Thursday, June 30, 2011

2011 Continental Congress - Thursday



Have you ever seen what happens when the President General enters DAR Constitution Hall?

Tonight's post is all about statistics! Most of the business session today was reporting from the Executive Officers, Administrative and Standing Committees and reports from State Regents.

In all the reports, here are the stats that I noted:

1. Membership is now 169,800 - goal is 170,000 by the end of the year.
2. Membership dues only covers 30% of NSDAR expenses.
3. There are now 2,763 chapters - newest Overseas Unit is in Moscow.
4. 11,200 applications were processed - 10,827 were approved.
5. 5,430 supplementals were approved - now takes about five months to process.
6. 99% of record copies are done online.
7. New Roberts Rules of Order (11th edition) will be available in Sept. 2011.
8. Forty-four special project grants were approved for a total of $209,600.
9. President General's project has raised $462,320.
10. Donations through Heritage Club, Annual Giving Circle, Founders club account for 26% of revenue.
11. Oldest DAR member was 112 in September 2010 (she'll turn 113 this year).
12. California has 9,043 members.
13. New DAR Handbook will be available in October 2011.
14. Founders Club has 473 members - 74 new since last year.

NSDAR Outstanding Junior was announced: Susan Margaret H. Wood from Michigan; runner-up was Julie Ann Bird Tiska from New York.

2011 Continental Congress - Wednesday

What a jam-packed day at DAR headquarters! First, no complaints about the bus ride in-arrived on time and stopped for me. Catching the early bus allowed me to arrive in plenty of time for the 8:00 a.m. Chapter Achievement forum.

Ladies, the form has been changed for 2012 reporting! One of the best changes is to allow electronic entry-what a pain it was this year to gather all the signatures needed. Sorry if I'm so eager to do things electronically-must be because of working with computers for nearly 50 years.

Next on the agenda was the Heritage Club breakfast. As a member of the club, members can attend a breakfast or a lunch depending on level of donation. The food is good and there is an opportunity to make new friends from all over the country.

Following the breakfast, I wanted to view the Commemorative events posters to see the winning entry and the State winners. This year the posters commemorated 9/11. We have some talented ladies in the DAR! Next year the poster contest will commemorate the War of 1812.


Networking was next - the vendors had been open for a while and needed my attention. I was blown away by the Miss Virginia Mary Cabell Junior Doll. She comes with thirty outfits with twenty-nine of them made by one DAR member (she won in the American Heritage Fiber Arts division nationally for this effort). I bought some tickets-the doll would be great fun for me and my grand daughters!

The afternoon session was hearing from the Registrar General about applications and Is That Service Right? I'll share the handout with my Lineage Research and Supplemental team upon my return.

I took time out from the busy day to have a relaxing dinner with Marston before Opening Night festivities. We went to the Jockey Club in the Fairfax Hotel. Food and service were top-notch.

Opening night was fantastic! Did you watch Congress Online? If not, you missed an awesome tribute to 9/11. It "kicked off" a year-long commemoration of the events at each location on September 11, 2001. We were convinced to visit the Pentagon Memorial on Sunday morning before we head home.

Well - it's off to the first Business session!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

2011 Continental Congress - Tuesday

This day did not start at all well! The plan was to take the N3 bus but the driver did not stop! After chasing the bus and catching up to him, he would not open the door! Suffice it to say that I filed a formal complaint with the Metro.

The mishap with the bus meant a trip by the subway and then on to another bus to get to DAR headquarters. I was 40 minutes late for the Library orientation session slated for 9:00. I wanted to be in the session with other members of my chapter-we had exchanged schedules in advance so I knew that they would be there. Had I been able to get there, my readers would have the latest information about the DAR Library and what is available online - however that information will have to come from Sue, Sally or Judy!

There was more time today in the Library and then lunch over at the Department of Interior cafeteria - a new place for me. Food was good, reasonably priced, and the cafeteria is huge affording space for a number of DAR members to have lunch.

Two other events were scheduled for today: the VIS (Volunteer Information Specialists) Committee meeting and the California Tea. The VIS meeting consisted of questions to the chairman - a bit different format than in prior years.

Anne Loucks chapter 1st Vice Regent Sue Busenius, 2nd Vice Regent Judy Onopchenko and I went through the receiving line at the same time-just like it was planned so that we could get a picture with California State Regent Karon Jarrard. As the "kick-off" event, it was wonderful. There was good food including a chocolate fountain and an opportunity to network with other California daughters.

2011 Continental Congress-Monday

Woke up excited - today would be spent at DAR Headquarters - intended to be one of the first people to register for the 2011 Continental Congress - the 120th!

The trip in was made by bus - gave me an opportunity to test the bus run (N3) which would take me from the Anderson House to DAR Headquarters. I had prepared ahead and knew to be at the bus stop for the bus which left at 8:07. This would give me a few hours in the DAR Library before doing the Registration "dance".

The test run identified a problem with the bus schedule - it had changed and the bus actually arrived at 8:02. Heard by phone later that this change took effect in May, but the Metro web site was not up to date. No problem for later days in the week - I'll adjust by arriving earlier to be sure.


One of the fun things about this week at the DAR Library is being able to renew friendships and make new friends while doing genealogy. Today was no different! I saw many people that I know from California - today I sat with Judy Kimball.

