(This page is the archive of old newsletters only. Please refer to the President's Page for current news. Thank you.)
December, 2016
Dear Sister Friends,
We had a very happy holiday celebration this morning at the festive home of Amy Tull. Lots to see, eat and drink. 18 members were present and one guest. Some of you are probably still touring Collierville homes, getting even more in the spirit. Or you may be out shopping til you drop. All I know is you are not hungry. What a feast! Thanks to the great cooks and welcoming hostess. If you couldn't be with us, Pat shared her spinach ball recipe via email. I just sent it as a yummy way to test and see if my updates work. Thanks Pat!
Congrats to Phyllis Agnew for winning the Starbucks gift card!
I counted the Schools for Africa collection and am so proud to announce that we are sending in $200 for 2015!!! Thank you in behalf of DKG and Unicef for your generosity!
After our meeting I had the pleasure of delivering a sleigh full of fun and educational toys to Santa (well an elf in Germantown). Just caught him on his way to Brinkley Heights. He clarified that these toys will be the very ones that the parents 'purchase' for the BHUA students with the 'bucks' they have earned through participation and involvement in school activities, attendance, homework, etc.
If you are interested in applying for a grant or scholarship, please contact me. We are determined to make that money available to our members and our projects! Let's make it our resolution in 2017!
Have a very Merry Christmas and Healthy Holidays! Bless you all for your participation in Alpha Sigma and contributions through DKG to the children of the world!
Love, Laura
Little by Little by Joyce Chisale
(attending high school in Milawi, Africa, thanks to supporters like you!)
Little by little we go
No matter how far the distance is
we are not shaken.
Little by little we go
and reach our destination.
Little by little we go
No matter how bumpy the road is
we are not going to turn back.
Little by little we go
and achieve our dreams.
Little by little we go
No matter how narrow the path is
we are going to force ourselves to pass.
Little by little we go
and reach the promised land.
Don't be shaken, don't turn back.
Little by little we go
and reach our destination.
November, 2016
Sweet Sister Friends,
We had a delicious chapter gathering at Bazaar Oils on the Square in Collierville! In fact we had so much fun eating, drinking and shopping that we didn't quite get around to business ... so here is this month's business:
Meditation: In the Spirit of Thanksgiving
"We give thanks for places of simplicity and peace.
May we find such places in ourselves.
We give thanks for places of refuge and beauty.
May we find such places in ourselves.
We give thanks for places of acceptance and belonging.
May we find such places in ourselves.
May we begin to mend the outer world
According to the truth of our inner life."
Dr. Rachel Remen
I found this in a Naomi Judd cookbook! :-)
Approval of Minutes: I sent the minutes to you via email. I don't have everyone's address and I'm sure some have changed. I'd love it if the Caring and Sharing team could help me with those updates and please post minutes and newsletters on our fb and web page. I also sent a "permission to publish photos" email and have not received any exceptions.
Team Go Fund Me is working hard on collecting dues and contacting our membership. The good news is they have sent extra meeting reminders, emails and made phone calls to former members. The sad news we have lost several members this year. Please get in touch with your sister friends that you miss at meetings and encourage them to stay active. We are all super busy and going through stressful times. Belonging to Alpha Sigma is a special opportunity to share those burdens with like minded educators and to celebrate the many milestones of our lives and careers with dear friends. It is a "place of acceptance and belonging" with many benefits and opportunities to grow.
Welcome to our three new members: Gloria Magness, Martha Reese, and Sonja Glaser! They are all 3 already active and involved. Sonja volunteered to serve on a state committee and is an experienced addition to our Team USA. Gloria and Martha are sisters who live in Collierville and are excited about helping with Brinkley Heights projects. Lucky Gloria won the gift certificate at Bazaar. :-)
We will have a little initiation at the December meeting so be sure to come to Amy Tull's house on Dec. 10th.
Be sure to bring toys for BHUA to that Dec. meeting. Some suggestions are: books, games, DVDs, African American dolls, mini cars and trucks, sports balls, puzzles, legos, watches and stocking stuffers. Also batteries, clothing, hat/glove/scarf sets, hoodies and gift cards appeal to the teens. I have already hit some good sales and will keep this list in mind on black Friday! You all have always been so generous and I want to thank you in advance for your generous donations to this inspiring oasis of safety and education in our city. It is a place of "refuge and beauty".
Please contact Team Touchstone (Sheila and Judy) about refreshments for the meeting. I can't wait to see you all there.
Know that I am truly thankful for your time and participation. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Laura Evans
September, 2016
Dear Sisterfriends,
19 of us had a wonderful meeting last night at the gorgeous home of Sheila Segerson. We welcomed Gloria Magness, Martha Reese, and Sonja Glaser and embrace them in membership of our chapter of DKG.
Thanks to all who contributed delicious salads and desserts! We especially enjoyed the sweet surprise of a birthday cake for Martha Baker.
I want to reiterate an invitation to the Memphis Area Chapters' Initiation Luncheon. It will take place Saturday, Oct. 22 at Chickasaw Country Club at 11:00. *If you are a new initiate or a sponsor, please arrive at 9:30 for rehearsal. The menu choices are Chicken, Pork or Vegetarian. Please specify your preference when you submit payment of $25 to Penny Powers asap. (I did not know the menu until later last night, so if you have already paid, please send Penny a quick email with your selection.)
I trust you have already paid your $80 in dues for this year. If not, please send that check to Penny right away. Thanks to Penny for handling all of our financial responsibilities so faithfully and to ALL of you for your prompt and constant support!!
Our publicity guru, Amy Tull, has been working on getting our names and faces published by the local papers - so far without success. If you have any suggestions or connections that would help, please let her know.
The newly crowned Queen of Caring and Sharing, Deborah McDurmon, would like a photo of each of us. What a great tool to enhance our yearbook and help us learn each others names! She got a good start on that project last night. Be sure to attend as many meetings as you can so you have the opportunity to have your beauty captured and catalogued and so we can all grow closer!
Trish Stephenson explained quite a few legislative issues on the local, state and national level. She instructed and inspired us to find out who our representatives are and contact them about these issues. She said that 5 or more emails can get the attention of an official! That is certainly doable. I will forward Trish's excellent report as well as the monthly Legislative Forum Reports to you all as soon as I receive them. This is an important time to be proactive about the political actions that we, as educators, are passionate about!!
I am going to resend the updated list of Teams and their rosters to this letter. I will attach the descriptions and expectations of each team to that list. Thank you for your active involvement!
A note about the upcoming meetings: We will enjoy a cooking lesson and dinner at the fun and fancy Bazaar Oil Shoppe on the Collierville Square on Nov. 10. Please contact Bazaar a week in advance to make your reservation and prepay the $25 fee. This event is a wonderful chance to invite that teacher friend that you think might be a good fit for DKG. Let us show them why they should want to join! The February tour of the National Civil Rights Museum and our annual Game Day fundraiser for Brinkley Heights in March will also be great opportunities to invite prospective members.
As always, thank you for your time and attention! I appreciate your friendship and your dedication to Alpha Sigma. Thank you for your kind expressions of concern and especially the prayers lifted for John's return to health.
Love you,
Laura Evans
May, 2016
Yay May!!! Such a special month; flowers, sunshine, warm temps, shorts, sandals, the end of the school year, fresh local produce, BBQ, Memphis in May, playing outside, vacation planning, gardening, reading for fun, staying up late, going out to lunch, watching summer blockbusters, cook outs and picnics, what's not to love?!
This is a special newsletter too - It's all about you! I want to hear your voice and your ideas about our chapter! If you are reading this I want you to respond to it! You can simply hit reply or reply all, you can call or text me, or you can send me a good old fashioned letter. You can tell me in person at the May meeting. Hey you can even message me on facebook, I share the page with John A Evans. Your ideas will help the new board tweak existing practises and attract more key women educators like you! In the immediate future I am going to use your comments to make our chapter display board for Xi State. The visual theme is a flower garden, the title "Alpha Sigma, How Does Your Chapter Grow?"
I need to hear from every one of you and here is what I want to know:
What do you love about Alpha Sigma? What are we doing right? Is it our meetings, a favorite meeting every year, our projects, being part of a great organization, the friends, fellowship, food, the song, the road trips? Do you feel enriched or empowered by our activities? Are the publications beneficial and informative? Tell us exactly what you like so we can do more of that. What makes you want to invite others to join?
What can we do better? How can we get you more involved? Do we need more or different methods of communication? Could we be better organized or organized differently? Should we be on social media more, or less? Are the meetings too long, too short, too serious, too frivolous, too frequent, not frequent enough? Is it too expensive? Should we meet in homes or public spaces? Are you over burdened or under utilized? What do you suggest we do differently to grow our chapter?
I want us to make Alpha Sigma the biggest and best chapter in Tennessee, because in my heart we already are. I want to see all of you OFTEN. I need your help to make our chapter effective and meaningful to all of our members and the community we serve.
I know, you're probably busy right now, but if you had time to read this please take another moment to respond. I can't wait to hear your thoughts!
"One more thing" as always. :-} See you at our annual Planning and Plant Swap Meeting at my house Saturday, May 21st at 1:00! Bring your ideas for next year's programs, your critiques for our chapter, plants (are optional), and your appetite for fun!
Happy Mother's Day!
Thanks for your attention and your response,
Laura Evans
April 18, 2016
Dear Sister Friends,
Congratulations to the new board of officers for Alpha Sigma! Deborah McDurmon, Linda Porter, Judy Sandlin and I are attending Leadership Training in Jackson on Saturday Apr. 30. Thanks to Sheila and Penny for also agreeing to serve this biennium.
Betty Only, Brenda West, Trish Stephenson, Deborah McDermon, and I will be attending Xi State June 2-4. This is always a fun and informative gathering of key women educators from all over Tennessee. Our chapter, in cooperation with Alpha Rho, will be decorating the ballroom for the Presidents' Banquet.
The big event of the summer will take place at the Opryland Hotel July 5 - 9. DKG's International Convention promises to be a real Down Home Good Time! Betty, Brenda, Linda, Trish, Judy and I have already registered. There is still time if you want to go, but hurry, rooms are booking fast. You can go up for part of the convention if you wish or make a holiday of the whole week! Please let me know if you decide to go.
I hope to see you all at my house (which is a short trip to Oakland) on May 21 at 1:00. Bring your ideas about programs for next year, light refreshments and any plants you wish to share. You don't have to bring anything but you do have to take something home! I have already started seedlings and hopefully my garden will have some goodies - if the dogs don't 'harvest' it all first!
I have received two sweet thank you notes for all of Alpha Sigma: Carol Molding wrote to let me know how much she enjoyed the February meeting. You made a great impression on her! Emily Johnson wrote to thank Betty Only and all of us for sharing the flowers from our Founder's Day center pieces. Thanks to Emily for the phone call about Phyllis Agnew's mom. We had a great visit! She is recovering well from surgery and about to begin a new round of chemotherapy this Wednesday. She says she still has a freezer stocked with healthy meals but will let us know when she's ready for more. Please pray for her continued health and healing!
Thank you for your kind attention and enthusiastic participation in Alsph Sigma!
Laura Evans
April 9, 2016
Delta Kappa Gamma Founder’s Day
Have we ever had a bad meal at the Chickasaw Country Club? This year was no exception! With snazzy cowboy boots holding gorgeous spring flowers and bandanas, the hall was a fun inviting place to meet. Thanks to Laura Evans and Sheila Segerson and Martha Baker.
The guest speaker was Gina Sweat, newly named director of Memphis Fire Department. An honorarium in the name of Director Gina Sweat was made to the Delta Kappa Gamma Emergency Fund.
The Program was planned by Shirley Bullard and Barbara McCloskey. Guests were quizzed with facts and history of Delta Kappa Gamma. You had to be the smart one to answer any of the questions correctly. This was a test not studied for.
Finally the 2016-2018 Officers were named and installed. Membership recognized those 30 and 40 year members of Delta Kappa Gamma. The group all sang the words to “Oh, We’re Delta Kappa Gamma.” Doris Conder welcomed the guests and gave the closing remarks and announcements.
If you do not know the words to the Delta Kappa Gamma song, here are words to the chorus: Oh, we’re Delta Kappa Gamma!
Sisters one and all!
From that first night in Austin,
We’ve traveled near and far.
We’re found in all the 50 states
and internationally.
We’re Delta Kappa Gamma,
The only one for me!
Alpha Sigma had 12 members present.
Linda Porter, secretary
April, 2016
Hello sister friends! Hope you have enjoyed a blissfully beautiful weekend of springtime! I have lots of good news for you all, so I'll get right to it.
I am proud and grateful to announce the Alpha Sigma leadership board for 2016-2018
President: Laura Evans
Co-vice presidents: Sheila Segerson and Judy Sandlin
2nd vice president: Deborah Mc Durmon
Treasurer: Penny Powers
Secretary: Linda Porter
There will be an election in Nashville for international officers and elected committee positions. Read those last 2 issues of DKG news and let Dorrie Powell, our Xi State President, know how you would like her to cast our votes by May 1. We realize you may not know these candidates, but if you have served on a committee with them or have a preference, now is your chance to let it be known.
DKG 1st VP: Barb Whiting (Minnesota) or Jeanette Zuniga (Costa Rica)
SE Regional Director: Linda Navorska (South Carolina) or Jane M. Thompson (Kentucky)
Member at Large: June Bowers (Nebraska) or Beth Schieber (Oklahoma)
I received wonderful news today from Dr. Jensi Souders, Editor of DKG News, Chair of the TN State Communications & Publicity Committee, and former International President. She wrote to let us know that the Alpha Sigma website has earned Highest Honors!! All congratulations go to Debbie Wooley for her diligence and expertise as our webmaster. We also recieved Honorable Mention for our newsletter. We'll be receiving these awards at a luncheon on June 3 in Sewannee. (Hope ya'll signed up to go to Xi State!)
I hope to be seeing many of you at our Memphis Area Coordinating Council's Founders Day Celebration this Saturday at Chickasaw Country Club. Martha, Sheila and I will be having fun decorating tables with bandanas and cowboy boots full of flowers. Looking forward to Initiation in October ... our chapter will be in charge of the program and speaker. I hope we will also have LOTS of new Alpha Sigma initiates. Before this school year ends, please approach at least two inspiring educators about membership in DKG!
We have a great group going to Leadership Training in Jackson at the end of this month. I expect to be impressed and reinvigorated. I am already encouraged by the number participating.
The deadline to register for International Convention is fast approaching and we do not want to miss out on discounts and special room rates. Please reply to this email if you plan to attend so we can make our reservations. If you need forms they are online and in the Jan/Feb issue of DKG news. It is going to be a big ole, boot stompin', big time!!!
It is an honor to continue to serve as your president. I will approach this term as a second chance to do my best to reflect your excellence and represent your interests. The saddest task during the first term has been filing necrology reports for Sara Folis and Nadine Hicks. Dr. Folis will be honored with her candle at Xi State this June and Nadine will be honored next June. Did you know Nadine was initiated on April 1st, 1961? What a long lasting legacy! I am happy to be part of an organization that includes so many fabulous, brilliant women educators who make a difference every day for year after year - like you!
Thank you for your support and participation,
Laura Evans
March, 2016
It is so wonderful to see signs of spring! My Linton roses are blooming and Daffodils are budding. Another sure sign of spring is upcoming elections. I don't mean the national news, debates, primaries, or the plethera of candidates' commercials. Let's take a spring break from all that and elect leaders we can ALL agree on for our chapter!
First off, I want to thank Phyllis Agnew for serving as first vice president and arranging two years of empowering programs! Thanks to Diane Pinson for doing a great job of publishing our yearbook as second vice president! Extra thanks to Penny Powers for being so faithful as our treasurer (again)! Twice the thanks to Trish Stephenson for wearing two hats; parlaimentarian and Xi State's Legislative Committee chairperson!! Special thanks, present and future, to Linda Porter for stepping into the position of secretary and agreeing to continue in that role this biineum! Oh and the office of president is available. I'll be stepping into parlaimentarian shoes. Being president is both challenging and rewarding. If you find that responsibility too daunting, note that you can share the position. I want you to all to ask yourself how you can serve. What office interests you? Are you good with numbers, an organizer, do you like to communicate? Please consider volunteering be on our board! I can promise you that it will be fun and inspiring. And that two years go by awfully fast! Some of you may be thinking that you have done it before, so you'll give someone else a turn. I say we need you for your experience! You can bring sharp tools and perspective to the process. Others may be thinking you are too busy or too tired, too new or too old, but I say you are just who we need and WE NEED YOU NOW! The new board will be introduced at our Founders Day celebration on April 9 at 11am in the Chickasaw Country Club ballroom. Send your $24 to Penny Powers by Mar. 25th and your intentions or nominations to Trish or me ASAP! Thanks to Martha Baker and Sheila Segerson for helping with the table decorations for Founders Day. I think you will all get a kick out of them (that's a hint). Thanks to Betty for sending the reminders about our annual Game Day fundraiser for BHUA on Mar. 21 from 10 am till 3 pm at the Second Baptist Church. She is taking reservations (and $20 donations) now. Don't worry that I'll be twisting arms or campaigning at that meeting ... because we have a March 15 deadline to submit our slate of officers. So I hope to be presenting you with a full ballot on Game Day. The polls are open, exercise you rights and responsibilties soon. Please!!
