In February I had the opportunity to visit the Mississippi State Conference held in Jackson. Unfortunately Jackson and the surrounding area was experiencing flooding from torrential rains when we flew in but the bad weather didn’t keep the spirits of the Mississippi Daughters down. State Regent Hellen Polk is my roommate for National Board of Management Events, and you will see this beautiful red head in lots of my photos from national events. Fun Fact – we are the 5th set of TN/MS State Regents that have roomed together. I was able to share during my greetings the story of how Judy Chaffin and her MS roommate Polly Grimes decided we would be great roommates for each other and had us meet at Congress a few years ago. You will get to meet Hellen next year at State Conference when she comes for her official visit.
The fun started on the flight in as I met National Junior Membership Chair JeanEllen Melton at the Atlanta airport and thanks to a little planning we were seatmates for the flight in. Once we got to the hotel and settled in we met the MS daughters for a laid back “Simply Southern Dinner,” meal highlighting catfish for both the meal and decorations. It was wonderful to see old friends and meet a few new ones.
The next morning we had the opportunity to shop and attend workshops on genealogy and historic preservation before heading to the State Board of Management lunch. Following our salad luncheon we headed downtown to the St. Andrews Cathedral for their state memorial service. This beautiful church featured a stain glass window with a dioceses from Tennessee. The service was beautiful and deeply moving — I wish you could have heard the organ and the stringed quartet that played.
Once the service ended we walked across the street to the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion. The weather had cleared and while very windy the rain stopped to allow the daughters to proceed to the special reception that was held in honor of the President General. The Governor’s wife generously opened her official home for the reception and participated in the receiving line with the President General. Thankfully we had a bit of time to get ready for the opening night dinner and photos.
On Friday we attended the Heritage Club breakfast hosted by the President General. Since it was Friday we had a wear RED (Remember Everyone Deployed) for our deployed military photo with all at the breakfast that had on their red. If you are attending the TN state conference I hope you will consider wearing RED on Friday for this special effort. I suspect there may be a photo or two taken if you do.
After the breakfast the special guests were taken on a tour of the Old Capitol, which has been turned into a fabulous museum. Abandoned due to foundation sinkage, the building was saved and turned into a interpretive center for Mississippi governmental history. With interactive displays in the old House and Senate Chambers, this museum brings history to life for those that attend. We had a wonderful tour guide with the director who was able to share lots of interesting tibits about the building and those who had worked there. We even found a portrait of Andrew Jackson in the exhibition hall.
The conference lunch featured the Commander of the 81st Mission Support Group, and she was inspiring at their National Defense Luncheon. The afternoon allowed for visits to the school tables and the Rosalie Silent Auction. Each each chapters fill Rosalie tins with goodies and auction them off to support their historic site Rosalie. That evening we gathered again for the the Chapter Recognition Banquet where we heard reports from the chapter regents of the Heartland District.
The next morning after hearing JeanEllen inspire the Mississippi Juniors and Juniors at Heart during the Chapter Regent’s Breakfast, we were whisked off to the airport. I had a date that evening with 2 handsome young men for a belated family birthday celebration with my husband’s extended family. I certainly enjoyed my time with the Mississippi daughters and look forward to sharing more of my adventures with their state regent with you over the next 2 years.
In Service,
Cecile
