Hello Alabama C.A.R.! My name is Lydia, and I get to be your new State President! I am really excited about the opportunities this year will bring! I hope to get to meet as many other members as possible and create lots of deep and beneficial alliances within Alabama C.A.R. and beyond!  

I am 17 and about to go into my senior year of high school. I am homeschooled and have been my whole life. More recently I have gotten into horseback riding, and I have fallen in love with all things horse related. I am going into my third year as a Mobile Belle. Mobile Belles is a leadership program here in Mobile for high school age girls to learn to be docents at historical homes! I am also the new registrar of my local society, Mobile Bay, and I am ready to learn and connect with others to get some fresh blood in our State and local societies.  

I got to go to my first C.A.R. National Convention in Washington D.C. and I had so much fun. Talk about making alliances! I made connections with people from Arizona to New York to Texas. It was a lot; a lot of events, experiences, learning the ropes, meeting people, and of course a lot of C.A.R.! My favorite part was getting to march around the room with all the C.A.R. members there and Freedom the eagle and sing the C.A.R. song, in the same style that past State President Sarah lead us in at our State Conference! I would strongly encourage everyone to take part in this amazing event next April. You won’t regret it!

The excitement of new administrations in Alabama and the National Society is in full swing. There is much to learn and do. These new changes bring many new ideas, activities, and opportunities.  I have recently been reading a Benjamin Franklin biography. One theme that runs through the book and his life is “Be Useful”.  Look around and see how you can be useful and then encourage others to offer their talents as well.  In Alabama we truly believe that the “training of young people in true patriotism and love of country, in order that they shall be better fitted for American citizenship” is worthy of our time, energy, and resources. Let’s also be patient with one another and do the best we can at whatever comes our way! I am look forward to supporting Lydia and working with all of you-  especially through the  America 250 celebrations. What an exciting time! - Jennifer Pennington