Thank you for your time and your serious considerstion,
Laura
February, 2016
Happy Valentine's Day to all! Stay warm with your sweethearts this weekend. I think the sweetest thing about DKG membership is supporting teachers who work with the students who need us the most. That is what we did at the Jan. 30th meeting at Brinkley Heights. Afterwards we enjoyed lunch at a local institution and held a brief business meeting.
Here is some important information that you need to make note of and act on:
Sadly, Nadine Hicks' bright, funny spirit passed on Thursday, Feb. 11. The visitation is Tues. from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at Memorial Park and the service is Wed. at 1:00.
The retiree luncheon is at Amerigo's on Ridgeway Fri. 2/19 at 11:30. Let June Douglas know if you are coming.
Game Day is coming up March 21st! Contact Betty Only with your door prize donations and table reservations.
Founder's Day celebration is Saturday, April 9, at Chickasaw Country Club. Arrive at 11 and lunch will be served at 11:30. The menu is Chicken Picatta with pasta, house salad, vegetables, and sherbet for dessert. There is a vegetarian option - pasta and vegetables. The cost is $24. Please send your payment and meal preference to Penny Powers by March 25. We will honor 30, 40 and 50 year memberships and introduce new officers.
I received a sweet note from Brenda Morris this week. She sends her love and support. We also received a beautiful card from Emily Johnson thanking us for our continued prayers.
You should have your Xi State news near the top this week's mail. Pull out the Xi State Convention registration form and get it to Betty Only by Feb. 29. We want to get the early bird discount and room together in St. Luke's dorm. Ride up to 'the mountain' with us and stay a few happy days at Sewanee June 2-4. Don't miss this opportunity to gather with sisters from all over Tennessee. There will be good food and fun and lots of shopping. It will be especially signifigant to honor the long, dedicated lives of Dr. Folis and Nadine Hicks during the Ceremony of Remembrance on Saturday.
Go ahead and register for the International Convention at the Opryland Hotel in July while you are at it! That form is in the DKG News you got in January. Let me know if you are going and be sure to volunteer too!
Thanks for your attention and for all you do for this organization! Stay warm and know that you are loved.
Laura Evans
"Every child deserves a champion - an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best they can possibly be."
Rita Pierson
January, 2016
Due to weather forecast, our Brinkley Heights work day will be postponed. Please plan to meet Saturday, January 30, at 9:30 instead. Bring Kleenex for the classrooms. Let anyone you know who might not get this notice via email, fb, or website by phone. As you get in touch with sisters nearby, why not make plans to carpool? We will be having lunch afterwards at a restaurant. Looking forward to seeing you all and working for the amazing teachers and deserving students at BHUA!
October, 2015
Trick or Treat!!
The trick was my having to miss our September meeting. Thanks so much to Brenda, Phyllis, Sheila and her friend Miranda for hosting what was, by all accounts, a very informative and enjoyable gathering! (By the way, John is now home from his 21 day stay in the hospital and recovering very nicely. Thanks for all your prayers!)
The treat was the wonderful Memphis Area Initiation Ceremony on October 17! There were two tables full of beautiful Alpha Sigma sisters and 5 initiates! Thanks so much to Betty, Pat, Trish and Penny for stepping up to the podium and doing a marvelous job! We hope to welcome our 6th new member at our November 21st meeting in the home of Betty Only at 11 am. Becky Sadowsky will be the speaker and our new area director, Carol Moling, will join us also.
So many of us were influenced, assisted, even hired by Dr. Sara Folis. We are all saddened by the loss of this accomplished educator who just celebrated 50 years of membership last year. There will be a very special ceremony of remembrance at Sewanee in June and as many of us will stand united as her candle is lit and her memory is revered.
Have you started filling your 2016 calendar yet? Be sure the monthly meetings, Xi State and DKG International are all listed in bold print, highlighted and underlined. I am looking forward to retiring again at the end of this month and enjoying all the activities this dynamic society has to offer! For example: Founder's Day will be held April 9th, 11:00 am at Chickasaw Country Club. Our chapter is responsible for decorations so be dreaming up (or scrolling through Pinterest for) good ideas!
Today is the deadline to turn in your dues to Penny Powers, if you haven't - you still have time to contact her before the bewitching hour!
I hope you get to share some sweets tonight and see some magical little creatures. My doorbell is ringing so ...
Happy Halloween!
Laura Evans
August, 2015
"Back to School" is a phrase that means so much and probably stirs mixed emotions in us all. My primary feeling is gratitude (but I am retired). I want to thank all of you that attended our first meeting of this school year, and let those that could not attend know that we missed you! Thanks especially to Betty for sending a personal invitation to each member and to Stephanie for opening her home to all 20 present! Thanks also for the delicious refreshments and active participation in the program. So many wonderful teacher gifts were donated that it filled the back of Judy's SUV. We voted to donate them all to teachers at Brinkley Heights and she agreed to make that delivery. We went over a lot of important information so get out your calendars & pens - I will recap for you now.
*The 2015-2016 Program Schedule is attached to the August newsletter. Please open, print, and put it where you won't forget. We want to see you, share your ideas and enjoy your company at every opportunity! Thanks to Phyllis for all her planning and to everyone who offered their homes for meetings. We will be signing up for refreshments along the way. For example, retirees are bringing salads and desserts to our Sept. meeting.
* We have 5-6 nominees for initiation. Send those nomination forms to Martha and come to the Orientation Tea on Oct. 10. I am thrilled that we have so many! Don't let that limit your thinking for the future, please invite others to attend meetings throughout the year and continue to promote our dynamic society. Let the secret out: DKG is awesome and we need more members to make a greater impact on education!
*Dues are $80. Please send to Penny Powers. Initiation is Oct. 17. If you plan to attend, send $21 to Penny too. Dues for new initiates are $100 and sponsor needs to pay for her lunch.
*Brenda Morris' book, Snapshots from the Past:Evidence of God's Love and Care, is available on Amazon.
*Nadine Hicks address has changed. Please check the August newsletter for her daughter's address.
*In order to make applications or download from DKG website you need your id number (on membership card) and the password found on the August newsletter.
*We need a Recording Secretary! Thanks for subbing at this meeting, Debbie, great job!
* Check your yearbook to see what committee you are on and let me know if you would like a change. Please consider serving as an officer next year and let Trish know if you would.
*Betty recommended sponsoring a BHUA teacher for membership. I think we all agree that would be a wonderful way to further support and encourage that outreach on a more personal level.
*Our chapter will be performing the Initiation Ceremony in October, decorating the tables for Founders' Day Celebration in April and also decorating for the Presidents' Banquet at Xi State in June. I need your help with all of that. Please volunteer and send me your ideas! It means you will have to attend those functions as well, so make arrangements to be there: Oct. 17, 2015, April 9 or 16, 2016, and June 2-4, 2016.
*As long as we are looking forward to next summer (especially if you're teaching) mark July 5-9, 2016. The DKG International Convention will be at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN. That's right, WE are hosting the world. You simply must attend an international convention for your bucket list and this one will be close to home! Road Trip!!!
* I would like to Spotlight Alpha Sigma Members in my newsletters this year. Please send me your 'Life Story'; if they made a movie of your life, who would play you? Would it be a comedy, drama, romance or action flick? Give us the highlights of your family, hobbies, career and achievements. Have fun with this assignment. I know we will all have fun running these films in our heads!
Thanks for reading this update and recording all the important dates. I know if you are reading it on your phone you will stop right now to print out the attached program schedule. Make it our best year ever!
Laura Evans
(Thanks Phyllis, for making me feel 15 years younger. My life story is evidently a film series!)
July, 2015
This summer is so full and passing so quickly that I can hardly keep up! Looking forward to heading South on Sunday for the DKG Southeast Regional Convention in lovely Savannah. Will keep you posted with pix on fb and website thanks to Phyllis and Debbie.
Here's what I know right now:
We need a Recording Secretary! Sweet Brenda Morris has moved to the beach! (See, if you become our next secretary your dreams could come true too...) Please take a moment to drop her a note at her new address:6318 Anise Drive, Sarasota, FL 34238 Also her new book is available on Amazon for $14.95: Snapshots from the Past: Evidences of God's Love and Care
Phyllis is doing a great job of organizing our programs for next year and I should be able to send that schedule out to you all soon. Thanks so much to all those who have been helping and who have volunteered to help throughout the year!
If you are doing your 'homework' this summer you have been thinking of future members. Here are some suggestions: Look outside your familiar 'box' and consider teachers you admire but may not know personally. Your grandchild's piano or dance or sports performance was probably put on by a "key woman educator". Vacation Bible School at your church was probably made meaningful by a special teacher. The library where you take your kids/grandkids is run by an able individual. A tutor may have touched your family with their teaching talents. There is an assistant at your school who outshines the rest. Let them know you appreciate their abilities by inviting them to attend an Alpha Sigma meeting next year.
I'd like to end on a high note so Congratulations and Gratitude to Betty Only for all her hard work crocheting dishcloths and scrubbies! She raised over $250 for Brinkley Heights at Xi State this summer!
Thank you all for your time and attention. Thanks for participating in any and all the ways you can. I appreciate you and lean on your support!
Enjoy the dog days of summer, they're my favorite! :-)
Laura
May, 2015
Summer is here! I hope you all have wonderful plans to enjoy it. Perhaps you will be attending Xi State in June and/or the Southeast Regional Conference in July! If so I will see you there, if not I will try to keep you posted via Facebook (with a little help from my fb savvy friends)!
If you are trying to register for any events or interact with the DKG website, please remember the new log in process: You need to have your 6 digit member id number (on your membership card) and the default password dkg2014society. Personalize that password when you log on.
Locally we can always get together on the third Friday of each month at 11:30. Please try to make at least one luncheon this summer! If you're coming, call June Douglas or email her to confirm.
June 19th - Coletta's on Appling Rd.
July 17th - Bookseller's Bakery at Laurelwood
August 21 - Macaroni Grill on N. Germantown near Wolfchase
I hope you read the DKG and XI State publications, or at least save them until you have time to read - like now! Did you catch the photo of Trish Stephenson at the Legislative Symposium? Lookin' good while doing good for teachers everywhere!
We had a great planning meeting early this month and Phyllis has been working on a schedule for all the 'edutaining' programs we'll enjoy starting in August. We will forward that schedule as soon as it is nailed down. Thanks in advance to everyone who has offered to host, present, and provide refreshments!! When you get the schedule, please put every meeting on all your calendars. You might miss something wonderful if you don't. Speaking of something wonderful you might have missed, the Founder's Day Celebration was amazing! I'll reproduce the teacher's prayer we heard there at the end of this newsletter.
Here is your summer homework: READ, REST, and RELAX!
Consider someone you teach with (or taught with) that might make a super sister member of Alpha Sigma. Make a coffee date with her and invite her to join us!
Search your self for more time or talents that you have to share with us this coming year! We need new members and we need more active members to serve as officers and be the strong core of our chapter. Be open to a new challenge. Volunteer for a job. Accept an offer to serve on the board. Take part in more meetings. Be mindful and supportive of all DKG efforts.
Sadly we say say Bon Voyage to our sweet secretary, Brenda Morris. Lucky girl is moving to Sarasota, Florida to be closer to family. Her latest book, Snapshots from the Past, Evidence of God's Love and Care is now available on Amazon, so we can stay close by sharing her written word. Oh! and an open invitation to the beach! Unfortunately, she leaves a big hole in our hearts and on our executive board. If you would like to step into her shoes as Secretary please let me know!!!
Thank you again for your time and attention. Have a fun & fabulous summer. Love to you all. Keep our sisters Nadine, Marcia and Judy in your prayers as they recover. Have big adventures, make memories and stay safe!
Laura Evans
April 2015
It's Good Friday and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend planned!
Remember that envelope I told you to address to Penny Powers? Well, put a check for $20, made out to Alpha Sigma, in it and circle April 18 on your calendar for the Founders' Day Celebration at The Fogleman Center, U of M. Park for free at the Holiday Inn and walk across the street or park in the parking garage next to Fogleman for $2. The menu is a buffet of beef, chicken, fish, rice, potato, vegetables, desserts, ice cream and drinks. Please make your reservation by sending a check to Penny as soon as possible. I am looking forward to seeing you all there at 10:00!
I am so proud of Alpha Sigma for raising $1300 for Brinkley Heights on Game Day! Betty has also earned $400 selling the wash cloths and scrubbies she creates. These donations make such a positive difference.Thank you to everyone who contributed! Your support is critical in the battle to educate and protect many at risk children. Keep their special teachers in your prayers too.
We also received a very high score on our yearbook, thanks to Diane Pinson! Hope you will be using yours to look up Penny's address right now.
Have a blessed weekend!
Laura Evans
March 2015
Happy Spring! Hope you had a wonderful time at the Game Day event yesterday. I know the biggest winner is Brinkley Heights Urban Academy. Thank you for your contributions to that great cause!
Our April meeting will be a Founders Day celebration at the Fogleman Center Banquet Room across the street from the U of M Holiday Inn. Parking is free if you park at the Inn and walk across. The lunch will be a buffet with lots of entree options. I am waiting for the final word on the cost and will let you know as soon as I do. It is in the neighborhood of $20. We will need to get our payment and reservations in to Penny by April 6th. So put it on your calendar, address an envelope to Penny, and write the check when I send you the amount.
Did you see the registration form in the DKG News for our Southeast Regional Conference? Save $50 if you register before June 8th.
If you use the DKG website you need a new password. The public is able to view content, but members need to login in order to 'interact' in ways such as registering for conferences. Your 6 digit member ID is on your membership card. The default password is dkg2014society. After logging in, please personalize the password for future use.
I want to express my sincere gratitude to Debbie Wooley and Kay Aldridge for accepting positions on the Memphis Coordinating Council. Our chapter will be well represented and we all appreciate their dedication and commitment. It will also be fun to carpool to meetings together! :-)
Attached you will find a copy of the updated Chapter Rules. Thanks to Betty Only for her help with that project! You may not need them right now but save them so you can refer to them if you have a question in the future.
Things sure are getting green around the yard, and it's not just for St. Patrick's Day. I'm putting a few plants aside now for the swap we'll be having in May. Hope to see you all very soon.
Thanks for your attention and participation!
Laura
February 2015
Twenty-one of us enjoyed a delicious Valentine's Day luncheon and a fascinating perspective of the novel and film Gone With The Wind. We appreciate Phyllis Agnew's warm hospitality and were thoroughly enthralled by her brilliant and charming son "Andy" aka James A. Crank, PhD. His book, New Approaches to Gone With the Wind, is dedicated to Phyllis and will be released soon. We all want a signed copy! The cherry on top was the beautiful and yummy heart shaped red velvet cake! Thank you Phyllis for a very loving celebration and enlightening program!
Here are the details of upcoming events requested at the meeting:
Retiree Lunch this Friday: 11:30 at Abuelos on Hwy 64. Contact June Douglas if you are coming.
Game Day benefit for BHUA: March 16 at 2nd Baptist Church of Memphis from 10 am to 3 pm. $20 cost includes lunch and dessert provided by Lee Lindsay, Brenda West and Martha Baker. There will be door prizes. a silent auction, fun and games galore. Please invite your friends and bring an extra card table. Contact Betty Only for more information.
Xi State Convention will be June 4-6. Register now and request St. Luke's dorm. Then contact Betty or me about riding together. It will be fun as always.
DKG Southeast Regional conference will be July 15 - 18. We are already booking rooms and making travel plans. If you would like to go, contact me or Betty as soon as you know so we can get the best hotel rate.
Be making plans to attend DKG International Convention July 5 - 9, 2016 (NEXT year) at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville!! This is a really big deal and we will need all hands to help host this event.
I am working on updating our chapter rules. If you took a copy yesterday and have suggestions, please get them to me asap. My deadline is March 1st and February is a short month. Thank you for your help!
Order of the Rose nominations are due Mar. 15. The form is on the Xi State website (scroll down for the document link) and digital submissions are preferred.
Thanks again for your support and participation. I appreciate you!
Stay warm.
Laura Evans
January 2015
Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoyed the holidays and have had time to reflect on the past year so that you can make the most of 2015. As you know from teaching, small changes can make a big difference. Please consider some small ways that you can improve the Alpha Sigma experience this year - for yourself and all your sisters: mentor a new teacher, call a member you missed at the last meeting, sign up to host a program, attend a workshop, prepare refreshments, read a DKG publication then place it in your faculty lounge, write your government representatives about issues facing educators, volunteer to serve on a committee, travel to a state, regional or international conference, send a card to encourage a sister, shop for an iris themed auction item, bring donations for BHUA, put cash in the Schools for Africa jar, pray for the health and welfare of teachers everywhere, drive a reserve member to the next meeting, invite a prospective member to join us, learn the words to our DKG song, visit our facebook page and like our posts, share a successful lesson plan with a friend, thank your chapter officers for their service, attend more meetings than you did last year ... I'm looking forward to what you all will do to amaze and inspire this year!
