Old Unicoi Trail Chapter of the DAR supports Hamilton Gardens
Community, Press Release November 11, 2020
Old Unicoi Trail Chapter, NSDAR, was hosted by Hamilton Gardens staff on November 6, 2020. According to Shelli Kelly, Chapter Vice Regent of Hiawassee, “Daughters were updated by Executive Director Grace Howard on the garden schedule and upcoming plantings including one by the American Rhododendron Society and the replacement of recently lost tree canopy. The garden manager, Maggie Oliver received from the Chapter a sign, “Love Our Pollinators” for their 2021 pollinator garden. Linda Jones, Board Member, led a walk to recent yard art additions and talked about the upcoming live wreath and plant sales. We can’t wait to return in April when the garden is in bloom.” Accompanying Kelly were Noni Hammerstrand, Chapter Treasurer of Young Harris; Pam Greene, Service for Veterans Chair of Hiawassee; and Annette Hopgood, chapter member, and State Conservation Committee Chair.
Hamilton Gardens at Lake Chatuge, a 501(c)3 Georgia corporation, needs volunteers and welcomes donations. After orientation, volunteers choose from hands-on garden work and hands-off administrative work. Contact the Gardens at 706-970-0011 for the most current information on volunteering and to provide financial support.
Hamilton Gardens was the gift of Hazel and Fred Hamilton to Towns County. The Hamilton’s were collectors of both native azaleas and rhododendrons as well as propagators of the same. Upon searching in Towns County, Mr. Hamilton found property donated by the Tennessee Valley Authority to the County to be used by the county as a park. The present location was planted in 1981 with 1,091 plants, most of which were rhododendrons and native azaleas. His only request was to maintain the gardens in perpetuity and to keep them open to the public.
The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution promotes historic preservation, education, and patriotism. For information on DAR and Old Unicoi Trail Chapter email Pam Matthews, Regent at [email protected].
Daughters of American Revolution recognize author Doris Durbin
Community, Press Release October 16, 2020
The October 10th meeting of the Old Unicoi Trail Chapter fulfilled the three-fold DAR mission of Historic Preservation, Education and Patriotism. To kick off the program the Chapter recognized Doris Durbin, Author, of Blairsville, with a National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) Women in the Arts Recognition Award. This is a widely recognized national award with only 25-30 recipients a year.
Chapter Regent Pam Matthews, Blue Ridge, explained, “The purpose of the Award is to recognize a woman who has exhibited excellence in her chosen field. To earn this award, Doris Durbin contributed to her artistic field of literature in an outstanding manner beyond mastery of technique, which for Doris is publication.”
Doris is recognized for her three-part series The Captain Chronicles, which includes “The Captain Takes a Wife”, “The Captain Seeks the Lost” and the “Captain Finds the Key.” Her historical novels feature post-Civil War life in the North Georgia mountains.
Vice Regent Shelli Kelly and Dr. Matt Byron
In her letter of recommendation, Eva Decker, retired educator, and volunteer with the Union County Historical Society states, “…We served together on the writing committee for the history of the First Baptist Church of Blairsville. Doris’s books, inspired by many of the biographies of Church Pastors, are good reads among historical novels.” Lamar Paris, Sole Commissioner of Union County in recommending Doris added, “Doris is an asset to our community in numerous ways. She uses her literary skills to memorialize the history of our mountain community and she inspires young people to develop such skills.”
A highlight of the meeting was the Chapter’s induction of new members by application – Kathryn Elkins Bach and Louise Danner, both of Blairsville. Dr. Matthew A. Byron, Associate Professor and Chair of the History Department of Young Harris College, was introduced by Shelli Kelly, Hiawassee. He spoke on the 4ooth Anniversary of the Voyage of the Mayflower. Two Old Unicoi Trail Daughters, Chaplain Riki Fiebel of Hayesville and Wanda Gibson, Blairsville, were introduced as descendants of a Mayflower passenger. Interactive Table Topics included Wreaths Across American and Veterans Day Thank You Cards, both by the Service to Veterans Committee, Pam Greene, Chair, Hiawassee; and Heartscarves by womenheart.org/heartscarves and Women’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month both by the Women’s Issues Committee. As a Service to American project, daughters donated items for the Mountain Presbyterian Church Food Pantry.
New Daughters of American Revolution Old Unicoi Trail Chapter inductees.
