October Meeting: Conservation Program

 World Bird Sanctuary Field Trip

Alexander McNair members visited the World Bird Sanctuary to learn about the conservation efforts that occur there. They enjoyed finding a bald eagle to match the N.S.C.A.R. mascot, Spirit.

While there, they did have a meeting. They also had a chance for crafts. Normally members would make ornaments for the M.S.S.C.A.R. Christmas Tree at the Missouri DAR's Roslyn Heights at our State Summer Workshop. This year the event was virtual, so societies received ornaments to make at a society event.

Attendees: 6 members (5 pee wees), 7 seniors

November Meeting: Women's Suffragette March Re-enactment

Women's Suffragette March and Library Visit

Attendees: 7 members (5 pee wees) and 8 seniors

Members and Seniors learned about the Women's Suffragette March through a Facebook post before the meeting. Seniors discussed the ideal starting place for our march on Facebook. To learn more about the original march, check out this website: https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/events-will-remember-suffragists-who-lined-locust-street-in-demonstration/article_5e885b80-78ad-5d56-b355-555740af9c87.html?fbclid=IwAR3-mw-KwU7oh2vI5fInppajnQeJC1lr79PpPpv9yLz3Z6WGXijOvyoPm_k

It was determined that we would start our march at 19th Street and Locust, about the middle of the original demonstration. This was roughly where the old Art Museum was and the central point of the demonstration. Speeches were given at this location. Women stood, silent, for about a mile's length of the street. The men were walking from their hotel to the conference hall, between the walls of women.

Our members gathered in their formal wear. The ladies wore their white dresses, white gloves, and yellow sashes. They brought a yellow parasol (umbrella), like the ladies from the original suffragette demonstration. The gentlemen wore their suits and hats. As we began our march, Seniors explained the demonstration to the children. They began to understand just how big of a demonstration it was, the longer we walked. At one point, we stopped for the girls to stand along the side of the road and the boys to walk down the street in front of them.

As we approached the public library, we saw that there were two entrances. The back entrance was closer, or we could walk around to the front entrance. We stopped and took a vote. The girls voted for the closer entrance (there were 4 girls) but the boys voted for the front entrance (there were 2 boys). To show members what it was like before women were allowed to vote, we followed what the boys voted for. We went to the front entrance, even though it was further away and more people voted for the closer entrance. Once we got inside, we found out that the children's library was closer to the other entrance, so maybe we should have gone in that door!

We had a short meeting outside and then we went to find the Children's Library. There, members were challenged to find books about leadership. They learned how to use the computers to search for books. They also found books about women's suffrage, the right to vote, and the revolutionary war. The members were able to explain to other patrons and the library employees about their march for women's suffrage.

Contest Connections:

Organizing Secretary - Consider the passage of the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution during the 100th anniversary and reflect on the significance of the amendment for women’s suffrage.

State Assistant Organizing Secretary - Learn about the efforts of Missourians to achieve woman's suffrage in the U.S.

Registrar - Increase member involvement in society activities by planning fun and interactive events that will engage members at the society level.

Librarian - Explore library resources and services.

Leadership Development - Promote the development of leadership skills in C.A.R.

October Meeting: Tea Party for Mary Ball Washington

"Tea Party for Mary Ball Washington"

Attendees: 6 members (5 pee wees) and 5 seniors

Before the meeting, members had a chance to read George Washington's Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior and discuss them with their parents. (Books were donated by the Reverend John Clark Chapter DAR and were given out at the previous meeting.) 


At the meeting, Ms. Moll read the book "Dear Mr. President," which animates the Rules of Civility. Members discussed these rules of civility and made a slide show to discuss how to act at a tea party and at formal events.

Once members understood appropriate behaviors at a tea party, they went to the formal dining room for their own tea party, in honor of Mary Ball Washington, George Washington's mother. They learned how to use fine china and tried hot tea with honey and milk. They also had English shortbread tea cookies. Members were able to practice their manners as they asked for seconds on the tea and cookies.






Following the tea party, female members were fitted with golden sashes for the reenactment of the Suffragette's March. Members will be reenacting the march at next month's meeting.


Members discussed appropriate attire for next month's meeting: Ladies are to wear white dresses, gloves, and their yellow sashes. Gentlemen are to wear suits and hats.

