Today's DAR
Visiting the Gem State
After 4 days with my family, I flew from Houston to Boise, Idaho on Thursday, May 14th, for the 102nd State Conference. State Regent Rebecca Bowen-Odom and her husband, Ron, were waiting at the airport to greet me along with two of the other conference guests, First Vice President General Ann Dillon and National Chair Chapter Development and Revitalization Commission Bethe Clark-Urban.
The Conference theme was “A Capitol Affair,” appropriately named as the business session of the conference was held in the state capitol. Coincidentally, Idaho became a state the same year in which DAR was founded when Benjamin Harrison was President. Idaho has about 550 members in 10 chapters.
Idaho DAR also sponsored two of the national winners for the 124th Continental Congress, David Skinner, the National Outstanding Teacher of American History, and Tamara Mackenthun, the National Winner of the American Heritage Fiber Arts Competition. Tamara displayed the 1830 era Gown and Lace Shawl which she made. She even wove the fabric for the undergarments.
Rebecca’s theme is “Be an Angel for DAR” and her impressive project was the restoration of an engraving from the DAR Museum for which the generous Idaho Daughters contributed almost $2,000. The engraving, "Ascending into Glory," was made by Simon Chaudron of Philadelphia in 1802. It depicts the apotheosis of George Washington. It shows Washington with arms outstretched rising from his tomb. The male with wings is supposed to represent Father Time. FAME, the female angel, has her right arm extended heavenward into rays of glory which fall upon Washington from the upper left corner. Lady Liberty is seen in the left center next to a bald eagle holding an olive branch, arrows, a shield bearing 16 stars and stripes, and a ribbon banner inscribed, "E PLURIBUS UNUM."
Through additional donations, Rebecca presented almost $1,500 to the Idaho Women's Veterans Association for a Women's Veterans Memorial Fund, which will be used to purchase a Bronze titled "On Eagles Wings" which will be placed at the Women's Veterans Facility at the Idaho Veterans Hospital.
I had two wonderful Personal Pages, Rachel Saunders, Rebecca’s daughter, and Katie Hinckley Marcum. Katie is a former member in Idaho and returned to Texas a few years ago and now serves as Chapter Regent. I’ve known Katie since she was a little girl in C.A.R. and it’s great to see her serving in leadership.
I was interested to learn that Boise has one of the largest Basque populations in the country, originating from the area near the borders of France and Spain. My introduction to the Basque heritage was in 2014 when Idaho sponsored the Junior Membership doll to raise funds for the Helen Pouch Memorial Fund. Suzanne Grove who served as chair of the Junior Doll, created dolls representing two young Basque children who immigrated from their home in Eskal Herria - the land of Euskera speakers, the language that defines a Basque. My daughter was so surprised to win the dolls at Congress last year, particularly since she didn’t know I’d purchased tickets and put her name on them. Let’s hope that good luck repeats itself this year!
Shortly after getting settled in our rooms, we visited the nearby Basque Museum & Cultural Center. Idaho member Adelia Garro Simplot led the conservation, preservation and documentation effort of the ethnic neighborhood, and received the National DAR Historic Preservation Award. She also served as a Mount Vernon Lady when she lived in the D.C. area. Adelia and her sister, Ramona Higer, are both proud to share their Basque heritage.
Patty Miller, Director of the Basque Museum, gave a lovely tour of three of the buildings on Basque Block. I learned that Basque sailors sailed with Christopher Columbus’ on his voyage in 1492. Further, when Magellan was murdered during his attemp to circle the globe, a Basque crewman completed the voyage.
Next door to the Museum is the Cyrus Jacobs-Uberuaga House, the oldest surviving brick building in Boise. It was a rambling boarding house and has been restored to how it looked when Basques lived there in the early to mid-1900s. Adelia Simplot purchased the house in the 1980s, and the Basque Museum and Cultural Center was established there in 1985, attaining a listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Another nearby Basque boarding house has been converted into offices, but maintains an original fronton, a court on which a game called pelota — a mix of handball and racquetball — is played.
We had a little time to visit with members in the hotel before returning to the Basque Block for the Chapter Regents Club Dinner at Leku Ona. We enjoyed a lavish traditional meal served family style, including salad, paella, beans, soup, battered cod, roasted potatoes, arkume sukalki (lamb stew), roasted chicken, okela zatia (beef steak), amandrongillak (meatballs), miña (beef tongue) and grilled pork loin. Ginnie Storage, Virginia State Regent, was adventurous enough to try the tongue. I wasn’t…
Connie McGee, Chapter Regent Club President, presented a large gift bag full of Potato Heads. I honestly didn’t realize there were so many different ones and I look forward to playing them with my grandchildren. Who knew in addition to Mr. and a Mrs. Potato Head, there was also Potato Head Superheroes, and my personal favorite, Party Spudette? Also in the bag were a stuffed Potato Head, a Studdy Buddy coloring book, Legos and a darling book which Rebecca wrote, “Grandpa and the Raccoon.” Connie also gave me a Benjamin Harrison pen made from wood from the Red Oak tree planted by the President in 1892 on the grounds of the Idaho State Capitol. I love having something else connected to our first President General!
Linda Gardner of Old Fort Hall Chapter gave me a useful gift of a garment bag. Connie invited the ladies to ask questions and it was quite lively. A severe storm cut our dinner short and we walked back to the hotel before dessert was served.
The business session began on Friday morning a few blocks away at the Idaho Capitol. We walked across the street to Bishops House for lunch followed by the Memorial Service in St. Michaels Episcopal Cathedral, built in 1902, with a magnificent Tiffany Stain glass window. The service began with a bagpiper and included one of the scriptures chosen for the Young Administration from Psalm 91: “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” When the name of a deceased member was called, the Chapter Regent placed a halo on the table with the candles.
After taking chapter photos in the Capitol Rotunda, we returned to the hotel for the President General’s Tea. It was wonderful to thank the generous members who support the initiatives of the National Society and I was most impressed to learn that every chapter attained 100% participation for the President General’s Project.
The Military Night Banquet honoring Vietnam veterans began with a musical prelude by the 25th Army Band, Idaho Army National Guard. Colonel Timothy Donnellan, Director of Staff, Idaho Air National Guard, made remarks and certificates were presented to the Vietnam veterans in attendance, including Rebecca’s brother. It was impressive to learn that all chapters are commemorative partners for the Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemoration. With Idaho’s patriotism on full display, it was a great evening to give my presentation on the President General’s Project and to challenge the members to think about Tomorrow’s DAR.
As this was the year to elect new state officers, I was impressed to learn about the Transitional Breakfast scheduled for Sunday morning in which the incoming and outgoing State Officers, Chapter Regents and State Committee Chairs meet to ease the transition to a new administration.
Regrettably, I was scheduled for two conferences that weekend and had to leave very early on Saturday morning for the flight to Oregon. Rebecca’s husband was a saint for picking me up at 5:15 AM for my flight to Portland. Being with the Idaho angels was a Heavenly experience!