I established this web-page refutes miss-statements, half-truths and out-right lies directed at me personally by Mr. Larry Augsbury, High Commissioner of Clan Cunningham Society of America (CCSA). The statements issued on this page are mine and mine alone and have not been approved or sanctioned by Clan Cunningham USA.

All Correspondence should be directed to me at CCUSANE@Comcast.net

Editorial VI - October 4, 2009

Clan Cunningham
Uniting Under Clan Cunningham International

Clan Cunningham is as united today as it has never been before.  Thanks to the hard work and unquestionable dedication of David Pickens, Dr. William Cunningham, Jerry Lester, Alex Cunningham, Leslie Kenyon, and Jack Cunningham among a host of other Clan leaders both past and present. Clan Cunningham is poised through its clan organization, Clan Cunningham International, to take us to the next level.

CCI and its predecessor organization, Clan Cunningham USA have laid a solid foundation from which our Clan can reach new and great heights.

Recent Accomplishments:

• David Pickens and Steve Cunningham were the official representatives for Clan Cunningham at the historic meeting of The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, held at Scottish Parliament Building.  This is the first time that The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs invited clans that do not have Chiefs to attend their meeting.
  

• David Pickens was selected to represent Clan Cunningham at the Royal Reception at Holyrood Castle in Edinburgh.  His Royal Highness, Prince Charles received Mr. Pickens and thanked him for representing Clan Cunningham at his reception and at The Gathering.  Mr. Pickens was one of only four Americans invited by the Prince to the reception.
  

• The Lord Lyon, David Sellers, stopped by the Clan Cunningham Tent in Edinburgh and briefly spoke with Leslie Kenyon, and thanked her for the outstanding job she is doing in trying to locate the rightful Clan Chief for Clan Cunningham.  The Lord Lyon also spoke with David Pickens and encouraged David to think globally, to include Cunninghams from outside the United States within a united Clan Cunningham organization.
  

• More than 60 Clan Cunningham descendents visited the Clan Cunningham Tent, hosted by Clan Cunningham USA at the The Gathering in Edinburgh, Scotland.  These visitors represented 8 different countries and 16 States here in the US.
  

• 40 Clan Cunningham representatives joined the nearly 150 Scottish Clans who marched up the Royal Mile to the Edinburgh Castle.  A crowd of nearly 30,000 cheered the members of Clan Cunningham on.
  

• 20 members toured the home region of Ayrshire Scotland prior to attending The Gathering in Edinburgh.  They visited such family sights as Finlaystone Stone, that last home of the Earls of Glencairn. Caprington Castle, the only Castle still owned and occupied by Cunninghams’ and Akit Castle, where the Montgomery feud started. The tour included several Kirks (churches) where leaders for Clan Cunningham worshiped.
  

• A Clan Cunningham dinner was held in Glasgow Scotland.  26 members of Clan Cunningham joined together to eat, toast and celebrate our common heritage. 
  

• To bring unity to Clan Cunningham world-wide the Board of Directors of Clan Cunningham USA in September 2009, voted unanimously to change the organization name to Clan Cunningham International.  Just this past month Clan Cunningham had a Clan Cunningham table at a local Scottish gathering in the “Borderland” of Scotland.
  

• Clan Cunningham International is working very closely with The Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh, Scotland and two members of the Clan who may petition the Lord Lyon to be recognized as the “Head of the Family” the lowlands version of the Highland Clan Chief. (Sir John Montgomery Cuninghame Baronet of Corsehill and William Robert Cunninghame Graham of Gartmore)
  

• Since returning from the International Gathering of the Clans in Edinburgh, Scotland, CCI has experienced a significant growth spurt in the number of new members joining CCI, several of these new members first had to resign their positions in another Clan Cunningham club. We have also had individuals from Scotland and Canada join. 
  

• For the first time in a number of years CCI is fostering the growth of an affiliate organization in Scotland, Clan Cunningham in Scotland. This movement is being spearheaded by Alex Cunningham of Hawick Scotland. Alex is traveling to the states not only to visit relatives but to visit a Scottish Festival to see how CCI runs their extremely successful Clan Cunningham Tents.
  