When it came time for registration to be open, Judy and I went down to the basement where we expected a long line. Much to our surprise there were only 30 (approx.) ladies in front of us. The pages instructed us to have a seat (this is the registration "dance"). A few minutes later we were instructed to get up and move forward and then sit again. Despite the ups and downs, registration is very organized and a fairly pleasant experience.

With our name pages and seat assignments in hand, it was time to stop in at the DAR Store. I had a short list of items to purchase for the chapter. As a seasoned DAR Congress attendee, I knew that stopping today was good for two reasons: the store is close to registration and there would be fewer ladies than on other days.

Purchases in hand, it was time to go back to the library!

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Our Home for the Week

Just arrived in Washington D.C. for the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) Continental Congress. Most of the daughters in town will stay at the J.W. Marriott close to DAR Headquarters. While I will miss the camraderie and fellowship of my sisters in the society, I have chosen to stay at the Anderson House on Massachusetts Ave. close to Dupont Circle.

Anderson House was built between 1902 and 1905 in the heart of Dupont Circle, which was at that time, our capital's most fashionable neighborhood. At a cost of nearly $750,000, the Boston firm, Arthur Little & Herbert Browne, designed this Beaux Arts mansion ... read more

The Anderson House is home for the Society of the Cincinnati which was founded at the close of the Revolutionary War by the officers of the Continental line and their French counterparts, who had served together in the struggle for American independence. They wished to preserve the rights and liberties for which they had fought and to foster the bonds of friendship that had been formed among them during the long years of war.

Members of the Society are welcome to stay in one of the thirteen guest rooms (each is named for one of the original thirteen colonies). We happen to be staying in the Maryland suite for the duration of the Continental Congress.

There is a bus which will take me each day to DAR Headquarters - looking forward to the first trip in tomorrow for registration and perhaps a little time in the DAR Library.

Bits n' Bytes for the next few days will focus on the events of the day at DAR Headquarters with a picture or two along the way. Should be fun!

Friday, June 10, 2011

Card Creation with a Twist

Something happens to me when my "to do" list is really long: the brain goes into creative mode and an outlet is the only way to appease it. So, all the to-dos are forgotten and I enter my craft corner. Now, all I do is greeting cards. I use the same materials that scrapbookers use on their pages.

Don't tell my husband, but I went shopping yesterday at my favorite store and bought some more "tools" to introduce to my card making toolkit (could this be what kicked me into creative mode: the desire to use what I bought?). The perfect use for what was purchased was a friend's birthday coming up on the 16th. While one of my cards in the stash could be used, it would be more fun to do it with new "stuff". The materials marked with an asterisk are new in this list.

Materials:
Patterned Card Stock (cut to make 5 x 7 card)
Cream card stock
Gross grain ribbon and lace edging from Jo Ann's
Hero Arts Stamp (have a fabulous birthday)
*Elizabeth Craft Peel-off sticker (cupcake)
*Opaque Jewel Glitter Ritz
Stamp n Stuff Embossing powder (Stampendous)
Powder Puffs ink (pink cheeks) (Quick Quotes)
*Be Creative Tape
*Copic alcohol-based markers
*Floral Embellishments (Recollections)

The real work in the front of this card is the cupcake which combines the sticker, the tape, the glitter and the markers - all new to me so I will concentrate here. The cupcake had to be done twice-the first was ruined in trying to apply it to the card stock.

There is a trick! Step 1: cut the card stock to the desired size for the sticker. Step 2: cut the Be Creative Tape to fit the card stock (step 1). Step 3: apply one side of the tape to the card stock. Step 4: Peel off the desired sticker and place non-sticky side down on work surface. Step 5: Peel off second paper from Be Creative tape. Step 6: Take card stock and "kiss" the sticker with the sticky side.

Now, you will add the glitter to the side of the card stock with the sticker on it. The glitter will stick. Use your finger to "seal" the glitter to the Be Creative tape and the sticker. Use your Copic marker to color the cupcake. Voila!

Are you wondering where the twist is? I have never seen the inside of any hand made greeting card! So, here is the inside of this card. Note, that I always try to tie in the front of the card on the inside. In this case, there is glitter around the saying in the middle.

Enjoy!



Thursday, June 2, 2011

Inspiration for Life

Just doing a quick post today. I found this in my documents - don't know the origin but I saved this for inspiration to my volunteer activities.

People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest person with the biggest ideas can be
shot down by the smallest person with the smallest mind.
Think big anyway.
What you spend years building may
be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack if you help them.
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have
and you might get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Confessions of a Foursquare Addict

All right, I admit it - I'm a Foursquare addict (and a chocaholic-but I cannot do anything about that). Foursquare is primarily for letting your friends know where you are and figuring out where they are. Secondarily, it's for collecting points, prize "badges," and eventually, coupons, for going about your everyday business.

And it's popular. At February 21, 2011 Foursquare crossed 7 million users IDs!! I'm one of those 7 million and here is my confession:

You make up reasons to go out and check in
You study ways to get badges
You know how to maximize your checkins
You figure out how NOT to get the "Whoa" message
You follow Foursquare/AboutFoursquare on Twitter to get the "latest news"
You submit issues to 4sq help desk
You categorize venues to earn badges
You add venues to get more points
You watch the leaderboard in your area
Wish you could have attended "hackathon"
Look forward to "anniversary" to be able to create Infograph
You structure your day around foursquare.

I just checked my "stats". Been out 292 days (73 to go until my 1st anniversary) with over 4000 checkins. I just added a countdown so that my Infograph will be posted here! LOL - gotta get a life!