Clan MacLeod member, Jean Stein, from South Elgin, Illinois is again the 2009 USA Highland Dance Champion in the 12 & under 14 age category. She successfully defended her title at the United States Inter-Regional Championship (USIR) in Nashville, Tennessee.

Jean has been a consistent winner and has represented the Midwest for the past 5 years at the United States Inter-Regional Championship, with 4 of those times as the Midwest Champion. This years win makes her 2nd time National Champion, twice in  in the 12 & under 14 age category, and also once as runner-up in the 7 & under 12 category.

We all congratulate Jean on her success and wish her continued good luck in the future.

Clan MacLeod member, Jean Stein, from South Elgin, Illinois won the Midwest regional Highland Dancing Championship for ages 12 & under 14.  Jean won the championship at this years’ Alma Michigan Highland Games. She is now eligible to compete in the Nationals to be held in Nashville, Tennessee in July. Jean was also awarded the “Best United States Dancer of the Day” trophy at the Open Championship held in the Alma games. 

Jean has represented the Midwest for the past 5 years at the United States Inter-Regional Championship, with 4 of those times as the Midwest Champion. She will go on to defend her title(s) (Regional Champion and defending US Champion) in Nashville, TN in mid-July.   

We all congratulate Jean on her success and wish her continued good luck in Nashville.

2009 is the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland's favorite poet. Each year around January 25, Scots everywhere celebrate Robert Burns birthday. The Burns Dinner has been part of Scottish culture for about 200 years. With many Burns Dinners to choose from in the Chicago area many Clan MacLeod members attended the event held at the beautiful/historic Union League Club (www.ulcc.org) in down town Chicago, Illinois.

The dinner was held by the Illinois Saint Andrew Society, the oldest charity in Illinois, established in 1845. The event was well attended, with over 250 participants. There was a good showing of Clan MacLeod members including John and Judy MacLeod, Bill and Pat MacLeod, Bill and Irene MacLeod, Angus and Elona MacLeod, John and Rita MacLeod, Bess and John Shulmeister, as well as Sandy and Bob McLeod. We also had three clan members that performed as highland dancers, Jean Stein, sisters, Kristen and Melanie Williams accompanied by their mother, Stacie.

To view all the pictures form the Burns Night Click Here

The Illinois Saint Andrew Society is the oldest charity in Illinois, established in 1845. The Society operates the Scottish Home, a five acre facility, in North Riverside Illinois. The Home is a retirement community giving support and love to more than 80 elderly residents.

On Christmas Eve, six Clan MacLeod members join by other members of the Illinois St. Andrew Society brought cheer to many of the residents. The group traveled around the Home singing Christmas carols and giving gifts to the residents with no family in the local area.  

Pictured to the left are: John & Judy MacLeod, Bill & Pat MacLeod and Bess & John Schulmeister. To view all the pictures from Christmas Eve click here. 

Click on picture to view full size.

This summer the NAG took place in beautiful Ottawa, Ontario, the Capital of Canada.  The accommodations and most of the events were held at the University of Ottawa located in the heart of the city. The highlight of the gathering was the Banquet and Ball held just across the river from the capital at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec.

This year’s winner, William C. MacLeod of Naperville, Illinois was given the Award of Clan Person of the Year at the Clan MacLeod North American Gathering in Ottawa, Canada. He has been the Clan MacLeod USA President for the past four years. Bill has also held the position of Great Lakes Regional Vice-President and Illinois Commissioner. 

Winning the “Clans Person of the Year” was definitely a highlight in Bill’s life along with the North American Clan Gathering in Chicago, pallbearer at Chief John’s funeral in Scotland as a representative for Clan MacLeod USA and leading the MacLeods in the Alexandria, Va. Christmas and NYC Tartan day parades.

Bill C. has been our most traveled USA President, visiting all of the 13 regions in the USA, attending several Clan meetings in Scotland each year and traveling to the Clan World Gathering in New Zealand.  

We congratulate Bill on a job well done and his dedication to the Clan MacLeod Society and its members.

 Last year she was regional champion in the 7 & under 12 age group.  The “wins” at Alma Michigan games qualified her a spot at the United States Inter-Regional Championships (the Nationals) for the last two years. 

