tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18280410857593716512024-03-04T22:37:09.669-08:00Not Your Grandmother's DAR!As a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, I am excited to share ideas for the promotion of historic preservation, patriotism, and education in our communities.Susan Gillette Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061523952925202605noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828041085759371651.post-82821720414857653482019-08-14T13:32:00.000-07:002019-08-14T13:32:01.850-07:00DAR Bling! Adding graphics to make your social media site "pop".<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Want to try your hand at creating some technological "bling" for your DAR social media site? Try creating a word cloud. These two are from<span style="text-align: center;"> tagul.com </span><span style="text-align: center;">If you click on</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><a href="https://tagul.com/klpblpc1gwrl/dar#_=_" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">this link</a><span style="text-align: center;">, you will see an interactive one.</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhGp8UWFAkF85IXNV4b4BipapF8ZBL2-xekin_IPuaPaSrJuJqDXt_cF5X_WjpJWhHel3ZhyphenhyphenDPExmkxDYsBmBaDnvgywnF74ftEjSX6bhXOpnj9N0ilZSuEqFT8KL0Ct6uMjG95CnJeYf/s1600/Jacob+Ferree+Heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhGp8UWFAkF85IXNV4b4BipapF8ZBL2-xekin_IPuaPaSrJuJqDXt_cF5X_WjpJWhHel3ZhyphenhyphenDPExmkxDYsBmBaDnvgywnF74ftEjSX6bhXOpnj9N0ilZSuEqFT8KL0Ct6uMjG95CnJeYf/s320/Jacob+Ferree+Heart.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjylLao-fBbrdghzkLrTihIrdF9zBdSzr59MFpdp_x_iAuq25YNIaibeJzUE_sjiGFJVFGy-YyAHzATToaW9XsXVIuWGRJEpmyI5bNyuqM6tRE39v8kTfMzB2QCwuAUHEKoowO-kQ9aNxA/s1600/DAR+Heart+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjylLao-fBbrdghzkLrTihIrdF9zBdSzr59MFpdp_x_iAuq25YNIaibeJzUE_sjiGFJVFGy-YyAHzATToaW9XsXVIuWGRJEpmyI5bNyuqM6tRE39v8kTfMzB2QCwuAUHEKoowO-kQ9aNxA/s320/DAR+Heart+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This one is from Tagxedo.com </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzlSXgqCeX5oEG1SK756e2CGfY5ChMbFkKno4bFjwlf1kc0vlk73F0JSTz_4tlQ2YIbDJjs1L_Q-bWF86pHah67AhKYBvsMi0_q97mUf2snSTyrHzRbgbBZ3j8DaBvcJ-6txu4PncYo5A/s1600/DAR+Super+Star.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzlSXgqCeX5oEG1SK756e2CGfY5ChMbFkKno4bFjwlf1kc0vlk73F0JSTz_4tlQ2YIbDJjs1L_Q-bWF86pHah67AhKYBvsMi0_q97mUf2snSTyrHzRbgbBZ3j8DaBvcJ-6txu4PncYo5A/s320/DAR+Super+Star.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Susan Gillette Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061523952925202605noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828041085759371651.post-62888412063384290682016-12-30T14:25:00.001-08:002016-12-30T14:30:53.723-08:00DAR School Committee - Targeting Education; Planting the seeds of tomorrow!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.dar.org/national-society/education/dar-schools" target="_blank">DAR School Committee</a></span></span><br />
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Targeting Education; Planting the seeds of tomorrow!</i></span></span><br />
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia;">Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.</em></div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia;">~</em><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia";">Nelson Mandela</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwiNMTNi06PAmhz29dEiValcoe-O6G1SqWJD6L8yeJcaAr8EpPksoKy6u0A0d5LJ6ih91IMWZjnBQxnqsTwIdNKopa6LEeobtr34DJ_Fi470HZEK8k-pyRYo0GqeAAnKpctnfSPh2qrRV/s1600/Apple+pin+with+books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwiNMTNi06PAmhz29dEiValcoe-O6G1SqWJD6L8yeJcaAr8EpPksoKy6u0A0d5LJ6ih91IMWZjnBQxnqsTwIdNKopa6LEeobtr34DJ_Fi470HZEK8k-pyRYo0GqeAAnKpctnfSPh2qrRV/s200/Apple+pin+with+books.jpg" width="170" /></a><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 20px;"> There are six of them. Most members can only name one or two, knowing very little about each place or the lives that they change. They are not located in big cities and aren't in affluent parts of the United States. They are known to many as the DAR Schools, but to the students who attend these institutions, they are often known as a second chance in life. </span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 20px;"> Since 1903, members of the Daughters of the American Revolution have been donating time, materials, and money to support students in need all across America. The programs supported through these donations include ones to address the issues of dyslexia, poverty, family crisis, illiteracy, malnutrition, and other emotional and physiological disorders. </span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 20px;">In the early years, the money came from individual members and some chapters through direct donations and the funding of scholarships. More recently, the DAR School Committee was created to make a concerted effort to fund each of the DAR Approved Schools and address their needs on a school by school basis. </span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 20px;"> The six schools are: <a href="http://www.kdsdar.org/" target="_blank">Kate Duncan Smith</a>, <a href="http://www.tdarschool.org/" target="_blank">Tamassee DAR School</a>, <a href="http://www.berry.edu/" target="_blank">Berry College</a>, <a href="https://www.crossnoreschool.org/" target="_blank">The Crossnore School</a>, <a href="http://www.hillsideschool.net/" target="_blank">Hillside School, Inc.</a>, and <a href="https://www.hindmansettlement.org/" target="_blank">Hindman Settlement School</a>. Each school is unique - serving students from a different area of the country with different ages, genders, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Finding that personal connection with each school allows all DAR members to be inspired to support the youth of America. How do you become personally connected? If you educate yourself about the schools, noting what makes each one unique, you will be sure to grow to love these institutions. Together, we can target education while planting the seeds of tomorrow.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 20px;"><a href="http://www.kdsdar.org/" target="_blank">Kate Duncan Smith, DAR School</a>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-size: 20px;"> Located in the Appalachian area of Grant, Alabama, this school serves students in grades K-12, providing a particularly patriotic education while emphasizing community involvement. To learn more, watch this video. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 20px;"><a href="http://www.tdarschool.org/" target="_blank">Tamassee DAR School</a>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-size: 20px;"> For almost 100 years, the Tamassee DAR School in Tamassee, South Carolina has been helping children and families in crisis. From early day-care to high school, students find comfort and love at this school. Watch their video message. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 20px;"><a href="http://www.berry.edu/" target="_blank">Berry College</a>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 20px;"> This co-educational college campus in Mount Berry, Georgia offers students a service-centered view on life and purpose. Here is a video describing their institution.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 20px;"><a href="https://www.crossnoreschool.org/" target="_blank">The Crossnore School</a>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 20px;"> Located in Crossnore, North Carolina, this school offers hope and miracles to those students in crisis. For almost 100 years, the DAR has been supporting this school. Watch their video here.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 20px;"><a href="http://www.hillsideschool.net/" target="_blank">The Hillside School, Inc.</a>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 20px;"> This school in Marlborough, Massachusetts offers boys in grades 5-9 who may not have been successful in public school settings a chance to excel while teaching them the school's core values of honesty, respect, compassion, determination, and fun. Check out their message.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 20px;"><a href="https://www.hindmansettlement.org/" target="_blank">Hindman Settlement School:</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 20px;"> Found in Hindman, Kentucky, the Hindman Settlement School offers programs that bring cultural awareness to the students and specializes in helping children with dyslexia. Here is more information in their video.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 20px;"> To help any of these DAR Approved Schools, please see your Chapter Regent. She should be able to describe the specific ways your chapter can help. If you would like your chapter to increase support for these schools, try contacting your state DAR School Chair. She should be able to let you know many options. Lastly, you can always donate to the "<a href="http://www.dar.org/giving/support-program-your-choice" target="_blank">Friends of the DAR Schools</a>" fund in any amount. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 20px;"><i>Susan Gillette Meer</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 20px;">DAR School Chair - Pennsylvania State Society Daughters of the American Revolution</span><br />
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>References: </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">"Daughters of the American Revolution." <i>Daughters of the American Revolution.</i> Web. 30 Dec. 2016. <<a href="http://www.dar.org/">http://www.dar.org/</a>>.</span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Bailey, Diana L. <i>American Treasure: The Enduring Spirit of the DAR.</i> Virginia Beach, VA: Donning, 2007. Print.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">All of the above school websites were also used for information.</span><br />
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Susan Gillette Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061523952925202605noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828041085759371651.post-84329617775825550522016-08-02T18:00:00.001-07:002016-08-02T18:17:20.482-07:00Top Ten Reasons to make plans to attend Continental Congress in 2017<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Continental Congress 2016…what a fabulous time, <i>again</i>.
This was my 10<sup>th</sup> year attending the week-long event, and I am
already planning for next year. I
thought I would give my top ten reasons why you, too, should plan to attend in
2017.</div>
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<b>Top ten reasons why
you want to make plans to attend Continental Congress in 2017:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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10. The lifelong
friends you will make with women all over the world are amazing. Volunteer for a committee, or if you are
young enough, “page”. Take time to talk
to everyone. It seems as if everyone is
in a great mood…we all want to be there.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY34kRYf5rf4ZtCd3Bi2eXnTpwWFG0wxd0_PsZgZNf8dFuJHZWBf_Og2Tdh25ij_VtRpi8XfCpVk5XCuWmCjlfg2bhtAs90UWkaf9bxg-U_DfXxFwF4PkJAp5gC6qh9OEtnXOXFeyVMZYz/s1600/100_5198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY34kRYf5rf4ZtCd3Bi2eXnTpwWFG0wxd0_PsZgZNf8dFuJHZWBf_Og2Tdh25ij_VtRpi8XfCpVk5XCuWmCjlfg2bhtAs90UWkaf9bxg-U_DfXxFwF4PkJAp5gC6qh9OEtnXOXFeyVMZYz/s320/100_5198.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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9. Washington, D.C. is an amazing capital,
providing much to tour and appreciate.
Plan a Segway tour of the city like I did a few years ago…you won’t be
disappointed! Here I am with my roommate in front of the
World War II memorial.</div>
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8. The inspiration
you gain by hearing what other chapters in our organization are doing will
revive your sense of why you joined the DAR in the first place. You will return with fresh ideas how to serve
your community.</div>
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7. The display of
patriotism shown during the sessions, especially “National Defense Night” will
create an urge within you to be a better citizen. The grandeur of the evening sessions is
amazing! This is a photo of opening
night.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0L8DxYBnJJH4W79rQB8WcvpUjjzu15DkPSmXmJWunp2kZVRtTa16z73KvnsH6SHD9X4rJcVGBjP-oo20Uca1-gNMs7cyi_juydxheW3B_4OwmLo2m_gmDJjC3Ox3ZuAIsrhT5_Y1SETTF/s1600/Opening+Night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0L8DxYBnJJH4W79rQB8WcvpUjjzu15DkPSmXmJWunp2kZVRtTa16z73KvnsH6SHD9X4rJcVGBjP-oo20Uca1-gNMs7cyi_juydxheW3B_4OwmLo2m_gmDJjC3Ox3ZuAIsrhT5_Y1SETTF/s400/Opening+Night.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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6. The chance to see the historic DAR building
complex will leave you in awe…you will be amazed and want to go back to see
more. The DAR museum has wonderful
displays. There are also period rooms
for each of the 50 states, totally worth your time.</div>
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5. All the
representatives from the DAR schools are there.
You get a chance to meet them and some of the students, learning more
about where your donations go.</div>
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4. Three words -- The
DAR Library -- The mother of all genealogical libraries. If you are interested in research, you will
be in heaven. If you are not, you should
at least take a peek at the newly restored lay lights. They are B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!</div>
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3. Okay, this one is
big for me, but may not be for you…You don’t have anyone asking you “What’s for
dinner?” You don’t have to cook or clean
all week long. No dishes! You can make it a more economical trip if you
like, too. There are plenty of ways to
get all the foods you like with a Cosi around every corner. There is a cafeteria across the street from
the DAR complex, so that was relatively inexpensive and had a ton of variety.</div>
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2. You feel more
connected to the larger organization.
