October Executive Actions

Since the beginning of this administration, I have shared via the Today’s DAR Blog the highlights of each meeting of the Executive Committee because I believe that members deserve full transparency into our deliberations and to understand how their generous donations are spent in support of our vibrant mission. Ours was something of an historic session last week, as we met for the first time in the Cabell Conference Room on the second floor of the Administration Building. The room is named for Mary Virgina Elett Cabell, who served as Vice President General Presiding at the inception of our Society (while President General Caroline Scott Harrison was otherwise busy at the White House!).

In addition to all of the outstanding events scheduled by National Board Events National Vice Chair Jacqueline Lahey (described in another blog installment later this week), your Executive Board considered business throughout the week that resulted in motions that included:

-  Reviewed the 2022 budget as prepared by staff, amended by the Finance Committee. The budget was, in turn, recommended to the National Board of Management for its approval at the full Saturday meeting of the board. It was unanimously approved.

- Authorized Human Resources to hire a consulting firm to conduct a compensation study of our headquarters staff salaries. In the aftermath of the pandemic and the complexities of the present labor market, we believe it to be appropriate to review salaries throughout the complex.

- Distributed the second quarterly share of the Ella Atwell Fund to Kate Duncan Smith DAR School and Crossnore Communities for Children.

- Authorized the 2022 American Spirit Superstar designation for chapters with 100 percent member subscriptions, with presentations of special certificates at the 131^st Continental Congress and in support of our efforts acquire approximately 4,000 new subscribers in order to set a new all-time circulation total. Can we do it? Of course we can!

- Established an America 250! Scholarship for college students majoring in American History; the $5,000 one-time scholarship will be presented to as many as four students in each of the following years: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.

Your Executive Committee and the National Board of Management authorized additional actions about which information will be shared in coming weeks. Thank you for your support of our work to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism.