Gov. Charlie Crist has announced that the Florida State Society of Washington, DC and Florida House will jointly present the Sunshine and Stars Florida Inaugural Ball on Jan. 19 at the historic Corcoran Gallery of Art near The White House at 500 17th Street, NW. For more information call 202-298-7710 or CLICK HERE.
The Washington State Society will sponsor an Apple Cub viewing party at the Crystal City Sports Club, 529 23rd Street, Arlington, Va. 22202 starting at 3 pm on Saturday, Nov. 22. For more information about events, please visit our web site at www.washingtonstatesociety.org. - Katy Quinn, President.
The Second Inauguration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937 was the first in history to be held in the month of January rather than March. Again planners for the inaugural events reached out to the state societies of Washington, DC for help in entertaining governors, state lawmakers, mayors, and business and civic leaders who came to the capital city. The New Deal was already four years old by 1937 and the depression that started in 1930 was still only marginally less severe. But FDR was still popular. In November 1936, FDR carried every state of forty-eight but Maine and Kansas against the GOP nominee Gov. Alfred M. Landon, who was sometimes called "the Kansas Coolidge" for his nonexpressive face. In defending against his critics who said that the New Deal had not boosted the economy the way it was advertised, FDR used one of his famous nautical metaphors on radio, "Four years ago we were floundering in a sea of economic chaos. Today, we are still floundering. But at least we have learned how to breathe under water." In 1937, many of the state societies of Washington were a vital part of the social life of the city. They sponsored very popular dances and dance bands once each month at area hotels. During World War II, state societies made it a practice to admit service men and women from their home states to the dances for free. And, if a young woman clerk from the Department of Agriculture happened to bring a date in uniform to the Iowa State Society dance, who sounded as if he grew up in Brooklyn rather than Des Moines, no one seemed to mind. Read more below about state society plans for the 2009 Inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden in the second post below dated Nov. 19. Read more about about past Inaugurations by clicking above right on state society history or in the third post below.
The Georgia State Society
and The Tennessee State Society will present the 5th Annual Rednecks and Turtlenecks Holiday Shindig on Thursday, Dec. 4 from 8 pm to Midnight at Kelly's Irish Times at 14 F Street, NW. CLICK HERE for details. Proceeds benefit Sasha Bruce Youthwork.
The State Societies of Washington, DC are nonpartisan civic and social clubs whose members come from the states but who now live in the Washington, DC region. Many state clubs were formed in the 19th Century.
The Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) is in charge of events that they refer to as "official" balls held on the night of Jan. 20. However, the word "official" can be misleading because all it means in this case is that the balls are by invitation to political backers of the new president and are sponsored by the PIC as fundraisers for the Democratic party. They are Republican fundraisers in years that party wins the presidency. By tradition of the last fifty years, President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden would try to make an appearance at all the "official" PIC-sponsored balls if only for a few minutes as time permits in a crowded evening. The PIC does often group guests from the same state at the same hotels for Jan 20. So there will be a partisan PIC "Illinois ball" on Jan 20 but there is also a much larger nonpartisan Illinois State Society gala on Jan. 19. Some people buy tickets to both Illinois events or both Texas events, etc.
Tickets for the swearing in ceremony at the west front of the Capitol on Jan. 20 are only supposed to be distributed free of charge by Members of the House and Senate. The ceremony itself is run by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.
Click on Arkansas link above or visit www.Arkansas-State-Society.org. Party is Jan. 19 at The Washington Court Hotel at 525 New Jersey Avenue, NW. Send an email to C.Glenn.Mahone@aerojet.com. Or call Glenn at 202-329-6711 or Treasurer E.J. Pinuel at 202-549-1003.
California State Society Inaugural Fashion Show & Lunch
Jan. 18, 2009, 11:30 a.m. Ritz-Carlton Hotel, 1150 22nd Street, NW, Washington DC.
"THE 2009 SUNSHINE AND STARS FLORIDA INAUGURAL BALL"
Corcoran Gallery of Art Jan. 19.
