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A festive holiday atmosphere at The Inn at Montrose was the setting for the December meeting of the Beta Rho Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. The freshly fallen snow added to the holiday atmosphere for the meeting. During the roll call, each member responded by telling about the best gift they had ever given. The variety of responses was a good way for members to get to know others more personally.

President Carol Goodman conducted the business meeting which included six recommendations for membership. These women teachers will be voted on at the March meeting. Members were encouraged to nominate other women teachers who are dedicated, enthusiastic, committed, creative, and passionate for membership. President Goodman encouraged members to submit proposals to present a workshop at the State Convention, to apply for state scholarships, and to nominate chapter members for the Album of Distinction. This is recognition for an honor received outside of the Society. At the March meeting, twenty-five year pins will be presented to chapter members Debbie Earley and Deborah Stevens.

Pictured are In-coming co-presidents of the Beta Rho Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International Jeanette Saulo and Sheri Wolfe drawing the winning ticket for the S.E.E. (Support Early-Career Educators) basket of supplies. The chapter is comprised of key women educators from Bradford, Susquehanna, and Wyoming Counties. The basket will be given to Jenny Keating, a second grade teacher in the Mountain View School District.

President Carol shared information from Alpha Alpha State President Kay Stuart. This included the announcement of the Leadership Training meeting for members to be held in Penn State on March 1, 2014. Another focus at the state convention will be to create a visual to show how state and federal funding has affected children. Each chapter is asked to decorate a child’s chair and to take it to convention. The chairs will be lined up for members to see the empty chairs which will represent children no longer receiving Headstart services.

Included in the committee reports was Agnes Massacesi recommending that the Grant-in-Aid stipend be awarded to Jeanette Shoo who is a student at Penn State majoring in secondary math. Sue Lee, nominations committee chairman, presented the slate of officers for the 2014-2016 biennium which include the following: co-presidents Jeanette Saulo and Sheri Wolfe; first vice president Ann Gay; second vice president Nancy Simon; corresponding secretary Pat Carpenter; Barb Davis recording secretary; and Carol Davis treasurer.

Information about the state and international projects, Dresses for Africa and the S.E.E. Project (Support Early-Career Educators), was presented by Pat Arnold. As a Society of key women educators, the projects include making dresses for the children in Africa so they can attend school. Sunday, January 19 at 2:00 PM will be a work day to make dresses and the snow date is Sunday, January 26. The other project is supporting teachers early in their careers by providing materials they can use in their classrooms as well as support through friendship and time. Pat Arnold, Rose Borgna, Carol Goodman, and Linda Sherman presented the program “Holiday Projects and Ideas” followed by a lovely brunch buffet arranged by hostess chairman Natalie Hawley.

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International is a professional honor society for women educators 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 offers more leadership training opportunities for women educators than any other professional organization. The Beta Rho Chapter is composed of women educators from Bradford, Susquehanna, and Wyoming Counties.

The next Beta Rho Chapter meeting will be at 9:00 AM on Saturday, March 8, 2014, at the First Presbyterian Church in Montrose. The program “Personal Growth-Nurturing the Needs of Self; Serving the Needs of Others” will be presented by Joan Peters and her committee.

Other special meetings at the state and international levels include the state organization Leadership and Professional Development Conference on February 28 and March 1, 2014 in State College; the Alpha Alpha State Chorus Retreat May 2-3, 2014; the Alpha Alpha State Conference at the Nittany Lion Inn in State College, June 13-15, 2014; and the Society’s International Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana July 28 to August 1 with the theme “Let’s Keep Sharing our Vision—Strengthening Our Society.” The 2015 Northeast Regional Conference will be held in Baltimore, Maryland and the 2016 International Convention will be in Nashville, Tennessee. Members are encouraged to attend these events to take advantage of experiences beyond the chapter level.