North by Northwest!

My visit included a fascinating lecture on native horticulture by Dr. Nancy Turner, an ethnobotanist from the University of Victoria. We then planted a native Crabapple tree (which had been grown in the indigenous Coast Salish Nursery) at the Easter Seals House. The garden there was a collaborative project of the chapter, Easter Seals, the Garden Club of Vancouver and other donors. The backyard oasis provides respite to patients and families being treated at nearby hospitals. We also toured the Museum of Anthropology, which honors the rich past of the indigenous First Nations here in the Pacific Northwest. So much fascinating history to explore – and unfortunately, so little time!

I was very pleased to have the opportunity to discuss current developments within our National Society with these Pacific Dogwood members. They are eager to remain connected to our mission, and there is no substitute for in-person meetings like this.

The members also treated us to the splendid experience of visiting Butchart Gardens. Created in 1904 by Jennie and Robert Butchart, it flourishes from the carved-out remains of an exhausted limestone quarry. More than 1 million people stroll these magnificent grounds each year. Now a designated Canadian National Historic Site, Butchart Gardens is owned and operated by the original family. We enjoyed high tea, rode the carousel and chatted with some of the 50 gardeners who maintain this magnificent landscape. We later enjoyed a delicious dinner at a chapter member’s home, where I had the chance to speak about developments within our National Society. I was touched by their generous and thoughtful gifts.

The chapter, organized in 1988, takes its name from a fur-trading district of the Hudson's Bay Company that comprised the north-central portions of present-day British Columbia. It was among the first trading posts established west of the Rocky Mountains by Simon Fraser during his explorations of 1805–08. 

Please allow me to express my gratitude to the Associate Members of these and other overseas chapters; your financial support typically provides the funding boost they need in order to complete community projects and other chapter obligations. If you are looking to become an associate, please visit the Units Overseas, NSDAR Facebook page in order to connect with these dedicated DAR members from around the world.

Allow me to thank Alaska State Regent MaryBeth Groves for the invitation and her kindness throughout my weekend in the State Capital of Juneau with her members. I’m also grateful to Vice President General Lael Marlow and her husband Mark for their hospitality and historical insights during our time together. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to the Alaska State Museum of History, where we even met with the State Archivist to learn more about the Alaska State Archives.

There are five chapters in our 49th State, each of which met their 100 percent participation goal in the President General’s Project, for which I am immensely grateful. Each takes a turn hosting the state conference, and this year’s version was delightfully executed by the members of the Inside Passage Chapter. Most of the attendees travel great distances by plane in order to participate in both their chapter and state events, as Alaska is massive – 664,000 square miles (two and a half times the size of the state of Texas). These women literally go the extra mile(s) in service to our mission!

Among her projects, Mrs. Grove has sought to raise awareness of the U.S. Constitution, providing free copies and encouraging discussion of it. In doing so, she has shared the quote of First Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Jay: “Every member of the State ought diligently to read and to study the constitution of his country, and teach the rising generation to be free. By knowing their rights, they will sooner perceive when they are violated, and be the better prepared to defend and assert them.” What a prescient statement!

I feel a special connection to the states of both Alaska and Hawaii. As part of the Next Act for Constitution Hall, we have created the first state boxes for these last two states to join the Union. I look forward to seeing these women enjoying this reserved seating as another historic highlight of the upcoming 131st Continental Congress. Please be sure to stop by to congratulate them on their beautifully restored seal and reserved seating section.

(Finally, along the way I used my device to count my steps – and you guessed it – I completed my Firefly 5K participation….logging more than 6,500 steps and helping to raise support for the Helen Pouch Memorial Fund. I am so proud of our Junior members, who (when faced with declining product sales due to the lack of in-person conferences) developed this healthy alternative to raise funds for educational purposes. It is another example of the silver linings of the pandemic that helped us resiliently progress through a very challenging time.)