A∆K

GA Delta Shares the Spirit

In honor of A∆K Month, and to show the kind of support they give their members, GA Delta member Annie Chapman, chapter chair for the month, delivered flower arrangements to the members still active in the classroom. Pictured is Melanie Burdis, a sixth-grade teacher at Sutton Middle School. She has been a member of the chapter since 2019.

AR Beta Alpha President Paula Jester and Glenda Davis, chapter secretary, show the check and certificate for the Arkansas Violet Award, a state recognition honoring a sister who has been a leader, sponsored a new member in the past biennium, and is an exceptional member. Glenda, who received the award, brought two new sisters into the chapter in 2021.

CA Beta Tau Awards Teachers for Sticking It Out

The members of CA Beta Tau had a problem. They had funds in their treasury that they could not spend because of COVID-19. They had given scholarships to high school students and graduating Chico State student teachers. They wanted to try something different. The sisters took the $3,600 Bonnie Whipple ( center) from Citrus Elementary from the treasury and gave it to working elementary school School shows her “reward” teachers in the Chico Unified to Beta Tau presenters School District. Teams of two Jamie Hansen ( left) and members visited the 12 elemenWendy Moore (right) tary schools in the district, asking the principals for permission to speak at the monthly faculty meetings. After briefly describing the goals of A∆K, the team told the teachers that they were rewarding three of the faculty members for their acts of kindness, perseverance and love of teaching the county’s children. Three teachers were randomly selected and given $100 each to spend as they chose.

Mary Krause, one of the presenters, said, “The roar at the staff meeting was exciting. I will not forget it. Our teachers were rewarded for sticking it out.”

The chapter plans to take its giveaway to middle and high schools in the district. Connie Adams is Beta Tau’s president.

Pine County Deputy Aaron Borchardt with his service dog Chaos visited the MN Psi chapter at a recent meeting. Deputy Borchardt discussed the value of dogs in search and rescue, apprehending criminals and finding drugs. Chaos showed the sisters how he sniffs drugs and sits to alert his handler.

IL Alpha Nu

Preparing to lead a very active chapter are newly installed IL Alpha Nu officers. (L to R) Jeanne Brunworth, president; Missy Barnett, president-elect; Sierra Hoehn, recording secretary; Judy Albus, treasurer; Nancy Fluss and Mary Ann Fritz, historians; Jenny Mulvihill, chaplain. Missing from the photo is Amy Crony, the corresponding secretary.

In the past months, chapter members have initiated one new member, Erica Sims, and seen chapter sister Rebecca Beal installed as IL Southern District Vice President at the IL state convention. Members have made no-sew blankets for a Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital affiliate, held a fundraiser at the local Muny Band concession stand and distributed goodie bags at the New Teacher district meeting. The sisters also awarded two scholarships and three classroom grants to teachers in the local school district. The chapter will continue its busy schedule using hybrid meetings.

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A∆K

The Spirit of Alpha Delta Kappa

The spirit of A∆K manifests itself in many ways. For me, this spirit is shown by our sisters’ care and concern. This A∆K spirit was shown to me with gifts of love from my local chapter. Their love came in the form of a refusal to accept my resignation from the chapter, a check to pay the dues of this “broke” single mom and a food train when I was caring for my terminally ill father. You see, my circumstances had changed entirely since that day when I dressed in my best royal blue silk dress to attend a reception for prospective members.

My sisters knew the desperation of my situation, and they did something about it. They valued me as a member. They loved me when I had nothing to give. They loved me because they believed in me. I am grateful to them and the many sisters who exemplify this spirit of A∆K. I remind you that you are the “spirit of A∆K” when you step up to “Share the Love.”

Judy Barnhill, TN Beta Zeta, 2023 Convention Chaplain

MT Zeta

MT Zeta sisters display their hats worn at a recent meeting to honor the late Queen Elizabeth. The meeting agenda also included brunch and a competitive fraternity education game.

Back Row: Kelli Delaney, Cheryl Lenhardt, Pat Crisp, Desiree Caskey, Kathi Hoyt, Cathy Downey, Andrea Doles, Rena Bucher, Dianne Mattila, Barb Adelblue. Front Row: Joanne TimmonsDeSaveur, Leona Roberts, Jean Carroll Thompson, Elaine Shong.

Table at U of A College of Education Club Fair in September. (L to R) Jules Graziani, Rylee Dunkin, Megan Floyd, Emma Persson, Carley Shotsman and AZ Zeta Club Sponsor Suzanne Maly. FL Gamma Upsilon members celebrated the 50th anniversary of the chartering of their chapter. Pictured (standing) Tracey Zumpe, Melissa Lenges, Kay Schupay, Katie Davies, Sheri Mooney, Del Brenn, Dolores Stabile, Bev Weil, Deborah Scheble (sitting) Angela Warner, Pam Gurd, Ilyse Fisher, Audrey Reali.

