Society Saturday - The Suffragists

At a recent fundraising luncheon for another DAR chapter in the area, we were entertained by Annette Baldwin who portrayed several suffragists in "The Long Road to Victory".

She began as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and talked about how women in 19th century America had no rights of their own.  She told of meeting Susan B. Anthony and planning the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848.

Then, a quick costume change (while she continued to talk), and she became Susan B. Anthony.  As Susan, she told us how she had tried to cast a vote but was arrested and fined for doing so.  She gave portions of each ladies' speeches in their own words.

Next, she moved into the 20th century and portrayed Alice Paul.  As Alice, she told us about the Women's March in Washington in 1913, the silent pickets outside the White House, and being jailed at Occoquan Workhouse.

Finally, she spoke as Carrie Chapman Catt.  Carrie used different approaches with each state based on their political climate to help pass the 19th Amendment and later founded the League of Women Voters.

It was a nice overview of several suffragists.

Society Saturday - Hamilton's Women

I recently attended a high tea for one of the area DAR chapters.  They had a fabulous speaker, Dr. Leslie Goddard. I have heard her speak before, and have always enjoyed her programs.

Dr. Goddard specializes in first person interpretations of historic females. This presentation was depicting the Schuyler sister who were related to Alexander Hamilton. They are seen in the hit musical "Hamilton", and we learned more about the lives of these women than what is in the play.

We primarily heard from Elisabeth, or "Eliza", who was married to Alexander Hamilton.  She told of meeting him, marrying him, and having 8 of his children.

Leslie them switched gears (or hats) to depict Eliza's sister Angelica .  She talked of her admiration for her brother-in-law, and complained a little about her husband John Church, who she admitted was a little dull. 

We also briefly heard from Eliza's younger sister Peggy who told about growing up in a revolutionary family with British loyalists ready to destroy them.

Back to Eliza, who disclosed some details of her husband's affair with Maria Robinson. Finally, she talked about how it felt to lose first her son, then her husband in a duel. Since then she made it her life's work to tell the story of how patriotic he was.

All in all, it was a very interesting program.  I learned more about one of our founding fathers.

Society Saturday - Feeding the children of Haiti

To celebrate the 126th anniversary of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, every chapter was asked to do a community service project this week.  Our chapter chose to go to Feed My Starving Children.

This is a non-profit agency that uses volunteer groups to pack food that is sent to third world countries.  The food is dried rice, soy, vegetables and a vitamin powder. Because of the recent hurricane Matthew, the food we packed was sent to Haiti. 

Several members of the Isle a la Cache chapter DAR, along with members of the Pierce Downer C.A.R., had a fun and productive morning for our #DAR #dayofservice. 

Society Saturday - Celebrating 125 Years

Chicago Chapter NSDAR celebrated their 125th Anniversary as the first DAR chapter at a tea held at the historic Drake hotel in Chicago.

Ladies were encouraged to wear hats and gloves, and over 260 attended. The afternoon started with a receiving line that included special guests, the President General and the Illinois State Regent.

Everyone then enjoyed a lovely tea that included learning about the history of Chicago chapter, the Illinois State Organization, and the National Society of DAR.

This was followed by musical entertainment.

Happy Anniversary to Chicago DAR.

Society Saturday - DAR Days

The Illinois DAR tried a different approach this year.  Instead of making 4 one-day stops around the state, DAR days was split into 2 two-day weekends - one in central Illinois, the other in southern Illinois.  Instead of the usual parade of chairmen with their 2 minutes or less presentations, there were several workshops of various interest to different officers - there was something for Regents, Registrars, Treasurers, and Secretaries, to name a few.

Our State Regent's theme is "Be Yourself, Be Together, Be DAR" and her symbol is the bee.  Some of the chairmen took this to the extreme. 

At night we had a presentation on Grave Witching.  It was interesting, but I'm not sure I have any unmarked graves to find.

Society Saturday - Happy Anniversary Isle a la Cache DAR

We celebrated five years of being our own chapter!!!

A little over five years ago, several of us were frustrated with our current chapter.  We had ideas for new projects and a new focus and our old chapter wasn't going along with them.

