Left to Right: The 2018-2020 Officers: Regent - Mary Peters; 1st Vice Regent - Toni Fox; 2nd Vice Regent - Katherine Gaffney; Treasurer - Maggie Volchek; registrar - Linda Fogarty and Historian - Carol Pennie. (Not shown: Secretary - Leanna Birge; Chaplain: Joni Wishaar.)
Officers & Committees
Stay tuned for photos of the newly elected board the Mercer Girls - Installation on April 21, 2018
Officers 2018-2020
Regent Mary Peters
First Vice Regent Toni Fox
Second Vice Regent Katherine Gaffney
Chaplain Joni Wishaar
Secretary Leanna Birge
Treasurer Maggie Volchek
Registrar Linda Fogarty
Chapter Committees 2018
American Indians Committee - Vacant
The American Indians Committee recognizes that Native American Indians have contributed to and helped shape our nation. As Daughters, we can help by giving back through the many programs of the American Indians Committee including the sponsorship of the Chemawa Indian School. The reading of an Indian Minute at each meeting creates awareness and encourages donations to support Native American Indians needs.
Celebrate America! - Vacant
“We want a society founded on service.” - Eugenia Washington, DAR Founder
The Celebrate America! Committee encourages community service by our members on all levels as a means of honoring our heritage. By investing ten million hours of community service during the three years of the Young Administration, we give back to our communities in thanks for the nation we love! The committee also has as its goal the demonstration of the positive volunteer opportunities associated with DAR membership while engaging Daughters in meaningful service work within the Society’s mission areas. The resulting impact to our community encourages members to discover the rewards that come from volunteerism.
Conservation - Laurie Kathleen Clark
The Conservation Committee was established in 1909 by the 18th Continental Congress, and with its impressive record of tree planting and concern with vital natural resources, it promotes the conservation movement which has as its goal to protect plants, animals, and their habitats. As Daughters, we must act now to preserve and conserve our natural resources. The Mercer Girls Chapter, state organizations, and the NSDAR continue to recognize outstanding conservationists with the NSDAR Conservation Award. The committee keeps good conservation practices in the minds of chapter members by creating and using Conservation Minutes at chapter meetings as well as regularly holding Recycle/Re-Use events where members bring cast off but still useful articles to trade and share with others.
DAR Good Citizens - Vacant
The DAR Good Citizens program is a wonderful way to recognize outstanding high school seniors in our community and is intended to encourage and reward the qualities of good citizenship. The Mercer Girls Chapter urges the local schools to participate in the DAR Good Citizens program and Scholarship Contest. The student selected as the school’s DAR Good Citizen must have the following qualities:
service (which includes cooperation, courtesy, and consideration of others);
leadership (which includes personality, self-control, and ability to assume responsibility);
and patriotism (which includes unselfish interest in family, school, community, and nation) to an outstanding degree.
The student is eligible, if he/she wishes, to enter the DAR Good Citizens Scholarship Contest.
DAR Genealogy Preservation - Vacant
The DAR Genealogy Preservation Committee was established on September 30, 2003, as a National Special Committee. The committee's goal is to index DAR genealogical and membership information into computerized, searchable databases. Preserving these valuable records enhances the application approval and membership record retrieval processes. Indexing of all available applications was completed July 30, 2011. The committee's current project is the Supporting Documentation Project and involves categorizing over 6 million documents used by members to support the lineage on their DAR applications.
DAR Scholarship - Vacant
United States citizens who attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university in the United States may apply for NSDAR scholarships through the DAR Scholarship Committee. A chapter or state chair may assist the applicant with the preparation and processing of the required forms.
High school seniors are eligible for a number of different scholarships and a full listing can be found on the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution web site. Awards are based on academic excellence, commitment to field of study, and/or financial need, or other restrictions on specific scholarships. Affiliation with DAR is not necessary unless specified.
DAR Schools - Toni Fox
The DAR School Committee theme 2010-2013: "In circles of friendship, service, and commitment through
education" promotes education.
This committee is responsible for DAR projects at six schools: Kate Duncan Smith DAR School, Tamassee DAR School, Inc., Hillside School, Inc., Hindman Settlement School, Inc., Berry College, Inc., Crossnore School, Inc.
Most of these schools began with a small group of disadvantaged children in areas where the need of public education was high but the access limited. The schools have grown into fully operational campuses, meeting the changing needs of their communities. Today the DAR supported schools encompass a variety of special needs programs including attention deficit disorder, dyslexia, adult literacy, and children in family crisis. Each school is owned and controlled by a private, non-profit corporation in the state in which it is located. The Mercer Girls Chapter committee assists in the collection of Campbell's labels, box tops, school supplies and other items as needed at the schools.
