Club News: Grinnell DAR chapter elects new officers

The Grinnell Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution recently elected new officers for 2024-2026. Iowa Society DAR State Regent Edee Brunia attended the meeting and installed the officers. New officers are Linda Hatch, Regent; Barbara Jones, Vice Regent; Maureen Wilkins, Chaplain; Rita Mertens, Secretary; Jessica Meyer, Treasurer; Nancy Bender, Registrar; Lynne Petty, Historian; and Martha Voyles, Librarian. Hatch, Mertens, Bender and Voyles are residents of Grinnell; Jones, Wilkins, and Meyer live in Newton, and Petty lives in Kellogg.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible to join.

The Grinnell Chapter is named after Josiah B. Grinnell, the founder of the city of Grinnell. Members come from Grinnell, Newton, Montezuma, and surrounding communities. Chapter meetings are the second Saturday of the month March through July and September through December. Recent service projects have included glazing bowls for the Empty Bowls project, assembling “Pick-me-up” jars for veterans, and providing seed packets for the Hindman Settlement School in Kentucky.

For information about membership in DAR, contact Nancy Bender, registrar, 641-236-7065. Members are available to help prove your lineage to a Revolutionary War patriot.