BY RICHARD GRAHAM
CHIEFTAIN, CLAN GRAHAM IN NORTH AMERICA
This year is a special year for Grahams worldwide. In 2012, we celebrate the birth of one of Scotland's greatest heroes and patriots--the renowned James Graham, 5th Earl and 1st Marquis of Montrose, born in 1612, 400 years ago--a life which has been celebrated in books and verse many times over.
Those who attended the special service to celebrate his life in the (Maryville College) campus chapel on May 19, 2012, heard some details of his life from me, Jim Nethery and His Grace, the Duke of Montrose. His life was also celebrated at the High Kirk of St. Giles in Edinburgh, Scotland, on May 21, 2012. Our Chief's and the Duchess's son, James, the Marquis of Graham, attended the Service of Commemoration while our Chief was with us in America.
This special year also includes a changing of the guard in that Larry Nichols retires and Jim Nethery takes over as president of the Clan Graham Society. Larry has done a great job for us over the last four years and in particular has overseen the production of our newsmagazine, expertly produced by Society Editor Ekena B. Parkinson and then printed and distributed by Society Communications Vice President Wrifton Graham. Ekena, our new webmaster, has taken over and greatly improved an already wonderful Society website originally managed Bob Howard, past membership chairman, newsletter editor and webmaster. Larry's expertise in the communications area has been invaluable to the Society during his tenure as president. You see, Larry was a Florida newspaper editor himself with good communications and administrative knowledge. Some of you might remember that a long time ago Larry also produced, printed and mailed the newsletter himself. That's a person with quite a career for us to have been blessed with. Thanks for all you have done for us, Larry! I'm sure that you will continue to support the Clan Graham Society and I do hope that you will continue to be in the loop of communications with the Society, and especially with Ekena and Wrifton.
My best wishes and thanks go out to you all and especially to all those who work for the Clan Graham Society, including the following who have arranged and planned the 2012 AGM in Maryville, Tennessee:
Jeremy Dick
Kiersten Graham Dick
Cliff Fitzsimmons (President of the Smoky Mountain Highland Games and Vice President of Membership of the Clan Graham Society)
For best viewing of the PDF spreads on the computer, launch either Acrobat Reader or Preview. In the drop-down menu, go to View and choose Page Display/PDF Display. Then check Two-Up/Two-Pages Continuous.
