Club news 5-3-15

John Guild Chapter, NSDAR

The 116th State Conference of the Missouri State Society of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution was held April 9 through 12 at the Sheraton Westport Chalet in St. Louis.

Twelve John Guild Chapter members atended. Chapter member and state regent Morgan Lake presided. Chapter members who attended were Chandler Short, conference page; Lorilee Short, state corresponding secretary, chapter member; Marti Strickland, chapter regent; Beth Biri, conference page and chapter historian; Bonnie Macke; Pam Johnson, committee chair; Linda Hutson, parliamentarian and committee chair; Cheryl Cook, recording secretary and Blue Bird Transportation co-chair; Denyce Schoemehl, associate member; and Shirley Young, committee chair; and Julie Robinson, conference page and chapter vice regent.

The chapter received 13 certificates of achievement. State regents from Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Virginia were guests.

Opening night speaker was Dr. Nancy Taft, member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons and the Society of Surgical Oncology. She is also a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves and has served two tours of duty in Afghanistan.

National Defense speaker was Maj. Gen. USA John M. Custer, director of EMC's Federal Strategic Missions and programs. Custer has more than three decades of government experience with intelligence, secure communications architectures and information technology operations. As director of intelligence for U.S. Central Command, he supervised intelligence operations in 27 nations across the Middle East and oversaw all ISR operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa and the remainder of the Middle East.

Custer commanded at every level and served as the primary Intelligence staff officer at battalion, brigade, division, corps and joint command echelons. He worked as a space architectures planner for the joint chiefs of staff and as a nuclear weapons targeting officer aboard the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) Airborne Command Post.

Missouri Torchbearer Iota Chapter

The Torchbearer Iota Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi recently met at the home of Bobbie Woodard. President Linda Belote conducted the meeting.

Before the meeting the pledge ritual was given for new member Patty Taylor.

An invitation was read for the annual Founder's Day that will be hosted by Perceptor Gamma Omicron Chapter at Kimbeland Country Club.

Carole Calvin presented a convention committee report. Members were reminded to send in their reservations. There will be some convention fundraisers during the summer. Tentative dates are June 10 and July 14.

Charlie Herbst, Cape Girardeau County commissioner, presented a program on the recent vote on the "Use Tax." He spoke on the various needs of the county that these tax funds will be used for. Many improvements will be made to upgrade current facilities and a new building will be constructed that will house courtrooms on the north side of the current jail.

The second program for the evening, "The Empty Jar," was presented by Joyce Hays, assisted by Bobbie Woodard.

The next meeting will be Monday, hosted by Calvin at the home of Woodard. Installation of officers will be held.