Sometimes we attend our chapter meetings and we feel that that is all
there is to DAR. Getting a chance to
meet the President General or the other elected leaders of our organization,
and realizing they are chapter members just like us, is refreshing. </div>
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And the number 1 reason why you should attend Continental
Congress in 2017…</div>
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1. It will stir you
to Move Forward in Service to America! </div>
Susan Gillette Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061523952925202605noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828041085759371651.post-43861832555085712682012-06-07T11:22:00.002-07:002012-06-07T11:27:10.759-07:00Kate Duncan Smith DAR School<br />
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<span style="font-size: 20pt;"><span style="color: black;">My Visit to the Kate Duncan Smith DAR School<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Some people hate to travel...the
crowds, the strangers, the planning. I am quite the opposite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love seeing new places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish I had more time to travel all over the
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been to Mexico, Canada,
the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland,
Austria, France, and Italy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would
love to do Australia or Hawaii someday. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also love staying in our great country and
traveling to new cities and states.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
family is the kind that drives somewhere and stops along the way to see the “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Largest Ball of String in the Universe</i>”
or whatever is out of the ordinary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This month,
I traveled somewhere new: Grant, Alabama!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now it may not sound as exciting to you as Rome, but it was a great joy
to spend three days at the “Gem of Gunter Mountain”, the </span><a href="http://www.kdsdar.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Kate Duncan Smith DAR School</span></a><span style="color: black;">.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCytFrWFzhDEFivYYEJ62kRSfV9887NxsM_9rpOnqN_Rixi2XdhX_oDT3izUDCTZIKgxd6l9cV9UvduDm6E31xKfAE4YTqLgD2uBya-i_Dt_8CqwtJvUddsSAewRJRQ6mhGBqequvLxe6/s1600/GrantAlabamaSign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCytFrWFzhDEFivYYEJ62kRSfV9887NxsM_9rpOnqN_Rixi2XdhX_oDT3izUDCTZIKgxd6l9cV9UvduDm6E31xKfAE4YTqLgD2uBya-i_Dt_8CqwtJvUddsSAewRJRQ6mhGBqequvLxe6/s320/GrantAlabamaSign.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><a href="http://dar.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution</span></a><span style="color: black;">
owns this Appalachian school for students in need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most Daughters call it KDS. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, everyone in Grant calls it the “DAR
School”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to their web site,
the DAR School “</span><span style="color: #006600;"><em><span style="color: black;">serves grades K-12 and provides
opportunities for the children of a large, rural area in the Appalachian
foothills to develop a strong love of American ideals as they obtain a
distinctive academic background. Emphasis is upon patriotic education
throughout the curriculum. Although the school plant and enrollment have
increased greatly in size and number since 1924, the same spirit of dedication
to achievement, patriotic and moral values, and service to community and
country exists on the campus today as it did in the early years of this unique
educational experiment of the Daughters of the American Revolution.</span></em></span><span style="color: navy;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><span style="color: black;">
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<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">This school changes lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The children in this area of Alabama often have not had the opportunities
that those of wealth have had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without
these luxuries, they are more grateful for their education and the loving
guidance the teachers and staff provide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">According to one of the guidance counselors,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I purchased clothes for all three
children in the family…which consisted of three siblings in the household who
were being raised by a single dad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
not known where the mother is, but that none of the children have contact with
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The children didn’t have Christmas
and according to the father, there was no money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The girls were without any shoes and had no
jackets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the girls continuously
stole items of clothing for her and her sister to wear, and upon interviewing
both the girls to discuss the needs, I noticed that the one pair of tennis
shoes the girls did share had a hole down the middle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, they were too small.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>…you could tell they were attempting to make
do with what they had…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The girls had a
pair of flip flops and a pair of tennis shoes they shared between them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am assuming the clothing items were the
same way because the older female had to wear clothes that did not fit her but
that did fit her younger sister. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When speaking to them I learned they had a
younger brother in 6<sup>th</sup> grade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I learned he was also in need, and I purchased items that he would also
need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I feel so privileged to work at a
place that will help people in need in this manner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The girls were highly appreciative of the
items.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The older sister actually put on
the shoes when I presented them to her because she had on some shoes that did
not fit her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The younger sister was
wearing flip flops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks so much for making
a difference in this family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope that
it will make an impact on their lives!”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">So, why did I go to KDS?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As State Chairman for Junior Membership in the DAR, I represented our
committee and state this year, presenting an award to a graduating senior who
excelled in art.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My journey included
visiting all parts of the campus, presenting the award, attending graduation, and
getting to know the welcoming Daughters of Alabama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you to Rita Horton, Connie Grund, Patrice
Donnelly, Janeal Shannon, Tammy Clemons, and Peggy Johnson for making me feel
so welcome!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">The campus is located in the most beautiful part of
Alabama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the first things that
got my attention was the view of the valley from the school grounds.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezTjtd40Pv5Hh5XJBZOtI-Vi5nhvA32rBlLZe_k5KsCNCYF95HXRFZ30XKTMSZjKARcc25H6_4jv0ccgfx_vQHD3y2iqd-HDgrTvzPcc2GXvbu3-M8zF-T425EojGD1uChVjPR8D_Elwl/s1600/100_3793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezTjtd40Pv5Hh5XJBZOtI-Vi5nhvA32rBlLZe_k5KsCNCYF95HXRFZ30XKTMSZjKARcc25H6_4jv0ccgfx_vQHD3y2iqd-HDgrTvzPcc2GXvbu3-M8zF-T425EojGD1uChVjPR8D_Elwl/s320/100_3793.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">This was such a peaceful, breathtaking view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt as if I could see forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right
behind me, the historical marker revealed that the Kate Duncan Smith DAR School
was started in 1924 by the Alabama Society of the Daughters of the American
Revolution.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNJ3Qs8vAhnWPvwmOGVxxzgJwDZhOYMDnEsSVUWm9eB8PRAuPv6wsUt6ebQ4xB8A8J6ONPLdGbIKUBXpsq3oyW5z3CY_HwE_slRsnXdtA_nbfKVJpn4h5m3hyphenhyphenm_X3BHNXiODBsnKHXDIL/s1600/KDS+Landmark.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNJ3Qs8vAhnWPvwmOGVxxzgJwDZhOYMDnEsSVUWm9eB8PRAuPv6wsUt6ebQ4xB8A8J6ONPLdGbIKUBXpsq3oyW5z3CY_HwE_slRsnXdtA_nbfKVJpn4h5m3hyphenhyphenm_X3BHNXiODBsnKHXDIL/s320/KDS+Landmark.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">A tour of the school revealed many beautiful, historical
structures such as the Pennsylvania Log Cabin and the Pennsylvania Bell Tower.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEn61J2SZ0Vbf4muUe4oMGQp5jw8CNp_LO9J1MjrqWeYkMaHbnE4PphR3A4nWbY9X4QohnXR0DhYvuxfztCAZ7goMx3LWY60SY9wjzpMw17WrGdjNDMkFbBEhyphenhyphenbk_zxNoEQl6meq0R_j0q/s1600/PA+Log+Cabin+Far+Away.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEn61J2SZ0Vbf4muUe4oMGQp5jw8CNp_LO9J1MjrqWeYkMaHbnE4PphR3A4nWbY9X4QohnXR0DhYvuxfztCAZ7goMx3LWY60SY9wjzpMw17WrGdjNDMkFbBEhyphenhyphenbk_zxNoEQl6meq0R_j0q/s320/PA+Log+Cabin+Far+Away.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pennsylvania Log Cabin (front)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47OabvafZBmJicL_URmfzK61yCPUAEVeSG1ZsipvswFS36MGUv1DFlbEx-PciZKdYU5lV3DliDQXnAHXAaC3WZSnDkI1lV69ODDZ5bQOGjTuk0AOkIle5-7lzOulpssHmYwMQMus-q0R8/s1600/PA+Log+Cabin+in+back.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47OabvafZBmJicL_URmfzK61yCPUAEVeSG1ZsipvswFS36MGUv1DFlbEx-PciZKdYU5lV3DliDQXnAHXAaC3WZSnDkI1lV69ODDZ5bQOGjTuk0AOkIle5-7lzOulpssHmYwMQMus-q0R8/s320/PA+Log+Cabin+in+back.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pennsylvania Log Cabin (back)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj277fM2uNu2Jxx9JqmkM14anMrAUMiwC1CoDos-tQMtwJwpQQrhDj8T9B69suEv38Psb0GwVASGaYqoj71J3Dy_lpy1QW5zcHi0vfsOXr7LSQiKapUGZFqR-My2Vw-YNcnHCAgvGtiXsnw/s1600/PA+Bell+Tower.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj277fM2uNu2Jxx9JqmkM14anMrAUMiwC1CoDos-tQMtwJwpQQrhDj8T9B69suEv38Psb0GwVASGaYqoj71J3Dy_lpy1QW5zcHi0vfsOXr7LSQiKapUGZFqR-My2Vw-YNcnHCAgvGtiXsnw/s320/PA+Bell+Tower.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pennsylvania Bell Tower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnGrUTUV_TCJgZDvradQN9pOckbamoDBydyX6KtNfcNAKQ6-oYlM3830jqVVPhH89RVgFydqyxvTTpVrXtQJ35lULzN-C6TlPvRRChU4sniTw45rnyrvVcLEiwqQHvXpwHUyEdwPpx5nr/s1600/PA+Bell+Tower+Plaque.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnGrUTUV_TCJgZDvradQN9pOckbamoDBydyX6KtNfcNAKQ6-oYlM3830jqVVPhH89RVgFydqyxvTTpVrXtQJ35lULzN-C6TlPvRRChU4sniTw45rnyrvVcLEiwqQHvXpwHUyEdwPpx5nr/s320/PA+Bell+Tower+Plaque.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Since much of the campus contains historical landmarks, the preservation
of these buildings is extensive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">When one tours the more modern parts of campus, a welcoming
set of pillars greets you to the Home of the Patriots.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjat5ugPfwxm2hI-Tl2x16BX1Sivp-SpSYQaELoSiCUW0rBHfsYqzedA0qvqDXR5tiYeEkjP6hwJQb0SsSM40HYzfHy1yYYazpf9dHJ73-Z_Bn117VeQ1OKWKBnX1ItVG5Tjcqjmv-Nnp3S/s1600/Pillars+Outside.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjat5ugPfwxm2hI-Tl2x16BX1Sivp-SpSYQaELoSiCUW0rBHfsYqzedA0qvqDXR5tiYeEkjP6hwJQb0SsSM40HYzfHy1yYYazpf9dHJ73-Z_Bn117VeQ1OKWKBnX1ItVG5Tjcqjmv-Nnp3S/s320/Pillars+Outside.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">The mascot is painted on the main gym’s wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is also found in the cafeteria and on
several displays in each of the buildings.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlSz_XOSdkyjFkXEyf03AeeKUhlYuX0EzMLqF3sRRAMkqvlxjvf4nvufpVrwgz44dR4vx57BscP5mXWp2o9_IzJlrBdFL_NguhZus249h8rG8YnaiLMyLmOYzmkgP8zb6FPTp1_-2J4hu/s1600/Gym.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlSz_XOSdkyjFkXEyf03AeeKUhlYuX0EzMLqF3sRRAMkqvlxjvf4nvufpVrwgz44dR4vx57BscP5mXWp2o9_IzJlrBdFL_NguhZus249h8rG8YnaiLMyLmOYzmkgP8zb6FPTp1_-2J4hu/s320/Gym.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patriot Mascot painted on Gym Wall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlGgWyDFuRzW_Uv6mbOKZBv8Iks4I-WxhObQ3wDCGOO_HzGhIDMPenCCRRY2dwEiiVl8UmpRWZqUHcnmnehIyDWWII8QhOvJqS-U8Z762vOXVSilidP9LCINR12r48fpuaguQXyXjWNJ5/s1600/Cafeteria+Wall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlGgWyDFuRzW_Uv6mbOKZBv8Iks4I-WxhObQ3wDCGOO_HzGhIDMPenCCRRY2dwEiiVl8UmpRWZqUHcnmnehIyDWWII8QhOvJqS-U8Z762vOXVSilidP9LCINR12r48fpuaguQXyXjWNJ5/s320/Cafeteria+Wall.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Mural on Cafeteria Wall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">There were several particular things that struck me as very
noteworthy during my journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were
not amazing things, but things I will remember for a long time to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Now to put this in perspective, I teach in an economically
sound school district in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, the comparisons that I am going to make
are based on my everyday encounters.</span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">First, I noticed that all of the students were very, very <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">polite</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now, anyone would hope that strangers were polite to strangers, but the
KDS students seemed exceptionally polite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Trust me…these KDS kids were great!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had more doors opened for me in one day by the boys of this school
than I have in a month at mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yes, Ma’am”
ended every sentence that I heard.</span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Second, I am used to seeing students with perfect, white
teeth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All my students in my district,
by the time they are in middle school, have any “defects” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">under construction</i> and have them fixed by high school age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The students that I encountered at KDS do not
have this luxury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of the students
at the high school level smiled with the beautiful smiles that God gave to
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had no corrections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This may seem like a strange thing to notice,
but it made a lasting impression, showing the economic differences.</span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Third, the patriotic education was noticeable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the awards ceremony, the students,
grades K-12, all stood and said in complete unison the pledge of allegiance to
the flag as well as the American’s Creed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, the students said the creed so quickly, that they finished it
before any of the DAR members on the stage had a chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No student was disrespectful during this
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a single one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Finally, the number of ‘Thank You’s from the students were
too numerous to count.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they saw me wearing
my pins, they knew I was part of a larger group that has helped each one of
them to have a better chance in this world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were grateful, and they showed it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">My visit to KDS has changed my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has made the support that I have given this
school become real and tangible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw,
first hand, the product of my contributions to the DAR School committee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was able to meet the teacher, Denise
Duncan-Saint, that my chapter, the Jacob Ferree Chapter, sponsored for two
