The Nathan Perry Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution was recognized by the Masters Reports Committee of the Ohio DAR as a first-place blue ribbon winner among chapters with 51 to 100 members.
The award honors chapters for outstanding community outreach across the state, according to chapter regent Robbie Brown.
“To us, it’s a big deal,” Brown said. “I don’t know if it is to the rest of the world, but there’s 98 chapters (in Ohio), and I guess we’re one of nine that has made so much growth.”
Brown said she was beaming with pride upon learning her chapter was recognized.
She thanked Lorain County for being so welcoming to the chapter throughout the years and honored the chapter as a whole for their hard work.
“We are immensely proud of this achievement, which serves as a testament to the dedication and hard work of our members,” the chapter said. “The Nathan Perry Chapter has consistently strived to uphold the values and principles of the (DAR), and this recognition is a validation of our commitment to preserving and promoting our nation’s rich history.”
Brown called the chapter’s growth over the past year “remarkable,” and it has helped the chapter reach new heights.
Thanks to contributions from members, old and new, the Nathan Perry Chapter has been able to provide increased community impact, she said. Brown specifically mentioned the chapter’s focus on local education, partlly thanks to her background as an educator.
“(We have) a huge commitment to education,” she said. “Right now, we’re in with Clearview School District where I was once a principal, and with Lorain (City Schools), which I retired from as an administrator.
“It’s important for me to see growth in the community, and we’re not going to have growth unless everybody helps out.”
Receiving recognition in the form of this award was a full chapter effort and could not have been achieved without everyone doing their part, Brown said.
Specifically, she cited the work of younger members of the group.
Despite hard times financially and an uncertain future for many of the chapter’s youths, new members continue to join, Brown said.
“It shows that we’re moving forward,” she said. “It’s tough times. A lot of people aren’t giving (or) don’t have the time, especially a lot of our younger people.
“They’re trying to keep their heads above water, and we’re strictly a volunteer organization, and yet, we’re getting new members.”
Volunteering is the backbone of the Nathan Perry Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Brown said, and part of what makes the group special.
The sheer number of organizations the chapter has been able to help, such as addiction treatment center Road to Hope, speaks to the dedication of its volunteers, she said.
“Everybody is trying to make the dollar stretch,” Brown said. “We’re hoping that we’re helping to pick up that slack by giving what we can.
“Anything we make from any projects that we do; we give back to the community.”
To learn more about volunteer opportunities with the blue ribbon award-winning Nathan Perry Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution email nathanperrynsdar@gmail.com.
