Downunderkilt,

What Rex is far too polite to say is that while in most cases the Clan Societies have the support and blessing of the Scottish Clan Chief that is not always the case or even the same thing.

The two are completely different even though you do run across the case where some societies do appear to infer that they are the official Clan body.

In at least one case a Clan society broke apart over personalities and both the N. American and State bodies both attend the same Games and compete for membership. Even though the Clan they claim to represent is not recognized in Scotland and has no seat on the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.

I personally know of at least one Clan Society that is the invention of one single man. He 'invented' his Clan Society, carries a Clan Tartan Flag at Highland Games and sells membership in his Clan.

This is sometimes confusing to those attending their first Highland Games and see the Clan Tents with their Tartans flying. As a vendor at Highland Games I often overhear a passerby say "I just joined my Clan." because they had just paid their annual dues to a Clan society.