Hawaii State Society Inaugural Ball
Jan. 20, 2009 Mandarin Oriental Hotel – SOLD OUT Click on Hawaii state flag at left to visit the HSS web site.
Illinois State Society Land of Lincoln Inaugural Gala
Jan. 19, 2009 at the Renaissance Washington Hotel, 999 9th Street, NW Washington, DC
Indiana Society Inaugural Gala
Jan. 19, 2009 at the Omni-Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert St NW Washington, DC.
Kentucky Society Bluegrass Inaugural Ball
January 19, 2009 at the Marriott Wadman Park Hotel, 2660 Woodley Roads, NW
Nebraska Society Inaugural Brunch
New Jersey State Society Garden State Inaugural Gala - will be held on Jan. 20, 2009 at the Washinton Court Hotel
New York State Society Pre-Inaugural Parade Brunch
Jan. 20, 2009 at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel, 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington DC
New Mexico State Society Land of Enchantment Inaugural Ball
Jan. 19, 2009, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, 4th St. and Independence Ave., SW. Washington, DC
North Carolina State Society Inaugural Ball
Jan. 19, 2009, Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
CORRECTION--This North Carolina State Society event is NOT yet sold out in spite of incorrect information on some sites from an obsolete web site that referred to the ball of the year 2005. For current information, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
Pennsylvania Society Inaugural Gala
January 20, 2009 Ritz Carlton 1150 22nd Street, N.W., Washington, DC
South Carolina State Society Inaugural Gala
Jan. 19, 2009 at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, Independence Ave. at 7th St. SW Washington, DC
Texas State Society Black Tie and Boots Inaugural Ball
Jan. 19, 2009 at the Gaylord National Resort, National Harbor, Maryland.
At first glance, this headline might make you think the story is about parties sponsored by state societies to celebrate the launch of a new president coming to D.C. and you would be partly correct. But when you take a second look and read about rail fares, you suspect that we are not talking about the start of a new president on Jan 20, 2009. Because the date of this article from The Washington Post is actually from 92 years ago on Dec. 31, 1916. The story explains how the state societies of Washington, DC were preparing to help celebrate the Second Inauguration of President Woodrow Wilson in March 1917. President Wilson would soon need all the help and support he could get from members of the state socieites and all American citizens. Ten days after this article appeared, on Jan. 9, Germany declared unrestricted warfare by submarines on neutral ships and America would not be immune. The president was sworn in on March 5th. Only a few weeks after the Inauguration, one by one state societies passed resolutions of support for Mr. Wilson. The Illinois State Society for example met at The Ebbtt Hotel on April 3, the day after Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany. Illinoisans passed a resolution backing the president with only one dissenting vote. On April 6, Congress approved the declaration and America entered the war on the side of Britain and France. During the administration of Presient Wilson, all state societies in Washington became nonpartisan for good. About five months after the Armistice Day of Nov. 11, 1918, a new association of state societies was formed called the National Council of State Societies and that organization evolved over the years to become the Conference of State Societies in World War II. On April 3, 1952, President Harry Truman signed Public Law 82-293, an act that gave a Congressional Charter to the present-day National Conference of State Societies. To read more about the history of state societies in Washington, DC from 1867 until the present day, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
Please Join the Maryland State Society
In conjunction with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Campaign for a Holiday Open House Sunday, December 14, 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Come and Meet the 2008 Maryland Cherry Blossom Princess and other hosted officials. No charge to Maryland State Society Members $5.00/per person for non-members. Every guest (member or non-member) is asked to bring a new, unwrapped gift for the campaign. Appetizers and beverages will be served. 15321 Comus Rd - Clarksburg, MD 20871--CLICK HERE FOR MAP & DIRECTIONS. Visit our web site at www.MarylandStateSociety.org for more details.
