All Abuzz About the New Hampshire Fall Meeting

With busy bees and beautiful bouquets as their symbols, Granite State Daughters are working beneath a theme of “Cultivating our Posterity” during the Administration of State Regent Trish Jackson. I am delighted to report that I gleaned some great DAR “gardening” advice while attending their Fall Meeting: plant roots where they can grow deeply; provide lots of sunshine in the form of energizing leadership; water frequently via plenty of fun; and nourish with meaningful purpose. Worried about the pandemic? Simply plant all blossoms six feet apart and protect with cloth coverings for good measure! It’s no wonder DAR is thriving in this hospitable environment!

My sincerest thanks to Mrs. Jackson and her approximately 100 New Hampshire Daughters and guests for their warm welcome upon the occasion of my “official” visit during their Fall Meeting at the historic Hanover Inn adjacent to the charming campus of Dartmouth College. This was my first such opportunity since I left Dallas, Texas, on March 15, some 187 days before, owing to the pandemic’s restrictions. It felt wonderful to again hear the reports of officers, celebrate the achievements of chapters and honor award winners who represent the very purpose of our Society.

Friday evening’s Award Banquet included recognition for members who have sewn face masks as part of the DAR Service to America Committee’s Service from Home project, Member and New Horizon courses’ graduates and DAR Conservation and Community Service award winners. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of “Quilts of Valor” to four outstanding veterans, three from the Vietnam War and one from World War II! Several of the quilts were created through the talents of New Hampshire Daughters in support of the Quilts of Valor Foundation, with its mission to “cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.”

The Fall Meeting agenda also included an extremely informative presentation of Daughter Tricia Jones, who is the co-owner of an information technology firm that provides IT solutions to local residents and businesses. She discussed cybersecurity – concentrating on ways to protect your computer from viruses, malware and identity theft. It was an excellent Volunteer Information Services (VIS) topic that should be shared more often, especially during these days at home on our devices. (Did you know that instances of cybercrime have increased 300 percent during the pandemic?)