Coming up Next

Clan Cunningham International will be holding its Triennial organizational meeting at the NH Highland Games in Lincoln, NH over the weekend of September 17, 18 and 19, 2010.  The Colum Cille Pipe and Drum band will help make this a very festive occasion.

For anyone to deny that Clan Cunningham International is the Clan organization is uniting our Clan like it has never been done before is like denying that the Sun will rise and set on each day.

The future of Clan Cunningham is the brightest it has ever been, in many years. There is excitement in the air.  It is safe to say the Earls of Glencairn would be pleased to know that their legacy is in the capable hands of Clan Cunningham International.

Clan Cunningham International
United Worldwide - Together Worldwide
Join our Worldwide Family!

Editorial V - July 5, 2009

Excitement is in the Air

On Monday, July 20^th more than 20 members of Clan Cunningham USA (CCUSA) will descend on Glasgow, Scotland for the first-leg of our homecoming trip to Scotland. We will visit such places as Bannockburn Battlefield, Sterling Castle & Wallace Monument, Finlaystone House, Kilmacolm Kirk, Paisley Abby, Kilmaurs – visit the ruins of “The Place”, then St Maurs-Glencaim Church and the Glencairn Aisle.  As well as Kilmarnock and a visit to Caprington Castle. On Thursday evening evening in Glasgow we will hold a Clan Cunningham dinner.

On Friday July 24^th while the CCUSA tour group relocates to Edinburgh, Mr. David Pickens and I will be representing Clan Cunningham at the meeting of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.  One of the items up for discussion will be how will the Council deal with the issue of Clans that have no Chief or Chiefs who choose to be inactive.  As you may know Clan Cunningham does not have a Clan Chief and up to now the Clan Cunningham chair at the Council table has been empty.

On Saturday, July 25^th CCUSA will host the Clan Cunningham tent in the heart of Edinburgh at The Gathering.  We will be joined by other members of CCUSA, members of Clan Cunningham Society of America, (CCSA) as well as other Cunningham family and supporters from Scotland and other points from the globe.  All will be warmly welcomed.  I am sure one of the issues that will be discussed is how the search for a Clan Chief goes, as well as how do we build a united Clan Cunningham international organization that will encourage Clan Cunningham organizations and society beyond the shores of Scotland and America.

It is my sincere hope that from these informal discussions at the Clan Cunningham tent, that a new beginning for Clan Cunningham here in America will take shape.  As a member of the Board of Directors of CCUSA I will urge my fellow Board Members to open the lines of communications with our counter of CCSA.  The first step toward any reconciliation, CCSA must take down the offensive material on their two web-sites as well as their Blog.  These words only serve to divide us.

These are indeed exciting times for Clan Cunningham, and I am proud to be a part of this excitement.

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Editorial IV - March 2, 2009

Time to Stop the Bickering

If Larry Augsbury, High Commissioner for Clan Cunningham Society of America put half the amount of energy in bring our two Clan organizations together, that he does in attacking and belittling members of CCUSA. We all would be marching down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh under one banner come this July. 

2009 is a wonderful time to be a Scot; we are all celebrating the 250 Birthday of Robert Burns, Homecoming Scotland 2009, and The Gathering 2009, the largest gathering of the Clan in Scotland in Edinburgh this summer.

Mr. Augsbury laughs at The Gathering 2009 as being nothing more than a “commercial endeavor.”

In the spirit of celebrating our Scottish and Clan Cunningham heritage one would think a leader like Mr. Augsbury would look into ways of bring Clan Cunningham together. Sadly for all us who lay claim to the historic Clan Cunningham legacy, this is not the case.  Instead Mr. Augsbury continues with his personal war of lies, half-truths and degrading remarks about me and other associated with Clan Cunningham USA.  It is truly dishearten to see a leader debase himself in such a manner.

