DAR Blossoms at Alabama State Conference

“Growing and Blooming” is the administration theme chosen by Alabama State Regent Tammy Bradshaw Clemons, who selected a red rose as her symbol – but not just any red rose. The “Tammy Clemons” was cultivated by her husband David for his stable of outstanding exhibition roses in “sweetheart red” and named after Tammy in honor of their 20th wedding anniversary in 2013. Officially, it is described as a fine specimen, “balanced by its exceptional form, great substance and near-perfect centers.” The same could be said of the Alabama Daughters – as they are just as beautiful in their exceptional devotion to DAR, centered on the substance of our Society’s vital purpose.

I had the pleasure of being inspired by these real-life “American Beauties” while attending the 122^nd Alabama State Society Conference on March 6-8 on the campus of Auburn University. The members’ devotion to our National Society was on full display throughout the conference, which attracted nearly 500 attendees. I am so grateful to these outstanding women for the example they set for service in all of our mission areas – in fact, a passion for our purpose that was on full display throughout their reports, displays, workshops, events and camaraderie. I cannot do suitable justice to all of the many highlights of the weekend, and so I have selected just a few to share with you in today’s blog.

The Saturday Patriotism Luncheon featured a presentation on “Women Warriors” by Janice Rogers, WBRC Fox 6 News Anchor, host of “Good Day Alabama,” and the sibling of four brothers who served in Vietnam, one of whom was killed in combat. The luncheon was complemented by a slide show of images of female members of the Armed Forces, several of whom attended the luncheon. Susan Pierce Moore of the Lily of the Cahaba Chapter received the Outstanding DAR Service for Veterans Award in recognition of her longtime devotion to our veterans but in particular her support to establish temporary housing for homeless female veterans.  The DAR Distinguished Citizen Award was presented to Rachel Bunn Clinkscale, a past president of the National Gold Star Wives organization. The entire moving event was a great reminder that women have long played an important role (though often behind the scenes) in support of our military.

Paulette Ogard, an expert on southeastern butterflies, presented a fascinating Conservation workshop on these beautiful creatures and the plants that sustain them. She has devoted a quarter century to documenting their lives, and she helped to establish the Alabama Butterfly Atlas. She was quite taken aback to be presented the NSDAR Conservation Award in recognition of her life’s work, and I was certainly thrilled to join Mrs. Clemons in surprising her.

The (lucky!) Guests of Conference were treated to a tour of Pebble Hill, an 1847 Greek Revival National Register property that houses Auburn University’s center for Arts and the Humanities. We later toured the campus’s outstanding Jule Collin Smith Museum of Fine Art, with its current exhibits devoted to “Feminist Forms: Contemporary Sculpture from the Permanent Collection” and “From Her Innermost Self: Visionary Art of Southern Women.”