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.