SC Daughters, many of you asked for our state regent's remarks from Saturday morning. The district directors have it and should be sharing but Mrs. Caskey has given me permission to share.
Debi Bacon, State Recording Secretary
“DARlings:
This is the basic outline below of my address during the business session during Fall Forum 2026. I did add more comments during the speech, however, I was so moved to share my hopes for our State to be unified in spirit once again, and to move beyond the divisive nature of opinion on one issue. I want us to move beyond opinion and remember who we are. We are one SC DAR and people need us. No other group stands in the gap as we do for our SC National Guard. This is not the speech verbatim, but it’s the closest I can come to it. Sometimes, you just have to be there. I look forward to seeing you all in Greenville, in March 2027.
Alice
My Dearest Darlings,
I address you as such, because that is how I think of each one of you. Regardless of chapter, regardless of age, regardless of office, patriot, length of membership, and even opinion, I think of each of you as a beloved South Carolina Daughter. Many of us even have common ancestors. Some of you have ambition for office, others for friendship, others for a place to belong and serve others. Regardless of why you are here, and why you think you are here, we all have this appointment in our destiny to be together here. In South Carolina.
This issue is not how I envisioned my administration, by George. I love America, my state, and the hope we have given to countless citizens, that there is a society which honors the sacrifice of those colonial patriots who shaped the formation of a free nation.
I consider us somewhat of an island. We are cossetted by our culture and pride of place. We have a history like no other state. Not even our sister state to the North. And that brings me to our dilemma. How do we deal with our differences of opinion? And how do we make a stand for our beliefs without destroying the very thing that ties us together in our SC DAR? If any of our beliefs are based on our faiths, then we have to integrate all of our behavior based on our faith tradition as well. We can’t pick and choose to believe one way and our conduct be opposed to it. Am I kind? Am I patient? Do I push my ideology on to others? Do I criticize other members who think differently or who refuse to choose a side? The entire foundation of our Society is based on the premise of Service. Examine yourself, is the service you give, diminished due to chapter discussions on other topics? Is service your focus or is it the discussion of ideas? Of course, ladies like to talk, but the tongue can be a tool , a salve, or a dangerous weapon. Are the discussions relevant to your chapter? Do they serve the mission of service for education, patriotism, and historic preservation? Are we promoting unity within our State Society, or division based on one opinion on one subject? The one thing we have always had in common is our mission to serve, our military, our veterans, our schools, Children in C.A.R., honoring our patriots, and if we fall off the rails it will be due to our failure of focus on what we can accomplish. We now have 64 chapters, and I as your State Regent have no intention of appealing to change anyone’s minds on their personal opinions, however, I must remind everyone of you why you remain as members. Not for an opinion, not for a vote, but for Service. We are not a church-although many have a strong faith tradition. We are not a family-although many of us are related. And we were not founded as an outlet for drama. SC DAR cannot solve all cultural ills. All 64 chapters of us are SC DAR. And it’s time we circle the wagons. Designating our chapters as either A or B divides us. It divides members within the chapters. Honest Abe said it best, “ A house divided cannot stand.” Have your opinions, take your votes, but at the end of the day, remember if you are only involved with the politics and promoting discussion and not promoting service projects, you have missed the entire mission of our society. (We are all friends, or should be. If your chapter insists on a vote for a particular label, keep this in mind. My chapter did this several years ago and it tore our membership apart.) There is absolutely no punishment from your State Regent, regardless, wherever the chips may fall. Some states such as ---------have become a war zone, and I am putting my foot down, that we as Carolina Daughters remain united in our mission. If you must vote, make it a ballot vote. Allow your members to truly express their opinion,their vote, without feeling intimidated. (There is no acceptable place for name calling or assuming anyones’ motives. It is not up to anyone to judge. At this point there are enough chapters across the country to request a special meeting. It is a moot point and only the President General’s decision to address this. And at the end of the day, your chapter has the option to vote on accepting members within your own chapter. The sample bylaws expressly allows for this. Can you attend Fall Forum and State Conference, enjoy yourself, make friends and be inspired by the profound work done by other members? Regardless of the side you take in this issue, I as your state regent, will be proud of the work you do for others. I want SC DAR to be our island of refuge, where we all can kindly work together for good.
