Gamma Eta Chapter Newsletter
The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International
Epsilon State || Southeast District
Volume 24 Number 6, February 19, 2018
DELTA KAPPA GAMMA promotes professional and personal growth
of women educators and excellence in education.
Barbara Verdin || Editor || barbaraverdin@att.com
Congratulations to Sarah Gallion, Northwestern Middle School's Teacher of the Year
Gamma Eta is so proud of her work for her students and her school community.
From the President: F. Margret Atkinson
Reasons for us to celebrate:
We are continuing to lead, both in DKG and in our professional endeavors.
-Aimee's fifth and sixth graders each won a grant for Kids to Park Day, in May.
-Laura and Aimee' are giving back to the school by helping at The Arts Night.
-Aimee' held a Recycling Rally for the school, which was an extension of an earlier grant.
-Gina has participated in #passthescopeEDU in January
-Sarah is STILL our teacher of the year. Yay Sarah!
-Renee and Mary Jane have led the effort for the state convention.
Continued two-pronged vision:
1. Shifting our technological paradigm:
Please ensure you can log into International's website. It is a fantastic website and offers so many resources. Don't forget that your member number is a six digit number that can be found on your membership card. Your temporary password is dkg2014society, and you can change it once you log-in. If you need your membership number, you can ask Laura.
We can continue to participate in Twitter chats to learn more about our world and how we can connect with others.
We could also pilot a digital literary study about articles that are of interest to educators. We could use Google Hangouts or Flipgrid.
2. Building membership by working towards a balance of commitment to engaging community building:
I would like to continue to explore how we can give back to Baton Rouge. This might be a special projects committee opportunity.
Thank you for going on this journey with me as we continue to grow and seek excellence in education.
As always, I appreciate dialogue and welcome a conversation, so don't hesitate to email me at fmatkinson@gmail.com.
With much love,
Margret
READ LITERATURE FROM DELTA KAPPA GAMMA AND GAIN NEW IDEAS!
STATE AND INTERNATIONAL FOCUS
DELTA KAPPA GAMMA-OUR PURPOSES
IT IS STATE CONVENTION TIME AND GAMMA ETA IS THE HOST CHAPTER!
The main topic of discussion in our chapter is the State Convention and what we need to do to help make it successful. Mary Jane Clark and Renee Siccone are co-chair and will certainly need our assistance. March 16-18 will be here at the drop of a hat!
Just as important is that each member register and attend some of the outstanding sessions planned, hear inspiring messages from powerful women, and engage in great southern hospitality.
What a great place to see and hear our purposes in action! Look them over again and refresh your memory so you can see them being utilized.
To unite women educators of the world in a genuine spiritual fellowship.
To honor women who have given or who evidence a potential for distinctive service in any field of education.
To advance the professional interest and position of women in education.
To initiate, endorse, and support desirable legislation or other suitable endeavors in the interests of education and of women educators.
To endow scholarships to aid outstanding women educators in pursuing graduate study and to grant fellowships to non-member women educators.
To stimulate the personal and professional growth of members and to encourage their participation in appropriate programs of action.
To inform the members of current economic, social, political, and education issues so that they may participate effectively in a world society.
2017-2019 EPSILON OFFICERS
Kathye Blackburn-President || Sandra Pruitt-1st Vice President
Gwen Traylor-2nd Vice President || Mitzi Quinn-Recording Secretary
Susan Crooks-Parliamentary Advisor || Linda Ruth Jackson-Treasurer
Wanda Lemoine-Deltion Editor || Lori Myers-Executive Secretary
Building Our Theme Basket for State Convention: Game Night
First Vice President: Debbie Usie
February is here, and that means the DKG State Convention is not far away. Our very own Mary Jane Clark and Renee Siccone have spent the past year organizing this year's event to take place at the Baton Rouge Marriott. These two very bury ladies will have the floor at the February meeting, giving us all the latest details and letting us know how we can help them as we work together to provide a wonderful weekend of fellowship with our DKG sisters from around the state. We hope you will be able to join us on Tuesday, February 20 at Walk On's Bistreaux in Towne Center. By gathering at 5:30 to order dinner, we will be able to begin the meeting promptly at 6:00 so that Mary Jane and Renee will have sufficient time to give us all the scoop on the convention. We will also be presenting our slate of nominees for officers for the next two years at the February meeting. Additional nominees may be taken from the floor after presentation of the slate of officers from the nominating committee.
And, speaking of convention, have you sent in your registration. If so, you are in for a treat. If not, it is not too late. Dates for this year's convention is March 16-18. We will be looking for YOU!
In keeping with our chapter's annual book discussion, we encourage you to secure a copy of Benjamin Watson's Under Our Skin: Getting Real About Race. This timely subject is explored in-depth by the author, who shares his experiences and insight as an African American male in today's society. Linda Landry will open her home to us once again as we meet on April 17 at 6:00. So, here are your homework assignments: 1) Get the book. 2) Read the book. 3) Bring a food item for potluck dinner. 4) Show up on April 17, ready for a thought-provoking discussion. Election of officers will also be on the agenda. Linda's address is 1040 Beehive, St. Gabriel.
