MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL chapter of the Daughters of the Pioneers of Washington recently hosted the state convention of the organization on May 20 and 21 at Summit Grove Lodge in Ridgefield. Pictured, first row, left to right, are Sandy Ruff, Jayne McCarley, Sherry Lambert, Cam Hadlock and Bev Erven; second row, left to right, are Nira Lang and Margaret Lubbers; third row, left to right, are Lela Miller, Jackie Andersen, Pam Friesen and Roberta Emerick; and top, Judy Bergren.
The local Fort Vancouver Chapter No. 19 of the Daughters of the Pioneers of Washington hosted the state convention of the organization May 20 and 21.
The annual event was held this year at the historic Summit Grove Lodge in Ridgefield. The lodge provided meals for the event. Dedicated women from other chapters traveled from all over the state of Washington to attend. Ron Onslow, Ridgefield mayor, gave the welcome speech and, during lunch, Pat Jollota shared about notable area women who represented the theme “Women of Brave Heart.”
During the banquet, attendees wore pioneer or Victorian-era costumes in honor of their ancestors. They were entertained during dinner by an area musical group called Just For Fun. The group played a variety of nostalgic songs. Several door prizes were given away and a raffle basket valued at $275 of local handcrafted food, wine and other handmade items was awarded. As an added bonus, a tour of the Fort Vancouver Historical Costume Shop was enjoyed by all who attended.
The monthly meetings of the local group are educational as well as social, and guests are always welcome. Meeting places vary. The next meeting will be Thu., June 18, 11:30 a.m. potluck lunch, followed by a meeting at 12:30 p.m., at the North Clark Historical Museum, 21416 NE 399th St., Amboy.
A membership drive is currently underway. Members must have ancestors that traveled and arrived in Washington during or prior to 1870; Oregon during or prior to 1853; Idaho during or prior to 1863; or Montana, west of the Rockies, during or prior to 1863. College scholarships are also awarded annually to students. The requirement for the scholarship is the same as the requirement for membership, however, application for membership is not mandatory.
For more information, visit the Daughters of the Pioneers of Washington Facebook page or call Sherry about membership at (360) 687-1428 or Bev about scholarships at (360) 263-4429.
