Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution’s annual Spring Luncheon was held at the home of Chapter Regent Kathy Johnson. Special guest for this meeting was State Regent Charlotte White, who talked about her State Regent’s Project which took place during the last 3 years. During her term, she and Louisiana DAR members raised over $80,000 to donate to Phase 1 of the Baden-Roque House restoration project. This French Creole cottage, located near Natchitoches, was built before 1830. It was owned by Nicholas Augustin Metoyer (born 1768-died 1856), a prominent Free Man of Color who founded St. Augustine Catholic Church. He used the cottage as a school for his 10 children, who were educated by French nuns. The house is a poteaux-en-terre (post in the earth) design that was built with bousillage (mud and moss). It is the only one of its kind in Louisiana, and one of only 4 still in existence nationwide.
Our chapter officers, elected for the 2022-2025 term, were sworn in by Charlotte White. They are: Cindy Madden (Regent and Curator), Donna Sutton (Vice Regent, Registrar, and Historian), Mary Beth Edwards (Recording Secretary), Linda Wood (Corresponding Secretary), Nancy West (Treasurer), and Mary Long (Chaplain). Libbey Watkins was appointed Parliamentarian.
Cindy Madden and Donna Sutton finished the DAR Committee Leaders Course in February, and they were presented with graduation cords during the previous chapter meeting. They completed online modules and a final project to learn about parliamentary procedure, effective project planning and budgeting, and the responsibilities of various DAR committees at the local, state, and national levels.
Spencer Sutton Creech, our Children of the American Revolution state officer, participated in National C.A.R. Day of Service by cleaning Academy Park in Minden and learning about the history of the college that was once at this site. For a C.A.R. patriotic project, he made a patriotic wreath and presented it to retired Air Force Reserve veteran Jerry Madden.
Any woman 18 years or older who can prove lineal, bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence from Great Britain (1775-1783) is eligible to join DAR. Please visit dar.org for more information, and visit our Facebook page: Daughters of the American Revolution – Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter.