Fourteen Rebecca Pickens Chapter members of the DAR met at the Dillon Wellness Center on May 9, 2017, before taking a break for the summer and resuming their meeting in September. The DAR, like many organizations, have a ritual observed at the beginning of each meeting. We have added the reading of the 12th amendment of the constitution and the ringing of a bell to our ritual.
The program for the afternoon, presented by Lee Ann Calhoun, was on the founding of the DAR. Lee Ann made the program more interesting by having framed pictures of the four ladies responsible for the organization on display. A short biographical sketch was given about Mary Desha, Mary Smith Lockwood, Ellen Wallworth, and Eugenia Washington who worked tirelessly to organize the society.
They were assisted by the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). Beginning with just a few members in 1890, the DAR can now boast a membership of 180,000.
Following the program and committee reports, officers for the new year were elected. They were as follows: Regent- Susan Shine; Vice Regent- Jane Calhoun; Recording Secretary- Linda Dutton; Treasurer- Fay Sloan; Chaplain- Julia McLaurin; Corresponding Secretary- Jewell Carmichael; Registrar- Julie Sawyer; Historian- Joan Rocha; Librarian- Polly McIntyre; and Defense Chairman- Chris Harris. These officers were installed by outgoing regent, Chris Harris who presented each one with a candy bar symbolizing the responsibilities of her office.
As usual, the program presenter, Lee Ann Calhoun, and hostesses Chris Harris, Kathy Baxley, and Fay Sloan were thanked before the meeting was adjourned.