Our first opportunity to gather will be Saturday Jan, 24th at 9:00 am in the hallowed halls of Brinkley Heights Urban Academy. (3260 Macon Road, Memphis, 38122) Our efforts to support this special project are always rewarding. If you haven't been to BHUA before, be prepared for a life altering experience. If you have been, then I know you won't want to miss it! Please come. Bring "Box Tops For Education" and anything else you think these courageous teachers and students can use in their battle to transform their environment. We will be doing whatever we can to help the teachers that morning, hold our Educational Reform meeting featuring Wanda Chism, Collierville School Board Member, and have lunch afterwards at Cafe Eclectic. Clipping Box Tops, buying Betty Only's hand made dish rags & scrubbies, and supporting our annual Game Day (March 16, 10 am) all fit together to bless this school and build a better future for children who might not have one without our help.
Attached is the entire yearbook for the Memphis Coordinating Council in pdf format. Download it and save it to a safe place, but don't print it unless you have lots of extra paper and ink. We will be distributing a hard copy of the Alpha Sigma section to all of you for easy access. Keep this electronic version to look up friends and information from other chapters.
I have also attached the letter about the Box Top program and a picture of the little basket that raised $200 for BHUA in 2014.
Thank you for you time, attention, and dedication to education!
Your sister,
Laura Evans
December 2014
Merry Christmas!! Tis the season to scurry, so I will try to keep this short and sweet, just like your "to do list" I'm sure.If you don't have time to read any further at least make note of this program change: We will have our January meeting on the 24th, but it will be held at Brinkley Heights. We decided to combine our Education program with a work day for the deserving teachers at BHUA. So the date stays the same but the time and location have changed. Let's all try to get there at 9:00am and head to lunch afterwards nearby.
Thanks to Brenda West for hosting our meeting yesterday. Her festive welcome infused us all with Christmas spirit. Even Scrooge went home and put up a tree! Thanks to Brenda Morris for reminding us of the true reason for the season and the great gift He really is. Thanks to Phyllis Agnew for organizing another delightful and delicious meal and to all who contributed their time and cooking/serving talents! In the business of the season and the fullness of our schedules I appreciate the 23 of you that were present and those who couldn't be there were missed. Thanks especially for all the toy contributions for BHUA! Your kindness and generosity will surely brighten the holidays and bring joy to many precious children! I know of a special sister Santa who delivered very nice toys early since she couldn't attend. By purchasing Betty Only's handmade scrubbies and dishrags you also support BHUA. Thanks to everyone who donated to our Schools for Africa campaign. I appreciate your continued prayers for teachers and students all over the world who face enormous challenges and still dedicate themselves to learning. Checkout facebook and our website for photos of all the fun we had and send some in to Xi State and DKG if you feel they are worthy of publishing. After the meeting I saw lots of friends touring homes all over Collierville and I also saw them shopping around town.
On the personal side; join me in congratulating Amy Tull, her first grandchild is due in July. Kudos to Brenda Morris, her latest book is being published. Our adventurous Sheila Segerson will be traveling to India for a wedding over Christmas. Wonderful news in the season of wonders!
On a somber note; please keep Natalee Staggs Wilkinson and her family in your thoughts and prayers. Her dad received a devastating diagnosis on Friday. While most of us are celebrating, he will be starting chemo. Lift prayers for a miracle in this season of miracles!
Thank you all for everything you have done to support the mission of DKG and the sisterhood of Alpha Sigma in 2014.
This verse sums up not only the spirit of Christmas, but applies to the important work of educators everyday: "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you." Acts 3:6
Merry Christmas to all and to all a happy, healthy new year!
Laura
November, 2014
Brrr! Winter came early this year. I hope you all have adjusted to the time and temperature changes. This is such a busy time of year I will try to keep my message brief!
I want to publicly thank the wonderful women who work so hard behind the scenes to keep our happy band organized and on track: Penny Powers has successfully completed the task of collecting and reporting our membership dues. She reported that we now have 57 active members. Martha Baker warmly welcomed and initiated our 3 new members. Diane Pinson has wrangled the many components of our yearbook and it is on it's way to the proper authorities. We will be getting an electronic copy to you very soon and a hard copy to you after that. Phyllis Agnew planned and presented great programs so far this year. Brenda Morris has carefully documented the minutes of our meetings. June Douglas and Brenda West have organized fun retiree luncheons for the lucky ones who have earned the treat of attending them. Debbie Wooley and Phyllis Agnew have captured the spirit of our fellowship on our website and facebook page. Sheila Segerson prints and posts these newsletters to
those who aren't on email. I have called on many of you for help and I appreciate your willingness to pitch in. I especially want to thank each of you for your participation in our meetings.
If you are interested in working the mile 8 water station for the St. Jude's Marathon on Dec. 6 from 8 am til 11:30, please let me know. On Dec. 13 we will meet in the home of Brenda West at 9:30 for breakfast and then a festive tour of Collierville Homes. Be sure to purchase your ticket for the tour from Betty Only and bring TOYS for the Brinkley Heights kids!
Thanks so much for your attention. Have a warm and wonderful November.
I'm thankful for you!
Laura Evans
September 2014
We had a wonderful meeting on August 23rd at the home of our gracious hostess Lee Lindsay. 19 members were in attendance and we contributed enough classroom goodies to fill 4 gift bags for early career teachers! Arzu Booth was the very happy recipient of Alpha Sigma generosity. She was delighted with the contents and wanted to sign up to be a member on the spot! She later decided to postpone until she gets her first year in 3rd grade at Lakeland behind her, so look for her next October.
Meanwhile, this year we are proud to welcome 3 new members: Amy Tull, Karol Shaul and Marcia Nanney. Wanda Chism and Wanda Kershbaum are rejoining. We are honored to have these educators' experience and influence among our ranks. It's going to feel like a happy Collierville Elementary reunion. I hope you will all try to attend the Initiation Ceremony at Chickasaw Country Club. Alpha Sigma is putting together the program about Grants, Fellowships, and Scholarships. All good ideas $$$ Bring your checkbook to the September meeting so you can reserve a seat on Oct. 11.
Before that we have the super delicious Soup Supper coming up Sept. 25 at the lovely home of June Douglas. Retirees are bringing the refreshments so working teachers can relax and enjoy. Thanks to all who signed up to bring soups and such! Phyllis Agnew is coordinating that effort. Please contact her if you can help. Trish Stephenson is going to give us a Legislative Report. We were going to initiate Natalee Wilkinson (she joined last year) but she has Open House at Schilling Farms that night. Congrats on the new job Natalee! We'll have to finally make her official at the meeting in November.
Special thanks to Brenda Morris and Brenda West for taking on the task of mailing a reminder postcard to all members about the upcoming meeting and dues. They hope to boost attendance and lend a personal touch to our communications. If you know anyone who misses a meeting, PLEASE call that sister, check in, and tell her she was missed! The Sunshine Committee is going to send cards out to absentees in the future too. I appreciate all of your comments and suggestions for improving our chapter. You have been so kind and positive. Please let me know how I can improve your membership experience and better focus our efforts to have the most optimal impact. We all share the mission of promoting the professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education.
The really serious business of this newsletter is to distribute the Committee Rosters. Most of you had an opportunity to volunteer and many of you signed up - thank you for that! If you didn't then I have carefully assigned you a position on at least one committee that I thought you would be well suited for. Everyone has to serve somewhere - I pray I have chosen wisely. If I have somehow overlooked anyone I sincerely apologize and I will be happy to assign you the committee of your dreams! By the way, as president I actually serve on all committees so don't think I got off easy. If you see a star by your name that means you are the chairwoman. Please get in touch with your committee members by email and find them at every chapter meeting. Ask the veteran members about committee projects and responsibilities. I'll be in touch when there is anything needed by the chapter, Xi State or DKG International. We can do it - together!
Thank you for your interest and your service to the awesome Aplha Sigma chapter of DKG!
Laura
August, 2014
Alpha Sigma sisters,
Take this challenge and donate to help find a cure for ALS.
www.alsa.org
Or
PO box 6051
Albert Lea , MN
56007
July, 2014
Today is sunny and cool, a gardeners delight! We have had plenty of rain this summer and I can't believe the breeze and low humidity. I hope you are all able to enjoy it as much as I am. I also hope that I will be seeing you on Friday at Vinegar Jim's. Don't forget to let June or Brenda W. know you're coming.
I'm not writing just to brag about the weather. I want to brag about 2 hardworking board members as well: *Phyllis has set up a fabulous schedule of programs for us this year. She is working on final details and confirming everything before we all get a copy of it, but I will hint that it will be very informative while informal at the same time. We should get to know each other better while getting the most out of our society in 2014/2015. *Penny has completed the treasurers report on time! That is a huge responsibility and I know we all appreciate that she has 'done the math' for us! She and I will be meeting soon about setting a budget. If you have any suggestions for raising and/or allocating chapter funds let us know your thoughts.
I have a few requests: Please consider signing up to bring food to our monthly meetings. We could use a committee to take charge of refreshments. If you aren't already serving on a committee - let me know if you would be willing to start with something fun and friendly like this one! It will help the hostess, the program and your chapter.
I need help writing and putting on a skit at our city wide October Initiation program. We have already secured a very good speaker who will inform us of the benefits of DKG scholarships and grants. We want to lighten things up with a little comedy about the things teachers do to earn extra money in our 'spare time'. I have thought of (and tried a few): tutor, aerobics instructor, bartender, dog walker, pool girl, housekeeper and gambler. :-) What have you done in the past, or thought of doing, to pay for graduate hours? I ALSO NEED JOKES! I have only one that I heard on a WC Fields movie. I will also need willing thespians to act this out. Betty is already signed up since she is hilarious and this was HER brain child. Just be thankful for everyone that I am not trying to organize anything musical.
Have you invited 2 prospective new members yet? An experienced educator and a promising professional. Consider that part of your summer homework assignment.
Visit our website, the Xi State website, and DKG when you log out of email to find out all the official business type stuff I am probably forgetting to tell you right now?!
Some of our members will be attending the International Convention in Indianapolis later this month - lucky girls! I hope they have a fabulous time and send us all photos of their trip. Don't forget that in 2 years we will all be hosting/attending the big dance in Nashville. I want us all to be on that road trip!
Thank you all so much for your attention and your patience with me. I am still trying to get everyone's email addresses updated. I would also like to send you a photo of a plant that I got at the Xi State convention. It is so cute! I just have to figure out how to get the photo off my phone and onto your computers. :-) Obviously my attention has wandered back outside - as should yours. Enjoy every moment of this glorious summer!Thanks for being wonderful teachers, great mentors and good friends.
See you Friday,
Laura
June, 2014
Hello and Happy Summer Alpha Sigma Sisters!!
This is my first official contact and I have not hidden email addresses above for a reason. Please check and make sure I have the most current contact for everyone. Just look for your friends, nominees/nominators, and FB buddies to make sure I have the most immediate access. Please contact me and forward this to them if I don't have it right. Thank you! Thanks also to Sheila Segerson for mailing hard copies to our members without email. If you would like to volunteer to help her with that and other communications you are welcome to join the Communications and Publicity committee. :-)
Trish Stevenson, Emily Johnson, Betty Only, Sheila Segerson and I attended the 79th Xi State Convention this month. We didn't spend as much time shopping as usual because we were playing lost and found, eating scrumptious meals, sharing and learning in workshops, voting on new rules and bylaws, buying & selling at the conference mini mall, laughing with each other, singing songs, and most of all enjoying all the great gals in DKG from all over Tennessee. Congratulations to Alpha Sigma and kudos to President Trish Stevenson for the hard work and dedication it took to achieve the highest classification - GOLD in 2013-14 chapter excellence awards!! We were presented with the Maycie Award for Chapter Excellence, the Highest Honor Award for Communication and Publicity (Thanks to Debbie Wooley for her web design and maintenance!), Highest Honors for Chapter Yearbook (Thanks to Debbie Robb for editing.), Congratulations to Avis Foreman for 50 years of membership and service, and thanks to Sheila Segerson and Lou Ann Vaught for the Outstanding Participation Award for Visual and Performing Arts Display. Betty Only was the star of the show while performing in a dramatic invitation to this year's International Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. I tried to get a picture of her, but that race car was too fast for me! This is another example of why you need to be present to experience the hidden talents of friends who become family through the sisterhood of DKG.
Mark your calendar right now for next year's conference and visit the Xi State website to learn more. www.xistate.org. While you have your calendars out, save these dates:
Oct. 11 - Initiation at Chickasaw CC. Our chapter is responsible for the program. I have secured a speaker but will need your help with other entertainment. We're going to put our talents on display again :-)
Oct. 18 - We have all been invited by Alpha Xi Chapter to a reception honoring Xi State President, fabulous friend and mentor Beverly Smith in Chattanooga from 2 til 4 p.m. at the Brainerd Methodist Church. If you can attend please RSVP by Oct. 1.
This summer Retiree (or vacationing teacher) lunches will be the 3rd Friday of the month at 11:30:
June 20 - Owen Brennan's
July 18 - Vinegar Jim's *I will be meeting with the executive board immediately afterward.*
Aug. 15 - BonefishThanks so much to June Douglas for organizing these gatherings! She has them all lined up through 2015!
We will have a Program Schedule for you as soon as possible. All dates and times to follow. Thanks to Phyllis Agnew for making those plans! I want to encourage everyone to consider at least two new initiates you would like to invite to join our happy band of sisters; one working teacher or early career educator and one experienced veteran or retiree. I have already spoken with 3 candidates and I challenge you to spend the summer networking with friends who might want to help make a difference in Education like you do! Last but far from least: make a note that July 2016 will be the DKG International Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. I want you all to be there to be inspired and inspiring with our wonderful society sisters from all over the world. It will change your outlook and attitude, as well as education, for the better!!
I am so honored to be your president for this biennium. I am even more appreciative to Trish Stevenson for her service, especially legislative action, and participation on all levels of DKG. She has put in so much time and travel these past two years and brought our chapter to a whole new level of excellence and involvement. Keep the candle burning bright, Trish!
I will rely heavily on our new board: Phyllis Agnew, Diane Pinson, Brenda Morris, Penny Powers and Trish Stevenson and all of our committees and members for guidance and assistance carrying this torch forward. Think about your own talents and abilities and how you might use them to to serve Alpha Sigma, Xi State, and DKG. Educators and students everywhere need our help. I need your help on the following committees: Membership, Communications and Publicity, Programs, Finance, Educational Excellence, Scholarships, Legislation, World Fellowship, Chapter Archives, Yearbook, Special projects, Nominations, Personal and Professional Growth. I have some volunteers and suggestions for chairwomen already, but let me know how each of you feel you could contribute. Thank you for your time and attention today and for all your attendance and participation in the upcoming year. Thanks again for this opportunity to grow and learn from you all!
Laura Evans
February, 2014
From the President:
We had a great turnout January 25 for our workday at Brinkley Heights. They have done an amazing job of keeping the kids focused on learning in less-than-optimal conditions following the flooding. We were hindered by the fact that there was only 1 copy machine but we had fun helping out the teachers as best we could. Lunch at Café Eclectic was awesome and the fellowship continued as we enjoyed eating together.
In the following list of upcoming events, please make note of the opportunities available to increase your leadership skills. If you’ve never attended a DKG leadership workshop I hope you will consider doing so this year. It will really be worth your time. Training for chapter officers that will serve 2014-2016 will be April 26, as well. Those of you who have agreed to be nominated for office, please reserve that date on your calendars. The training will get you off on the right foot for the next biennium.
I hope you can join us this Saturday for our chapter meeting at Cordova Library.
Share the Vision,
Trish
March 14, 2013
I hope those of you on Spring Break are having as relaxing a time as I am. I’ve accomplished very little this week! And, I do plan to make it to the Retired Members luncheon tomorrow and I hope some of the rest of you not-yet-retired will join us as well.
Alpha Sigma schedule for March-April:
* Our annual Game Day Fundraiser for Brinkley Heights Urban Academy is Monday March 18 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Second Baptist Church, 4680 Walnut Grove Road. There will be lunch, door prizes and a great deal of fun for everyone who attends. Nonmembers are welcome to come and join in. A donation of $20 per person is recommended.
* Founder’s Day will be April 20 at 11:00 a.m. at Chickasaw Country Club, 3395 Galloway. Our chapter is in charge of the Installation of Coordinating Council Officers and the Program. You may be contacted to help out so if anyone wants to volunteer please send me a message. The cost for Founder’s Day is $22. Please send your check to Penny Powers as soon as you know you’ll attend. Once again, we have a choice of entrees: roasted pork tenderloin or macadamia-encrusted tilapia. Let Penny know what your choice is on your check. Penny must call in the numbers by April 15, so please make your reservation by April 12.