The Mississippi Society of Washington, DC wil host its Second Annual Tailgate of the South this Thursday, Nov. 20 at Penn Quarter Sports Tavern, 639 Indiana Avenue, NW near the corner of 7th and Pennsylvania Avenues. The location is next to the Archives/Navy Memorial Metro Stop and the party hours are 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm and admission is free for members and $10 for nonmembers. There is free beer and wine until 7:30 pm and $10 pitchers until close. Also, please save the date for our Holiday Party on Wednesday, Dec. 10th from 7 pm to 9 pm at Johnny's Half Shell Restaurant. Visit www.mississippisociety.com for more details on future events or write to president DiAnne Owen Graham at mississippisociety@yahoo.com.
The Texas State Society of Washington, DC will host a Two-Step Lesson and dance at the American Legion Post at 3rd and D Street, SE on Thursday, Nov. 20. Doors will open at 8 pm with dance lessons at 8:30 pm with Kelsey Walker and Jonathan Balmos. We roll up the floor at 9 pm with the Wil Gravatt Band from Fredericksburg, Va.
You must be 21 or over to be admitted and there is a cover charge of $6 and no reserved seating. The nearest Metro is Capitol South. For more information on the Texas State Society and how to get Black Tie and Boots Inaugural Ball tickets at the Gaylord Hotel on Jan. 19, visit our web site at www.TexasStateSociety.org.
The Massachusetts Society of Washington, DC will host a "Holiday Champagne Brunch" in the Campaign Room of the historic Fort Myer Officers' Club, pictured at right, on Sunday, Dec. 7th, 2008 from 11:30 am to 2 pm. Santa Claus will make an appearance to help trim the tree, lead the singing of carols, share a cup of eggnog with guests, and lead guests to a scrumptious buffet. Even Santa will get the special member rate of $27 per person. While the mood is always festive and full of holiday cheer, our society will also honor some military heroes from our home Commonwealth on the 67th anniversary of one of the most famous days in American history. Please make your checks payaple to "Massachusetts Society" and mail to Miriam Towey, 1016 South Wayne Street, Number 309, Arlington, Va. 22204 not later than Nov. 26 to make sure you have a reservation. You may email Miriam for more information at towey1016@verizon.net.
NCSS just learned that Aaron and Karrie Cohen have new twins in the family. Aaron Cohen is president of the Nevada State Society of Washington, DC and works as a Vice President for Political and Government Affairs for Jeffrey J. Kimbell and Associates. Aaron is a graduate of Pepperdine University in Malibu, California and worked for Sen. Richard Bryant (D-NV) and later for Sen. John Ensign (R-NV). Congratulations to Aaron and Karrie! More details to come. To see the new web site of the Nevada State Society, click here.
Visit Babcock State Park in New River/Greenbrier Valley Region
The West Virginia State Society of Washington, D.C. cordially invites you to celebrate the holiday season with us. At the party, we will be accepting gifts to the Ronald McDonald House. PLEASE CLICK HERE to visit our web site or send an email to society president Theresa Phipps at wvstatesociety@gmail.com.
The Connecticut Society of Washington, DC will welcome all Nutmeg State neighbors and expatriates to a holiday party on Tuesday, Dec. 2 from 7 to 9 pm at Clyde's of Gallery Place. This is also a chance to renew your membership with your payment for the party. Please rsvp by calling 202-675-3052 or send an email to ctsocietydc@gmail.com. To use a Pay Pal option on our Connecticut Society web site and to learn more about our events, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
To see a draft of minutes for the NCSS Board meeing held on Nov. 13th, 2008: PLEASE CLICK HERE.
The next NCSS board meeting will be on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008 at 6:30 pm in the Hall of States at 444 North Capitol Street, NW. Please send an email to NCSS News Editor Mark Rhoads if you have news for this site or questions about board meetings. The address is Mark.Rhoads2@verizon.net and the address for NCSS Presient Lou Barrett is LourdesBarrett@mac.com. The cell phone for Lou Barrett is 240-346-8438. State Societies may send annual dues of $50 to Brand Mantel, NCSS Treasurer, 237 Hall of States, 444 N. Capitol Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001.
