Happy July 4th! What a wonderful way to finish up Congress by celebrating the birth of our national with the rest of our county today. Watching our National Executive Board process in with the flag drop last night gave me chills and made the Saturday evening session really feel like we were right there with them live in the hall. It was also so fun to see all of the cutouts in the hall with the board as they came in. If you purchased a cutout you can find pictures of them here.
National Defense Night is always special as we honor our military and this year was no different. I hope you will take inspiration from the presentation on the Centennial Commemoration of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and think about ways your chapter can celebrate this important commemorative event. It was also wonderful to hear from our own National winner of the Outstanding Youth Volunteer for 2021, Eden Carnes from Friendsville, TN sponsored by Mary Blount Chapter. If you missed the session you can find it and the rest of the business sessions at the Congress Livestream page.
Earlier on Saturday we learned who had won the national elections. Congratulations are extended to Vicky Zuverink our newest Honorary Vice President General, and to the newest class of Vice Presidents General, Tammy Clemons – AL, Kay Yarbrough – FL, Susan Tillman – TX, Libby Billham – SC, Maureen Tipton – MD, Carol Weiss – NC, and Lael Marlow – AK. Mrs, Zuverink will serve as an Honorary Vice President for life and the rest will serve for 3 years. These women will be installed this morning following the Memorial Service along with the incoming class of State Regents. I hope you will tune in as we remember the daughters we have lost this year, while celebrating our newest leaders. As for your State Regent, Congress will not be complete until she attends the National Board of Management which will occur Sunday morning after the installation.
I hope you have had a wonderful Virtual Congress this year. Our National Society led by President General Denise Doring VanBuren did an excellent job bringing Congress into our homes once again this year and all deserve a round of sunshine hands! I have enjoyed learning more about our Society and am looking forward to next year when we can all be together again. If you would like to attend Congress in person in 2022, I encourage you to come to our fall workshops this August when we will have a workshop, Get on the Bus Gus, to tell our members more about the wonderful Tennessee Congress 2022 Bus Tour that is being planned. To learn more about our Fall Workshops or to register click here. I hope to see you there!
In Service, Cecile
