Wrapping up the 129th Congress, Looking Ahead to the 130th!

Here is an overview of findings from this year’s survey:

• In all, 2,106 members completed the survey. This number is only slightly more than our typical number of responses. However, a larger quantity of responses this year came from members who were experiencing their first Congress – a positive development, as many expressed an interest of now attending in person.
• Overall, members viewed their Virtual Congress experiences positively. Members enjoyed viewing both the Society’s sessions and various committee/member-run events. 95% of members said they were very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with this year’s Congress programming
• A good deal of constructive feedback focused on the execution of various virtual social events. I am proud of our various states, committees, clubs and other event organizers who hosted virtual events on such short notice. We all learned as we went, creating the models/platforms that we did as volunteers to the best of our abilities. We learned what worked well and what can be done better in the future should we need to, with a future goal of providing more consistency/ease of use for members. Thank you, everyone, – hosts and participants – for learning together in a grand experiment of virtual gathering!
• Members who used the new credentialing and pre-registration gave it positive reviews and many urged us to find more ways that they could complete forms and pay electronically – which we are investigating.
• Electronic voting was a huge success, with 92% of members reporting that they found it very convenient.
• In other survey comments, members reported that they learned new and valuable information, such as ideas for service initiatives, the importance of incorporating technology and tips to recruit/maintain members.

Based upon views, the most popular events beyond the official sessions were the Registrar General’s Forums: Non-Military Sources for RW Patriots, DAR & DNA Outreach and How to Establish Residence & Its Importance During the American Revolution; the DAR Library’s Preserving Family Treasurers; and the Insignia Product Showcase.

The Continental Congress follow-up blast email was opened by 41% of the members to whom it was sent and was forwarded 14,106 times. The most popular links from the email were the Honoring Our Patriots website, the DAR Insignia Store, the President General’s Project items, the Congress Survey and the American Heritage Award Winner video.

I conclude with several links to some of the important and entertaining information presented during the week of Congress. Please share these with those who may enjoy them:

• Check out the “Honoring Our Patriots” website; it features the DAR Pathway of the Patriots and other sources on our Patriot ancestors. Explore the Patriots who are honored.
• Shop at the DAR Insignia Store! Browse the items that are in stock and view those that are coming soon.
• Support the “Selling Sunshine” initiative of the President General’s Project, The Next Act, which raised more than $100,000 during Virtual Congress! Contributions are still vitally needed for this restoration project, which is now well underway.
• Find videos of all Virtual Congress sessions here.
• Enjoy the Opening Night keynote address from Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch, remarks from honoree Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and the National Defense Night keynote address from LTG Robert Ashley, Jr.
• Read blog posts highlighting the full Congress week.
• Explore issues of the Congress Herald and view Congress social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
• View this year’s Committee Online Reports
• Share the redesigned State of the Society for 2020
• Experience some of the other special Congress events: DAR Library: Preserving Your Family Treasures; DAR Museum period room tours;  DAR Book Club Session 1 - "Rush" and Session 2 - "Jefferson's Daughters"; Genealogy Tips for Establishing Residence & Its Importance During the American Revolution; Registrar General’s Forums on Non-Military Sources for RW Patriots and DAR and DNA Outreach; DAR Archives exhibit: Ordinary Equality: DAR Members and the Road to Women's Suffrage; and DAR Pages at Virtual Congress.