Junior members are the future of DAR and Tennessee is proud to have many Junior members serving as Officers and Chairmen at the Chapter, State and National levels.
Juniors are…
- A DAR member 18 years of age and until her 36th birthday.
- She holds full DAR membership
- She might be a college student, career women, stay-at-home mom, or much more
Tennessee supports and celebrates Junior Members through…
- The Outstanding Junior contest
- The Junior Membership Committee
- Paging
- Helen Pouch Memorial Fund
- Molly Stewart Fund
Tennessee Outstanding
Junior
Congratulations to Jennifer Leigh Thomas, 2024 TSDAR Outstanding Junior and one of eight Finalists for the National Outstanding Junior competition!
Jennifer has served on several chapter committees, held five chapter offices including chapter regent, and been a page, delegate, vice chair, and state chair for TSDAR. She has also served as a page during Continental Congress and is currently a National Vice Chair of Junior Membership. She has worked in manufacturing, construction, and as a managing partner over several properties. Jennifer is a wife and mother to twins with a long history of service to NSDAR, and we congratulate her on this well-deserved honor!
Junior Membership Committee
The National Junior Membership Committee was established in 1937 and is celebrating 85 years in 2022.
The goals of the national committee are:
- to gain new Junior members;
- to build a well-informed Junior membership;
- to encourage active participation in all phases of DAR service; and
- to support the National Junior Membership Committee’s official fund-raising fund – the Helen Pouch Memorial Fund
Paging
Junior members have the opportunity to serve as Pages. Tennessee Pages serve as hostesses, errand-runners, personal assistants, and flag-bearers at state events. Paging is a great way to get to know the inner workings of DAR on the state and national levels. As a State page, they can be invited to serve the National level at the annual Continental Congress.
The Tennessee Society holds its state conferences on weekends to accommodate all those working mothers, professionals, and students. This is an excellent way to get to know other Juniors and members of the organization. It is also open to C.A.R. members 14 and older. All pages must be sponsored by a DAR member and chapter.
Tennessee Junior members develop lifelong friendships with other pages, and they treasure the memories of their paging experiences. They have fun serving the Society!
Helen Pouch Memorial Fund
The Helen Pouch Memorial Fund was named in memory of Helen Pouch (1901-1919). Helen was the daughter of Helena R. Pouch, who became the first national chair of the Junior Membership Committee in 1937 and later served as President General from 1941-1944
Authorized in 1938, the Helen Pouch Memorial Fund (HPMF) finances projects chosen by the Junior Membership Committee with approval of the NSDAR Executive Committee. Funding includes contributions to the DAR Schools, the National Junior Committee Project, and the Junior Membership Classroom Grants Program. The annual Junior Membership Committee funding commitment through HPMF is more than $120,000. We meet this commitment through contributions to the Fund through Junior Sales, other fundraisers, and general donations.
Molly Stewart Fund
The purpose of the Molly Stewart Fund is to help defray expenses of attending Continental Congress for the TSDAR Outstanding Junior. This is funded through state, chapter and individual contributions.
Junior For Life Award
Cecile Wimberley first proposed the Junior for Life Award to recognize Tennessee daughters who have shown and continue to show outstanding support to Junior Members regardless of whether or not they were Junior members themselves. This Tennessee State Society Award continues to provide recognition to those ladies who welcome and support our wonderful Junior Members.
- 2021 – Carol Teeters
- 2022 – Cecile Wimberley
- 2023 – Meegan Burton
- 2024 – Liz King
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