Alpha Chapter NewletterA Message to Our DKG Sisters from your President:
July 4, 2020 My 7-year-old granddaughter and I watched the fireworks from her bedroom window in Florida together tonight over Zoom as I sat here in MA. We reminisced about being at Disney together last year as a family which I thought was extra special. But tonight, was her first time ever seeing fireworks live so as she said, “this is just my lucky day”. (It is all about perspective). She was so excited, and it was fun to share those moments with her even if it was virtual! I am happy to report that we held “our second virtual get together” on June 18th and were joined by Lynn Howard, our state President. It was another positive experience as we shared some laughs and learned a little more about each other. We talked about sharing biography writeups with our club featuring one member per month. We will start that next month and I invite any of you to submit a writeup about yourself to be included. We are moving conservatively with any of our plans for future events as we wait to see how all this “Covid Surge” plays out. I would like to remind all of you to take advantage of the virtual opportunities to participate in this week’s upcoming workshops and presentations that International will be providing for all of us since we cannot have the Convention in person. This will be a unique experience (and pretty affordable) for ALL of us to be able to participate in. We can continue to get to know each other a little better through our virtual meetings and the sharing of this monthly newsletter. I am including the thank you note from our New Teacher Grant recipient (see page 2). Our next virtual get together will be July 16th at 7:00. (the third Thursday of every month until we can resume regular meetings in person….bring your “Wine or Water”. Each of you should have received your Zoom invite however, the contact information is posted again at the bottom of this page. Our state president will be joining us once again. Once again, stay well, keep in touch with family and friends in safe ways and we will all be able to get together again in person in the right time! Zoom Meeting information: Meeting ID: 251 488 2047 Password: Alpha4DKG I am also be forwarding you the newest DG News which contains more info about the Convention……..Sharon Spring 2020 Ground Hog Phil has relayed to us that spring should come early this year and after our bitter cold days of late, I am sure all of us will welcome the warmer sunshine and look forward to seeing the beautiful spring flowers pop up through the ground soon! This winter has been difficult for several of our members, but I am writing to you today about the most important one to all of us right now. Our precious Kathy Balakier, Alpha DKG Chapter President, was just released from the hospital in Boston after some serious medical treatment. Her health recovery is the first and foremost concern for all! Carol LaPolice will be in contact with her daughter Meghan but should be the only person doing so from DKG so as not to overwhelm Meghan either. At this point, “snail mail” cards are the best suggestion along with adding her to your prayer list as well. Kathy is always so kind and caring to each one of us that it is now time for all of us to have her in our thoughts and prayers! In that light, the Wine and Cheese Reception that was scheduled for Kathy’s home has been readjusted and will now be High Tea at Pat St. Laurent, our club secretary’s, home in Wilbraham ….more details to follow. The Tea will be by invitation for all new members that have joined our chapter in the last two years and the Executive Board members. (Fasteners are encouraged). In the meantime, I will be filling in for Kathy’s Presidential duties to the best of my abilities. Any questions and or other DKG concerns can be emailed directly to me at [email protected] any time. You may also reach out to any other board member as well. Please remember to save the date of March 13th for the Membership meeting at the Agawam Senior Center. If you know of a prospective member that would be a strong candidate for DKG, please fill out the enclosed application. The deadline to return an application to Elaine Sgueglia has been extended until March 1st. Our retirees usually coordinate this dinner meeting but since it is a bowling night for both MJ and Anne Marie, I am sure that they would really appreciate a few others stepping up to help to put it all together. Please contact me if you can reach out and help with our dinner menu! It is always a treat to see what everyone brings to share. Also enclosed in this mailing is the May State Convention form. A reminder to all that the rooms are limited so call early. Also, remember that if you have never attended before, there are two “first timers’ benefits” as the registration fee is waived by the state AND our Alpha Chapter will reimburse you afterwards for ½ of the room fee (based on double occupancy). What a sweet deal to take advantage of and meet some new DKG friends along the way! In the spirit of sisterhood, may we all rally together to support our upcoming events such as our Tag Sale and the State Convention. Many hands working together make the workload easier for all and we can smile along the way as we continue to network and spread the word of all that DKG stands for! Fondly, Dr. Sharon MacDonald HAPPY 2018 to all DKG sisters, I hope this message finds you in good health and much happiness with your families and friends. It has been a VERY cold winter, but thinking warm thoughts will bring Spring that much closer. This year seems to be off to a much more hectic time and I feel I have a little bit of information that needs to be shared before time gets away from me. Attached you will find the minutes from our December meeting, graciously submitted by our DKG sister Pat St. Laurent. We also have an invitation from our DKG sister, Joe Ann Butler from the New Bedford Chapter, in regards to a night with Loretta Laroche. A registration form is included with information regarding this event. Please also take note that the Massachusetts DKG Society is looking for suggestions for speakers, authors, colleagues and friends that might have an idea for a workshop for our fall Conference in Southbridge, as well as a presenter for our May Conference in Plymouth. Please note some important dates to keep in mind: First the Alpha Epsilon State Massachusetts Spring conference will be held May 4-6, 2018 at the Hotel 1620 at Plymouth Harbor. We also have our June planning meeting on the ninth in Southbridge at the Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center. Please