years.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklsQN4TaO17emQtPwmQiTIl1MPzR6fJZXn-CA8-TJVQsTekSHjEzkcTNDBcdD8ec5XJZPjefcbiQgHrri5GJ4B7-gJeRlh6UzyL3szlYu75bghRBXnYudhsWFQ1UcXh6US3ZFnrbBo8AD/s1600/Susan+and+Denise2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklsQN4TaO17emQtPwmQiTIl1MPzR6fJZXn-CA8-TJVQsTekSHjEzkcTNDBcdD8ec5XJZPjefcbiQgHrri5GJ4B7-gJeRlh6UzyL3szlYu75bghRBXnYudhsWFQ1UcXh6US3ZFnrbBo8AD/s320/Susan+and+Denise2.jpg" width="267" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Me and Denise Duncan-Saint, math teacher</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">What a great influence Denise is on the lives of these
children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>…and what a great influence
you and I can be, even from far away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">So, how can you help?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The primary school is in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">great
need</b> right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pipes in the
building have deteriorated and do not allow the bathrooms to drain
properly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though the custodians
clean the bathrooms thoroughly every day, the smell of urine and waste permeate
the entire building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peggy Johnson, the chairman
of the board for KDS said “The health of our children is our number one
priority”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want you to get the
impression that the school is run down, for it is not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw modern facilities everywhere, from the
gymnasium to the cafeteria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the
primary bathroom is unacceptable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take a
look at the urinal trough where the waste is not draining properly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is time to fix this problem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwW9t45Bb_8Z4Ze2XbE0tWk9i40nQDTLGhWRxuSU9IR2DoZCucpJRQG9jyclwiN-ZUWXP3sHFl3ZfYzmZLSd0ebHnIs7rTDzUHPJx_WZvs0rqut6_KL_kbVhcsuqmYWDV6i696OCZFPQJ/s1600/Urinal+Trough.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwW9t45Bb_8Z4Ze2XbE0tWk9i40nQDTLGhWRxuSU9IR2DoZCucpJRQG9jyclwiN-ZUWXP3sHFl3ZfYzmZLSd0ebHnIs7rTDzUHPJx_WZvs0rqut6_KL_kbVhcsuqmYWDV6i696OCZFPQJ/s320/Urinal+Trough.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Last weekend, my chapter had our June meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There, I told my chapter of my visit to the
Kate Duncan Smith DAR School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told
them of all the students and how we, as DAR members, have touched their lives
in such a strong, positive way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then
told them that we have a chance to continue to support them through the
donation to this bathroom renovation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The chapter members then unanimously voted to donate $1000 directly to
the school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Way to go, ladies!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">This is why <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I LOVE
BEING IN THE DAR</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love it that we
are doing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">good</i> in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love it that we work together as a team to
raise money to turn around and put it back out there for those in need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love setting the example for my children that
“it is not all about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you</i>”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">I am quite sure
that I will visit KDS again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am quite
sure that my love for great education for all children in America, no matter
their economic circumstances, will drive me to be active within this committee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is my passion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John F Kennedy said it best; “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Children are the world's most valuable
resource and its best hope for the future.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How do you plan to help our future?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="color: black;"> </span></o:p></span></h1>
<span style="color: black;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">To make a
contribution to the Kate Duncan Smith DAR School, please send your check to the
following address.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be sure to indicate
you want it to go to the “Flush Fund” or “Primary School Bathrooms”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Kate Duncan Smith DAR School</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">6077 Main Street</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Grant, AL<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>35747</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<span style="color: black;">
Phone:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(256) 728-4236<br />
Email:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;"><a href="mailto:KDSDAR@nehp.net">KDSDAR@nehp.net</a> </span></div>
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<br /></div>Susan Gillette Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061523952925202605noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828041085759371651.post-16266843868423258332012-02-17T16:20:00.000-08:002012-02-17T16:20:47.319-08:00DAR Member - What do I do?A recent internet meme I have seen this week is an image containing various smaller images to denote what others think of people's jobs. So, I decided to make one for the DAR member. So many people have no idea what it is that we really do. Here is my version...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHnON3BBQBo_-WCbLIoKodNHqV74SRznS9-FJApBoZC2Ohj9qwWKv2lmuGO6RpBP0vbRCesBd1wmXTuQ8HUVFQ2EvKm4cakLcffeB027OuRpc4dD7IGRJaLW3SnZa0Ww-QrIhyVl6IN1o/s1600/DAR+Member.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHnON3BBQBo_-WCbLIoKodNHqV74SRznS9-FJApBoZC2Ohj9qwWKv2lmuGO6RpBP0vbRCesBd1wmXTuQ8HUVFQ2EvKm4cakLcffeB027OuRpc4dD7IGRJaLW3SnZa0Ww-QrIhyVl6IN1o/s640/DAR+Member.jpg" width="640" yda="true" /></a></div>Susan Gillette Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061523952925202605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828041085759371651.post-39065127202401833992012-02-05T16:20:00.000-08:002012-02-06T16:14:49.452-08:00Membership Drive – Start the New Year with a Bang!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">February.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some say a little late to make new year’s resolutions, but I like to ease into things, not going “cold turkey”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t mean to say I have weak will power or little determination, I mean to say I am not impulsive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think things through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am a planner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On a personal note, for the new year I trying to give up caffeine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have way too much energy as it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t need to add more to my body in an unnatural way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(For those who know me, you are shaking your head in agreement, right?!?)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So, I started thinking about a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">DAR</i> new year’s “resolution” or perhaps more of a goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Membership</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you hear the news?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt -0.75pt; mso-outline-level: 6;"><b><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"This year the DAR Genealogy Department has verified 11,676 DAR applications--the third-highest yearly total in DAR history! This is over 1,000 more applications than last year. (An all-time high of 13,805 applications were verified in 1921.) We can always make it our goal to beat that record next year!"</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">My chapter supplied 16 of those new members this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, we have had 62 new members in the last three years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would say we are doing pretty well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I don’t want you to think it is all about the numbers for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our chapter does great things in our community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just read some of my other posts and you will see all the things we have done for to support historic preservation, patriotism, and education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We make a positive difference in the world around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you really believe in the work that the DAR does, wouldn’t you want to involve more people?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wouldn’t you want to gain new members so that they can share in the opportunities to serve?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wouldn’t you want this organization to continue?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without new members, any group will not survive.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So, back to my DAR goal for the new year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I will try to be an important cog in the great wheel of our organization by inviting prospective members to meetings and helping with their research and paperwork if they want to join.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuuQRbBywqvn7T0pU4lZ7zXXumxFSTBmfmfK_LD_TGz8__b4358B4guBx4hqJ9MeJMhqIrl10kEyHI3AZapRgWbtgMjTbaapQhZ1IwjBV07O0Ud4puysa2q79nBuB-XfG4iMirOpfdNv4/s1600/record.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuuQRbBywqvn7T0pU4lZ7zXXumxFSTBmfmfK_LD_TGz8__b4358B4guBx4hqJ9MeJMhqIrl10kEyHI3AZapRgWbtgMjTbaapQhZ1IwjBV07O0Ud4puysa2q79nBuB-XfG4iMirOpfdNv4/s200/record.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>How will I know if I meet my goal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The product will be one to two new members this year because of that effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love the quote, “You can’t win a race you don’t run.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can’t get new members if you don’t tell women about the DAR.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may think, “But I am just a small member in the big picture, how can my one or two new members make a difference?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, think big, ladies!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> got one or two new members a year, the mathematical outcome in membership would be incredible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>…but more importantly, the increase in community service would make such a large, positive impact upon our world!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, when you feel small, think big.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Who are you going to invite to your next meeting?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnII5308u9ytp7F7fjTUDmqA0U6DATolSlmDl0Mpsa-rVt2938XU28obHyhyAnyLaN2U6MXmBYMNAXWKOSVaRhVzdPWewTG8SOAK5PDGNU2jwj3z8LaMk-ngfh-0IjWcM_OvhLAYr2bCV6/s1600/You-Are-Invited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnII5308u9ytp7F7fjTUDmqA0U6DATolSlmDl0Mpsa-rVt2938XU28obHyhyAnyLaN2U6MXmBYMNAXWKOSVaRhVzdPWewTG8SOAK5PDGNU2jwj3z8LaMk-ngfh-0IjWcM_OvhLAYr2bCV6/s200/You-Are-Invited.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Not to leave you without any resources, check out the DAR Store online to get to promotional materials for your prospective members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go to the members’ web site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On the left side click on "DAR Shopping" then click on "DAR Store Online".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the left, you will click on "Chapter Supplies".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>I recommend the "General Information Brochure" or the "Getting to Know the DAR" pamphlet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Or for the technologically savvy, send them to YouTube to see the Today’s DAR video in five parts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is the link to the first one:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIuaFhJNqsc">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIuaFhJNqsc</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>Susan Gillette Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061523952925202605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828041085759371651.post-14292871549947657952011-12-01T17:54:00.000-08:002012-02-06T16:12:40.960-08:00Ten Blessings for Someone Else – ‘Tis the season!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpEO5pd6q4uxDEU6AQwszgOvD1VjtVvV3vx7snz8qM-rjzAgJfz3gdSlA4TeNh9S_5E2JMIP0jVD7TZHy0T6N71eQ-5i2B70UyHh2KpYcjmEqja_y4UGZH5ujPk8-WfljYPfsS8B1DEQI/s1600/hollyleaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpEO5pd6q4uxDEU6AQwszgOvD1VjtVvV3vx7snz8qM-rjzAgJfz3gdSlA4TeNh9S_5E2JMIP0jVD7TZHy0T6N71eQ-5i2B70UyHh2KpYcjmEqja_y4UGZH5ujPk8-WfljYPfsS8B1DEQI/s200/hollyleaves.jpg" width="148" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;">My family and I are blessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a wonderful home and love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have friends and family who care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has provided a wonderful life for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each year at Christmas time, we exchange gifts with one another to represent that gift that was given to us long ago in Bethlehem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Christmas, my husband and I looked for ways to give outside of our family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are some of the donations that we considered.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;">All of the following ways to better our world can be done by DAR members and non-DAR members alike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just remember, if you want to give financially, and you are in the DAR, you may want to consider giving through your state treasurer instead of directly to the causes to get chapter credit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But let’s face it…it is the giving for the sake of others that is really the focus here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make your gift “In Honor Of” or “In Memory Of” someone special.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Donate items to <strong>Landstuhl Regional Medical Center<span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> – When our active military duty are severely injured they are sent by medevac to this facility in Landstuhl, Germany.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://ermc.amedd.army.mil/landstuhl/index.cfm"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">http://ermc.amedd.army.mil/landstuhl/index.cfm</span></a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are always in need of </span></strong></strong>healthy snack bars, chocolate, candy, iTunes® gift cards, lip balm, and deodorant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Create a box of these items and ship them with a few thank you cards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">You may send your donations with required custom forms to:</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Landstuhl Regional Medical Center</span></i></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Attn:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>MCEUL-CH/Chaplain’s Office</span></i></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">CMR 402</span></i></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">APO, AE 09180</span></i></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>2.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Donate to a local Women’s Shelter</b> – Many of the women and children in local shelters have only the clothes on their backs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often times, they leave their homes in such a hurry to avoid more danger that they are in great need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Contact your local women’s shelter and find out how you can donate clothes and toiletries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will make it easy for you to find the closest one to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go to </span><a href="http://www.womenshelters.org/"><span style="color: black;">http://www.womenshelters.org/</span></a><span style="color: black;"> and choose your state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scroll down for a list of cities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Click on your city and then scroll down for a list of the shelters and contact information.