New Milford Borough Council recently contacted us to report a  positive activity that occurred in their community.  A catch basin on Main Street in town collapsed creating a dangerous situation.  Lacking the expertise and equipment to repair this immediate concern, they contacted Southwestern Energy Company for advice on how to proceed.

Southwestern Energy replaced the entire catch basin, completely at their expense.  This private/public partnership highlights the positive action of this community neighbor.  The Council extend thanks to Southwestern Energy for their efforts on behalf of the residents and taxpayers of New Milford Borough.

A record number of key women educators were honored with membership into the Beta Rho Chapter of the Delta Kappa Society International at their October meeting. Dreyer Hall in Montrose was the setting for the meeting which began with an informative business meeting conducted by President Carol Goodman. Reports were given on the State Convention, which was held in June at State College and the Northeast Regional Conference, held in Portland, Maine in July. Cathy Escandel, a thirty-four year member, was awarded the Beta Rho Achievement Award which is the highest honor bestowed on a chapter member. Previous winners included Joan Peters, Cindy G. Reynolds, Pat Arnold, and Ellen Whipple. Laura Kate Davis, Megan Gilleran, and Julia Sherry, were invited guests at the meeting. Each had formerly received a Grant-In-Aid from the chapter as college students in the field of education. Megan is now a first year teacher and was given a basket of supplies as a part of the S.E.E. (Support for Early Educators) International Project.

Member Sharon Stockholm, recipient of an Alpha Alpha State Enrichment Grant, displayed some of her watercolor paintings along with a lovely bulletin board summarizing her watercolor painting experience. Sharon spent her winter months in St. Croix and had the opportunity to take classes and attend workshops. This is her second such grant and she encouraged other DKG members to apply. As a result of her rewarding experience she will join “The Palletteers of Saint Croix” when she returns to the island this month. The goal of the group is to provide art work for charities.

Just prior to dinner, a lovely candlelight initiation ceremony was conducted by second vice-president and membership chair, Ann Gay. The backdrop for the ceremony was the banner with the symbols of the Society which were described as a part of the ceremony. The ten new initiates lit a red candle, received a key pin from her sponsor, and signed the membership log. Each was presented with a lovely single red rose which symbolizes friendship, loyalty and helpfulness, the work of each for all in the Society. Initiated were Ginny Amoroso, Sue Kilmer, Sue Turner, and Kay Doerner from Wyalusing; Brandi Miller and Madonna Munley from Mountain View; Gail Frando from Lackawanna Trail; Kathleen Host from Elk Lake, and Theresa Cavalier and Linda Sherman from Tunkhannock.

Pictured (l-r) are the ten local educators who were recently initiated as active members in the Beta Rho Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International: Kathleen Host, Gail Frando, Theresa Cavalier, Linda Sherman, Kay Doerner, Madonna Munley, Brandi Miller, Sue Turner, Sue Kilmer, Ginny Amoroso.

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International is a professional honor society for women educators with more than 100, 000 members. Established in 18 member countries around the world, the Society defines its mission as promoting professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education. The Society’s next International convention will be in Indianapolis, IN July 28-August 1, 2014 and the Northeast Regional Conference will be in Baltimore, Maryland July 8-12, 2015.

The Beta Rho Chapter is one of sixty-three chapters in Pennsylvania whose members are key women educators in Bradford, Susquehanna, and Wyoming Counties. The Society offers more leadership training opportunities for women educators than any other professional organization. These include scholarships for both active and retired members, stipends for educational projects, and online courses for professional growth. The next Beta Rho Chapter meeting will be at The Inn at Montrose on December 7, 2013 at 9:00 AM and will feature a program by members Pat Arnold and Carol Goodman, “Holiday Sharing Ideas” followed by a brunch. The State Convention will be held at the Nittany Lion Inn in State College June 13-15, 2014 where Beta Rho will celebrate its 30th birthday.