Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to All

There is no doubt that there is a schism among the Cunningham Clan here in America. I was not present when the split between one group of CCSA members had a falling out with the new leadership of CCSA. We can sit here and play the old blame game, never solving or achieving a resolution of the problem, or we can start talking with each other and finding an acceptable solution to this situation.

Let me say how much I applaud and admire the hard work of the founders and early members of CCSA. It is through the hard work and dedication of those early leaders of CCSA that saw our Clan Cunningham Society flourish, grow and gain respect among Scottish leaders here in America as well as in Scotland. It was those early leaders who wrote to the Lord Lyon, seeking his council as how to go about forming a Clan Society outside of Scotland. Indeed the Lord Lyon encouraged this small group of dedicated Cunninghams to move forward with their endeavors to form a Clan Cunningham organization. The Lord Lyon admonished those leaders that their work should always bring honor and dignity to the name of Cunningham.

I am sure mistakes were made along the way, misplaced checks, applications filed incorrectly, late newsletters and/or late reports. There was no malice intended. They were mistakes made by hard working volunteers who often had competing priorities such as family and work.

I need not apologize for any of these missteps made over 6-years ago. Their efforts to bring honor and dignity to the name Cunningham outweigh any mistakes that were made along the way.

We need not travel down the road of ‘he said this and he said that’. Yes, words have been said, some met to sting, while others clearly had malice intentions. It is time to stop the bickering and begin the healing process.

As we approach the New Year of 2010 and a new decade, my hope is that leaders of Clan Cunningham International can sit down with our counterparts from CCSA and bring an end to this situation that divides our family here in America.

Yours
C. Stevens Cunningham

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Come to the Highlands of New Hampshire

September 17, 18, & 19, 2010

Come to the Triennial Gathering of Clan Cunningham and business meeting of Clan Cunningham International, September 17, 18, 19, 2010 at the NH Highland Games in Lincoln, New Hampshire.

The NH Highland Games is the largest gathering of Scots within the New England region which takes place over a three day period in September. Last year more than 60 Scottish Clans and other organizations along with 30 pipe bands were in attendance. Including Colum Cille Pipes & Drums of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, who wear the Cunningham Modern tartan.

Every 3 –years Clan Cunningham gathers to celibate their common heritage, renew old acquaintances, make new ones and set the agenda of Clan Cunningham International for the next three years. At the business meeting of Clan Cunningham International on Saturday afternoon we will a voting on Bylaw changes and electing Officers for the next three years. The next gathering of the Clan will take place in 2013 out in California. So if you live in the Northeast here is your opportunity to attend a Clan Gathering close to home.

Preliminary Schedule of Events

Friday, September 17^th

8:30 AM Set-up the Clan Cunningham Tent and Reception Center in the Clan Village

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM NH Highland Games Open

6:00 PM – 7:30 PM Cocktail Reception – Steve & Bonnie Cunningham’s Condo (RSVP ccusane@comcast.net – free)

Saturday, September 18^th

10:00 AM – 4:00 PM NH Highland Games Open

11:00 AM Clan Parade & Roll Call – Gather at the Clan Cunningham Tent – 10:45 AM

12:00 PM Opening Ceremonies & Massed Pipe Bands

3:00 PM Clan Cunningham International Business Meeting – Clan Cunningham Tent

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Clan Cunningham Dinner – Green House Room Beacon Resort, Lincoln, NH - $35 per person (RSVP by 9/1/10 to Steve Cunningham ccusane@comcast.net) Entertainment - Colum Cille Pipes & Drums of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Highland Dancing and maybe a surprise or two.

Sunday, September 19^th

10:00 PM – 4:00PM NH Highland Games Open

10:00 AM Worship Services – Kirkin’ O’ Tartans

4:00 PM Closing Ceremonies – Time to say Good-byes

For a complete list of activities and entertainers at the 2010 NH Highland Games visit their web-site at http://www.nhscot.org/index.php.

