Today's DAR
It is an honor and my pleasure to serve as Curator General as we Illuminate Our Legacy during the Storage Administration. Like many of you, DAR holds a special place in my heart. It is where I discovered some of the most generous, hardworking, intelligent, and dedicated women I know and where I came to love some of my dearest friends.
Introducing Our Executive Officers: Curator General
When I think about how blessed I am to be a part of such a well-respected organization, I cannot help but think of my dear Great-Aunt Waive. It was Waive Shields who faithfully announced at every family reunion that she was a member of the DAR, reminded us all we were eligible to join, and offered her assistance to anyone interested in membership. It was actually the community calendar of events announcement on the radio where I learned of a chapter in my hometown and thrilled the meetings were on Saturdays. From the moment I walked through the door, the women of the Rock Island Chapter (formerly Eldon Chapter) made me feel at home and welcomed me with open arms. Interested in sharing the work of DAR, they included me in chapter projects and invited me to join carpools to events, and the rest, they say, is history- as this December marks my 20th year of membership.
The support of my family has been paramount in my ability to dedicate time and energy to DAR. During the week, my husband, Tony, and I are both employed as school teachers - this year is my 29th in public education. Our summers and weekends are spent together as a family, many times going to DAR events! We enjoy playing games, traveling, and keeping up with our favorite sports teams. I am forever thankful my husband and our son, Henry, share the love of God, Home, and Country.
As we embark on the next three years, please accept my gratitude for the opportunity to serve as Curator General. Besides being responsible for the Museum collection and galleries, I am thrilled to work with the team at headquarters, sharing the story of the DAR Museum and our collections. During the Storage Administration, I have the privilege of serving as Executive Liaison to the following committees: American Heritage – Kathleen Zinskie, National Chair; Community Classroom – Leslie Brinkley, National Chair; DAR Good Citizens – Kimberly Daniels, National Chair; DAR Museum Outreach – Paula Eichenbrenner, National Chair; DAR Today Podcast – True Lewis, National Chair; and DAR Leadership Training – Beth Calhoun, National Chair.
Many chapters have their DAR year planned out, complete with meeting programs and speakers. In the event you have a cancellation, or perhaps you are still looking for an interesting program, please reach out to your state chair for Correspondent Docents. These women are well-versed in the various programs the museum has to offer and would be pleased to illuminate the legacy of our DAR Museum by presenting to your chapter!
