APRIL 2026

Volume 52, No. 4

National Volunteer and Poetry Month!

THANKS to YOU the volunteers of the Native Daughters of the Golden West.

YOU have made a significant impact in preserving California's history and enhancing community life through volunteerism. Your contributions to various committees and communities have been invaluable and your work has not gone unnoticed. From participating in local food drives, Veteran's projects, scholarships, grants, beach clean up days and events supporting historical preservation projects, our members have demonstrated their commitment to the organization's mission and values. Your hard work and devotion have earned you the gratitude and respect of the community, and created a legacy that will continue to inspire future generations of native daughters.

National Poetry Month, launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996, is the largest literary celebration worldwide, highlighting poetry's vital role in culture. Throughout April, schools, publishers, and libraries host events, including "Poem in Your Pocket Day" on April 30, 2026, to encourage reading and writing poetry.

Female hands holding small black chalkboard in front of the body with written words saying Friendly Reminder

April is Election of Delegates to the Grand Parlor Annual Meeting (GPAM)

C.S.P. Article Eleven, Delegates to the Grand Parlor Annual Meeting, Section 2. Nominations for Delegate(s) and Alternate(s) to the Grand Parlor Annual Meeting shall be made at the last regular meeting in March. Elections shall be held the first regular meeting in April. Nominations may be re-opened the night of election by a favorable vote of a majority of Members present.

C.S.P. means Constitution Subordinate Parlors.

To view the C.S.P., visit the Members Only page of the website and open the 2025- Books of the Order, section "6"

The Certificate of Election form can be found in the GPAM packet - Here

GPAM 2026 Packet of Information

For information concerning the Grand Parlor Annual Meeting 2026, the forms, flyers and candidate letters are posted on the Members Only page of the website under the Monthly Mailing section. Information can also be obtained from your Parlor Recording Secretary

GPAM Link

audit check mark illustration design over a white background

Parlor Quarterly Audit Now Due

It is time for the Parlor Trustees to conduct the Quarterly Audit for the months of January, February, and March. Please note that the completed quarterly audit form must be submitted by April 30th and will remain in the Parlor records.

C.S.P. states: The Treasurer shall make available all current bank books, bank statements, checkbooks, and account books at the time books are audited by the Subordinate Parlor.

Form Link

Ina Coolbrith, California's First Poet Laureate

Submitted by Denise Barney, ECC Secretary and Member of Bonita No. 10

Crowned Poet Laureate of the State of California on June 30, 1915 at the Pan Pacific Exposition in San Francisco. She came to California in 1851, first moving to Los Angeles, then to San Francisco as an adult. She was associated with the Overland Monthly and hosted a weekly salon that included writers Mark Twain, Bret Harte, Ambrose Bierce, and Joaquin Miller. Her poetry was widely acclaimed by Alfred, Lord Tennyson among others.

Because of finances, Miss Coolbrith became the first librarian for the Oakland Public Library, the first city in California to have a public library. There she mentored young readers such as Jack London and Isadora Duncan. After 19 years, she was fired from that job but was hired as the librarian of the San Francisco Bohemian Club—the only woman to hold that position.

On December 12, 2024, Ina Coolbrith was inducted as part of the 18^th Class of the California Hall of Fame, the first all women class that included Julia Child (Chef, author), Vicki Manalo Draves (Olympic gold medalist in diving), Mitsuye Endo (Civil rights activist), Dian Fossey (Primatologist), Alice Piper (Civil rights activist), and Tina Turner (Singer, performer).

For more information about Ina, see Ina Coolbrith: The Bittersweet Song of California’s First Poet Laureate by Aleta George. The Ina Coolbrith Circle (www.coolpoetry.org), established in her honor in 1919, continues to support writers and the history of California, hosting poetry contests and seminars.

The above images of Ina about the time she became Poet Laureate, Ina as a young woman and plaque at the Oakland Public Library honoring Ina.

PARLOR HAPPENINGS

Celebrating Excellence: ANNIE K. BIDWELL NO. 168 Shines in Local News...

URSULA NO. 1: Patricia J. Martinez, Andrea Molin, Rose Oneto

JOAQUIN NO. 5: Lynee Monckton

ESHCOL NO. 16: Lisa Zulli

SANTA CRUZ NO. 26: Karin Babbitt, Maren Peduto

MARIPOSA NO. 63: Tori Keith, Thomas Phillips

OAKDALE NO. 125: Lupe Aguilera, Hannah Rose Dillon, Linda Gentry, Violet Mondragon

REINA DEL MAR NO. 126: Marna Coday, Renee Crawford, Karen Davis, Lisa Irwin, Raquell Julca, Linda Kjaempe, Maggie Lang, Joella Shellhart, Kimberly Stone

HIAWATHA NO. 140: Robin Buchanan-Seufert, Gracelyn Hyatt

JUNIPERO NO. 141: Pamela ‘Jo’ Barnett, Martha Lopez, Alexandra Stampher

EL PINAL NO. 163: Deborah Lowgren

SAN JUAN BAUTISTA NO. 179: Cynthia Ballesteros, Olga Hernandez, Monica Rivera-Sandoval

FORT BRAGG NO. 210: Grace Brazill, Lorrie Glover

EL TEJON NO. 239: Dustin Carpenter

GRACE NO. 242: Kevin Kelly, Rosalie Perez, Kathleen ‘Casey’ Sullivan

SAN BRUNO NO. 246: Tami Helms

TOLUCA NO. 279: Shalita Ali

COTATI NO. 299: Janice Chaney Fischer, Marian Palaia, Laura Slater

ARCATA NO. 325: Jamie Zuleger, Louise Zuleger, Mary Zuleger

SUTTER’S MILL NO. 336: Arlene Ellering