One Weekend, Two Fabulous State Conference Visits

Idaho, March 24-25

“Here comes the Sun!” was the uplifting theme of the outstanding 108^th Idaho State Conference, conducted in the beautiful state capital of Boise, which lit up its buildings in red, white and blue for my arrival! State Regent Catherine McClintick welcomed approximately 160 guests for four days filled with substantive content, meaningful events and lots of camaraderie for women who had not been together physically for a state conference in three years. Watching them reconnect brought me a great deal of joy. I am so appreciative of the many thoughtful and heartfelt expressions of support and kindness expressed to me during my too-short visit with the dedicated women.

Next, Idaho Daughters honored the memory of their first state regent, Anna Ford Pursell, with a graveside wreath-laying service. Her term in office featured the creation of eight new chapters, fundraising for the construction of DAR Constitution Hall and support of the USS Idaho. Mrs. McClintick’s State Regent Project supports the Dolphin Scholarship Fund that the provides educational support to crew members (and their children) off the new USS Idaho, a nuclear submarine. It inspires me to think that their first and current State Regents, though separated by more than a century, have supported the men and women aboard a U.S. Navy vessel named in honor of their state. A wonderful dinner hosted by the Idaho Honorary State Regents completed my first day with these generous women.

Friday’s business session reports evidenced the breadth of DAR involvement here. With nearly 800 Daughters statewide, these ladies amassed a staggering 33,000 hours of community service in 2021 alone! Three of their 13 chapters scored more than 1,000 points on the Chapter Achievement Awards. A graduation ceremony for nearly 50 Leadership Training Course scholars was impressive. Our luncheon speaker was Amanda Ward, Superintendent of Chemawa Indian School in Salem, Oregon. And what fun to watch these women support their newest chapter, Freezeout Hill (organized last year) through a “New Chapter Shower,” that allowed the other chapters to provide items such as a banner, flag stand and base, a chapter regent’s pin, a gavel, a copy of Robert’s Rules of Order, etc. Isn’t that a great idea?

I am deeply honored that Regent McClintick extended to me the privilege of addressing her Daughters during the “President General’s Dinner” on Friday evening and conducted at the Idaho State History Museum. It featured Basque cuisine and music played upon the 1878 Cartee Weber Steinway Grand Piano, which was recently restored over a three year, painstaking effort.

Mrs. McClintick’s symbol is a bee, and her theme is “Bee on the Team: Connect, Inspire, Lead…Adventure Awaits.” It certainly did for me, and I will forever treasure the memory of my visit here with these amazingly kind and dedicated women.

Mrs. Rogow’s symbol is in the shape of the State of Kentucky with gemstones denoting the historic trails that settled it. She has led with a theme of “United in Paths of Service to God, Home and Country through Historic Preservation, Education and Patriotism.” It did my heart good to see how much her Daughters respect and appreciate her – and a joy to see her husband Bob also so beloved. During the pandemic, he stepped forward to produce her necessary videos, even calling himself “Pandemic Productions, Limited” (because he was so limited!). How fun! Please join me in a rousing “huzzah!” to Bob Rogow and all of our supportive HODARs!

I admire these Daughters for so many reasons, but especially for their devoted stewardship of Duncan Tavern in Paris, Kentucky. Built in 1788, four years before Kentucky became a state, the former inn is built of native limestone and contains 20 rooms. In its early years, the tavern was a gathering place of distinguished pioneers such as Daniel Boone. Duncan Tavern was saved from demolition in 1940 by the Kentucky State Society. Today, the beautifully restored and maintained structure serves as their official state headquarters and contains a museum and genealogical library.