Chapter Happenings:
* Our February meeting at the Cordova Library was excellent. Author Dee Dee Wike spoke to us on her inspirational books and ministries. It turned into a roundtable discussion and all of us joined in. If you are looking for something good to read, consider “Good to the Last Drop: Refreshing Inspiration for Homeschool Moms and Other Busy Women” or, the one I’m reading now, “A Pleasing Aroma: Inspiring Devotions for Joyful Living”. Dee Dee is also a contributor to The Collierville Herald and WHOA Magazine.
Xi State News and Updates:
* Now is a good time to make plans to attend Xi State Convention June 6-8. Betty Only, Laura Evans and I will be sending in our registration forms before the end of the month so let us know if you plan to go so that we can include you in our dorm requests.
* There will NOT be any chapter displays at Xi State this year but donations for the Silent Auction are being prepared so if you want to volunteer to help acquire something, let me know. Money earned from the Silent Auction is used to fund the excellent Leadership Training Seminars conducted across the state.
* Xi State is collecting money to replenish the DKG Emergency Fund. If you have a recommendation to make to the Executive Board, let one of us know.
* The Xi State Legislative Symposium and Breakfast was a tremendous success. We visited the Tennessee Congress and had our picture made with Speaker Harwell, the first female speaker of the state House and met with legislators regarding educational issues. I also ran into Superintendent John Aitken and had my picture made with him as well. A bill was recently passed that sets the age for pre-school entrance in alignment with kindergarten entrance age, an issue that DKG Xi state women have been working on for the past 12 years. Our efforts do make a difference!
Legislative Issues:
* TEA has called for four Educators’ Day on the Hill rallies. The first was this past Tuesday, March 12. If you are interested in attending any of them, I’ll be happy to give you further information.
* The private school voucher bill (HB 0190) suggested by the governor passed the House Education Committee March 12. The senate version of the bill (SB 0196) is on the calendar for next Wednesday (I’ll be there then) so if you have an opinion on how this bill may impact our children and schools, please let your senator know.
* Representative Jim Coley, who teaches at Bolton High School, has introduced the Fair and Clear Teacher Evaluation Act which would allow teachers to only be evaluated with a pre-, post-test process of the students that are actually taught by that teacher. The bill is worth the read if you are interested.
President’s Message:
* I attended the Advanced Leadership Training March 1-3 which focused on the book “You Don’t Have to Have a Title to Be a Leader”. I hope that what I learned will help me be a better leader of the wonderful women of Alpha Sigma. I’m still humbled to think about being your president.
* Our own Jacque Higdon has been selected as the SCEA Heart person awardee and I can think of no other educator more deserving. I know firsthand how helpful she is to all her colleagues. If you get an opportunity to let her know how proud you are, please do.
* I will miss everyone at Game Day but I know you will all have a wonderful time as I did last year! I do hope to see you all at Founder’s Day and, as I said earlier, will be asking for help from many of you.
Share the Vision,
Trish
January, 2013
Happy New Year! What a wonderful time to reflect and to look forward to the future. I hope that we will all resolve to spend more time in fellowship with our families and our Delta Kappa Gamma sisters.
I regret missing the tours of St. Jude. For those of you, like me, who worked January 2 we hope to plan another tour sometime this summer. Please let Laura Evans know if you would be interested in a summer tour.
The breakfast at June’s house and the tour of homes in Collierville December 8 was so much fun. We were really fortunate in the weather that day!
Upcoming Events:
Retired Members Luncheon Friday, February 15, at the Grapevine Tea Room, 6284 Chester Street, Arlington; 11:30 a.m. RSVP to June Douglas or email Brenda West
Chapter Meeting Saturday, February 16, Cordova Library, 8457 Trinity Road, Dee Dee Wike Ministries will speak.
Legislative Symposium & Breakfast, February 19-20, Nashville’s Millenium Maxwell House Hotel for Tuesday night’s symposium followed by breakfast and a trip to the Hill Wednesday.
March 1st -Essay Contest entries due to Sandra Smith
June 6-8 – Xi State Convention, Sewanee
July 10-13 – Southeast Regional Convention, Orlando, Florida
I’ve attached a copy of the Alpha Sigma yearbook. If you want copies of the other chapters in Memphis, just let me know. I hope you are all well and to see you all this month.
Share the Vision,
Trish
October, 2012
All of us who attended the Fall Arts Retreat had a wonderful time. Our own Betty Only did a wonderful workshop on Storytelling that practicing teachers and retired educators who volunteer in schools or church could certainly apply to their personal/professional lives. In addition, all of the extras that came with the attendance fee were fabulous. Dinner from Leonard’s Barbecue! Lunch at the Silver Caboose! A wonderful take-away goodie bag! I know that the members who came from Middle and East Tennessee were very impressed with the gracious hospitality of the Memphis area chapters. If any of you have a chance to go to a future Arts Retreat, I highly recommend it!
After the arts retreat, our members gathered for our regular monthly meeting at the Collierville Victory Garden on Byhalia Road. We learned from Master Gardener Carl Wayne Hardeman about the wonderful work they are doing at these gardens around the county. They provide fresh produce for the needy through charitable organizations and allow groups such as Boy’s & Girl’s Scouts to volunteer. If you are interested in volunteering (and picking up some great gardening tips or honing your skills) Laura Evans can give you the contact information.
On October 6, the membership committee invited the prospective initiates to an Orientation Coffee where we gave them a chance to learn about our amazing organization and the benefits and opportunities for personal and professional growth provided by membership. Pat Spencer organized the gathering at Panera Bread and it was lovely.
We are still collecting “Change for Change” to raise money for Schools in Africa at every meeting. Since October is initiation month, we are asking each member to donate one dime for each year she has been a member of DKG. What a wonderful way to help children on the other side of the world!
Speaking of money, dues ($80) must be paid to Penny Powers by the end of this month. If you are having trouble coming up with funds, please contact Penny or me.
It is not too late to register for Initiation October 20, but Penny MUST KNOW if you are coming and your choice of luncheon (salmon or pork) by October 9 - just email and let her know that you are coming and the check is coming, in the mail or in person on October 20, and you will be counted.
If you are attending Initiation it is a great opportunity to also pay for your dues then. I hope you can be there to support our SEVEN new initiates. Initiation of new members will be October 20 at Chickasaw Country Club. Practice will be at 10:00 a.m., Initiation at 10:30 a.m. and lunch at 11:00 a.m. Don’t forget to bring your “Change for Change” for Schools in Africa (one dime per year of membership).
Please send any changes in your personal information to Debbie Robb as soon as possible. The new yearbook will be available in early November and we want everyone’s information to be up-to-date.
Upcoming Events:
The next Retired Members Luncheon will be November 16 at the Women’s Exchange, 88 Racine. RSVP to June Douglas or email Brenda West by November 14 if you are able to attend.
Our November meeting will be November 17 at Brinkley Heights Urban Academy at 10:00 AM. We will have our chapter business meeting, Pastor Tim's presentation, assist a new 6th grade teacher, make our official donation to BHUA, and have lunch after-wards at Cafe Eclectic, 603 N. McLean Blvd. During November and December, we are suggesting that you donate the price of a gift to “Change for Change”.
If you would like to present a workshop at Xi State Convention, June 6-8, 2013 at Sewanee, you must send your proposal to Dorrie Powell by December 1, 2012.
The Xi State Legislative Symposium will be February 19-20, 2013 at the Maxwell Millennium House in Nashville. The registration form is available at the Xi State website, www.xistate.org.
We have information on the Xi State Essay contest, the purpose of which is to encourage, recognize, and reward TN high school students who demonstrate outstanding writing skills.
This year’s topic: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Television, newspapers, magazines, and other media pay too much attention to the personal lives of famous people such as public figures and celebrities. Use specific reasons and details to explain your opinion.
Students may incorporate this prompt in any way they wish, but it must be the basis for the 350-500 word essay. Entries must be postmarked by March 1, 2013.
I’ve attached information on scholarships and grants as well.
I hope to see you this month.
Share the Vision,
Trish
September 2012 Newsletter
So much is going on this month! Mark the weekend of September 21-22 as Delta Kappa Gamma weekend! Our meeting will be that day at 2 pm in Collierville, following the Arts Retreat which ends with lunch at the Silver Caboose.
At our August meeting, we voted to extend invitations of membership to 8 great women. Our membership committee, headed by Pat Spencer, is doing a wonderful job.
Our focus for September is to Go Green! The purpose is to increase members' global awareness regarding environmental protection, sustainability, and being good role models for children and youth.
We will gather at Collierville Victory Garden at 2 pm located behind Collierville Christian Church on Byhalia Rd. We will have our chapter business meeting and a garden tour and presentation by Carl Wayne Hardeman.
Debbie Wooley has done a wonderful job creating our new website! Visit http://alphasigmaxistate.weebly.com/ to keep up with all Alpha Sigma happenings and link to Xi State and DKG International. The site is fabulous!
If you aren’t registered to vote, or you have a change in name or address, make sure you have registered by October 8 to be able to vote in the November election. Our current state legislators have passed many laws regarding the welfare of school children and educators in our state so I hope all of you will get out and vote this November and let them know how important the welfare of the children of Tennessee is to us!
Upcoming Events:
Our Retired Members Luncheon will be September 21 at Just for Lunch, Chickasaw Oaks, 3092 Poplar Avenue. RSVP to June Douglas or email Brenda West by September 19 if you are able to attend.
There will be a Creative Arts Retreat for Xi State in Collierville September 21-22. It is still possible to register if you contact Kathy Bradfield, [email protected]. The cost is $35 for the entire retreat, and $25 for Saturday only. Visit the Xi State website if you want to register.
I’ve also attached a flyer about a Storytelling Festival at Standing Stone State Park September 29 from 10 am until 4 pm.
There will be a Beginning Leadership Management Seminar October 12-14 at the beautiful Hachland Hill Vineyard and Corporate Retreat in Joelton, TN (just north of Nashville). Cathy Daugherty will be the presenter. I’ve attached a registration form and the deadline is September 10.
Initiation of new members will be October 20 at Chickasaw Country Club. Practice will be at 10:00 a.m., Initiation at 10:30 a.m. and lunch at 11:00 a.m. Becky Sadowski will be the speaker at the program.
The cost is $22 per person and when you send your check to Penny Powers, indicate whether you want salmon or pork for lunch. Get your money to Penny early in October because we need to give final numbers to Chickasaw by October 10. Send your money for Initiation and/or dues to Penny Powers.
Dues ($80) will be due by the end of October. You could include a check for your dues when you make your reservations for Initiation.
For those of you who are interested in participating, Race for the Cure is October 27.
If you would like to present a workshop at Xi State Convention, June 6-8, 2013 at Sewanee, you must send your proposal (attached) to Dorrie Powell by December 1, 2012.
The Xi State Legislative Symposium will be February 19-20, 2013 in Nashville, TN. Further details will be coming.
Xi State Convention is June 6-8, 2013! Make plans to attend now!
I hope to see you this month.
Share the Vision,
Trish
August 2012 Newsletter
I still haven’t recovered from my trip to New York! We had a fabulous time and I am so grateful to Mary Jo Wilson for getting our theater tickets and planning an outing to the 9/11 Memorial. Of course, we also learned many good ideas in workshops, listened to wonderful addresses by talented people, and got to know fellow members in DKG from around the world.
We attended a wonderful reception for Jensi at The Manhattan Club and, I must say, the Xi State women put on an impressive display of hospitality. Future retiring International Presidents’ home states will have a tough act to follow!
Dr. Beverly Helms from Florida was elected the new International President at the convention in New York. The theme for the 2012-2014 biennium is, “Sharing our Vision, Strengthening our Society.”
Other news from Convention:
Members voted to expand into Japan; include Early Career Educators as an International Project; to increase scholarship amount for members working on a doctorate to $10,000; and to research electronic voting. Visit www.dkg.org for more information.
I flew in from LaGaurdia Sunday (the 29th) and reported to inservice Monday! After two days of seeing students this week, I was exhausted but still exhilarated.
Xi State is in search of some dedicated sisters who would like to serve Delta Kappa Gamma. You don’t have to have served on a committee in the past; you just have to want to be involved. Please, please, if you are interested in serving your Society, send in an application to serve, either as an officer or as a committee member in one of the following committees: Finance, Personnel, Nominations, or Vision Foundation.
Applications are available online at the Xi State website, and there will also be one in the Xi State News in the fall. We need representatives from the three Grand Divisions of the state for all committees. Please join us! I promise you it will be worth it.
-Gail Watson, Nominations Committee Chair
Upcoming Events:
Our Retired Members Luncheon will be August 17 at Bahama Breeze, 2830 N. Germantown Road. RSVP to June Douglas or Brenda West by August 15 if you are able to attend.
There will be a Creative Arts Retreat for Xi State in Collierville September 21-22. The deadline to register is August 15. $35 for the entire retreat, and $25 for Saturday only. Visit the Xi State website if you want to register.
Our August meeting will be Saturday, August 25, at Sheila Segerson’s home. It will be a “shower” for new teachers (5 or fewer years experience). This will be part of our 2012 membership drive, and it fits perfectly with the DKG International Project for this biennium, so let me know if you have some prospective Early Career Educators you would like to invite. We’ll need to know how many to prepare for. Contact Sheila if you are able to bring something for the event.
DKG has created some new brochures and posters that promote our outstanding organization in a professional manner. Contact Pat Spencer if you want to help on the Membership Committee or obtain any brochures for prospective members. Reply to this email if you would like a poster to place in the teacher work area of you current, or former, school.
There will be a Beginning Leadership Management Seminar October 12-14 at the beautiful Hachland Hill Vineyard and Corporate Retreat in Joelton, TN (just north of Nashville). Cathy Daugherty will be the presenter. The new, more user friendly application is on the Xi State website, and the deadline is September 1.
The date for Initiation has been set. It will be October 20 at Chickasaw Country Club. I will let you know details regarding the price as soon as I get that information.
For those of you who are interested in participating, Race for the Cure is October 27.
The Xi State Legislative Symposium will be February 19-20 in Nashville, TN. Further details will be coming.
Xi State Convention is June 6-8, 2013! Make plans to attend now!
I hope to see you this month.
Share the Vision,
Trish
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July 2012 Newsletter
I hope everyone is staying as cool as possible! It has been so hard to get anything done outside because the heat is just unbearable.
This is my first newsletter and I want to let you all know how truly honored and humbled I am to be serving as Chapter President for such a caring and generous group of professional women.
Betty Only, Emily Johnson, June Reasons, Brenda Morris and I had such a great time at Xi State Convention and are ready to begin a new year of fun and service with Alpha Sigma. You would all have been proud of Brenda who presented a writing workshop at Xi State.
For those of you who have attended the Memorial Service that concludes Xi State, you know how special and meaningful it is. It was my first time to attend and, of course, it was even more touching because Annie Wilkins was honored. She was a dear friend of my mother’s for over 60 years and my sponsor in Delta Kappa Gamma. I know all of you have fond memories of Annie. I was so happy that her daughter Ann and son-in-law Steve were able to attend this very special service.
At the 2012 Xi State Convention in Sewanee, Mary Evelyn Perkinson was awarded the 2012 Xi State Achievement Award for outstanding service to our International organization, Xi State, Gamma Zeta Chapter, and her local community. We are now looking for an outstanding 2013 recipient. The deadline for receiving nominations is April 1, 2013. It is not too early to begin considering a Xi State member who is deserving of recognition for her work in Delta Kappa Gamma.
Betty Only, Laura Evans and I are packing our hats and making plans to attend DKG International Convention in NEW YORK CITY July 24-28! We will report to you on all the excitement when we return.
I’ve attached a copy of our current yearbook. Please review the information to make sure it is correct so we can make any necessary changes before publishing this year’s yearbook. Members of the Executive Board may be contacting you to ask for your service on one or more of our committees and I hope you will consider how you might contribute your talent to our organization. Please let me know if there is a position you would like to fill when you look through that section of the yearbook as well. I would really appreciate it if you would reply to this email even if all your information is correct as well so that I will be assured that everyone is receiving this newsletter. If I do not hear from you, I will give you a call to find out what the problem is.
Upcoming Events:
Our Retired Members Luncheon will be July 20 at Pailladio Antiques and Art at 2169 Central. Please respond to June Douglas or email Brenda West by July 18 if you are able to attend.
There will be a Creative Arts Retreat for Xi State in Collierville September 21-22.
There will be a Beginning Leadership Management Seminar October 12-14 at the beautiful Hachland Hill Vineyard and Corporate Retreat in Joelton, TN (just north of Nashville). Cathy Daugherty will be the presenter. The new, more user friendly application is on the Xi State website, and the deadline is September 1.
The date for Initiation has been set. It will be October 20 at Chickasaw Country Club. I will let you know details regarding the price as soon as I get that information.
For those of you who are interested in participating, Race for the Cure is October 27.
