I was sad to not be able to join the California Daughters due to inclement weather and airline delays but was thrilled to be with them through technology! The California Daughters are making a difference in their communities, and I am eager to gather with them in person soon. I am pleased to have California State Regent, Sharon Maas, tell us about their conference today.
-Pamela Wright, President General
California Daughters sparkled as they showcased their growth in friendship and service to God, Home, and Country at the 116th State Conference in San Ramon, California. The evening before the conference began, the state regent hosted a dinner as a thank you to the conference committee. It was followed by the always popular State Regent’s Cabaret- where, the state board, members and even two of the visiting State Regents entertained each other with lip-sync routines!
Opening Night of the 116th State Conference kicked off with The Young Americans Fife and Drum Corps leading the procession. We were so disappointed that our President General Pamela Wright was unable to attend due to flight delays caused by inclement weather, but California Daughters were thrilled to listen to her heartfelt video greetings recorded in the California room in Washington D.C. earlier that day.
Mrs. Wright also joined us via Facetime to hear the California Chorus perform a special rendition of “Stars and Stripes Forever.” Certificates for 100% Participation in the President General’s Project were presented, on behalf of the President General, to the 35 California Chapters that have already met that goal. A dazzling array of awards was given: American History Essay contest, Patriots of the American Revolution Essay contest, DAR Good Citizen, DAR Service for Veterans: Youth, Veteran and DAR Service. In addition, the Mary Desha Founders Medal for Youth, Outstanding Teacher in American History, four awards in Historic Preservation, the Americanism Medal, and the DAR Medal of Honor were presented. The California State Society also announced the Outstanding Junior.
On Friday morning, members attended the Heritage Club Breakfast where they were thrilled to be briefed on their philanthropy. Mrs. Wright’s remarks were read by Susan Broderick, Vice President General and a member of the Development Committee.
The Patriotism luncheon, hosted by the Service to Veterans Committee and Project Patriot Committee, featured the winner of the Mary Desha Founders Medal for Youth, Preston Sharp who spoke about the non-profit organization he founded - “Veterans Flags & Flowers.”
The Friday afternoon business session included reports from state committees. During the DAR School/Junior Membership Dinner, Heather Green, Executive Director of Kate Duncan Smith DAR School presented: “Celebrating 100 years of KDS DAR School.”
Throughout the conference members enjoyed the exhibit room. The pop-up insignia store was a huge success with 400 attendees spending nearly $80,000. And new to our conference this year were workshops and “balcony” volunteer genealogists! The feedback was extremely positive! Saturday morning featured the reports of the districts and chapters. The afternoon was reserved for the Leadership Development Courses Graduation Ceremony.
Saturday evening at our Celebration Dinner, four debutantes were presented in a ceremony celebrating the sixtieth anniversary of the Debutante Presentation in California. Previous debutantes, the “Diamond Debs”, returned and processed in, lighting the path for the newest debutantes.
A Memorial Service on Sunday honoring daughters who had passed, was followed by the final reports and adjournment.
It was a conference to remember as California Daughters continued to Grow Together in Service and Friendship to God, Home and Country.
Today's DAR
