Submitted by ADeFrancesco on

Reporter General

Connie Olde, Reporter General

What an exciting time for the National Society, as we embrace Moving Forward in Service to America! I am thrilled to serve with the Dillon Administration, as we have been challenged to participate in each of our communities sharing our talents to promote our objectives.

The responsibilities of the Reporter General include:

  • Coordinating DAR scholarship programs of the DAR Scholarship, American Indians, and DAR Good Citizens committees;
  • Maintaining a DAR library of chapter program materials.
  • Pairing ROTC units and their local DAR chapters for awards of the DAR ROTC Medal;
  • Preparing award certificates for DAR medals and certificates such as Americanism, Historic Preservation, Medal of Honor, and Conservation;
  • Coordinating Founders Medals nominations and judging;
  • Handling VAVS appointments to VA hospitals and clinics.

My path to serve our beloved society began when I joined the Penelope Hart Chapter as a Junior Member in 1984. My mother happened to be the chapter regent, so she had prepared my papers and asked me to sign them as the chapter needed a Junior Member for “Gold Honor Roll” credit. Shortly after joining, I learned I was needed to serve as a Page at an upcoming state event. I truly enjoyed that special opportunity to learn about the society and made life long friends. I was honored to serve the NJDAR State Society as Regent, Vice Regent, Organizing Secretary, and New Jersey’s Outstanding Junior in 1987. Continental Congress is always been a thrilling event and I have attended for 30 years. I especially loved serving as the National Chair Pages. So many fabulous memories!

My career focused on teaching high school and middle school Family and Consumer Sciences classes. I loved challenging our youth in the classroom, and pleased to have that connection to sponsor our educational contests and scholarships in my district.

I was born in Nuremberg, Germany because my father, an Army Counter-Intelligence Officer, was stationed there working on the Nuremberg War Trials. Currently, I am a 9th generation resident of Pennington, New Jersey, the hometown of my patriot ancestor, Samuel Beakes.

My husband, Ted, and I are blessed to have two daughters, Victoria Voris and Melissa Wetzel, both serve as Pages during Continental Congress. They met their future husbands, Jeff Voris and R.J. Wetzel, during National Society Children of the American Revolution Regional summer tour, and our four grandchildren are all Life Members.

DAR has given me the wonderful opportunity to have fun, make new friends and fundraise with other Daughters, while we promote historic preservation, education and patriotism. I am very proud to be a member of this society founded by forward thinking women, as we take the path of service to our great nation.