I will be the first to omit, that yes sometimes I am slow to respond to an e-mail or in seeing that a membership application is sent on, as I am sure others in CCUSA and CCSA are just a guilty.  It seems that Mr. Augsbury forgets we are all volunteers we all have families and jobs that come first in our lives, while each of us take seriously our responsibilities and obligations to Clan Cunningham USA, we do haves other responsibilities.

There is only one way to “Stop the Bickering” and that is trough an open dialog, free from name-calling and insults.  Mr. Augubury the time for talking face to face is at hand, what a wonderful way to celebrate this historic year for all Scots, if the leaders of both CCUAS and CCSA could sit down and just talk.

Steve Cunningham Contact information - ccusane@comcast.net

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Editorial III - November 8, 2008

Reconciliation

While the High Commissioner, Mr. Larry Augsbury of Clan Cunningham Society of America, hyperbole becomes more personal and combative on his web-site, I still stand ready to work toward reconciliation if not unification between our two clan societies.  Mr. Augsbury has attacked me personally, because I have stepped forward on several occasions extending my right hand of friendship to Mr. Augsbury and any other member of CCSA interested in exploring a resolution to the current state-of-affairs between our two societies.

I know that the road of reconciliation will be long and tough; there are so many hurt feeling on both sides. So many insults have been hurled by all, including me, however we need to end this petty and often times childish bickering.  Yes mistakes have been made by all involved, while it true, none of us can change the past, however we must learn to forgive and move forward as a united clan organization. The divide that divides us is not so great that it cannot be bridged.  As leaders within the Clan Cunningham movement here in America I stand ready to do my part in bring to an end this sad situation.

I call upon my brothers and sisters of CCSA to reach out to their brothers and sisters of CCUSA with their right hand of friendship.  I would welcome contact with any member of CCSA that would like to start a dialog.  I promise that I will keep all contacts strictly confidential. The path of reconciliation needs to start with someone, why not you?

Steve Cunningham Contact information - ccusane@comcast.net

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Editorial II - August 5, 2008

The Gathering 2009
July 25 & 26, 2009 - Edinburgh Scotland

Thanks to the hard work of the Board of Directors of Clan Cunningham USA, CCUSA will represent Clan Cunningham at, The Gathering 2009 in Edinburgh Scotland.

Clan Cunningham will join over 500 other Clan organizations and Scottish Societies make The Gathering 2009 one, if not the largest gathering of Scottish Clan in the history of Scotland. The reason why Clan Cunningham USA was selected by the organizers of The Gathering 2009 is that CCUSA was and has always been an open and welcoming clan organization.

If you are traveling around Scotland next July I encourage you to stop by the Clan Cunningham tent and the Clan village in Holyrood Park and say Hi. You will be greeted warmly by their tent volunteers. If you are as member of Clan Cunningham Society of America you will receive the same hospitality that everyone visiting the Clan Cunningham tent will receive. After all the Clan Cunningham tent is for all Cunningham's not just for members of one organization or another.

Mr. Larry Augsbury, High Commissioner of Clan Cunningham Society of America writes the following "Lord Sempill wrote to Larry that they "have little choice but to accept the application of Clan Cunningham USA, who are prepared to share the Cunningham tent with all Cunninghams regardless of their affiliation." I guess what Mr. Ausbury is indicating is that when asked if CCSA would welcome all Cunningham's to their tent, he must have said, NO.

On the CCSA web site they say ALL Cunningham's are welcomed, are they Mr. Augsbury?

CCUSA does not ask you to take a loyalty oath or if you belong to another Clan Cunningham organization. We truly welcome all those who want to gather together and celebrate our rich heritage. I know of several members of CCUSA who also remain members of CCSA, they are welcomed and treated the same as everyone who joins CCUSA.

Clan Cunningham USA is honored to be representing Clan Cunningham at The Gathering 2009. We will represent our Clan with the up most dignity and honor that we make all proud to be a Cunningham.

Steve Cunningham

P.S. Recently Mr. Augsbury has been referring to himself as, "High Commissioner elect". The Webster Dictionary defines "elect" chosen for office or position but not yet installed. So if Mr. Augsbury has not been installed as the CCSA High Commissioner, who is the High Commissioner for CCSA?

