About the Chapter

In the late spring of 1992, DAR members Agnes Van Orden, Mary Lou Chianese, Jean Katz, Claire Pellarin, and Beverleigh Schlieben met to organize a new Pennsylvania chapter. Along with Elizabeth Carfagno, Roselyn Doverspike, Beverlee Felkner, Rachel Kemble, Nancy LaRocca, Marion O’Neill, Diane Orr, Edith Orr, Jean Torongo, Marjorie Torongo and Marilyn Watson, they are known as the organizing and charter members.

On August 29, 1992, organizing officers were installed by the state organizing secretary and twelve of the sixteen organizing and charter members signed a “report to organize.”

Organizing officers were: Agnes Van Orden, regent; Mary Lou Chianese, vice regent; Beverleigh Schlieben, chaplain; Jean Torongo, recording secretary; Beverlee Felkner, corresponding
 secretary; Marjorie Torongo,  treasurer;  Elizabeth Carfargno, registrar. Beverleigh Schleiben also served as parliamentarian.

Additional DAR members Joan Henry, Patricia Kondash, Charlotte Rieger, Francella Smith, and Carole Tafaro joined the newly forming chapter, bringing the total number of charter members to twenty-one.

Committee members during the organizing year were: American Heritage and American History Month, Beverlee  Felkner; DAR School, Patricia Kondash, Carol Talfaro; Flag of the USA, Jean Torongo; Finance, Marjorie Torongo, Mary Lou Chianese, Jean Katz; Genealogical Records and Lineage Research, Elizabeth Carfagno; National Defense, Jean Katz; Program, Mary Lou Chianese, Elizabeth  Carfagno, Agnes Van Orden; Public Relations, Mary Lou Chianese; Ways and Means, Marjorie Torongo.

In keeping with the bylaws of the National Society, three names were submitted for consideration:  Washington Crossing, Bowman Hill, and Samuel Merrick. On October 7, 1992, the National Board of Management confirmed the new chapter as Washington Crossing Chapter of Yardley, Pennsylvania, making it the 146th chapter formed in the state of Pennsylvania.

The 10th anniversary was celebrated at the home of Mary Lou Chianese on October 12, 2002. Organizing and charter members in attendance were:  Mary Lou Chianese, Jean Katz, Nancy LaRocca, Claire Pellarin, Beverleigh Schlieben, Jean Torongo, Marjorie Torongo and Agnes Van Orden. Charter members attending were:  Joan Henry and Francella Smith. A membership of 43 was reported to National in January of 2003.

By 2005, membership had reached 50 or more members and it was no longer practical to continue holding meetings in members’ homes. Arrangements were then made with the David Library of the American Revolution (DLAR) in Washington Crossing for the use of its facilities. Our relationship with the DLAR continues today and we are grateful to its Board of Trustees for its many courtesies over the years.

On October 13 2007, at the David Library, the chapter celebrated its 15th anniversary. In honor of the occasion, the Bucks County Commissioners proclaimed October 13 as “Washington Crossing DAR Day” throughout Bucks County. Meg McSweeney, chief operating officer of the DLAR, was the featured speaker of the day and presented a program on the legacy of Sol Feinstone, the founder of the David Library. In attendance were past regents Agnes Van Orden, Mary Lou Chianese, and Jean Torongo, and current regent Glenda Baggesen-Jensen. A special guest in attendance was Roberta P. McMullen, Pennsylvania State Society DAR registrar. The membership of 76 was reported to National in January 2008.

Having achieved a membership of over 100 members, in 2010 our by-laws were amended to provide for a second vice regent and to honor our founding regent as “Honorary Regent.”

Throughout the years, the chapter has been recognized with membership and achievement awards from the National and State societies and individual members acknowledged for outstanding service.

With great pride, the chapter celebrated its 20^th anniversary on October 20, 2012, with a membership of 124 and a proven record of dedicated service to the objectives of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

2011-2014 Officers and Committee Chairmen

Regent     Sally Haulman

First Vice Regent     Dotty Gannon

Second Vice Regent     Carrie Wetherby

Chaplain     Marianne Morgan

Recording  Secretary     Mary Lou Chianese

Corresponding Secretary     Shari Vetter

Treasurer     Nicole Schuster

Registrar     Karen Nilsen

Historian     Jean Torongo

Librarian     Jennifer Goodwin

Parliamentarian     Sandy Miller

Honorary Regent     Sue Van Orden

American History Essay Contest     Susan Weber, Debbie Versfeld

American Indians     Nancy Bremble

C.A.R.     Mary Lou Chianese, Emily McCarthy

Conservation     Martha Cleaves

Constitution Week     Sandy Miller

DAR Magazine      Jen Viscusi, Lorraine Kish

DAR Schools     Mary Seiferman

DAR Service for Veterans & Project Patriot     Barbara Epting, Dotty Gannon

Genealogical Records     Chris Roberts, Karen Nilsen

Junior Membership      Christine Jacknick

Lineage Research     Karen Nilsen, Chris Roberts

Membership     Lorraine Kish, Karen Nilsen

National Defense     Jean Katz

Program     Carrie Wetherby, Leslie Jones

Public Relations     Jennifer Goodwin

Volunteer Information Specialist     Karen Nilsen

Audit     Judi Biederman

Bylaws     Sue Van Orden, Jean Torongo

Communications     Judi Biederman, Karen Nilsen

Finance     Nicole Schuster, Judi Biederman

Hospitality     Jane Wenda

Insignia     Patrice Matthews

Webmaster     Judi Biederman

Yearbook     Sally Haulman, Erin Maguire