Finally, we will wrap-up the program year on May 15 by celebrating Founder's Day, participating in a re-orientation service, and initiating new officers who will serve from 2-18-2020. Margaret will also share technology tips. This will be a jam-packed meeting and one you will all want to make a special effort to attend.
As you can see, the Gamma Eta chapter will be extra-busy these next few months. Please join in the fun!
Debbie
If you have any questions, you can contact me at usiedebbie@gmail.com.
Second Vice President: Linda Landry
Membership is a cornerstone of our Society, and we need to think about inviting those women educators who are leading. Please consider whom you would like to invite and let's share in the next few meetings.
Contact me at trpll@yahoo.com.
Treasurer: Laura Grubb
I enjoy serving you as treasurer, and I can always be reached at lmgrubb14@gmail.comI
Thanks everyone for such a great time at the B R Coordinating Council DKG Christmas Party! What a fun evening and beautiful party favors. Food was delicious. (Happy Face)
Our chapter donations to the Literacy/Numeracy Program, World Fellowship, and Florence Amy Emergency Fun have been sent in.
Look forward to seeing everyone at the February meeting!
Laura Grubb
(225) 978-2312
Secretary: Katie Ferguson
BIRTHDAYS: There were none in January, nor are there any in February! Debbie Marchand will celebrate her birthday on March 5th, Christine Merchant on March 26th, and Glenda Lofton on March 27th.
A thoughtful card was sent to Renee S. following her recent medical issues as a result of a fall in New York City. Hopefully, she has now recovered. No other concerns regarding member was brought to me to date.
The ice/snow days kept us from holding the Executive Board Meeting until Tuesday, January 23rd, a week later. The groundhog saw his shadow on February 2nd and so it's forecast is for six more weeks of winter.
Look forward to seeing you at the February Meeting and at the State Convention!
Peace & Blessings,
Katie Ferguson, Secretary
Editor's Edicts: Barbara Verdin
I was originally going to write about love and lent. However, as I was reviewing a book for possible checkout from the library today, I came across a quote by Jodi Picoult in her book Leaving Time.
She writes, "Grandmothers in Botswana tell their children that if you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, you must go together." Immediately thoughts of our Gamma Eta Chapter came to mind. We are a together group; in mind, in spirit, and in actions. How proud I am to say I am a DKG member and a Gamma Eta sister!
I can always be reached at barbaraverdin@att.com.
Parliamentary Possibilities-Barbara
A question was posed the other day via email regarding nominations. So
here's a rule about nominations and elections of officers in a chapter.
A nominating committee is selected to present a slate of officers to serve a two year period of time in Gamma Eta. This takes place in even years. The nominations committee presents a slate of potential officers orally, and immediately thereafter, the Presiding Officer calls for any other nominations from the floor.
Elections are held at the next general meeting and if there is only one nominee for a position, a voice vote may be taken. If there are two or more nominees for an office, a written ballot must be used.
AND THE SPOTLIGHT IS ON?????
Laura Grubb
A native of Baton Rouge, a product of Baton Rouge Schools, and one of the nicest people you would ever be fortunate to meet is the subject of our Spotlight Of The Month.
She grew up serving others and always wanting to succeed, from being a Girl Scout to making Honor Roll from first grade forward. A successful teacher of the gifted in the Zachary School District, a wife, and mother of two cats is just the tip of the iceberg.
Laura Grubb is our spotlight member, and Laura has shown that hard work over the years helps bring success to any endeavor.
She graduated from LSU with her Master's and her education specialist degree. She is dedicated to Copper Mill Elementary's students, as she plans field trips to Poverty Point and Houston for entire grade levels, helps at family science and arts nights, and co-organizes trips to Europe over the summer. Laura also helps her peers, and is a mentor teacher to a new teacher at CME as well as the de-facto gifted team leader.
Laura loves Scottish dancing, and it was in pursuing her love that she also met another love, her husband Michael. She and Michael are involved in family events and the local arts culture. They live with with their two cat-children, Jack and Diana.
Joining DKG meant that Laura would continue to show her skill set, and she eagerly took on the formidable role of treasurer within a year of her becoming a sister. Her precision and insight has helped our chapter in so many ways (digital deposits, receipts, annotated proposed budgets), and Gamma Eta continues to excel with her leadership.
In addition to all of the other work she does, Laura indulges her love for everything Disney by vacation planning Disney trips. She has planned several trips to Disney for different events, including Halloween, and has helped several others with their Disney excursion.
All in all, ask her to do something, and it's not only done with a loving heart and a smile, but done with thoroughness and thoughtfulness.
We are so grateful to have her as our Gamma Eta sister.