Chapter Meeting Program Schedule
Unless otherwise stated, meetings are held at Lolo Community Center and when available, via Zoom beginning at 1 pm MST. The Lolo Community Center is approximately 1 mile south of Lolo on US 93 and Rte 12 on the west side of the highway. Address is 12345 US-93, Lolo, MT 59847.
| September 9, 2023. Program: “Montana Pioneers: The Lady Blackrobes”. This presentation focuses on the story of the early Sisters of Providence in Montana and their groundbreaking work in the areas of healthcare, education, and social services. Presenter: Patrice Schwenk. Patrice Schwenk is a retired Loyola Sacred Heart High School teacher. She holds a master’s degree in education from the University of Montana. During her professional teaching career, Patrice was awarded five National Endowment for the Humanities Landmark Research Grants. She has presented historical lectures at the Museum Association of Montana Conference, the Montana Education Association, the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, and St. Mary’s Mission Lecture Series. She is currently serving as the Missoula Catholic Schools Historical Archivist. Hostesses: Janet Loran, Susan Stone, Betty Robinson |
| October 14, 2023. The meeting will begin at 12:30 pm. Program: Ties of Service and Friendship, a Celebration and Revitalization of our Chapter. Come participate as we honor our membership and brainstorm ideas to revitalize our chapter and prepare for the 2026 State Conference. Lead Facilitator: Nancy Schmitz, Membership Chair. Besides serving as chair of the Arts in Education Department at Columbia University and chair of Physical Education and Health at the University of Guam, and a department representative on Faculty Councils and Senates, Nancy served as a facilitator for Kansas Accessible Arts, Ohio Arts Council, and Very Special Arts, a program of the Kennedy Center. Note: To celebrate DAR’s National Day of Service, we will be collecting items to send to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) to use by the visiting nurses in their work with active-duty military families. Items we will collect will include blankets (Knitted or crocheted, measure 30×30, not to exceed 32×32. The blankets are handed out during the Budget4Baby class, which is a free financial education class for active-duty expectant parents) and other layette items, such as sweaters, booties, hats (These are handed out during home visits by the nurses). Note: Blankets and quilts not crocheted or knitted or sized differently, are gifted at home visits as well! Peggy Annin and Nancy Schmitz have volunteered to mail any items we collect. Hostesses: Shawna Tate, Bridget Wanderer, Louanna Butler |
| November 2, 2023. There will not be a business meeting this day. Instead, this will be devoted to reporting and planning for the 2026 State Conference that will be hosted by our chapter with support from Chief Ignace Chapter of Kalispell, MT. Come join us for a presentation of the initial plans and help the planning committee enhance their preliminary work. Location will be announced at a later date. |
| November 11, 2023. NOTE: Special meeting site: We will be meeting at the EAA hanger at the airport. Program title: Every Reason to Fail. Presenter: Bryan Douglass. Brian Douglass was one of the originators of the “Miss Montana to Normandy project”. He also was one of the pilots who made the entire trip to Europe and back. A private pilot since 2008, he is an engineer for his day job and lives in Missoula, Montana with his wife Dawn and two Labradors. “Every Reason to Fail” was awarded the Gold Medal in the 2021 Readers Favorite International competition in the Historical Nonfiction category! Hostesses: Lindsay Oberquell, Kathy Christian, Crystal Field, Mallory Witham |
| December 2, 2023. Celebrating our holiday season. This is our traditional holiday potluck. Bring a special dish to share and bring a family antique or memory! We will share stories of our cherished possession. |
| January 13, 2024. Program: A Life Well Lived, David Jonathan Thatcher. Presenter: Larry Mylnechuk. Larry Mylnechuk is a retired educator and arbitrator who has spent close to forty years researching American history. He is a thirty-year member of SAR, and most recently served as Vice President General of the Intermountain district. Larry is very proud of his Revolutionary War Ancestors AND current distant family members who are fighting for their freedom in Ukraine! Hostesses: Susan Reneau, Cynthia Fulks, Bernadette Roy, Nora Morris |