Seventeen years ago the Maine State Society of Washington, DC started a project that has now grown into to a national event with the help of Mr. Morill Worcester, president of Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine. Worcester will donate 10,000 Maine balsam fir Holiday Wreaths with a red bow for the graves of fallen American heroes. For more information, please visit the special events page of the Maine State Society at http://www.mainestatesociety.org or send an email to event Chairman Wayne Hanson at driftabit@aol.com or call Wayne at 703-971-4148. To learn about other veterans' cemeteries that will be decorated in December, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. The State Society of Arizona will host its Inaugural Ball on Tuesday night, January 20, 2009 at The Historical Society of Washington DC, 801 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001 from 8 pm until midnight. Included in the ticket price is 2009 membership in the State Society of Arizona and an evening of dancing, libations, and heavy hors d'Oervres. For ticket price information and to order tickets on line and pay with your credit card on Pay Pal, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
The Kentucky Society Blue Grass Inaugural Ball is Jan. 19, 2009 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. Pre-sale tickets to Kentucky members are sold out. But more tickets will go on sale in November for Kentucky visitors so please keep checking back to the link below for updates every day. For more information on how to purchase tickets to the Blue Grass Ball, please follow the link below to the Kentucky State Society web site:
Tickets for the formal dinner portion of the Illinois Gala on Jan. 19 are almost sold out. At the present rate of sales, we expect all dance and buffet tickets will be gone before Nov. 25. To purchase tickets for the Illinois Inaugural Gala, please follow this link below to the Illinois State Society web site.
The Arkansas State Society of Washington, DC will host its Inaugural Party for Razorbacks from home and the DC region on Jan. 19 at The Washington Court Hotel located at 525 New Jersey Avenue, NW. in downtown Washington. CLICK HERE FOR MAP. To learn more about how to purchase tickets when they become available, please send an email to society president Glenn Mahone at this address:
Or, you may call Glenn Mahone at 202-329-6711 or call society Treasurer E.J. Pinuel at 202-549-1003. For a membership application and other Inaugural updates, please visit the new Arkansas State Society web site using the link below:
The New Jersey State Society of Washington, DC will host its Inaugural Gala on Jan. 20 at the Washington Court Hotel. To find out how to purchase tickets, please visit the New Jersey State Society web site information page on Inauguration event tickets.
The members of the North Carolina State Society of Washington, DC will host their Inaugural Ball on Jan. 19, 2009 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. Tarheel neighbors are welcome as well as North Carolina expatriates now living in the Washington, DC region, Maryland, or Virginia. Y'all come. Visit our web site for more details as plans are made public.
The New Mexico State Society of Washington, DC will host its Inaugural Ball on Jan. 19, 2009 at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. All of our neighbors and friends from the Land of Enchantment and those now living in the Washington, DC region are welcome to join us. For more information on tickets, please visit our web site:
The Hawaii State Society Inaugural Ball is sold out. If you would like to know about other Hawaii State Society events, please visit our web site at http://www.hawaiistatesociety.org/
The Texas State Society of Washington, DC will host its quadrennial Black Tie and Boots Inaugural Ball on Jan. 19 at the new Gaylord Hotel. As with all state society inaugural events, this event is open to guests of both major political parties and minor parties as we join in a nonpartisan celebration of freedom, the inauguration of the new president and vice president, and the highest ideals of America. For more information on how to purchase tickets, please visit the Texas State Society events web page:
The Indiana Society of Washington, DC will host an Inaugural Gala on Jan. 19, 2009 at the historic Omni-Shoreham Hotel. There are also other many upcoming events including our Statehood Anniversary Party on 
Dec. 10. We encourage fellow Hoosiers to join us no matter if they come from home or are transplants who now live in the greater national capital region . Hon. Ed Pease, former Member of Congress from Indiana, is the President of the Indiana Society. For more information about how to purchase tickets for the Indiana State Society Inaugural Gala or the Statehood Anniversary Party in December, please visit the Indiana Society web site from the link below:
The New York State Society of Washington, DC will host a pre-Inaugural Parade Brunch on Jan. 20 at the historic Willard Intercontinental Hotel on the parade route. For more information on tickets, please visit the events page of the New York State Society web site:
The New York State Society of Washington, DC will celebrate 100 years of activities as a nonpartisan state society since 1908, The dinner and party will be held at the Metropolitan Club on the night of Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008. Please follow the link below to find the page on the New York State Society web page with more information on how to purchase tickets for his fun and historic evening with your fellow Empire staters now living in Washington, DC and suburbs.
