Molly Foster Berry NSDAR met at the Linn COunty Museum for a meeting, April 18, 2008. The meeting was called to order by Past Regent Grace Hendrix, with the recitation of the RItual, Pledge of Allegiance, and the American's Creed. Ola Mae Earnest read the President's Message. Minutes of the previous meeting were read by the Secretary. The Treasurer's report was ommitted because treasure was not there. No old business was discussed. State By Law changes were mentioned and documents for the Constitution Congress was mentioned.

There was a break for a luncheon that the Hostess prepared. Ola Mae Earnest and Vera WIlliamson were our hostesses.

Oceanous Hopkins has invited our chapter to attend Monday, Memorial Day, because the State Regent will be at Mr. Olive Cemetery at 11 a.m. The group will go to lunch after the ceremony.

Ola Mae Earnest gave the program about National Parks. The idea of preserving our National Wilderness areas was said by some to have been coalesced by George Caitlin, an artist, upon his arrival in the Dakotas in 1832. In that same year, Congress voted the Hot Springs Reservation in Arkansas, now Hot Springs National Pare, off limits to developers. In 1836, Ralp Waldo Emerson and David Thoreau added their voices in support of preserving the wildernesses. Abraham Lincoln authorized the preservation of Yosemete Valley and the Mariposa Sequori trees in California, our first State Park. Fredrick Olmstead, John Muir, Teddy Roosevelt, Ulysses S. Grant and Woodrow Wilson had much to do to preserve our parks. There are 388 sites, they are in nearly every state and of these, 55 are considered the American Crown Jewels of our National Parks. Kansas has the Tall Grass Prairie National Preserve, which contains a unique collection of Natural ecosystems and contains a unique collection of Natural and Cultural features from the American Indian to the present.

The meeting was adjourned with the recitation of The American's Creed.

-- Submitted by

Grace Hendrix