Kate Duncan Smith DAR School

My Visit to the Kate Duncan Smith DAR School

Some people hate to travel...the crowds, the strangers, the planning. I am quite the opposite.  I love seeing new places.  I wish I had more time to travel all over the world.  I have been to Mexico, Canada, the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, and Italy.   I would love to do Australia or Hawaii someday.  I also love staying in our great country and traveling to new cities and states.  Our family is the kind that drives somewhere and stops along the way to see the “Largest Ball of String in the Universe” or whatever is out of the ordinary. 

            This month, I traveled somewhere new: Grant, Alabama!  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 Kate Duncan Smith DAR School. 

            The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution owns this Appalachian school for students in need.  Most Daughters call it KDS.  However, everyone in Grant calls it the “DAR School”.  According to their web site, the DAR 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. 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. ”

This school changes lives.  The children in this area of Alabama often have not had the opportunities that those of wealth have had.  Without these luxuries, they are more grateful for their education and the loving guidance the teachers and staff provide. 

According to one of the guidance counselors,

     “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.  It is not known where the mother is, but that none of the children have contact with her.  The children didn’t have Christmas and according to the father, there was no money.  The girls were without any shoes and had no jackets.  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.  In addition, they were too small.  …you could tell they were attempting to make do with what they had…  The girls had a pair of flip flops and a pair of tennis shoes they shared between them.  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.

     When speaking to them I learned they had a younger brother in 6^th grade.  I learned he was also in need, and I purchased items that he would also need. 

            I feel so privileged to work at a place that will help people in need in this manner.  The girls were highly appreciative of the items.  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.  The younger sister was wearing flip flops.  Thanks so much for making a difference in this family.  I hope that it will make an impact on their lives!”

So, why did I go to KDS?  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.  My journey included visiting all parts of the campus, presenting the award, attending graduation, and getting to know the welcoming Daughters of Alabama.  Thank you to Rita Horton, Connie Grund, Patrice Donnelly, Janeal Shannon, Tammy Clemons, and Peggy Johnson for making me feel so welcome!  

The campus is located in the most beautiful part of Alabama.  One of the first things that got my attention was the view of the valley from the school grounds. 

This was such a peaceful, breathtaking view.  I felt as if I could see forever.   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. 

A tour of the school revealed many beautiful, historical structures such as the Pennsylvania Log Cabin and the Pennsylvania Bell Tower.

Pennsylvania Log Cabin (front)

Pennsylvania Log Cabin (back)

Pennsylvania Bell Tower

Since much of the campus contains historical landmarks, the preservation of these buildings is extensive.

When one tours the more modern parts of campus, a welcoming set of pillars greets you to the Home of the Patriots.

The mascot is painted on the main gym’s wall.  It is also found in the cafeteria and on several displays in each of the buildings. 

Patriot Mascot painted on Gym Wall

Beautiful Mural on Cafeteria Wall

There were several particular things that struck me as very noteworthy during my journey.  They were not amazing things, but things I will remember for a long time to come. 

Now to put this in perspective, I teach in an economically sound school district in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  So, the comparisons that I am going to make are based on my everyday encounters.

First, I noticed that all of the students were very, very polite.  Now, anyone would hope that strangers were polite to strangers, but the KDS students seemed exceptionally polite.  Trust me…these KDS kids were great!  I had more doors opened for me in one day by the boys of this school than I have in a month at mine.  “Yes, Ma’am” ended every sentence that I heard.

Second, I am used to seeing students with perfect, white teeth.  All my students in my district, by the time they are in middle school, have any “defects” under construction and have them fixed by high school age.  The students that I encountered at KDS do not have this luxury.  Many of the students at the high school level smiled with the beautiful smiles that God gave to them.  They had no corrections.  This may seem like a strange thing to notice, but it made a lasting impression, showing the economic differences.

Third, the patriotic education was noticeable.  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.  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.  No student was disrespectful during this time.  Not a single one.

Finally, the number of ‘Thank You’s from the students were too numerous to count.  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.  They were grateful, and they showed it.

My visit to KDS has changed my life.  It has made the support that I have given this school become real and tangible.  I saw, first hand, the product of my contributions to the DAR School committee.  I was able to meet the teacher, Denise Duncan-Saint, that my chapter, the Jacob Ferree Chapter, sponsored for two years.

Me and Denise Duncan-Saint, math teacher

What a great influence Denise is on the lives of these children.  …and what a great influence you and I can be, even from far away. 

