Jose Maria Amador Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, NSDAR, held its chapter meeting and no-host Christmas luncheon on Dec. 8 at the Brass Door in San Ramon. Prospective members April Martin, Dana Rogers and Nancy Willhelm attended this special holiday meeting and luncheon. As part of the program, door prizes were given in a raffle and several members won fun prizes.
The chapter invited a local honey producer to speak at the meeting about beekeeping, honey and pollination. His company has multiple hives located throughout the Bay Area and Central Valley, producing honey that is 100% raw and unprocessed. Chapter members were treated to a honey-tasting session, experiencing Avocado Honey, Buckwheat Honey, Sage Honey, Pomegranate Honey and several others. DAR members could make honey purchases for “sweet stocking stuffers.”
“He has such a great product, his presentation was outstanding and the sample session he offered was above and beyond customer service,” said Chapter Registrar Carole Vercellino. “We've already enjoyed a couple of jars of honey I purchased.”
A sleigh load of toys was collected at the holiday meeting for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program, which delivers a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters by distributing toys as Christmas gifts to their communities. Donations are made at area toy drop locations.
“Each member was to bring a new, unwrapped toy for the Toys for Tots donation,” said Chapter Recording Secretary Karen Pahler.
The chapter used to participate in the Toys for Tots program several years ago and has only just begun donating again in the last couple of years.
“Bringing toys to the meeting for the Marine's Toys for Tots program is a very rewarding chapter activity,” said Vercellino.
On Monday morning, Dec. 10, chapter members Vesta Breihl, Diane Groome, Mary Mallery, Carole Vercellino and Cindee Delavara met at the City of Pleasanton Fire Headquarters Pleasanton, to deliver a sleigh full of unwrapped gifts for the Toys For Tots Program. Firehouse receptionist Sharon Burns took photos of attending members with all the toys in front of the station's Christmas tree.
“Dropping the gifts off at the Pleasanton Fire Station is what the Christmas season is all about; giving to those in need is the true meaning of the holiday,” said Vercellino.
The DAR group then gathered at Vic's All Star Kitchen in Pleasanton for a Breakfast/Lunch Social.
Chapter member Mary Mallery and her ukulele group, The Sunshine Strummers, preformed community service by playing at three different venues during the Christmas season. At 1 p.m. on Dec. 8, the strummers were at the craft bazaar at St. James Lutheran Church in San Leandro, at 6 p.m. on Dec. 10, they presented Christmas music at The Groves Retirement Community Clubhouse in Dublin, and at 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 18, the group played a set of holiday tunes at Peet's Coffee and Tea, in Dublin. The Sunshine Strummers meet 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. each Tuesday for practice, at the Dublin Senior Center.
Jose Maria Amador Chapter will hold its next meeting Saturday, Jan. 12. For more information about DAR and membership, contact Chapter Regent Diane Groome at 510-484-4032. DAR is open to any woman 18 years or older who can prove lineal, bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence.