| February 10, 2024. Program: Good Citizen’s Awards. Committee Chair: Cynthia Fulks. Each year Bitter Root Chapter sponsors awards to graduating seniors from local public and private high schools. These students are chosen by their counselors as seniors who exemplify Good Citizenship. Each School Good Citizen may elect to sit for a one-hour extemporaneous essay based upon a topic that is only revealed to them when they sit down to write. School Good Citizen papers are then adjudicated by outside scholars. At this meeting, our Good Citizens will read their essays. The most outstanding essay winner also competes at the state level for further honors. This is always an anticipated event. Hostesses: Patrice Schwenk, Kathleen Ward, Mary Dougherty, Sara Tempel |
| March 9, 2024. Our business meeting will include the Nomination Committee’s presentation of the slate of officers for 2024-26. Program: Planning our 2026 State Convention. Presentation on planning to date. Everyone will join in on activities to support our hosting of the 2026 State Convention. Hostesses: Leslie Sears, Joyce Wegner, Kate Laney |
| April 13, 2024. Our business meeting will include the election of officers. Program: The Pennsylvania Navy and the Privateers. Prior to the British occupation of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Navy protected the Delaware Bay and River. The Navy became another weapon for our new nation from February 1777 until September 1777, providing support to forts along the Pennsylvania and New Jersey sides of the Delaware River. Washington ended the program when recruitment to his army waned. Privateers harassed the British Navy and other foreign navies who presented themselves along our coastlines. Join us to learn more about how these helped the new nation defend itself. Presenter: Nancy Schmitz. With a BS ed, MFA, and Ed.D, Nancy taught at the University of Montana, Columbia University Teachers College, the University of Guam, and the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. Her love of history and historical buildings began early, becoming a passion in retirement. Hostesses: Barb Fowler, Pat Culver, Sharon Johnson |
| May 11, 2024. The business meeting will include the installation of new officers. Program: NSDAR Museum Program, Dining in Early America. Join us as we visit the kitchens and dining traditions in the 18th and early 19th centuries. If you’d like, please bring a piece of silver, a serving dish, or a favorite family recipe to share. Presenter: Leigh Haislip Spencer. Leigh Spencer is a DAR Museum Correspondent Docent, under the direction of the Curator General, National Chair DAR Museum Outreach, National Vice Chair for Correspondent Docents, museum staff, and Montana Honorary State Regent. Docents promote the DAR Museum and its collections by providing public outreach through programs to DAR chapters, community organizations, and schools in an educated and professional manner. Honorary State Regent Leigh Haislip Spencer began serving as a DAR Museum Correspondent Docent in the fall of 2022. Last year, Bitter Root Chapter enjoyed her presentation of An Agreeable Tyrant: Fashion After the Revolution. Hostesses: Peggy Annin, Darla Case, Wendy Bond |
| June 8, 2024. Program title: The Militant Miller – John Milligan’s Story. From Feeding hungry troops to joining the battle, John Milligan’s mill played an integral part in the battle to build America. Angie will share his story and how she learned it including his elusive tie back to Scotland. Presenter: Angela Briedenbach. Angela Breidenbach is a professional genealogist, media personality, bestselling author, educator, and screenwriter. She’s the executive director of The National Institute for Genealogical Studies (GenealogicalStudies.com). Her latest, a 6-book series, Queen of the Rockies, is set during Montana’s birth as a state. Hostesses: Betty Hilmo, Bonnie Elliot, Angela Fiedler |
Chapter Meeting Hostess Schedule
| September 9, 2023 – Hostesses: Janet Loran, Susan Stone, Betty Robinson |
| October 14, 2023 – Hostesses: Shawna Tate, Bridget Wanderer, Louanna Butler |
| November 11, 2023 – Hostesses: Lindsay Oberquell, Kathy Christian, Crystal Field, Mallory Witham |
| December 2, 2023 – Potluck |
| January 13, 2024 – Hostesses: Susan Reneau, Cynthia Fulks, Bernadette Roy, Nora Morris |
| February 10, 2024 – Hostesses: Patrice Schwenk, Kathleen Ward, Mary Dougherty, Sara Tempel |
| March 9, 2024 – Hostesses: Leslie Sears, Joyce Wegner, Kate Laney |
| April 13, 2024 – Hostesses: Barb Fowler, Pat Culver, Sharon Johnson |
| May 11, 2024 – Hostesses: Peggy Annin, Darla Case, Wendy Bond |
| June 8, 2024 – Hostesses: Betty Hilmo, Bonnie Elliot, Angela Fiedler |
Snacks for Veterans Delivery Schedule
- Coming soon…….
Upcoming Committee Meetings
- Coming soon…….