So, we started a new chapter.  It wasn't quite that simple, but we found an area in Chicagoland that didn't have a chapter, filled out a lot of paperwork, worked with the State Regent and state Board, and a few months later, Isle a la Cache Chapter was born.

Organizing Officers being installed

Organizing Officers and Charter Members

We take our name from a small island in the DesPlaines River in Romeoville, our official location.  This island was used by indians and fur traders to hide their goods (cache) as they traveled to and from the area in the 1700's.  Today there is a museum on the site and annual rendezvous reenactments.

In the past five years, we have been growing with several new members.  Many are young professional women.  We support the Pierce Downer C.A.R. society.  We actively support veterans through our annual scarf donations to homeless veterans and participating in Wreaths Across America.  We honor high school students with Good Citizen awards and JROTC awards.

We have started working on a project to index information about people buried in Bolingbrook (also our location).

All in all, it has been a busy and productive five years.

http://ildar.org/chapters/islealacache/

Society Saturday - DAR National Day of Service

I have really fallen behind in my blogging - these next few posts may be a little out of order, but I will catch up by the end of the year...

Sunday, October 11, 2015 was the 125th Anniversary of the founding of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.  To celebrate, DAR declared that this was to be a National Day of Service, in keeping with one of our founding principles.

They asked that every chapter take part in some sort of a service project.

The Isle a la Cache chapter chose a genealogical and historic preservation project in Bolingbrook.  The Bolingbrook Historic Preservation Commission has shoeboxes full of index cards with references to early Bolingbrook residents.  Our project was to match those references with people who are buried in the 2 Bolingbrook cemeteries.  Once matched, the information was added to BillionGraves.com.  This will help anyone who is researching those people by providing additional resources for them.  And BillionGraves is much easier to research online than traveling to the Bolingbrook library and looking through the index cards. 

We all worked on laptops to upload the information and finished several letters of the alphabet before we had to go.

Society Saturday - Dinner at the White House

While in Ohio for a visit, I attended a meeting of my original DAR chapter.  

The speaker was member Marge Waterfield who told us about White House China.

She showed examples of the China used by several of the Presidents and told about some of the symbols used on them.

Not all of the Presidents had their own China, but some had it included in the federal budget.

Marge told us about some of their state dinners and what was served.  For example, the Washingtons had "spiced gyngerbrede " and the Lincolns served "thanksgiving salad".  Andrew Jackson served "barbeque ribs with rum " on the White House lawn.

Woodrow Wilson was the first to have China made in America.  He ordered a 1700 piece from Lennox company.  

She also brought some pieces from her collection of reproductions to show.

Society Saturday - Continental Congress

Once again, thousands of patriotic women converge on Washington DC at the end of June for the annual meeting of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  Unfortunately, I was only able to attend for 3 days, but it was fun anyway.

This is the 123rd Continental Congress of this organization that is nearing its 125th birthday.

Opening night had the usual long procession of pages, flags, and National Officers to the sounds of the US Marine Corps band.  At the end of the procession, a large flag drops from the ceiling of Constitution Hall.

The keynote speaker for the evening was Alexander Rose.  He is the author of "Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring".  He gave an entertaining talk about some of his research into the Culper spy ring.  If this sounds familiar, his book forms the basis for the TV show "Turn" about the Culper Spy Ring.  Following Mr. Rose's talk, the executive producer of "Turn", Barry Josephson, accepted the DAR Media Award.

The next day, we attended the Units Overseas Luncheon.  Since my daughter is an organizing member of the Mariana Islands Chapter in Guam, and none of their regular members were able to attend, we always help them out with their sales at the International Bazaar.

Society Saturday - World War II Music and Betsy Ross

I wasn't able to attend much of the Illinois DAR State Conference this year, but was there for about 24 hours. 

The State Officers Club meets the evening before.  This is usually an entertaining evening.  The theme was Music from World War II.  The centerpieces resembled old time radio microphones.  

Our program consisted of 2 sisters, both members of DAR, who sang and played the piano.  They were in 1940's style army uniforms and sang songs like "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy".

