My Dear California Daughters:
Your State Regent hopes you know just how proud she was to represent all California Daughters during Continental Congress!
The California Congressional Tea, our “kick off to Congress” was beautiful! Susan Brooking and her team were such gracious hostesses. Everyone was welcomed, well fed, and had a lovely time. The slide show running throughout the afternoon, orchestrated by Brooke Stewart, featured the many ways California Daughters are “making a difference” in your chapters, your communities and our state!
All week long, California accomplishments were highlighted in a variety of ways: American Heritage contest winners; Commemorative Events programs award recognition; exceptional service to Vietnam veterans; Daughters’ support for the President General’s project and through the Sustaining Members program. California state and national 5th grade American History contest winner made us proud with her acceptance comments and two of the three chapters recommending The Hello Girls documentary for the NSDAR Media and Entertainment award were California’s own. Attention was certainly on California Daughters using their skills and passions to make a difference!
Now, we move forward with plans for this next year, beginning with the September Council meetings: Southern Council, September 6-7 and Northern Council, September 13-14. Watch for the Call to Council; reserve your hotel room, and make your plans to attend, beginning with the special workshops specific to the work of registrars and treasurers, but appropriate for all interested.
Using the theme, “Celebrating Women and Our Right to Vote!” chapters are encouraged to enter the Friday evening parade of floats and special displays! Commemorative Events Committee will usher in our year-long focus on women with a program on Women’s Suffrage. And, the 2020-2022 CSSDAR candidates will introduce themselves. Appropriate attire for the evening: patriotic or period dress, of course!
Saturday morning the CDRC Workshop will focus on chapter vitality: “We’re good… We Just Want to Be Better!” This is a “must attend” event, for each member has a role to play in the work and success of her chapter.
Following last year’s “first,” we will again bring items to be distributed to active duty, deployed service men and women. This year’s theme is “Fun and Games.” Bring items that fall into this category, easily fit into the flat rate boxes and avoid things that require batteries. Do bring toys: yo-yos; paddleboards with rubber balls attached, marbles in bags, tidily-winks, rubrics cubes, inflatable beach balls, inflatable soccer balls, small, soft stuffed animals, Beanie-Babies, etc. Any of the Dollar stores should be a good source for all sorts of toy items. Include various puzzle and game books, non-chocolate candy, beef jerky, and other long shelf-life snacks.
Are you inclined to sew? Our deployed are in serious need of “cool ties.” Open either link, below, for directions, polymer source, and begin sewing. They need as many of these as they can get!
https://www.operationgratitude.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Operation-Gratitude-Cool-Tie-Sew-Instructions-PDF.pdf or https://watersorb.myshopify.com/pages/cool-ties
Operation Gratitude (Southern California) and Operation Care and Comfort (Northern California), both 501(c)3 organizations, will distribute the items overseas for us. Both are eager for our support!
As you make your chapter plans this summer, consider the committee work that will best suit the passions of your members. Doing what each considers “meaningful work” will keep members engaged. Active, engaged members are much more likely to attend our council meetings. How grand it would be to hear “Wahoo!!” from every chapter during roll call. The collective group of Daughters always encourages each of us to do and be more.
Together, we truly are making a significant difference through our service to God, Home, and Country!
With Much Love and Appreciation,
Adele Lancaster
State Regent
