The John Bartram Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, one of the fastest growing chapters in the nation, installed its slate of new officers for 2017-2019, on Friday at Eisenhower Recreation Center.
Incoming Regent Trish Waldemayer addressed the audience saying “As my mother use to tell me when I had growing pains, ‘it is going to be alright,’ our chapter is having some growing pains and it is going to be alright. We are in the right place at the right time to make a difference. We will continue to grow. We will work. We will have fun. We will make some great memories.”
The John Bartram Chapter started three and a half years ago and is up to 152 members. They recently won a national award for more than 10 percent growth in one year. About 40 percent of the membership are transfers from other chapters, and 60 percent of the members are brand new to the Daughters of the American Revolution organization. Outgoing regent Sherri Hudson attributes so many first time members in their chapter to the fact that as people retire they have time to do the family research and to participate if they qualify to join.
The Florida state corresponding secretary Linda Scheuplein came from Orlando to induct the new officers.
She encouraged the assembled members to do at least one volunteer activity for the chapter.
“The more you get involved, the more satisfaction you will get out of your membership,” she said.
The new slate of officers: Regent Trish Waldemayer, First Vice Regent Jeanne Farre, Second Vice Regent Claudia Jacques, Recording Secretary Lana Tober, Corresponding Secretary Sherri Hudson,
Treasurer Susan O’Dell, Librarian Sandra Purcell, Registrar Diane Clemmons and Chapter Historian Barbara Byers.
In addition to participating in the nationally selected charitable endeavors selected by the DAR, the John Bartram chapter, through golf tournaments and fashion shows, has raised money for local scholarships for area students and they volunteer as a group to add flags to the grave sites on holidays at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.