</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>3.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Adopt a Classroom at the Kate Duncan Smith DAR School</b> – Have you heard what great things happen at the Kate Duncan Smith DAR School?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.kdsdar.com/"><span style="color: black;">http://www.kdsdar.com/</span></a><span style="color: black;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to their web site, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“The school serves grades K-12 and provides opportunities for the children of a large, rural area in the Appalachian foothills to develop a strong love of American ideals as they obtain a distinctive academic background.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One year my chapter adopted a teacher at KDS and supported her math classes with donations of calculators and other general supplies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of the students were very grateful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider adopting a class or making a donation to the school this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype><span style="color: black;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYnmJpyXM9mNuqTrokovT-CeK-K5Jrx2AYStm8RdgjuHfw7ulDPqiotFDv9wyq4ZXu6HWb1EZbr5D7EKw-7Z2fOwjsb6oZRaOL6JPiODgh1g5-_XHeFzncPUJ6qvnczgLMqZ01soHPQ6A/s1600/DAR-Logo-2x2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" dda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYnmJpyXM9mNuqTrokovT-CeK-K5Jrx2AYStm8RdgjuHfw7ulDPqiotFDv9wyq4ZXu6HWb1EZbr5D7EKw-7Z2fOwjsb6oZRaOL6JPiODgh1g5-_XHeFzncPUJ6qvnczgLMqZ01soHPQ6A/s1600/DAR-Logo-2x2.gif" /></span></a></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>4.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Donate to the Tamassee DAR School</b> – This place changes lives!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.tdarschool.org/"><span style="color: black;">http://www.tdarschool.org/</span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to their web site<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, “</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Tamassee DAR School is a private 501-c(3) <strong><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">non-profit children’s home</span> </strong>and<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b><strong><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">family services</span> </strong>organization offering multi-faceted programs to serve children and families with a variety of needs</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The<strong> </strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">annual cost</span> </strong>for a child to live in the safe and secure environment of Tamassee DAR School is <strong><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">$25,000</span> </strong>and <strong><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">no child is turned away</span></strong> due to an inability to pay.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Consider making a donation to help a child have a safer environment and a better chance in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.tdarschool.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=275">https://www.tdarschool.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=275</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can donate online.</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xEka61ubYRDoamPFjQoalXUEkYOLWv_GvOoDAEAnSribw0m46qmTLAeJ2jEHMrKO-NH-6Qc6xSg6dBg1gPbVD_wy70DmV3JFwkyZe8MdXAvt7T_BFsV4mFSHQp9jB_YIzKYgg0AHFKWG/s1600/tamassee.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xEka61ubYRDoamPFjQoalXUEkYOLWv_GvOoDAEAnSribw0m46qmTLAeJ2jEHMrKO-NH-6Qc6xSg6dBg1gPbVD_wy70DmV3JFwkyZe8MdXAvt7T_BFsV4mFSHQp9jB_YIzKYgg0AHFKWG/s200/tamassee.png" width="200" /></span></a></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>5.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Make a Donation to Your Local Veteran’s Hospital</b> – We live in a free country because of the many men and women who have sacrificed much for our freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I may not know them, but I am thankful for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why not donate to your local Veteran’s Hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will make it easy for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go to </span><a href="http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=1"><span style="color: black;">http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=1</span></a><span style="color: black;"> and click on the map to find your area’s closest facility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, once you find it, click on “Volunteer or Donate” on the right hand side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may find a list of volunteer activities or a list of ‘needs’ they have. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either way, thank a Veteran this holiday season.</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>6.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Purchase and Donate an American Flag</b> – Contact your local library to see if they have an American flag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps your local schools need an American Flag for their auditorium or classrooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember to buy an American made American Flag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is a site </span><a href="http://www.aflag.com/"><span style="color: black;">http://www.aflag.com/</span></a><span style="color: black;"> that sells classroom flags for $16.30 each.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_sQhoW3OsuDsBQAWhCC7qz6NSLo1LQuYUZNgILaJOqyGMR5MTNoqMQEA29KwC0mnwcJ0D9bxUWQP0g-Cxce9DUz5M6iSZXYzQ9XhaDQRM1pF5vEleODfw4y2GFt2w6W2YPiCYV4o0snC/s1600/ClassroomFlag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_sQhoW3OsuDsBQAWhCC7qz6NSLo1LQuYUZNgILaJOqyGMR5MTNoqMQEA29KwC0mnwcJ0D9bxUWQP0g-Cxce9DUz5M6iSZXYzQ9XhaDQRM1pF5vEleODfw4y2GFt2w6W2YPiCYV4o0snC/s200/ClassroomFlag.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>7.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Donate to the <span class="googqs-tidbit1"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Indian Youth of America Summer Camp Program</span></span></b><span class="googqs-tidbit1"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> – During the summer the Indian Youth of America Summer Camp Program meets in several places in the US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="googqs-tidbit1"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.indianyouthofamerica.org/"><span style="color: black;">http://www.indianyouthofamerica.org/</span></a><span style="color: black;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to their web site, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Over the past 34 years, IYA’s summer camps have provided thousands of Indian children between the ages of 10-14 with an alternative to spending the summer at home….often with no entertainment, recreation or job opportunities. The summer camps have provided a variety of positive activities at a time when youth lack supervision and are most vulnerable to peer pressure, criminal activity, gang involvement and substance abuse.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider sponsoring a child today by paying part or the entire $300 camp fee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can donate online.</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><span class="googqs-tidbit1"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjImP5B0mwPqv28UU1YXyTbFEw2ITf47hF_DRHIQPKyoAqnJvUb_TMRiJVy6xTMldWVlDty2x6c8mSPCrl8pvYQithi8uYVhVOqVmhawAQ2CBBd1YFl0t_QihP0G6slra9vOvi6qiiso3/s1600/iya_logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" dda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjImP5B0mwPqv28UU1YXyTbFEw2ITf47hF_DRHIQPKyoAqnJvUb_TMRiJVy6xTMldWVlDty2x6c8mSPCrl8pvYQithi8uYVhVOqVmhawAQ2CBBd1YFl0t_QihP0G6slra9vOvi6qiiso3/s1600/iya_logo.gif" /></span></a></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>8.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Donate a Book to Your Local Library</b> – When I first joined the DAR, I was not a huge history lover unlike so many other Daughters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I invited a colleague of mine who teaches US History down the hall from me to speak at our local meeting that year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His portrayal of the men and women of colonial America was so real and tied to so much emotion that I instantly became a fan and wanted to learn more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He recommended that I read “Liberty the American Revolution” by Thomas Fleming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went straight to the library and read it cover to cover within a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it enlightened me by revealing the bravery that early Americans displayed for independence and democracy, then it will surely inspire many, many more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Purchase a copy of the book and donate it to your local library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check to see if they already have a copy of it before you donate.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>9.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Give Someone a Gift Subscription to American Spirit</b> – Any history lover would love this magazine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Six issues a year will showcase our American History in unique and relevant ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check it out at<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://dar.org/natsociety/magazine.cfm"><span style="color: black;">http://dar.org/natsociety/magazine.cfm</span></a><span style="color: black;"> .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can also donate a copy to your local library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can purchase it online.</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgpruHrOtcSlIqlUovZLwjA2CzI_3jjMs3MXL4g4rjSXDfte-EcW0N5M48r28IxJ2erVEEqcxJRMau-Z_E7k7fjkyVsE-caoOia-Q8P8WcB067qdozihzrEpHr_xFTziDcXiXNjfXtUdD/s1600/frontcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" dda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgpruHrOtcSlIqlUovZLwjA2CzI_3jjMs3MXL4g4rjSXDfte-EcW0N5M48r28IxJ2erVEEqcxJRMau-Z_E7k7fjkyVsE-caoOia-Q8P8WcB067qdozihzrEpHr_xFTziDcXiXNjfXtUdD/s1600/frontcover.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>10.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Adopt-an-Object or Sponsor Camp at the DAR Museum</b> – The DAR Museum is one of the most prominent American decorative arts museums in the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Located a few blocks from the White House in Washington, DC, it is open to the public.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://dar.org/museum/"><span style="color: black;">http://dar.org/museum/</span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It offers educational programs to schools, families, Scouts, and children during summer camps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider donating to the “Museum Camper Buddy Program” to help run their programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps you would rather adopt an object at the museum. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just contact the </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">Museum Office at 202-879-3241, or email </span><a href="mailto:museum@dar.org"><span style="color: black;">museum@dar.org</span></a><span style="color: black;"> for more information. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMv6zOiY5rOcNcjjkmsh4x-1ZDvOJ-NLNYCcz01ez10yFrG0BzRCiDPqAvpFdBa3MNFjWMYHiPkWE85gSK_DkpRGA8HIc0k-2fJGf3W-C7ITk2kIPpK5JBJn8rvjo5ms7LjrcHqTaTz0V_/s1600/logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMv6zOiY5rOcNcjjkmsh4x-1ZDvOJ-NLNYCcz01ez10yFrG0BzRCiDPqAvpFdBa3MNFjWMYHiPkWE85gSK_DkpRGA8HIc0k-2fJGf3W-C7ITk2kIPpK5JBJn8rvjo5ms7LjrcHqTaTz0V_/s200/logo.gif" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I like the quote by Albert Einstein, “The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope you and your family find a way add value to your life and to make the world brighter for someone else this Christmas.</span></div>Susan Gillette Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061523952925202605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828041085759371651.post-8249992993235029562011-11-27T16:23:00.000-08:002012-02-06T16:12:57.456-08:00“I’m a Collector” – 5 ways to make a postive impact without leaving your home<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">If you collect stamps, you are known as a philatelist.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">If you collect books, you are known as a bibliophile.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">If you collect coins, you are known as a numismatist. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">If you collect postcards, you are known as a deltiologist.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">If you collect teddy bears, you are known as an actophile.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">There are names for almost anyone who collects almost anything: umbrellas, shells, thimbles, cheese labels, ties, corkscrews, bird’s eggs, pearls, autographs, sugar packets…</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I used to collect dolls from around the world when I was a child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That would have made me a “<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">plangonologist”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, my daughter plays with them, so it isn’t much of a collection. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I began a new collection within the last 20 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I collect periodic tables from around the world. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder if there is a word for this other than “nerdy”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I doubt it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Most recently, I have been collecting other things, quite ardently I admit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The funny thing about my most recent collections is that I don’t keep them for very long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find them and then give them away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me tell you about them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>Box Tops for Education</b> – Each time I cook a meal, I seem to find one of these labels on a can or box.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is easy to remove the label.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the time I am taking the label off a can or cereal box anyway to recycle it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I take off the label and collect it in an empty canister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, as I made lunch, I found one on my Progresso Soup Can.</span> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkZBsIpqdJJDAkKLn5hBQMncFTw8qNJ6IqAF-SZIaefkvkRX6w_JiVOtdTHAgzOee6z45KDRFfeR49gHV-FFvNqmpRP4N1XSvZD-jHuikMrVa_lqQomD1d-vqLSK_CpWKC7Xl8jO0WBqE/s1600/SoupLabel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkZBsIpqdJJDAkKLn5hBQMncFTw8qNJ6IqAF-SZIaefkvkRX6w_JiVOtdTHAgzOee6z45KDRFfeR49gHV-FFvNqmpRP4N1XSvZD-jHuikMrVa_lqQomD1d-vqLSK_CpWKC7Xl8jO0WBqE/s320/SoupLabel.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My soup can had a Box Top$ for Education label on it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Both DAR Schools gladly accept the Box Top$ for Education from DAR members. </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">They can be used to purchase c</span>omputers, books, playground equipment and much more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you don’t know much about the DAR Schools, take a look: <a href="http://www.kdsdar.com/">http://www.kdsdar.com/</a> and <a href="http://www.tdarschool.org/">http://www.tdarschool.org/</a> .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They positively change the lives of children every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Ask your DAR School chapter chairman to start collecting them at your meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She can then send them once a month to either school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t forget, they have an expiration date, so be sure to send them soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are the addresses to make it convenient for you.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br />