Insignia - Mary Peters
The official insignia was unanimously adopted by the National Board of Management on May 26, 1891, and patented September 22, 1891. It is the job of this committee to monitor and the use and placement of the insignia when in print form as well as ensuring that the guidelines for wearing and disposing of the insignia are being upheld.
Junior Membership- Hallie Portz
A Junior is a DAR member age 18 through 35 years of age (until her 36th birthday). Juniors hold full DAR membership, and may serve as officers or chairmen at the national, state, and chapter levels. The Mercer Girls chapter Junior Membership chair recruits new Juniors and raises money for the Helen Pouch Memorial Fund. Junior leadership supporting the DAR objectives is encouraged, and Junior members attend meetings and volunteer to serve on committees.
Lineage Research - Gretchen Martin
The Lineage Research Committee assists prospective members with research and documentation needed to complete an application. The Lineage Research Committee and the Mercer Girls Chapter share the same goal: to send well-prepared, well-documented applications to the National Society, which enables the genealogists to verify applications quickly. The Committee is a very important investment in the future and allows the chapter to welcome new members!
National Defense - Molly McMurray
Since 1926, the National Defense Committee has been assisting members in carrying out the patriotic, educational, and historical objectives of the National Society. The committee publishes materials, including the National Defender, advocating a strong American military defense. The committee prepares and presents a National Defense report at every chapter meeting.
Project Patriot - Vacant
The Daughters of the American Revolution Project Patriot Committee is an official committee supporting America’s service men and women. The committee's support is on focused women serving in the military and the wounded military personnel at three locations: the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany; Wounded Transitional Brigade in Bethesda, Maryland; and Wounded Warrior and Family Support Center in San Antonio, Texas, The Mercer Girls Chapter supports service men and women by adopting a platoon and sending care packages overseas.
DAR Service for Veterans - Phyllis Hellman
The Mercer Girls Chapter finds many ways to recognize and serve all veterans. One of our favorite projects is making and delivering lap blankets to the USO and to the Renton Compass Veterans Center.
Flag of the United States - Hallie Portz
This committee, designed in 1909, promotes patriotism and respect for our flag. Its principle objectives are to keep the flag flying, to protect it under all conditions and educate citizens regarding its proper usage. The committee and the Mercer Girls Chapter NSDAR support these objectives by being familiar with the Official Flag Code of the United States, a portion of which can be found in a DAR publication. The committee may also distribute these leaflets, as well as small flags and flag pins to schools, retirement homes and veterans facilities as well as other public events and celebrations. The chapter, supported and led by this committee, serves as a role model in the community by educating, inspiring and recognizing individuals and groups about correct flag usage. Assisting with replacement of worn and/or damaged flags is an important function of this committee. Participating in Patriotic celebrations and holidays such as the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Veteran's Day and Flag Day is another way the committee serves its community.
Units Overseas - Lynn Junell
There are currently twenty-five international chapters in thirteen countries where Daughters living outside the borders of the United States are engaged in advancing the mission of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. The first overseas chapter was organized in 1897 in Hawaii; the newest, Mariana Islands, in Tamuning, Guam, was confirmed on April 21, 2012. These chapters are always seeking new members and associate members and there are membership opportunities all over the world. DAR members are encouraged to reach out to Daughters overseas by joining them in preserving the past, enhancing the present, and investing in the future as an associate member in their chapters. The Mercer Girls currently have members who are associates in a number of Units Overseas and have been enriched by the experience.
Volunteer Information Specialists - Laurie Kathleen Clark
Today's technology has changed our lives in numerous ways. DAR chapters with web site and social media presence have opened their doors and have experienced membership growth. Increased visibility benefits both our chapter and the National Society. The Volunteer Information Specialists Committee consists of Daughters who serve DAR at the chapter, state, and national levels, utilizing a variety of computer and technology skills. The committee designs, builds, maintains websites as well as creating documents, yearbooks, programs, business cards, name tags, certificates, and awards. The Mercer Girls VIS committee is working toward the goal of being engaged in activities on the National VIS Committee level, assisting with data bases, indexing and entering data history books, genealogical records, and the Genealogical Research System.
Women's Issues - Vacant
The Women’s Issues Committee is divided into three focuses, Health Issues, Career Issues, and Family Issues. The Mercer Girls has at least one program per year concerning one of these categories. The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution solicits entries for the Women's Issues Essay Contest each year and a national Winner is chosen in each of the above categories. Since all three issues affects the other areas of focus, this committee is concerned with matters that impact each of our members in some way.
