The Council of Scottish Clans and Associations (COSCA), Inc., was founded in 1974 by Dr. Herbert P. MacNeal. It is a non-profit, tax exempt educational and charitable organization. The purpose of COSCA is to preserve and promote the customs, traditions and heritage of the Scottish people. The Council accomplishes this through assistance to and in support of Scottish-oriented organizations. The primary focus of the Council has evolved into to areas: Helping new clan and family associations to form and providing a clearing house for information on Scottish-American organizations. The Council is the "Chamber of Commerce" of the Scottish-American community.
TBS - We need to add a brief paragraph on the COSCA Mission.
COSCA recognizes that in our modern society, information is often routinely collected on everyone. While COSCA does have inquiry and membership forms that request the sender to enter both name and mailing address, this information is not collected by COSCA nor sold. Please see our Privacy Statement for full details.
We need a legal person to review both this section and the privacy statement.
TBS - We need to add a brief paragraph on the COSCA By-Laws.
TBS - We need to add a brief paragraph on the COSCA History.
The membership of COSCA consists primarily of clan and family organizations and local societies throughout the United States. In recent years, COSCA has experienced a rapid growth with membership expanding to include various local Scottish heritage societies, St. Andrew's societies, games associations, re-enactment groups and other Scottish-American organizations. Persons who contribute through the COSCA giving program are automatically considered individual members of the Council.
TBS - We need to add a brief paragraph on the COSCA's Officers
TBS - We need to add a brief paragraph on the COSCA's Affiliations with other societies.
COSCA provides support to the Scottish-America community by staffing information tents at Scottish Games and other festivals, producing several publications and guides, responding to inquiries and maintaining a listing of known Scottish and Celtic Festivals from around the world. The Council represents those clan and family associations that are not present at the specific event. Member organizations will often fly a blue and white COSCA banner to demonstrate their desire to help others with inquiries about Scottish affiliations and organizations. The goal of COSCA is to direct people to the appropriate organizations. Each year, the Council distributes over 10,000 requests for information on Scottish societies.
The Council answers over 1,000 letters each year concerning either information about the Council or requests for information similar to that provided at event information tents.
Finally, COSCA offers financial assistance through grant and scholarship programs to organizations and individuals involved in the promotion of Scottish activities.
While the Council may not be able to answer all questions, it can almost always guide an individual to the proper source for an answer.
TBS - We need to add a brief paragraph on the Public Services offered by COSCA.
The Herbert P. MacNeal Educational and Cultural Fund was created in 1983 to honor COSCA's founder. Through this fund, COSCA provides financial assistance in the form of grants to organizations and individuals for use in the promotion of Scottish activities. As a non-profits organization, recognized by the IRS as tax exempt, your tax deductible donations to the fund are greatly appreciated. Requests for Grants can only be submitted through member organizations.
The Ethel K. MacNeal Scholarship For Scottish Harp was established in TBS to honor the many contributions of Mrs. Ethel K. MacNeal to the Council. The winner of the $400 Scholarship is announced annually in conjunction with the Loch Norman Highland Games which are held in April near Charlotte, North Carolina. The Scholarship program is administered by the Council in conjunction with the Clan Macneil Association of America.
COSCA, in conjunction with the Clan MacLachlan Association of North America, Inc., the Clan MacNeil Association of America, and the Clan Campbell Society of North America, has maintained a web-based listing of Scottish and Centic Games and Festivals since 1996. This listing provides information on each event, such as date and location, and, when available, contacts for information on the event.
In order to exist, the Counil requires funding at a level above what the membershop organizations can provide. The Council will accept any level of annual giving. Funds may be designated for any of the following: the General Operating Fund, the Herbert P. MacNeal Educational and Cultural Fund, and the Council Endowment Fund. All contributions are tax deductable. Gifts may be given by name or considered anonymous. Our IRS tax number is available by request.
TBS - We need to add a brief paragraph on the benefits of clan, society and association membership in COSCA.
The Council can not perform genealogical research. The best COSCA can accomplish is to identity if a clan or family association exists for the surname in question. Sometimes COSCA is able to put an individual in contact with the appropriate surname genealogist. We can also usually recommend a professional genealogist who performs research for a fee. The Council does not collect or maintain any genealogical records.
If you are interested in determing what clan or family organization you should belong to, visit our surname and sept reference page. Once you know which clan or family organization to contact, you can use our Information Inquiry Form to send an e-mail inquiry to our member associations.
TBS - We need to add a brief paragraph on using the information inquiry form claninfo from COSCA.
TBS - We need to add a brief paragraph on the member services provided by COSCA and the benefits provided to those members.
TBS - We need to add a brief paragraph on the information inquiries COSCA is sending to it's members.
TBS - We need to add a brief paragraph on the archives provided by COSCA to our members. Include how to get docuemnts
TBS - We need to add a brief paragraph on the community information provided by COSCA to our members.
If you are interested in forming a family organization, COSCA can provide advice on how to begin and get you started. The Council does not advise the formation of new family associations where such organizations already exist
Providing these services to the public could be a very expensive undertaking. All of these services are provided by volunteers. COSCA can not succeeded without the support of the dedicated individuals who staff the information tents and answer the mail. As in any volunteer based organization, we are always looking for more people to help us fulfill our mission. We are always looking for Event coordinators and Event representatives. Our experience has been that, by representing COSCA at an event, you will have some of the most personally satisfying volunteer work that can be done. (If you are interested in joining this hard-working team of knowledgeable people, please contact the Council.)
- We need to add a brief paragraph on the workshops sponsored by COSCA.
- We need to add a brief paragraph on how COSCA Participates in Scottish and Celtic Festivals.
The Council is always in need of volunteers to help in manning tents at Scottish Games and providing other support to Scottish activities. If you can help either with your time or your financial support, please contact the Council.
or by regular mail to:
This page has been prepared by the Council of Scottish Clans and Associations, Inc.. It was last updated February 14, 2001.
© 2001 Council for Scottish Clans And Associations, Inc.