Semi-Formal Dinner & Award Ceremony

Section I.      Introduction
Section II.     Attendee Qualifications
Section III.    Chief Candidates  
Section IV.    Schedule
Section V.     Attendee List

Introduction

On the 3rd of February 1828, Sir Richard John Strachan, Bart., the last Chief of Clan Strachan died without male heir. Since then, no individual has come forth with a proven and documented blood line to the past Chief of Clan Strachan, nor has a Representer of a cadet line satisfactorily presented themselves to the Court of the Lord Lyon to claim the Baronetcy of Thornton and Chiefdom of Clan Strachan.  With no legitimate claimant, the baronetcy became dormant in 1854.   Since this time, Clan Strachan has been considered by both the Court of the Lord Lyon and the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs as an Armigerous Clan.

The Right Honourable, David Sellers, Lord Lyon King of Arms, has request the Society identify Leading Members of the Family of Strachan who are interested in attending a Family Convention (Ad Hoc Derbhfine meeting) with the purpose if identifying a Commander.  Said Commander would serve for 10 years in order to determine if a more legitimate claimant with genealogical lineage to the past Chief or a cadet branch can be identified.  An heir with a proven blood line to the past Chief or a cadet branch would have a priority claim.  Otherwise, after serving the 10 year term as Commander this individual would likely become hereditary Chief of Clan Strachan.

The Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh has exclusive jurisdiction in this matter, and all attendees (and ultimately the Commander) must be found acceptable to the Officer of Arms, Court of the Lord Lyon.

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Attendee Qualifications

The Lord Lyon has indicated that leading members of the family or name in question be admitted to the Family Convention.  It appears this is defined as:

• Scottish Armigers (those with properly granted or matriculated Scottish Armorial Bearings) (born a STRACHAN).  Armigers are the nobility of their Clan,  members of the Derbhfine, the Clan gentry, second in rank to the Chief and his immediate family. They are clansmen of distinction with a certain role in the management of the Clan in our times. 

• Substantial Landowners in Scotland (generally 5+ acres outwidth a burgh) who were born a STRACHAN.   Landowners are allowed to sit on an Ad Hoc Derbhfine because although in the lowlands new branches of organised noble Families were raised on the basis of a grant of arms, however, in the highlands this was seldom the case.   Instead, most branch families were erected on the basis of a feu or grant of land from the "waste" of the Chiefs estate. There are also similarities between this concept and a grant of arms, as each grant is a version or the "waste" of the chiefly undifferenced arms.   This was all derived from Lord Lyon King of Arms, Innes of Learnery's views on feudalism, heraldry and clans. However, it is the reason as to why substantial landowners in Scotland are afforded equal status with armigers on an Ad Hoc Derbhfine. A concept revived by Learney himself around the 1950s.  This said, the term 'landowner' has been defined in various ways depending on the  current Lord Lyon King of Arms. In the past, this has been defined as someone with at least 100 acres, and more recently someone who simply holds title to property in Scotland.  There is no written heraldic law as to the definition a 'landowner', and as such it appears to be determined on a case-by-case basis by the Court of the Lord Lyon.

• Eminent men (or women), and prominent individuals such as academics, judges, barristers/solicitors/attorneys, doctors, politicians, successful business persons, and others who are leaders in their profession or field (must be born a STRACHAN)   - A new concept introduced by David Sellar, Lord Lyon King of Arms in the "Guidelines for holding a Family Convention [source].

• The Lord Lyon has also indicated that, "... there must be flexibility here in defining a 'Leading Member'."   This seems to indicate that croft holders, tenant farmers, members of the Society, and others will be evaluated by the Court of the Lord Lyon on a case-by-case basis.  This is a new concept introduced by David Sellar, Lord Lyon King of Arms in the, "Guidelines for holding a Family Convention [source].

Overseas participants outwidth the jurisdiction (outside Scotland) may participate by video link or similar if unable to attend in person.  In fact, the Court of the Lord Lyon desires a broad geographical representation of attendees at the Family Convention to represent the family demographic.

Women who were born a Strachan, but have changed their surname (i.e., marriage) are also eligible to attend the Family Convention.

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Chief Candidates

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Schedule

Once the Lord Lyon or more likely the Officer of Arms provides confirmation of authorized Derbhfine Attendees, the Society will send a pre-meeting ballot to all authorized Attendees.  The ballot will confirm various terms and conditions of the informal meeting.

Once ballots are returned, an informal meeting via toll free conference call will be scheduled, and paid for by the Society.  This informal meeting is when the Council will determine our next Commander, and is the most important phase in our planning.

The informal meeting consists of a process, and we ask all authorized Attendees NOT to pre-judge the candidates.  Instead, please keep an open mind.  This informal meeting will be impartially moderated, and will consist of voting for Commander candidates after a brief question and answer session.  It is expected this process will take several hours, and may in fact may need to be scheduled over several sessions given the relatively large number of people interested in attending the Family Convention. 

