Concluding Observations:

After following the DRT for an entire semester, closely observing their activities and interpreting their communication strategies, I would like my last blog entry to be some final remarks:

- Communication needs some improvement: Sure, I understand that half of the appeal of an organization is exclusivity, but really, these ladies have nothing to report from their monthly meetings? What could they possibly talk about in there? It seems that the hush hush feel is just an excuse to report nothing to the public. After these hearing that these legislative bills have passes demanding that DRT needs to be more open with information to the public, I am glad that someone called them out on their secrets. 

- Passion & emotion are huge motivators: Never have I read more patriotic diction and colorful descriptions than the rhetoric displayed on the webpages, the testimonies I read from the legislative hearings, and the passion conveyed in talking with the members. It seems that pride has a lot to do with joining DRT and being a 10th generation Texas is really cool and all, but these ladies sure are patriotic! Looking at the list of the chapters alone is evidence that there are many Texan women out their that are proud to be one. 

- Bureaucracy works for ladies' organizations too: DRT does a good job of setting you up with the right people you need to be in contact with. Everywhere on their websites, whether it be the organization itself or affiliated sites, you can always find a listing of the officers. It strikes me as sort of silly to have 5 Vice Presidents, but when you divvy out responsibilities to each one, it makes much more sense. The spokeswomen does her job to the best of her abilities, as does the President. Everyone from the newly joined member to the life long participant recognizes that a hierarchy exists and through dedication and commitment, anyone can reach their desired position. 

- Community involvement is their specialty: Catering to a large and varied audience is exactly what DRT does so well. Their free admittance to museums, libraries, and historical landmarks means that no one is hampered by an expensive ticket. Cost-free events generate good buzz for the organization and word spreads quickly that DRT is a respectful and generous group. This is a great strategy to boost reputation and gain the favor of the public. 

Link to DRT Library Blog

Inside the Gates is the name of the blog that I recently stumbled across for the DRT library. It is updated almost monthly and shares some pertinent fact to Texas history. The second to last week in April was the annual celebration of San Antonio's Fiesta - a hybrid of street festivals, parades, debuts, and galas. Comparable to New Orleans' Mardi Gras, Fiesta is a time when the entire city comes out to celebrate - public schools are even granted a holiday on the Friday to attend the Battle of Flowers parade, another historic tradition maintained by a different ladies' organization, The Battle of Flowers Association. Like DRT, the BOF group uses the platform preserving and promoting Texas history to honor San Antonio heritage and customs. Another similarity between the two is that they use educational opportunities to get their word out to the public. Every year the BOF holds a citywide essay contest for 7th grade students and an oratorical contest for college age students with a theme that relates to Teas history. I still remember my theme in 7th grade - Barbed Wire: the Taming of Texas. The BOF and DRT are so well known throughout the city because they have such a large member based that is so steeped in history and esteemed in lineage.

Anyways, I got very off topic...the reason for this post is because I wanted to share the link to the ERT library blog. The most recent April post was about Fiesta, so I felt the need to share my account and passion for the San Antonio tradition. The link to the site is: http://drtlibrary.wordpress.com/

Fellowships at UT

The Clara Driscoll Scholarship for Research in Texas History was established by the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System on June 2, 1942, for the benefit of the College of Liberal Arts. Gift funds were provided by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas Inc. of Garland, Texas. In 1986 the association established the Texas Sesquicentennial Fellowship under the same guidelines.

DRT Accomplishments Include:

Encourage Texas Legislature to purchase the land of the Battle of San Jacinto

One on the earliest projects was to persuade the state to buy the land on which the battle was fought. DRT then placed historical markers on important site with the assistance of the Verterans’ Association

1929 – Children of the Republic of Texas association organized

This junior organization is sponsored by local chapters and allows any child under the age of 21 to join if they can trace their linage back to before the Texas Revolution

Elisabeth Ney Texas period states to Texas Capitol

The Daughters were monumental in buying the life-size statues of Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston and placing them in the rotunda of the Texas Capitol, where they remain to this day

Washington-on-the-Brazos monument placement

DRT used its influence to get a monument placed on the location of the signing of the Declaration of Texas Independence

1961 – Adoption of artwork for the reverse side of the Texas Seal

On August 11^th, Texas legislature chose the design of DRT member, Sarah Roach Farnsworth, of the San Antonio chapter, for the reverse side of the Great Seal of Texas. It featured the

Place bronze medallions of graves of citizens of the Republic of Texas

A recent and ongoing project is to commemorate the lives of citizens form the republic who are buried around the state

