Colorado Juniors

A Junior member is a DAR member under thirty-six years of age. She has the same responsibilities and privileges as a regular member, but is eligible to page at National, State, or Chapter events. Many Juniors join with their mothers, grandmothers and aunts. The Colorado State Society supports the Junior Members tremendously by encouraging active membership, understanding family and time constraints, and mentoring college students, career women, or stay-at-home moms. Juniors join DAR for a variety of reasons and have diverse interests, however, working together for a common goal forges many friendships and offers endless opportunities for personal and professional growth inside and outside of DAR. The future of DAR is relying on the Juniors of today.

Please contact the individuals for more information on increasing junior membership in your chapter!

The Outstanding Junior Contest honors a Junior member either on the chapter or state level. Any chapter member in good standing may be selected by her chapter as the Chapter Outstanding Junior Member as well as State Outstanding Junior Member. The candidate must be endorsed by the chapter at a regular chapter meeting occurring after March 1, and before October 30, of the current year. The candidate for State Outstanding Junior must have a minimum of 10 points. These points are earned by serving as chapter or state chairmen or officers, or as a page at state conference or national. C.A.R. Senior leadership earns points also. The candidate must not be 36 years old on October 31, of the same year. (Her 36th birthday must come after this date.) If someone from your chapter does not meet the state requirements, she can still be your chapter’s Outstanding Junior.

Every year, Colorado recognizes an Outstanding Junior who makes a significant contribution to historical, educational and patriotic objectives of DAR and who is involved in her community.. She is chosen by her chapter and competes at the State Level and the contest is then conducted on a divisional and national level.

Colorado recognizes their State Winner at their Awards Luncheon during State Conference with a certificate of award, a State Outstanding Junior pin, an Outstanding Junior Page Sash and provide funds for the Outstanding Junior to attend Continental Congress and/or place an ad in the DAR Magazine.

Juniors are committed to assisting with this fund. This fund provides scholarships, medical aid and general financial assistance to the DAR schools: Kate Duncan Smith and Tamassee. The Junior Shoppe at Continental Congress, the Junior Bazaar at State Conferences, in addition to Junior Projects such as the National Doll are just of the important fundraising means for the Helen Pouch Memorial Fund.

Profits raised by the Juniors have been used to build the Junior Membership Library at Kate Duncan Smith DAR School and to establish the Arts and Crafts Center at Tamassee DAR School, reflecting the emphasis of the National Society on education.

The Junior Shoppe at the Colorado State Conference continues to be the primary way that profit is raised for the Helen Pouch Memorial Fund. Profits raised by the Juniors provides the salary for the full-time school nurse as well as for funds for eye and dental care for the children, playground equipment, and classroom supplies at both Kate Duncan Smith DAR School and Tamassee. Since 1993, the Colorado Juniors have raised over $10,000.00 for the Helen Pouch Memorial Fund.

The Colorado Juniors designed a "Colorado 100 year T-shirt" and started the State Junior Project from proceeds. The State Junior Project then funded a "DAR is in your Gene's" T-shirt, the design was done by past Junior member, Seeley Springman. The National Junior Membership Committee used this t-shirt design to sell 1000 at Continental Congress in 1997.

The National Junior Doll started in the early 1950's. Each year, a state sponsors a special doll. This doll is usually modeled after someone influential from that state or from the DAR. That state also purchases and/or makes clothing for their doll. Voices are then made available to the public and to DAR members during the year, culminating at Continental Congress, when the drawing for the doll is held and the lucky recipient is announced. Colorado was honored to sponsor the 2000 National Junior Doll, "Suzanne" where over $5,350 was raised for the Helen Pouch Memorial Fund. Click here to see our achievement!

The Friends of the Junior Membership Committee Endowment Fund was established by the National Board of Management in October 1989. The interest income from this permanent fund is used solely to finance Junior projects benefiting the Kate Duncan Smith and Tamassee DAR Schools.