Education focuses on how we can assist future generations with educational opportunities. The Hickory Bluff Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NDSAR) is actively involved:
DAR Schools are those schools for which local and national support is provided. Chapters can support the schools by collecting requested items to participating schools as listed on the National DAR School Committee webpage in the “Box Tops and More” menu item; by sending financial donations through their chapter treasurer for the DAR Schools for any amount. To view the schools and the and the DAR chapters that have adopted them, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw-QdD8m0sc&feature=youtu.be .
For more information from DAR’s National Website, click: https://www.dar.org/national-society/education/dar-schools
We participate in the Adopt A Classroom Committee, which is a new committee begun by the current President General, Ann Turner Dillion. Through this committee we have been able to supply books for classroom use and at the beginning of this school year, we assisted with the purchase of a book for each student to keep as a welcome for the new school year. This is in cooperation with our Literacy Committee.
At the middle school level, we sponsor the national American History Essay Contest, which has the potential for an exceptional entry to progress for state, divisional and national judging.
For Grades 9 – 12, Our chapter sponsors the Christopher Columbus Essay Contest which always has a topic regarding some technological comparison between Christopher Columbus’ trip to America and what it would be like today.
The DAR Good Citizens Award recognizes a 12th-grade student who exemplifies qualities of Academics, Service, Leadership, Patriotism, Dependability.
As part of Constitution Week, the Hickory Bluff Chapter assembles Displays to be viewed by children of all ages, from 2 to 92 at the local library, Cultural Center and our adopted classroom.
All essays are judged for historical accuracy, adherence to the topic, organization of materials, interest, originality, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and neatness.
DAR SUPPORT FOR LITERACY
Hickory Bluff DAR Chapter, in conjunction with DAR Myakka Chapter, supported Lamarque Elementary School’s 4th-grade student education with the donation of Dr. Roger Smith’s The 14th Colony: The American Revolution’s Best Kept Secret . Dr. Roger Smith was one of Hickory Bluff’s recently auspicious speakers.
About Dr. Roger Smith
Dr. Roger Smith is a published historian with a Masters Degree in the field of American History, and a Ph.D. in Early American History and Atlantic World Studies from the University of Florida. Dr. Smith also holds a graduate-level Certificate of Scholarship in the field of Museum Studies. Dr. Smith’s goal is to bring the newest historical research to a general audience through entertaining speaking engagements, publications, stage performances – all while continuing his research into untold stories and history concerning the American Revolution. “History is like a huge jig-saw puzzle and every time that we find something new we get to place a new piece into the puzzle – and believe me, the American Revolution has a lot of missing pieces.” Dr. Smith likes to remind his audiences, “I’m from Tulsa, Oklahoma; I’m not from what folks would consider a traditional Revolutionary War region, so I don’t have a dog in this fight. I just don’t like bad history – when, legend is accepted as fact simply because the newest information and research is so often communicated in a way that the average, history-loving person is bored to tears. Personally, I believe that if I haven’t made you laugh then I probably haven’t taught you anything.”
Other events
Community Classroom Chair, Melissa Othon has received thank you cards for the Hickory Bluff Chapter from Mrs. Jones 5th grade classroom at Neil Armstrong Elementary for the books and the computer mice we have donated to them. Examples of the notes were shared with the members.
Hickory Bluff Chapter presents genealogy workshops complimentary to all members of our community. We also have information booths at local events such as Punta Gorda Farmer’s Market, the Hibiscus Festival and other local craft fairs and festivals.