Beyond Borders,
Bulls, and Bedrule:
A
Brief Introduction to the Turnbull Clan Association (TCA)
October 2003
Since its founding in Hawick, Scotland in 1977, the
Turnbull Clan Association has sought to preserve and promote Scottish
heritage in general and especially the history and traditions of the
Turnbull clan and its septs. Much of the driving force behind the clan
has come from the vision and enthusiasm of its founder, John F. Turnbull,
who was well known in his Scotland neighborhood as a shopkeeper and lover
of anything Turnbull.
George Turnbull took charge of the Scottish TCA after
John F’s death in 1982 and continues to pursue the original vision of what
is now a rapidly growing link between members across continents.
One year after the association’s inception,
Dorothy Turnbull
Berk in the United States joined the mission to preserve and promote
Turnbull history and genealogy by founding an American TCA branch in
1978. Branches were also formed in Canada and Australia.
During the twentieth anniversary of the association’s
founding, John Turnbull from Charlotte, North Carolina became president of
the American TCA in 1997. He and Treasurer James Trumble of Hermitage,
Tennessee, took the initiative to solidify the association’s official
status in the United States; in 1998, TCA was incorporated and established
501.c.3 non-profit organization status.
John G. Turnbull from New York was elected as President
in 2000. Douglas Turnbull from Marietta, Georgia, became vice president,
and James Trumble remained in his position as treasurer. Under their
leadership, the membership grew steadily, and regularly scheduled
newsletters kept the members in touch with the association and each other.
TCA has just celebrated the election of its 2003-2006
officers and is currently under the leadership of its new president, Wally
Turnbull from Durham, North Carolina, Vice President Brian Turnbull of
Lachute, Quebec, Canada, Treasurer John G. Turnbull, of New York City, New
York and Secretary Janet Schwierking from Poteet, Texas.
The TCA Website was first started by Corey Turnbull of
Canada and later maintained by Sandy Turnbull of Australia. The current
TCA Web site
www.turnbullclan.com, started in 2001 by Andy Turnbull from Durham,
North Carolina and currently under the management of Webmaster Brian
Turnbull of Quebec, Canada, serves as an important link for Turnbulls all
over the globe. An extensive collection of several decades of newsletters
and articles concerning things Turnbull invites a nostalgic reflection
while preserving history and promoting the Turnbull name and its septs.
Most recently, the Web site has taken on the ambitious project of creating
an extensive Turnbull genealogy database using public records and family
trees provided by many members.
Throughout the last few years, TCA has steadily moved
forward with the effort to establish itself and form a worldwide network
of people interested in the clan history and Scottish heritage. Some of
the biggest steps were taken when Bullseye, the TCA newsletter
started by Dorothy Turnbull Berk, was put on regular distribution of every
other month, to be alternated with Clan Prints in the Sands, an
historical newsletter.
The future of TCA, however, lies in its members,
friends and the ideas and initiatives that drive it forward. This
newsletter is one of the next important steps in establishing a
far-reaching network of friends and contacts. We would love to have you
join us in our efforts and welcome any suggestions you may have.
We hope you’ll visit us online at
www.turnbullclan.com, and especially look forward to meeting you in
person when you stop by the TCA tent at one of the many Highland Games in
North America. |