So, how can you help?  The primary school is in great need right now.  The pipes in the building have deteriorated and do not allow the bathrooms to drain properly.  Even though the custodians clean the bathrooms thoroughly every day, the smell of urine and waste permeate the entire building.  Peggy Johnson, the chairman of the board for KDS said “The health of our children is our number one priority”.  I don’t want you to get the impression that the school is run down, for it is not.  I saw modern facilities everywhere, from the gymnasium to the cafeteria.  However, the primary bathroom is unacceptable.  Take a look at the urinal trough where the waste is not draining properly.  It is time to fix this problem.

Last weekend, my chapter had our June meeting.  There, I told my chapter of my visit to the Kate Duncan Smith DAR School.  I told them of all the students and how we, as DAR members, have touched their lives in such a strong, positive way.  I then told them that we have a chance to continue to support them through the donation to this bathroom renovation.  The chapter members then unanimously voted to donate $1000 directly to the school.  Way to go, ladies!

This is why I LOVE BEING IN THE DAR.  I love it that we are doing good in the world.  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.  I love setting the example for my children that “it is not all about you”.   

I am quite sure that I will visit KDS again.  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.  This is my passion.  John F Kennedy said it best; “Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.”  How do you plan to help our future? 

 

To make a contribution to the Kate Duncan Smith DAR School, please send your check to the following address.  Be sure to indicate you want it to go to the “Flush Fund” or “Primary School Bathrooms”. 

Kate Duncan Smith DAR School

6077 Main Street

Grant, AL    35747

Phone:  (256) 728-4236
Email:  KDSDAR@nehp.net

Membership Drive – Start the New Year with a Bang!

February.  Some say a little late to make new year’s resolutions, but I like to ease into things, not going “cold turkey”.  I don’t mean to say I have weak will power or little determination, I mean to say I am not impulsive.   I think things through.  I am a planner.  On a personal note, for the new year I trying to give up caffeine.  I have way too much energy as it is.  I don’t need to add more to my body in an unnatural way.  (For those who know me, you are shaking your head in agreement, right?!?) 

            So, I started thinking about a DAR new year’s “resolution” or perhaps more of a goal. 

Membership.  Did you hear the news? 

"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!"

My chapter supplied 16 of those new members this year.  In fact, we have had 62 new members in the last three years.  I would say we are doing pretty well.  However, I don’t want you to think it is all about the numbers for us.  Our chapter does great things in our community.  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.  We make a positive difference in the world around us.  If you really believe in the work that the DAR does, wouldn’t you want to involve more people?  Wouldn’t you want to gain new members so that they can share in the opportunities to serve?  Wouldn’t you want this organization to continue?  Without new members, any group will not survive.

            So, back to my DAR goal for the new year.  Here it is.  “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.” 

How will I know if I meet my goal?  The product will be one to two new members this year because of that effort.  I love the quote, “You can’t win a race you don’t run.”  So true.  You can’t get new members if you don’t tell women about the DAR.  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?”  Well, think big, ladies!  If we all got one or two new members a year, the mathematical outcome in membership would be incredible.  …but more importantly, the increase in community service would make such a large, positive impact upon our world!  So, when you feel small, think big. 

Who are you going to invite to your next meeting?

Not to leave you without any resources, check out the DAR Store online to get to promotional materials for your prospective members.  Go to the members’ web site.  On the left side click on "DAR Shopping" then click on "DAR Store Online".  On the left, you will click on "Chapter Supplies".  I recommend the "General Information Brochure" or the "Getting to Know the DAR" pamphlet. 

Or for the technologically savvy, send them to YouTube to see the Today’s DAR video in five parts.  Here is the link to the first one:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIuaFhJNqsc         

Ten Blessings for Someone Else – ‘Tis the season!

My family and I are blessed.  We have a wonderful home and love.  We have friends and family who care.  God has provided a wonderful life for us.  Each year at Christmas time, we exchange gifts with one another to represent that gift that was given to us long ago in Bethlehem.  This Christmas, my husband and I looked for ways to give outside of our family.  These are some of the donations that we considered.

All of the following ways to better our world can be done by DAR members and non-DAR members alike.  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.  But let’s face it…it is the giving for the sake of others that is really the focus here.  Make your gift “In Honor Of” or “In Memory Of” someone special.

1.  Donate items to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center – When our active military duty are severely injured they are sent by medevac to this facility in Landstuhl, Germany.  http://ermc.amedd.army.mil/landstuhl/index.cfm  They are always in need of healthy snack bars, chocolate, candy, iTunes® gift cards, lip balm, and deodorant.  Create a box of these items and ship them with a few thank you cards. 

