The Dorothy Q Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, met March 16 at the Elston Memorial Home. Sixteen Dorothy Q daughters were pleased to welcome two of three of this year’s Good Citizen winners and six guests. These winners, from our three Montgomery County high schools, were: Jessica Bradley, Southmont, Thomas Bowling, Crawfordsville, and Brent Runyon, North Montgomery. Runyon could not be here because of an FFA event. Regent Michele Borden introduced these students, who then read their essays. Runyon’s parents brought a video of his essay. Bowling was named our overall winner whose essay will go on to the Indiana DAR state contest.
As every year, we are in awe of these talented young people and congratulate them on their achievements. Borden then presented them each with a gift bag, handmade and embroidered by Good Citizen chair, Melody Davis, which included a certificate, a lapel pin, and a monetary award from the chapter. This was followed by a reception presented by the hostess committee of Judy Fifer, chair, Gloria White, Ericia Church, and Pam Rager.
The second part of our afternoon progressed with a short business meeting. Rachel Brown, treasurer, read the minutes from our last meeting for secretary Gay Eagleston, as well as the treasurer’s report. The minutes were approved as read and the treasurer’s report was filed for audit.
Chaplain Sharon Southern installed two new members, Pam Rager and Pattie McGuire. Welcome to Dorothy Q, ladies.
Regent Borden awarded Susan Fisher with a 10-year membership certificate, then thanked the Bane-Welker Company for replacing a banner that was damaged last winter. She also brought to our attention that she has placed a “DAR-Join Us” poster at the Crawfordsville Library to inform the public of DAR goals and activities.
Terri Fyffe told us of an interesting story from the new book “Ghosts and Legends from Crawfordsville, Indiana” by Christopher and Christina Hunt, that included mention of the Elston sisters and their interest in the occult.
Regent Borden read her yearly chapter report, that has been submitted to INDAR, as a pleasant reminder of all that our Dorothy Q daughters have accomplished this past year. She also announced that the State society has asked for “Quilts of Honor” from any quilters in our midst. These quilts are given to deserving veterans. Dorothy Q has been invited to join the Washburn Chapter to a program being given by State Vice Regent Elaine Sholty, in which she portrays Caroline Scott Harrison, wife of President Benjamin Harrison and first President General of NSDAR.
The Elston Memorial Home board would like to hold a bake sale on our lawn the Saturday of the Strawberry Festival. They are putting out a call for homemade baked good to offer. The Elston home, our chapter house, is in need of a new roof so the board is planning fundraisers and looking into grants to accomplish this goal.
Barb Taylor, Michele Borden and Terri Fyffe are planning to go to the 123rd Indiana State DAR Conference in May. Any other daughters who would like to join them, please contact Borden. We thank Terri Fyffe for arranging for Peggy Mills and crew to clean the chapter house and for staying to oversee the work. Fyffe also will be conducting a House Tour for the women of Wabash College in April. This is another fundraiser for the Elston Memorial Home. Pattie McGuire and Susan Allen have volunteered to help her.
We continue to collect manufacturer’s coupons to send to military bases as our “Patriot Project”. Thank you Judy Fifer for chairing this project.
Our next meeting will be at 1 p.m. April 20 when our program will be presented by Dorothy Q daughter Shannon Hudson. She will talk about her research of the underground railroad.
