October, the Month for Celebrating Us

Betty Sherrod, VA Gamma Omicron and KAPPAN staffer contributed to this article.

October is Awareness Month with special days like World Smile Day and Do Something Nice Day making it the perfect time for Alpha Delta Kappa Month.

In 1975 at the ninth annual International Convention in Los Angeles, CA, the delegates voted to name the second full week in October as Alpha Delta Kappa Week. Ruth Calhoun was International President. A week turned out not to be enough and in 1991 at the seven“We join with our teenth International Convention held in Nashville sisters to share TN, the delegates chose to the love for our make October Alpha Delta Kappa Month. Ruth Holorganization land Walsh was Internaand to honor the tional President. “Just as we honor and women who had celebrate other great leadthe vision and courage to act…” ers, we honor and celebrate our Founders during Alpha Delta Kappa Month. We join with our sisters to share the love of our organization and honor the women who had the vision and courage to act, leaving a legacy of outstanding women educators dedicated to educational excellence, altruism and world understanding. Thank you, Agnes, Marie, Marion and Hattie,” said International President Mollie Acosta.

Chapters looking for ways to celebrate can find ideas on the International website under Fraternity Education. The suggestions range from trivia games to videos to play scripts. A popular video is one of the Founders created by Helen Foster, AK Alpha.

KAPPAN staffer Susan Whelan, NJ Kappa, asked chapters in her state how they celebrated the month in 2020.

NJ Pi responded, “Since we were doing projects from home for October we made individual packages of puzzles and candy with a message in each stating that the packages were donated by A∆K members and gave the packages to the Kearny Senior Center.”

In the past NJ Alpha Epsilon received a proclamation from the mayor naming October Alpha Delta Kappa Month. More recently, the chapter’s A∆K Month chairperson presented the members with goodie bags and laminated bookmarks with the lyrics to “The Lamp of Alpha Delta Kappa” on them.

NJ Iota celebrated on Halloween at Marlboro High School by setting out big bowls of candy, a basket of apples and lots of information about Alpha Delta Kappa. They also put bags of goodies in the mailboxes of all the women teachers. Chapter member Krista Hughes does something similar at the elementary school where she teaches in Freehold Township.

“A Tea Party, A Founder’s Day Ceremony” was read by the officers at NJ Phi on the chapter’s October Zoom. The link to the video “Founder Portrayed by Past Presidents” was shared with the members.

Senior members of NJ Psi put together a presentation outlining the history of the organization. Psi members say this was especially interesting to the newer members.

Members of NJ Kappa put out bowls of chocolate kisses with a sign about their chapter at the schools where they taught. At schools where no member was teaching, retired members took apples and sat in the faculty room talking about the chapter and answering questions.

TX Beta Omicron members shared stories over zoom of “Teaching the Way It Was” at a chapter meeting. Carol Johnson said the seasoned teachers laughed over memories of the odor of dittos, reel to reel tape recorders, dress codes and movie projectors.

“Be willing to share your blessings. The only riches that last are the ones that are given away.” ~ David Khalil, relationship counselor Karen Porter, TX Beta Pi