Dear California Daughters,
Poster Contest
It is truly an honor to announce that the California State Poster Contest First Place Winner, Bilal Tariq Rauf, age 14, has won the National Poster Contest!! His artistic talent is truly inspirational, and hearty congratulations go to him and to Debbie Janes, José Maria Amador Chapter Constitution Week Chair for her tireless work in promoting the U.S. Constitution with students in the local elementary and middle schools.
National Constitution Week Chair Holly Blair has posted the winning poster on the national website and has noted that it can now be purchased at the DAR store! Ladies, how wonderful it will be to place our California winning poster in libraries, schools and businesses this fall!
California is now on the National Constitution Week Poster Contest Map! “Huzzah!” as our magnificent President General would say!!
Additional Poster Contest news
For the second year in a row, kudos to José Maria Amador chapter for submitting the most posters: 61! In addition to Bilal Tariq Rauf winning first place in state (and National), second place went to Anhad Singh, age 10; third place to Ada Nazneen, age 11; and Honorable Mention to Shreya Krishnakumar, age 12. The first, second and honorable mention winners were sponsored by the José Maria Amador chapter, and the third place winner was sponsored by the Gold Trail chapter. These elementary and middle school students skillfully utilized their artistic abilities to demonstrate their clear understanding of and commitment to the U. S. Constitution.
Chapter Activities
During this past year as schools, libraries and businesses began to emerge from the Covid “isolation” period, chapters were able to once again distribute Constitution Week kits and create displays. In 2020, 90 chapters out of 115 completed the Chapter Master Report; in 2021, 106 out of 116 chapters participated—a notable improvement! Also, there was an increase in chapters’ use of email and FaceBook to promote Constitution Week—very important, considering the continued need for “virtual” communication.
You, Daughters, really outdid yourselves this year with numerous and varied activities during Constitution Week—bell ringing events, proclamations received, penmanship contests for middle school students, rocks painted with patriotic colors, scrapbooks submitted, and public billboards—just to name a few!
Here are some statistics: Constitution Week kits distributed, 4,184; schools contacted, 305; classrooms visited, 68; displays (libraries and businesses), 141. These numbers are quite remarkable considering that in some areas of the state, schools and businesses and libraries continued to be closed or only partially open.
Looking Ahead
Please check out the NSDAR and CSSDAR websites for the planning calendar for Constitution Week. Of particular importance is the Constitution Week Poster Contest Teacher/Student Materials found on the state website. These materials, contributed by Community Classroom Co-Chair Sarah Towne-di Cicco, will be invaluable to you when you contact the schools in the late summer for the poster contest.
It has been truly inspirational working with you these past two years. Your continued hard work and devotion to the meaning and importance of Constitution Week has meant everything to me! Wishing you a wonderful summer and many wishes for new Constitution adventures, as With Full Hearts….We can and We Will…. Rise and Shine in Service to God, Home and Country!
Yours in patriotic service,
Susan MacLaurin
State Chair Constitution Week
suemack@earthlink.net