Our members volunteer thousands of hours and many dollars each year to various causes including: health care, preservation, bible study, church functions, genealogy, conservation and land stewardship, education, and much more.

We go on field trips to learn about interesting places in our area. Our trip to historic Montauk had friends, mothers, husbands (HODARS), and prospective members joining us. On the Fort Atkinson trip we got lots of fresh air and exercise with our information. And the "You remember when we were looking for those monuments?" always brings a good memory and story of many small trips around NE Iowa.

We contribute to DAR schools by collecting Campbell's soup labels and Box Tops for Education. Each 10¢ adds up, and when combined with other donations, exceeds $1,000,000 for the eight schools and summer camp DAR supports.

Yearly, we brave the elements to participate in Memorial Day parades and ceremonies to represent the veterans of the Revolutionary War.

We have 100% participation in the President General's Project which funds major renovation and preservation projects at Constitution Hall.

Participation in district, state, and national meetings is informative, fun (especially when doing "creative" activities), and a great way to network for your chapter and make friends.

We annually give awards for Citizenship and American History to middle school and high school students from the schools in our area willing to participate in the DAR programs.

During Constitution Week we ring church and school bells - any bells we can find - for the Bells of Freedom Program. We organize displays in area libraries, have the mayors in our communities sign proclamations, and run announcements in the media.

We donate flags to schools in our six-county area.

Not everything is done as a chapter. When the "monument search" couldn't locate the DAR plaque at Fort Atkinson, one member began searching on her own. She has received permission from the Iowa DNR and the Iowa State DAR to replace the missing plaque!

The State Regents' projects are well supported by our chapter, whether it is funding patriotic books for each public library in the state, adding to the scholarship fund, or donating Iowa cemetery, marriage, or birth records.

We participate in "Walk-a-Thons," give to the Project Patriot Fund, the Friends of the DAR Library, the Americana Room, and many others.

And you thought all we did was meet, eat, and be discreet! Now you know why we have received Gold and Bronze Chapter Achievement Awards for several years.