Chapter Meeting Program Schedule

Unless otherwise stated, meetings are held at Lolo Community Center and via Zoom. Members are welcome to gather at 12:30 p.m. to enjoy time chatting with friends and to meet new ones. The meeting will begin promptly at 1 p.m.

The Lolo Community Center is approximately 1 mile south of the intersection of US 93 and Rte. 12 in Lolo on the west side of the highway. Address is 12345 US-93, Lolo, MT 59847.

September 13, 2025, 1:00 PM: Program: Illuminate Service – a celebration of membership. Come to celebrate all that Bitter Root DAR members have accomplished this past year and help plan for the upcoming year. We will welcome members and present certificates to those who have achieved landmark membership. We’ll also welcome special guest speaker, Janice Hand, our new State Regent, who will share her plans for Montana State Society DAR (MSSDAR) for the next three years. Hostess: Cindy Haines

October 11, 2025, 1:00 PM: Program: Northern Pacific 1356, Stories from the Historic Northern Pacific Engine 1356, an Icon of Missoula’s Railroad History. Presenter: Jeannine Nixon. Jeannine Nixon received her BA from the University of Montana in Poetry. She also studied western writers, and women’s writing extensively. She earned her MA in fiction writing from Ohio University in Athens. Jeannine returned to Missoula, and taught English at the University of Montana for many years. Jeannine was happily retired until the neglect of NP Engine 1356, and its stories inspired her to do something about it. Jeannine’s father was wire chief and photographer for the Northern Pacific Railway and was instrumental in having the engine donated to the city of Missoula. Hostess: Susan Hansen, and Peggy Annin

November 8, 2025, 1:00 PM: Program: A Slow Fuse Leading to Revolution. Presenter: Nancy Schmitz. Nancy Schmitz received her BS degree in Education and her doctorate from Temple University in Philadelphia and her MFA from the University of Utah. She served as Chair of the Arts in Education Department at Columbia University’s Teacher College, and on the faculties of the University of Montana, Temple University, University of Guam, and the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. Since grade school, she has been passionate about history. Examine the events that slowly led to the Revolutionary War. Beginning with the Stamp Act in 1765, colonists began to see and feel a growing difference between themselves and the British Parliament and King. This presentation explores the circumstances and beliefs that changed colonists into Americans especially in the years 1774-1776. We will look at how a growing mechanic and artisan class became instigators of change. Hostess: Janet Loran & Susan Stone

December 13, 2025, 1:00 PM: Program: An Old-Fashioned Christmas! Come Celebrate our holiday traditions. This is our traditional holiday potluck. Bring a special dish to share and bring a tree ornament, a family antique, or a memory from the season! We will put each ornament on a tree or place an antique under the tree as we share stories of our cherished holidays past and our lineage.

January 10, 2026, 1:00 PM: Zoom Only. Catch up via Zoom and discuss all current business.

February 14, 2026, 1:00 PM: Program: Celebrating Youth and Community. This year we will celebrate our young scholars as well as those volunteers in the community who make a difference. Come celebrate those young and old within our community who stretch their talents and provide special services! Hostess: Sara Tempel, Kathleen Ward, Mary Doughtery, and Patrice Schwenk

March 14, 2026, 1:00 PM: Program: Mike and Maureen Mansfield’s Legacy of Patriotic Statesmanship. Presenter: Deena Mansour Executive Director of the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center of the University of Montana. Deena’s work focuses on bolstering democracy at home and abroad in support of high school, higher education, and community audiences.  Deena has previously served as a diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in Indonesia. She has also worked for a Dow Jones community newspaper in Michigan and at an international education non-profit in Washington, DC. She earned her master’s degree in public administration at UM, and a bachelor’s degree in international relations and economics at American University in Washington, DC. Deena and her husband Brian raised two children in Missoula. Hostess: Mary Pheifer, Betty Hilmo and Betty Tingley

April 11, 2026, 1:00 PM: The business meeting will focus on the election of new officers. Program: Help us prepare for hosting our State Convention! Hostess: Vanessa Buzgheia

May 9, 2026, 1:00 PM: Program: Teaching and Learning the Declaration of Independence: A Short History of Civic Education in the United States, 1776-2026. Presenter: Claire Arcenas. Dr. Claire Rydell Arcenas is Associate Professor of History at the University of Montana and an expert on the history of American thought, culture, politics, and education. She is author of the prize-winning book America’s Philosopher: John Locke in American Intellectual Life (Chicago, 2022) as well as numerous essays and articles on topics such as the Federalist Papers and humanities education during WWII. Her current research focuses on the Declaration of Independence, American democracy, and civic education in the United States, 1776-present. Hostess: Kate Laney and Carol Gordon

June 13, 2026, 1:00 PM: Program: Montana Tapestry: People and Places from 1776 to Today. Presenter: Molly Stockdale, Executive Director of Travelers’ Rest Connection, the nonprofit partner of Travelers’ Rest State Park.  Molly Stockdale has held a variety of positions in nonprofit management, primarily in museums, for 30 years. Molly has worked with Mister Rogers on a children’s museum exhibit, raised funds to purchase new works for the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and created exhibits on the Lewis & Clark Expedition and Selis Qlispe cultural history. Molly received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her Master of Public Management from Carnegie Mellon University. She is President of the Destination Missoula Board of Directors, a member of the Montana250 Commission for the commemoration of the semi quincentennial of the Declaration of Independence and serves as Montana’s Advocate Leader for the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance. Molly is a proud member of the Bitter Root Chapter of the NSDAR. Hostess: Susan Reneau

Chapter Meeting Hostess Schedule

September 13, 2025: Cindy Haines

October 11, 2025: Susan Hansen, Peggy Annin

November 8, 2025: Janet Loran, Susan Stone

February 14, 2026: Sara Tempel, Kathleen Ward, Mary Doughtery, and Patrice Schwenk

March 14, 2026: Mary Peifer, Betty Hilmo, Betty Tingley

April 11, 2026: Vanessa Buzgheia

May 9, 2026: Kate Laney, Carol Gordon

June 13, 2026: Susan Reneau

NOTE: If you are unable to attend please notify the Chapter Regent or one of the other hostesses. Thank you.