You may send your donations with required custom forms to:

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center

Attn:  MCEUL-CH/Chaplain’s Office

CMR 402

APO, AE 09180

2.  Donate to a local Women’s Shelter – Many of the women and children in local shelters have only the clothes on their backs.  Often times, they leave their homes in such a hurry to avoid more danger that they are in great need.  Contact your local women’s shelter and find out how you can donate clothes and toiletries.  I will make it easy for you to find the closest one to you.  Go to http://www.womenshelters.org/ and choose your state.  Scroll down for a list of cities.  Click on your city and then scroll down for a list of the shelters and contact information.

3.  Adopt a Classroom at the Kate Duncan Smith DAR School – Have you heard what great things happen at the Kate Duncan Smith DAR School?  http://www.kdsdar.com/   According to their web site, “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.”  One year my chapter adopted a teacher at KDS and supported her math classes with donations of calculators and other general supplies.  All of the students were very grateful.  Consider adopting a class or making a donation to the school this year. 

4.  Donate to the Tamassee DAR School – This place changes lives!   http://www.tdarschool.org/   According to their web site, “Tamassee DAR School is a private 501-c(3) non-profit children’s home and family services organization offering multi-faceted programs to serve children and families with a variety of needs.”  “The annual cost for a child to live in the safe and secure environment of Tamassee DAR School is $25,000 and no child is turned away due to an inability to pay.”  Consider making a donation to help a child have a safer environment and a better chance in life.  https://www.tdarschool.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=275   You can donate online.

5.  Make a Donation to Your Local Veteran’s Hospital – We live in a free country because of the many men and women who have sacrificed much for our freedom.  I may not know them, but I am thankful for them.  Why not donate to your local Veteran’s Hospital.  I will make it easy for you.  Go to http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=1 and click on the map to find your area’s closest facility.  Then, once you find it, click on “Volunteer or Donate” on the right hand side.  You may find a list of volunteer activities or a list of ‘needs’ they have.  Either way, thank a Veteran this holiday season.

6.  Purchase and Donate an American Flag – Contact your local library to see if they have an American flag.  Perhaps your local schools need an American Flag for their auditorium or classrooms.  Remember to buy an American made American Flag.  Here is a site http://www.aflag.com/ that sells classroom flags for $16.30 each. 

7.  Donate to the Indian Youth of America Summer Camp Program – During the summer the Indian Youth of America Summer Camp Program meets in several places in the US. 

http://www.indianyouthofamerica.org/   According to their web site, “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.”  Consider sponsoring a child today by paying part or the entire $300 camp fee.  You can donate online.

8.  Donate a Book to Your Local Library – When I first joined the DAR, I was not a huge history lover unlike so many other Daughters.  I invited a colleague of mine who teaches US History down the hall from me to speak at our local meeting that year.  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.  He recommended that I read “Liberty the American Revolution” by Thomas Fleming.  I went straight to the library and read it cover to cover within a week.  If it enlightened me by revealing the bravery that early Americans displayed for independence and democracy, then it will surely inspire many, many more.  Purchase a copy of the book and donate it to your local library.  Check to see if they already have a copy of it before you donate.

9.  Give Someone a Gift Subscription to American Spirit – Any history lover would love this magazine.  Six issues a year will showcase our American History in unique and relevant ways.  Check it out at  http://dar.org/natsociety/magazine.cfm .  You can also donate a copy to your local library.  You can purchase it online.

10.  Adopt-an-Object or Sponsor Camp at the DAR Museum – The DAR Museum is one of the most prominent American decorative arts museums in the country.  Located a few blocks from the White House in Washington, DC, it is open to the public.  http://dar.org/museum/   It offers educational programs to schools, families, Scouts, and children during summer camps.  Consider donating to the “Museum Camper Buddy Program” to help run their programs.  Perhaps you would rather adopt an object at the museum.  Just contact the Museum Office at 202-879-3241, or email museum@dar.org for more information.  

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.”  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.

“I’m a Collector” – 5 ways to make a postive impact without leaving your home

If you collect stamps, you are known as a philatelist.

If you collect books, you are known as a bibliophile.

If you collect coins, you are known as a numismatist.

If you collect postcards, you are known as a deltiologist.

If you collect teddy bears, you are known as an actophile.

There are names for almost anyone who collects almost anything: umbrellas, shells, thimbles, cheese labels, ties, corkscrews, bird’s eggs, pearls, autographs, sugar packets…

I used to collect dolls from around the world when I was a child.  That would have made me a “plangonologist”.  Now, my daughter plays with them, so it isn’t much of a collection.  I began a new collection within the last 20 years.  I collect periodic tables from around the world.  I wonder if there is a word for this other than “nerdy”?  I doubt it.

