DAR: A Younger & More Modern Version!

Maggie Morris 

I became a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution in 2006. Although I have ancestors on my father’s side of the family who have been on this continent since well before the American Revolutionary War, I was born in the Netherlands, spoke Dutch before I spoke English, and came over on a 747 when I was about two years old. I was the first person in my family to become a member of DAR, so to join I had to go through a process of proving that I was related to someone who faught for our country’s independence in the American Revolutionary War. My aunt had done a great deal of research on our family genealogy, and then my father followed up with it once he retired and had time to devote to the project. It’s quite a process, but once someone in your family is a member of DAR, then it’s very easy to become a member, as you only have to prove you are related to someone who is already a member, and you don’t have to prove all the relationships all the way back to before 1776.

Once you join DAR, you join a local chapter. There are a great number of chapters in Washington, DC, and honestly I wasn’t sure which to join. I became a member of the Eleanor Wilson chapter, but haven’t been as involved as I would like. Several months ago, on the LateNightShots (LNS) website, I saw a thread about DAR. Someone was wondering if it was ‘cool’ to join it, and was wondering if it was just for old women. I responded that I was a member, and that it most certainly wasn’t just for old women. Shortly thereafter, I joined a group on LNS of women who were members of DAR. A few weeks ago I received an email from Maggie Morris explaining that she and the leaders of the Manor House Chapter have been campaigning to attract young members into a new “young DAR” champter for the last 10 months. They hope to entice young women in the Washington, DC community to join a chapter that focuses on recruiting a younger generation of women to pass on the traditions, historical education of our American ancestors, and better our city through community projects initiated by the Chapter’s members. As a member of DAR, I wanted to publicize all the great things that Maggie is doing to breathe new life into DAR.

In December 2007, DAR prospective member Maggie Morris was looking for a chapter in the District to join. She attended the annual Christmas Open House at the National Headquarters and met the Organizing Secretary General on the National Board, Carole Farmer, through a mutual friend. Carol then introduced Maggie to a number of Chapter Regents and other Board members who in conversation encouraged Maggie to join a number of different chapters or start one on her own. They told her she would only need 12 founding members to start a “young DAR” chapter. Maggie doubted she’d be able to find 12 committed prospective members to charter a chapter until she read a Forum Thread on the social networking site, LateNightShots, in which a young woman wondered if DAR was only for elderly women or if there were active young women in the organization. Maggie then started sending out feelers on the chartering a new chapter and realized there was some interest. She promptly created a group on LNS, one of the sites services for young people to join groups of interest, and prospective members began to join at a rapid pace. Maggie said she would get back in touch with her contacts at the National headquarters after the holidays and investigate founding a new group. Through multiple conversations with different members of the DAR, Maggie was put into contact with Meg Gentges and Peggy Grieve of the Manor House.

Morris sought out young women leaders who had an interest in joining a historically based organization that has deep roots in the community. Morris also encouraged women who had family already in the DAR to join, basically “legacies”, as it was an easier application process with their documented histories already in the DAR’s genealogy library located in Washington, DC.

The Manor House is a District based DAR chapter that had very few actives and were looking to replenish its Membership with a younger base. The Manor House is a chapter that is over 100 years old, gaining its charter in January 1898, with a dedicated and lively leadership, which included Meg and Peggy.

Instead of going through the red tape of establishing a new chapter, Maggie decided to corroborate with Meg and Peggy and proceed with revitalizing the historic chapter. By this time, the prospective member total in the LNS group “DAR – The Younger Generation” had grown to 35. Maggie amped up communications with prospective members and the Chapter held its first meeting in March 2008. The first meeting was highly attended and has grown since. The chapter now has 35 active members and the group on LNS continues to grow; totaling 50 today.

In October, the Manor House is coordinating a ‘jewelry exchange’ to support Dress for Success. Partnerships throughout the community are necessary to promote Chapter projects and with outreach. Chapter members will bring costume jewelry and serviceable shoes and handbags to donate to this very worthwhile program. 

Another Chapter project on the Fall agenda in addition to education and women’s issues, is examining ways to support the Wounded Warriors at Walter Reed Hospital.  The father of one of the Chapter’s members volunteers at Walter Reed several days a month – he will be addressing the Chapter and aiding in suggestions on ways to serve.

These examples are programs which reflect the interests of our current members.  They are seeking additional members who will bring their ideas of how we can contribute to the community in the DAR areas of education, patriotism, and historic preservation.

If you are interested in joining DAR, or interested in transferring into the Manor House chapter, please contact Maggie Morris at margaretcmorris@gmail.com.

- Miss A