Our Chapter
The chapter draws its name from our county, Manatee, located just south of the beautiful Bay of Tampa. Manatee is also the name of the river that flows past our doors. The name Manatee appears to have come from the Cariban Indian language which referred to the sea cows or water mammals (manatees) that live in the river. The organizing regent was Mrs. Blanche W Hendrickson. Other organizing officers were Aileen Botkins, Marie Craighead, Moreen Carlisle, Mary Harris, Margaret Brewster, Susan Fay, and Helen Taylor. The chapter was organized September 14, 1951.
Founding Regent Mrs. Blanche W Hendrickson
At our December Christmas Luncheon, we had a delightful presentation enlightening us of the tremendous contributions of our founding regent, Mrs. Blanche W Hendrickson.

Blanche Hendrickson Display
Blanche W. Moyer Hendrickson Presentation
2021-2023 Executive Board of the Manatee Chapter
L-R: Librarian Susan Well, Historian Carole Briggs, Corresponding Secretary Nancy Kryway, Recording Secretary Dee Kring, Treasurer Mary Breaux, Chaplain Pru Dewey, 2nd Vice Regent Julie Worth, 1st Vice Regent Kathy Juergens, Regent Kathy Doddridge, Past Regent Margaret Smelser. Not pictured Registrar Laurie Schuchardt
2022 Quilte Expo
Thought our community Outreach , the Manatee Chapter was invited to participate in the 2022 Quilt Expo, sponsored by the Manatee Patchworkers Quilt Guild. It gave us a great opportunity to date the public on what the DAR is and how we contribute to the community through our historic preservation, education and patriotism projects.

Penny Duval and Nancy Hooker

Barbara Mills, Mary Brreaux, Madeline Rementer
Manatee Chapter DAR hosts Manasota Flag Day Luncheon
Each year we celebrate our Flag of the United States of America. The Manatee Chapter hosted the 2021 luncheon featuring Betsy Ross, “The Myth, the Fabric, the Patriot”. Guests learned how to create a fie-point star. Everyone honored their patriots by saying their name, while placing a pin where their patriot lived. Even Betsy’s great grand-daughter Sarah Markley Wilson, arrived to exclaim her excitement over becoming a new member. And we honored the flag with a cousin rendition of “You’re a Grand Old Flag”
Vice President General Carol Schwenk, Florida State Regent Kay Yarbrough, Manatee Chapter Regent Kathy Doddridge
Tracy Suarez as Betsy Ross with Steve Fields Saramana Color Guard

Colorguard, Steve Fields, Saramana SAR

Singing of the Grand Old Flag

State Regent Kay Yarbrough, Tracy Suarez, Regent Kathy Doddridge

Guest speaker Betsy Ross, portrayed by Tracy Suarex, Past Regent Joshua Stevens Chapter

Honoring our Patriots, Julie Worth & Nancy Hooker

Guess Betsy Spools, State Regent Kay Yarbrough, Gail Riggs How many wooden thread spools are in the jar?

5-point star: State Regent Kay Yarbrough, Betsy Ross (Tracy Suarez), Martha Stanislawski
George Washington wanted a flag with 6-point stars.Betsy suggested, “I think 5 points look better and is much easier to do. With a few folds, a 5-pointed star can be done with a single snip.”

Honoring our Patriots

Sarah & Betsy. Barbara Mills portrayed great granddaughter Sarah Markley Wilson

Regent Kathy Doddridge waving her flag during The Grand Old Flag
American Spirit Recognition Letter
https://manateedar.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/DAR-Magazine.pdf
2020 Community Service Award
Pictured L-R Robin Schoch, Recipient Jane von Hahmann, Regent Kathy Doddridge
Christmas Luncheon – 2019
October Meeting brings Five Current & Past Regents together!
L-R: Sydney Shaurette (2009-2011), Margaret Smelser (2011-2013, 2018-2019), Sharon Spry (2013-2017), Julie Moore (2018), Kathy Doddridge (2019-2020)
Silver Arrow Award
Manatee Chapter was awarded the Silver Arrow Award for increasing new membership by 10% in each of the previous three years.
Continental Congress – 2019
Regent Kathy Doddridge attended the128th Continental Congress in Washington DC. This event is the Society’s national convention and includes the business proceedings, award presentations committee presentations and entertainment.
Manatee Millinery & Installation of Officers – 2019
The theme of our May Meeting was “Hats off to DAR”! Chapter members BJ Mangrum, Julie Worth and Madeline Rementer shopped for hats at the Manatee Millinery Shop owned by current Regent Margaret Smelser. They searched for hats but just could not find one that worked for them. BUT, they knew who could wear these specifically-designed hats…..our incoming chapter officers!
Anne Lindau-Martin -Librarian Kathy Doddridge – Regent Suzanne Cochran – Treasurer
To make the day even more memorable of our incoming officers, our Past Regent offered a “Candy Installation”. Each office was given a candy bar that depicted her roll.
For Registrar Cheryl Hornet- M&M’s, representing the millions of members you will escort into DAR life.
For Historian Madeline Rementer the chapter History is the FRUIT of your labor, some will be JUICY….. all will be colorful.
Chaplain Linda Prindle, you are charged with the GOOD of conducting memorials and the opening ritual and PLENTY of compassion and inspiration.
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105th Birthday Celebration!
We are so honored to celebrate the 105th birthday of our dear member, Ms Janis Dalrymple Pearce (Mrs George G)
May 24, 1914 – October 6, 2019
Birthday girl, Janis Dee Kring & Janis
Manatee Chapter Celebrates the 125th Anniversary of the founding of the NSDAR
Throughout 2015, the Daughters of the American Revolution celebrated 125 years of service to America. The DAR was founded on October 11, 1890 to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism. This significant anniversary was an incredible opportunity to share DAR’s fascinating history as well as our organization’s contemporary relevance. We honored the members who made the DAR what it is today and celebrated those who continue their work for the future.
Manatee Chapter adopts a Sea Turtle Nest!
Kathy Doddridge Receives NSDAR Community Service Award March 2016
Kathy Doddridge, left, with Sharon Spry, Regent of the Manatee Chapter received the DAR’s Excellence in Community Service award.
Doddridge volunteers with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring and the Sarasota Audubon Society and Nature Center. Turtle Watch Director,
Suzi Fox praised Doddridge’s enthusiasm, passion, kindness and politeness, while Cynthia Wilson,award chairperson for the DAR, quoted Jeanne Dubi,
president of Sarasota Audubon,as applauding her abilities with the public as an Audubon ambassador in her written recommendation.
Suzi Fox receives NSDAR Community Service Award – February 2014
Ms. Fox spends countless hours educating residents, visitors, businesses, local officials and law enforcement on how to
work together to preserve sea turtles and shorebirds. She also has worked with coastal residents and businesses on turtle-friendly lighting. As a result, there has been a dramatic decrease in hatch-ling disorientation achieved at seven different properties after converting to turtle-friendly lighting. Disorientations were reduced to zero at all sites. At the February 14, Manatee Chapter DAR meeting, chapter regent, Sharon Spry, and chapter member, Kathy Doddridge, presented Ms. Fox with the Conservation certificate and medal. In the audience were Manatee County Commissioner, John Chappie, Suzi’s sister, Nancy Banman, as well as chapter members and guests.
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Webmaster Site last updated on 09182020