S.C. Daughters of the American Revolution convene for 113th Conference

2009-04-10 / Society

Contributed by Mary P. Caldwell, regent USC Chapter

Marilyn Dewitt Altman The S.C. State Society of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution held their 113th State Conference April 2- 4 in Columbia. The conference theme was "Celebrating Patriotism." Special guests included: Barbara Blakely Chastain, state regent of Georgia; Barbara Hensley Carpenter, state regent of Maryland; Polly Hunter Grimes, state regent of Mississippi; and Pamela Rouse Wright, national chairman Community Service Awards and state corresponding secretary of Texas.

The State Regent's Banquet, hosted by SC State Regent Bonnie Scales Glasgow featured keynote speaker Army Colonel William L. Glasgow Jr. whose message focused on what citizens at home can do to support and honor our military personnel who put their lives on the line every day to protect our country.

A number of awards were given at the banquet Friday night. Alexia Jones Helsley, sponsored by the USC Chapter, received the Dr. Bobby Gilmer Moss Award for distinguished published material in South Carolina in the fields of history and/or genealogy.

Kristi Lind Kingren The State Community Service Award was presented to Sara Jo Moore, sponsored by the Nathanael Greene Chapter. This award honors outstanding achievements in cultural, educational, humanitarian, patriotic, historical, or citizenship endeavors or in environmental conservation.

The State Outstanding Junior Member Award was presented to Chris McNamara for community service and service to the State Society, NSDAR.

The S.C. Outstanding Teacher of American History Award was given to Juanita Saunders, sponsored by Nation Ford Chapter.

American History Essay Contest winners were grade five student Zane Stripling, sponsored by Martintown Road Chapter; grade six student Ben Thompson, sponsored by Old Ninety Six Chapter; grade seven student Carrie Ann Quaries, sponsored by Sumter's Home Chapter; and grade eight student Morgan Brittany Heath, sponsored by Henry Middleton Chapter.

The Christopher Columbus Essay Contest, "Five Perils That Challenged Christopher Columbus" was won by grade 11 student Nichole L. Flanagan, sponsored by Blue Savannah- Swamp Fox Chapter.

Chris McNamara The DAR 2009 Good Citizen Award was presented to Jevonta Henderson, sponsored by Rebecca Pickens Chapter.

Awards for volunteer activities at WJB Dorn Medical Center include: Outstanding Veteran- Patient Volunteer Award to D.S. Davis, sponsored by Granby Chapter; Outstanding Youth Volunteer to Pricilla E. Abraham, sponsored by Granby Chapter; and Outstanding DAR Volunteer for Veterans Award to Dolores J.V. Rucker, sponsored by Granby Chapter.

New S.C. State officers elected for three- year terms are State Regent, Marilyn Dewitt Altaian; vice regent, Dorothy Ricks Lind; chaplain, Dianne Tucker Culbertson; recording secretary, Angela Cooksey Cox; corresponding secretary, Alicia Jemigan; organizing secretary, Kristi Lind Kingren; treasurer, Catherine Hiller Hyman; registrar, Mary Divins Saunders; historian, Penny Elizabeth Renwick; and librarian, Frieda Davison.

H. Dean Bare, executive director of Tamassee DAR School reported on the achievements of the past year at the school. This coeducational boarding school provides 24- hour care in a home- like atmosphere for children in need or crisis. All children attend nearby community schools. Tamassee has a pre- school program and an active summer program for boarding children who must remain at the school full- time. The school is located in Tamassee, S.C.

Alexia Jones Helsley The DAR is a non- profit, non- political volunteer women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America's future through better education.

The National Society in Washington D.C. was founded

October 11, 1890. It has 166,000 national members in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., The Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom, More than 860,000 women have joined the DAR since its inception. The S.C. State Society, National Society DAR was founded in 1896. There are 73 chapters statewide divided into six districts. There are 4,120 members.