I hope to see you this month.
Trish
December, 2016
Dear Sister Friends,
We had a very happy holiday celebration this morning at the festive home of Amy Tull. Lots to see, eat and drink. 18 members were present and one guest. Some of you are probably still touring Collierville homes, getting even more in the spirit. Or you may be out shopping til you drop. All I know is you are not hungry. What a feast! Thanks to the great cooks and welcoming hostess. If you couldn't be with us, Pat shared her spinach ball recipe via email. I just sent it as a yummy way to test and see if my updates work. Thanks Pat!
Congrats to Phyllis Agnew for winning the Starbucks gift card!
I counted the Schools for Africa collection and am so proud to announce that we are sending in $200 for 2015!!! Thank you in behalf of DKG and Unicef for your generosity!
After our meeting I had the pleasure of delivering a sleigh full of fun and educational toys to Santa (well an elf in Germantown). Just caught him on his way to Brinkley Heights. He clarified that these toys will be the very ones that the parents 'purchase' for the BHUA students with the 'bucks' they have earned through participation and involvement in school activities, attendance, homework, etc.
If you are interested in applying for a grant or scholarship, please contact me. We are determined to make that money available to our members and our projects! Let's make it our resolution in 2017!
Have a very Merry Christmas and Healthy Holidays! Bless you all for your participation in Alpha Sigma and contributions through DKG to the children of the world!
Love, Laura
Little by Little by Joyce Chisale
(attending high school in Milawi, Africa, thanks to supporters like you!)
Little by little we go
No matter how far the distance is
we are not shaken.
Little by little we go
and reach our destination.
Little by little we go
No matter how bumpy the road is
we are not going to turn back.
Little by little we go
and achieve our dreams.
Little by little we go
No matter how narrow the path is
we are going to force ourselves to pass.
Little by little we go
and reach the promised land.
Don't be shaken, don't turn back.
Little by little we go
and reach our destination.
November, 2016
Sweet Sister Friends,
We had a delicious chapter gathering at Bazaar Oils on the Square in Collierville! In fact we had so much fun eating, drinking and shopping that we didn't quite get around to business ... so here is this month's business:
Meditation: In the Spirit of Thanksgiving
"We give thanks for places of simplicity and peace.
May we find such places in ourselves.
We give thanks for places of refuge and beauty.
May we find such places in ourselves.
We give thanks for places of acceptance and belonging.
May we find such places in ourselves.
May we begin to mend the outer world
According to the truth of our inner life."
Dr. Rachel Remen
I found this in a Naomi Judd cookbook! :-)
Approval of Minutes: I sent the minutes to you via email. I don't have everyone's address and I'm sure some have changed. I'd love it if the Caring and Sharing team could help me with those updates and please post minutes and newsletters on our fb and web page. I also sent a "permission to publish photos" email and have not received any exceptions.
Team Go Fund Me is working hard on collecting dues and contacting our membership. The good news is they have sent extra meeting reminders, emails and made phone calls to former members. The sad news we have lost several members this year. Please get in touch with your sister friends that you miss at meetings and encourage them to stay active. We are all super busy and going through stressful times. Belonging to Alpha Sigma is a special opportunity to share those burdens with like minded educators and to celebrate the many milestones of our lives and careers with dear friends. It is a "place of acceptance and belonging" with many benefits and opportunities to grow.
Welcome to our three new members: Gloria Magness, Martha Reese, and Sonja Glaser! They are all 3 already active and involved. Sonja volunteered to serve on a state committee and is an experienced addition to our Team USA. Gloria and Martha are sisters who live in Collierville and are excited about helping with Brinkley Heights projects. Lucky Gloria won the gift certificate at Bazaar. :-)
We will have a little initiation at the December meeting so be sure to come to Amy Tull's house on Dec. 10th.
Be sure to bring toys for BHUA to that Dec. meeting. Some suggestions are: books, games, DVDs, African American dolls, mini cars and trucks, sports balls, puzzles, legos, watches and stocking stuffers. Also batteries, clothing, hat/glove/scarf sets, hoodies and gift cards appeal to the teens. I have already hit some good sales and will keep this list in mind on black Friday! You all have always been so generous and I want to thank you in advance for your generous donations to this inspiring oasis of safety and education in our city. It is a place of "refuge and beauty".
Please contact Team Touchstone (Sheila and Judy) about refreshments for the meeting. I can't wait to see you all there.
Know that I am truly thankful for your time and participation. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Laura Evans
September, 2016
Dear Sisterfriends,
19 of us had a wonderful meeting last night at the gorgeous home of Sheila Segerson. We welcomed Gloria Magness, Martha Reese, and Sonja Glaser and embrace them in membership of our chapter of DKG.
Thanks to all who contributed delicious salads and desserts! We especially enjoyed the sweet surprise of a birthday cake for Martha Baker.
I want to reiterate an invitation to the Memphis Area Chapters' Initiation Luncheon. It will take place Saturday, Oct. 22 at Chickasaw Country Club at 11:00. *If you are a new initiate or a sponsor, please arrive at 9:30 for rehearsal. The menu choices are Chicken, Pork or Vegetarian. Please specify your preference when you submit payment of $25 to Penny Powers asap. (I did not know the menu until later last night, so if you have already paid, please send Penny a quick email with your selection.)
I trust you have already paid your $80 in dues for this year. If not, please send that check to Penny right away. Thanks to Penny for handling all of our financial responsibilities so faithfully and to ALL of you for your prompt and constant support!!
Our publicity guru, Amy Tull, has been working on getting our names and faces published by the local papers - so far without success. If you have any suggestions or connections that would help, please let her know.
The newly crowned Queen of Caring and Sharing, Deborah McDurmon, would like a photo of each of us. What a great tool to enhance our yearbook and help us learn each others names! She got a good start on that project last night. Be sure to attend as many meetings as you can so you have the opportunity to have your beauty captured and catalogued and so we can all grow closer!
Trish Stephenson explained quite a few legislative issues on the local, state and national level. She instructed and inspired us to find out who our representatives are and contact them about these issues. She said that 5 or more emails can get the attention of an official! That is certainly doable. I will forward Trish's excellent report as well as the monthly Legislative Forum Reports to you all as soon as I receive them. This is an important time to be proactive about the political actions that we, as educators, are passionate about!!
I am going to resend the updated list of Teams and their rosters to this letter. I will attach the descriptions and expectations of each team to that list. Thank you for your active involvement!
A note about the upcoming meetings: We will enjoy a cooking lesson and dinner at the fun and fancy Bazaar Oil Shoppe on the Collierville Square on Nov. 10. Please contact Bazaar a week in advance to make your reservation and prepay the $25 fee. This event is a wonderful chance to invite that teacher friend that you think might be a good fit for DKG. Let us show them why they should want to join! The February tour of the National Civil Rights Museum and our annual Game Day fundraiser for Brinkley Heights in March will also be great opportunities to invite prospective members.
As always, thank you for your time and attention! I appreciate your friendship and your dedication to Alpha Sigma. Thank you for your kind expressions of concern and especially the prayers lifted for John's return to health.
Love you,
Laura Evans
May, 2016
Yay May!!! Such a special month; flowers, sunshine, warm temps, shorts, sandals, the end of the school year, fresh local produce, BBQ, Memphis in May, playing outside, vacation planning, gardening, reading for fun, staying up late, going out to lunch, watching summer blockbusters, cook outs and picnics, what's not to love?!
This is a special newsletter too - It's all about you! I want to hear your voice and your ideas about our chapter! If you are reading this I want you to respond to it! You can simply hit reply or reply all, you can call or text me, or you can send me a good old fashioned letter. You can tell me in person at the May meeting. Hey you can even message me on facebook, I share the page with John A Evans. Your ideas will help the new board tweak existing practises and attract more key women educators like you! In the immediate future I am going to use your comments to make our chapter display board for Xi State. The visual theme is a flower garden, the title "Alpha Sigma, How Does Your Chapter Grow?"
I need to hear from every one of you and here is what I want to know:
What do you love about Alpha Sigma? What are we doing right? Is it our meetings, a favorite meeting every year, our projects, being part of a great organization, the friends, fellowship, food, the song, the road trips? Do you feel enriched or empowered by our activities? Are the publications beneficial and informative? Tell us exactly what you like so we can do more of that. What makes you want to invite others to join?
What can we do better? How can we get you more involved? Do we need more or different methods of communication? Could we be better organized or organized differently? Should we be on social media more, or less? Are the meetings too long, too short, too serious, too frivolous, too frequent, not frequent enough? Is it too expensive? Should we meet in homes or public spaces? Are you over burdened or under utilized? What do you suggest we do differently to grow our chapter?
I want us to make Alpha Sigma the biggest and best chapter in Tennessee, because in my heart we already are. I want to see all of you OFTEN. I need your help to make our chapter effective and meaningful to all of our members and the community we serve.
I know, you're probably busy right now, but if you had time to read this please take another moment to respond. I can't wait to hear your thoughts!
"One more thing" as always. :-} See you at our annual Planning and Plant Swap Meeting at my house Saturday, May 21st at 1:00! Bring your ideas for next year's programs, your critiques for our chapter, plants (are optional), and your appetite for fun!
Happy Mother's Day!
Thanks for your attention and your response,
Laura Evans
April 18, 2016
Dear Sister Friends,
Congratulations to the new board of officers for Alpha Sigma! Deborah McDurmon, Linda Porter, Judy Sandlin and I are attending Leadership Training in Jackson on Saturday Apr. 30. Thanks to Sheila and Penny for also agreeing to serve this biennium.
Betty Only, Brenda West, Trish Stephenson, Deborah McDermon, and I will be attending Xi State June 2-4. This is always a fun and informative gathering of key women educators from all over Tennessee. Our chapter, in cooperation with Alpha Rho, will be decorating the ballroom for the Presidents' Banquet.
The big event of the summer will take place at the Opryland Hotel July 5 - 9. DKG's International Convention promises to be a real Down Home Good Time! Betty, Brenda, Linda, Trish, Judy and I have already registered. There is still time if you want to go, but hurry, rooms are booking fast. You can go up for part of the convention if you wish or make a holiday of the whole week! Please let me know if you decide to go.
I hope to see you all at my house (which is a short trip to Oakland) on May 21 at 1:00. Bring your ideas about programs for next year, light refreshments and any plants you wish to share. You don't have to bring anything but you do have to take something home! I have already started seedlings and hopefully my garden will have some goodies - if the dogs don't 'harvest' it all first!
I have received two sweet thank you notes for all of Alpha Sigma: Carol Molding wrote to let me know how much she enjoyed the February meeting. You made a great impression on her! Emily Johnson wrote to thank Betty Only and all of us for sharing the flowers from our Founder's Day center pieces. Thanks to Emily for the phone call about Phyllis Agnew's mom. We had a great visit! She is recovering well from surgery and about to begin a new round of chemotherapy this Wednesday. She says she still has a freezer stocked with healthy meals but will let us know when she's ready for more. Please pray for her continued health and healing!
Thank you for your kind attention and enthusiastic participation in Alsph Sigma!
Laura Evans
April 9, 2016
Delta Kappa Gamma Founder’s Day
Have we ever had a bad meal at the Chickasaw Country Club? This year was no exception! With snazzy cowboy boots holding gorgeous spring flowers and bandanas, the hall was a fun inviting place to meet. Thanks to Laura Evans and Sheila Segerson and Martha Baker.
The guest speaker was Gina Sweat, newly named director of Memphis Fire Department. An honorarium in the name of Director Gina Sweat was made to the Delta Kappa Gamma Emergency Fund.
The Program was planned by Shirley Bullard and Barbara McCloskey. Guests were quizzed with facts and history of Delta Kappa Gamma. You had to be the smart one to answer any of the questions correctly. This was a test not studied for.
Finally the 2016-2018 Officers were named and installed. Membership recognized those 30 and 40 year members of Delta Kappa Gamma. The group all sang the words to “Oh, We’re Delta Kappa Gamma.” Doris Conder welcomed the guests and gave the closing remarks and announcements.
If you do not know the words to the Delta Kappa Gamma song, here are words to the chorus: Oh, we’re Delta Kappa Gamma!
Sisters one and all!
From that first night in Austin,
We’ve traveled near and far.
We’re found in all the 50 states
and internationally.
We’re Delta Kappa Gamma,
The only one for me!
Alpha Sigma had 12 members present.
Linda Porter, secretary
April, 2016
Hello sister friends! Hope you have enjoyed a blissfully beautiful weekend of springtime! I have lots of good news for you all, so I'll get right to it.
I am proud and grateful to announce the Alpha Sigma leadership board for 2016-2018
President: Laura Evans
Co-vice presidents: Sheila Segerson and Judy Sandlin
2nd vice president: Deborah Mc Durmon
Treasurer: Penny Powers
Secretary: Linda Porter
There will be an election in Nashville for international officers and elected committee positions. Read those last 2 issues of DKG news and let Dorrie Powell, our Xi State President, know how you would like her to cast our votes by May 1. We realize you may not know these candidates, but if you have served on a committee with them or have a preference, now is your chance to let it be known.
DKG 1st VP: Barb Whiting (Minnesota) or Jeanette Zuniga (Costa Rica)
SE Regional Director: Linda Navorska (South Carolina) or Jane M. Thompson (Kentucky)
Member at Large: June Bowers (Nebraska) or Beth Schieber (Oklahoma)
I received wonderful news today from Dr. Jensi Souders, Editor of DKG News, Chair of the TN State Communications & Publicity Committee, and former International President. She wrote to let us know that the Alpha Sigma website has earned Highest Honors!! All congratulations go to Debbie Wooley for her diligence and expertise as our webmaster. We also recieved Honorable Mention for our newsletter. We'll be receiving these awards at a luncheon on June 3 in Sewannee. (Hope ya'll signed up to go to Xi State!)
I hope to be seeing many of you at our Memphis Area Coordinating Council's Founders Day Celebration this Saturday at Chickasaw Country Club. Martha, Sheila and I will be having fun decorating tables with bandanas and cowboy boots full of flowers. Looking forward to Initiation in October ... our chapter will be in charge of the program and speaker. I hope we will also have LOTS of new Alpha Sigma initiates. Before this school year ends, please approach at least two inspiring educators about membership in DKG!
We have a great group going to Leadership Training in Jackson at the end of this month. I expect to be impressed and reinvigorated. I am already encouraged by the number participating.
The deadline to register for International Convention is fast approaching and we do not want to miss out on discounts and special room rates. Please reply to this email if you plan to attend so we can make our reservations. If you need forms they are online and in the Jan/Feb issue of DKG news. It is going to be a big ole, boot stompin', big time!!!
It is an honor to continue to serve as your president. I will approach this term as a second chance to do my best to reflect your excellence and represent your interests. The saddest task during the first term has been filing necrology reports for Sara Folis and Nadine Hicks. Dr. Folis will be honored with her candle at Xi State this June and Nadine will be honored next June. Did you know Nadine was initiated on April 1st, 1961? What a long lasting legacy! I am happy to be part of an organization that includes so many fabulous, brilliant women educators who make a difference every day for year after year - like you!
Thank you for your support and participation,
Laura Evans
March, 2016
It is so wonderful to see signs of spring! My Linton roses are blooming and Daffodils are budding. Another sure sign of spring is upcoming elections. I don't mean the national news, debates, primaries, or the plethera of candidates' commercials. Let's take a spring break from all that and elect leaders we can ALL agree on for our chapter!
First off, I want to thank Phyllis Agnew for serving as first vice president and arranging two years of empowering programs! Thanks to Diane Pinson for doing a great job of publishing our yearbook as second vice president! Extra thanks to Penny Powers for being so faithful as our treasurer (again)! Twice the thanks to Trish Stephenson for wearing two hats; parlaimentarian and Xi State's Legislative Committee chairperson!! Special thanks, present and future, to Linda Porter for stepping into the position of secretary and agreeing to continue in that role this biineum! Oh and the office of president is available. I'll be stepping into parlaimentarian shoes. Being president is both challenging and rewarding. If you find that responsibility too daunting, note that you can share the position. I want you to all to ask yourself how you can serve. What office interests you? Are you good with numbers, an organizer, do you like to communicate? Please consider volunteering be on our board! I can promise you that it will be fun and inspiring. And that two years go by awfully fast! Some of you may be thinking that you have done it before, so you'll give someone else a turn. I say we need you for your experience! You can bring sharp tools and perspective to the process. Others may be thinking you are too busy or too tired, too new or too old, but I say you are just who we need and WE NEED YOU NOW! The new board will be introduced at our Founders Day celebration on April 9 at 11am in the Chickasaw Country Club ballroom. Send your $24 to Penny Powers by Mar. 25th and your intentions or nominations to Trish or me ASAP! Thanks to Martha Baker and Sheila Segerson for helping with the table decorations for Founders Day. I think you will all get a kick out of them (that's a hint). Thanks to Betty for sending the reminders about our annual Game Day fundraiser for BHUA on Mar. 21 from 10 am till 3 pm at the Second Baptist Church. She is taking reservations (and $20 donations) now. Don't worry that I'll be twisting arms or campaigning at that meeting ... because we have a March 15 deadline to submit our slate of officers. So I hope to be presenting you with a full ballot on Game Day. The polls are open, exercise you rights and responsibilties soon. Please!!
