National Conference of State Societies

Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky Societies Honor Lincoln

On Tuesday, Feb. 12, at 12 noon, Stefan Bailey, board member of the Indiana State Society, will be joined by Kentucky Society President Mac Riley and former Illinois Society and NCSS President Mark Rhoads to present wreaths at the Lincoln Memorial for each of the three states where Abraham Lincoln lived from 1809 until 1861. The presentation of wreaths will take place at the Lincoln Memorial on Lincoln's Birthday. Several patriotic and civic groups will honor the Great Emancipator on the 199th anniversary of his birth in Kentucky on Feb. 12, 1809. This ceremony will begin a year-long celebration of the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth that will be observed in 2009. For times and more details, check with the National Park Service web site at http://www.nps.gov/linc or call the    National Park Service at 202-426-6841.  The master of ceremonies will be Peter Dixon, President of the Lincoln Birthday National Commemoration Committee.  Among other speakers, Judge Loren Smith will recite the Gettysburg Address. Pictures above and at left were taken at the 2007 ceremony. The wreath below with the U.S. and Illinois flags was presented by the Illinois State Society in 2006. The first wreath will be presented on behalf of President George W. Bush by Maj. Gen. Richard J. Rowe, Jr., Commanding General of the Military District of Washington.  The general public will be able to see all the wreaths on the afternoon of Feb. 12.  On the same day, Lincoln bicentennial ceremonies will also start at Lincoln's birthplace in Hodgenville, Kentucky. See the Bicentennial web site at http://www.lincoln200.gov/calendar/national-signature-event-2-12-2008.aspx.

Hawaii State Society Plans Another Active Year

The Hawaii State Society of Washington, DC had a very active year in 2007 with many events celebrating the friendship and culture of the Aloha State.  On Dec. 15, 2007, many state societies were asked to send volunteers to help the Maine State Society as the lead organizer of the Wreaths Across America project at Arlington National Cemetery.  A long way from the sunshine of Hawaii on a very cold day in Virginia, these members from the Hawaii State Society bundled up to join hundreds of other volunteers as they helped to decorate 10,000 graves of veterans in Section 33 of Arlington Cemetery. HSS was one of the state societies profiled by The Washington Post Sunday Source in a feature story on March 25, 2007.  To learn how to join the Hawaii State Society, please CLICK HERE to visit the HSS web site.

Adrienne Trout will Speak to NCSS Board on Feb. 13

Adrienne Trout, Vice President for Development of the USO of Metropolitan Washington, will speak to state society delegates at the next NCSS Governing Board meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 13.  The meeting will begin at 6:30 pm in Room 283 of the Hall of States at 444 N. Capitol Street, NW. Every state society is invited to send a delegate or alternate. The site is on the Senate side of Capitol Hill one block south-west of Union Station.  CLICK HERE to see map.  There is both on-street parking and parking inside the building.

Ms. Trout will talk about how state societies may invite military personnel from each state now stationed in the greater Washington area to attend state society events.  NCSS also plans to work with USO to look for tickets to Cherry Blossom Festival and 2009 Inauguration events that may be donated to military personnel from the home states.  Committee reports will include more details on NCSS plans for the 60th Anniversary of the Cherry Blossom Princess Program (1948-2008) which NCSS will celebrate from Sunday, April 6 to the Cherry Blossom Parade on Saturday, April 12. Every state society in Washington, DC is invited to send at least one or more representatives to the NCSS Governing Board Meeting on Feb. 13.  NCSS Bylaws require a quorum of 18 different state society delegates to take any votes.  The March meeting will be Thursday, March 13 in the same location.

First South Dakota State Society Party is a Big Success

The first party of the newly reorganized South Dakota State Society of Washington, DC was a huge success.  About 175 people including Capitol Hill staffers and students showed up at the American Legion Hall on Capitol Hill on Jan. 24. "It was a terrific first event," reported organizer Brad Mollet. Who knew there were that many South Dakota expatriates living in the Washington, DC region?  A great time was had by all.  The society has no web site as yet but to find out how to join and come to the next event, send an email to Brad at SouthDakotaSociety@gmail.com.

