Quote Originally Posted by gilmore View Post
To me clans and clan societes are like other hereditary, genealogical or historical societies, like SAR (Sons of the American Revolution) or SCV (Sons of Confederate Veterans) or FFV (First Families of Virginia.)Their primary focus may be history or genealogy, but people being social animals, they can also form the basis for camaraderie and friendships.

In the US it seems that many, if not most, people who join clan societies are new to an area and are looking for ways to meet people and make friends.

It's analagous to aristocracy in contintental Europe, I suppose, in those countries where there are no more monarchies and thus no more true aristocracies. People who descend from them may call themselves "Marquis de ____" or "Graf von___," but everyone knows, including them, that it's not who you are, but who you were. Even in countries like the UK holders of titles don't often live like their grandfathers and great grandfathers did. Times have changed, and things will never go back to how they were. Nonetheless, there are those who have an interest in history and the past.
Hear, Hear.

I think Gilmore summed it up quite nicely.

T.