For information on membership: please contact our Chapter Registrar Linda Fogarty
Web hyperlinks to non-DAR sites are not the responsibility of the NSDAR, the state organizations, or individual DAR chapters.
First Vice Regent Toni Fox
Second Vice Regent Katherine Gaffney
Chaplain Joni Wishaar
Secretary Leanna Birge
Treasurer Maggie Volchek
Registrar Linda Fogarty
Chapter Committees 2018
American Indians Committee - Vacant
The American Indians Committee recognizes that Native American Indians have contributed to and helped shape our nation. As Daughters, we can help by giving back through the many programs of the American Indians Committee including the sponsorship of the Chemawa Indian School. The reading of an Indian Minute at each meeting creates awareness and encourages donations to support Native American Indians needs.
Celebrate America! - Vacant
“We want a society founded on service.” - Eugenia Washington, DAR Founder
The Celebrate America! Committee encourages community service by our members on all levels as a means of honoring our heritage. By investing ten million hours of community service during the three years of the Young Administration, we give back to our communities in thanks for the nation we love! The committee also has as its goal the demonstration of the positive volunteer opportunities associated with DAR membership while engaging Daughters in meaningful service work within the Society’s mission areas. The resulting impact to our community encourages members to discover the rewards that come from volunteerism.
Conservation - Laurie Kathleen Clark
The Conservation Committee was established in 1909 by the 18th Continental Congress, and with its impressive record of tree planting and concern with vital natural resources, it promotes the conservation movement which has as its goal to protect plants, animals, and their habitats. As Daughters, we must act now to preserve and conserve our natural resources. The Mercer Girls Chapter, state organizations, and the NSDAR continue to recognize outstanding conservationists with the NSDAR Conservation Award. The committee keeps good conservation practices in the minds of chapter members by creating and using Conservation Minutes at chapter meetings as well as regularly holding Recycle/Re-Use events where members bring cast off but still useful articles to trade and share with others.
DAR Good Citizens - Vacant
The DAR Good Citizens program is a wonderful way to recognize outstanding high school seniors in our community and is intended to encourage and reward the qualities of good citizenship. The Mercer Girls Chapter urges the local schools to participate in the DAR Good Citizens program and Scholarship Contest. The student selected as the school’s DAR Good Citizen must have the following qualities:
service (which includes cooperation, courtesy, and consideration of others);
leadership (which includes personality, self-control, and ability to assume responsibility);
and patriotism (which includes unselfish interest in family, school, community, and nation) to an outstanding degree.
The student is eligible, if he/she wishes, to enter the DAR Good Citizens Scholarship Contest.
DAR Genealogy Preservation - Vacant
The DAR Genealogy Preservation Committee was established on September 30, 2003, as a National Special Committee. The committee's goal is to index DAR genealogical and membership information into computerized, searchable databases. Preserving these valuable records enhances the application approval and membership record retrieval processes. Indexing of all available applications was completed July 30, 2011. The committee's current project is the Supporting Documentation Project and involves categorizing over 6 million documents used by members to support the lineage on their DAR applications.
DAR Scholarship - Vacant
United States citizens who attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university in the United States may apply for NSDAR scholarships through the DAR Scholarship Committee. A chapter or state chair may assist the applicant with the preparation and processing of the required forms.
High school seniors are eligible for a number of different scholarships and a full listing can be found on the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution web site. Awards are based on academic excellence, commitment to field of study, and/or financial need, or other restrictions on specific scholarships. Affiliation with DAR is not necessary unless specified.
DAR Schools - Toni Fox
The DAR School Committee theme 2010-2013: "In circles of friendship, service, and commitment through
education" promotes education.
This committee is responsible for DAR projects at six schools: Kate Duncan Smith DAR School, Tamassee DAR School, Inc., Hillside School, Inc., Hindman Settlement School, Inc., Berry College, Inc., Crossnore School, Inc.
Most of these schools began with a small group of disadvantaged children in areas where the need of public education was high but the access limited. The schools have grown into fully operational campuses, meeting the changing needs of their communities. Today the DAR supported schools encompass a variety of special needs programs including attention deficit disorder, dyslexia, adult literacy, and children in family crisis. Each school is owned and controlled by a private, non-profit corporation in the state in which it is located. The Mercer Girls Chapter committee assists in the collection of Campbell's labels, box tops, school supplies and other items as needed at the schools.
