Yazoo Chapter members attending the MSSDAR State Conference opening night were Wendy Cartwright, MSSDAR State Librarian; Priscilla Harper, MSSDAR Hospitality Chairman; Janet Whittington, MSSDAR State Regent; JoAnne Collins, Yazoo Chapter Regent; and Montine Bond. Special to The Herald

Eight members of the Yazoo Chapter National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution attended the 106th MSSDAR State Conference held at the Hilton Hotel in Jackson on Feb. 15-18 with Yazoo Chapter’s own Janet Looney Whittington, State Regent MSSDAR, presiding.
The conference theme for 2012 was “Mississippi: On the Front Lines of National Defense.” Those Yazoo Chapter NSDAR members attending were Janet Whittington, State Regent; JoAnne Collins, Regent, Yazoo Chapter NSDAR; Priscilla Harper, Vice Regent, Yazoo Chapter NSDAR; Delaine Stoner, Secretary; Wendy Cartwright, Registrar and MSSDAR Librarian; Sue Patterson, Montine Bond and Gloria Adcock. Serving as Page was Kelly Olivieri, granddaughter of JoAnne Collins.
On Thursday morning, two educational forums were presented. “The Natchez Trace and Mississippi in the War of 1812” was presented by Tony Turnbow, president of the Natchez Trace Parkway Association. “Membership! Membership! Membership!” was presented by Mrs. Billie Breedlove, Registrar MSSDAR.
Later, a memorial service for those MSSDAR members who died in 2011 was held at Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Jackson. Yazoo Chapter NSDAR members present were  Whittington, Collins and Harper.
Preceding the opening night service on Thursday evening, the State Officer’s Club Dinner was held. Many distinguished guests were present.     
At this time, the State Outstanding Service to Veterans Award for 2011 was presented to Mr. Jimmy Bass for his vision in establishing the Laurel Veteran’s Memorial Museum. The opening night speaker was Maj. Deidre Musgrave, Public Affairs Officer, Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center who enlightened the Daughters on “The Modern Role of Camp Shelby in National Defense.”
The National Defense Luncheon was held Friday at noon. The speaker was Maj. Gen. Thomas Moore Jr., U.S. Marine Corps. Awards were presented to State Outstanding Teacher of American History, American History Essay Contest and State DAR Good Citizens Scholarship. Yazoo Chapter’s Good Citizen winner, Mary Moses Hitt, was present with her mother, Tracey Hitt, and grandmother, Natalie Gibbs.
On Friday evening, Chapter Regents were honored at the Regent’s Dinner. Collins gave a report on the Chapter’s activities highlighting the 9-11 Memorial Event, which was dedicated to all 9-11 victims and in honor of first responders, especially those first responders in Yazoo County. Yazoo Chapter received an “Outstanding” Reward for this event.
On Sunday, members attended the Junior’s Breakfast with the theme “Celebrating 75 Years of Junior Membership.” The program “Cupcakes and Kangaroos” was given by Jennifer Nettles, National Vice Chairman. Following the breakfast, the final business session was held, which included final reports of the Credentials and Registration Committees, Children of the American Revolution, DAR Schools Committee and the Resolutions Committee. MSSDAR adopted a resolution to commemorate the War of 1812 during the bicentennial years 2012-2015.
Yazoo Chapter NSDAR received 33 awards including first place overall Commemorative Events; first place chapter over 50 members Commemorative Event; Special Award for Excellence in Regent’s Commemorative Events Report; first place scrapbook; Special Award for Outstanding National Defense Program; Gold Award for support of DAR Schools; Excellence Award for the American Flag; Gold Award for American Indians; second place, Bacone College Labels for Education; second place for Indian Display; third place for Indian Events; Highest Honors Award for Applicants for DAR Scholarship; Exemplary Contribution DAR Good Citizen Award; Honors for Good Citizen Scholarship; Honors for awarding the Good Citizen with the scholarship; Outstanding Award for Historic Preservation; Award for helping prospective members with research; Certificate of Recognition for use of a computer for volunteer information specialists; Recognition for Networking among chapter members and other chapters; Recognition for supporting the Junior Members; Award for a Good DAR Magazine Report; Honorable Mention in the American History Committee Work; Honorable Mention for Naturalization Ceremony; Recognition Award for using a program from the NSDAR; third place for most copies for the American Creed distributed; third place Women’s Issues; Award for participating entry in the American Heritage Contest “Who Knew” Family Traditions; six awards of Meritorius Members Friends of Rosalie; Recognition, book donated to the NSDAR Library; Recognition, books donated to the MSSDAR Genealogical Library.