“West Virginia Blooms with a Passion for Preservation” was the theme of the 118th state conference of the West Virginia Society of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution held May 5-7 at the Canaan Valley Resort and Conference Center in Davis. The conference was hosted by the central district chapters.
Presiding over the meeting was Jane J. Larke, state regent. The purpose of the annual meeting is to receive reports from the state officers, district directors, chapter regents and state chairs, to vote on recommendations and resolutions and to act on other business that may be presented to the conference attendees.
Attending the conference from South Branch Valley Chapter, NSDAR were five members, Judy Bowyer, JoeAnn Eye, Bonnie Myers, Susan Garrett, Judy Mathias and Teresa Lomasney, and two pages, Taylor Mulligan and Courtney Blank, both granddaughters of two members.
The keynote speaker was Pamela Edwards Rouse Wright, president general of the national society, who motivated attendees to “celebrate the legacy of the DAR” by prioritizing the preservation of history and the meaning of freedom. Guest speaker Lori Thompson, associate professor, head of special collections at Marshall University, described her ongoing work at the university as the archivist and digital preservation librarian. Other distinguished guests to the state conference were Lael Hartley Marlow, vice president general of the national society who lives in Alaska, Cheryl Bonebright Baxter, Indiana state regent, Cynthia Snider Bell, Nevada state regent, Anna Baird Choi, North Carolina state regent, and Susan Franks Leininger, Ohio state regent.
The South Branch Valley Chapter, NSDAR received recognition for 100 percent participation in the president general’s project, leading a special interest club in quilting for students, addressing hygiene issues in grades 6-8, first place retention activity 51-100, first place in retention/recruitment activity 51-100, outstanding job with registrars acquiring four to six new members in 2022, first place chapter members for viewing DAR school videos, Bonnie Myers, registrar, for outstanding registrars in West Virginia in 2022, Myers recognized for outstanding lineage research, Judy Mathias recognized as the top indexer in state for the patriot records project and Myers and Mathias for completing two DAR leadership courses.
The Daughters of the American Revolution is a volunteer service organization dedicated to the preservation of history, promoting patriotism and the education of children. Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible for membership. DAR volunteers are available and willing to assist with guidance in genealogy research for women interested in becoming a member. For more information, visit the DAR website at www.dar.org, email inquiries to membership@dar.org or contact Myers at khs7377@aol.com.
