January meeting James Harlan Chapter of the DAR

James Harlan Chapter of DAR held their regular meeting on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020 at the Veteran's Hall in Mt. Pleasant. Regent Gayle Olson called the meeting to order with 18 members and 4 guests present. Members: Gayle Olson, Mary Savage, Sylvia Ridinger, Pat Brown, Laura Beattie, Lena Schrader, Dianna Klaus, Judy Rawson, Waunita Gibbons, Margaret Savage Carlson, Helen See, Amy Marling, Carol Klopfenstein, Carol Messer, Charlene Seggerman, Pat White, Cathie Schreiner and Debra Schmidt. Guests: Linda Miller, Darlene Lutes, Martha Brown and Jean Carpenter. Hostesses were Debbie Schmidt and Cathie Schreiner.

Gayle reported on the president general's message, the national blog and the state regent. A couple of key announcements items include that there will be a 19th Amendment Centennial Statewide Kickoff at the Carrie Chapman Catt Center, Memorial Union, Iowa State University, Ames, on Feb. 14, 2020, from 11:30-6:30. Also, the Iowa Conference will be held at the Sheraton in West Des Moines, April 23-25. Delegates will be named at our February meeting.

New member Amy Marling was initiated by Chaplain Cathie Schreiner. Registrar Carol Klopfenstein (Amy's grandmother) presented her with her application and a pin.

Librarian Margaret Carlson reported on the new DAR book club. It will feature non-fiction titles focused on the Colonial through the Federal Periods. The books for the 2019-2020 are Jefferson's Daughters by Catherine Kerrison and Rush by Stephen Fried. Updates will be posted via the DAR Library Face book page: www.facebook.com/NSDARLibrary. The James Harlan Chapter will investigate the availability and cost of providing the books to Henry County libraries.

Committee reports given included The Flag of the United States of America by Charlene Seggerman regarding the purchase of a flag flown over Constitution Hall, Conservation by Pat Brown asked how many members participated in various conservation activities this year, Native American by Sylvia Ridinger announced the completion of the Native American Memorial at the Smithsonian by Nov. 11, 2020. Waunita Gibbons gave the Service to America report and said Wilma Lewis's 70th anniversary will be in the national DAR magazine. Dianna Klaus, chair of Service to Veterans brought support letters regarding legislation to correct unjust financial practices for veterans and their families. Carol Messer reported for the Americanism Committee on the process for naturalization and related what her immigrant grandson-in-law has experienced. For National Defense, Mary Savage reported that aircraft carriers will now be named to honor 'plain” citizens with the first, USS Miller, to be finished in 2032. At Pearl Harbor, Mr. Miller, with no training, jumped in to man a machine gun after its operator was killed.

Betty Mullen gave a program on the history of the Black community in Mt. Pleasant and Salem from 1835 to the present. She had many interesting articles about prominent individuals in Mt. Pleasant. February is Black History Month. The Mt. Pleasant celebration will be held Feb. 15.

Next meeting will be Feb. 22 at 10 a.m. at the Veteran's Hall with Becky Wright giving the program on Doll Quilt Turning. Hostesses will be Pat Brown, Sylvia Ridinger and Barb Welander.

Members of DAR descend from a patriot who fought in the American Revolution. The objectives of DAR are historical preservation and the promotion of education and patriotic endeavors. For information on joining DAR, contact Carol Klopfenstein, 319-257-6987.