Council of Scottish Clans & Associations

Clan and family societies frequently represent and serve families with more than a single surname. Most societies refer to these as either spelling variations of the primary name or “septs,” also called “affiliated families.” In fact, the most frequent word used is sept while the next frequent term is a variation of “allied and dependent families.” Some used both terms, a few defined the term “sept,” and a very few explained the historical connections between the primary surn

Most clan and family societies proudly display their crests, which are based on the Coat of Arms of their current or past chief. However, the full Coats of Arms of these chiefs are the specific property of the current chief. They may not be used by any other individual or organization, without express permission. The use of Coats of Arms (also called heraldic achievements) dates back to the 12th century when they were used by knights for identification. The number and variety

By Julia Heinig, Communications Chair, House of Gordon USA. The redesign direction came from our President, Jen Mills-Martin. We wanted a site that is easy to navigate, easy to read, and to provide a more efficient way of signing up for memberships and donations. The previous site’s design was out of date as well which created a lot of issues for us. We have been using IONOS as our web hosting for many years. It was set up by our previous President and Communications Chair, L

A website is more than just posting information about your Scottish heritage society online. If designed and maintained well, your website can draw potential members to your society, educate them, engage them, and turn them into paying members! Without those features, you may turn people way. Here’s a look at some the most important aspects of websites that can turn visitors to cherished society members. Domain Name The first consideration is getting a domain name, or interne

You can now find your clan or family on an interactive version of the “Scotland of Old” map first published in 1956. The map includes over 280 surnames which are now listed alphabetically. You then just click the grid quadrant (such as “B3”) to see a detailed version of that section of the map. This is the most accurate “clan map” even though the word "clan" is not used. This map was crafted by Sir Iain Moncreiffe of That Ilk, Bart., (1919 –1985) Albany Herald and Don Pottin

With an increased interest in DNA and Scottish heritage in the past ten years, more people have higher expectations for their associated clan and family societies. Leaders need to be able to involve these enthusiastic individuals and allow them increased responsibility for new and different projects. In some cases, the “old guard” either refuse to let go or have melted away. In these cases, the “new guard” are determined to “re-boot” the society and bring it back to life. In

Membership acquisition and retention is a key factor for all clan and family societies. Last fall, COSCA conducted a survey that examined how successful societies manage their membership. The results indicate that the old techniques of printed newsletters and presence at Highland games are no longer defining activities. The more successful societies are engaging in modern-day business practices that involve online services. In September and October 2022, COSCA conducted a sur

Many clan and family societies not only serve their members but also fulfil the charitable responsibilities required by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS.) According to the 2022 COSCA membership survey, 13 societies reported separate but affiliated clan or family charitable foundation: American Clan Gregor Society; Armstrong Clan Society; Clan Baird Society Worldwide; Clan Campbell Society, N.A.; Clan MacAlpine Society; Clan Macaulay Association; Clan Maclean Association

Clan and family societies expect that their websites are the primary source of information about their clans and families online – but that is not always the case. Depending on your website search engine optimization (SEO) strategies, your website may not be the first site people see when they search for information about your clan or family. In fact, based on a review of searches through Google, less than a third (32%) of clan and family societies with websites were returned

As all-volunteer organizations (AVOs), Scottish heritage societies live or die by their officers and boards of directors. All boards have two types of responsibilities: (1) maintaining the legal and financial aspects of the nonprofit corporation and (2) conducing the work of the organization in terms of managing, leading, and doing. The first set of responsibilities include handling the money, ensuring federal and state compliance, make big decisions for the future, ensuring

Members born during the “baby boom” (1946 to 1964) generally have the time and patience to use desktop computers to download and print portable document format (PDF) documents, scroll through long text-dense web pages, and click through a series of online photographs. Younger people are far more likely to watch videos on Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok on their hand-held smartphones. Scottish heritage societies that wish to attract these younger potential members need to change

One of the major reasons that COSCA has updated and expanded its website is to promote the individual Scottish clan and family societies. Through the “Find My Clan” online service, visitors can find the connection between their surname or the surname of an ancestor with a specific clan or family. From the clan or family webpages, COSCA provides links to the websites, Facebook pages, and DNA projects. From that connection, the society can entice the visitor to ither join thei

With the normalization of travel after the COVID-19 outbreak, more people are planning their Scotland heritage tours. One major destination for members of Scottish heritage societies are their clan and family museums and heritage centers. These sites range from a display at a local museum or chief’s home to an area of a former church to an entire building. Clan Donnachaidh Museum The Clan Donnachaidh Museum is located in Bruar, Pitlochry, Perthshire. Clan Donnachaidh was “ref

Increasing the membership of your society starts with building relationships with potential members. While societies have traditionally relied on in-person meetings and events, more societies are leaning heavily on the internet through social media and their websites. A great tool for learning more about your website visitors is Google Analytics, the most widely used tool for tracking web visitors. After you build your website, you’ll need to set up a Google “Tracking ID” tha

If your Society is planning a trip to Scotland, get the guidance of an expert! Janet Robertson of Thistle Dubh Enterprises has managed tours to Scotland for almost 20 years, including for Clan MacFarlane Worldwide, Clan Rose Society of America, and most recently for Clan Forbes Society. Here are some of her pacing and traveling recommendations. Wardrobe and Packing For daytime activities we suggest a wardrobe that is adaptable and versatile. Casual, comfortable clothing is re

Highland Gatherings and Games are traditional events that members of a clan use to renew their family bonds and compare feats of prowess. Clan conveners sponsor and host tents celebrating their heritage and encouraging society membership. COSCA has compiled advice and examples from many clan societies to provide the ultimate clan convener guide. The planning covers suggestions for researching the local event's requirements, confirming your participation, and understanding you

By Barbara J. Ball, PhD, QG Genealogist, Clan Cunningham International Owner, Copestone Resources, LLC Doctoral student, The University of Strathclyde Questions were emailed to clans on 21 December 2021 asking simply what tasks the clan genealogist performed. Clans were selected from the rolls of the Council of Scottish Clans and Associations, Inc. Emails or online web contacts were sent to 58 different clans or family organizations. I received a response from 30 organization

A “Find My Clan” database has been added as part of the updated COSCA website. Users can either scroll through a list of known Scottish clans or search for a surname to discover any inks to one or more Scottish clans. The "List of Clans" is currently being reviewed by the Delegates and Alternates of the COSCA Organizational members. If you are a clan chief or leader of a clan society, please review your individual clan webpage. Let us know if you would like any changes, if yo

With the newly revamped website, you now have different ways to connect with COSCA. Authorized Delegate is the single point of contact for all current Organizational Members. This individual is the person who has paid for or authorized payment of the Scottish heritage society’s COSCA membership. The Delegate has the authority to vote on COSCA business and has access to the society's MembershipWorks account that includes the payment options for dues. You can become an Authoriz

The Clan Forbes Society is proud to announce the publication of House of Forbes for Kids, a new heritage activity book for children of all ages. This 84-page spiral-bound publications includes outlines for coloring, drawing activities, puzzles, and even the opportunity to start a family tree. “Many of our members started going to Highland Games and Scottish Festivals at an early age,” said Barry Robert (Bart) Forbes, president of the Clan Forbes Society. “We wanted to provide