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kate Duncan Smith DAR School</span><br />
6077 Main Street<br />
Grant, AL 35747<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tamassee DAR School<br />
P.O. Box 8<br />
1925 Bumgardner Drive<br />
Tamassee, SC 29686</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vUg11Eng2mXzZncoR-4Y4gqdqmDyBXYOh0RG8eSt4mwwEbNCwDrxDdd8y4-C6ey_ngeptBAN4WcF6ojbqBjme1LqozdB7wKqDorTYZodJucFgQv8fJ9NnuNlCiknjdSxilNVsdTDuVgl/s1600/BoxTopsForEducation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vUg11Eng2mXzZncoR-4Y4gqdqmDyBXYOh0RG8eSt4mwwEbNCwDrxDdd8y4-C6ey_ngeptBAN4WcF6ojbqBjme1LqozdB7wKqDorTYZodJucFgQv8fJ9NnuNlCiknjdSxilNVsdTDuVgl/s200/BoxTopsForEducation.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><shape id="Picture_x0020_4" o:spid="_x0000_s1028" style="height: 171.75pt; margin-left: 211.5pt; margin-top: 12.2pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 296.25pt; z-index: -251656192;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\Meer\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image005.jpg"></imagedata><wrap type="tight"></wrap></shape><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">2.<b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Labels for Education</b> – The DAR Schools also accept </span>the UPC labels and lids from participating Campbell products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The KDS DAR School uses them to purchase computers and software.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Tamassee DAR School hopes to purchase needed vans for student transportation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Collect them at your meetings and send them to either of the schools at the addresses previously shown.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisw1fT695iatJ7w3WjkzJm6OIkSbZywevhuDI2rkVppPlmB6bEo3cok3hnrjfocCJM-MBi96doI10O7TSqsqnfI2GYKFeXP1BtSeH-oLA_z48SXotjAEWH3R4K6I_BLrtQ2kV65ghWTeRx/s1600/clip_thumb_labels%252520for%252520ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisw1fT695iatJ7w3WjkzJm6OIkSbZywevhuDI2rkVppPlmB6bEo3cok3hnrjfocCJM-MBi96doI10O7TSqsqnfI2GYKFeXP1BtSeH-oLA_z48SXotjAEWH3R4K6I_BLrtQ2kV65ghWTeRx/s1600/clip_thumb_labels%252520for%252520ed.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">My lunch today also used a product that had a Campbell’s Labels for Education, and it wasn’t soup!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was my bread</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep an eye out for these labels…they are everywhere it seems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwT_aY9Ses2VkQ3ptjBb0JE21C34m6GojjAErZOhptj-HgeV6swML_6Q-QTel04rjh_2oRgGL1wg3rjqJLBjv2faYnMFnE_26NjzMvVbnJosiMwO5cqHoSFcgzUvLWyUqkk00CHKuY6kV/s1600/Bread+Label.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwT_aY9Ses2VkQ3ptjBb0JE21C34m6GojjAErZOhptj-HgeV6swML_6Q-QTel04rjh_2oRgGL1wg3rjqJLBjv2faYnMFnE_26NjzMvVbnJosiMwO5cqHoSFcgzUvLWyUqkk00CHKuY6kV/s320/Bread+Label.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My bread has a Campbell's Labels for Education label on it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">3.<b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plastic Bottle Caps</b> – Our State Conservation Chairman started a contest last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The chapter that recycled the most plastic caps would be recognized at state conference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been a ‘recycler’ for almost 10 years now, rinsing my bottles and cans and taking my newspapers to the community ‘bin’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I didn’t understand the need to recycle the plastic bottle caps separately, so I did a little research.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently, the tops to my water and soda bottles are made of a different plastic than the rest of the bottle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means that all the tops that I threw into the regular recycle bin probably ended up in the landfill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, now I have a separate canister for my caps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want to find out where to recycle your plastic caps, just go to <a href="http://earth911.com/">http://earth911.com/</a> and enter ‘#5 Plastic Caps’ for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Find recycling centers</i>, and for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">near</i>, enter your zip code <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and click ‘Search’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will give you a listing of places that recycle plastic caps within a 25 mile radius of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTbCeVyE-dfTxN4TtA5WZ9993Rkergu5PlppMIyV79uhRL1EUpHNl1IMnfpLy0QM2GsdIy9YgbFO6kY60k-HO0ccmOC3a9pPBZbkRP6l-Ihhv9hJDcwZXnt1E9oRQmHtVVinfGiIUHPP1/s1600/plastic+bottle+caps.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTbCeVyE-dfTxN4TtA5WZ9993Rkergu5PlppMIyV79uhRL1EUpHNl1IMnfpLy0QM2GsdIy9YgbFO6kY60k-HO0ccmOC3a9pPBZbkRP6l-Ihhv9hJDcwZXnt1E9oRQmHtVVinfGiIUHPP1/s200/plastic+bottle+caps.bmp" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">4.<b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ink Cartridges</b> – Did you know that several of the DAR Schools accept empty computer ink cartridges as donations?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You DAR Schools Chairman may contact each of the schools to determine how to submit these ink cartridges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will submit them to companies that give them cash rebates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t cost anything to ship these cartridges, either!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Kate Duncan Smith DAR School</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(256) 728-4236</span><br />
<a href="mailto:KDSDAR@nehp.net">KDSDAR@nehp.net</a><br />
<br />
Tamassee DAR School<br />
(864) 944-1390<br />
<a href="mailto:tamasseekids@juno.com">tamasseekids@juno.com</a> <br />
<br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8Z9HgMXqfjnLilTx5Aw9vkjzZY_fYBX87qn33MHk4KxTTqXfR7f_HFjGBA17OSFV5Z2piCzPRaOwKYTjOAE1wbAN35VLyk41bNbMLOaMknun4xh4EhwdDzamohOTH9FxLyK1gYS7za3V/s1600/emptyink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8Z9HgMXqfjnLilTx5Aw9vkjzZY_fYBX87qn33MHk4KxTTqXfR7f_HFjGBA17OSFV5Z2piCzPRaOwKYTjOAE1wbAN35VLyk41bNbMLOaMknun4xh4EhwdDzamohOTH9FxLyK1gYS7za3V/s320/emptyink.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recycle your ink cartridges.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">5.<b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cell Phones</b> – This is my smallest collection, but it is nonetheless, an important one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a nonprofit organization that was started by two teenagers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They collect used cell phones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They sell them to a recycling company and then use the money to purchase phone cards to give to soldiers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to their web site: “Cell Phones for Soldiers is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing deployed and returning troops cost-free methods to communicate with family while serving in the United States military.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you have any cell phones to recycle?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can check this organization out at <a href="http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/">http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/</a> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuI0Ts-joXxSUq5slgAN6Hg9q-VyitB3F_yHxzS2A6uWW1OPo47fzB-w9GCm-CtyExLta0W580thyphenhyphen_tXS7aDLZRZp2b0mbUkw894qtSFtQQPLv5wDZ9vJyuNBgA4t1jAIPaWMNXr5afUq/s1600/CellPhonesForSoldiers.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuI0Ts-joXxSUq5slgAN6Hg9q-VyitB3F_yHxzS2A6uWW1OPo47fzB-w9GCm-CtyExLta0W580thyphenhyphen_tXS7aDLZRZp2b0mbUkw894qtSFtQQPLv5wDZ9vJyuNBgA4t1jAIPaWMNXr5afUq/s320/CellPhonesForSoldiers.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">If your chapter would spread the word,</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I am sure you could get quite a few to donate their old cell phones.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtamSIlv9MVxMlLWiQKjqe5jYuQO8UJoiqhfGRmpA6GmZfx_Zcl3QiIDuO3Bwl21PMf5QFdSOCvOL2GAb0sAw8oPrCUtC4sgdOHbkTwAO_T0F-o6XhVO4_AEwqC4JYkLDrqLuwB3Xm7X0y/s1600/logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtamSIlv9MVxMlLWiQKjqe5jYuQO8UJoiqhfGRmpA6GmZfx_Zcl3QiIDuO3Bwl21PMf5QFdSOCvOL2GAb0sAw8oPrCUtC4sgdOHbkTwAO_T0F-o6XhVO4_AEwqC4JYkLDrqLuwB3Xm7X0y/s200/logo.gif" width="200" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">So, as DAR members, we say we want to make a positive difference in the world around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are five ways for you to start making a difference, whether you attend a chapter meeting or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Become a collector, and make a positive difference in your world today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh – and there’s a word for this kind of collector…“<strong>Daughter</strong>”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Susan Gillette Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061523952925202605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828041085759371651.post-37347832216106443342011-10-01T16:57:00.000-07:002019-08-14T13:30:50.751-07:00Junior Membership - How to Gain and Maintain<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Today was Pennsylvania’s Fall Meeting where everyone in the state is encouraged to attend and learn from educational workshops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As state Junior Membership Chairman, I was asked to present a session on “Sweet Success with Junior Membership”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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(Thank you to <i>Becky Osbourn</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> for the title slide.)</span></div>
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The goals of the workshop were simple:</div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span>Understand the role that Juniors have in the longevity of our organization.</div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span>Describe ways to gain new Juniors into a chapter.</div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span>Develop a strategy to make your current Juniors more active members.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The role of Juniors</b></div>
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Having this opportunity to present this workshop supported my belief that this organization needs to grow in order to continue the great work that our ladies do on a daily basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This venue afforded me that platform to stress our state Junior Membership motto, “Juniors are the KEY to the future of Pennsylvania DAR.” </div>
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It disturbs me to know that there are chapters that have fewer and fewer meetings each year due to a lack of interest while other chapters are thriving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is their secret to success?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can we spread some of this ‘magic’ around to all the chapters?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, it isn’t magic, it is just a consistent effort to gain the younger members and to help them become active.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gaining new Juniors</b></div>
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There are several ways to gain Junior members into your chapter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be sure to do the obvious – enroll your daughters, granddaughters, nieces, or family members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I joined just to honor my grandmother and then look what happened…I fell in love with the great things our organization does for the world around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another opportunity to find Juniors lies in your co-workers, neighbors, or even the friends of other Juniors in your chapter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go ahead and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tell</i> those around you about the great things we do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Invite them to a meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You would be surprised how many people have never really understood our organization and want to find out more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can also begin by forming a relationship with your local C.A.R. society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>DAR is the next logical step after C.A.R. and too many girls don’t realize they can continue serving their community as women.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Making your Juniors active</b></div>
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This is where we spent the most time in our discussion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I narrowed it down to a three-fold process:</div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A.<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span>Make it convenient!</div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B.<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span>Make it worthwhile!</div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">C.<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span>Make it fun!</div>
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A. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make it convenient! – Juniors lead such busy lives these days with school or work on top of family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If being a member is not convenient, it places a burden on the member.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, to make it convenient for a Junior…</div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span>Offer a ride to the meeting.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span>Have a “$20 off your first year’s dues” offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone suggested free first year’s dues… but with a very successful chapter, this can be a large investment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will have a total of 7-8 new Junior members this year in my chapter, the Jacob Ferree Chapter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That would be a lot of money.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span>Hold your meetings on Saturdays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ladies, no one wants to hear this one since no one likes change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But having your meetings during the normal work week is like the kiss of death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No working woman, which most of your Juniors these days are, is going to take a day off of work once a month to attend a DAR meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those days off are reserved for family and special needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our chapter used to have about 10 members at a meeting with about 70 total members – on Tuesdays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that our meetings are on Saturdays, we have close to 40 at a meeting with a membership approaching 130.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rip it off like a Band-Aid, ladies, and just make the change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People hate change, and many members will hate this change, but it is an investment in the future of your chapter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just do it.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span>Have a family inclusive event (potluck, picnic, benefit, cemetery clean up…).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they can bring their kids, they are more likely to come.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span>Arrange for a babysitter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps another member has a teenage daughter that would be willing to come and watch all the younger children during the meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span>Pass a “We love our Juniors” can to help support your pages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Juniors are usually on the low end of the pay scale in any business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, to have that financial support to attend your state conference or Continental Congress will go a long way in encouraging them to take that step and volunteer.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span>Add a line in your chapter’s budget to support your pages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of the pages I meet tell me they never would have paged if their chapter would not have paid part of their way.</div>