Most recently, I have been collecting other things, quite ardently I admit.  The funny thing about my most recent collections is that I don’t keep them for very long.  I find them and then give them away.  Let me tell you about them.

1.  Box Tops for Education – Each time I cook a meal, I seem to find one of these labels on a can or box.  It is easy to remove the label.  Most of the time I am taking the label off a can or cereal box anyway to recycle it.  I take off the label and collect it in an empty canister.  Today, as I made lunch, I found one on my Progresso Soup Can.

My soup can had a Box Top$ for Education label on it.

Both DAR Schools gladly accept the Box Top$ for Education from DAR members.

They can be used to purchase computers, books, playground equipment and much more.  If you don’t know much about the DAR Schools, take a look: http://www.kdsdar.com/  and http://www.tdarschool.org/ .  They positively change the lives of children every day.  Ask your DAR School chapter chairman to start collecting them at your meeting.  She can then send them once a month to either school.  Don’t forget, they have an expiration date, so be sure to send them soon.  Here are the addresses to make it convenient for you.

Kate Duncan Smith DAR School
6077 Main Street
Grant, AL 35747

Tamassee DAR School
P.O. Box 8
1925 Bumgardner Drive
Tamassee, SC 29686

2.  Labels for Education – The DAR Schools also accept the UPC labels and lids from participating Campbell products.  The KDS DAR School uses them to purchase computers and software.  The Tamassee DAR School hopes to purchase needed vans for student transportation.  Collect them at your meetings and send them to either of the schools at the addresses previously shown.

My lunch today also used a product that had a Campbell’s Labels for Education, and it wasn’t soup!  It was my bread.  Keep an eye out for these labels…they are everywhere it seems. 

My bread has a Campbell's Labels for Education label on it.

3.  Plastic Bottle Caps – Our State Conservation Chairman started a contest last year.  The chapter that recycled the most plastic caps would be recognized at state conference.  I have been a ‘recycler’ for almost 10 years now, rinsing my bottles and cans and taking my newspapers to the community ‘bin’.  However, I didn’t understand the need to recycle the plastic bottle caps separately, so I did a little research.  Apparently, the tops to my water and soda bottles are made of a different plastic than the rest of the bottle.  This means that all the tops that I threw into the regular recycle bin probably ended up in the landfill.  So, now I have a separate canister for my caps.  If you want to find out where to recycle your plastic caps, just go to http://earth911.com/ and enter ‘#5 Plastic Caps’ for Find recycling centers, and for near, enter your zip code  and click ‘Search’.  This will give you a listing of places that recycle plastic caps within a 25 mile radius of you.   

4.  Ink Cartridges – Did you know that several of the DAR Schools accept empty computer ink cartridges as donations?  You DAR Schools Chairman may contact each of the schools to determine how to submit these ink cartridges.  They will submit them to companies that give them cash rebates.  It doesn’t cost anything to ship these cartridges, either!   

Kate Duncan Smith DAR School

(256) 728-4236
KDSDAR@nehp.net

Tamassee DAR School
(864) 944-1390
tamasseekids@juno.com

Recycle your ink cartridges.

5.  Cell Phones – This is my smallest collection, but it is nonetheless, an important one.  There is a nonprofit organization that was started by two teenagers.  They collect used cell phones.  They sell them to a recycling company and then use the money to purchase phone cards to give to soldiers.  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.”  Do you have any cell phones to recycle?  You can check this organization out at http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/

If your chapter would spread the word,

I am sure you could get quite a few to donate their old cell phones.

So, as DAR members, we say we want to make a positive difference in the world around us.  These are five ways for you to start making a difference, whether you attend a chapter meeting or not.  Become a collector, and make a positive difference in your world today.  Oh – and there’s a word for this kind of collector…“Daughter”. 

Junior Membership - How to Gain and Maintain

Today was Pennsylvania’s Fall Meeting where everyone in the state is encouraged to attend and learn from educational workshops.  As state Junior Membership Chairman, I was asked to present a session on “Sweet Success with Junior Membership”. 

(Thank you to Becky Osbourn for the title slide.)

The goals of the workshop were simple:

1.      Understand the role that Juniors have in the longevity of our organization.

2.      Describe ways to gain new Juniors into a chapter.

3.      Develop a strategy to make your current Juniors more active members.

1.  The role of Juniors

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.  This venue afforded me that platform to stress our state Junior Membership motto, “Juniors are the KEY to the future of Pennsylvania DAR.”

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.  What is their secret to success?  How can we spread some of this ‘magic’ around to all the chapters?  Well, it isn’t magic, it is just a consistent effort to gain the younger members and to help them become active.

