There are many ways to get involved once a member. Take a look at some of the committees at the NSCDNY:

Van Cortlandt House Museum and Collections Committee

The Van Cortlandt House Museum (VCHM), build in 1748 for Frederick Van Cortlandt, and located inside Van Cortlandt Park at Broadway and West 246th Street in the Bronx, has been under the stewardship to the NSCDNY since 1896 through a license agreement with the City of New York. The NSCDNY is responsible for preserving and restoring the interiors and grounds surrounding the Museum, providing and caring for the collections, offering educational opportunities to school children and other groups throughout NYC, liaising with the surrounding community and assuring that the doors to the Museum are open to visitors six days a week all year round.

The VCHM Committee meets with the Museum Director monthly in the Library at headquarters between September and May on a Thursday morning from 9-10:30 a.m. to discuss all aspects of Museum operations and plans. Members of the VCHM Committee may participate in committee meetings by conference telephone.

The VCHM Committee hosts an annual Mardi Gras Masquerade at headquarters on the Friday evening before Mardi Gras Tuesday each year to benefit the VCHM as well as a Fall event at headquarters.

In addition, the VCHM Committee supports events at the museum in Van Cortlandt Park including the History & Cultural Fair in September, the holiday events at the Museum in December and the annual summer picnic associated with the concert in the park and fireworks in June.  There are also “done in a day” events from time to time at the Museum such as gardening days.

The Development Committee

The Development Committee is responsible for raising awareness and support for the New York Society's Annual Fund as well as specific capital projects.  We are excited to roll out a couple of new events in the 2019-2020 year and would love to have you join us on the committee!

Families & Junior Dames Committee

This committee is tasked with planning family events at the Dames.  This will include the very popular Halloween party in October and the George Washington Birthday party in February..  We hope to also plan at least one event for the Young Dames during the year.  If you have children (girls or boys!), this is the Committee for you.  We hope all Dames with young children are able to pitch in as we introduce the Society to our next generation.

The Historical Activities Committee

The Historical Activities Committee aims (From the objects of our society in the NSCDA National constitution) "to educate our fellow citizens and ourselves in our country's history and thus diffuse healthful and intelligent information concerning the past, to create a popular interest in our Colonial history, to stimulate a spirit of true patriotism and a genuine love of country. "

The Committee presently organizes a popular evening lecture series, day trips to historic sites and is in the process of publishing documents on headquarters tours and the NSCD/NY history. 

The Committee meets to discuss future lecture topics and potential HAC activities approximately 4 to 5 times a year from September to May. Committee members are active, provide speaker and field trip ideas, recruit patrons and sponsors, and encourage members and friends to attend programs. Proceeds from activities benefit our education programs and support the upkeep of Van Cortlandt House Museum and the NSCDA headquarters. The Committee welcomes new members at the start of the New Year. We have a lot of fun. 

The Hospitality Committee

The Hospitality Committee supports the Dames events that take place at the Headquarters throughout the year.  Our responsibilities include warmly welcoming, checking in, and registering Dames and their guests for lectures, events, and parties.  We also provide catering and decorating support to fellow committees as needed. 

Our main duty is providing a warm and welcoming check-in.  Depending on the expected crowd size, we will have 2-3 volunteers at the check-in table at a time.  A check-in shift is usually 30-45 min.  We just ask that committee members volunteer to help with a couple events per year, and some members help with many more than that because they enjoy it and are able.  We understand that work and personal schedules can fluctuate and that some years allow one to help more than others.  

Being part of this committee is a terrific way to help our organization and to meet fellow New York Dames.  We currently have over twenty-five committee members, and we are more the merrier!

The Library and Book Club Committee

We are fortunate to be stewards of such a fine genealogical library; and the accessibility, usability, and preservation of the collection is the primary focus of the committee.

Within the library is placed a diagram showing the location of the various categories of books. Most of the books are in our colony collection or are family histories of which there are over 700.

In addition, we have a number of books, in our annex on the fourth floor dealing with the decorative arts of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.   There are pictorial books on subjects such as landscaping, gardening, flower arranging, architecture and fashion.

The NSCDNY Book Club  was launched in 2011, in partnership with the Historical Activities committee with the idea of connecting our members in a spirit of camaraderie as they discussed books focused on our country’s early history. To date, our readings have dealt with our country’s early migrations; pivotal events of the colonial and early republic eras; and the lives of  significant individuals who have contributed to the early history of our country.

The New Members & Prospective Members Committee

 The New Members & Prospective Members Committee provides support, advice and counsel for new members and on matters of membership recruitment and application to National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New York. The composition of the committee shall represent as broadly as possible all constituencies within the Society. The New Members & Prospective Members Committee meets at least once during the Annual Meeting, in early June and at other times, if necessary.  The New Members & Prospective Members Committee chair must submit an annual report for the Yellow Book and attend all letter reading meetings either in person or with notes provided to the President in advance. 

The New Members & Prospective Members Committee is responsible for the following:

. Organizing a Placement Fair for all new and existing members to participate in NSCDNY Society committees.

· Increasing Membership. Recommending means for increasing membership base.

· Serving as a touch point for prospective and current members. Formally and informally making prospective and current members aware of the resources, services, and membership benefits of the Society and committee.

· Welcoming new members. Recommending ways to acknowledge new members and to encourage participation in activities. 

· Conducting welcoming activities, including but not limited to Dames in the Garden events. 

· Identifying nonmember needs and perceptions. Gathering information on and analyzing non-members’ needs and perceptions of the Society. Recommending ways in which to meet these needs to attract non-members to join. 

The Flower & Garden Committee

The Flower & Garden committee aims, above all, to have fun in all that it does.  In considering whether it’s for you, know that there are different ways to enjoy & contribute to this committee. Some committee members meet weekly to maintain & grow the garden, to mull, design prune & plant, to keep it at its best. The garden is a serene mise en place for member’s summer activities, as well as an historical/educational adjunct to our Georgian Revival house. Come the cooler months, other committee members prefer to bring flowers indoors, arranging them artfully for the events at Headquarters.

We’re looking for new members who are enthusiastic about things green, gardens & gardening, flowers & flower arranging, whether you like getting your hands dirty or not, we’ll welcome new members who’ll help us realize our garden’s future uses — maximizing its rich potential.

 The Young Members Committee

 The Young Members committee plans several events throughout the year, including the Plymouth on the Rocks Party in the fall and the Pink & Green Party in the spring. During the Plymouth Party, guests will enjoy festive cocktails in the Ballroom as we get into the holiday spirit! The Committee also hosts the Pink Party in the garden in late spring, complete with themed decor, a photo backdrop and rosé. Other events hosted by the committee have included Wine Tasting and Sushi Night.