Governor Thomas Ford Chapter, NSDAR, Celebrates 50 Years in 2009

We had a wonderful 50th-anniversary celebration and chapter meeting, Monday, November 2, 2009. As with all special occasions, much preparation and planning took place for this meeting. Our hostesses, Jean Fox, Pam Bork, Marilyn Ames, Janet Monk, and Bernita Meredith took us down memory lane with decorations and candlelight. Gold leaves sprinkled on cream-colored tablecloths set the tone for our chapter’s 50th-anniversary celebration. Gold napkins and handmade nut cups with more gold leaves and gold ribbon added to the festive tables. Each attendee received a bookmark made by Jean Fox, in cream and gold with Governor Thomas Ford and our dates in a center medallion. The centerpieces were long narrow wooden boxes that held votive candles, gold leaves, and an accordion pleated center paper that had articles and pictures from past meetings on both sides. Meladee’s Catering provided a delicious luncheon and dessert was a piece of anniversary cake inscribed with 50 and a gold leaf. Members and guests perused chapter scrapbooks and the “Past Regents’ Picture Table”.

Luanne Frosch Bruckner, our Illinois State Regent, was our guest and our featured speaker giving her talk “The Spirit of DAR in Illinois.” She spoke about the many and varied DAR projects and committees established over the years with a special emphasis on the many “firsts” accomplished by Illinois Daughters including having the first chapter – Chicago Chapter. Mrs. Bruckner explained her State Regent’s Project, a monument to honor the spirit of Illinois veterans, particularly women. She also took time to talk about Governor Thomas Ford Chapter’s history and accomplishments.

Special guests, Joyce Schaefer Hinshaw, vice president general from Illinois and honorary state regent, and Georganne Spurling Marty, honorary vice president general and honorary state regent, along with so many additional special guests from our state board, state committee chairmen, chapter regents, and DAR members from District III were in attendance with our own Governor Thomas Ford Chapter members.                   

Our chapter received congratulations on the occasion sent from Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and from State Senator Dan Rutherford, 53rd District. A certificate, through the office of Shane Cultra, was sent from the 96th General Assembly-House of Representatives in recognition of our fiftieth-anniversary celebration.

This meeting was so packed with information and activity. If I sound like I am “gushing,” I am. I am so proud of all of you and so honored to be a part of Governor Thomas Ford Chapter.

Regent Joyce Bender Schmale

November 2009