting. The Committee provides assistance as needed by the temporary committee formed each year under Standing Rule VI. 5. to organize the Annual Founders Dinner. The Committee prepares an expenditure forecast as required for inclusion as an item in the annual budget.
International Relations
The International Relations Committee maintains the good and close relationships with the leaders of Clan MacDougall and Clan MacDowall in Scotland and elsewhere, which have existed since the beginning of the Clan MacDougall Society. These leaders are:
The Chiefs of Clan MacDougall and Clan MacDowall;
MacDougall of Lunga, Senior Cadet of Clan MacDougall;
MacDougall of Gallanach, Cadet of Clan MacDougall.
The Committee seeks to establish and maintain close and cooperative relationships with other members of Clan MacDougall and Clan MacDowall throughout the world, especially those who are attempting to create or revive clan societies in their homelands and to facilitate communications between our Members and these clan folk in other countries. The Committee prepares an expenditure forecast as required for inclusion as an item in the annual budget.
Internet and Technology
The Internet and Technology Committee supports, coordinates and may administer the electronic technology and software programs operated by the Society on the Internet. It supports the efforts of the Society’s Communication and Media Committee to deliver its media content with the approval of the Executive Committee. Members include the Webmaster and Web Site Administrator. Primary Internet media are the Society’s website, its Facebook pages and its Twitter account. The Committee strives to keep our technology reliable, current, and secure. The Committee supports the Society’s effective use of the web and social media to reach and conduct our business electronically with current and prospective members when possible. We welcome contact with those who share their knowledge with the Committee. The Committee prepares an expenditure forecast as required for inclusion as an item in the annual budget.
Membership
The Membership Committee is chaired by the Vice President for Membership with the President Elect as one of its members. The Committee seeks to create and apply ways, and work with Society Representatives at all levels, to attract new members and to retain existing Members. The Committee attempts to make maximum use of technology to conduct business and to reach the greatest number of clanfolk but strives to maintain personal contact between our Members and our Officers at all levels. The Committee prepares an expenditure forecast as required for inclusion as an item in the annual budget.
Scholarships
The Scholarship Committee administers our Scholarship Program to financially support learning endeavors that enhance knowledge or appreciation of the Scottish music and arts, the Society and/or our cultural heritage. This might include a scholarship, fellowship, award, prize, or other method of financial assistance at North American and/or Scottish Universities, colleges, other appropriate institutions, or from an appropriate tutor/instructor. Further information can be found on the Scholarships page. The Committee prepares an expenditure forecast as required for inclusion as an item in the annual budget.