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B.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make it worthwhile! – As a Junior once told me, “I feel valued and can add value.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your Juniors feel like they are in integral part of your chapter, they will help your chapter flourish.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span>Assign committee leadership aligned with her interests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Find out what she loves…is it gardening?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bam!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s your new conservation chairman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is she descended from an American Indian?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wham!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s your new American Indians chairman.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span>Ask her to help lead a program based on her talents or skills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too often we see our Juniors as “young” and inexperienced, but they often have talents and skills we don’t possess and it goes unrealized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span>Create programs that are of interest across age boundaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t have a program on “Dealing with your retirement.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How about a great Women’s Issues program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> have issues, right? <span style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span>Mentor your Juniors so they realize the value of their time investment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one is huge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More experienced members need to keep in contact via phone, email, or Facebook with your Juniors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Share your magazines with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get them an invitation to page and help them complete their paperwork for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sit with the Junior you are mentoring at your meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Introduce her to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">everyone</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span>Show them that they are important…value them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why not recognize one of your Juniors as your Chapter Outstanding Junior?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give them a KEY lapel pin to tell them they are the KEY to the future of DAR.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take them to the next fundraiser in your area as your guest.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span>Foster friendships for them with other Juniors…friendships that last a lifetime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Encourage them to page at your local state conference and then Continental Congress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Junior that pages is a Junior that grows into a leader.</div>
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C. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make it fun! – This applies to maintaining all membership.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span>Plan a “Ladies Night Out”.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span>Connect your Juniors with other Juniors in your chapter or in the state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let one of the active pages in your state know about your new or inactive Junior and the connection will be made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sometimes takes a Junior to entice a Junior.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span>Talk to your Juniors!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get to know them and their interests.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span>Be open to new ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We recently marched, in colonial costume, in the local Memorial day parade for the first time in decades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a large Junior turnout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am trying to convince my Juniors in my chapter to get the local news to do a story on us skydiving while holding our DAR banner!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I am pretty sure this has never been done before.)</div>
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I believe today’s workshop was successful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The three goals were fulfilled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, having every member in PA support their Juniors is a job for the membership. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave everyone a “Commitment Card” with a list of all of these ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked the ladies to commit to at least one, if not many, of the concepts presented.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only time will tell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s see how we do.</div>
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If you are interested in having a copy of this commitment card, please contact me. Thanks!</div>
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Susan Gillette Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061523952925202605noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828041085759371651.post-84419062348546475782011-09-18T18:45:00.000-07:002012-02-06T16:13:48.435-08:00Continental Congress - See you there!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSohLoEEmnlbz7_tCWp7G35FStodUBArRJwYXUHJ_YSmfAVMLjkhnvUU4XjaNrlMddtgAA9pgu1nQFW08Gu-nFGkYVf02LcVRzFUPWyZpjTqwGkRdjYq0RA9avfH2ymTmMXIteEqffqkr/s1600/DSC05516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSohLoEEmnlbz7_tCWp7G35FStodUBArRJwYXUHJ_YSmfAVMLjkhnvUU4XjaNrlMddtgAA9pgu1nQFW08Gu-nFGkYVf02LcVRzFUPWyZpjTqwGkRdjYq0RA9avfH2ymTmMXIteEqffqkr/s320/DSC05516.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">Every year,</span> thousands of daughters from around the world travel to 1776 D Street NW in Washington, DC for what I consider to be one of the best weeks of the year – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Continental Congress</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a week-long celebration of the DAR’s annual accomplishments and positive impact we had upon our communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is held at the DAR complex that takes up an entire city block.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are workshops, forums, luncheons, and dinners that one may attend to learn more about committees and awards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each state regent gives inspiring reports of her state’s highlights of the last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every committee chairman also gives a report, praising members, awarding prizes, and urging daughters to ‘do more’ in the coming days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is truly a learning experience that motivates all of us to aspire to do greater good through our chapters.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">At our most recent chapter meeting, Continental Congress was discussed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having attending this event for the past five years in a row, I urged my chapter members to make plans for 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more members that attend, the more active our chapter will become.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The DAR reserves rooms at the JW Marriott Hotel, only a few blocks away from the DAR building, for a low DAR rate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They then open up the rooms to the members on October 23, 2011, at 4:00PM for reservations…and they sell out <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fast</i>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only an hour or so later, and you may be staying at another hotel nearby, away from all the action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49L0zKrd7AFwDNnuBiAkE-cGY6iF0qaB4MgPQjg7TEw3T3G5BUeiku6Y-OnxlG78Yykyh7AfujZ7xC4EF-ixVOW5QpiKwLAdrvCwrSnGahzOLNS2q5ShGXuyEqyQwCPh0Ql7P8eQeZCgB/s1600/DSC05642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49L0zKrd7AFwDNnuBiAkE-cGY6iF0qaB4MgPQjg7TEw3T3G5BUeiku6Y-OnxlG78Yykyh7AfujZ7xC4EF-ixVOW5QpiKwLAdrvCwrSnGahzOLNS2q5ShGXuyEqyQwCPh0Ql7P8eQeZCgB/s320/DSC05642.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;">The JW Marriott is bustling with DAR ladies attending dinners and events.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The DAR owns an entire city block, just a few blocks from the White House.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, if you walk from the hotel to the hall, you walk down Pennsylvania Avenue, taking photos along your way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inside this historical landmark, is a plethora of unique rooms and hallways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>History is everywhere, on the walls and in every nook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should choose to visit the award winning DAR Museum and the 31 Period Rooms, showcasing American furnishings and decorative arts prior to 1830.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be sure to make a trip to the Americana Room, displaying early American manuscripts and imprints.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many Daughters spend countless hours in the DAR Library, one of the largest genealogical research centers in the United States.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUF_Zyy6nJ3ROG-CjbQpeaxfWgAUUNWt6Wvp5_W_1x1ykdIyCiQfih3Nj-RAedJ4nb2mrXzzusD5Yc5Qt6x7Gf5MSDJQiIS2zYl504Yqol0CcKv-Wd9YvS8KSjLy_xH70I7Wlw5mqkUAX/s1600/HPIM0761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUF_Zyy6nJ3ROG-CjbQpeaxfWgAUUNWt6Wvp5_W_1x1ykdIyCiQfih3Nj-RAedJ4nb2mrXzzusD5Yc5Qt6x7Gf5MSDJQiIS2zYl504Yqol0CcKv-Wd9YvS8KSjLy_xH70I7Wlw5mqkUAX/s320/HPIM0761.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;">The DAR Library is a great place to find your lineage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="color: #660000;">I took this photo during Continental Congress two years ago.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0F5ZbYP4txS-R5J6DPBuIzDGb4qjFCgdM7K8JDpRe56i_kMOV6P3ZW3zg99c1BhRMkUAEaQY8o-Ym2EjPbOunLF1DySymQmVI2O65M1-ivCxQMTKI3Jgsnh8O5dEXVDnvw2xaVop5oUq2/s1600/100_1330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0F5ZbYP4txS-R5J6DPBuIzDGb4qjFCgdM7K8JDpRe56i_kMOV6P3ZW3zg99c1BhRMkUAEaQY8o-Ym2EjPbOunLF1DySymQmVI2O65M1-ivCxQMTKI3Jgsnh8O5dEXVDnvw2xaVop5oUq2/s320/100_1330.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;">The DAR Library houses over 25,000 compiled and published family histories on several floors.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">When you aren’t doing research or touring the building, many women find time to shop and learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many booths set up for our enjoyment to purchase patriotic items, support the President General’s Project, and learn more about the DAR Schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixu_fW7NvsXgdlM6gnjzT9EwD8KdQN7tDlcOyWTWkG85m5Xqweat8I4fts4EMpGtFsXv7KR4ueouAm49BgFR_DWfcv780QA0DLceEnd8x7ilWxIekYB3HyRzTC77yoYFEHVVYYqmIX1Z8w/s1600/100_1352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixu_fW7NvsXgdlM6gnjzT9EwD8KdQN7tDlcOyWTWkG85m5Xqweat8I4fts4EMpGtFsXv7KR4ueouAm49BgFR_DWfcv780QA0DLceEnd8x7ilWxIekYB3HyRzTC77yoYFEHVVYYqmIX1Z8w/s320/100_1352.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;">Some of the items for sale are almost irresitable.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The majority of your time will likely be spent attending the official meetings in Constitution Hall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no way to describe the intense patriotic feeling one gets when “Stars and Stripes” is played for opening ceremonies and the hall is full of excitement!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know women who have been attending for decades and it still sends chills through them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The evening sessions are formal, so the glitz and glamor is quite a sight!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbXafJFzJIKgExIL5GBRMU_9iXwsKflN34776rz74ItRbB0c6hS1ZE_A0qYxKr5bU72Eka6YOeuMR9D7khD8pZ3Gk9g-Zqr80Oiu7cXkcl8g7PgVCMoNj6Cv52zDS5Q48E9ZlUUb3fzeD/s1600/HallCC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbXafJFzJIKgExIL5GBRMU_9iXwsKflN34776rz74ItRbB0c6hS1ZE_A0qYxKr5bU72Eka6YOeuMR9D7khD8pZ3Gk9g-Zqr80Oiu7cXkcl8g7PgVCMoNj6Cv52zDS5Q48E9ZlUUb3fzeD/s320/HallCC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;">The historic Constitution Hall was built in 1929.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This photo is during one of the day sessions.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I have made plans already to attend Continental Congress June 25-July 1, 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I believe that we may have a total of seven women from our chapter attend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This includes three ‘first-timers’ and three pages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you imagine the motivation our chapter will have upon the return of these leaders?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The possibilities are endless.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>So, the time is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">now</i> to make your decision.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you IN or are you OUT?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To really get the fullness of the experience, you need to start making your plans today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suggest that you volunteer for something while you are there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps you want to serve during the day on the House Committee, helping the ladies outside the main hall find what they need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another option is to serve inside the hall in tiers, seating everyone for the events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the formal processions, daughters are needed to line the hallways as a corridor hostess, sealing off the processional line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make plans to attend the Junior Luncheon, the largest attended meal, or the Overseas Luncheon with their international bazaar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t forget…if you are under 41 years of age, you can page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is another experience in itself that is wonderful!!!!!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You make lifelong friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are in this age category, ask your regent for more information (and I will see you there...I page, too!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">If you have any questions whether you should attend or not, feel free to contact me: <a href="mailto:darqueenie@yahoo.com"><span style="color: blue;">darqueenie@yahoo.com</span></a> .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Everyone should plan to go at least once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong>It is an experience that you won’t want to miss and might just change your life and ultimately, the lives of those in your community.</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Feel free to share this blog with anyone you may think is interested in attending Continental Congress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really hope to see you there!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVKtMkb1_jBYvFYmdoTxQoE6H63aA9bDQsXffxonoVxXRgKFbz5zBd2M1JXCwiKKKKdPG1UTZEEREiO7JU_Z4hqkBDa9Svb_a7hTS32D0AKmw1ZPBrxMzr0_DSuVrOL8vlkcIxqHLJaTF/s1600/starbar.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="12" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVKtMkb1_jBYvFYmdoTxQoE6H63aA9bDQsXffxonoVxXRgKFbz5zBd2M1JXCwiKKKKdPG1UTZEEREiO7JU_Z4hqkBDa9Svb_a7hTS32D0AKmw1ZPBrxMzr0_DSuVrOL8vlkcIxqHLJaTF/s320/starbar.