Area Hotels:

The Beacon Resort - Lincoln, NH - Phone: 1-800258-8934 - http://www.beaconresort.com

Comfort Inn & Suites - Lincoln, NH - Phone: 1-888-589-8112 - gm@comfortinnloon.com
http://www.comfortinnloon.com

Franconia Notch Motel - Lincoln, NH - Phone: 603-745-2229 - http://www.franconianotch.com

Indian Head Resort - Lincoln, NH - Phone: 603-745-8000 - http://www.indianheadresort.com

Visit NH Scot (http://www.nhscot.org/index.php?id=4&tpl=default) for a complete list of area accommodations. Rooms book fast so do not put it off.

The Northeast Regional Tri-Annual Meeting Committee is already hard at work planning for this event. If you would like to volunteer to assist the Committee, please contact Steve Cunningham, 28 Fox Hollow Rd. New Fairfield, CT 06812 or e-mail him at ccusane@comcast.net

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Clan Cunningham

Uniting Under Clan

Cunningham International

Clan Cunningham is as united today as it has never been before. Thanks to the hard work and unquestionable dedication of David Pickens, Dr. William Cunningham, Jerry Lester, Alex Cunningham, Leslie Kenyon, and Jack Cunningham among a host of other Clan leaders both past and present. Clan Cunningham is poised through its clan organization, Clan Cunningham International, to take us to the next level.

CCI and its predecessor organization, Clan Cunningham USA have laid a solid foundation from which our Clan can reach new and great heights.

Recent Accomplishments:

• David Pickens and Steve Cunningham were the official representatives for Clan Cunningham at the historic meeting of The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, held at Scottish Parliament Building. This is the first time that The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs invited clans that do not have Chiefs to attend their meeting.
  

• David Pickens was selected to represent Clan Cunningham at the Royal Reception at Holyrood Castle in Edinburgh. His Royal Highness, Prince Charles received Mr. Pickens and thanked him for representing Clan Cunningham at his reception and at The Gathering. Mr. Pickens was one of only four Americans invited by the Prince to the reception.
  

• The Lord Lyon, David Sellers, stopped by the Clan Cunningham Tent in Edinburgh and briefly spoke with Leslie Kenyon, and thanked her for the outstanding job she is doing in trying to locate the rightful Clan Chief for Clan Cunningham. The Lord Lyon also spoke with David Pickens and encouraged David to think globally, to include Cunninghams from outside the United States within a united Clan Cunningham organization.
  

• More than 60 Clan Cunningham descendents visited the Clan Cunningham Tent, hosted by Clan Cunningham USA at the The Gathering in Edinburgh, Scotland. These visitors represented 8 different countries and 16 States here in the US.
  

• 40 Clan Cunningham representatives joined the nearly 150 Scottish Clans who marched up the Royal Mile to the Edinburgh Castle. A crowd of nearly 30,000 cheered the members of Clan Cunningham on.
  

• 20 members toured the home region of Ayrshire Scotland prior to attending The Gathering in Edinburgh. They visited such family sights as Finlaystone Stone, that last home of the Earls of Glencairn. Caprington Castle, the only Castle still owned and occupied by Cunninghams’ and Akit Castle, where the Montgomery feud started. The tour included several Kirks (churches) where leaders for Clan Cunningham worshiped.
  

• A Clan Cunningham dinner was held in Glasgow Scotland. 26 members of Clan Cunningham joined together to eat, toast and celebrate our common heritage.
  

• To bring unity to Clan Cunningham world-wide the Board of Directors of Clan Cunningham USA in September 2009, voted unanimously to change the organization name to Clan Cunningham International. Just this past month Clan Cunningham had a Clan Cunningham table at a local Scottish gathering in the “Borderland” of Scotland.
  

• Clan Cunningham International is working very closely with The Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh, Scotland and two members of the Clan who may petition the Lord Lyon to be recognized as the “Head of the Family” the lowlands version of the Highland Clan Chief. (Sir John Montgomery Cuninghame Baronet of Corsehill and William Robert Cunninghame Graham of Gartmore)
  

• Since returning from the International Gathering of the Clans in Edinburgh, Scotland, CCI has experienced a significant growth spurt in the number of new members joining CCI, several of these new members first had to resign their positions in another Clan Cunningham club. We have also had individuals from Scotland and Canada join.
  

