National Conference of State Societies

From the Archives: Cherry Blossoms Then and Now

President Ronald Reagan greets 1983 U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen Lynn Ridgely, at left in picture, and 1984 Japan Cherry Blossom Queen Etsuko Kobayashi at right along with the 1984 Class of Cherry Blossom Princesses in the White House Rose Garden on April 2, 1984.  Parents and officers of the National Conference of State Societies were also invited to greet the president and have pictures taken. Lynn was the Maryland princess in 1983. Former First Lady Nancy Reagan served as Honorary Chair of the Cherry Blossom Festival every spring that she lived at the White House from 1981 through 1988.  To see more pictures from the history of the cherry blossom festival and the princess program, click on the Cherry Blossom Princess Program History photo album in the top right-hand column.

Remember the Alamo! Sunday, March 2, 2008

The Texas State Society of Washington, DC invites all Texans in the DC area to be part of the Texas Independence Day Celebration hosted by the University of Texas Alumni Association on Sunday, March 2nd.  Members will raise a glass to toast the brave men whose fight led to the independence of the Lone Star Republic.  The alumni club, Texas Exes, will celebrate the annual fundraiser from 4 to 7 pm at Lounge 201 located at 201 Massachusetts Avenue, NE.  See www.lounge201.com for directions. Advance tickets for $20 can be purchased online at www.dctexasexes.org/march2.htm.  Tickets purchased at the door are $25. To visit the Texas State Society web site and learn more about how to join us, please CLICK HERE.

California State Society Reception is Tuesday, March 11

The California State Society of Washington, DC will host a reception to honor the League of California City Officials on Tuesday, March 11 in Room 902 of the Hart Senate Office Building. To RSVP for this event, send an email to rsvpforcssevents@yahoo.com or call 202-543-9559.  If you once lived, worked, or attended schools in California and now live in the greater Washington, DC region, you are eligible to join the West Coast fun when the surf is up in DC. CLICK HERE to join the California State Society.

Save the Date: South Carolina Oyster Roast is March 29

The South Carolina State Society of Washington, DC will host the 7th Annual Oyster Roast Saturday, March 29th at the American Legion Post 139.  Music will be provided by the Wil Gravatt Band.  Please save the date.  To learn more about how to join the South Carolina State Society and see a listing of upcoming events, please CLICK HERE to visit the society web site.

Kansas State Society Honors David Dillon on April 22

Kansans in Washington, please save the date. The Kansas State Society of Washington, DC will hold its annual Cherry Blossom Banquet on Tuesday, April 22 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.  The society will honor Mr. David Dillon, CEO of the Kroger Coorporation, with its 2008 Kansan of the Year Award. There will be cocktails at 6:30 pm followed by dinner at 7:30 pm.

David Dillon is a native of Hutchison, Kansas and a 1969 graduate of Hutchison High School.  He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business form Kansas University and a Jursi doctorate from Southern Methodist University.  After starting his career with King Soopers in Denver, Dillon moved to Phoenix and held different positions with Fry's Food Stores of Arizona.  He returned to Kansas where he was named President of the Dillon Company in 1986. In 1995, he moved to Ohio to assume the position of President of Kroger Corporation. Under different banners, Kroger Corp. owns and manages hundreds of retail food stores in about 31 states. 

In 1994 David Dillon was honored as the Leadership Kansas Alumnus of the Year and in 1999 he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Kansas University School of Business.

   

Illinois and Massachusetts Host St. Patrick's Day Parties

Several state societies will celebrate the feast day of Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, during the middle of March.  The Illinois State Society of Washington, DC will host its annual St. Patrick's Day Party on Thursday night, March 13 from 6 pm to 8 pm at Finn macCool's Irish Publick House, 713 8th Street, SE, Washington, DC.  CLICK HERE to see map. Admission is free to Illinois State Society members and $15 for nonmembers. Ticket cost includes two drink tickets and free food.  RSVP by March 13 to the ISS Hotline at 703-461-3610 or send an email to IllinoisStateSociety@verizon.net. For more information about the Illinois State Society, CLICK HERE to see our web site.

The Massachusetts Society St. Patrick's Day Dinner is set for Saturday, March 15 starting with a cash bar at 5:30 pm and dinner starts at 6 pm at the Pier 7 Restaurant in the Channel Inn Hotel at 650 Water Street, SW.  CLICK HERE to see map.  Parking is free.  Two menu choices include corned beef and cabbage with carrots and potatoes OR Chicken Tarragon with rice pilaf and mixed vegetables.  Dinner will finish with the famous Pier 7 Strawberry Ice Cream Log!  For members and nonmembers the cost is $31 per person including gratuity.  There will be door prizes.  Reservations are due by March 6.  To RSVP, call Ellie Harvey at 301-530-5169 or send your checks payable to Massachusetts State Society to Ellie Harvey, 5802 Greenlawn Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

State Society of Arizona Invitation Tonight

The State Society of Arizona is sponsoring a special event tonight, Tuesday, Feb. 26 from 5 pm to 7 pm at Sonoma, 223 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.  Special Event:

BioZona Reception, Martin L. Shultz, Chair.  Arizona's Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee, Saundra E. Johnson, Executive Vice President, and The Flinn Foundation request the pleasure of your company at a reception on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Sonomam 223 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C.

Please RSVP to Felecia Clack, Flinn Foundation (602) 744-6831 or send an email to fclack@flinn.org.