Juniors Light Up Virtual Congress

Junior Members often refer to spring as State Conference Season, when you can most easily spot a Junior working a Junior Sales table, donning white dresses to Page and celebrating the accomplishments of State and Chapter Outstanding Junior Members.  State Conference Season culminates, of course, in Continental Congress.  This year, 442 young women made plans to travel to Washington, D.C., to serve as pages.  They and other young women scheduled events, ordered sales products and made plans to celebrate Junior members at the 129^th Continental Congress. 

Of course, we all know what happened to those plans.  As late spring turned to early summer, our plans, like many of yours, went dark. The amazing thing about twilight in early summer when everything seems to fade to dark is that this moment is exactly when fireflies return and bring light to the darkness.  Your national Junior Membership Committee are those early fireflies, and I believe you will find their plans for this historic Virtual 129th Continental Congress will bring light to your Congress experience this June.

2020 Junior Doll Miss Maggie

Junior events begin on June 10 with An Evening with Maggie Melette/Miss Maggie.  Join Michelle McElroy, National Vice Chair-2020 Junior Doll, for a discussion of Maggie Melette, South Dakota’s first First Lady, and of the 2020 Junior Doll Miss Maggie.  The evening will begin at 8:00 p.m. Eastern with a pre-recorded presentation and continue with a live Q&A session.  You can find An Evening with Maggie Melette/Miss Maggie on Facebook or Zoom.  No registration is required to join in on Facebook, but you will want to join the Junior Membership Facebook Group prior to June 10.  If you prefer to join in on Zoom, register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMpcOupqTkuHtIxCsrs65VitTjTk6Ezr1ki. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

In addition to learning more about Maggie Melette, members of the Junior Membership Facebook Group will gather virtually at 9:00 p.m. Eastern on June 12 to watch a movie and chat.  Join the group prior to June 12 to learn the movie and receive instructions on how to take part. 

Finally, due to the complicated logistics of a virtual Congress, sales on voices to win Miss Maggie will end early this year.  If you would like to purchase a voice for Miss Maggie or make a donation to the Doll project, please do so by June 15 at this link: http://PayPal.me/SDJuniorDoll  The winner’s name will be announced during the Saturday daytime Business Session on June 27.

Congress Events

In late June, our Junior Fireflies will fully come to light with several events during the week of Congress.  First, be sure to register for the Firefly 5K (link to be provided later this month).  This virtual 5K is a fun addition to Continental Congress, and we cannot wait to light up America (or wherever you live) during this event.  All participants will receive a medal, and a tee-shirt may be available to purchase, as well.  Do you really have to run three miles to receive the medal? Of course not!  Juniors, and their friends and family, can shine in the Firefly 5K by walking, running, biking or even sitting at their computers watching Congress Online!

Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27 will be the busiest days for our fireflies.  Junior Members will want to register for the Junior Forum at 4:30pm on Friday to meet the committee, hear state awards announcements and participate in Division breakouts.  The Junior Forum will be broadcast only on Zoom to facilitate the use of Breakout Rooms. Register in advance at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwodO2trT8tGdxWSjzdYKWE0LFA2IqFEtJR .

Immediately after, we invite everyone to join us on Facebook Live or Zoom for a Firefly Chat at 5:30 p.m.  We will celebrate our State Outstanding Junior Members and learn how to make a Shining Sun-tea/Lemonade Mojito or Firefly Cocktail before you settle in to watch the Friday Evening Session when our Outstanding Juniors will be recognized and our 2020 National Outstanding Junior Member and Runner Up will be announced.  Recipes for the drinks (both are delicious with and without alcohol) will be posted in the Junior Membership Facebook Group and online. The Firefly Chats will be broadcast on Facebook Live and on Zoom.  Be sure to join the Junior Membership Facebook Group by June 26 to participate on Facebook, or register here to join on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqf-qvqDwvE9A9FsDbKqfbdFODEKKEqt4h. The Friday Evening Session will be broadcast on the DAR Members website: www.dar.org/CongressLive  Join the Junior Membership Facebook Group for a live chat while you watch.

Light Up Your Saturday Morning at the Junior Membership Power Hour beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern!  This Facebook Live/Zoom event will include all the fun you expect at the Junior Luncheon, no matter your time zone! You can expect to learn about the 2020 Helen Pouch Memorial Fund distributions to our schools and 2020 National Junior Membership Project, as well as celebrate the 2020 Outstanding Junior Members and Pages.  Look for your past National Junior Membership Chairs to join the fireflies as we wrap up the online auction and learn just how bright we shine in the Firefly 5K.  Plan to join us on Facebook Live or register in advance on Zoom for the Junior Membership Power Hour:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAqcuutqDorGNbJ1kgu3rw9N4H14OwMTrkz
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Finally, log on to Congress Live for the Saturday afternoon session (www.dar.org/CongressLive) to learn the winner of Miss Maggie and to meet Sarah Winnemucca, the 2021 National Junior Doll, presented by the Nevada Daughters.

June, and particularly the week of June 22-28, will be busy for all Daughters, but the Junior Fireflies are prepared to light the way.  We sincerely hope you will join us.