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Welcome
to the Peter Minuit Chapter of the DAR! I am delighted in your interest
in our Chapter and in the DAR. As descendants of men and women who helped
our country gain its independence, we feel we have a responsibility to
honor their sacrifices long ago by carrying on their work today in the
promotion of historic preservation, education, and patriotism.
The DAR is unique. It is the largest American lineage society, counting
over 166,000 women as members worldwide. There are DAR chapters in all
50 states and the District of Columbia, and in countries including Australia,
Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Mexico and Japan. Our
national headquarters in Washington, D.C., is the largest group of buildings
in the world owned and operated exclusively by women.
Peter Minuit Chapter is special, too. Our chapter was created over thirty-five
years ago, in 1969, by and for "career girls." We have always
held our meetings on weekday evenings in order to accommodate members’
work schedules. Although some of our members are now retired or are stay-at-home
moms, most of us have worked outside the home at some point in our lives.
Our occupations are extremely varied: we count actresses and attorneys,
bankers and nurses, and university professors and graduate students as
members. We are native New Yorkers and women who have moved here from
all over the country. We are women of many different ethnic backgrounds
and lifestyles that share a common love of our country and its ideals.
We count women of all ages among our membership. More than 30% of our
members are Juniors, Daughters under 36 years of age who enjoy a special
status in the organization.
The DAR is rich in opportunities for members to develop their leadership
skills by serving the Society as officers and committee chairmen and vice
chairmen at the chapter, state, and national levels. A number of our members
have served the New York State Organization and the National Society in
a variety of capacities, and all who have done this find it to be a highly
rewarding experience. From the President General to each chapter member,
every Daughter has the opportunity to make an impact!
Our chapter has thrived in recent years because of a renewed interest
in patriotism, especially after the tragic attack on our city. In just
over three years, our chapter membership has more than tripled. Some of
our members have spent months or years researching their family histories
in order to prepare their membership applications, while others are second,
third, or even fourth generation DAR members.
Today’s DAR is very much a modern organization. We welcome patriotic-minded
women of all ages, races and creeds. If you're thinking of joining the
DAR, please contact us so that we can show you what we have to offer!
I hope you will join us in service to God, Home and Country.
— Lisa A. Brown
Regent, Peter Minuit Chapter, NSDAR
2004-2005
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