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Editorial I - July 27, 2008

INTEGRITY IMPUGNED

On another Clan Cunningham sight, (CCSA), the chairman and chief executive officer of this other Clan Cunningham organization has chosen to attack me personally by impugning my integrity and reputation. Evidently the High Commissioner is incapable of have an intellectual debate on the topic on the unification these two Clan Cunningham organization into a signal Clan Cunningham where everyone is welcomed and respected. He fails to grasp the fundamental difference between Clan Cunningham USA and his organization, CCUSA believe that the membership should elect every officer every three years, that open dialogs are encouraged and no member is expelled, because she or he disagrees with the President of CCUSA. Unfortunately the High Commissioner has take the lowest form of debating/attacking - Name Calling.

In the High Commissioner's attempt to justify his own status he quickly loses sight of the issues and his tirade falls into name calling and finger pointing. It is clear the we the members of Clan Cunningham will never have an open and honest debate about the unification of our two Clan Cunningham organization in to one as long as this Mr. Augsbury remains in absolute and unchallenged control of his organization, where decent is met with being expelled.

Now to the assassination of my character: Anyone who knows me personal or professional knows me as a hard working ethical and honest individual. My professional career demands it. I have spent my entire career helping those who could not help themselves. I am an institutional advancement officer working in the non-profit world. Simply put I am a fund-raiser, rising money primarily for healthcare organizations throughout the Northeast. Currently I completed a $20 million Capital Campaign for a community hospital, so that the citizens of that region will have accesses to the most up-to-date Emergency Department. Over the past 30 years I have helped to raise money for a Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, a free standing Cancer Center, a Hospice home, a Cardiac Care Institution, money for three different Emergency Departments. Not to mentions millions of dollars for other hospital's programs and services.

To be a successful Development Officer, one's reputation is as important as one's skills. So when someone is impugning my integrity and reputation, simple for self gratifications, I take such attacks very seriously. Even against my legal council's advice I have chosen to make this response.

Ethics, my personal and my professional ethics are at the core of who I am. When those who know me on either level are asked to give a one word answer of who I am, the word ethical comes up the most often. That is why when the town of Hampstead, NH needed someone to chair the town's Ethic's Commission and to rewrite the towns Ethic's code, they asked me to fill the role. Hampstead's new Ethic Code was overwhelming accepted by the town's citizens at our annual town meeting.

On the CCSA web-site Mr. Augsbury questioned my true fullness, and yes he did catch a math mistake I made in regard as who on the board of directors were once members of his organization. We have 12 elected members of our Board of Directors, 7 or 58% were once members of another CCSA and 5 or 42% to my knowledge were never members of CCSA. I stand corrected, and I apologies for my mistake. At least I will admit when I am wrong and will make the necessary corrections.

I guess the High Commissioner has to vilify me and other to maintain his autocratic control over his organization. He has zeroed in me, because I have tried on at least three occasions over the past four years to try and start a dialog between these two Clan Cunningham organizations, something the High Commissioner fears. The only way disputes can be settled is by having an open and fair dialog. Why is it that the High Commissioner fears an open dialog between the officers of CCUSA and CCSA?

It time to move on, and that is what I plan to do. I enjoy representing Clan Cunningham at Scottish and Celtic events throughout the Northeast. And I plan to do so for many years to come. I have learned so much about my families its heritage over these past four years. I have an even greater respect for what our ancestors have done both for our great nation as well as for Scotland. Recently I learned that a great Uncle of mine broke the speed record for trains in Scotland by being the engineer for the Flying Scotsman. I have so much more to learn.

Your,
C. Stevens Cunningham

P.S.
On the High Commissioner's web-site he states the following, "And then there's the mouthpiece for this band of CCUSA rabble, C. Stevens…." What a complement, to be called a rabble as was William Wallace army, George Washington John Adams, Thomas Jefferson our revolution leaders were called rabble leaders , what an honor it is to be in the company of these great men. Mr. Larry Augsbury, can align himself all he wants with convicted felons as he does when he compares himself to "G. Gordon Liddy", a convicted felon.

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