Joining the C.A.R.
Qualifications
"Any boy or girl under the age of twenty-one is eligible for membership in the National Society of the Children of the American Revolution who is lineally descended from a man or woman who, with unfailing loyalty, rendered material aid to the cause of American Independence as a soldier, sailor, civil officer, or recognized patriot in one of the several Colonies or States, or of the United States, provided that the applicant is personally acceptable to the Society." (Article III, National Bylaws)
Who to Contact
To join the C.A.R., contact any of the local societies or e-mail CAR@jb70.net More information can also be obtained from the N.S.C.A.R. Website, or from the National Headquarters, 1776 D St NW Rm 224, Washington DC 2006-5303.
At Large Membership (no meetings)
At-large membership is available for those who do not wish to participate with a local society. However, at-large members cannot hold any local, state or national office, nor can they be a delegate to the State Conference, National Convention or Regional Meetings. They may attend but without a vote. Because the benefits of C.A.R. membership are obtained through participation, at-large membership is not encouraged.
Dues and Fees
The current application fee is $15 and the annual National dues are $20. State dues are $5 and local society dues vary. Life members have their National dues paid at a discount through their 22nd birthday. When two or more siblings apply at the same time, the application fee is only $10 for the additional siblings.
Application Process
Most members join through descent from another C.A.R. or from a related member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the American Revolution, or Sons of the Revolution, since those lineages are already established. Additional documentation may be needed if the older DAR, SAR or S.R. did not have documentation that meets current standards.
To view the C.A.R. Membership Application from the N.S.C.A.R. website. Current instructions will be available there.
Organize a Local C.A.R. Society
Local C.A.R. societies are chartered by the National Society of the Children of the American Revolution. Since the C.A.R. is a separate organization from the affiliated sponsoring organizations, the sponsoring DAR or SAR chapter does not "own" or control the local C.A.R. society. More than one DAR or SAR chapter may sponsor a local C.A.R. society. A sponsoring DAR or SAR chapter is not required.
Six Members needed
Six new members are needed to organize a C.A.R. society. C.A.R. societies are traditionally sponsored by a DAR or SAR chapter, however this is not required. Any member of the DAR, SAR or S.R. may organize a C.A.R. society. A sponsoring DAR or SAR chapter or chapters provide adult leadership and a pool of potential C.A.R. members.
To reorganize a former local society the six organizing members do not need to be new C.A.R. members, but could transfer from other local societies.
Senior Society President
Each local C.A.R. society has a Senior President appointed by the Senior State President and confirmed by the Senior National Board of Management. The Senior President and Senior First Vice President must be members of the DAR, SAR or S.R. Other adult leaders need not be members of the DAR, SAR or S.R. unless required by local society bylaws.
Until the local society is organized and charter by the National C.A.R., it is led by an Organizing President, appointed by the Senior State President and confirmed by the Senior National Board of Management.
Dues and Fees
The current application fee is $15 and the annual National dues are $20. State dues are $5 and local society dues vary. Life members have their National dues paid at a discount through their 22nd birthday. When two or more siblings apply at the same time, the application fee is only $10 for the additional siblings.
Organizing Process
The steps to organize a local C.A.R. society are:
1. Contact the Senior State President..
2. Gather other interested prospective members, parents, and other DAR or SAR to help.
3. The Senior State President appoints a DAR or SAR as an Organizing President.
4. The appointment is confirmed by the C.A.R. Senior National Board of Management, which then authorizes the organizing process.
5. The Organizing President approves member applications and forwards then to National C.A.R.
6. The new society selects a name for the new society, which must be approved by the Senior National Board of Management before the new society is confirmed.
7. When there are at least six members for the new society, an organizing meeting is held at which time the bylaws are adopted and officers elected.
8. The Senior State President appoints a Senior Society President and the Senior National Board of Management confirms the appointment and the new society confirmed and chartered.
9. Once organized, the member officers, the youth, preside under the guidance and supervision of the Senior Society President.
Adult Leadership Opportunities
Affiliations
Washington State Society of the Children of the American Revolution is affiliated with the
Daughters of the American Revolution [DAR],
Sons of the American Revolution [SAR], and
Sons of the Revolution [S.R.]
Pictured here in 2016 are:
Carol Jean Gaffney, Washington State DAR Regent
Douglas Nelson, Washington State SAR President
Emma-Grayce Tinker-Fleck, Washington State C.A.R. President
John R. Berg, Washington State C.A.R. Senior President
Adults provide guidance in the C.A.R.
While the C.A.R. is an organization of youth and for youth, adult leadership is essential. The work of the C.A.R. can progress only so far as there is adult leadership available and willing to put in the time and effort. These adult leaders in the C.A.R. are called "Seniors".
Traditionally the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) has provided the bulk of the adult leadership (80%) for the C.A.R. There are also opportunities for others from the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and Sons of the Revolution (S.R.) and even others who are not members of any of these organizations.
DAR or SAR membership is not required
On the state and local society level, only the offices of Senior President and Senior First Vice President require membership in either the DAR, SAR or S.R.
Often C.A.R. members have parents or adult relatives who are not DAR or SAR and they are welcome to become involved.
Dues and Fees
Only Senior State President and Senior Society Presidents are required to pay a $10 annual fee to serve. Others serve at no cost and often incidental expenses are reimbursed.
How to get involved
Anyone who would like to become involved who is not in contact with a local C.A.R. society should contact the Senior State President at SSP@WaStateCAR.org for more information. One of the major duties of the Senior State President is to provide training and help to other senior leaders.
Mrs. Richard I. Sampson Fund
Mrs. Richard I. Sampson (1886-1964) is considered the founder of the Washington State Society of the Children of the American Revolution.
The fund that bears her name is used to assist the member State President to go to the National Convention in April to be installed at Mount Vernon, Virginia, on the lawn near the tombs of George and Martha Washington and to attend the National Board meeting following. Currently the fund can assist with $750 for the costs for registration, meals, hotel and airfare for the State President, but is insufficient to cover any chaperone also attending. If a State President is unable to attend to be installed, the funds can be used to attend the next National Convention to report as State President and attend the National Board Meeting.
Donations to the fund are welcome. Checks payable to Washington State Society, C.A.R. should be designated for the Sampson Fund and sent to:
Washington State Society, C.A.R.
c/o John R. Berg, Senior State Treasurer
PO Box 112
Southworth, WA 98386-0112