Thank you for your time and your serious considerstion,
Laura
February, 2016
Happy Valentine's Day to all! Stay warm with your sweethearts this weekend. I think the sweetest thing about DKG membership is supporting teachers who work with the students who need us the most. That is what we did at the Jan. 30th meeting at Brinkley Heights. Afterwards we enjoyed lunch at a local institution and held a brief business meeting.
Here is some important information that you need to make note of and act on:
Sadly, Nadine Hicks' bright, funny spirit passed on Thursday, Feb. 11. The visitation is Tues. from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at Memorial Park and the service is Wed. at 1:00.
The retiree luncheon is at Amerigo's on Ridgeway Fri. 2/19 at 11:30. Let June Douglas know if you are coming.
Game Day is coming up March 21st! Contact Betty Only with your door prize donations and table reservations.
Founder's Day celebration is Saturday, April 9, at Chickasaw Country Club. Arrive at 11 and lunch will be served at 11:30. The menu is Chicken Picatta with pasta, house salad, vegetables, and sherbet for dessert. There is a vegetarian option - pasta and vegetables. The cost is $24. Please send your payment and meal preference to Penny Powers by March 25. We will honor 30, 40 and 50 year memberships and introduce new officers.
I received a sweet note from Brenda Morris this week. She sends her love and support. We also received a beautiful card from Emily Johnson thanking us for our continued prayers.
You should have your Xi State news near the top this week's mail. Pull out the Xi State Convention registration form and get it to Betty Only by Feb. 29. We want to get the early bird discount and room together in St. Luke's dorm. Ride up to 'the mountain' with us and stay a few happy days at Sewanee June 2-4. Don't miss this opportunity to gather with sisters from all over Tennessee. There will be good food and fun and lots of shopping. It will be especially signifigant to honor the long, dedicated lives of Dr. Folis and Nadine Hicks during the Ceremony of Remembrance on Saturday.
Go ahead and register for the International Convention at the Opryland Hotel in July while you are at it! That form is in the DKG News you got in January. Let me know if you are going and be sure to volunteer too!
Thanks for your attention and for all you do for this organization! Stay warm and know that you are loved.
Laura Evans
"Every child deserves a champion - an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best they can possibly be."
Rita Pierson
January, 2016
Due to weather forecast, our Brinkley Heights work day will be postponed. Please plan to meet Saturday, January 30, at 9:30 instead. Bring Kleenex for the classrooms. Let anyone you know who might not get this notice via email, fb, or website by phone. As you get in touch with sisters nearby, why not make plans to carpool? We will be having lunch afterwards at a restaurant. Looking forward to seeing you all and working for the amazing teachers and deserving students at BHUA!
October, 2015
Trick or Treat!!
The trick was my having to miss our September meeting. Thanks so much to Brenda, Phyllis, Sheila and her friend Miranda for hosting what was, by all accounts, a very informative and enjoyable gathering! (By the way, John is now home from his 21 day stay in the hospital and recovering very nicely. Thanks for all your prayers!)
The treat was the wonderful Memphis Area Initiation Ceremony on October 17! There were two tables full of beautiful Alpha Sigma sisters and 5 initiates! Thanks so much to Betty, Pat, Trish and Penny for stepping up to the podium and doing a marvelous job! We hope to welcome our 6th new member at our November 21st meeting in the home of Betty Only at 11 am. Becky Sadowsky will be the speaker and our new area director, Carol Moling, will join us also.
So many of us were influenced, assisted, even hired by Dr. Sara Folis. We are all saddened by the loss of this accomplished educator who just celebrated 50 years of membership last year. There will be a very special ceremony of remembrance at Sewanee in June and as many of us will stand united as her candle is lit and her memory is revered.
Have you started filling your 2016 calendar yet? Be sure the monthly meetings, Xi State and DKG International are all listed in bold print, highlighted and underlined. I am looking forward to retiring again at the end of this month and enjoying all the activities this dynamic society has to offer! For example: Founder's Day will be held April 9th, 11:00 am at Chickasaw Country Club. Our chapter is responsible for decorations so be dreaming up (or scrolling through Pinterest for) good ideas!
Today is the deadline to turn in your dues to Penny Powers, if you haven't - you still have time to contact her before the bewitching hour!
I hope you get to share some sweets tonight and see some magical little creatures. My doorbell is ringing so ...
Happy Halloween!
Laura Evans
August, 2015
"Back to School" is a phrase that means so much and probably stirs mixed emotions in us all. My primary feeling is gratitude (but I am retired). I want to thank all of you that attended our first meeting of this school year, and let those that could not attend know that we missed you! Thanks especially to Betty for sending a personal invitation to each member and to Stephanie for opening her home to all 20 present! Thanks also for the delicious refreshments and active participation in the program. So many wonderful teacher gifts were donated that it filled the back of Judy's SUV. We voted to donate them all to teachers at Brinkley Heights and she agreed to make that delivery. We went over a lot of important information so get out your calendars & pens - I will recap for you now.
*The 2015-2016 Program Schedule is attached to the August newsletter. Please open, print, and put it where you won't forget. We want to see you, share your ideas and enjoy your company at every opportunity! Thanks to Phyllis for all her planning and to everyone who offered their homes for meetings. We will be signing up for refreshments along the way. For example, retirees are bringing salads and desserts to our Sept. meeting.
* We have 5-6 nominees for initiation. Send those nomination forms to Martha and come to the Orientation Tea on Oct. 10. I am thrilled that we have so many! Don't let that limit your thinking for the future, please invite others to attend meetings throughout the year and continue to promote our dynamic society. Let the secret out: DKG is awesome and we need more members to make a greater impact on education!
*Dues are $80. Please send to Penny Powers. Initiation is Oct. 17. If you plan to attend, send $21 to Penny too. Dues for new initiates are $100 and sponsor needs to pay for her lunch.
*Brenda Morris' book, Snapshots from the Past:Evidence of God's Love and Care, is available on Amazon.
*Nadine Hicks address has changed. Please check the August newsletter for her daughter's address.
*In order to make applications or download from DKG website you need your id number (on membership card) and the password found on the August newsletter.
*We need a Recording Secretary! Thanks for subbing at this meeting, Debbie, great job!
* Check your yearbook to see what committee you are on and let me know if you would like a change. Please consider serving as an officer next year and let Trish know if you would.
*Betty recommended sponsoring a BHUA teacher for membership. I think we all agree that would be a wonderful way to further support and encourage that outreach on a more personal level.
*Our chapter will be performing the Initiation Ceremony in October, decorating the tables for Founders' Day Celebration in April and also decorating for the Presidents' Banquet at Xi State in June. I need your help with all of that. Please volunteer and send me your ideas! It means you will have to attend those functions as well, so make arrangements to be there: Oct. 17, 2015, April 9 or 16, 2016, and June 2-4, 2016.
*As long as we are looking forward to next summer (especially if you're teaching) mark July 5-9, 2016. The DKG International Convention will be at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN. That's right, WE are hosting the world. You simply must attend an international convention for your bucket list and this one will be close to home! Road Trip!!!
* I would like to Spotlight Alpha Sigma Members in my newsletters this year. Please send me your 'Life Story'; if they made a movie of your life, who would play you? Would it be a comedy, drama, romance or action flick? Give us the highlights of your family, hobbies, career and achievements. Have fun with this assignment. I know we will all have fun running these films in our heads!
Thanks for reading this update and recording all the important dates. I know if you are reading it on your phone you will stop right now to print out the attached program schedule. Make it our best year ever!
Laura Evans
(Thanks Phyllis, for making me feel 15 years younger. My life story is evidently a film series!)
July, 2015
This summer is so full and passing so quickly that I can hardly keep up! Looking forward to heading South on Sunday for the DKG Southeast Regional Convention in lovely Savannah. Will keep you posted with pix on fb and website thanks to Phyllis and Debbie.
Here's what I know right now:
We need a Recording Secretary! Sweet Brenda Morris has moved to the beach! (See, if you become our next secretary your dreams could come true too...) Please take a moment to drop her a note at her new address:6318 Anise Drive, Sarasota, FL 34238 Also her new book is available on Amazon for $14.95: Snapshots from the Past: Evidences of God's Love and Care
Phyllis is doing a great job of organizing our programs for next year and I should be able to send that schedule out to you all soon. Thanks so much to all those who have been helping and who have volunteered to help throughout the year!
If you are doing your 'homework' this summer you have been thinking of future members. Here are some suggestions: Look outside your familiar 'box' and consider teachers you admire but may not know personally. Your grandchild's piano or dance or sports performance was probably put on by a "key woman educator". Vacation Bible School at your church was probably made meaningful by a special teacher. The library where you take your kids/grandkids is run by an able individual. A tutor may have touched your family with their teaching talents. There is an assistant at your school who outshines the rest. Let them know you appreciate their abilities by inviting them to attend an Alpha Sigma meeting next year.
I'd like to end on a high note so Congratulations and Gratitude to Betty Only for all her hard work crocheting dishcloths and scrubbies! She raised over $250 for Brinkley Heights at Xi State this summer!
Thank you all for your time and attention. Thanks for participating in any and all the ways you can. I appreciate you and lean on your support!
Enjoy the dog days of summer, they're my favorite! :-)
Laura
May, 2015
Summer is here! I hope you all have wonderful plans to enjoy it. Perhaps you will be attending Xi State in June and/or the Southeast Regional Conference in July! If so I will see you there, if not I will try to keep you posted via Facebook (with a little help from my fb savvy friends)!
If you are trying to register for any events or interact with the DKG website, please remember the new log in process: You need to have your 6 digit member id number (on your membership card) and the default password dkg2014society. Personalize that password when you log on.
Locally we can always get together on the third Friday of each month at 11:30. Please try to make at least one luncheon this summer! If you're coming, call June Douglas or email her to confirm.
June 19th - Coletta's on Appling Rd.
July 17th - Bookseller's Bakery at Laurelwood
August 21 - Macaroni Grill on N. Germantown near Wolfchase
I hope you read the DKG and XI State publications, or at least save them until you have time to read - like now! Did you catch the photo of Trish Stephenson at the Legislative Symposium? Lookin' good while doing good for teachers everywhere!
We had a great planning meeting early this month and Phyllis has been working on a schedule for all the 'edutaining' programs we'll enjoy starting in August. We will forward that schedule as soon as it is nailed down. Thanks in advance to everyone who has offered to host, present, and provide refreshments!! When you get the schedule, please put every meeting on all your calendars. You might miss something wonderful if you don't. Speaking of something wonderful you might have missed, the Founder's Day Celebration was amazing! I'll reproduce the teacher's prayer we heard there at the end of this newsletter.
Here is your summer homework: READ, REST, and RELAX!
Consider someone you teach with (or taught with) that might make a super sister member of Alpha Sigma. Make a coffee date with her and invite her to join us!
Search your self for more time or talents that you have to share with us this coming year! We need new members and we need more active members to serve as officers and be the strong core of our chapter. Be open to a new challenge. Volunteer for a job. Accept an offer to serve on the board. Take part in more meetings. Be mindful and supportive of all DKG efforts.
Sadly we say say Bon Voyage to our sweet secretary, Brenda Morris. Lucky girl is moving to Sarasota, Florida to be closer to family. Her latest book, Snapshots from the Past, Evidence of God's Love and Care is now available on Amazon, so we can stay close by sharing her written word. Oh! and an open invitation to the beach! Unfortunately, she leaves a big hole in our hearts and on our executive board. If you would like to step into her shoes as Secretary please let me know!!!
Thank you again for your time and attention. Have a fun & fabulous summer. Love to you all. Keep our sisters Nadine, Marcia and Judy in your prayers as they recover. Have big adventures, make memories and stay safe!
Laura Evans
April 2015
It's Good Friday and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend planned!
Remember that envelope I told you to address to Penny Powers? Well, put a check for $20, made out to Alpha Sigma, in it and circle April 18 on your calendar for the Founders' Day Celebration at The Fogleman Center, U of M. Park for free at the Holiday Inn and walk across the street or park in the parking garage next to Fogleman for $2. The menu is a buffet of beef, chicken, fish, rice, potato, vegetables, desserts, ice cream and drinks. Please make your reservation by sending a check to Penny as soon as possible. I am looking forward to seeing you all there at 10:00!
I am so proud of Alpha Sigma for raising $1300 for Brinkley Heights on Game Day! Betty has also earned $400 selling the wash cloths and scrubbies she creates. These donations make such a positive difference.Thank you to everyone who contributed! Your support is critical in the battle to educate and protect many at risk children. Keep their special teachers in your prayers too.
We also received a very high score on our yearbook, thanks to Diane Pinson! Hope you will be using yours to look up Penny's address right now.
Have a blessed weekend!
Laura Evans
March 2015
Happy Spring! Hope you had a wonderful time at the Game Day event yesterday. I know the biggest winner is Brinkley Heights Urban Academy. Thank you for your contributions to that great cause!
Our April meeting will be a Founders Day celebration at the Fogleman Center Banquet Room across the street from the U of M Holiday Inn. Parking is free if you park at the Inn and walk across. The lunch will be a buffet with lots of entree options. I am waiting for the final word on the cost and will let you know as soon as I do. It is in the neighborhood of $20. We will need to get our payment and reservations in to Penny by April 6th. So put it on your calendar, address an envelope to Penny, and write the check when I send you the amount.
Did you see the registration form in the DKG News for our Southeast Regional Conference? Save $50 if you register before June 8th.
If you use the DKG website you need a new password. The public is able to view content, but members need to login in order to 'interact' in ways such as registering for conferences. Your 6 digit member ID is on your membership card. The default password is dkg2014society. After logging in, please personalize the password for future use.
I want to express my sincere gratitude to Debbie Wooley and Kay Aldridge for accepting positions on the Memphis Coordinating Council. Our chapter will be well represented and we all appreciate their dedication and commitment. It will also be fun to carpool to meetings together! :-)
Attached you will find a copy of the updated Chapter Rules. Thanks to Betty Only for her help with that project! You may not need them right now but save them so you can refer to them if you have a question in the future.
Things sure are getting green around the yard, and it's not just for St. Patrick's Day. I'm putting a few plants aside now for the swap we'll be having in May. Hope to see you all very soon.
Thanks for your attention and participation!
Laura
February 2015
Twenty-one of us enjoyed a delicious Valentine's Day luncheon and a fascinating perspective of the novel and film Gone With The Wind. We appreciate Phyllis Agnew's warm hospitality and were thoroughly enthralled by her brilliant and charming son "Andy" aka James A. Crank, PhD. His book, New Approaches to Gone With the Wind, is dedicated to Phyllis and will be released soon. We all want a signed copy! The cherry on top was the beautiful and yummy heart shaped red velvet cake! Thank you Phyllis for a very loving celebration and enlightening program!
Here are the details of upcoming events requested at the meeting:
Retiree Lunch this Friday: 11:30 at Abuelos on Hwy 64. Contact June Douglas if you are coming.
Game Day benefit for BHUA: March 16 at 2nd Baptist Church of Memphis from 10 am to 3 pm. $20 cost includes lunch and dessert provided by Lee Lindsay, Brenda West and Martha Baker. There will be door prizes. a silent auction, fun and games galore. Please invite your friends and bring an extra card table. Contact Betty Only for more information.
Xi State Convention will be June 4-6. Register now and request St. Luke's dorm. Then contact Betty or me about riding together. It will be fun as always.
DKG Southeast Regional conference will be July 15 - 18. We are already booking rooms and making travel plans. If you would like to go, contact me or Betty as soon as you know so we can get the best hotel rate.
Be making plans to attend DKG International Convention July 5 - 9, 2016 (NEXT year) at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville!! This is a really big deal and we will need all hands to help host this event.
I am working on updating our chapter rules. If you took a copy yesterday and have suggestions, please get them to me asap. My deadline is March 1st and February is a short month. Thank you for your help!
Order of the Rose nominations are due Mar. 15. The form is on the Xi State website (scroll down for the document link) and digital submissions are preferred.
Thanks again for your support and participation. I appreciate you!
Stay warm.
Laura Evans
January 2015
Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoyed the holidays and have had time to reflect on the past year so that you can make the most of 2015. As you know from teaching, small changes can make a big difference. Please consider some small ways that you can improve the Alpha Sigma experience this year - for yourself and all your sisters: mentor a new teacher, call a member you missed at the last meeting, sign up to host a program, attend a workshop, prepare refreshments, read a DKG publication then place it in your faculty lounge, write your government representatives about issues facing educators, volunteer to serve on a committee, travel to a state, regional or international conference, send a card to encourage a sister, shop for an iris themed auction item, bring donations for BHUA, put cash in the Schools for Africa jar, pray for the health and welfare of teachers everywhere, drive a reserve member to the next meeting, invite a prospective member to join us, learn the words to our DKG song, visit our facebook page and like our posts, share a successful lesson plan with a friend, thank your chapter officers for their service, attend more meetings than you did last year ... I'm looking forward to what you all will do to amaze and inspire this year!