also consider the DKG International Conference July 16 through the 20th, 2018 in Austin Texas. Information can be found on the International DKG website. We also have have upcoming dates to consider. This Thursday there will be an educational forum on issues pertinent to Massachusetts education and educators. This will be held, Thursday February 1, 2018 at the Chicopee Public Library, Front Street, from 4:30pm-6:00pm. Representatives Finn, Tosado, Wagner, Gonzales and Kocot will be presenting. Please bring any educational concerns. A flyer is attached with an agenda and talking points. Now, what we have been waiting for.......Wine and Cheese Social on Friday Feb. 8, 2018 at the home of Kathy Balakier (please see attached flyer). It would be wonderful if you could invite interested friends and colleagues to join us. Looking forward to a fun filled evening. Our next meeting will be a closed meeting. It will be held March 9, 2018 at the Agwam Senior Center from 4:30pm- 8:30pm. At this time we will vote on new members and enjoy a workshop presented by our DKG sister, Maureen Kellman. More information to follow. I have also included an email attachment regarding updates to MTRS Benefit Recipients. If you have further information, the contact information is listed. For those of you that did not receive your membership card in December, they are available to be mailed to you or to be given to you at our March Meeting. Please let me know which you prefer. Thank you all for your upbeat encouragement and participation and our continued enthusiasm towards our Alpha Chapter. Please contact me or any committee chairs with thoughts or concerns. Best wishes in the New Year, Kathy Balakier APRIL 2017 NEWSLETTER The season of spring has finally begun. We are appreciating the warmer temperature and the sighting of spring birds, flowers, and neighbors out and about after a long winter. Although it is a time of new beginnings, we are saddened to have lost our dear friend and sister, Ursula Hogan. Ursula was “the beginning” for so many whose lives were touched by hers. Ursula was the smile at the beginning of each meeting and the one to call at the beginning of a new endeavor for support. Ursula cared about her DKG SISTERS from the beginning. We will forever be grateful for her leadership, enthusiasm, commitment, and dear friendship. We may be starting a beginning without Ursula’s presence, but not without her spirt and love. For this we are forever thankful. This month of April has been busy! On the first day of April it was no April Fool’s that our 75th Birthday “tea” was a memorable occasion. Yes it did snow but we had twenty-four DKG sisters decked out with festive hats and gloves. Three of the attendees were guests. These guests included our state nominee for First Vice President, Lynn Howard, and Gwen as well as Maureen Kellman’s mother, a retired educator from North Adams MA. All enjoyed the entertainment by the Golden Blue Ribbon Singers of West Springfield. Our own Claire LaBonte was one of the twelve singers to share their talent. A delicious light lunch was prepared by the Collegian Court and favors of chocolate, filled in a keepsake tea cup and was enjoyed by all. We received Congratulatory Remembrances from area and state members, which were well received. Please check out the keepsake photos posted on our website. April also gave us an opportunity to schedule our calendars for upcoming events……Happy Birthday Alpha Chapter
I hope you all have an enjoyable weekend. Hope to you see you at the various important and exciting events being held during the month of May! Kathy Balakier DKG Alpha Chapter, President March 2017 Spring is finally upon us. Though it feels nothing like Spring with the cold north wind blowing. Since our last newsletter, we have gathered as a group, shared dinner, become informed from our own Sharon MacDonald on the subject of bullying, voted on four new members, advertised our society and our upcoming tea on WWLP’s morning show MASS APPEAL, and been preparing for our special birthday celebration on April 1st. Wow! We have been busy. So now to elaborate on these points:
IMPORTANT….IMPORTANT….IMPORTANT AS OF THIS PRINTED MESSAGE, WE HAVE ONLY 20 ALPHA SISTERS AND GUESTS ATTENDING OUR 75th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION TEA. I CAN’T TELL YOU THE HOURS OF PLANNING AND PREPARING THAT HAVE GONE INTO THIS CELEBRATION. WE HAVE A WONDERFUL LUNCHEON AND TEA PLANNED, ENTERTAINMENT BY A GROUP OF MUSICAL SINGERS FROM WEST SPRINGFIELD, SPECIAL INFORMATIVE SLIDE SHOW, GREAT FOOD AND TEA, AS WELL AS AN AFTERNOON SHARED WITH FRIENDS. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE CONTACT BETH DANFORTH FOR ANY LAST MINUTE RESERVATION. THE COST IS ONLY $10.00 AND TRANSPORTATION CAN BE ARRANGED. PLEASE BRING FRIENDS. CALL A PAST MEMBER OR PROSPECTIVE MEMBER TO JOIN US. LET’S MAKE THIS EVENT A MEMORABLE ONE.🌹🌹THANK YOU!!! In closing, please remember our dear friend Veronica who took a fall and is recuperating at home. Please remember Eleanor Parke who lost her husband, Rev. John Parke this past week and any other member’s intentions we need to keep in our hearts. Hope to see you all on April 1st and again for our Initiation Banquet at Campari’s Restaurant on Boston Road (previously Salvadore’s Restaurant) Tuesday, May 16th. Also, a reminder that the Cornetet Award helps educators participate in Professional Development. This award is presented to members who need financial assistance to participate in professional development opportunities NOT sponsored by DKG. The award is granted to educators to participate in professional seminars, workshops, lecture series, national board certification, on-line courses, and other non-degree programs. For more information and to apply, visit www.dkgef.org and click on “Apply” tab. DEADLINE: May 1, 2017. Here are a few of the ways you find the updates on DKG NEWS:
Thank you! Sincerely, Kathy Balakier Alpha Chapter President |
Who We Are |
Dr. Annie Webb Blanton founded Delta Kappa Gamma on May 11, 1929 in Austin, Texas. Dr. Blanton, along with other colleagues, wanted to establish an organization to highlight the great talent and work being done by woman educators. DKG originated on a state level, now having expanded to form a global network of leading woman educators impacting education worldwide. Our International Society is made up of women educators from all 50 states, Canada, Europe, Latin America and Japan. Right here in Massachusetts, our state organization is referred to as Alpha Upsilon.
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