Epsilon State || Southeast District

Volume 23, Number 6, April 17, 2017

DELTA KAPPA GAMMA promotes professional and personal growth

of women educators and excellence in education.

I hope 2017 has continued to bring peace to your life.

As I continue to work with my students, I continuously think about your suggestions of pedagogy and resources.

Thank you for providing inspiration for so many women educators.

Reasons for us to celebrate:

We earned the Fleur-de-Lis Service Award state project for our "Helping to Restore One Classroom at a Time."

We earned Gold for Key Chapter Points.

We earned the Newsletter Award (the award for 2017 is included at the top of this newsletter).

We have wonderful leadership in Mary Jane and Renee, who are co-chairs of the 2018 State Convention (hosted in Baton Rouge, but for the entire Southeast District).

Continued two-pronged vision:

1. Shifting our technological paradigm:

I cannot tout International's website enough. It is a fantastic website and offers so many resources. We will continue to use it for DKG news and other publications. Use it at connect!!

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.

I have also started to use Twitter a WHOLE lot more for my personal pedagogy, so I think Gamma Eta needs to have a Twitter presence.

2. Building membership by working towards a balance of commitment to engaging community building:

Our members have continued to work with each other and with others not in DKG. I've continued to reach out to people in the educational community who might be interested, and sharing our award-winning special project helps show our dedication to the community.

Scholarships are still a great way to continue to connect with DKG. Newer members can apply to the Wanda Gunn, and you can apply for the Vivian F. Bourgeois after you've been in DKG for two years.

The think tank opportunity in September, DKG Next!, is still open for applications. If you are interested, let me know!

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

When the program committee met last summer to brainstorm ideas, we generated a year’s worth of programs, activities, and learning experiences for our Gamma Eta sisters. And now, here we are, wrapping up the year with our final two meetings.

On April 18, we will dive headfirst into the latest technology as Margret presents a program of tips that are sure to be helpful to all. Bring your laptops, tablets, smart phones, and 21st century brains as we gather to increase our awareness of the latest that technology has to give. Renee will also present a legislative update. Be prepared to be educated! Come hungry—La Madeleine’s on Bluebonnet is the place.

Finally, our May 16 meeting at Bluebonnet Library will be a wonderful opportunity to learn about the Global Nomads Group, whose mission is to “foster dialogue and understanding among the world’s youth.” I would encourage you to check out their website to learn more about the organization’s work, particularly with educators seeking to “integrate global citizenship” into their classroom.

I’d like to say a special “thank you” to all of you who have contributed to our programs this past year. And as we look forward to another year together, I would once again reach out to those of you who have program ideas you think would be of interest to our members. Keep your eyes and ears open and keep those ideas coming!

You can email me at usiedebbie@gmail.com. I’ll be anticipating your message!

I am asking each and every one of you to nominate an outstanding educator for membership so that we can continue to shine.

You can contact me at trpll@yahoo.com.

As the year is coming to an end, the dues can be a faded memory.

But don't forget that we will have to pay dues soon enough, so ask if you have any questions about when they can be paid.

I enjoy serving you as treasurer, and I can always be reached at lmgrubb14@gmail.com

Chapter members, please send me (via email) any news of member's concerns and celebrations so I can recognize you.

Should there be any corrections needed to the minutes, please contact me at katermike3@aol.com

Sharing ideas and inspiration has contributed to the success of our chapter, so please, keep sharing!

I can always be reached at barbaraverdin@att.com.

The University of Arkansas has created an easy to use handbook to help with Robert's Rules.

Check it out to familiarize yourself with anything about which you have questions!

Debbie Marchand: March 5

Christine Merchant: March 26

Glenda Lofton: March 27

The Southeast Regional Conference (so, for states in the SE region) is July 19-July 22 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

At Epsilon's State Conference, we were invited to attend, and it seems like it would be a great time.

Consider attending and connecting with other DKG sisters!

Barbara Verdin || Editor || barabaraverdin@att.com