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><shape id="Picture_x0020_13" o:spid="_x0000_i1027" style="height: 12.75pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 335.25pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\Meer\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image011.gif"></imagedata></shape></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">To look at photos inside DAR Headquarters, visit:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://dar.org/natsociety/slideshows/Slide_show_dar_buildings/index.html">http://dar.org/natsociety/slideshows/Slide_show_dar_buildings/index.html</a> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">To take a virtual tour of parts of DAR headquarters, visit:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://dar.org/omni/virtualtours/hq/index.html">http://dar.org/omni/virtualtours/hq/index.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div>Susan Gillette Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061523952925202605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828041085759371651.post-74710531143859891652011-09-01T18:35:00.000-07:002012-02-06T16:13:59.856-08:00Program Ideas<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Our DAR meetings are fun. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really, they are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look forward to them each month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone who comes seems to laugh and talk and feels that it was worthwhile to give up time at home. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We get between 30-40 at a meeting, depending on the month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We always have them on Saturdays in order to accommodate the working woman and hold them at a local country club.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We start off with the regular meeting and ritual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We get almost all of our regular business done, and then we have lunch promptly at noon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just when the last of us are served dessert, we often start up again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through the clinking of the spoons, we finish our business and then introduce our program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having a program that will appeal to all the members is difficult but not impossible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the years, our chapter has had some great ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the ‘rules’ that we obey is to “keep it short”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No more than 20 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are glad to give up our time for our chapter, but none of us want the day completely spent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you follow this rule, all your programs will in some way, interest your membership.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">This may be too late for this year for some of you, but here are some of my favorite chapter programs that I have seen over the years:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><u>Historical Preservation, “Show and Tell”</u> – ask members to bring in an item they own that has historical significance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will stand and present their item and why they brought it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One woman in our chapter is a mid-wife and she brought her antique ‘birthing chair’!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another brought a family quilt that had been made generations ago with sewn signatures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You get a different program every time with some amazing stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone loves to show off a piece of their favorite history.</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrPw6mbazFmiWX_lvaMT7JqAf7DFmaK4kw5TDgxo4z9hEjAXAXVEw1jayOdZ6CYdtYFfPTK69uQ-b7AvgtsbNlReUwFLs29VLqkB2s6l3fbIqf_eWos9tbz5lQvsk8zCNgXcK_g7Tr6jt/s1600/quilt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrPw6mbazFmiWX_lvaMT7JqAf7DFmaK4kw5TDgxo4z9hEjAXAXVEw1jayOdZ6CYdtYFfPTK69uQ-b7AvgtsbNlReUwFLs29VLqkB2s6l3fbIqf_eWos9tbz5lQvsk8zCNgXcK_g7Tr6jt/s320/quilt.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><u>Constitution Week</u> – ask a local high school teacher to speak about how the constitution is taught in the school system today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps this U.S. History teacher may also be your next nominee for the Outstanding US History Teacher Contest.</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><u>Women’s Issues</u> – ask a nurse to visit and talk about health care for women such as annual mammograms, healthy eating, staying heart healthy, and exercise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or perhaps you could have a stress management meeting with someone leading relaxation techniques.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you do this one after you eat, watch out – you may have some nappers on your hands.</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><u>Genealogical DNA Testing</u> – ask a local biochemistry professor to speak about genealogical DNA testing, how it is done, and how reliable it is.</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><u>History of your Local River</u> – ask a local steamboat captain to speak at your meeting about the history of your local river.</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><u>Conservation Luncheon</u> – ask a local beekeeper to teach you about bees and how they are important to our agriculture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one we had even brought in some sample beehives (empty of course!).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzuNyR6fMlYaaQAexLZdDdrC0Zy78-5BnWUnk9-8ZP-EuGHb8kI-0D-Ha-BXrQqAUGlJHKI2lNnDqBexrEEd9p1DPHORhyib83wCzNbmP5z74cC6WIbbqY7fSazwDBM2EbwqML3VxFJe4/s1600/beehive.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzuNyR6fMlYaaQAexLZdDdrC0Zy78-5BnWUnk9-8ZP-EuGHb8kI-0D-Ha-BXrQqAUGlJHKI2lNnDqBexrEEd9p1DPHORhyib83wCzNbmP5z74cC6WIbbqY7fSazwDBM2EbwqML3VxFJe4/s1600/beehive.gif" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><u>Junior Membership</u> – We are celebrating 75 sweet years of the Junior Membership committee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why not have a celebration at one of your meetings?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Invite a local bakery to show your group how to decorate cupcakes since Juniors are so “Sweet”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Start off with just the cupcakes and then have an icing decorating class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fund raise during the meeting to support your juniors financially at the next state conference.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPoxt2xx6lRAWjj1O8KjIDiluGp5IL85oQG7x0GNYi6fSsF31S15aUdKMF-qg0EYi0hiFkMLtPnciuwX4ryVX_7HF80JHbizCAnJfNxpbC8wIjtxo6QqUnNqY5QpsMbogH9M5s95gxltE/s1600/cupcake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPoxt2xx6lRAWjj1O8KjIDiluGp5IL85oQG7x0GNYi6fSsF31S15aUdKMF-qg0EYi0hiFkMLtPnciuwX4ryVX_7HF80JHbizCAnJfNxpbC8wIjtxo6QqUnNqY5QpsMbogH9M5s95gxltE/s1600/cupcake.jpg" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><u>Junior Membership</u> – Another ‘sweet’ idea…invite a local jeweler to talk about jewelry, which is like the sweet frosting we wear!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fund raise during the meeting to support your juniors financially at the next state conference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps you can auction off a piece of jewelry if you can find someone to donate it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">If you are looking for a program for your chapter, don’t forget to go to the Program Committee page on the Members’ Web Site to see a huge list of great ideas for programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You also have a Speakers Staff available, both national and state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check your directory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I wish you luck on a wonderful year!</div>Susan Gillette Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061523952925202605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828041085759371651.post-13637280261123536512011-08-30T17:39:00.000-07:002012-02-06T16:14:09.500-08:00Historic Preservation<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;">I’ve been losing sleep lately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I haven’t been sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I haven’t been stressed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There hasn’t been any big changes in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have just been thinking about a house. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can a building make me lose sleep?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, this isn’t an ordinary house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the home of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">my dreams</i>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: black;">Almost two decades ago, very good friends of ours purchased a house and barn that was in need of updating and repairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sits on 10 acres of land with woods, fields, three ponds, and a spring house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is in Washington County, Pennsylvania, only 25 minutes from our current home. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The updates and repairs that they performed are incredible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything is redone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have watched them pour their retired lives into this home, making it have every modern convenience while still keeping its original charm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last week they put this piece of paradise up for sale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sounds good so far, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is the part that stops most people. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was built in 1790.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvCg5foyhWPCnNwd1nkAwwDWhjwLsHkZTzMf4Fw4HMNIgLBfpyw-wsU8TbWZqviVijQrEPouU7tC1_Pkwm5i25DlvySzOHMN8dYrA8dfCeu8I2VPM9TALqfAGrD2enCflqbmZBfORX6wW/s1600/house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvCg5foyhWPCnNwd1nkAwwDWhjwLsHkZTzMf4Fw4HMNIgLBfpyw-wsU8TbWZqviVijQrEPouU7tC1_Pkwm5i25DlvySzOHMN8dYrA8dfCeu8I2VPM9TALqfAGrD2enCflqbmZBfORX6wW/s320/house.jpg" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #660000;">This is the completely restored home built in 1790 by William Wolfe, a revolutionary war patriot.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oE_-ArpHL2Y3WkukkN9Kpp1i7eNfbHLR5p8NYnuxF4_GepkJvMD_7UXFFNp58L0-tZd2ZiGb05eSVN7P55E5HEnZl-AxDu1yG2OlDDWAp6L8Ay2FD68Kf_geftUjzhHf1MZrVmlzvNx5/s1600/barn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oE_-ArpHL2Y3WkukkN9Kpp1i7eNfbHLR5p8NYnuxF4_GepkJvMD_7UXFFNp58L0-tZd2ZiGb05eSVN7P55E5HEnZl-AxDu1yG2OlDDWAp6L8Ay2FD68Kf_geftUjzhHf1MZrVmlzvNx5/s320/barn.jpg" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #660000;">This is thee completely restored barn next to the drive way.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="color: black;">The house I live in today was built in the 1960s, and on the days when the floors creak or the bathroom faucet leaks, I think “This house is old!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine the problems that could arise from a house over 200 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I would have been willing to brave the difficult times of house repair and maintenance to have a small glimpse into the past and experience life like it was (with air conditioning and a dishwasher, of course).</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Would my living in a house like this be considered historical preservation, one of the objectives of the DAR?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to the Historic Preservation Committee web page, </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">“The Historic Preservation Committee encourages chapters and state societies to actively participate in historic preservation to preserve the past, recognize individuals or groups who voluntarily participate in historic preservation to enhance the present…”</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">If I lived there, I would certainly continue to maintain the quality of the home and repair things when needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could see my family taking one week during the summer to “live like colonials” without any technology or modern conveniences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could drink from the spring and fish in the ponds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All we would need would be a cow, and we would be set.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What fun it would be…we are adventurous!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">This may not be the kind of historic preservation that would win an award at Continental Congress, but it certainly is worthwhile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, I would have it easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t have to do the renovation, but I would have to maintain the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In time, I wonder how many dwellings like this will remain in our country? I am glad we have people who care about preserving the past.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">My husband and I discussed it for days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To move to a new school district, and add 20 more minutes to his commute which is already over one hour, was too much for our family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would have to pass over this opportunity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt like a stalker, though, constantly checking its listing, reviewing the photos over and over again.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">I guess I have good news, though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The house sold for their asking price today to someone who has loved the house longer than I have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least I will be sleeping better at night.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AE5ZX7SB6Af5q6EOdemI5q3X3dYheLHF4zKSH4BM5mb__ezjJexHLy4NbGrVAoiFQ0qrCv8eQutS5YH6fW_-GyA6qM57omOD-H32rgBvW3x4lX4AORDt7zQivMraRoxNDgyVjvCZ8URW/s1600/houseback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AE5ZX7SB6Af5q6EOdemI5q3X3dYheLHF4zKSH4BM5mb__ezjJexHLy4NbGrVAoiFQ0qrCv8eQutS5YH6fW_-GyA6qM57omOD-H32rgBvW3x4lX4AORDt7zQivMraRoxNDgyVjvCZ8URW/s320/houseback.jpg" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000;">This is the view from the back that includes the spring house.</span></div><br />
