News Release

WARSAW — The Agnes Pruyn Chapman Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution met Tuesday, May 28, at Pizza Hut.

The speaker was David Neff, executive director of Senior Services for Kosciusko County, the only nonprofit for seniors in the county. Money is raised by donations for the three programs Neff oversees. The programs include Mobile Meals, transportation and the Senior Activity Center.

Mobile Meals uses volunteers for delivering meals on eight routes, with eight to 10 stops each. Chapter member Mary Hartle is a longtime volunteer. She and her husband, Lee, deliver two to three times each week.

In the area of transportation, 12,000 rides are provided each year for seniors for appointments and getting groceries.

The Senior Activity Center has noon meals and activities, including chair yoga and bingo on Thursdays. They also have a program, Threads of Valor, through which volunteers make quilts and present them to veterans in the county.

After lunch, regent Paulene Holderman opened the meeting with the DAR opening rituals. Susan Creamer read the president general’s message, and Kathy Gawthrop gave the national defense report on the origins of the popular New Zealand “Invercargill march” from World War I. Holderman gave a report on the Medal of Honor origins.

Creamer read the secretary’s report, and Janice Cox gave the treasurer’s report. Gawthrop provided a rundown of the many award certificates the chapter has earned for the year, which were given at the state convention.

The slate of officers presented were voted on and approved unanimously. They include: regent, Kathy Gawthrop; vice regent, Laura Lockridge; secretary, Susan Creamer; treasurer, Janice Cox; registrar, Laura Lockridge; and chaplain, Janet Kirkpatrick.

The next meeting will be at noon Tuesday, June 25, at Pizza Hut.

Membership in Daughters of the American Revolution is open to any woman who can prove her ancestor fought in or aided the American Revolution. More information is available at dar.org.