2.  Gaining new Juniors

There are several ways to gain Junior members into your chapter.  Be sure to do the obvious – enroll your daughters, granddaughters, nieces, or family members.  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.  Another opportunity to find Juniors lies in your co-workers, neighbors, or even the friends of other Juniors in your chapter.  Go ahead and tell those around you about the great things we do.  Invite them to a meeting.  You would be surprised how many people have never really understood our organization and want to find out more.  You can also begin by forming a relationship with your local C.A.R. society.  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.

3.  Making your Juniors active

This is where we spent the most time in our discussion.  I narrowed it down to a three-fold process:

A.    Make it convenient!

B.     Make it worthwhile!

C.     Make it fun!

A.   Make it convenient! – Juniors lead such busy lives these days with school or work on top of family.  If being a member is not convenient, it places a burden on the member.  So, to make it convenient for a Junior…

·         Offer a ride to the meeting.

·         Have a “$20 off your first year’s dues” offer.   Someone suggested free first year’s dues… but with a very successful chapter, this can be a large investment.  We will have a total of 7-8 new Junior members this year in my chapter, the Jacob Ferree Chapter.  That would be a lot of money.

·         Hold your meetings on Saturdays.  Ladies, no one wants to hear this one since no one likes change.  But having your meetings during the normal work week is like the kiss of death.  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.  Those days off are reserved for family and special needs.  Our chapter used to have about 10 members at a meeting with about 70 total members – on Tuesdays.  Now that our meetings are on Saturdays, we have close to 40 at a meeting with a membership approaching 130.  Rip it off like a Band-Aid, ladies, and just make the change.  People hate change, and many members will hate this change, but it is an investment in the future of your chapter.  Trust me.  Just do it.

·         Have a family inclusive event (potluck, picnic, benefit, cemetery clean up…).  If they can bring their kids, they are more likely to come.

·         Arrange for a babysitter.  Perhaps another member has a teenage daughter that would be willing to come and watch all the younger children during the meeting. 

·         Pass a “We love our Juniors” can to help support your pages.  Juniors are usually on the low end of the pay scale in any business.  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.

·         Add a line in your chapter’s budget to support your pages.  Many of the pages I meet tell me they never would have paged if their chapter would not have paid part of their way.

B.  Make it worthwhile! – As a Junior once told me, “I feel valued and can add value.”  If your Juniors feel like they are in integral part of your chapter, they will help your chapter flourish.

·         Assign committee leadership aligned with her interests.  Find out what she loves…is it gardening?  Bam!  There’s your new conservation chairman.   Is she descended from an American Indian?  Wham!  There’s your new American Indians chairman.

·         Ask her to help lead a program based on her talents or skills.  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. 

·         Create programs that are of interest across age boundaries.  Don’t have a program on “Dealing with your retirement.”  How about a great Women’s Issues program.   We are all women.  We all have issues, right? J

·         Mentor your Juniors so they realize the value of their time investment.  This one is huge.  More experienced members need to keep in contact via phone, email, or Facebook with your Juniors.  Share your magazines with them.  Get them an invitation to page and help them complete their paperwork for it.  Sit with the Junior you are mentoring at your meeting.  Introduce her to everyone. 

·         Show them that they are important…value them.  Why not recognize one of your Juniors as your Chapter Outstanding Junior?  Give them a KEY lapel pin to tell them they are the KEY to the future of DAR.  Take them to the next fundraiser in your area as your guest.

·         Foster friendships for them with other Juniors…friendships that last a lifetime.  Encourage them to page at your local state conference and then Continental Congress.  A Junior that pages is a Junior that grows into a leader.

C.  Make it fun! – This applies to maintaining all membership.

·         Plan a “Ladies Night Out”.

·         Connect your Juniors with other Juniors in your chapter or in the state.  Let one of the active pages in your state know about your new or inactive Junior and the connection will be made.   It sometimes takes a Junior to entice a Junior.

·         Talk to your Juniors!  Get to know them and their interests.

·         Be open to new ideas.  We recently marched, in colonial costume, in the local Memorial day parade for the first time in decades.  We had a large Junior turnout.  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!!!  (I am pretty sure this has never been done before.)

I believe today’s workshop was successful.  The three goals were fulfilled.  Now, having every member in PA support their Juniors is a job for the membership.   I gave everyone a “Commitment Card” with a list of all of these ideas.  I asked the ladies to commit to at least one, if not many, of the concepts presented.  Only time will tell.  Let’s see how we do.

If you are interested in having a copy of this commitment card, please contact me.  Thanks!