Some assume that they know what my personal thoughts are based on a letter I sent to a member in reply to her question, but I have to say that assumptions can be dangerous. (My views are between me and God.) As your State Regent, I strive to be impartial on items of vote, as I serve as your Chair. I am Switzerland. However, as your leader, I strive to shepherd all our SC Daughters like a unified flock. We all need to go in the same direction. It doesn’t mean we have to have the same opinions on societal issues. We know that as a DAR society we are apolitical and that has served us well since our founding. DAR has had it struggles with cultural issues in the past and will continue to do so as long as culture changes. And it will. When women were allowed to wear their pins on a pantsuit, it caused all sorts of ruckus, and resignations. How unladylike and disrespectful…. Mrs. Roosevelt resigned when Marian Anderson was not allowed to sing at Constitution Hall. And then there was the Lena Ferguson issue. I remember when tattoos were taboo and now 32% of American adults have one and 46% of those age 30-49 have a tattoo.
Darlings, recall the Golden Rule. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”, now, after recalling it, may we all put it into practice.
(Concerning Continental Congress) There was a vote on a resolution to define what a woman is. To set the record straight, there was not a vote to admit transgender men. That was not the motion. It was not a by-law, but a resolution, and even if it had passed it would not have been binding. (I discovered this after consulting with our Bylaws chair.) Some members have taken the idea that this vote was a referendum on transgender men and consider it a stamp of approval. It was not. It was a vote on a resolution to define a woman. DAR uses government issued documents just as it has since 1890 to establish lineage. (DAR uses government issued documents and I suspect most all other lineage societies do as well.) If your argument is with the state which issues the documents, then as a free citizen, but not as a DAR member, it is within your rights to oppose that state’s methodology in creating and amending documents. I have every expectation that all ya’ll SC Daughters will continue to conduct yourselves with dignity. I refuse to get into specious discussions about this issue. Do not badger your regents. They have a job and that job is huge and should be service driven. And service should be motivating each of us. Our focus should be on our patriotic past, our America 250! , our Constitution and telling our history, because Darlings, if we don’t tell our history, who will? Who are you leaving it up to? Will America remain the land of the free if we don’t tell our story of how we got here? Our Founders, our patriots? America isn’t perfect, but we should aim for it. I have every hope and expectation that each of us will remember who we are and what we represent and not be distracted and divided. (After hearing our speakers, members of the National Guard need us. The ones who are on the banks need us. Your communities need you and your chapter.)
Look over the Awards page in your main program and see the awards and the chapters who garnered them. How did your chapter compare? We all could do better, and I pray that with God’s help we in SC will be a beacon and an example to other states of how to engage in kindness and service. May each of you be a light that illuminates our SC legacy and shed your light on American ideals. I may not be a perfect leader or the perfect State Regent, but I am your leader for 309 more days. All our days are numbered. I serve you as your State Regent. But I am just a volunteer, the same as you. And with all candor and sincerity, I request that you remember who you are and who you want to be as well. May our attitudes and behavior be expressed through love. Thank you for your attention. (And may God bless each of you as you kindly serve others in love.)”
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President General Ginnie Sebastian Storage's Administration is off to a great start, and many thanks to all of you who purchased items at the President General's Project Sales tables during Fall Forum. We sold out of most items, and only have the following remaining items: 2 totes ($75 each), 2 silk scarfs ($60 each), 6 pearl necklaces ($25 each), and 4 cherry blossom lapel pins ($15 each). If you are interested in purchasing any of the remaining items, please contact me at your earliest convenience via phone or email. My email address is Mari.NooraiDAR@gmail.com and my cell phone number is (864) 247-2428.