Our first opportunity to gather will be Saturday Jan, 24th at 9:00 am in the hallowed halls of Brinkley Heights Urban Academy. (3260 Macon Road, Memphis, 38122) Our efforts to support this special project are always rewarding. If you haven't been to BHUA before, be prepared for a life altering experience. If you have been, then I know you won't want to miss it! Please come. Bring "Box Tops For Education" and anything else you think these courageous teachers and students can use in their battle to transform their environment. We will be doing whatever we can to help the teachers that morning, hold our Educational Reform meeting featuring Wanda Chism, Collierville School Board Member, and have lunch afterwards at Cafe Eclectic. Clipping Box Tops, buying Betty Only's hand made dish rags & scrubbies, and supporting our annual Game Day (March 16, 10 am) all fit together to bless this school and build a better future for children who might not have one without our help.
Attached is the entire yearbook for the Memphis Coordinating Council in pdf format. Download it and save it to a safe place, but don't print it unless you have lots of extra paper and ink. We will be distributing a hard copy of the Alpha Sigma section to all of you for easy access. Keep this electronic version to look up friends and information from other chapters.
I have also attached the letter about the Box Top program and a picture of the little basket that raised $200 for BHUA in 2014.
Thank you for you time, attention, and dedication to education!
Your sister,
Laura Evans
December 2014
Merry Christmas!! Tis the season to scurry, so I will try to keep this short and sweet, just like your "to do list" I'm sure.If you don't have time to read any further at least make note of this program change: We will have our January meeting on the 24th, but it will be held at Brinkley Heights. We decided to combine our Education program with a work day for the deserving teachers at BHUA. So the date stays the same but the time and location have changed. Let's all try to get there at 9:00am and head to lunch afterwards nearby.
Thanks to Brenda West for hosting our meeting yesterday. Her festive welcome infused us all with Christmas spirit. Even Scrooge went home and put up a tree! Thanks to Brenda Morris for reminding us of the true reason for the season and the great gift He really is. Thanks to Phyllis Agnew for organizing another delightful and delicious meal and to all who contributed their time and cooking/serving talents! In the business of the season and the fullness of our schedules I appreciate the 23 of you that were present and those who couldn't be there were missed. Thanks especially for all the toy contributions for BHUA! Your kindness and generosity will surely brighten the holidays and bring joy to many precious children! I know of a special sister Santa who delivered very nice toys early since she couldn't attend. By purchasing Betty Only's handmade scrubbies and dishrags you also support BHUA. Thanks to everyone who donated to our Schools for Africa campaign. I appreciate your continued prayers for teachers and students all over the world who face enormous challenges and still dedicate themselves to learning. Checkout facebook and our website for photos of all the fun we had and send some in to Xi State and DKG if you feel they are worthy of publishing. After the meeting I saw lots of friends touring homes all over Collierville and I also saw them shopping around town.
On the personal side; join me in congratulating Amy Tull, her first grandchild is due in July. Kudos to Brenda Morris, her latest book is being published. Our adventurous Sheila Segerson will be traveling to India for a wedding over Christmas. Wonderful news in the season of wonders!
On a somber note; please keep Natalee Staggs Wilkinson and her family in your thoughts and prayers. Her dad received a devastating diagnosis on Friday. While most of us are celebrating, he will be starting chemo. Lift prayers for a miracle in this season of miracles!
Thank you all for everything you have done to support the mission of DKG and the sisterhood of Alpha Sigma in 2014.
This verse sums up not only the spirit of Christmas, but applies to the important work of educators everyday: "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you." Acts 3:6
Merry Christmas to all and to all a happy, healthy new year!
Laura
November, 2014
Brrr! Winter came early this year. I hope you all have adjusted to the time and temperature changes. This is such a busy time of year I will try to keep my message brief!
I want to publicly thank the wonderful women who work so hard behind the scenes to keep our happy band organized and on track: Penny Powers has successfully completed the task of collecting and reporting our membership dues. She reported that we now have 57 active members. Martha Baker warmly welcomed and initiated our 3 new members. Diane Pinson has wrangled the many components of our yearbook and it is on it's way to the proper authorities. We will be getting an electronic copy to you very soon and a hard copy to you after that. Phyllis Agnew planned and presented great programs so far this year. Brenda Morris has carefully documented the minutes of our meetings. June Douglas and Brenda West have organized fun retiree luncheons for the lucky ones who have earned the treat of attending them. Debbie Wooley and Phyllis Agnew have captured the spirit of our fellowship on our website and facebook page. Sheila Segerson prints and posts these newsletters to
those who aren't on email. I have called on many of you for help and I appreciate your willingness to pitch in. I especially want to thank each of you for your participation in our meetings.
If you are interested in working the mile 8 water station for the St. Jude's Marathon on Dec. 6 from 8 am til 11:30, please let me know. On Dec. 13 we will meet in the home of Brenda West at 9:30 for breakfast and then a festive tour of Collierville Homes. Be sure to purchase your ticket for the tour from Betty Only and bring TOYS for the Brinkley Heights kids!
Thanks so much for your attention. Have a warm and wonderful November.
I'm thankful for you!
Laura Evans
September 2014
We had a wonderful meeting on August 23rd at the home of our gracious hostess Lee Lindsay. 19 members were in attendance and we contributed enough classroom goodies to fill 4 gift bags for early career teachers! Arzu Booth was the very happy recipient of Alpha Sigma generosity. She was delighted with the contents and wanted to sign up to be a member on the spot! She later decided to postpone until she gets her first year in 3rd grade at Lakeland behind her, so look for her next October.
Meanwhile, this year we are proud to welcome 3 new members: Amy Tull, Karol Shaul and Marcia Nanney. Wanda Chism and Wanda Kershbaum are rejoining. We are honored to have these educators' experience and influence among our ranks. It's going to feel like a happy Collierville Elementary reunion. I hope you will all try to attend the Initiation Ceremony at Chickasaw Country Club. Alpha Sigma is putting together the program about Grants, Fellowships, and Scholarships. All good ideas $$$ Bring your checkbook to the September meeting so you can reserve a seat on Oct. 11.
Before that we have the super delicious Soup Supper coming up Sept. 25 at the lovely home of June Douglas. Retirees are bringing the refreshments so working teachers can relax and enjoy. Thanks to all who signed up to bring soups and such! Phyllis Agnew is coordinating that effort. Please contact her if you can help. Trish Stephenson is going to give us a Legislative Report. We were going to initiate Natalee Wilkinson (she joined last year) but she has Open House at Schilling Farms that night. Congrats on the new job Natalee! We'll have to finally make her official at the meeting in November.
Special thanks to Brenda Morris and Brenda West for taking on the task of mailing a reminder postcard to all members about the upcoming meeting and dues. They hope to boost attendance and lend a personal touch to our communications. If you know anyone who misses a meeting, PLEASE call that sister, check in, and tell her she was missed! The Sunshine Committee is going to send cards out to absentees in the future too. I appreciate all of your comments and suggestions for improving our chapter. You have been so kind and positive. Please let me know how I can improve your membership experience and better focus our efforts to have the most optimal impact. We all share the mission of promoting the professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education.
The really serious business of this newsletter is to distribute the Committee Rosters. Most of you had an opportunity to volunteer and many of you signed up - thank you for that! If you didn't then I have carefully assigned you a position on at least one committee that I thought you would be well suited for. Everyone has to serve somewhere - I pray I have chosen wisely. If I have somehow overlooked anyone I sincerely apologize and I will be happy to assign you the committee of your dreams! By the way, as president I actually serve on all committees so don't think I got off easy. If you see a star by your name that means you are the chairwoman. Please get in touch with your committee members by email and find them at every chapter meeting. Ask the veteran members about committee projects and responsibilities. I'll be in touch when there is anything needed by the chapter, Xi State or DKG International. We can do it - together!
Thank you for your interest and your service to the awesome Aplha Sigma chapter of DKG!
Laura
August, 2014
Alpha Sigma sisters,
Take this challenge and donate to help find a cure for ALS.
www.alsa.org
Or
PO box 6051
Albert Lea , MN
56007
July, 2014
Today is sunny and cool, a gardeners delight! We have had plenty of rain this summer and I can't believe the breeze and low humidity. I hope you are all able to enjoy it as much as I am. I also hope that I will be seeing you on Friday at Vinegar Jim's. Don't forget to let June or Brenda W. know you're coming.
I'm not writing just to brag about the weather. I want to brag about 2 hardworking board members as well: *Phyllis has set up a fabulous schedule of programs for us this year. She is working on final details and confirming everything before we all get a copy of it, but I will hint that it will be very informative while informal at the same time. We should get to know each other better while getting the most out of our society in 2014/2015. *Penny has completed the treasurers report on time! That is a huge responsibility and I know we all appreciate that she has 'done the math' for us! She and I will be meeting soon about setting a budget. If you have any suggestions for raising and/or allocating chapter funds let us know your thoughts.
I have a few requests: Please consider signing up to bring food to our monthly meetings. We could use a committee to take charge of refreshments. If you aren't already serving on a committee - let me know if you would be willing to start with something fun and friendly like this one! It will help the hostess, the program and your chapter.
I need help writing and putting on a skit at our city wide October Initiation program. We have already secured a very good speaker who will inform us of the benefits of DKG scholarships and grants. We want to lighten things up with a little comedy about the things teachers do to earn extra money in our 'spare time'. I have thought of (and tried a few): tutor, aerobics instructor, bartender, dog walker, pool girl, housekeeper and gambler. :-) What have you done in the past, or thought of doing, to pay for graduate hours? I ALSO NEED JOKES! I have only one that I heard on a WC Fields movie. I will also need willing thespians to act this out. Betty is already signed up since she is hilarious and this was HER brain child. Just be thankful for everyone that I am not trying to organize anything musical.
Have you invited 2 prospective new members yet? An experienced educator and a promising professional. Consider that part of your summer homework assignment.
Visit our website, the Xi State website, and DKG when you log out of email to find out all the official business type stuff I am probably forgetting to tell you right now?!
Some of our members will be attending the International Convention in Indianapolis later this month - lucky girls! I hope they have a fabulous time and send us all photos of their trip. Don't forget that in 2 years we will all be hosting/attending the big dance in Nashville. I want us all to be on that road trip!
Thank you all so much for your attention and your patience with me. I am still trying to get everyone's email addresses updated. I would also like to send you a photo of a plant that I got at the Xi State convention. It is so cute! I just have to figure out how to get the photo off my phone and onto your computers. :-) Obviously my attention has wandered back outside - as should yours. Enjoy every moment of this glorious summer!Thanks for being wonderful teachers, great mentors and good friends.
See you Friday,
Laura
June, 2014
Hello and Happy Summer Alpha Sigma Sisters!!
This is my first official contact and I have not hidden email addresses above for a reason. Please check and make sure I have the most current contact for everyone. Just look for your friends, nominees/nominators, and FB buddies to make sure I have the most immediate access. Please contact me and forward this to them if I don't have it right. Thank you! Thanks also to Sheila Segerson for mailing hard copies to our members without email. If you would like to volunteer to help her with that and other communications you are welcome to join the Communications and Publicity committee. :-)
Trish Stevenson, Emily Johnson, Betty Only, Sheila Segerson and I attended the 79th Xi State Convention this month. We didn't spend as much time shopping as usual because we were playing lost and found, eating scrumptious meals, sharing and learning in workshops, voting on new rules and bylaws, buying & selling at the conference mini mall, laughing with each other, singing songs, and most of all enjoying all the great gals in DKG from all over Tennessee. Congratulations to Alpha Sigma and kudos to President Trish Stevenson for the hard work and dedication it took to achieve the highest classification - GOLD in 2013-14 chapter excellence awards!! We were presented with the Maycie Award for Chapter Excellence, the Highest Honor Award for Communication and Publicity (Thanks to Debbie Wooley for her web design and maintenance!), Highest Honors for Chapter Yearbook (Thanks to Debbie Robb for editing.), Congratulations to Avis Foreman for 50 years of membership and service, and thanks to Sheila Segerson and Lou Ann Vaught for the Outstanding Participation Award for Visual and Performing Arts Display. Betty Only was the star of the show while performing in a dramatic invitation to this year's International Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. I tried to get a picture of her, but that race car was too fast for me! This is another example of why you need to be present to experience the hidden talents of friends who become family through the sisterhood of DKG.
Mark your calendar right now for next year's conference and visit the Xi State website to learn more. www.xistate.org. While you have your calendars out, save these dates:
Oct. 11 - Initiation at Chickasaw CC. Our chapter is responsible for the program. I have secured a speaker but will need your help with other entertainment. We're going to put our talents on display again :-)
Oct. 18 - We have all been invited by Alpha Xi Chapter to a reception honoring Xi State President, fabulous friend and mentor Beverly Smith in Chattanooga from 2 til 4 p.m. at the Brainerd Methodist Church. If you can attend please RSVP by Oct. 1.
This summer Retiree (or vacationing teacher) lunches will be the 3rd Friday of the month at 11:30:
June 20 - Owen Brennan's
July 18 - Vinegar Jim's *I will be meeting with the executive board immediately afterward.*
Aug. 15 - BonefishThanks so much to June Douglas for organizing these gatherings! She has them all lined up through 2015!
We will have a Program Schedule for you as soon as possible. All dates and times to follow. Thanks to Phyllis Agnew for making those plans! I want to encourage everyone to consider at least two new initiates you would like to invite to join our happy band of sisters; one working teacher or early career educator and one experienced veteran or retiree. I have already spoken with 3 candidates and I challenge you to spend the summer networking with friends who might want to help make a difference in Education like you do! Last but far from least: make a note that July 2016 will be the DKG International Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. I want you all to be there to be inspired and inspiring with our wonderful society sisters from all over the world. It will change your outlook and attitude, as well as education, for the better!!
I am so honored to be your president for this biennium. I am even more appreciative to Trish Stevenson for her service, especially legislative action, and participation on all levels of DKG. She has put in so much time and travel these past two years and brought our chapter to a whole new level of excellence and involvement. Keep the candle burning bright, Trish!
I will rely heavily on our new board: Phyllis Agnew, Diane Pinson, Brenda Morris, Penny Powers and Trish Stevenson and all of our committees and members for guidance and assistance carrying this torch forward. Think about your own talents and abilities and how you might use them to to serve Alpha Sigma, Xi State, and DKG. Educators and students everywhere need our help. I need your help on the following committees: Membership, Communications and Publicity, Programs, Finance, Educational Excellence, Scholarships, Legislation, World Fellowship, Chapter Archives, Yearbook, Special projects, Nominations, Personal and Professional Growth. I have some volunteers and suggestions for chairwomen already, but let me know how each of you feel you could contribute. Thank you for your time and attention today and for all your attendance and participation in the upcoming year. Thanks again for this opportunity to grow and learn from you all!
Laura Evans
February, 2014
From the President:
We had a great turnout January 25 for our workday at Brinkley Heights. They have done an amazing job of keeping the kids focused on learning in less-than-optimal conditions following the flooding. We were hindered by the fact that there was only 1 copy machine but we had fun helping out the teachers as best we could. Lunch at Café Eclectic was awesome and the fellowship continued as we enjoyed eating together.
In the following list of upcoming events, please make note of the opportunities available to increase your leadership skills. If you’ve never attended a DKG leadership workshop I hope you will consider doing so this year. It will really be worth your time. Training for chapter officers that will serve 2014-2016 will be April 26, as well. Those of you who have agreed to be nominated for office, please reserve that date on your calendars. The training will get you off on the right foot for the next biennium.
I hope you can join us this Saturday for our chapter meeting at Cordova Library.
Share the Vision,
Trish
March 14, 2013
I hope those of you on Spring Break are having as relaxing a time as I am. I’ve accomplished very little this week! And, I do plan to make it to the Retired Members luncheon tomorrow and I hope some of the rest of you not-yet-retired will join us as well.
Alpha Sigma schedule for March-April:
* Our annual Game Day Fundraiser for Brinkley Heights Urban Academy is Monday March 18 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Second Baptist Church, 4680 Walnut Grove Road. There will be lunch, door prizes and a great deal of fun for everyone who attends. Nonmembers are welcome to come and join in. A donation of $20 per person is recommended.
* Founder’s Day will be April 20 at 11:00 a.m. at Chickasaw Country Club, 3395 Galloway. Our chapter is in charge of the Installation of Coordinating Council Officers and the Program. You may be contacted to help out so if anyone wants to volunteer please send me a message. The cost for Founder’s Day is $22. Please send your check to Penny Powers as soon as you know you’ll attend. Once again, we have a choice of entrees: roasted pork tenderloin or macadamia-encrusted tilapia. Let Penny know what your choice is on your check. Penny must call in the numbers by April 15, so please make your reservation by April 12.
