On Saturday, April 9th, Lubbock's two DAR chapters and District IX Director Libby White presented a full day of workshops at the Mahon Library in downtown Lubbock. The meeting space was large with nice tables and chairs and plenty of space for a welcome table with brochures and information about the library, the South Plains Genealogical Society, DAR, SAR, and scouts.
One of the chapter members created an excellent brochure that was circulated widely through social media. Partnering with the local genealogical society, Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), and scouts brought in people who had allied interests. In the afternoon, after the Prospective Member Workshop presentations, DAR members helped a scout, along with her parents, complete her genealogy merit badge.
Anthony Startz, Texas State Chair for the Spanish Task Force and Texas CDRC Chair, gave the morning presentation on Spain's role in the American Revolution and how to prove Spanish patriots. As it turns out, talking about a subject relating to patriots that few knew much information on was a great idea. A prospective member found out that her husband’s ancestors from Natchitoches, Louisiana, had been in the militia there and were already proven patriots. They had no idea there was a connection there to the American Revolution. For many participants, this was new information.
During lunch and after the afternoon presentations, information was presented about how to search the multiple available databases of the DAR. There was much of interest in these topics. The afternoon also found several people sitting with prospective members showing them how to pull documents from internet sites like Family Search and Ancestry.
Both chapters, Nancy Anderson and Francis Rainey, are an example of the friendship and cooperation between DAR chapters. Their combined goal is to grow DAR in the Lubbock area. Each steers prospective members who whichever local chapter is best for them. In the future, they will use more prospective member events. This successful fun day was an example of the efforts of many members, including Libby White, Carol Fowler, Timi Rosenbaum, who made it exceptional!
Any woman 18 years or older who can prove lineal, bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence is eligible to join the DAR. She must provide documentation for each statement of birth, marriage and death, as well as of the Revolutionary War service of her Patriot ancestor. For more information on how to join DAR, please visit the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution's website at: www.dar.org.