As attendees are located worldwide, the time for the meeting will be scheduled so that is it most inconvenience for those living in California.  Therefore, for those living in Pacific Standard Time (PST), please get plenty of rest before the meeting!  

Once the informal meeting is concluded, and we have either an unopposed Commander candidate (or one with substantial majority support) a formal Family Convention meeting will be scheduled in Edinburgh at the Court of the Lord Lyon.  This is a requirement of the Court of the Lord Lyon, as the formal meeting is not a forum for debate.

The Court of the Lord Lyon will schedule the Family Convention at least six months in advance (likely up to one year) in order to allow maximum personal participation by overseas attendees.  Overseas attendees may also participate by video link or similar.  The meeting will likely be held at (or near) the Court of the Lord Lyon, New Register House, Edinburgh, Scotland.

To confirm, the Family Convention (aka Ad Hoc Derbhfine) is absolutely NOT a forum for debate, and should largely be ceremonial given the prior results of the informal meeting. 

The new Commander will be required to file a petition for a new Grant or Matriculation of Arms, if he/she has not already been properly granted.  This is required in order to put the new Commander under the jurisdiction of the Court of the Lord Lyon, and therefore, is required to properly recognize this individual as our Commander and prospective future hereditary Chief.

As you can see, this process is a quite lengthy one, and years in the making!

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Attendee List

There are a limited number of seats available for the Family Convention.  Below are individuals who have expressed an interest in attending.

1.	James Andrew (Jim) Strachan, Esq., FSA Scot, BA, MBA Co-Founder Clan Strachan Society Clan Strachan Armiger CEO and President, AEI Intelligent Technologies Temecula, CA USA
2.	LCDR William S. Strachan, Esq. (RAN-RET) Member, Clan Strachan Society Clan Strachan Armiger Drummoyne, NSW, Australia - Bill will participate remotely via video link or similar.
3.	Hew Francis Anthony Strachan, Esq., Knight, MA, PhD, DL (Tweeddale), Hon D Univ (Univ of Paisley), FRSE, FRHistS Resides at Glenhighton Farm (2200 acres)
4.	Dr. T. Martin Strahan, MB BS, DrPH, FRACP, FAFPHM, FACPM Member Clan Strachan Society Petition for Armorial Bearings is in queue at the Court of the Lord Lyon.  600 acres - Strathavon, Bundaberg, QLD, Australia
5.	The Right Hon. Roderick Strachan of Benholm, Baron of Benholm Benholm Castle, Scotland (14 acres) Member Clan Strachan
6.	James Andrew (Drew) Strachan, Esq. Homeowner in Elgin, Moray Royal Artillery, Warrant Officer Class 2 - RET
7.	Charles Robert Lund (Rob) Strachan Eldest son of Benjamin & Lize Strachan Mill of Strachan Strachan near Banchory, Aberdeenshire Scotland
8.	Dennis Craig Strawhun Co-Founder & President, Clan Strachan Society Society is Armigerous Carlsbad, CA USA
9.	Garry Strachan Cert. Genealogist. IHGS, Member AGRA, Member  APG Clan Genealogist, Clan Strachan Society Daventry, England
10.	Michael Ray Strawhun, BA USAF, Civilian Firefighter US Forestry Service, Battalion Chief US Federal Wildland Fire Incident Command System (ICS) Incident Commander and an Operations Section Chief Clan Strachan Society, Member & Director, Newsletter Editor
11.	Judy Carole Strawn Who's Who Member & Director, Newsletter Editor, Clan Strachan Society Los Angeles, CA
12.	Michael George Strahan Vice President, Clan Strachan Society BA, MBA Fishers, IN USA
13.	Dr. Lloyd W. Strachan BSA, MS, PhD Member Clan Strachan Society Ashton, ON Canada
14.	William (David)  Strachan, (BSc MA VetMB PhD MRCVS) Mill of Keig, Keig, Alford, Aberdeenshire Scotland
15.	John Sublet Strachan Highlands Ranch, CO (USA) Member of the Society in Good Standing
16.	John (Stuart) Strachan, Landowner in Scotland Scotland
17.	Col. Michael Robert Strachan, USAF - Active Duty Member of the Clan Strachan Society
18.	Philip Strahin Richmond, TX (USA) Expressed interest in participating via video link
19.	Walter George Strachan Nova Scotia, Canada
20.	Alison Faye Strachan, Attorney Nova Scotia, Canada
21.	Richard (John) Strachan, Senior Archeologist, Historic Scotland Resides in Dunbar, Scotland
22.	William (Bill) Strachan of Glennoch Tighphuirt, Glencoe. Retired Director of a telecommunications company, retired Director of the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry (five years), and a Board member of Kilmarnock Further Education College (four years).
23.	Walter Lewis Strachan Landowner is Dunfermline, The Black Watch TAVR for approximately 15 years, and retired Civil Servant.
24.	George Duncan Strachan Sewell, NJ (USA)

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