Fannin, Towns, Union students named good citizens by DAR
Community, News February 17, 2020
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. – Thomas Jefferson taught, “If a nation expects to be free and ignorant at the same time, it expects what never was and never will be. Where the press is free and every man is able to read, there, and there alone, democracy is safe.” The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Old Unicoi Trail Chapter, brought this founding father’s words to life, Feb. 15. The DAR Chapter met at the Union County Community Center to “Shine a Light on Literacy.” The Chapter’s National Good Citizen for 2018-2019 set the stage for the exploration of literacy and local opportunities through Ferst Readers to promote literacy in the youngest of our children.
Hannah Cruse of Morganton, a Fannin County High School senior, was chosen as the schools’ NSDAR Good Citizen. Hannah was chosen over other students for being dependable, serving her community, providing leadership, and being a patriot. Tom Orchanian Jr. was chosen the Good Citizen of Union County High and Julia Chinkhan was selected by Towns County High. Orchanian and Chinkhan will receive recognition at a later date. All three students entered the optional Scholarship contest and wrote an essay answering the question, “How would you energize America’s youth to fully engage as effective citizens? Why is that important?”
According to DAR, students did not have the topic in advance of writing. Cruse’s essay read, “It is such an honor to live in a country where intellectual prosperity and self-motivation has the potential to allow you to find the greatest version of yourself… to be overcomers of one’s story….” Cruse, a very active member of her school and community, described two barriers that prevent youth from being civic-minded. The first is literacy. The Fannin senior shared her experiences helping struggling student readers who can fall up to ten grades below their current grade level.
“The ideas or concepts that America’s youth learn from books have the power to energize them, allow them to find their values and engage as effective citizens,” Cruse said, calling for access to free books for young people. Cruse additionally quoted Frederick Douglas who said, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.”
As called for by Cruse, free access to books is happening in the Union County Ferst Readers Program. Towns and Fannin counties also have the program. Janice Cochran, leader of the Union and Towns County programs, provided program information and displayed books.
Janice Cochran and Annette Hopgood.
“Significant research confirms the relationship between children who read or are read to and their ability to prosper and advance academically,” Regent Annette Bomar Hopgood of Old Unicoi Trail DAR said. “According to their website, Ferst Readers addresses one of the most basic issues of childhood literacy – ensuring the availability of quality books in the home so that parents can read to their child. Children from birth to five years old who are enrolled in the Ferst Reader Program receive a new book every month until their 5th birthday. That’s up to 60 books. Books are made available through donations. New mothers at Union General Hospital are encouraged to register their newborns. Parents are also encouraged to read to children from birth and engage in related activities.”
On behalf of the Chapter, Regent Hopgood recognized volunteers of Union County Ferst Readers with a Chapter award for shining the light on literacy in Union County. More importantly, volunteers in Union, Towns, and Fannin were presented the National Daughters of the American Revolution Community Service Award. The Chapter is limited to two awards per year. The award recognizes worthy individuals and organizations for outstanding voluntary service.
Ferst Readers volunteers were presented Community Service Awards by DAR.
The Chapter has honored S.A.F.E., the Women’s Enrichment Center, and the Tri-county Native American Initiative for the “We Are Still Here” bronze monument in Meeks Park. Award-winner Cruse believes depression is the second barrier that limits young peoples’ engagement as effective. She promotes the Happiness Rocks campaign that shares basic principles that when employed “would allow America’s youth to fully engage as a citizen, simply by being who they are, and living our their “Pursuit of Happiness.”
It was announced by Benetta Cook, Chair, Blairsville, that criteria for the Chapter’s Grant-In-Aid for seniors in Towns, Union and Fannin counties will be distributed to high school senior counselors this month. Interested parents or students must contact their school counselor about the five-hundred-dollar grant. Additionally, the Chapter observed Georgia Day, Feb, 12, by displaying personal books on Georgia, it’s people and places. Sandie Harbuck, Chapter Librarian, accepted donations of $175 from Daughters for the society’s state and national libraries. The Sons of the American Revolution was represented by David Cook, past president of the Blue Ridge Mountains Chapter.
The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution promotes historic preservation, education, and patriotism. For information on Chapter membership or to attend meetings of Old Unicoi Trail Chapter, email [email protected].
Featured Image: Hannah Cruse, Fannin County’s Good Citizen DAR award winner.