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Two State Councils, one in the Fall and one in the Spring, connect California Questers to the rich history of our state through local speakers, displays, and visits to homes and historical locations all over California. Meeting Hosts:Contact our Second Vice President for information or if you have trouble printing the forms.
See the complete hosting schedule through Fall 2022 |
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The 2018 Spring Council Meeting of the California Questers was held in the charming fairytale like town of Solvang. Solvang is nestled in in the rolling hills of the Santa Ynez Valley. As a different and unique opportunity, meeting planners devised a car ralley to make the drive fun and interesting. Rain prevented some members from participating, but most planned to do it on the return home.
![]() For over 200 years Monterey has been a trading and fishing port, a military garrison, a religious center, a land grant business center, a political and regional capital, and home to many peoples. And from the beginning of the Spanish settlements, everyone took part in building and occupying these wonderful dwellings called ADOBES. The mud bricks are made of clay, some straw, molded, dried, placed, plastered and whitewashed to a fine brilliance. As far as we know, there are no professional adobe brick makers in our state. Volunteers make repairs now! As Questers and guests of Monterey, we stayed at the site of one of the first residences built outside the walls of the old Presidio garrison in 1824. The Casa Munras was home to Don Esteban Munras, an owner of a very large and productive land grant, and a social and political leader in Monterey. converted into lodging and guest rooms. For our first adobe tour, we visited the Royal Presidio Chapel, San Carlos Cathedral. It is the oldest building on the Monterey Peninsula and the oldest church in continuous use in California. Quester Patty Barret and member of the Historic Garden League led an exterior tour of the Monterey State Historic Park. Other sites to visit on your own included: Casa Soberanes, Larkin House, Stevenson House, Colton Hall and jail (California’s first Capitol), Presidio Historic Military Park, Fisherman’s Wharf, Cannery Row, and the Aquarium.
The Spring Council meeting was held in historic Sonoma in the storied Valley of the Moon, 45 miles north of San Francisco. The meeting’s host chapters are Don Castro, Valley Harvesters, and Valley of the Moon. The highlight of our Council meeting was the private Questers’ tour of Jack London State Park, including the House of Happy Walls museum and the London Cottage.
“A LITTLE FUN IN VISALIA”
The California Questers State Fall Council Meeting was held in Visalia, hosted by Kaweah Kollectors #1428and Sierra Searchers #1305.
Early Bird Thursday Carpool trip to nearby Exeter to enjoy its outstanding murals and antique stores. Visit the TulareCounty Museum at Visalia’s Mooney Grove Park.Two mini-lyceums were offered on Tea Leaf Ironstone China and an impersonation of Mary Clark Graves, Donner Party survivor.
Friday Saturday California Questers State Fall Council meeting. Tthree more mini-lyceums - Vintage Quilts & Their Care, Victorian Mourning Traditions, and Strange and Weird Show and Tell. Saturday evening banquest included “Weddings of Yesteryear.” Wedding gowns were modeled and displayed. A special ‘surprise’ wedding event was presented.Jan Braley and her husband renewed their vows.
Your Spring Council Meeting was held in historic Paso Robles. Host Chapters were Agua Caliente (Hot Springs) in Paso Robles, Cinco Ciudades (Five Cities) in the Arroyo Grande area, and De Tolosa (from Bishop of Toulouse, France, founder of Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa)
The McConaghy Estate, in San Lorenzo,was another tour option. Niles was the Saturday destination.
The Hilton Hotel in Pasadena was the venue for the 2014 Spring Council Meeting in March, Hidden in Plain Sight - Pasadena Treasures. For those Questers arriving early, Friday was taken up browsing the local antique shops or the Bustamante Antiques Show, taking a tour of the Tournament of Roses House or visiting the USC Pacific Asia Museum. The Friday night reception and dinner was at the Pacific Asia Museum. On Saturday afternoon members could choose a tour of the Fenyes Mansion or Gene Autry Museum. For those Questers with energy - and money - left, the following day was the monthly Sunday Rose Bowl Flea Market, a real opportunity to shop.
The Live Oak, Sleeping Indian, and Rancho Monserate chapters planned an assortment of events. They toured two local homes: one with rare antique spool cabinets, vintage mini-sewing machines, and doll collection; the other is the home of a recognized authority on Terri Lee dolls.Each evening,showcased collections from members,They also visited the Rancho Guajome Adobe (below), which all three of our chapters were active in furnishing.
Quester visitors toured the original Carnegie Library History Museum Two historic house tours were on the agenda for Friday afternoon.The Hays-Latimer-Leichter Adobe and the The Avila House.
A visit with “Abraham Lincoln,” a tour of the Forestiere Underground Gardens, and wine tasting at California’s premier producer of Portuguese-style port wine highlighted the activities for the Fall Council Meeting in Fresno.
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