• For the first time in a number of years CCI is fostering the growth of an affiliate organization in Scotland, Clan Cunningham in Scotland. This movement is being spearheaded by Alex Cunningham of Hawick Scotland. Alex is traveling to the states not only to visit relatives but to visit a Scottish Festival to see how CCI runs their extremely successful Clan Cunningham Tents.
  

Coming up Next

Clan Cunningham International will be holding its Triennial organizational meeting at the NH Highland Games in Lincoln, NH over the weekend of September 17, 18 and 19, 2010. The Colum Cille Pipe and Drum band will help make this a very festive occasion.

For anyone to deny that Clan Cunningham International is the Clan organization is uniting our Clan like it has never been done before is like denying that the Sun will rise and set on each day.

The future of Clan Cunningham is the brightest it has ever been, in many years. There is excitement in the air. It is safe to say the Earls of Glencairn would be pleased to know that their legacy is in the capable hands of Clan Cunningham International.

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CLAN CUNNINGHAM IS ON THE MOVE

Clan Cunningham and Clan Cunningham International are moving forward. For the first time Clan Cunningham has an international presences, thanks to the volunteer leadership of Clan Cunningham USA.

Already we are seeing positive results. Since forming CCI we have had several new members join from Scotland and we are in contact with Cunningham’s from New Zealand and Australia.

Clan Cunningham International is the only Clan Cunningham organization that welcomes every Cunningham into its membership, without question, it is the only one that the members elect their leaders every three-year.
If you are a Cunningham, or a member of an associated family of Cunningham’s, join today, start learning about your family, or share your family history with us.

We are always looking for new members that are interested in writing articles for our quarterly newsletter. If genealogy is your thing, we have a place for you. Want to host a Clan Tent or volunteer at a Clan Tent we can keep you busy. If you just want to sit back and learn about your unique heritage that fine also.

The leaders of CCI understand that we are all volunteers; many of us have full-time jobs, families, church commitments, scouts, etc. So we know that sometimes life gets complicated and things sometimes slip by. And that is ok with us, we know the job we get done, the Clan will move on.
Clan Cunningham International is CLAN CUNNINGHAM. When you join CCI you are joining the authentic Clan Cunningham organization.

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C. Steve Cunningham
Vice President
Clan Cunningham Interantional

A NEW START FOR CLAN CUNNINGHAM WORLD-WIDE

On Sunday, August 23, 2009 the Board of Directors of Clan Cunningham USA, with every board member present, (12) and voting in the affirmative to rename CCUSA to Clan Cunningham International to reflect the diversity of the countries where Clan Cunningham members live and work.

Why make the change from a geographical Clan Cunningham Organization, Clan Cunningham USA to an international society? While in Scotland this past summer to celebrate The Gathering in Edinburgh. We the leaders of CCUSA, we had 8 members of our Board of Directors in attendance, spoke with representatives of The Court of the Lord Lyon and The Council of Scottish Chiefs. We meet with Cunningham armigers as well as Cunningham’s who visited to the Clan Cunningham tent all urged us to think globally, not just geographically. We took this good council and have started the process of transforming Clan Cunningham USA into Clan Cunningham International. While our name has changed our mission remains the same. To encourage research into our historic past not only in Scotland, but where ever Cunningham’s emigrated to, and have become woven into the fabric nations throughout the world. To promote Clan Cunningham through participation at Scottish festival and games where ever they may be held. To share our common link with each other through our quarterly newsletter, The Unicorn, our history CD and our up coming CD on historic Cunningham travel guide. To encourage the development of regional and geographical Clan Cunningham organizations that celebrates our historic heritage. To hold regular Clan Cunningham gatherings so Cunningham’s can come together in celebration.

These are truly exciting times for Clan Cunningham; there is a real possibility that after more than 300 years we could have a candidate that meets the stringent heredity requirements to become our Clan Chief. Over 60 Cunninghams’ visited the Clan Cunningham tent at The Gathering; they came from Scotland, England, France, Australia, Canada, Switzerland and from 16 different states here in America. It would appear that Clan Cunningham International will have two affiliate organizations, Clan Cunningham in Scotland and Clan Cunningham in North America.