The California State Society of Washington, DC will host the traditional bipartisan Inaugural Fashion Show Lunch on Jan. 18 ath the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. For information on how to purchase tickets from the California State Society web site:
The South Carolina State Society will host its quadrennial Inaugural Gala on Jan. 19, 2009 at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. For more information on tickets and prices:
The Illinois State Society of Washington, DC has set its nonpartisan Illinois Inaugural Gala for Jan. 19, 2009 at the Renaissance Washington Hotel. The Illinois State Society quadrennial tradition dates from the Inauguration of President Abraham Lincoln in 1861. Due to the fact that President-elect Barack Obama is from Illinois, advance ticket sales are running well ahead of previous years. Then Senator Obama and his wife Michelle did attend this same bipartisan event in 2005 along with former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois) and the senior senator, Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Illinois) who is assistant majority leader of the Senate and a former long-time officer of the Illinois State Society. Although President-elect and Mrs. Obama are of course invited to make an appearance at the gala this year, there can be no confirmation that they can accept the invitation for several weeks yet due to so many competing Inaugural events that have been scheduled on the same night. Since there can be no guarantee at this time that the president-elect will definitely be able to attend, please do not buy a ticket based solely on that expectation. However, a great many members of Congress from Illinois, members of the Illinois General Assembly, and other public officials from Illinois are expected to attend as they do every four years.
To find out how to order tickets for the Illinois Inaugural Gala,
The Pennsylvania State Society is one of several state societies that are planning an Inaugural Gala in January. Details for the party for Pennsylvanians in Washington may be found at our news web site at www.pastatesociety.com
Dr. Charles L. Beer, former President of the Minnesota State Society and former NCSS Treasurer and delegate for many years, died on Sept. 27, 2008 in St. Peter, Minnesota at the age of 84. After living in Washington, DC more than 50 years, Dr. Beer, a Ph.D. who worked for the Department of Agriculture, moved back to Minnesota from Washington DC in June 2008 and was living at the Benedictine Living Community in St. Peter at the time of his death. Funeral services were held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in his hometown of Le Center on Wednesday, October 1 at 10:00 a.m. Burial was at Calvary Cemetery of Le Center with Military Honors provided by the Le Center Area Veteran’s Honor Guard.
Charles volunteered for many different projects with NCSS and with the Minnesota State Society. He was born at his home in Le Sueur County on December 18, 1923 to Louis and Frances (Tambornino) Beer. A graduate of Le Center High School, Charles went on to earn his Bachelor of Science at the University of Minnesota and his PhD at Michigan State. He taught as a college professor in both Michigan and Missouri, then moved to Washington D.C. where he worked for the Department of Agriculture. Charles returned to Le Center in June of 2008. A member of the American Legion Club and VFW Clubs of Le Center, Charles had served in the Army during World War II. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and was a founding member of Wittengton Center, the Sportsman’s Club in New Mexico. Charles is survived by two brothers and five sisters.
Photograph of Federal Hill Mansion at My Old Kentucky Home State Park in Bardstown, Kentucky.
The Kentucky Society of Washington, DC will host its famous quadrennial Bluegrass Ball on Monday, Jnuary 19, 2009 at the Marriott Wadman Park Hotel at 2660 Woodley Roads, NW starting at 6:30 pm. There is a Red Line Metro stop next to the hotel. The event is black tie preferred. There were versions of the Kentucky State Association in the Nineteenth Century in Washington. But in its present form, the nonpartisan Kentucky Society was reorganized in 1912. The first Bluegrass Ball was held in 1949 to honor the Inauguration of President Harry S. Truman of Missouri and Vice President Alben W. Barkley of Kentucky. There will be a reception, dinner, and dancing. For more information in November, please return to this site or CLICK HERE to visit the web site of the Kentucky Society.
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