Insignia - Mary Peters
The official insignia was unanimously adopted by the National Board of Management on May 26, 1891, and patented September 22, 1891. It is the job of this committee to monitor and the use and placement of the insignia when in print form as well as ensuring that the guidelines for wearing and disposing of the insignia are being upheld.
Junior Membership- Hallie Portz
A Junior is a DAR member age 18 through 35 years of age (until her 36th birthday). Juniors hold full DAR membership, and may serve as officers or chairmen at the national, state, and chapter levels. The Mercer Girls chapter Junior Membership chair recruits new Juniors and raises money for the Helen Pouch Memorial Fund. Junior leadership supporting the DAR objectives is encouraged, and Junior members attend meetings and volunteer to serve on committees.
Lineage Research - Gretchen Martin
The Lineage Research Committee assists prospective members with research and documentation needed to complete an application. The Lineage Research Committee and the Mercer Girls Chapter share the same goal: to send well-prepared, well-documented applications to the National Society, which enables the genealogists to verify applications quickly. The Committee is a very important investment in the future and allows the chapter to welcome new members!
National Defense - Molly McMurray
Since 1926, the National Defense Committee has been assisting members in carrying out the patriotic, educational, and historical objectives of the National Society. The committee publishes materials, including the National Defender, advocating a strong American military defense. The committee prepares and presents a National Defense report at every chapter meeting.
Project Patriot - Vacant
The Daughters of the American Revolution Project Patriot Committee is an official committee supporting America’s service men and women. The committee's support is on focused women serving in the military and the wounded military personnel at three locations: the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany; Wounded Transitional Brigade in Bethesda, Maryland; and Wounded Warrior and Family Support Center in San Antonio, Texas, The Mercer Girls Chapter supports service men and women by adopting a platoon and sending care packages overseas.
DAR Service for Veterans - Phyllis Hellman
The Mercer Girls Chapter finds many ways to recognize and serve all veterans. One of our favorite projects is making and delivering lap blankets to the USO and to the Renton Compass Veterans Center.
Flag of the United States - Hallie Portz
This committee, designed in 1909, promotes patriotism and respect for our flag. Its principle objectives are to keep the flag flying, to protect it under all conditions and educate citizens regarding its proper usage. The committee and the Mercer Girls Chapter NSDAR support these objectives by being familiar with the Official Flag Code of the United States, a portion of which can be found in a DAR publication. The committee may also distribute these leaflets, as well as small flags and flag pins to schools, retirement homes and veterans facilities as well as other public events and celebrations. The chapter, supported and led by this committee, serves as a role model in the community by educating, inspiring and recognizing individuals and groups about correct flag usage. Assisting with replacement of worn and/or damaged flags is an important function of this committee. Participating in Patriotic celebrations and holidays such as the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Veteran's Day and Flag Day is another way the committee serves its community.
Units Overseas - Lynn Junell
There are currently twenty-five international chapters in thirteen countries where Daughters living outside the borders of the United States are engaged in advancing the mission of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. The first overseas chapter was organized in 1897 in Hawaii; the newest, Mariana Islands, in Tamuning, Guam, was confirmed on April 21, 2012. These chapters are always seeking new members and associate members and there are membership opportunities all over the world. DAR members are encouraged to reach out to Daughters overseas by joining them in preserving the past, enhancing the present, and investing in the future as an associate member in their chapters. The Mercer Girls currently have members who are associates in a number of Units Overseas and have been enriched by the experience.
Volunteer Information Specialists - Laurie Kathleen Clark
Today's technology has changed our lives in numerous ways. DAR chapters with web site and social media presence have opened their doors and have experienced membership growth. Increased visibility benefits both our chapter and the National Society. The Volunteer Information Specialists Committee consists of Daughters who serve DAR at the chapter, state, and national levels, utilizing a variety of computer and technology skills. The committee designs, builds, maintains websites as well as creating documents, yearbooks, programs, business cards, name tags, certificates, and awards. The Mercer Girls VIS committee is working toward the goal of being engaged in activities on the National VIS Committee level, assisting with data bases, indexing and entering data history books, genealogical records, and the Genealogical Research System.
Women's Issues - Vacant
The Women’s Issues Committee is divided into three focuses, Health Issues, Career Issues, and Family Issues. The Mercer Girls has at least one program per year concerning one of these categories. The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution solicits entries for the Women's Issues Essay Contest each year and a national Winner is chosen in each of the above categories. Since all three issues affects the other areas of focus, this committee is concerned with matters that impact each of our members in some way.
For information on membership: please contact our Chapter Registrar Linda Fogarty
Web hyperlinks to non-DAR sites are not the responsibility of the NSDAR, the state organizations, or individual DAR chapters.