Yes we find our selves at the beginning of a new chapter in the book of Clan Cunningham. Each of you who are associated with Clan Cunningham has a part to play in how this new chapter unfolds. You can write historical articles for the newsletter. You can do genealogical researches helping others connect with their past, their family roots. You can do historical researches helping to connect the threads of time together so we can all see and understand the role members of Clan Cunningham have played in the events that have shaped our modern world. You can be a Tent Host, providing visitors with information on Clan Cunningham, the Scottish clan system, or answering the question, what is haggis? You can be Clan leaders taking an active leadership role in Clan Cunningham International or a CCI affiliate organization. Or you can be a member who cheerfully support the good works of Clan Cunningham International, everyone is welcomed.

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Excitement is in the Air

On Monday, July 20^th more than 20 members of Clan Cunningham USA (CCUSA) will descend on Glasgow, Scotland for the first-leg of our homecoming trip to Scotland. We will visit such places as Bannockburn Battlefield, Sterling Castle & Wallace Monument, Finlaystone House, Kilmacolm Kirk, Paisley Abby, Kilmaurs – visit the ruins of “The Place”, then St Maurs-Glencaim Church and the Glencairn Aisle. As well as Kilmarnock and a visit to Caprington Castle. On Thursday evening evening in Glasgow we will hold a Clan Cunningham dinner.

On Friday July 24^th while the CCUSA tour group relocates to Edinburgh, Mr. David Pickens and I will be representing Clan Cunningham at the meeting of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs. One of the items up for discussion will be how will the Council deal with the issue of Clans that have no Chief or Chiefs who choose to be inactive. As you may know Clan Cunningham does not have a Clan Chief and up to now the Clan Cunningham chair at the Council table has been empty.

On Saturday, July 25^th CCUSA will host the Clan Cunningham tent in the heart of Edinburgh at The Gathering. We will be joined by other members of CCUSA, members of Clan Cunningham Society of America, (CCSA) as well as other Cunningham family and supporters from Scotland and other points from the globe. All will be warmly welcomed. I am sure one of the issues that will be discussed is how the search for a Clan Chief goes, as well as how do we build a united Clan Cunningham international organization that will encourage Clan Cunningham organizations and society beyond the shores of Scotland and America.

It is my sincere hope that from these informal discussions at the Clan Cunningham tent, that a new beginning for Clan Cunningham here in America will take shape. As a member of the Board of Directors of CCUSA I will urge my fellow Board Members to open the lines of communications with our counter of CCSA. The first step toward any reconciliation, CCSA must take down the offensive material on their two web-sites as well as their Blog. These words only serve to divide us.

These are indeed exciting times for Clan Cunningham, and I am proud to be a part of this excitement.

Time to Stop the Bickering

If Larry Augsbury, High Commissioner for Clan Cunningham Society of America put half the amount of energy in bring our two Clan organizations togeather, that he does in attacking and belittling members of CCUSA, we all be marching down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh under one banner.

2009 is a wonderful time to be a Scot; we are all celebrating the 250 Birthday of Robert Burns, Homecoming Scotland 2009, and The Gathering 2009, the largest gathering of the Clan in Scotland in Edinburgh this summer.

Mr. Augsbury laughs at The Gathering 2009 as being nothing more than a “commercial endeavor.”

In the spirit of celebrating our Scottish and Clan Cunningham heritage one would think a leader like Mr. Augsbury would look into ways of bring Clan Cunningham together. Sadly for all us who lay claim to the historic Clan Cunningham legacy, this is not the case. Instead Mr. Augsbury continues with his personal war of lies, half-truths and degrading remarks about me and other associated with Clan Cunningham USA. It is truly dishearten to see a leader debase himself in such a manner.

I will be the first to omit, that yes sometimes I am slow to respond to an e-mail or in seeing that a membership application is sent on, as I am sure others in CCUSA and CCSA are just a guilty. It seems that Mr. Augsbury forgets we are all volunteers we all have families and jobs that come first in our lives, while each of us take seriously our responsibilities and obligations to Clan Cunningham USA, we do haves other responsibilities.

There is only one way to “Stop the Bickering” and that is trough an open dialog, free from name-calling and insults. Mr. Augubury the time for talking face to face is at hand, what a wonderful way to celebrate this historic year for all Scots, if the leaders of both CCUAS and CCSA could sit down and just talk.

Steve Cunningham Contact information - ccusane@comcast.net