The next morning, there was a joint breakfast of Illinois Chapters of Women Descendants of Ancient and Honorable Artillery Co., Daughters of Colonial Wars and Daughters of Founders and Patriots.  Our special guest for breakfast was Betsy Ross who told about her life and how she came to make a flag for General Washington. She even taught all of us how to make five pointed stars with a single snip.

Society Saturday - The Ties that Bind

Our Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter recently hosted the State DAR Regent at a meeting.  The State Regent makes an official visit to all 110 or so chapters in the state during her two year term.

The Illinois State Regent for 2013-15 is Pamela Peterson Bork.  She gave an interesting talk about the "DAR Ties that Bind".  This included some interesting facts from the history of the National Society, as well as a few facts from the State Organization.

She seemed impressed with the amount of community service and honoring of veterans that our chapter accomplishes.  She also commented on the fact that we have so many young members.  We chose an "Outstanding Junior" and welcomed another new Junior member.  A junior member is a regular member who is under 36 years of age.  Our chapter has always had a high percentage of younger members.

Society Saturday - Conversations with the First Ladies

I recently attended a fundraiser for another chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  It was a high tea - which I used as an excuse to wear a new fascinator :-)

The program was given by first person interpreter Jenny Riddle.  She gave a performance as several first ladies, beginning as Mary Todd Lincoln.  She had a lace headcover, lace collar and lace gloves over her basic black pantsuit. 

After a quick change to a cloche and fur wrap, she portrayed Eleanor Roosevelt.

Another quick change to pillbox hat, pearls, and white gloves transformed her into Jackie Kennedy.  Each of these first ladies told of their courtship and relationship with their husbands, including their reactions to their husband's dalliances (FDR and JFK).

A final change to a patriotic scarf, and she was Hillary Clinton, who serenaded us with song.

It was quite an enjoyable afternoon, having tea with these famous ladies.

Society Saturday - 122nd DAR Continental Congress

The annual Daughters of the American Revolution meeting begins with Opening Night.  I had a unique perspective because I was seated on the platform as a presiding officer of another lineage organization. 

 

The evening begins with a concert by the President's Own Marine Band.  They, of course, play Sousa marches and other patriotic tunes.

After all the flags of all the states, and foreign countries where DAR has a chapter are carried in, the National Officers process in.  This is followed by a dramatic unfurling of a large American Flag from the ceiling.

 

The next day, I was at the Units Overseas Luncheon.  I was representing my daughter's chapter in Guam - the Mariana Islands chapter.  Because they are over 8000 miles away, it is difficult for any of them to attend, so I read their report and sold some items as fundraisers for them.

Society Saturday - Embracing the Unknown

Just before the start of the Daughters of American Revolution Continental Congress is the Illinois Supper.  This is always a well attended event.  Our speaker this year was Dr. Sandra Magnus.  Dr. Magnus is the Executive Director of the National Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics.  She traveled on several space shuttle missions and lived aboard the international space station for 4 months. 

Dr. Magnus gave a very interesting speech summarizing some of her experiences.  She talked about how what we think we know may not be how it really is.  One example that she gave was about gravity.  On her first shuttle mission, she expected to deal with weightlessness after liftoff, but the true experience was not as expected.  Similar examples about re-experiencing gravity when whe came back to earth.  After spending months in space, she learned that her body had forgotten how to jump.  In her words, "If you don't use it, you will lose it".

 

All in all, she kept emphasizing that we should "Embrace the Unknown - Don't let the fear of the unknown keep you from learning something new"

This was a good start to the 122nd Annual Continental Congress.

 

Motivation Monday - Working in the DAR Library

During the recent Continental Congress of the Daughters of the American Revolution, I spent some time working in the DAR library as a Volunteer Balcony Genie.  I helped ladies with some of their genealogical problems.   The library was packed, as it always is during Congress.

Looking up, we could see the beautiful lay lights.  These panes were recently restored as a major project of the DAR.

 

Society Saturday - The Town Crier

While visiting family in Ohio, it happened to be the same weekend as a meeting of my old DAR chapter.  I first joined the Fort Industry chapter, NSDAR in 1980.  I still maintain my associate membership with them, and receive their monthly newsletters.

