Events
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2017-18 Chapter Calendar
All Meetings to be held on Saturday at the Casa Grande Main Library at 10:00 a.m. unless noted
September 9, Regular Meeting, Program: Casa Grande History in a Nutshell, Marge Jantz
September 17-22, Constitution Week
October 7, Regular Meeting, Program: Education: A New Perspective, Dr. Barbara Wright and members of the Casa Grande Elementary District Curriculum & Instruction Department
October 19-22, ASDAR Fall Board of Management, Mesa Hilton
November 4, Regular Meeting, Program: Veterans Panel, What Serving My Country Has Meant to Me
November 11, Veterans Day Parade, Coolidge and "Thank-A-Vet" pin distribution, Casa Grande
December 2, Regular Meeting, Program: Sharing the Holiday Spirit: A Chapter Activity
January 6, Regular Meeting, Program: Rebecca Dallis: Inspiring Generations of Casa Grande Children,
Merrilyn Ridgeway
February 3, Regular Meeting, Program: "The Real Daughters: Children of the American Revolution"
Suzanne Young, Cactus Wren Chapter NSDAR
February 17 or 24, Annual Luncheon and Style Show, The Property (TBA)
March 3, Regular Meeting, Program: Poems and Celebrations of Nature, Deanna Davis, Vista Grande Adult Services Librarian
April 7, Regular Meeting Program: Preamble to the Constitution, Lucy Akers
April 12-14 ASDAR State Convention
May 5, Regular Meeting, Program: Lift Up Your Voice: Songs of Patriotism and Faith
May 28, Memorial Day Activities, Mountain View Cemetery, Casa Grande
June 2, Final Meeting Day and traditional potluck
June 24 - 127th Continental Congress, Washington, D.C.
September 9, Regular Meeting, Program: Casa Grande History in a Nutshell, Marge Jantz
September 17-22, Constitution Week
October 7, Regular Meeting, Program: Education: A New Perspective, Dr. Barbara Wright and members of the Casa Grande Elementary District Curriculum & Instruction Department
October 19-22, ASDAR Fall Board of Management, Mesa Hilton
November 4, Regular Meeting, Program: Veterans Panel, What Serving My Country Has Meant to Me
November 11, Veterans Day Parade, Coolidge and "Thank-A-Vet" pin distribution, Casa Grande
December 2, Regular Meeting, Program: Sharing the Holiday Spirit: A Chapter Activity
January 6, Regular Meeting, Program: Rebecca Dallis: Inspiring Generations of Casa Grande Children,
Merrilyn Ridgeway
February 3, Regular Meeting, Program: "The Real Daughters: Children of the American Revolution"
Suzanne Young, Cactus Wren Chapter NSDAR
February 17 or 24, Annual Luncheon and Style Show, The Property (TBA)
March 3, Regular Meeting, Program: Poems and Celebrations of Nature, Deanna Davis, Vista Grande Adult Services Librarian
April 7, Regular Meeting Program: Preamble to the Constitution, Lucy Akers
April 12-14 ASDAR State Convention
May 5, Regular Meeting, Program: Lift Up Your Voice: Songs of Patriotism and Faith
May 28, Memorial Day Activities, Mountain View Cemetery, Casa Grande
June 2, Final Meeting Day and traditional potluck
June 24 - 127th Continental Congress, Washington, D.C.
Our Year in Review
Regent Merrilyn Ridgeway reports our Casa Grande Valley Chapter is 44 members strong and growing. Here is what we did this year.
First, the Daughters forged into the 21st century by incorporating a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation into their 2016 Constitution Week school visits. This innovation encouraged each of us to include information required by the American History Social Studies State Standards for 5th Graders. More than 2,000 students in 58 classrooms at 26 public and parochial schools in Pinal County were served. Each Daughter closed with a pep talk about the upcoming American History Essay Contest.
In addition to staffing two Veterans Day floats in two different parades, Daughters delivered an additional 690 Constitution booklets to 8th grade teachers in Pinal County classroom sets along with relevant teacher materials. This was a new activity for our chapter.
Our 35th Anniversary Celebration Luncheon honored the Diveley family, our founders, and gave longevity certificates to ten, twenty, thirty and forty-year members. Our chapter assisted in the opening of the new Pinal County Veterans facility in Casa Grande. One hundred fifty-four American History Essays were evaluated and three went on to State.
Members enjoyed the American Tea Party the chapter hosted as part of a series of book-related programs at our public library. Vice Regent Gail Piggott refused to serve British tea. She poured only hot water in protest.
For the 8th consecutive year, our 94-year old member, Ann Dessert, chaired the committee that helped school children plant an Arbor Day tree in a public park in Casa Grande. We celebrated our Good Citizen Award winner at the annual luncheon where our theme was March Millinery Madness, and we all wore crazy hats. Youth Citizenship nominations were received from 11 Casa Grande elementary/middle schools.
