February 12, 2006 Dear Members,   The spirited and open discussion occurring since my letter and the reply from the DHA President and Treasurer is something we need not be afraid of if we come to terms with the matter.   There are many things that needed to be aired, including how I went about raising the issues in the first place.   I had a decision to make.   Should I take the message first to the President and Treasurer or go direct to the membership?   I knew at least two clan members had been told I was not to receive information from or about the DHA.   I was reliant upon the DHA for ongoing information as the basis for discussion.   In addition, for several weeks the only communication I had received was minimal.   My perception at the time was that if the DHA was not open for discussion on things like the newsletter, then the issue of ‘2004’ falsified minutes, the need for immediate general elections and the institution of transparent fiscal practices were unlikely to get a fair hearing.  Regardless, I will never know if they would have called immediate general elections or implemented changes since they did not have the opportunity to address the situation.      I do not regret the content of my letter.   However, I apologize to each of the members who were a part of the ‘2004’ Board for not having come to you first.   Each of you has dedicated much personal time on the Clan’s behalf.    After my father died, the Treasurer spent long days contacting banks, salvaging the Scotland trip, negotiating for new inventory at reasonable prices, ordering new banners, maintaining the web-site, doing graphics for the Newsletter and many other things.   Other directors were helpful in salvaging the Scotland trip, active in developing a comprehensive new membership package, formulating a privacy policy, developing a comprehensive commissioners training manual and editing a newsletter.  Clan members ought to be proud of this work. I certainly am and I thank you all.      I also apologize to all clan members for the sudden upset.   I am disappointed that the www.dunardry.com forum contains some viewpoints which speculate that some of the ‘2004’ Board are involved in financial “improprieties”.    I ask that you carefully read my original letter again.   What I said was that I am aware of current and upcoming legislation that have a direct impact on the DHA.   Certain fiscal policies need to be instituted, such as (1) maintaining separate bank accounts, balance sheets and qualified managers for the store and the general funds  (2) holding only one office or appointed role simultaneously if it involves fiscal oversight responsibility and  (3) that there should be an internal audit committee comprised mainly of general members.   I have not said there is fiscal wrongdoing.   At this point I do not know.  That is why the books need to be open for internal audits.  The members of the ‘2004’ Board are family members. I ask that we speak respectfully and in a constructive manner.  Furthermore, I ask that if you posted anything on the forum that alleges wrongdoing that you retract it.   The issues have been clouded by a lot of emotion.    The fact is that the ‘2004’ AGM minutes were falsified.  This is important because the President and Treasurer say the DHA had the right to assume control upon my father’s death and that my father had approved an elected board.  There was no provision for the DHA to take over running of the Clan.  The DHA is a sub-organization of Clan MacTavish, not a separate entity.  I prefer that the organizations representing The Clan, like the DHA my father was micromanaging, be run democratically.  As the current Chief of the Clan I am not interested in micromanaging.   It is healthy, desirable and imperative that such organizations be run by many who are accountable to the members that elect them yet maintain ongoing, substantive clan-business discussions with their Chief.   I say again, we are all family.   Three of the five directors involved in the original creation of the minutes have come forward to admit their mistake and apologize to the clan members.   They have said that if they had to do it over again, they would do it differently. They have also recognized the need for change and have worked tirelessly to help maintain calm.   They lead by example and I am grateful for their efforts.   For the remaining two who have not come forward or who maintain that the ‘2004’ AGM minutes are correct, please know that there is ample proof to the contrary.  The facts are the facts.   This can be put behind us if you acknowledge there was a mistake and apologize to the clan members.  Encourage the remaining appointed directors that they too must come forward and apologize.  Then we can get on with the changes.          It is important to get past this hurdle.   There is nothing to be afraid of.   We are all family.   In Kinship,                                                             Chief Steven MacTavish of Dunardry   P.S. - I don’t know if my father misused funds.  I hadn’t been in communication with him for seven years or more.   But the question of whether he did or not only bolsters the argument that the DHA needs a strong fiscal policy. Dunardry