At the end of the meeting, the members were able to re-enact the Boston Tea Party. This activity was planned for last month's meeting, but the rain prevented them from completing the activity. Last month they learned about the Boston Tea Party and how it compared to Shay's Rebellion and the Whiskey Rebellion.

Afterwards, the members took the tea water outside to dispose of it in the garden. They were able to see how the water made rivers and eroded the dry soil below.

Contest Connections:

1st Vice President - Examine the contributions made by George Washington's mother, Mary Ball Washington, to mold his character. 

Corresponding Secretary - Discover the Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior and the impact it had on George Washington's development as a leader. Examine the rules and its relevance to today's society.

Organizing Secretary - Consider the passage of the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution during the 100th anniversary and reflect on the significance of the amendment for women's suffrage.

Registrar - Increase member involvement in society activities by planning fun and interactive events that will engage members at the society level.

Government Studies - Learn how the Founding Fathers established the framework for the government of the United States of America and why it is used today. Learn about the Boston Tea Party, Whiskey Rebellion, and Shay's Rebellion.

September Meeting: "Live Like a Pioneer!" at Sappington House

"Live Like a Pioneer!" at Sappington House

Attendees: 7 members (5 peewees) and 7 seniors

Members were able to learn how the pioneers lived in early Missouri history, including shooting a musket, using a shaving horse, and seeing a historic home.

They also discussed conservation and how historians care for the historic landmarks in our area.

Members were able to visit the Sappington House Museum to see how pioneers lived in Missouri. They saw both original pieces and reproductions throughout the house.

Members learned about different rebellions and why the soldiers joined the American Revolution. An older member researched the Boston Tea Party, Whiskey Rebellion, and Shay's Rebellion to compare and contrast them with the members. All members were able to reenact some of the scenes as they learned about them.

Members were given small versions of George Washington's Rules of Civility, donated by Reverend John Clark DAR.

 Contest Connections:

Registrar - Increase member involvement in society activities by planning fun and interactive events that will engage members at the society level.

Assistant Registrar - Understand the importance of why the soldiers joined the fight during the American Revolution.

Curator - Develop an understanding of historical reproduction and preservation techniques that are used in modern historical conservation projects.

Conservation - Discover conservation efforts and their impact at historic landmarks, battlefields, forests, and trails.

Government Studies - Learn how the Founding Fathers established the framework for the government of the United States of America and why it is used today. Learn about The Boston Tea Party, Whiskey Rebellion, and Shay's Rebellion.

Corresponding Secretary - Discover the Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior and the impact it had on George Washington's development as a leader. Examine the rules and its relevance to today's society.

Spirit of St. Louis Air Show

Spirit of St. Louis Air Show

Attendees: 7 members (5 peewees), 8 seniors, 1 senior guest

Members and prospectives were invited to come to the Spirit of St. Louis Air Show. They were able to learn about different kinds of airplanes. They commemorated the 80th anniversary of the start of World War II by learning about airplanes used during the war.

Contest Connections:
2nd Vice President - Learning about airplanes.
American History - Learning about World War II airplanes.
Registrar - Increasing member involvement in society events by planning fun and interactive activities.
Membership - One prospective parent was invited and in attendance.

State Workshop: Banneker School

State Workshop

Attendees: 7 members (5 peewees), 8 seniors

Members attended state workshop to learn more about the state project. Banneker School was built in 1885 to provide education to black children in Platte County, MO, who were prohibited by state law to attend school with white children. This project is to raise funds for the restoration of the school and land property.

Members also learned about the other programs and contests for the C.A.R. year through skits. Many of our members wrote and participated in skits.

Contest Connections: State President's Program

Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Party

Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Party at the Science Center

Attendees: 7 members (5 peewees), 7 seniors

Members had fun exploring the St. Louis Science Center to learn about space flight and the 50th anniversary of the the Apollo 11 mission. They were even able to go outside and shoot rockets !

Contest Connections:

2nd Vice President: To learn about different forms of transportation and focus on significant transportation anniversaries.

Registrar: To increase member involvement in society activities through planning fun and interactive events.

Membership: Inviting prospective members to fun and engaging meetings/field trips.