It is May, state convention time, and the chapter is preparing awards and certificates for presentation to our bright young people including JROTC medals at Maricopa, Casa Grande Union and Vista Grande High Schools. We’re ready to be at Continental Congress in June.
I am proud to report that the Casa Grande Valley Daughter’s commitment to historic preservation, education and patriotism continues to be as strong as ever.
First, the Daughters forged into the 21st century by incorporating a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation into their 2016 Constitution Week school visits. This innovation encouraged each of us to include information required by the American History Social Studies State Standards for 5th Graders. More than 2,000 students in 58 classrooms at 26 public and parochial schools in Pinal County were served. Each Daughter closed with a pep talk about the upcoming American History Essay Contest.
In addition to staffing two Veterans Day floats in two different parades, Daughters delivered an additional 690 Constitution booklets to 8th grade teachers in Pinal County classroom sets along with relevant teacher materials. This was a new activity for our chapter.
Our 35th Anniversary Celebration Luncheon honored the Diveley family, our founders, and gave longevity certificates to ten, twenty, thirty and forty-year members. Our chapter assisted in the opening of the new Pinal County Veterans facility in Casa Grande. One hundred fifty-four American History Essays were evaluated and three went on to State.
Members enjoyed the American Tea Party the chapter hosted as part of a series of book-related programs at our public library. Vice Regent Gail Piggott refused to serve British tea. She poured only hot water in protest.
For the 8th consecutive year, our 94-year old member, Ann Dessert, chaired the committee that helped school children plant an Arbor Day tree in a public park in Casa Grande. We celebrated our Good Citizen Award winner at the annual luncheon where our theme was March Millinery Madness, and we all wore crazy hats. Youth Citizenship nominations were received from 11 Casa Grande elementary/middle schools.
It is May, state convention time, and the chapter is preparing awards and certificates for presentation to our bright young people including JROTC medals at Maricopa, Casa Grande Union and Vista Grande High Schools. We’re ready to be at Continental Congress in June.
I am proud to report that the Casa Grande Valley Daughter’s commitment to historic preservation, education and patriotism continues to be as strong as ever.
DAR Junior American Citizens Committee: Our chapter was asked by the Cactus Wren Chapter to sponsor a Junior American Citizen Committee banner by girls in Girl Scout Troop 1411. We agreed and we were informed by the State ASDAR JAC chair that the banner had won first place, 3rd grade division. The banner then was forwarded to the National level where it won second place. Our chapter Daughters are proud of this win. Above is the banner and here is the description of the banner by the girls who created it:
Our National Park
By Catherine, Gwen and Mady
This is our National Park that we designed with our imagination and creativity. On the far right is the Visitor's Center that looks like a castle. Butterflies surround the Visitor's Center to add beauty to the park. In the middle is another building with a dining area with a slide that goes down into the park. There is a pool for the animals to swim in. The colorful tree has birds in it, including an owl and a regular brown bird. The bunny below is sniffing a flower.
Our banner was made using paint brushes, feathers and our fingers. We painted to joyful music to make our National Park look happy.
Arbor Day, 2017 - Arbor Day in College Park on March 10 was a big success. Our chapter was the host and welcomed the Casa Grande Mayor Craig McFarland, Rick Gibson of the Pinal County Extension Service, and school children from Mesquite, McCartney Ranch and Cottonwood Schools with able assistance from Rod Wood, C.G. Recreation Superintendent and chapter member Joyce Wold who helped the school children with the planting of the Chinese Pistache Tree. Chapter Regent Merrilyn Ridgeway and Conservation Chair Ann Dessert are to be commended for planning this event; it is the 9th time our chapter has participated in this program. The schoolchildren from Mesquite read the poem by Dr. Seuss, Who speaks for the Trees? and children from McCartney Ranch read, Trees, a poem by Harry Behn. All of the children present received a bookmark, shown above that shows part of a banner by Girl Scout Troop #1411 in Mesa, Arizona.
March Millinery Madness - Over 90 women gathered March 4 for our chapter's annual luncheon/style show. Dillard's provided the clothing, and models, ranged age four to seventy, wore stunning clothing. The Property provided a tasty meal, and guests bid on 36 wonderful baskets which included services, beauty care, artwork, Easter baskets, wine baskets and golfing packages, something for everyone. But the biggest treat of all was the guests wearing their creative and glamorous hats. Prizes were awarded for the most patriotic, the most creative and the prettiest. Pictures can be viewed under the Photos tab.
Veterans Day - Chapter members participated in two parades this year, on November 5 in Casa Grande and on November 12 in Coolidge. At the Coolidge parade, our float nabbed two wonderful awards, the Best Float and Judges Award. Thanks to the Coolidge organizers for this honor! Photos under the Photo tab. Throughout both parade routes, our parade participants sang You're a Grand Old Flag which was well-received by parade watchers.