HI Theta Chapter Commemorates 50th Birthday

“It has been an honor to be a member of Alpha Delta Kappa for 50 years,” says Linda Camp, one of HI Theta’s four original charter members. The 50th birthday and anniversary of Hawai’i Theta’s founding were celebrated with pomp and honored sisters Linda Camp, Carol Furukawa, Karen Ginoza and Alene Nakasone in September. HI Theta was chartered in the spring of 1972.

Through the years, these Golden Sisters have fostered lasting friendships. Unique experiences included traveling to different convention and conference sites across the United States, giving the women the opportunity to admire the natural beauty, personality and culture of each state and its people. Alene had the chance to meet A∆K Founder Agnes Shipman Robertson.

Linda, Carol, Karen and Alene continue to be active in A∆K on chapter and state levels, always sharing the spirit of Alpha Delta Kappa and Aloha with others. Carol’s superpower is clarifying and resolving issues through her spoken and written words with kindness and goodness. Linda goes the extra mile to help other chapter members and creates crafts for altruism and scholarship. Karen devotes countless hours to mentoring Special Olympics youths. Alene lifts the spirits of everyone she encounters with her friendliness, positivity and joyful spirit.

These four sisters share a feeling of gratitude and pride in being an integral part of Alpha Delta Kappa for 50 years. The birthday party coincided with the initiation of an art teacher into the chapter.

PA Gamma Shares the Spirit of Their Historic Gavel

At PA Gamma’s first meeting of each biennium, the President’s gavel and a piece of history are handed to the new president. Tina Weinraub, the past president, presented the gavel to Denise Fagan, chapter president. This is no ordinary gavel but one that has historical significance.

It started at Independence Hall in Philadelphia in 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was signed. The spirit of liberty was running strong in Philadelphia. In the years following, the historic building underwent renovations. In 1897, some floorboards under the “signing room” were replaced. The balustrade leading to the bell tower was also restored at that time. However, the wood was not thrown out but stored in the structure’s basement. When the National Park Authority took over the restoration of the shrine several years ago, the old timbers were brought out and sold at auction. Henry Gouse bought the lot for $2,000. Since then, he has used the wood to fashion boxes, gavels and other wooden items.

PA Gamma Golden sister Marianne Nolan, past state president and now an Omega sister, was given a gavel made by Gouse from the cedar wood of the original balustrade with a handle made from a pin-oak floorboard from under the signing room. The gavel and its spirit were passed to Marianne by her beloved Aunt Alma, a PA Gamma member.

“Gamma is quite proud to have such a treasure. This symbol of the spirit of our democracy and freedom will forever be a part of Gamma’s heritage as it stays with our presidents from one biennium to the next,” said Tina Weinraub.

Ruth Quezada, CA Alpha Nu, gives CA State Treasurer Laurie Goodman a hat to wear to support the Hats Not Hate national antibullying campaign. CA Alpha Nu members LaVerne Stroetker and Andre Hammett show their approval. This year, knitters and crocheters in the United States created over 1,500 blue hats and donated them to school children to wear, indicating that they stand up against bullying.

A∆K

Thirty-Eight Years of Crafts Provides Scholarships

A yearly craft fair with an average attendance of 1,500 beginning in 1982 is the long-standing Ways and Means project of KS Beta Epsilon. By charging vendors to sell their crafts, setting an admission fee of $1.00 and having a vendor raffle fund, sisters have donated over $35,000 in scholarships to students entering the field of education and other philanthropic projects. Phyllis Zishka, the chapter’s first president, started the project.

The A∆K Basehor Craft Show, held at the local high school on the first Saturday in November, is a mainstay of the community. Bev Mills, the current craft show chair, said, “I think it is important to have a consistent date that the public remembers. There seems to be more public participation in the fall as people are looking for holiday items.”

The criterion to be a vendor is to offer creative and original items, not something that can be purchased online or from a store. Crafters must fill out an application and attach photos of their work which is then sent to a jury. The jury chooses vendors for the available spots. Rachelle Rasing Patterson said, “The available crafts this year included stained glass pieces, crocheted items, essential oils, fragranced soaps and lotions, hardwood spoons and spatulas, wreaths, holiday signs, ornaments, centerpieces, embroidered flour sack dish towels, cloth children books, wooden children’s toys, candles and jewelry.”

Marilyn Anderson explained that the chapter provided babysitting the first year, but it became too time-consuming. In the beginning, the members baked and sold food. Now, the food concession stands are operated by local charitable organizations.

The show takes one year of planning, so planning starts for the next as soon as one show is over. Bev Mills believes the concept is replicable. Marilyn Daniels, a former chair, created a monthly task notebook to help other chapters get started. All past and present chairman report that preparation has something for everyone to do. Working together, they say, builds relationships.