Sierra Foothills Chapter, NSDAR, History
Our very new and exciting DAR chapter was born in January 2014 at the home of the organizing regent. There were thirteen members present who signed the original charter papers for chapter status, but many more ladies joined DAR.
On June 23, 2014, some six months after we began, we received organization status from our National Society. Our motto is "Who we are is because of the family that came before us." Our chapter name "Sierra Foothills" is named after the area we serve in eastern Madera County and Mariposa.
Our first meeting conducted by the California State Executive Board was held on November 16, 2014, at the pavilion at the Oakhurst Community Center. It was a wonderful party and a celebration of all we had set out to accomplish.
DAR is a volunteer service organization. Our chapter focuses on veterans and education in particular. We volunteer for the homeless veterans' stand-downs once or twice a year and have done so since the early days of our formation. We support those veterans organizations that are helping veterans with post-service needs. We hand out "Thank You, Veteran" cards and verbally thank the veterans we meet throughout our community and elsewhere. We have also sent greeting cards to our active-duty military.
Each year our local high schools nominate one senior student as their best and brightest, and most representative of the ideal good citizen. The selection process starts in the fall and culminates with a DAR Good Citizens Award Tea each February. We have honored the three seniors from our community with the DAR Good Citizens Award each year and award each with a scholarship check to go towards advancing their education post-high school. Last year the winner's essay won at the state level, the southwest regional level, and was forwarded to be reviewed at the national level.
Our chapter registrar is available to help those women interested in becoming a member of DAR and to start the application process. Many of our members started this way. A number of us are very interested in family history and genealogy and have a willing hand to help others.
Join us at a chapter meeting and look for us at the DAR table at the veteran's stand-downs and a booth at the Mountain Heritage Days at Fresno Flats. Both in the local Oakhurst geographic area.
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
California State Society Daughters of the American Revolution