Published volumes of Texas history

DRT sponsored the publication of many volumes of history, biographies, and lineages of its members in Founders and Patriots of the Republic of Texas


Source: The Handbook of Texas Online
Texas Sate Historical Commission
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/vnd03

DRT Successful in Efforts to Keep Alamo

Wednesday, April 6th, Austin TX - The women of DRT finally convinced Texas legislature that they are capable of keeping the responsibility of the Alamo's preservation. After hours of testimony from many of the members on proposed bills that would give up their custodial role, the legislature decided to let the women stay on as guardians. Dorothy Black, age 70 and a member of the San Antonio chapter, said "the Daughters have volunteered thousands of hours a year. We've been there. We've been called upon. We get none of your dollars and we've operated successfully for over 100 years." Many of the senators and representatives have voiced similar concerns and do not want to see the Alamo be given to the Historical Commission. Senator Jeff Wentworth said, "Through wars and depressions and everything, without any (public money), they have maintained what is now the No. 1 tourist destination in Texas. We need to be very grateful to these dedicated women." The third of the proposed bills demands that there be greater transparency in the Alamo's financial and business affairs. The Daughters did not oppose this bill. About a dozen women testified their responsibility in front of the legislature. They proved their case and have successfully retained the responsibility of the Alamo's upkeep. 


Source: San Antonio Express News 
Writer John MacCormack "DRT Succeeding in effort to keep Alamo role" 

DTR must show improvement or lose Alamo stewardship

In the last week of March, Texas legislation declared three measures that the Daughters must follow if they want to stay on as keepers of the Alamo. The Texas attorney general's investigation of the Alamo's upkeep has raised questions on whether the Daughter's efforts to raise funds and maintain it are satisfactory. If they do not meet these challenges proposed by congress, then the state of Texas - who actually owns the Alamo - will have just cause to terminate DRT's stewardship. One measure that the Daughters could put in place to save their guardianship is to prepare a comprehensive annual report available to the public. The other two bills would put the Texas Historical Commission in change of the Alamo's preservation and maintenance and then authorize the Daughters (however stated in the bill as the "non profit") to be responsible for the Alamo's management.

Scott Huddleston, a San Antonio Express-News staff writer, has investigated the public record and has determined from it that the DRT's budget only shows a $350 amount set aside for preservation efforts during its 2007-2009 fiscal years. He claims that, "No matter what the attorney general's office ultimately finds, the Daughters effectively have two more years to get their house in order because of the timing of the investigation in relation to the legislative calendar."

It seems to me that the Daughters have their work cut out for them. They have been threatened with legislation that could terminate their efforts and drastically hurt their organization as a result. I will keep you updated with anymore recent news. In the meantime, I plan to take a trip to San Antonio to judge for myself just how good of a care-taking job the Daughters are doing. Look forward to pictures and stories to come!

Story from the article "DRT must show major improvement at Alamo"
San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board
Updated 12:01 a.m., Wednesday, March 30, 2011Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/DRT-must-show-major-improvement-at-Alamo-1313404.php#ixzz1ICXgOhQp

Controversy Strikes! The Daughters to Lose the Alamo?

This Wednesday, March 9, 2011, a four-hour legislative hearing took place in Austin to discuss the Alamo and its overseers, the ladies of DRT. The hearing concluded that the historic landmark could possibly be seeing a joint venture in its future. Allegedly, the members of the Culture, Recreation, & Tourism Committee made attempts to remove the Alamo from the ladies control; however when called for a comment, they said it wasn’t true.

Now the current caretakers are fighting to preserve the tradition they have been responsible for the past 105 years. The Daughters have been charged that they have not been doing a good enough job. The cause for the hearing was because some citizens were concerned for the preservation of the Alamo for future generations. State Senator Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio says, “They run it day to day, but they seem unable to raise the funds necessary to repair the roof and to keep the structure viable long term.” Many legislatures are on the Daughters side however they don’t want to see the Alamo crumbling especially while they have the authority to do something about it.

A resolution has come about that calls for a bill that will “potentially fill in some things if we need to aid the Daughters,” said state Representative Lyles Larson. Because the state does not currently provide any financial help with any of the maintenance costs, the legislators are trying to amend this situation. What will most likely happen is that another committee will come onboard to help alleviate expenses that the Daughters are struggling to pay.

I will keep you updated of what happens! Will the Daughters remain overseers or will a tradition 100+ year in the works change hands?

Source:

KSAT News – San Antonio

State Not Ready To Take Alamo From DRT

Legislative Hearing Airs Concerns Over Alamo Custodianship

Charles Gonzalez, KSAT 12 News Reporter