 The 2008 USIR was held in Denver, Colorado and I am very pleased and excited to announce that Jean is the United States Inter-Regional Champion in the 12 & Under 14 age group.  (Last year she was 1^st runner-up in the 7 & under 12 Championship in Orange, CA).  This is a big accomplishment and Jean is the first Illinois dancer to achieve this “title”. 

Additionally, during the course of the USIR event, Jean was the Champion in the USA National Competition in the Choreography competition and 2^nd Runner-up in the North American Championship.

In this years Chicago Highland Games, Clan MacLeod won the “Best Pageantry in the Parade of Tartans” award.  This is the third time in four years the the Clan won this award. Clan MacLeod put on an impressive display with many members participating (about 20), carrying a colorful array of flags and banners. The Highland Games committee picked our Clan from over 40 Clans and Societies marching in the Parade of the Tartans.  In addition to the Clan MacLeod banner and both Clan MacLeod tartans, all nine National flags which comprise the Clan MacLeod Societies, were carried.

The Clan is composed of the following National Societies: Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and USA. The combined organization is called the Associated Clan MacLeod Societies (ACMS). To view pictures of the MacLeods in the Parade of the Tartans Click Here.

This year Clan MacLeod was honored by winning the “Best Clan Tent” Award at the Alma Highland Games in Michigan. The Alma Games is the largest in the Great Lakes region and many clans are represented, which adds to the significances of the Award. The judging was very extensive which not only looked at the presentation but also how knowledgeable the Clan representative is.  This prestigious award is the result of the hard work, operational and artistic skills of Erica and Patrick McLeod, Michigan commissioners.  The results were not only the approval of the awards committee, but also the potential members, signing up six new families to the Clan.

The picture to the left is Highland Games President, Jan Caputo awarding Clan MacLeod the best tent award. Receiving the award are Bob McLeod (Great Lakes Regional Vice President) and Patrick McLeod (Michigan Commissioner). To view the Clan members pictures from the 2008 Alma Games click here. 

The parade gives us a chance to share in our common Celtic heritage, have some fun and help promote the Chicago Highland games. The games are run by the Illinois St. Andrew Society, the oldest charitable organization in Illinois, founded in 1845.

The MacLeods were key to the success of the parade; we had the following members participating.  Erica and Patrick McLeod, our Clan MacLeod Michigan Commissioner and their one year old baby, Isabella. Chuck & Suellen Cowley marched with their Irish wolfhound (Michaleen). Bob McLeod drove his award winning, antique 1951 MG, while his wife Sandy handed out Highland Games brochures.  Kristen & Melanie Williams and Jean Stein (all award winning dancers) marched with the Thistle & Heather Highland Dancers and performed during breaks in the parade. Pat MacLeod was our picture taker and face painter. We even had “Nessie” the loch Ness monster marching with us.

After the parade, Bob and Sandy MacLeod opened their home for a meeting of the Great Lakes region offices to prepare of the upcoming Highland games season.

To view complete photo galleries of the MacLeods at this event click here. We hope to have more MacLeods join us next year.

With many Burns Dinners to choose from in the Chicago area most Clan MacLeod members attended the event held at the Hilton in Oak Lawn, Illinois.

This January 26, 2008, was the thirty-eighth year for what is called the South Side Burns Dinner. Over 300 attended with 17 Clan MacLeod members at the dinner.

The Illinois Saint Andrew Society (the oldest charity in Illinois, established in 1845) was beneficiary of the event.  The Society operates the Scottish Home, a retirement community giving support and love to more than 80 elderly residents. Wayne Rethford President Emeritus and Historian of the Illinois Saint Andrew Society gave the tribute to Robert Burns.

Several Clan MacLeod members performed at the Dinner with the Thistle & Heather Highland Dancers. They were Jean Stein, sisters Kristen and Melanie Williams all are Award Winning dancers. Melanie and Kristen won the gift basket drawing and so did their grandfather Neil McCloud. It was a great event for the MacLeods and Robert Burns. To view all the pictures form the Burns Night Click Here. 

