National Society Daughters of
The American Revolution, (NSDAR)
Commodore John Barry Chapter

UPCOMING EVENTS – 2023-2024

Important message from incoming
CJB Regent Stephany.

Friends, through circumstances beyond our control change is on the horizon. Last month, the church we have been meeting at in Melbourne Beach was sold to a new congregation. The pastor of the new congregation contacted me to let me know that their Leadership Board was going to be deciding whether “outside organizations” could continue to use their facilities. The next day, the church facilities director sent an email to Tammy Sandberg informing her that we could no longer get in on Fridays to set up for our meetings or store any supplies in the kitchen for hospitality. When we arrived for the March meeting that Saturday, we discovered our box of hospitality supplies had been thrown away. The Executive Board decided we needed to look for a new location for our monthly meetings.
I personally contacted six churches and the West Melbourne Public Library attempting to find a new location on our meeting dates for 2023-2024 with no success. The facilities either would not allow us to meet or could not give us a consistent meeting date and time. Melbourne Community Church graciously agreed to allow us to meet at their facility in the Metro West Plaza at the corner of 192 and Wickham Road. As this location is outside Commodore John Barry’s designated region for school contests agreed upon by the Regents’ Council, as a matter of courtesy I attended the Regents’ Council meeting in April to ask if there was any objection to our meeting in this location. There was none. I also contacted State Regent Deb Duay and State Vice Regent Cindy Addison and both assured me that the State Society had no objection to this meeting location.
At our first Executive Board meeting on April 14, 2023, the Board voted unanimously to move our meeting location to Melbourne Community Church. I realize that this will not be a welcome change for those living in Melbourne Beach and I am sorry that we could not continue to meet in our current location. The positive news is that the new location is very close to I-95 for those traveling from Palm Bay, Rockledge, Merritt Island, and St. Cloud.
This is not the only change facing us next year. Florida State Society Daughters of the American Revolution (FSSDAR) decided to move Fall Forum and State Conference from the first Saturdays of September and March to the second Saturdays of those months. This is a direct conflict with our meeting dates. The Executive Committee voted to move our September meeting to September 23 to allow our officers and members to attend Fall Forum with no conflict. Our incoming State Regent Cindy Addison will be joining us for the September 23 meeting at our new location at Melbourne Community Church. The time will not change (Yeah!!), 10:00 am for hospitality and 10:30 am for the meeting. Our October meeting will be on the second Saturday, October 14 at the same time and place.
We will send out reminders of the meeting dates and times but I wanted to give you the information as soon as possible so it would not come as a surprise when we return in the fall.
Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, 321-243-8710. I assure you that this decision was not entered into lightly or without due diligence to explore other possible locations.
Blessings to each of you.
Incoming Regent Stephany