Clan MacLea - Livingstone

I. Name
The society shall be known as the Clan MacLea (Livingstone) Society, a non-profit, non-sectarian, and non-political cultural organisation.

II. Purpose

The primary purpose of the Clan Society is to promote pride in the Clan MacLea (Livingstone), to provide a connection to the Clan’s historical lands in Scotland, and to foster feelings of kinship and clan spirit amongst MacLeas and Livingstones throughout the world. In pursuit of this primary goal, the Society will support secondary activities consistent with this purpose:
• Work to safeguard and clarify the heritage of Clan descendants worldwide through research and education,
• Compile relevant genealogical and historical information and ensure its dissemination to both Clan members and the general public, by means of both printed and electronic media,
• Advise and assist Clan members engaged in genealogical and/or historical research, including DNA testing,
• Encourage participation in cultural activies including the wearing of Scottish Highland dress, the perpetuation of Highland traditions and customs, and the promotion and attendance of Scottish Festivals, Games and Gatherings,
• Establish active officers and branches around the world,
• Encourage gatherings and activities that promote the Clan, and,
• Develop international kinship within the Society.

III. Membership
Full membership in the Clan Society is available to any eligible person aged eighteen years, upon receipt of the prescribed personal or family annual membership subscription. Typically, members would be descendants in any line from a Livingstone or MacLea, or any spelling variant thereof, but friends of the Clan are also welcome as members.

The annual membership subscription shall be set by the Commissioner in consultation with the Clan Chief and other officers in order to fund administrative costs deemed appropriate. All members in good standing with dues paid can vote in any election and nominate any other member in good standing for any office or post. Honorary membership of the clan (with no required dues) may be granted to individuals at the discretion of the Commissioner and/or Clan Chief.

Membership will be payable on a yearly basis, coinciding with the calendar year.

IV. Leadership
The Chief of the Clan MacLea, Niall Livingstone of Bachuil, by the Grace of God Baron of Bachuil, Coarb of St Moluag at the time of this writing, shall be ex officio the leader of the Clan Society. At the time of the constitution of the Clan Society, the Chief shall appoint a Commissioner for a period of three years. The Clan Commissioner, with the Chief’s approval, will appoint officers to assist him. Until such time as elections are held, the Commissioner and all appointed officers serve at the pleasure of the Clan Chief. The executive committee is formed of all the officers of the Society except the Clan Chief and will work together on Society business, led by the Commissioner.

Should sufficient member numbers be achieved within the initial 3 year period, elections will be held to elect the next Commissioner and succeeding officers. Officers will be submitted for election in a staggered fashion designed in consultation with the Clan Chief, so that the officers overlap and provide continuity within the Clan Society, with no more than 2 offices up for election in any given calendar year. Nominations for officers will be submitted to the Clan Chief for his approval and all qualifying, nominated members will be submitted for election to offices by members in good standing. All officers will hold a three-year term. Elections may be held by paper or electronic ballot.

Officers shall be: Commissioner, Secretary (Membership/Recording), Sennachie (Historian), Treasurer, DNA Project Liaison, and Games Coordinator. Additional officers may be added later as needs arise. A separate Commissioner, for Australia and New Zealand, has already been created and is subject to the rules and bylaws of that Society. Though sharing and collaboration is expected between the two societies, nothing written in this document shall be construed to be binding upon the Australia/New Zealand Society.

Duties of the officers:
Commissioner: General leadership of the Society

Secretary: Keep track of membership (Membership role) and archive discussions of Society business for member access (Recording role)

Sennachie: Assist with content of Newsletter, be liaison for historical/genealogical research within the clan; his or her chosen assistants form the Research Committee

Treasurer: Manage monies and provide information on income and spending to the executive committee and Chief

DNA Project Liaison: Act as a representative of the Clan within the DNA project

Games Coordinator: Organise volunteers to distribute clan information at Highland Games and other venues

Individuals may fill more than one officer position (except for Treasurer), although under no circumstances will the executive committee number fewer than four officers.

Until elections are held, all other officers will be appointed by the Commissioner and approved by the Clan Chief. The term of office for this initial group of officers will coincide with that of the Commissioner, and they will be eligible, upon the commencement of elections, to be nominated and serve thereafter.

V. Treasury
The income and property of the Clan Society, in the care of the Treasurer, who shall provide an audit of said Funds yearly to the executive committee and Clan Chief, shall be applied solely towards the promotion of its primary purpose as set forth in this constitution. No portion of the Clan Society's income and property shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of a dividend, bonus, or otherwise by way of profit to members of the Clan. No officer shall be appointed to any office of the Clan paid by salary or fees, or receive any remuneration or other benefit in money or other forms from the Clan Society. However, nothing shall prevent payment in good faith by the Clan Society of: reasonable and prompt remuneration to any member, officer or servant of the Clan (not being an officer) for any services rendered to the Clan Society; reasonable and proper out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any officer in connection with their attendance to matter affecting the Clan Society. However, reimbursement of expenses will only be possible inasmuch as the Society’s finances allow, and prior approval of any expense is expected or payment cannot be assured.

VI. Meetings
Until such time as numbers allow in-person meetings, all meetings and Society business will be undertaken electronically. Archived proceedings kept by the Secretary will be kept on the Clan Forum in the Members section for reference.

VII. Subscriptions (Dues)
Yearly dues will be set by the Commissioner and executive committee in consultation with the Chief. Personal and family memberships are available and their levels are set by the executive committee. Subscriptions will include the following benefits: Access to a Members area within the Clan Forum; Access to a database of Clan records within the Clan Forum when it becomes available; Twice-yearly Newsletter; and Discounts on Clan merchandise. Extra donations will also be accepted.

VIII. Charter Changes
Near the end of the three-year initial period, the Commissioner, executive committee, and Chief, will confer as to the ability to hold elections or consider either beginning elections or an additional three-year term with a new or continuing Commissioner and officers. At that time, or sooner at the Chief’s pleasure, changes to this Charter may be put into place to allow elections.

approved by Niall Livingstone of Bachuil, by the Grace of God Baron of Bachuil, Chief of MacLea, 6 Nov 2009