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</div>Susan Gillette Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061523952925202605noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828041085759371651.post-28973124101591009952011-08-28T18:17:00.000-07:002012-02-06T16:14:18.272-08:00Chapter Revitalization<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">In Pennsylvania</span>, we currently have 99 DAR chapters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A large number, compared to most states in the nation, I suppose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although it puts us just under the number 100, the required number of chapters to be classified as a ‘large’ state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since my membership ten years ago, I have been aware of a few chapters that disbanded or merged with other chapters due to decrease in membership or loss of interest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have only seen the creation of one chapter in my state during that time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking back on our state history, we have had over 50 chapters disband, with the first one in 1908.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That doesn’t even count the ones that have merged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I discovered this statistic, I was shocked!</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What happens to those daughters from a chapter that disbands or merges?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They may become Members At Large, they may transfer to another chapter, or they may resign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, many of them end up resigning or being dropped from our roll due to lack of interest or a lack of feeling connected to a new chapter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This weekend was our annual district workshop, led by our District Director.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the sessions, given by our State Organizing Secretary, provided the participants a time to discuss how to revitalize our chapters to avoid these problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are some of the very good ideas that were shared.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuATTlTNxH8fp7sSlT1MwdXLdGFpZhLfCggYcFvBg_ZH7WeoH6p0uE2zHO_Y4Ho7z_psk21XC_gBj2zhd5OZ1kZfBiZI-3YyGEufqsAcd-f3lG9MOKRg-rXDOL_wK8sDPtttDUc5UncAt/s1600/star.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuATTlTNxH8fp7sSlT1MwdXLdGFpZhLfCggYcFvBg_ZH7WeoH6p0uE2zHO_Y4Ho7z_psk21XC_gBj2zhd5OZ1kZfBiZI-3YyGEufqsAcd-f3lG9MOKRg-rXDOL_wK8sDPtttDUc5UncAt/s1600/star.gif" /></a></div><div align="left" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<div align="left" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Hold your meetings on Saturdays in order to allow the working woman, and often Junior, to attend.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Vary your chapter meeting location to hold the interest of your members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take field trips.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Promote your programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get everyone excited to attend.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Use your chapter members’ talents when considering programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A member that presents is one that is involved.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Keep your chapter meeting dates the same for consistency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, meet the second Saturday of each month. </span></div><div align="left" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Provide opportunity for members to participate in all three of our objectives: Historic Preservation, Education, and Patriotism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make your chapter have ‘Something for Everyone’.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Don’t neglect your older membership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Create a hospitality committee to visit the shut-ins or the ones in a care facility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Gather a team of chapter members to help the Registrar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often times, prospective members are overwhelmed when asked to find documents to prove their lineage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not every applicant enjoys research. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your team of genealogists can find the documents for the prospective member, it is more likely she will join before she loses interest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also take advantage of your Lineage Research Chairman in your state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She may be able to help find proof as well.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Get your new members involved right away:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>put them on a committee or make them a chairman.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Create a “Daughter to Daughter” program among your members, having an active member adopt an inactive member and keep in touch with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She should invite her to meetings and send correspondence to her via mail, email, or telephone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Birthday wishes are also nice.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuATTlTNxH8fp7sSlT1MwdXLdGFpZhLfCggYcFvBg_ZH7WeoH6p0uE2zHO_Y4Ho7z_psk21XC_gBj2zhd5OZ1kZfBiZI-3YyGEufqsAcd-f3lG9MOKRg-rXDOL_wK8sDPtttDUc5UncAt/s1600/star.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuATTlTNxH8fp7sSlT1MwdXLdGFpZhLfCggYcFvBg_ZH7WeoH6p0uE2zHO_Y4Ho7z_psk21XC_gBj2zhd5OZ1kZfBiZI-3YyGEufqsAcd-f3lG9MOKRg-rXDOL_wK8sDPtttDUc5UncAt/s1600/star.gif" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Your chapter does not have to do all of these suggestions to be successful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, you may want to adopt one or two of these strategies to begin your revitalization in membership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does my chapter do all of these things?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, we have made some positive changes recently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are growing with over 55 new members in the past two and a half years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a feeling that my chapter, the Jacob Ferree Chapter, will be around in the far future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good thing, because I plan to pass my pins onto someone special someday, and I truly hope she will be able to wear my Chapter Bar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; 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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LC_ZHUXGH_PhCou4dzLgA3omiGG4c7tbl3UVe0NzmQldgfgSRz4HTm_X9qwIo1p2DmpTUqNJrmvOPEW-j9736DnUcYR12IUyk1lG587-YpJkfo_g98dhe2S0F5yhP0Z8zFIITHQaKP-6/s1600/chapter+bar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LC_ZHUXGH_PhCou4dzLgA3omiGG4c7tbl3UVe0NzmQldgfgSRz4HTm_X9qwIo1p2DmpTUqNJrmvOPEW-j9736DnUcYR12IUyk1lG587-YpJkfo_g98dhe2S0F5yhP0Z8zFIITHQaKP-6/s1600/chapter+bar.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An example of a Chapter Bar...not my chapter, but someone's. <grin></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Susan Gillette Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061523952925202605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828041085759371651.post-76267305850190763722011-08-26T11:35:00.000-07:002012-02-06T16:14:26.926-08:00Key to the Future<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Having my computer totally crash this summer stirred a need inside me to backup all family photos in more than one place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had backed up my computer files in May of this year, so all was not lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the trip to the shore and the family reunion are now memories without proof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I began to look through old digital photos on my external hard drive from up to 10 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a wonderful trip through memory lane!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was then that I found this one:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQp9IRTDpAotoscBbTOpCVCN7rP0uimuwNNttxW_-xviceqh-GM79FCnnBFozE4-Dwj52KbSP9KZw5S7s-DW5agQ36WE28LsVAoaqUQNs7x_4VA5m0kgTbPbl8X0K9aGx0Ibfhc4Y4zfQQ/s1600/HPIM0801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQp9IRTDpAotoscBbTOpCVCN7rP0uimuwNNttxW_-xviceqh-GM79FCnnBFozE4-Dwj52KbSP9KZw5S7s-DW5agQ36WE28LsVAoaqUQNs7x_4VA5m0kgTbPbl8X0K9aGx0Ibfhc4Y4zfQQ/s320/HPIM0801.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This is my daughter during our trip to Washington, DC for Continental Congress, 2008.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could not resist snapping a photo of her at this spot…the same spot in which I have my photo taken in my “gown of white” each year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looks so small (as she should because she is 7 years old here).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has so many years ahead of her to make a difference in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I ask her if she wants to join the DAR someday, she often responds with “Is it even an option, Mom?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knows how important this organization is to me and will honor her mother with membership just as I had done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My thoughts turn to 50 years from now when I will no longer be an active member.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What will our organization be like?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will Daughters still be driving to honor God, Home, and Country?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will making a positive influence in our communities be just as important to our members?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will my daughter or granddaughter be involved in historic preservation, patriotism, and education?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes me realize that our younger members are really the key to the future of the Daughters of the American Revolution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too many chapters rely on the same people to do the same jobs, thinking the younger members are ‘too busy’ with their lives to help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>…but if we don’t involve our Junior members, our chapters or even our organization<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> may not survive</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those who truly believe in this organization, this is a sobering thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What can be done?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Start by inviting the younger members to become active by paging at a state event. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is where they gain the friendships that keep them committed to the organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask any page that is a ‘return customer’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of your best friends come from this experience – lifelong friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every member who has done this is glad that someone invited her to page and be active.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are the women who are the future of the DAR.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As long as we continue to train our younger members, our great work can continue to be done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: blue;">What will you do to ensure that your granddaughter has a thriving chapter to which she may belong?</span></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">And don’t worry, my daughter is right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is NOT an option.</span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZm23sx_aaYX7aeSwH6wIQMfSzkb5s4pmrE0tGWg7-17oGerGWicsTY8oqX0-qU1MZ_qT7SeZoGRYu4UcJbr_MTj67vkLLTVPKSThH-1y-F2EGhZrQCyk23MV_g8jeE9GIpYPkolS6aWC/s1600/Junior+Keys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="80" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZm23sx_aaYX7aeSwH6wIQMfSzkb5s4pmrE0tGWg7-17oGerGWicsTY8oqX0-qU1MZ_qT7SeZoGRYu4UcJbr_MTj67vkLLTVPKSThH-1y-F2EGhZrQCyk23MV_g8jeE9GIpYPkolS6aWC/s320/Junior+Keys.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Susan Gillette Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061523952925202605noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828041085759371651.post-14781795675468501052011-08-24T16:08:00.000-07:002012-02-06T16:14:38.052-08:00Not Your Grandmother's DAR! (or is it?)<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhih42rmSM0eNzOnceGzih3122EynNB8CkBSxbAtcLMM6rrwmXsBktq6rIX-c5URm5_0Yj_Z_3USPV23KSR7pI11jcUX70qB1nKue0YIRsjOPGD6Utlb-vud3p_4smQxkrMdLeVe5aFETEq/s1600/starbar.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="12" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhih42rmSM0eNzOnceGzih3122EynNB8CkBSxbAtcLMM6rrwmXsBktq6rIX-c5URm5_0Yj_Z_3USPV23KSR7pI11jcUX70qB1nKue0YIRsjOPGD6Utlb-vud3p_4smQxkrMdLeVe5aFETEq/s320/starbar.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Nellie Blanche Everitt Gillette</span> was my grandmother. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution for over 50 years, joining in 1943. A decade ago I decided to honor her by joining the DAR. Being almost 95 years old when this occured, she had very little capability to tell me about the organization or her participation in it. I did not know much about it either, but that did not matter. It was only going to be a gesture. One story that was shared was by the pins that she bestowed upon me right before her death. They told of her years as a state officer and her dedication to serving at Continental Congress. They showed her ancestors and her chapter, which is now non-existent. Much must have happened that I can only imagine. Over the years, friends in my state who knew her have shared stories, photos, and newspaper clippings. They have begun to piece together the image of the DAR woman that I never knew. Here is a photo that a friend shared with me of my grandmother and other members of the state board of Pennsylvania during the 1960s. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtEw5diYb_GUAlITbbtfWajg0oy9YyFzLln1hiimKyL_LFGKhI8ZVSvoAtGnZHcs6L1rDzKujaDiDzu_YA_ZmKYkTBBQHT5bpFSTSsc7ZXEiQ92ILr7zPPjssKd7FaPidWOGqix2JOgoS/s1600/GrandmaGilletteDAR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtEw5diYb_GUAlITbbtfWajg0oy9YyFzLln1hiimKyL_LFGKhI8ZVSvoAtGnZHcs6L1rDzKujaDiDzu_YA_ZmKYkTBBQHT5bpFSTSsc7ZXEiQ92ILr7zPPjssKd7FaPidWOGqix2JOgoS/s320/GrandmaGilletteDAR.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;">My grandmother is the tallest one in the picture in the back center.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>When I became eighteen, she urged me to register to vote. She would tell me of a time when her mother earned the right to vote. This is a picture of her mother, Nannie.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp26BgQWrlPiTDatTndPicsvQO5w3780FMVb96uMdIIixcGcRbyz9r_eB_71825BHeeSwCW1IvmgylEuVHxAjQ-7lzbc7IO8o27vBlC6sX4gt1dcx0ReJzgwP-VpWJzOUmv2G64rTxUGN9/s1600/NanniePalmer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp26BgQWrlPiTDatTndPicsvQO5w3780FMVb96uMdIIixcGcRbyz9r_eB_71825BHeeSwCW1IvmgylEuVHxAjQ-7lzbc7IO8o27vBlC6sX4gt1dcx0ReJzgwP-VpWJzOUmv2G64rTxUGN9/s200/NanniePalmer.jpg" width="129" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;">My great-grandmother who earned the right to vote in 1920.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Seeing women's suffrage first hand stirred my grandmother to become an active citizen. Being a United States citizen during both World War I and World War II, I imagine she loved the DAR because of its patriotism and power for women. </div><br />
So, how is today's DAR different from my grandmother's DAR? In some ways it is the same. We are still women, trying to express our voice in America. We try to make a difference in our communities around us. We continue to support historical preservation, patriotism, and education. What really makes the difference between her DAR and my DAR is the power that women have gained as equals to men in our society and the way we express it. I am proud to be female. Proud to be a working mother of two. Proud to be equipped with the knowledge to be independent. Proud to feel free to pursue whatever career I want...or don't want. Really, it is all about the freedom I have. This allows me to do so much more for my world around me. The DAR gives me a platform to serve, and serve I do. I have volunteered at my local Veteran's hospital handing out bags of treats and toiletries. After the recent tsunami in Japan, I collected and mailed toys and supplies for children there. Organizing donations for our current military overseas, I have thanked our soldiers. Several Saturdays have been spent cleaning up a local cemetery. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Leading memorial services for our veterans during Memorial Day has been an honor. Sending care packages to the children at the DAR Schools has been a joy. I am powerful! Powerful to change the world around me into a better place. I know I am changing the world for my children because they observe everything that I do and model their behavior after me. I have an obligation to be a good citizen in front of them. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong><span style="color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">“Good citizens cannot be made suddenly. They must grow...” Harriett Lothrop</span> </span></strong> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">So, Today's DAR is so much more than when my grandmother was a member. It is because of our members' dedication and the freedoms that we have to serve so extensively. We DO things and are active. We love our world and plan to make it a better place everyday.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">I am glad I jumped blindly into this organization just to honor my grandmother. What a wonderful surprise I have found. </span></span>Susan Gillette Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061523952925202605noreply@blogger.com2