What a surprising honor! With MCAT.org’s filming grant, I produced a short documentary called, Daughters of the American Revolution-A Patriotic Education, for the 2018 MSSDAR (Montana State Daughters of the American Revolution) conference.
During the 2019 conference, the state regent presented awards for outstanding service. I was unable to attend. So at my chapter’s 100th Anniversary Tea, I received the humbling surprise.
Receiving the MSSDAR First Place Media Award for outstanding service really touched my heart. I had no expectation of an award. As a newer member, I don’t know all the various awards and all the intricacies of this amazing organization. But what stunned me was that so many women I admire, who serve their chapters and towns and the nation thought I was worthy of an award. Thank you!

Do you want a little story-behind-the-story? Here goes...
As a non-profit organization, I was able to submit a request for a filming grant to MCAT on behalf of the Daughters of the American Revolution Bitter Root Chapter. MCAT approved the filming. Then a camera woman came and filmed for 2 hours as our state conference filled educational boxes for 1- and 2-room school houses.
I had the privilege to interview 4 very special DAR women during the filming as well. I didn’t know I would be the reporter/interviewer for the production. I had assumed a reporter came with the grant. I couldn’t just create film footage. So even with a malfunctioning microphone, we managed to get some amazing stories from these dignitaries of the DAR organization. These “daughters” shared their interests in genealogy, patriotic education, service to community and country, and displayed their beautiful, generous souls.
1. Janice Hand, Daughters of the American Revolution MT State Chaplain
2. Heather Watson Green, Kate Duncan Smith DAR School Executive Director
3. Jane Lee Hamman, Montana State Regent-Daughters of the American Revolution
4. Blanche Tate, Bitter Root Chapter Regent-Daughters of the American Revolution
What is MCAT.org?
Missoula Community Access Television (MCAT) provides Missoula residents and organizations with the equipment, training, and channel time to produce media based on their interests and concerns. These programs reflect Missoula’s cultural, political, and intellectual diversity, and help foster a community dialogue about people and issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. They have 2 channels—189 and 190.
Here’s the documentary, if you’d like to watch it.
Daughters of the American Revolution—A Patriotic Education
http://69.144.69.99/CablecastPublicSite/show/8789?channel=1
(There are some sound issues during the live event that were unavoidable.)