Can Your Chapter Share the Light of DAR?

The growth of our organization did not happen by accident or by luck. It resulted from a strategic approach executed by the forward-looking, visionary women who founded DAR in order to fulfill an important and enduring mission. In the earliest days of our National Society, leadership sought out prominent women to become state regents; they were charged, in turn, with identifying eligible women from the communities within their respective states (or even territories) who would be well suited to starting local chapters. In this way, our National Society spread rapidly across the continent during its early decades.

There was also another way that growth was once encouraged: if a chapter reached 100 members, it was tasked with selecting a woman to spin off a new chapter in order that the mission of our National Society would propagate and flourish through more local chapters.

One example of this altruistic approach, which prioritized the greater good of the National Society and the spread of our fundamental patriotic purpose, is evidenced by the Paul Revere Chapter of Massachusetts, which spun off the Boston Tea Party Chapter. Paul Revere Chapter, which had been organized in Boston on April 19, 1894, had amassed 100 members in little more than a year. Here is an excerpt from the chapter’s Nov 7, 1895 minutes:

“During the past year we have held monthly meetings from November to May inclusive, at the houses of different members, with an average attendance of thirty. Beginning as we did, with a small number the Charter members and a few others only, we have devoted our energies to growing with such good results, that in March our application list was filled to overflowing as we are limited to one hundred members."

“We have lost two of our members, Mrs. Adelaide Simmonds a Charter member who passed away in July 1894 and Madame Von Rydingsvard, who resigned in the early spring to form another chapter of which she is now the Regent.”

Anna Davis von Rydingsvard founded the Boston Tea Party Chapter in 1895 and later served as Massachusetts’s fourth state regent (1896-1897). During her term as state regent, Madam von Rydingsvard formed 25 chapters across Massachusetts as she worked to welcome new women and spread the impact of our service work.

Lantern Chapter Designation

And, so, in a spirit of encouraging our chapters to help spread the light of DAR, we have just created the Lantern Chapter designation for any chapter that transfers an organizing regent or five or more members to organize a new chapter; or, transfers five or more members to revitalize a chapter in order to spread the light of DAR. The chapter that receives the members will receive the same designation. This designation will be retroactively available to any chapter that can produce documentation of the relationship, e.g. meeting minutes.

In addition to cementing the bond of friendship between two chapters, this designation also affords members of both chapters the ability to purchase and wear with pride the new Lantern Chapter pin (which will be availible from the DAR insignia store in the coming months.) We want to encourage these kind of bonds between chapters in places where the population is growing and energetic, patriotic women are excited about our service work. Furthermore, one of the additional benefits of encouraging new chapters in locations where there is great need is the opportunity for more members to assume leadership roles. If a chapter of 250 members has three-year terms, a talented and enthusiastic member could, in theory, have to wait 15 years or more in order to serve as chapter regent. I believe that our Society benefits when we unleash the enthusiasm of these women to support our mission areas and grow their leadership skills.

Finally, as you may be aware, our administration also updated the Chapter Achievement Awards in order to provide credit to those chapters that help to start or sustain another chapter. If your chapter transferred members to organize a new chapter OR five or more members transferred in order to revitalize a struggling chapter (of 20 or fewer members), you will score an additional 25 points.

Through these ways, we hope that chapters will work together to ensure that the light of DAR grows ever brighter all around the world – as we pass the lantern of patriotism to expand the reach and impact of DAR!