Vision
Our vision is to research, preserve, educate, and celebrate the history and heritage of the Family Leslie as they migrated worldwide.
Mission
Through engaging in research, collection, and presentation of documents and preservation of places of historical significance, Leslies now and in future generations will understand and appreciate their history, genealogy, and heritage.
Values:
As the Leslie Global Diaspora Foundation (LGDF):
- We respect and acknowledge all persons who have a family connection to the family Leslie and its variant spellings and Septs.
- We believe that it is important to current and future generations that the history and heritage of the family Leslie be preserved, communicated, and celebrated.
- We believe that it is important for members of the family Leslie to know their genealogy and their own family history.
- We believe that through the collaboration of members of the family Leslie, Leslie information can be collected, interpreted, preserved, and shared.
- We believe it is our responsibility to preserve historical documents and stories which exemplify the rich heritage of the family Leslie.
- We believe it is essential to encourage and support researchers and organizations who explore and document information related to the family Leslie.
- We believe that sites, buildings, and artifacts associated with the family Leslie must be preserved for future generations.
Positional Statement of the Leslie Global Diaspora Foundation
The Leslie Global Diaspora Foundation (LeslieGDF) recognizes that there are thousands of descendants of Leslies from Scotland dispersed throughout the world. These descendants of Leslies are the result of the diaspora where Leslies and the related families departed Scotland due to economic, military, religious, political, or social reasons.
As generations pass there is a danger of losing Leslie historical information and the connection of the descendants of the diaspora who have connections to the Scot-Irish heritage. The Foundation has “answered the call” to meet the challenge of collecting, preserving, and sharing information and preserving sites related to the Family Leslie.
The Foundation is not a society and consequently does not have members who pay annual dues. Instead, the LeslieGDF relies on donations, grants, and subscriptions to our resources. We view our responsibility not to members, but to all Leslies. The Foundation staff and volunteers actively pursue connections and relationships with:
- universities who have Scottish and/or Irish studies,
- libraries with archives,
- government record offices,
- other Leslie organizations, groups, and trusts, and
- individuals with Leslie knowledge, documents and stories to tell that should not be forgotten.
The LeslieGDF embraces cooperation with other Leslie organizations and groups. It is essential that the Foundation worldwide outreach and business-like approach enhances the likelihood of preserving the Leslie history and heritage.
The LeslieGDF is a forward thinking proactive organization that has a sense of urgency in working towards its objectives. It is not for the next generation of Leslies to act, it is for this generation to preserve the past for our future generations.
The Leslie Global Diaspora Foundation (LGDF) is governed by a talented Board of Directors who share a deep regard for Leslie history and heritage.
The Founding Board of Directors include:
Sebastian Leslie
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Chieftain of the Leslies of Balquhain and descendant of the Balquhain, Fetternear, Wardes, & Warthill Leslies.
Samantha Leslie
Glaslough, Monaghan Ireland
Castle Leslie Estate descendant of the Rothes Leslies
Henry Norreys
Ayrshire, Scotland
Leslie historian and descendant of the Wardhill Leslies
John Leslie
Florida USA
Chairman of the Board NAASCO Corporation and descendant of the Lindores Leslies
Steven Melians
South Carolina, USA
Retired US Army Ranger
Chamberlain in North America for the Leslie of Balquhain Chieftain
Lewis R. Johnson, Ed.D.
North Carolina, USA
Founding Director and President of the Foundation
Descendant of the Kincraigie Leslies