The Clan Graham
Society is in great shape and has been for a long time.
Our 2007AGM
and gathering at the Stone Mountain Georgia games this year, with our
Chief, His Grace, The Duke of Montrose and his wife The Duchess present
was a roaring success. It was also an ideal time for me to announce that I
would like to step down as President of The Clan Graham Society while I
remain Chieftain of the Clan in North America. I would like to retire as
President at the end of my present term which will end at the 2008AGM in
Ventura, California next October.
I have been
President of The Clan Graham Society for some 25 years now. You have
honored me by electing me President for a 2 year term some 12 times and I
have enjoyed every minute of serving you in this capacity. His Grace the
late 7th Duke of Montrose named me his Chieftain in North
America in 1989, His Grace the 8th Duke of Montrose named me
his Chieftain in 1992 and I hope to continue in this capacity for the
foreseeable future at the pleasure of our Chief. I was again honored by
The Lord Lyon, King of Arms of Scotland when he recognized and granted me
my own Armorial Bearing in 1992.
Over the
years, I have watched our involvement in our Heritage grow and grow in
many directions [newsletters and website, games participation, libraries,
monuments (at St. Giles and in Montrose), Mugdock castle and the Graham
Room, AGM’s and Scottish Arts]. Many have created and been involved in
these activities with great enthusiasm and success to the point where our
natural pride as Graham’s has exceeded the boundaries that I might have
imagined. I imagine no more. At the 2007AGM all of those present exuded
the same energy and progressive attitude that I have come to accept from
the Clan Graham. Again, this is a good time for me to retire as President
because, as usual, we are still progressing and I will be there to work
with your new president(s) for a long time.
Richard