Chapter Happenings:
* Our February meeting at the Cordova Library was excellent. Author Dee Dee Wike spoke to us on her inspirational books and ministries. It turned into a roundtable discussion and all of us joined in. If you are looking for something good to read, consider “Good to the Last Drop: Refreshing Inspiration for Homeschool Moms and Other Busy Women” or, the one I’m reading now, “A Pleasing Aroma: Inspiring Devotions for Joyful Living”. Dee Dee is also a contributor to The Collierville Herald and WHOA Magazine.
Xi State News and Updates:
* Now is a good time to make plans to attend Xi State Convention June 6-8. Betty Only, Laura Evans and I will be sending in our registration forms before the end of the month so let us know if you plan to go so that we can include you in our dorm requests.
* There will NOT be any chapter displays at Xi State this year but donations for the Silent Auction are being prepared so if you want to volunteer to help acquire something, let me know. Money earned from the Silent Auction is used to fund the excellent Leadership Training Seminars conducted across the state.
* Xi State is collecting money to replenish the DKG Emergency Fund. If you have a recommendation to make to the Executive Board, let one of us know.
* The Xi State Legislative Symposium and Breakfast was a tremendous success. We visited the Tennessee Congress and had our picture made with Speaker Harwell, the first female speaker of the state House and met with legislators regarding educational issues. I also ran into Superintendent John Aitken and had my picture made with him as well. A bill was recently passed that sets the age for pre-school entrance in alignment with kindergarten entrance age, an issue that DKG Xi state women have been working on for the past 12 years. Our efforts do make a difference!
Legislative Issues:
* TEA has called for four Educators’ Day on the Hill rallies. The first was this past Tuesday, March 12. If you are interested in attending any of them, I’ll be happy to give you further information.
* The private school voucher bill (HB 0190) suggested by the governor passed the House Education Committee March 12. The senate version of the bill (SB 0196) is on the calendar for next Wednesday (I’ll be there then) so if you have an opinion on how this bill may impact our children and schools, please let your senator know.
* Representative Jim Coley, who teaches at Bolton High School, has introduced the Fair and Clear Teacher Evaluation Act which would allow teachers to only be evaluated with a pre-, post-test process of the students that are actually taught by that teacher. The bill is worth the read if you are interested.
President’s Message:
* I attended the Advanced Leadership Training March 1-3 which focused on the book “You Don’t Have to Have a Title to Be a Leader”. I hope that what I learned will help me be a better leader of the wonderful women of Alpha Sigma. I’m still humbled to think about being your president.
* Our own Jacque Higdon has been selected as the SCEA Heart person awardee and I can think of no other educator more deserving. I know firsthand how helpful she is to all her colleagues. If you get an opportunity to let her know how proud you are, please do.
* I will miss everyone at Game Day but I know you will all have a wonderful time as I did last year! I do hope to see you all at Founder’s Day and, as I said earlier, will be asking for help from many of you.
Share the Vision,
Trish
January, 2013
Happy New Year! What a wonderful time to reflect and to look forward to the future. I hope that we will all resolve to spend more time in fellowship with our families and our Delta Kappa Gamma sisters.
I regret missing the tours of St. Jude. For those of you, like me, who worked January 2 we hope to plan another tour sometime this summer. Please let Laura Evans know if you would be interested in a summer tour.
The breakfast at June’s house and the tour of homes in Collierville December 8 was so much fun. We were really fortunate in the weather that day!
Upcoming Events:
Retired Members Luncheon Friday, February 15, at the Grapevine Tea Room, 6284 Chester Street, Arlington; 11:30 a.m. RSVP to June Douglas or email Brenda West
Chapter Meeting Saturday, February 16, Cordova Library, 8457 Trinity Road, Dee Dee Wike Ministries will speak.
Legislative Symposium & Breakfast, February 19-20, Nashville’s Millenium Maxwell House Hotel for Tuesday night’s symposium followed by breakfast and a trip to the Hill Wednesday.
March 1st -Essay Contest entries due to Sandra Smith
June 6-8 – Xi State Convention, Sewanee
July 10-13 – Southeast Regional Convention, Orlando, Florida
I’ve attached a copy of the Alpha Sigma yearbook. If you want copies of the other chapters in Memphis, just let me know. I hope you are all well and to see you all this month.
Share the Vision,
Trish
October, 2012
All of us who attended the Fall Arts Retreat had a wonderful time. Our own Betty Only did a wonderful workshop on Storytelling that practicing teachers and retired educators who volunteer in schools or church could certainly apply to their personal/professional lives. In addition, all of the extras that came with the attendance fee were fabulous. Dinner from Leonard’s Barbecue! Lunch at the Silver Caboose! A wonderful take-away goodie bag! I know that the members who came from Middle and East Tennessee were very impressed with the gracious hospitality of the Memphis area chapters. If any of you have a chance to go to a future Arts Retreat, I highly recommend it!
After the arts retreat, our members gathered for our regular monthly meeting at the Collierville Victory Garden on Byhalia Road. We learned from Master Gardener Carl Wayne Hardeman about the wonderful work they are doing at these gardens around the county. They provide fresh produce for the needy through charitable organizations and allow groups such as Boy’s & Girl’s Scouts to volunteer. If you are interested in volunteering (and picking up some great gardening tips or honing your skills) Laura Evans can give you the contact information.
On October 6, the membership committee invited the prospective initiates to an Orientation Coffee where we gave them a chance to learn about our amazing organization and the benefits and opportunities for personal and professional growth provided by membership. Pat Spencer organized the gathering at Panera Bread and it was lovely.
We are still collecting “Change for Change” to raise money for Schools in Africa at every meeting. Since October is initiation month, we are asking each member to donate one dime for each year she has been a member of DKG. What a wonderful way to help children on the other side of the world!
Speaking of money, dues ($80) must be paid to Penny Powers by the end of this month. If you are having trouble coming up with funds, please contact Penny or me.
It is not too late to register for Initiation October 20, but Penny MUST KNOW if you are coming and your choice of luncheon (salmon or pork) by October 9 - just email and let her know that you are coming and the check is coming, in the mail or in person on October 20, and you will be counted.
If you are attending Initiation it is a great opportunity to also pay for your dues then. I hope you can be there to support our SEVEN new initiates. Initiation of new members will be October 20 at Chickasaw Country Club. Practice will be at 10:00 a.m., Initiation at 10:30 a.m. and lunch at 11:00 a.m. Don’t forget to bring your “Change for Change” for Schools in Africa (one dime per year of membership).
Please send any changes in your personal information to Debbie Robb as soon as possible. The new yearbook will be available in early November and we want everyone’s information to be up-to-date.
Upcoming Events:
The next Retired Members Luncheon will be November 16 at the Women’s Exchange, 88 Racine. RSVP to June Douglas or email Brenda West by November 14 if you are able to attend.
Our November meeting will be November 17 at Brinkley Heights Urban Academy at 10:00 AM. We will have our chapter business meeting, Pastor Tim's presentation, assist a new 6th grade teacher, make our official donation to BHUA, and have lunch after-wards at Cafe Eclectic, 603 N. McLean Blvd. During November and December, we are suggesting that you donate the price of a gift to “Change for Change”.
If you would like to present a workshop at Xi State Convention, June 6-8, 2013 at Sewanee, you must send your proposal to Dorrie Powell by December 1, 2012.
The Xi State Legislative Symposium will be February 19-20, 2013 at the Maxwell Millennium House in Nashville. The registration form is available at the Xi State website, www.xistate.org.
We have information on the Xi State Essay contest, the purpose of which is to encourage, recognize, and reward TN high school students who demonstrate outstanding writing skills.
This year’s topic: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Television, newspapers, magazines, and other media pay too much attention to the personal lives of famous people such as public figures and celebrities. Use specific reasons and details to explain your opinion.
Students may incorporate this prompt in any way they wish, but it must be the basis for the 350-500 word essay. Entries must be postmarked by March 1, 2013.
I’ve attached information on scholarships and grants as well.
I hope to see you this month.
Share the Vision,
Trish
September 2012 Newsletter
So much is going on this month! Mark the weekend of September 21-22 as Delta Kappa Gamma weekend! Our meeting will be that day at 2 pm in Collierville, following the Arts Retreat which ends with lunch at the Silver Caboose.
At our August meeting, we voted to extend invitations of membership to 8 great women. Our membership committee, headed by Pat Spencer, is doing a wonderful job.
Our focus for September is to Go Green! The purpose is to increase members' global awareness regarding environmental protection, sustainability, and being good role models for children and youth.
We will gather at Collierville Victory Garden at 2 pm located behind Collierville Christian Church on Byhalia Rd. We will have our chapter business meeting and a garden tour and presentation by Carl Wayne Hardeman.
Debbie Wooley has done a wonderful job creating our new website! Visit http://alphasigmaxistate.weebly.com/ to keep up with all Alpha Sigma happenings and link to Xi State and DKG International. The site is fabulous!
If you aren’t registered to vote, or you have a change in name or address, make sure you have registered by October 8 to be able to vote in the November election. Our current state legislators have passed many laws regarding the welfare of school children and educators in our state so I hope all of you will get out and vote this November and let them know how important the welfare of the children of Tennessee is to us!
Upcoming Events:
Our Retired Members Luncheon will be September 21 at Just for Lunch, Chickasaw Oaks, 3092 Poplar Avenue. RSVP to June Douglas or email Brenda West by September 19 if you are able to attend.
There will be a Creative Arts Retreat for Xi State in Collierville September 21-22. It is still possible to register if you contact Kathy Bradfield, [email protected]. The cost is $35 for the entire retreat, and $25 for Saturday only. Visit the Xi State website if you want to register.
I’ve also attached a flyer about a Storytelling Festival at Standing Stone State Park September 29 from 10 am until 4 pm.
There will be a Beginning Leadership Management Seminar October 12-14 at the beautiful Hachland Hill Vineyard and Corporate Retreat in Joelton, TN (just north of Nashville). Cathy Daugherty will be the presenter. I’ve attached a registration form and the deadline is September 10.
Initiation of new members will be October 20 at Chickasaw Country Club. Practice will be at 10:00 a.m., Initiation at 10:30 a.m. and lunch at 11:00 a.m. Becky Sadowski will be the speaker at the program.
The cost is $22 per person and when you send your check to Penny Powers, indicate whether you want salmon or pork for lunch. Get your money to Penny early in October because we need to give final numbers to Chickasaw by October 10. Send your money for Initiation and/or dues to Penny Powers.
Dues ($80) will be due by the end of October. You could include a check for your dues when you make your reservations for Initiation.
For those of you who are interested in participating, Race for the Cure is October 27.
If you would like to present a workshop at Xi State Convention, June 6-8, 2013 at Sewanee, you must send your proposal (attached) to Dorrie Powell by December 1, 2012.
The Xi State Legislative Symposium will be February 19-20, 2013 in Nashville, TN. Further details will be coming.
Xi State Convention is June 6-8, 2013! Make plans to attend now!
I hope to see you this month.
Share the Vision,
Trish
August 2012 Newsletter
I still haven’t recovered from my trip to New York! We had a fabulous time and I am so grateful to Mary Jo Wilson for getting our theater tickets and planning an outing to the 9/11 Memorial. Of course, we also learned many good ideas in workshops, listened to wonderful addresses by talented people, and got to know fellow members in DKG from around the world.
We attended a wonderful reception for Jensi at The Manhattan Club and, I must say, the Xi State women put on an impressive display of hospitality. Future retiring International Presidents’ home states will have a tough act to follow!
Dr. Beverly Helms from Florida was elected the new International President at the convention in New York. The theme for the 2012-2014 biennium is, “Sharing our Vision, Strengthening our Society.”
Other news from Convention:
Members voted to expand into Japan; include Early Career Educators as an International Project; to increase scholarship amount for members working on a doctorate to $10,000; and to research electronic voting. Visit www.dkg.org for more information.
I flew in from LaGaurdia Sunday (the 29th) and reported to inservice Monday! After two days of seeing students this week, I was exhausted but still exhilarated.
Xi State is in search of some dedicated sisters who would like to serve Delta Kappa Gamma. You don’t have to have served on a committee in the past; you just have to want to be involved. Please, please, if you are interested in serving your Society, send in an application to serve, either as an officer or as a committee member in one of the following committees: Finance, Personnel, Nominations, or Vision Foundation.
Applications are available online at the Xi State website, and there will also be one in the Xi State News in the fall. We need representatives from the three Grand Divisions of the state for all committees. Please join us! I promise you it will be worth it.
-Gail Watson, Nominations Committee Chair
Upcoming Events:
Our Retired Members Luncheon will be August 17 at Bahama Breeze, 2830 N. Germantown Road. RSVP to June Douglas or Brenda West by August 15 if you are able to attend.
There will be a Creative Arts Retreat for Xi State in Collierville September 21-22. The deadline to register is August 15. $35 for the entire retreat, and $25 for Saturday only. Visit the Xi State website if you want to register.
Our August meeting will be Saturday, August 25, at Sheila Segerson’s home. It will be a “shower” for new teachers (5 or fewer years experience). This will be part of our 2012 membership drive, and it fits perfectly with the DKG International Project for this biennium, so let me know if you have some prospective Early Career Educators you would like to invite. We’ll need to know how many to prepare for. Contact Sheila if you are able to bring something for the event.
DKG has created some new brochures and posters that promote our outstanding organization in a professional manner. Contact Pat Spencer if you want to help on the Membership Committee or obtain any brochures for prospective members. Reply to this email if you would like a poster to place in the teacher work area of you current, or former, school.
There will be a Beginning Leadership Management Seminar October 12-14 at the beautiful Hachland Hill Vineyard and Corporate Retreat in Joelton, TN (just north of Nashville). Cathy Daugherty will be the presenter. The new, more user friendly application is on the Xi State website, and the deadline is September 1.
The date for Initiation has been set. It will be October 20 at Chickasaw Country Club. I will let you know details regarding the price as soon as I get that information.
For those of you who are interested in participating, Race for the Cure is October 27.
The Xi State Legislative Symposium will be February 19-20 in Nashville, TN. Further details will be coming.
Xi State Convention is June 6-8, 2013! Make plans to attend now!
I hope to see you this month.
Share the Vision,
Trish
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July 2012 Newsletter
I hope everyone is staying as cool as possible! It has been so hard to get anything done outside because the heat is just unbearable.
This is my first newsletter and I want to let you all know how truly honored and humbled I am to be serving as Chapter President for such a caring and generous group of professional women.
Betty Only, Emily Johnson, June Reasons, Brenda Morris and I had such a great time at Xi State Convention and are ready to begin a new year of fun and service with Alpha Sigma. You would all have been proud of Brenda who presented a writing workshop at Xi State.
For those of you who have attended the Memorial Service that concludes Xi State, you know how special and meaningful it is. It was my first time to attend and, of course, it was even more touching because Annie Wilkins was honored. She was a dear friend of my mother’s for over 60 years and my sponsor in Delta Kappa Gamma. I know all of you have fond memories of Annie. I was so happy that her daughter Ann and son-in-law Steve were able to attend this very special service.
At the 2012 Xi State Convention in Sewanee, Mary Evelyn Perkinson was awarded the 2012 Xi State Achievement Award for outstanding service to our International organization, Xi State, Gamma Zeta Chapter, and her local community. We are now looking for an outstanding 2013 recipient. The deadline for receiving nominations is April 1, 2013. It is not too early to begin considering a Xi State member who is deserving of recognition for her work in Delta Kappa Gamma.
Betty Only, Laura Evans and I are packing our hats and making plans to attend DKG International Convention in NEW YORK CITY July 24-28! We will report to you on all the excitement when we return.
I’ve attached a copy of our current yearbook. Please review the information to make sure it is correct so we can make any necessary changes before publishing this year’s yearbook. Members of the Executive Board may be contacting you to ask for your service on one or more of our committees and I hope you will consider how you might contribute your talent to our organization. Please let me know if there is a position you would like to fill when you look through that section of the yearbook as well. I would really appreciate it if you would reply to this email even if all your information is correct as well so that I will be assured that everyone is receiving this newsletter. If I do not hear from you, I will give you a call to find out what the problem is.
Upcoming Events:
Our Retired Members Luncheon will be July 20 at Pailladio Antiques and Art at 2169 Central. Please respond to June Douglas or email Brenda West by July 18 if you are able to attend.
There will be a Creative Arts Retreat for Xi State in Collierville September 21-22.
There will be a Beginning Leadership Management Seminar October 12-14 at the beautiful Hachland Hill Vineyard and Corporate Retreat in Joelton, TN (just north of Nashville). Cathy Daugherty will be the presenter. The new, more user friendly application is on the Xi State website, and the deadline is September 1.
The date for Initiation has been set. It will be October 20 at Chickasaw Country Club. I will let you know details regarding the price as soon as I get that information.
For those of you who are interested in participating, Race for the Cure is October 27.
I hope to see you this month.
Trish