Chapter 35th Anniversary Celebration - 30 members gathered on Saturday, December 3 to celebrate the chapter anniversary at The Property. The festive day was highlighted by the presence of our organizer/founder, Vesta Sheppard Diveley and her daughters, Letatia Diveley Passmore and Nancy Diveley Wofford. They received gifts and an Anniversary Certificate. Certificates and gifts were also given to 30-year members Ann Smith Dessert and Lela Norris Herman. Their pictures are featured on the Photos tab. In addition, seven members received 20-year certificates and ten members received 10-year certificates.
Memorable 2016 Event
AZ DAR Awards - Our chapter won seven awards at the 2016 State spring meeting in Scottsdale. Here is the list of these awards:
Outstanding Service in Promoting American History
Certificate of Award Four Stars
National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution
Outstanding Service to Veterans
DAR Service for Veterans Committee, Arizona State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution
Constitution Week, Outstanding Chapter Participation, Southwest Division, 3rd place
Chapter with the Most Constitution Week Events, Southwest Division, 1st place and Honorable Mention
Chapter with the Most Constitution Week Kits Distributed, Southwest Division, 1st place
Chapter with the Most Adopted Classes, Southwest Division, 1st place
Chapter with the Most Number of Constitution Week Displays, Southwest Division, 1st and 2nd place
Chapter with the Most Groups that Rang Bells, Southwest Division, Honorable Mention
Plus webmaster Jan Klein also received a Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Website Presentation.
Our National Park
By Catherine, Gwen and Mady
This is our National Park that we designed with our imagination and creativity. On the far right is the Visitor's Center that looks like a castle. Butterflies surround the Visitor's Center to add beauty to the park. In the middle is another building with a dining area with a slide that goes down into the park. There is a pool for the animals to swim in. The colorful tree has birds in it, including an owl and a regular brown bird. The bunny below is sniffing a flower.
Our banner was made using paint brushes, feathers and our fingers. We painted to joyful music to make our National Park look happy.
Arbor Day, 2017 - Arbor Day in College Park on March 10 was a big success. Our chapter was the host and welcomed the Casa Grande Mayor Craig McFarland, Rick Gibson of the Pinal County Extension Service, and school children from Mesquite, McCartney Ranch and Cottonwood Schools with able assistance from Rod Wood, C.G. Recreation Superintendent and chapter member Joyce Wold who helped the school children with the planting of the Chinese Pistache Tree. Chapter Regent Merrilyn Ridgeway and Conservation Chair Ann Dessert are to be commended for planning this event; it is the 9th time our chapter has participated in this program. The schoolchildren from Mesquite read the poem by Dr. Seuss, Who speaks for the Trees? and children from McCartney Ranch read, Trees, a poem by Harry Behn. All of the children present received a bookmark, shown above that shows part of a banner by Girl Scout Troop #1411 in Mesa, Arizona.
March Millinery Madness - Over 90 women gathered March 4 for our chapter's annual luncheon/style show. Dillard's provided the clothing, and models, ranged age four to seventy, wore stunning clothing. The Property provided a tasty meal, and guests bid on 36 wonderful baskets which included services, beauty care, artwork, Easter baskets, wine baskets and golfing packages, something for everyone. But the biggest treat of all was the guests wearing their creative and glamorous hats. Prizes were awarded for the most patriotic, the most creative and the prettiest. Pictures can be viewed under the Photos tab.
Veterans Day - Chapter members participated in two parades this year, on November 5 in Casa Grande and on November 12 in Coolidge. At the Coolidge parade, our float nabbed two wonderful awards, the Best Float and Judges Award. Thanks to the Coolidge organizers for this honor! Photos under the Photo tab. Throughout both parade routes, our parade participants sang You're a Grand Old Flag which was well-received by parade watchers.
Chapter 35th Anniversary Celebration - 30 members gathered on Saturday, December 3 to celebrate the chapter anniversary at The Property. The festive day was highlighted by the presence of our organizer/founder, Vesta Sheppard Diveley and her daughters, Letatia Diveley Passmore and Nancy Diveley Wofford. They received gifts and an Anniversary Certificate. Certificates and gifts were also given to 30-year members Ann Smith Dessert and Lela Norris Herman. Their pictures are featured on the Photos tab. In addition, seven members received 20-year certificates and ten members received 10-year certificates.
Memorable 2016 Event
AZ DAR Awards - Our chapter won seven awards at the 2016 State spring meeting in Scottsdale. Here is the list of these awards:
Outstanding Service in Promoting American History
Certificate of Award Four Stars
National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution
Outstanding Service to Veterans
DAR Service for Veterans Committee, Arizona State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution
Constitution Week, Outstanding Chapter Participation, Southwest Division, 3rd place
Chapter with the Most Constitution Week Events, Southwest Division, 1st place and Honorable Mention
Chapter with the Most Constitution Week Kits Distributed, Southwest Division, 1st place
Chapter with the Most Adopted Classes, Southwest Division, 1st place
Chapter with the Most Number of Constitution Week Displays, Southwest Division, 1st and 2nd place
Chapter with the Most Groups that Rang Bells, Southwest Division, Honorable Mention
Plus webmaster Jan Klein also received a Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Website Presentation.