If you, your chapter, and/or members are interested in making individual donations directly to the President General's Project, I have attached the form to this email. This is an individual donation that may qualify you to purchase one or more of Storage Administration insignia to be worn on your official ribbon and will be counted toward your Heritage Club level. This is separate from the donations each chapter is asked to make per Administration based on chapter membership numbers that will be set on January 1, 2026. This individual donation form may also be accessed via the National Society's Members Only website: https://www.dar.org/system/files/members/darnet/forms/DEV-1003.pdf
In addition, there is helpful information available for Chapters and Chapter Chairs of the President General's Project Committee on the National Society's Members Only website, including "Guidelines for Chapters" and information about the $7.50 per member to ensure that each SCDAR Chapter meets 100% participation.
If you or your membership are interested in receiving items from the National Society's Direct Mail Program, please contact the Office of Development at (800) 449-1776 so that you can be added to the list to receive appeals. New members should be automatically added to the appeal list, but if a new member is not receiving items, like the new 3-year pocket calendar, please contact the Office of Development by phone or email.
Let’s Celebrate, By George!
Forged in Faith. Founded for Freedom. Fostering a More Perfect Union.
FALL FORUM
FALL FORUM 2019 OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
FALL FORUM 2019 INDIVIDUAL REGISTRATION FORM
FALL FORUM 2019 PAGE REGISTRATION FORM
Spring Conference
SAVE THE DATE: SCDAR 129th State Conference, March 20-22 2025
GENERAL
CHAPTER DONATIONS TO STATE REGENT’S PROJECT
SCDAR RESPONSE TO AMERICAN HERITAGE ACT INITIATIVE FOR STATE MONUMENTS
South Carolina State Society NSDAR
Billham Statement on Tamassee DAR School
Dear South Carolina Daughters,
This is the hardest announcement I have had to write to you. I intentionally waited to address you so that I could gather all the facts to be able to present clear and correct information.
On 10 Oct 2020, the NSDAR Executive Board presented the recommendation to the National Board Of Management to resign Tamassee DAR School from the National Listing of Approved DAR Schools. For NSDAR’s reasoning to take this action, go to NSDAR Website to the Official Announcement.
That same day, I called an emergency State Board of Management to give the State Board of Management the news. After a lengthy discussion, the State Board of Management unanimously expressed that they want to continue to support Tamassee with service and financial support. The Board expressed their concerns and a show of continued support of our SC relationship with Tamassee. This subject will be discussed further at the November State Board Meeting.
So, what does this mean for our Chapters, our Society and Tamassee?
NSDAR’s statement reads: States, chapters and individuals may continue to support the ongoing programs at Tamassee DAR School at their own discretion (e.g. through the Community Classroom Committee), but Tamassee will no longer be considered a DAR-supported campus on the national level.
That means: Although the annual NSDAR funds presented from the Friends of DAR Schools Fund and the Helen Pouch Fund will no longer go to Tamassee; each individual and each chapter in South Carolina as well as any other state society, can still support Tamassee with their donations and financial support.
Where do I report my chapter activity and support for Tamassee on the CMR?
To be able to report your service and financial support at Tamassee DAR School, you will now report it under the Community Classroom National Committee. For example, box tops, money and Thrift Store donations.
South Carolina Daughters, Chapter Regents, and State Officers, please take time to consider all the information. Ask questions and have a solid and informative discussion within your Chapters. I ask you to give strong consideration to continuing support for the at-risk children in Oconee County through sponsorship and engagement with Tamassee DAR School. In closing, let's reflect on the words of past South Carolina Vice President General Grace Calhoun who once stated, we will "...bring the glow of education to brighten their darkened horizon." In this volatile and uncertain world, Tamassee's children need us now more than ever before.
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Daughters Hearts Unite In Service
Libby Billham
State Regent
SCDAR