The Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution (VADAR) held its 122nd State Conference March 16-18 at the Richmond Marriott in Richmond. Among the 722 members attending were Colonel Abram Penn Chapter Regent Louise Hansen and chapter member Ann McConnell.
Workshops were conducted Friday morning on the United States Constitution, the “Jamestown Sky Trilogy” by author Connie Lapallo, and the Library of Virginia’s recent large restoration of colonial militia records. This restoration was made possible in part by a $200,000 grant from the DAR.
Deceased Virginia Daughters of 2017 were honored with a memorial service Friday morning. In tribute to chapter member Barbara Clark Baughan, who died February 25, 2017, Chapter Regent Hansen added a flower in the Memorial Wreath. The wreath was then placed at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond.
Michael Quinn, president and CEO of the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, Pa., was the featured speaker at the opening night banquet. The museum opened April 19, 2017, and has seen 300,000 visitors, including 35,000 school children. It is listed in the Top Five Places to visit in Philadelphia by Fodor’s Travel.
Junior members of the VADAR hosted a breakfast Saturday prior to the morning business meeting. Nora Morris, Mrs. West Virginia 2014, spoke on gender disparity in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM. She encouraged adding the arts to this and have the resulting acronym STEAM.
She told those gathered about her efforts to bring art-based learning performances to schools. Morris said, “Students who attend school
where the arts are integrated into the classroom curriculum out-perform their peers in math and science. Student involvement in the arts is linked to higher academic performance, increased test scores, greater involvement in community service and lower dropout rates. ”
Judith J. Suber, state regent, presided over the business meetings where state committee chairmen delivered reports. The Bylaws Committee presented two motions for clarification and both carried.
During the Chapter Awards Luncheon on Saturday, Elias Nafziger, a senior at Fort Defiance High School was presented the Virginia DAR Good Citizens Award.
Chapter regents were honored at Saturday night’s banquet. Hansen participated with the 90 chapter regents to process into the Marriott Grand Ballroom.
The conference adjourned Sunday morning following a celebration breakfast.
The Fall Forum of the VADAR will be held September 7-8 at the Richmond Hilton Hotel and Spa in Short Pump.
