MESSAGE FROM THE MAGAZINE NATIONAL CHAIR
Kate Johanns
I hope this publication enhances your celebration of America 250! and your personal connection to our shared heritage.
Join Me on The Daughters’ Portico
What a tremendous honor it is to welcome you to the first issue of The Daughters’ Portico! I want to welcome both our dedicated longtime subscribers to our previous print publications as well as our fellow Daughters who may be receiving this type of National Society content for the first time. As we made the move from print to digital, the National Board of Management decided to make the new digital publication available to all members at no additional cost. We hope you find The Daughters’ Portico to contain just the right mix of content—features about the mission of the National Society, stories that celebrate our nation’s heritage, profiles that introduce you to fellow Daughters, and more. The goal is for The Daughters’ Portico to help you grow in your journey as a Daughter, no matter how long you have been a member.
THE PATH FROM PRINT TO DIGITAL
The path from print to digital has been filled with twists and turns, and this publication will continue to grow and evolve. A large team of volunteers, staff members, and vendor partners has been involved in the process, and I want to particularly thank my executive liaison, Corresponding Secretary General Cecile Sliger Wimberley, for her guidance and support. Mrs. Wimberley and I are so grateful for our tremendous staff counterparts, Kasonya Blevins, Senior Director of Retail, and Edith Rianzares, Director of Printing & Publications, who each brought critical expertise to the project. I also want to thank Desiree Medina, Publications Coordinator, for her support and input.
This portico at DAR Headquarters inspired the publication's name, which was suggested by Neale Grisham, a Junior member of the Emily Nelson Chapter, District of Columbia. Photo by NSDAR
One of our tasks in developing the National Society’s digital publication was to identify the right vendor partner to help us bring this vision to life. We are excited to introduce you to Monarch Media & Consulting Inc., a woman-owned company based in Austin, Texas. We are grateful to Andrea Exter, CEO & Director of Publishing, and Chellie Thompson, CFO & Director of Sales, for their creativity, project management, and curiosity about the National Society. They just experienced their first Continental Congress, and I know they have enjoyed getting to know Daughters just a bit better!
I also want to thank our President General, Ginnie Sebastian Storage, and our First Vice President General, Kathryn Walker West, for their leadership and support throughout this process. I am so grateful to Mrs. Storage for the opportunity not only to serve the National Society in this capacity but also to learn from so many good women. My life is so much richer because of the mentorship and friendship I have found through service in my chapter and at the state and national levels. My prayer is that The Daughters’ Portico helps inspire our members to take that next step—whether that’s volunteering for a committee, taking a leadership training course, or attending an event—and sharing in that experience.
Finally, what a serendipitous occurrence that The Daughters’ Portico should launch just days before the 250th anniversary of our nation. I hope this publication enhances your celebration of America 250! and your personal connection to our shared heritage. P
I'd love to hear from you!
Kate Johanns
National Chair, DAR Magazine Committee
or via the Daughters Online Community (DOC), DAR Magazine Committee
JULY/AUGUST 2026
