Visiting The Bahamas Chapter

Sue Powers Moore, Bahamas Chapter Regent

Arriving at the Denver airport in a snow flurry, I gladly scrunched my long winter coat into the suitcase before I checked in for my flight to Nassau, Bahamas. The Commonwealth actually consists of 700 islands and stretches over 5,000 square miles in the Atlantic Ocean. The Chapter arranged for me to be personally met by a representative from the Tourism Bureau who whisked me through customs and helped me with luggage. I was surprised to learn that the Island had been captured several times during the Revolution for their supply of ammunition, but there was apparently no attempt to claim them for the new Republic and their loyalty always stayed with the crown. It was a warm, wonderful, visit that was too short.

- President General Ann Dillon


The Bahamas Chapter met in Nassau, Bahamas the week of January 15, 2018.  Chapter members live in Nassau, as well as several now living in the states.  This week together allows us to organize our Special Project work, plan for Continental Congress and hold our Annual General Meeting. 

This year attending were special guests, President General Mrs. Ann Turner Dillon and National Chairman Units Overseas, Mrs. Diane Hamill who arrived in Nassau on Thursday evening. Vicki Thomas our chapter Registrar and I met Mrs. Dillon and Mrs. Hamill at the airport and drove to Luciano’s where we joined other members of our chapter for dinner. Later they were driven to their hotel, The Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island. 

Friday morning Donna and Dale Baucom took them to meet a group of the chapter members at the U.S. Embassy in The Bahamas. There we were greeted and met with the Chargé d’Affaires James Denver Herren. He is the highest ranking American diplomat in The Bahamas as there is currently no Ambassador.  Mr. Herren spoke about the role of the American Embassy in The Bahamas. He was very interested in Mrs. Dillon’s talk about the NSDAR and what our chapters and members do to uphold our objectives of historic preservation, education and patriotism.  We shared with him our chapter’s Special Project and how we are helping impoverished Bahamian students.  Mrs. Dillon also offered to assist Mrs. Herren and their two daughters with genealogical research in order to join DAR.

Leaving the Embassy, The Bahamas Chapter NSDAR Annual General Meeting was held at Café Matisse in Nassau with Mrs. Dillon and Mrs. Hamill as Special Guests.  We were honored to have Mrs. Dillon install our recently elected officers. 

Guest speaker, Shelagh Pritchard, of Lend a Hand Bahamas, a non-profit, spoke about the educational needs of disadvantaged areas of the Bahamas. Our chapter’s Special Project addresses some of these needs. We began by providing uniforms, books and school supplies so underprivileged children could attend school. Next, we added our support to Saturday Life Skills, a program developed by Lend a Hand Bahamas. We are presenting certificates and awards to the children for perfect attendance, improved grades and other educational accomplishments. In 2018, as well as providing uniforms, books and school supplies, our plan is to make a longer term difference in the lives of these impoverished children who have little chance of attending college or trade school. We are purchasing educational programs and curriculum to foster these goals.                                    

Thanks to our associate members and donations, The Bahamas Chapter is making a big difference in the lives of some of the most vulnerable Bahamians.

After Mrs. Dillon and Mrs. Hamill spoke to our members, we presented them with gifts of Bahamian books and calendars along with checks for their projects.

Later that afternoon, we arrived at the home of Vicki and Godfrey Thomas for a relaxing social time.  Godfrey shared the history of the Bahamas and his family’s Bahamian and British heritage.

That evening Mrs. Dillon and Mrs. Hamill joined with seven chapter members and five husbands for dinner at the home of Fay and Bill Sands.  As part of our meal, we enjoyed Bahamian fish caught by Bill. 

We thoroughly enjoyed our time spent with Mrs. Dillon and Mrs. Hamill and look forward to seeing them again this summer at Continental Congress.

send-a-commentSend Us a comment