What We Do — Chapter Activities
DAR Schools
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution supports the Kate Duncan Smith DAR School in the Appalachian region of Alabama. Also, through its American Indians Committee, NSDAR, assists in the education of Indian youth through scholarships and support of Bacone College in Oklahoma and Chemawa Indian School in Oregon. Four other schools are given financial assistance, including scholarships and material donations. For more information about DAR schools and other DAR activities and interests, please visit the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) website.
Individual members of NSDAR chapters give additional support to the schools through the General Mills Box Tops for Education Program by saving labels and other proofs of purchase that the schools can redeem for cash, educational materials, computers, and even vans. Our chapter is proud to be active in this program. To learn more about these programs please contact us for more information.
The chapter provides Blessings-in-a-Backpack for Kate Duncan Smith DAR School and snacks for school children on the weekends.
Other Activities and Interests
An invited speaker gives an interesting educational program at most chapter meetings. Women’s history and women's issues are of importance to us and are frequently the subjects of our programs. We have also enjoyed programs presented by outstanding students from local schools and we often acknowledge students' achievements by way of awards ceremonies at our chapter meetings.
- In January, we have a serious business meeting and discuss plans for the Florida DAR State Conference to be held the following March, an annual event where our chapter is well represented and recognized with achievement awards.
- Summer may find us enjoying genealogical workshops, copying information from tombstones in an unrecorded pioneer cemetery, or taking pictures for our chapter scrapbook when we visit national historical locations. In June, delegates from our chapter represent us at the annual
NSDAR Continental Congress in Washington, D.C. Other members attend if they wish.
- Our homes proudly display the American Flag on national holidays.
- We are proud to honor Constitution Week in September.
- One of our favorite activities occurs during the Christmas holiday season. We visit the
Cassements Historical Home in Ormond Beach and decorate a patriotic Christmas tree.
- In the past, we have celebrated the holiday season with a game of Jeopardy with questions about women in history, knowledge of the DAR, and citizenship.
- Each month we sponsor Veterans Bingo and Bagels at the Emory L. Bennett Veterans Home in Daytona, Florida.
- We donate gifts to the PACE Center for Girls every Christmas. Girls ages 12-17 attend PACE to get appropriate counseling and education in a nurturing environment.
- We enjoy participating in Project Patriot with greeting cards and donations for gifts to be sent to military personnel.
- We participate in Paws for Patriots, a non-profit organization that trains dogs to assist soldiers suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
- As part of an outreach program we participate in the Celtic Festival at The Casements in
Ormond Beach.
- We sponsor a scholarship program for the Daytona State College Fresh Start program.
- We sponsor the annual DAR American History contest for students in the fifth, sixth, and seventh grades at local Ormond Beach schools and home-schooled students in this age group.
- On Memorial Day we sponsor a wreath in memory of the Purple Heart soldiers at Rockefeller Gardens in Ormond Beach.
- We are honored to have several members who have written historical books of the area as well as children’s books and genealogical family history.
We always have a choice of rewarding NSDAR programs in which to utilize our time and talents, but we also recognize that we are living in a busy world and must be selective about how we spend our spare time. If you are thinking about joining the DAR, we can assure you a rewarding experience geared toward your own personal interests and available time. Our membership chairman will gladly respond to your email and telephone inquiries and will arrange a personal meeting at your convenience to determine your eligibility. You will be given individual assistance throughout the application process. As a prospective member, you will be welcomed by your new DAR friends at our monthly luncheon meetings.