CMAA Commissioner in Nevada, Lowell Patton

Lowell Patton wears many hats within CMAA organizaiton: Clan Macneil Nevada Commissioner, Commissioner Coordinator, and Council Member

Lowell has been the Nevada Commissioner for Clan Macneil for over ten years.  He has arranged tents at the Reno Celtic Celebration and the Las Vegas Highland Games.  Clan Macneil held their Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Las Vegas Highland Games in 2019.  Lowell is a Past Chief of the Nevada Society of Scottish Clans and has delivered the Address to a Haggis as well as been the emcee for the Robert Burns Celebration that is regularly attended by over 400 people.

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Kick off the 2023 Highland Games in NC at Loch Norman with Needham and Phyllis Bass!

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Join Us in Loch Norman

Phyllis and Needham Bass will be hosting the Clan Macneil Association of America tent at the upcoming Loch Norman Highland games, this April 15th and 16th.  The games take place at beautiful Rural Hill historic site and nature preserve.  The Loch Norman Games features Men and Women’s Scottish Games, piping and drumming competitions, dancing competitions, live music, a kids zone and an historic encampment.  In addition, there are vendors featuring Celtic jewelry, tartan items, kid’s toys and Scottish goods that are hard to find in the States.  The games also have several food vendors, so if haggis is your taste, this is the place!  Come out and spend the weekend and make sure to stop by the Macneil tent. 

We feature the MacQuiz game for kids of all ages and adults too.  Win a flag of Scotland and learn a bit about the “Auld Country.”  Phyllis and Needham will be on hand to help you find your Macneil or Scottish connection. 

Your Hosts

At bit about your hosts, Phyllis is the 4th great granddaughter of Neil “Dubh” McNeil known as the Colonizer who brought 350 Scots to North Carolina in 1739, and founded the Cross Creek township north of present day Fayetteville, NC. She is also a descendant of Macalister and Campbells who were in this group of settlers. She has done quite a bit of research on these Scots and their descendants and is more than willing to help point people in the right direction in their research. Needham’s only claim to the McNeill clan is that he was smart enough to marry one.  His linage is through McCutchen, Knox, Maule and the mysterious McLamb clans. He has however done quite a bit of research to Scottish culture and history and loves to share with young and old.

Kick off the 2023 Highland Games in NC at Loch Norman.  We look forward to seeing you there!

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Terry and Bonnie McNeill, Enjoying the Good Life!

Our Southern California commissioners are Bonnie and Terry McNeill. Bonnie is a retried nurse and worked at Loma Linda University Medical Centre for 40 years. Terry is a 38-year veteran of the Colton Fire Department who retired as Battalion Chief.

We are enjoying the good life traveling and exploring in our 40 ft. motorhome. We love to kayak. They take them whenever they travel - picture it: kayaks on top of the Jeep, Jeep pulled behind the motorhome.

Bonnie surprised Terry with a MacNeil kilt on his Birthday years ago which prompted him to look into his family history, which of course drew him in and had him very interested in all things Scottish. The Costa Mesa Games were their first Games and after attending, they were hooked on everything. The MacNeil Clan Commissioner at the time was was Kerux-David Neal. In Terry's words, "he was so knowledgeable and made us feel like family". As a result, Well we became co-commissioners and help David, in two years David retired and turned over the tent to us.

California has several Games, you can find Bonnie and Terry at The Queen Mary Games in Long Beach in February, the Costa Mesa Games in May and the Seaside Games in Ventura. Swing by their tent and say hello!

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