Texas State Society Party is Feb. 13

The Texas State Society of Washington, DC will proudly salute Texas Members of Congress in the Caucus Room of the Cannon House Office Building from 6 pm to 8 pm on Wednesday, Feb. 13. The nearest Metro stop is Capitol South on the Orange and Blue Line.  There will be Texas-style food and drink and the event is free to all Texas State Society members who have paid their dues for 2008.  PLEASE CLICK HERE for more information about how to join TSS on the Texas State Society web site.  If you have questions, please send an email to hotline@texasstatesociety.org or call the Texas State Society information hotline 301-809-8989. Members will receive a subscription to the TSS newsletter Lone Star Link pictured above.

Where are they now? Part II on Betsy Howard

Shortly after the NCSS story below on Betsy Howard Jefferson, the 1961 Cherry Blossom Queen, the Sun and Sentinel of Parkersburg, West Virginia ran a full-page story on her plans to come back for the 60th Anniversary of the Princess Program from April 6-12, 2008.  Betsy woke up on Sunday, Feb. 3 to phone calls from her friends about the story and her pastor put the story up on the church bulletin board.  At left is a photo of Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall in 1961 just after he placed the heavy Mikimoto pearl crown on Betsy's head in an outdoor ceremony under the blossoms.  CLICK HERE to read the entire story in the online edition of the Feb. 3 Parkersburg Sun and Sentinel.

Connecticut State Society Party is Tuesday, Feb. 12

                                                                                 

          

The Connecticut Society of Washington, DC will honor Members of the Connecticut Congressional delegation on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008 from 6 pm to 8 pm in the Mansfield Room (S-207) of the U.S. Capitol.  Due to security, RSVPs for non-Congressional staff are due by Feb. 8. Please direct RSVPs or questions to Neil McKiernan at 202-675-3052 or write to CTSocietyDC@gmail.com.

          

The Connecticut Society of Washington, DC will honor Members of the Connecticut Congressional delegation on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008 from 6 pm to 8 pm in the Mansfield Room (S-207) of the U.S. Capitol.  Due to security, RSVPs for non-Congressional staff are due by Feb. 8. Please direct RSVPs or questions to Neil McKiernan at 202-675-3052 or write to CTSocietyDC@gmail.com.

Massachusetts Statehood Day Ceremony is Feb. 6

              Members, guests, and friends of The Massachusetts Society of Washington, DC will observe Statehood Day on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008 with the ceremonial placement of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Natioal Cemetery at 11 a.m.  This will observe the 220th anniversary year of Massachusetts statehood.  Following the ceremony, we will adjourn to the Fort Myer Officers' Club for a buffet lunch.  The cost including tip is $11 per person payable at the door.  Please send an email to Ruth Erno at rutherno@cox.net no later than noon on February 4th to reserve luncheon seats.  Also, save the date of March 16 for the Boston Bruins v. Washington Capitals hockey game at the Verizon Center.  Details to follow.

New Jersey State Society SUPER TUESDAY PARTY

The New Jersey State Society of Washington, DC

invites NJSS members and other state societies from states with Feb. 5 primary elections to come to a Super Tuesday Party to watch presidential primary returns from New Jersey and other states in both parties. The date is Feb. 5, 2008 at 6:30 pm and the location is Penn Quarter Sports Restaurant at 639 Indiana  Avenue, NW near the Gallery Place and Navy Archives Metro Stop. To see a copy of the invitation, please CLICK HERE.  For more information on how to join the New Jersey State Society, please CLICK HERE to visit our web site or send an email to jersey@njstatesociety.org. Or, during office hours, call the New Jersey State Society at 202-333-5750.

"We'll Meet Among the Stars" on Monday, Feb. 11

The California State Society of Washington, DC will celebrate the motion picture industry of the state with a "2008 AHHHSCAR Night"  party on Monday, Feb. 11 from 6 pm to 9 pm.  The California web site says "We'll Meet Among the Stars."  The location is the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium at 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW.  CLICK HERE to see map.  Tickets are $50 per guest but are limited only to members of the California State Society.  All tickets will be pre-sold and none will be for sale at the door.  Guests must be a current 2008 CSS Member to attend.  Membership dues is $20 per individual and $35 per family and you may CLICK HERE to join the society.