It seems extraordinary that yet another year has passed - it was just this time last year that Ian (our webmaster) and I were battling to give maclean.org a complete make over. Then, within a few months, Ian had delivered the site as you see it today in terms of design and much of the content. But it didn't stop there: we launched the blog in time for me to be able to report from the International Gathering as it happened and then, in the autumn, we launched the MacNet Community, a social networking site which is within the maclean.org environment and there are now 139 members.

The development of the website is a labour of love by Ian, a professional web designer who runs his own hosting company in Glasgow, Scotland, and we are all very grateful for his efforts and his commitment. And this goes well beyond just MacleanNet members - at the International Gathering, the Chief was pleased to recognise the huge contribution that Ian has made to the development of the Clan Maclean Associations by developing and maintaining the website. Well done, Ian and I look forward to working with you again this year.

The new challenge for 2008 is to extend the functionality of the website and we will be launching a history wiki and I am hoping that there are plenty of history buffs out there who would like to contribute their knowledge and expertise all of which will help build the wiki into the first point of reference for all Macleans around the world.

I wish you all a very happy, prosperous and successful 2008.

The Annual Scottish Gathering of the Clan Maclean Association will be held again at the Normandy Hotel, Inchinnan Road, Renfrew PA4 9JE (by Glasgow Airport), on Saturday 20th October 2007.

As usual the Gathering will start with a Reception at 6.30pm followed by Dinner and an address from the Chief, after which, there will be a short break before the entertainment and dancing.

Full details and booking form are available on the CMA Scotland website.

Anns an leabhar “America’s Braemar” le mo chairdean Dòmhnall MacDhòmhnaill, fhuair mi iomradh a’ chuimhneachain iomchaidh don na Fuadaichean: anns na goireasan fir ann an taigh-seinnse ann an Glaschu, an Lìos Mòr, tha na h-ainmeannan An Darna Morair MacDhòmhnaill, Col. Gordon of Cluny, Patrick Sellar, Bean Gordon-Cathcart, mar eiseimpleir, a-stigh anns na poitean-mhùin. Sin freagarrach, nach eil?
Annag

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Chaidh mi dhan Colaiste Ghàidhlig aig Naomh Anna an seachdainn seo chaidh agus bha e math mar as àbhaist. Bha poile de thachartasan a’dol air adhart ‘san t-saoghal Gàidhlig an Ceap Breatain an seachdainn seo chaidh leis Fèis an Eilean agus an seachdainn tumaidh aig a’ cholaiste. Rinn sinn deasbad air na riaghailtean airson a’ Ghàidhlig ionnsachadh: Anns a cheud dol a mach, cuir romhad ma tha e nad chomas, deagh fhear-teagaisg a bhi agad – saoraidh e moran ùine dhut le bhi glanadh air falbh moran imcheistean a bheireadh bhuat do mhisneach, gad chumail o droch mhodh labhairt ionnsachadh a dh’fheumas a bhi air a dhi-chuimhneachadh leat air a cheann mu dheireadh. Tuilleadh a-rithist…
Annag

As you will all be aware, the development of the Maclean.org website is an ongoing affair in which Ian (Glasgow) does all the work - and our thanks go to him for this - and the content is more or less masterminded by me, Alasdair (Belgium), as the MacleanNet president. However, neither Ian nor I create the content unless specifically in our areas of interest and we rely on others to submit items to us for inclusion. So, if you have anything you'd like to publish on the website, then send it to me at alasdair@maclean.org.

As to what is coming up: well, Ian and I have had our thinking hats on and a number of new developments are currently in the pipe-line and the first has already become available - there is now to be a Gaelic-language blog running and as soon as Anne Landin gets her mind round it, I expect we'll see Gaelic on the Blog.

The second development is that Ian has or will put on the website the four talks given at the Gathering so that all those who were unable to attend will be able to see what was talked about.

Then there is the History Wiki - this is currently being worked on and will be overseen by Don Kiely in Alaska. The idea here is that we will run a wiki (like Wikipedia) but initially this will be about Clan and Scottish History. Don is getting his mind round this at the moment and I expect we'll have it fully up and running by the end of the month.

We have other plans - social networking, some sort of forum to replace the newsgroups and a general improvement of the introductory pages to each section. And, on top of all that, Ian is making it possible for all the Clan Maclean Associations around the world to edit and upload material to their pages via a browser. All these changes will be taking place over the next few months and will be announced here on the Blog.

Fàilte do'n blog ùr Gàidhlig! Agus mòran taing do Iain 's Alasdair airson a shuidheachadh.

14mh Lunasdal, 2007
Shiubhail mi gu Ceap Breatainn an seachdainn 'sa chaidh far am bi mi tri mìosan. Cumaidh mi air adhart air na claran òrain Cheap Breatainn ann. Air an rathad, dh'fhuirich mise agus Iain (an duine agam) ann an Halafacs tri laithean ag obair anns na Tasglann Poblaiche Albainn Nuaidh. Ma bhios sibh ann an Ceap Breatainn, tha mi'n dòchas gum bi sibh a' tadhal oirnn.

Beannachdan,
Annag