 

My mother and I attended their chapter meeting and had a nice time.  The program was given by Michael Lieber, the official town crier for Sylvania, OH.

 

 

He began with a proclamation about DAR, and a little of the history of northwest Ohio.  Then he talked about how he became interested in being a town crier, a little about the competitions he has been in, and some of his other appearances.

 

 

Some of the interesting facts about town criers are:
1. They date from the time of the Norman conquest
2. It was illegal to harm the town crier if you didn't like what they had to say
In other words, "don't shoot the messenger"
3. Early town criers were often tried military officers who could read and write.
4. An official town crier can speak in place of a mayor for events such as proclamations and parades.

www.fortindustrydar.org

Society Saturday - Happy Birthday Isle a la Cache

Our Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter turned 2 today.  Isle a la Cache chapter had its organizing meeting in November 2010 with 12 members.  Today we have 37 members with four more applications waiting for approval. 

Two brand new members were present and were welcomed and given Gift Bags of DAR goodies.

Some of our projects during those 2 years are:

• Honoring a Junior ROTC cadet at Romeoville High School
• Sponsoring DAR Good Citizens at Romeoville and Bolingbrook High Schools
• Decorating a Patriotic Christmas Tree at Rialto Theater in Joliet to aid in its preservation
• Donating to the DAR-sponsored schools
• Donating time and money to "Feed My Starving Children"
• Placing wreaths at Abraham Lincoln Cemetery for Wreaths Across America
• Welcoming home WWII veterans from Honor Flight
• Working closely with the Children of the American Revolution

We had a lovely luncheon at Francesca's in Bolingbrook to celebrate these accomplishments.  

http://ildar.org/chapters/islealacache/

Society Saturday - "Coffee, Tea, or... Girdle Checks?"

Our DAR chapter had a regular meeting today with a guest speaker.

Shari Kelley Worrell was a Stewardess for 35 years with United.  She gave an interesting and entertaining program about her experience as a Stewardess, especially when she started in the 60's.

Some tidbits from her program were:

• Stewardesses had to be between 5'2" and 5'8" tall and 105-118 pounds. 
• They couldn't be married, because the airline didn't want husbands calling if they were late getting home to make dinner.
• Before every flight, they had an "appearance check" to be sure there were no runs in their hosiery, the seams in the hosiery were straight, and that they were wearing their girdle.
• In addition to learning about the planes, the routes, and emergency procedures in "Stew School", they learned the proper way to extinguish a cigarette, and how to gaze into a man's eyes when he helped them put a coat on.
• They had to wear a skirt or dress at all times, even when picking up their paycheck.
• The only times they could wear pants in school was during the emergency preparedness lesson or if they were going bowling.
• It was illegal to serve alcohol when flying over Utah.

She also told us some stories about various passengers she had - both famous and infamous. 

It was a very enjoyable program.

www.ildar.org/chapters/islealacache

Society Saturday- DAR all over the world.

Many people don't realize that the DAR has chapters around the world.  There are over 800 members in 26 chapters located in England, France, Germany, Russia, Japan, and Australia, to name a few.  The newest Units Overseas (UO) chapter is the Mariana Islands chapter in Guam. My daughter Donna is an organizing member.

The Mariana Islands Chapter was confirmed in April 2012 and it was exciting to see the Guam flag included in the processional during opening night of Continental Congress.  I snuck onto the stage after the meeting to pose with the flag.

The Chapter was unable to send a representative to Congress this year, so I offered to help out.
One of the annual functions is the UO luncheon. Representatives from each chapter give an annual report, sell items as fundraisers, and offer associate memberships.

Here I am with my friend Teri as we sold lapel pins and told ladies about Guam.
I was happy to have helped this new chapter and I hope they can send a representative to enjoy Congress next year.

Society Saturday - NSDAR Continental Congress

Daughters of the American Revolution from across the USA gathered in Washington DC this week for our annual meeting. Here we meet up with our friends to exchange ideas and celebrate accomplishments.
The outside temperature today is over 100°, but Constitution Hall is air conditioned.
This photo is the Illinois Vice Regent Shirley Fish reporting for our state.