National Society

California State Society


Chapter Regent
Kimm Richwine

 

About Us

The NSDAR supports all types of service activities that promote Historic Preservation of our American Heritage, Education and Conservation, and Patriotism in recognizing veterans and active military personnel.

Our chapter is a member-driven organization where individual women come with their interests and passions dedicated to serve our community and country both individually and collectively. Members individually volunteer with youth organizations, schools, veteran groups, even at the local zoo sanctuary. Members support people and organizations that support others, such as emergency service personnel and fire fighters.

Examples of Conservation and Education projects we support:

  • We conduct plastic "film" recycling drives to reduce waste in our local landfills. (This is the type of plastic not always put into the local utility service.) Our efforts earn us a bench, which we donate to local organizations. Types of plastic we collect.
  • Penny Pines Reforestation Program - Plantation site El Dorado National Forest. Our fundraising efforts provided for enough seedlings to plant over 33 plantations (330 acres). Learn more. 
  • We donate school supplies for local elementary classrooms to support teachers and children.

  • We promote the education of the United States Constitution at local schools during Constitution Week (September 17-25) and year-round. Learn More about DAR support of Constitution Week. Teacher supplies are available at the DAR Store. For more educational information go to the National Center for Constitutional Studies. 

 

Examples of Patriotism and Service to Veterans projects we support: 

  • Operation: Bean of Life. We provided supplies to an Army Chaplain that runs a coffee house on an American military installation in the Middle East. Learn more.
  • Operation: Paperback. We collect and send gently used paperback books to active duty military personnel. Learn More.
  • Wreaths Across America. Annually we host the dedications ceremony at the Lakeside Memorial Lawn Cemetery (see information on our home page) and we honor those veterans buried at the Mormon Island Relocation Cemetery.
  • We donate clothes, hygiene, and comfort and recreational materials to the VA Hospital Medical Center at Mather off their wish list. Learn more.

 

Examples of Historic Preservation of our American Heritage projects we support: 

  • We support our local Capital Society of C.A.R. (Children of the American Revolution).
  • We sponsor and encourage involvement from youths in grades 5 - 8 and high school seniors to participate in the National Society of DAR essay contests. Learn more.

We named our chapter for Charley Parkhurst, one of the most famous stagecoach drivers, or ‘whips', who came west from New England in 1852, seeking his fortune in the Gold Rush and drove stages from Carson City to Placerville and Sacramento to Santa Cruz. Except ‘he’ was a ‘she,’  a fact not discovered until she died. See more under our Chapter History. Her story was compelling to all of us because in spite of what life threw at her, she found an exciting way to make it in a man's world, and in the process, helped other people. And, that dressed as a man, she was the first woman to vote in a national election in 1868!

We found her life an inspiration, taking what life throws at you and making it work in positive ways. Her name, Charlotte Parkhurst, was the perfect choice for our new chapter's name. If you’d like to learn more about her and how our chapter interfaces with the local community, please reach out and contact us. We welcome you!