7 foot 1 inch, 245 pound, Calum MacLeod, plays center for Valparaiso University in Indiana.  A native of Wellington, New Zealand he has been attending school in the USA for the last four years. Valparaiso is MacLeod's third collegiate stop in the USA. He was a backup as a freshman with Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington and then transferred to Northeastern Junior College, Sterling, Colorado for his sophomore season. For the last two seasons he has played for Valparaiso. To view Calum’s profile on Valparaiso’s web site click on following link http://www.valpo.edu/athletics/players/mbb/CalumMacLeod.php

In New Zealand he played for Hutt Valley near Wellington. He also played on the Under 18, Under 19 and Under 20 National teams. This summer he plans to try out for the New Zealand Olympic national team. We are hoping he will be playing basketball this summer in Beijing.

The 24 year old, is the son of Don and Sue MacLeod of Wellington, New Zealand. He is currently a senior, at Valparaiso, majoring in Sports Management. After graduation he hopes to play professional basketball.

Five members of Clan MacLeod, made arrangements to meet Calum while he was playing in Chicago at UIC. See picture to the left. Calum MacLeod is pictured with Clan members Bill G. MacLeod (Illinois Commissioner and Internet Editor), John Norman MacLeod (USA VP), Bill C. MacLeod (Past USA President) and Bob McLeod (Great Lakes Regional VP). At the game we attended Calum started at center, winning the tipoff and scoring the first points of the game. To view more pictures of Calum Click Here.

At the 2007 Clan MacLeod Annual Meeting Robert McLeod of Darien, Illinois, was elected the new Great Lakes Regional Vice-President (RVP).  Bob succeeds John Norman MacLeod of Naperville, Illinois. John was elected to Clan MacLeod USA Vice-President.

Bob and his wife Sandy have been key members of the Clan for the last five years. Bob has served on the North American Gathering committee in 2004 where he has tirelessly organized and ran several of the major events. He and his wife had the honored privilege of hosting the late Chief John at their beautiful home during the North American Gathering.

Bob and Sandy have worked the Clan MacLeod tent at many Highland Games, as part of their roll as Northern Illinois Coordinators. They have successfully recruited new Clan members with their innovative ideas and extensive knowledge of Scottish Heritage. They have opened their home to several outstanding Clan gatherings. Since joining the Clan they have attended Annual General Meetings and Council meetings in Alexandria, Va. including Parliament in Scotland.    

Please drop by your local highland game Clan MacLeod tent to meet Sandy and Bob.  

The first weekend of December every year the Clan has the mid-year meeting and participate in the Alexandria, VA Christmas Walk.  It’s the largest Scottish parade in the country, with more than hundred Clan and Society participating. This year we had a good Clan MacLeod turn out with more than forty MacLeods marching. Representing the Great Lakes region was (see picture): Bill C. MacLeod (Past USA President), Bill G. MacLeod (Illinois Commissioner and Internet Editor), John Norman MacLeod (USA VP), Richard MacLeod (Treasurer), Judy MacLeod (Recording Secretary), Cindy MacLeod, Irene MacLeod, Sandy McLeod, Pat MacLeod, and Bob McLeod (Great Lakes RVP). To view all the pictures of the Parade Click Here.

For the third year the MacLeods have played in the Kilted Classic golf tournament.  The revenue from the charity tournament goes to the Illinois St. Andrew Society, the oldest charitable organization in Illinois. The Society operates the Scottish Home, which provides a residence for elderly and needy. Pictured are Robert McLeod (Clan MacLeod Great Lakes Regional Vice-President), Bill G. MacLeod (Clan MacLeod USA Internet Editor and Illinois Commissioner), John N. MacLeod (Clan MacLeod USA Vice-President) and Bill C. MacLeod (former President of Clan MacLeod USA). They did not win at golf, but they did win a bottle of Scotch for being the most colorful team. The comment was made at the Awards Ceremony “anyone wearing a yellow kilt should win this award”.

Clan MacLeod members, Kristen Williams (left), age 10, from Chicago and Jean Stein (right), age 12, from South Elgin, Illinois.  Both were winners in this year’s Midwest region Highland Dance Championship for 7 & under 12, held at the Alma Michigan Highland Games.  Jean is the repeat Regional Champion and in 2006 had a successful Nationals coming in 4th in the Reel. Kristen was the second Runner-up in her first year competing in this age group, against girls several years older. Both dance with the Thistle & Heather Highland Dancers of Chicagoland and will be representing the Midwest Region at the upcoming United States Inter-Regional Championship which will be held in Irvine, California on Saturday, July 28^th. 

Clan MacLeod member, Jean Stein, from South Elgin, Illinois won the Midwest regional Highland Dancing Championship for 7 & under 12.  Jean won the championship at this years Alma Michigan Highland Games and competed in the Nationals held in Saratoga Springs, New York on July 22, 2006. Jean had a successful Nationals coming in 4th in the reel. She has been dancing for five years with the Thistle & Heather Highland Dancers of Chicagoland and has been a consistent winner in the Highland Dancing Competition throughout the Midwest’s Highland games. We all wish congratulation to Jean on her success. To view a Photo Galley of Jean Stein Click Here.

In this years Chicago Highland Games, Clan MacLeod won the “Best Pageantry in the Parade of Tartans” award.  Clan MacLeod put on an impressive display with many members participating (about 20), carrying a colorful array of flags and banners. The Highland Games committee picked our Clan from over 40 Clans and Societies marching in the Parade of the Tartans.  In addition to the Clan MacLeod banner and both Clan MacLeod tartans, all nine National flags which comprise the Clan MacLeod Societies, were carried.

The Clan is composed of the following National Societies: Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and USA. The combined organization is called the Associated Clan MacLeod Societies (ACMS). To view pictures of the MacLeods in the Parade of the Tartans Click Here.

This year at the 2006 Springfield, Illinois Highland Games, Clan MacLeod won the “Best Clan” honors. The Springfield Committee based their decision on the quality appearance of our Clan Tent. We had the most educational and decorative tent (thanks to John Norman and Judy MacLeod). In our participation in the Parade of the Tartans, we had about 15 Clan Members all in kilts (thanks to the McClure family with their seven from Chester IL). Lastly, pageantry, thanks to Robert Lewis Jr. & Sr. with their MacLeod Lewis kilt, black and yellow MacLeod shields wearing swords and carrying 10 foot pikes with Harris and Lewis tartan flags. We were presented with a silver and black Claymore Sword. This was quite an honor and was the results of a team effort. Thank you all.  To view all the pictures from the 2006 Springfield games click here.

Six MacLeod members joined the Illinois Saint Andrew Society in the Elmhurst, Illinois St Patrick’s Day Parade, March 2006. The Parade is the third largest St Patrick Day Parade in Illinois and the crowds were huge.  This was a good chance for the MacLeods to stretch their legs after a long Chicago winter. It also gives some publicity for the Illinois St. Andrew Society (the oldest charitable organization in Illinois) web site www.chicago-scots.org and the Chicago Highland Games. To view complete photo galleries of the MacLeods at this event click here. We hope to have more MacLeods join us next year. For more information about the Parade visit Elmhurst St Patrick Day Parade web site www.elmhurststpatsparade.com

William (Billy) Francis MacLeod IV, born September 19, 2005 to Heather and Billy MacLeod of Indianapolis, Indiana. Baby and mother are doing great. Little Billy's vital statistics: Weight 8 pounds 8 ounces, Length 20 ¾ inches, Born 18:07 09/19/2005. This is the first for Heather and Billy MacLeod and the first Great-Grandson of William and Mary MacLeod of San Diego. If you would like to send congratulations to the proud parents the e-mail address is macleod348@comcast.net  To view the picture on the left at full size, click on the picture.    

The "Tunes of Glory" pipe band from Warrenville, Illinois came in first place for piping in grade 5, at the 2005 Springfield Highland Games. Craig McCloud (left, click on picture to view full size ) is the Drum Major and Debbie McCloud (right, click on picture to view full size) is a drummer and Vice President of the band. The "Tunes of Glory" will be competing in the World Piping Competition in Glasgow Scotland this summer. The band will be competing in many of Highland games in the Great Lakes area. To learn more, go to their web site www.tunesofglory.org