The need for a new chapter in North Dakota has long been evident. The most
promising area for potential organization was the northern end of the Red
River Valley in Grand Forks-Grafton area. During the administration of State
Regent, Alice Ellingsberg, Honorary State Regent, Beverly Jensen, was presented
for confirmation as an Organizing Regent for a new chapter in the Grand Forks
area. Mrs. Jensen was confirmed at the April 13, 1991, National Board of
Management meeting and immediately began contacting women about joining a
new DAR chapter.
In order to be chartered as a new DAR chapter, a minimum of twelve members
must be proposed for Membership. These women can be new members or transferring
members. Since several members of Dacotah chapter of Fargo, lived in the
Grand Forks area, these women were contacted first about the possibility
of transferring to a new chapter closer to home. Twelve Dacotah members agreed
to transfer their membership and the necessary paperwork for transfers was
begun. These transferring members were: Merrie Connie Beetz, Gloria Brickson,
Sharon Coen, Kym Dingman, Frances Graalum, Beverly Jensen, Beatrice Mitzel,
JoAnn Oak, Carrie Raney, Burness Reed, Marijo Shide, Vergal Stanko, and Mary
Woodruff. Dacotah chapter was very gracious in accepting these transfers
even though it meant a large drop in their membership. In addition to the
twelve transfers, new application papers were submitted for ten new DAR members-
Patricia Carson, Berneice Fedje, Marion Hahn, Catherine Olson, Catherine
Paulson, Judy Reyelts, Stephanie Reyelts, Mona Shilling, Agnes Shurr and
Stacy Spicer.
By November 1991, everything was in place to make formal application for
chartering. The last thing to do was to hold an organizational meeting on
December 13, 1991, at the same time as the National Board of Management was
meeting in Washington, D.C. During that meeting Organizing Regent Jensen
Telephoned the Organizing Secretary General’s Office to report that
all papers had been completed and All signatures obtained. Prairie Grass
was formally presented for confirmation to the National Board of Management
and we were chartered as of December 13, 1991 with fifteen organizing members
in good standing. The original organizing members were: Merrie Connie Beetz,
Patricia Carson, Berneice Fedje, Frances Graalum, Marion Hahn, Beverly Jensen,
Beatrice Mitzel, JoAnn Oak, Burness Reed, Judy Reyelts, Stephanie Reyelts,
Mona Shilling, Agnes Shurr, Stacy Spicer and Mary Woodruff. Within a few
weeks the Paperwork on the remaining members was completed and Prairie Grass
began its history with twenty-two members.
As prescribed by National the Organizing Regent appoints the first chapter
officers and they were Regent-Beverly Jensen, Vice Regent – Burness
Reed, Recording Secretary – Marion Hahn, Treasurer- Judy Reyelts, Registrar-
Agnes Shurr. The original meeting location was at the Myra Museum in Grand
Forks at 1:30 p.m. on the second Saturday of the months of October, November,
December, March, April and May. Chapter dues were set at $10.00 per year.
At our first chapter meeting on 11 January 1992 the chapter bylaws were reviewed
and approved and possible future program areas were discussed. A new Treasurer,
JoAnn Oak, was elected due to the resignation of Judy Reyelts from that position.
Our first program was a tour of the Myra Museum. At the February meeting
Chapter chairmen for several national committees were appointed. |
