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A couple of weeks ago, I served as a page at the 112th State Conference for the Tennessee Society Daughters of the American Revolution. I try to do at least a post or two on my blog every year about my DAR activities, so you can learn a bit more about the organization and why I dedicate so much of my time to its mission.
This year, I was honored to serve as one of our State Regent's personal pages. The State Regent is the leader of a state's DAR society, and in Tennessee she is elected every three years. This was the first State Conference for our newest State Regent, so it was wonderful to be a part of her inaugural conference!
Tennessee has one of the largest groups of pages in the country, from what I've been told. Pages are typically Junior members of DAR, full-fledged members under the age of 35. Depending on the state, you are allowed to page until you are 40-ish, but definitely until you are 40 you can page at the National Continental Congress. I would describe us as ladies-in-waiting or handmaidens in a sense. We are the workhorses, always ready to lend a hand and help the conference run smoothly.
As you can imagine, crazy things can happen when you've got hundreds of ladies in one place. I've got some hilarious stories for sure! But I get to spend the time with my best friends in DAR from across the state.
One thing that was different for me this year? More PUBLIC SPEAKING! I am a State Chairman of a committee, as well as a vice-chairman for another. I presented three awards and gave two reports during this conference. Two of those awards were presented on our Opening Night, where there were hundreds in the audience! I prepped my scripts ahead of time, and I felt really great about how things turned out. It was a great experience for me, and I don't think I'll be as nervous in the future!
DAR has been such a wonderful part of my life in Tennessee. I feel like I have a family of "aunts" and "sisters" across the state! I feel like with DAR, you come for the mission and purpose, and you truly stay for the people. I joke with my DAR BFF that we'll be in our 80s rooming together at these events with grey hair and whatnot, but that's actually what I WANT someday. A life full of service.
Unlike the past two years, I'm not planning to head to D.C. for Continental Congress, our national convention. I am saving up my vacation days for my sister's wedding festivities later this year! I do plan on heading back next year to page with my friends. It's hard work, but I just keep coming back.
I am heading up to my home state of Indiana's state conference in a week or two to page, and I'm excited to see what a different state's conference looks like!
Curious about DAR?
and my trip to last year's Continental Congress in Washington, D.C.!
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