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From the Alabama Division's President, Donna Clark

May 2013

UDC Ladies,

It is my hope that each of you attended at least one event this April to mark Confederate History and Heritage Month. I was happy to see many of you at the commemoration at the Capitol on the 22nd. Planning and executing our Confederate Memorial Day Program is no small task. I want to thank everyone who helped with the program, and especially Tonnia Maddox, Pat Godwin and Belinda Holloway for their outstanding work. I can't say how much we enjoyed hearing about our Southern Heritage from such a dynamic speaker, Mr. Ronnie Simmons. Kim Shannon is always a favorite singer of our Southern songs. I could tell that everyone enjoyed her singing by the tapping of feet as she sang.

Congratulations to Dekalb County Chapter 1456 on their 100th Anniversary. On April 20th at the historic Fort Payne Theatre, Chapter President, Gwen Williams, and Chapter members planned a really nice celebration with special guests, lovely decorations and period music to commemorate this milestone. It was a special event which I had the privilege to attend.

The CofC Memorial Service was held on April 20th at Confederate Memorial Park. The attendance was small, but the program was good and all in attendance enjoyed the day. I wish to thank CofC Director, Judy Buchanan, the officers and the Mountain Creek Committee for planning this tribute to our Confederate Ancestors. I would also like to thank Glendora James for bringing greetings for me on this occasion.

While thumbing through an old UDC magazine I noticed the title of an article, "They Are Out There." No, the article wasn't about outer space creatures, ghosts or even memberships. But it got me to thinking; it is prospective UDC members that are out there! There are ladies out there just looking for someone to tell them how to become a member of the UDC. And it is up to us to find these ladies and share this information. Some members believe that UDC membership is a secret not to be shared, but they are wrong. Becoming a UDC member is a privilege and not because of anything that we've done, but what our ancestors did, it is our heritage. The question is, "What do we do with this very valuable birthright?"

The Nathan Bedford Forrest Chapter 2410 was down to only four (4) members. A membership meeting was called on March 30, 2013, with fourteen (14) ladies attending who wished to join this chapter. After a second meeting on April 23rd, membership was already growing with several applications and reinstatements awaiting approval. And now we can say that the Nathan Bedford Forrest Chapter 2410 in Cullman is alive and well! I wish to thank Kay Neel, of the Joe Wheeler Chapter 291, for spending her time recruiting new members, and Lynda Lowery, of the Major General Patrick R. Cleburne Chapter 2632, for her expert advice and assistance. Ladies, "they are out there" if you look.

"April showers bring May flowers," and also, for most chapters, May will be the last meeting of their UDC year. If your chapter does not meet in the summer months, please remember to gather all reporting information from your members so that you can compile your year-end Chapter or Committee reports. It is important to let your District Director, Division Committee Chairmen and the Division officers know what your chapter has been doing all year. The Division report forms are on the Alabama Division website and the General report forms are on the General website. Send in your reports, and let's make our Alabama Division stand out on the General level.

I want to encourage each of you to purchase a copy of the new UDC Handbook and the General Minutes from the Business Office. Every chapter president should have access to these two books as well as the Division Yearbook.

The UDC Handbook gives you the duties of General, Division and Chapter officers. It tells you about the Military Service Awards as well as other UDC awards and contains much valuable information for all members. The General Minutes gives the names and addresses of all General Officers and Committee Chairs; also the General bylaws, officer's reports, Division officers and Chapter presidents from each Division.

The Alabama Division Yearbook and Minutes has very important information for every Alabama Division member, including name and contact information for all Division and Chapter officers and Division Committee Chairs. You will find important dates for reports, Division events, Division bylaws, essay topics for students and members, coloring contest rules, officer's duties and much more. Please consider purchasing each of these books and use them to find the much needed information for your chapters.

In remembrance of our ancestors,

Donna Clark, President
Alabama Division UDC

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