The December meeting of the Beta Rho Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International was hosted by Lois Frantz at the Faith Mountain Christian Academy in New Milford where she is the high school teacher and assistant principal. Prior to the program, members enjoyed refreshments and tours of the school conducted by several of the teachers. Pat Arnold then introduced Lois who gave a very interesting presentation about the history of the school which was formed in the mid 90’s when she was looking for a school for her daughter.
Assistant Principal Lois Frantz
The school started to meet at a camp in Gibson with two teachers and twelve students. During the first school year this dropped to six students and Lois was the only teacher. Since its beginning the school has had several locations and has grown to presently having sixty-three students, six teachers and a principal (who is also the pastor of the First Baptist Church where the school is held). Faith Mountain uses the A Beka curriculum and the high school students use lessons recorded at A Beka Academy in Florida.
Co-President Sheri Wolfe then called the business meeting to order. She shared her vision for the biennium and stated that she and co-president Jeanette Saulo want to empower the membership to welcome new ideas, focus on discarding practices that are no longer relevant, to help each other complete the work of Beta Rho, and to honor the past but live in the present. She encouraged the membership to grow into leadership positions and to get involved in conventions, seminars and retreats beyond the chapter level. She then shared an article from the DKG News about the criteria for a successful chapter and proudly concluded that Beta Rho meets all six criteria.
President Sheri then asked each member to briefly tell something that she does as a pastime or hobby in response to the roll call conducted by corresponding secretary Pat Carpenter. This gave everyone personal insight beyond the educational credentials of the members.
The committee reports began with Pat Arnold introducing her Personal Growth and Services Committee who then announced activities for the holidays, which were going on in the area. Karen Voigt shared that there are a few seats left on a trip to Europe the week after the 4th of July. This is sponsored by Mountain View teachers and will go from Madrid to Florence and explore the healthy Mediterranean diet.
Carol Goodman reported for World Fellowship in the absence of Marsha Eaton. Since World Fellowship began in 1946, 858 women from other countries have received a fellowship, came to the United States to get their doctorate and then have gone back to their home countries with the goal of making the world a better place.
Projects chair Carol continued as Projects chair and conducted the drawing for four baskets for the SEE Project (Support Early Career Educators); one high school basket and 3 elementary baskets. Karen Voigt won the high school basket and the winners of the elementary baskets donated them to Lois for her school. Carol continued to explain that Jeanette and Sheri have asked her committee to investigate and propose fundraising projects for the chapter at the April meeting. Some ideas that have been suggested include a craft show, scratch off tickets and a pie sale. Members were encouraged to bring other ideas to the April meeting or send them to Carol before the meeting.
Professional Affairs chairman Agnes Massacesi presented the one nomination for the Beta Rho Grant-in-Aid. The nomination by Susan Lee was accepted for Teresa Whitehead, a music education major at West Chester to receive the grant.
Membership chair Nancy Simon reported that she has taken on the project of developing a Beta Rho excel data base which will list all members, positions held, committee membership, etc. She then placed the nominations of two women for membership. They are Janeen Nieratko, a retired elementary school music teacher from Lackawanna Trail, and Deana Patson, the librarian at Wyalusing High School, and will be initiated in May. Nancy then recognized Lansdale Shaffmaster and Ellen Whipple as 30 year members, Rose Dobrosielski as a 50 year member, and presented Deborah Stevens with her 25 year pin.
Historical Records chair Cindy Reynolds thanked members for sending her articles about any activities involving Beta Rho sisters to be included in the scrapbook. She had met with charter member Eleanor Churchill who gave her memorabilia, which will be used along with records from Joan Peters to recreate the chapter scrapbooks from 1984-1999 which have been lost.
In the absence of Ann Way, scholarship chair, Pat Carpenter stated that she has scholarship information and it is also available in the Keystonian.
Sheri proudly announced that $400 was collected at the October meeting to donate to Laura Hritz who is a DKG member in Pennsylvania in need of a new prosthesis.
Jeanette announced that $200 was raised selling chances for the Pamper Yourself basket which she contributed. Another $100 was donated and the money raised and future basket raffle money will be used for stipends for members who might want to attend Conferences, Conventions, or Seminars beyond the chapter level. Ann Gay won this basket.
The Delta Kappa Gamma song was sung as the sisters gathered in a circle. Then a lovely luncheon was served in the Faith Mountain School cafeteria by some of the teachers. The next Beta Rho Chapter meeting will be a Tri-Chapter meeting with Alpha Zeta and Phi Chapters to host the state president Kay Stuart who will be the speaker. The meeting will be on April 18, 2015 at the Montrose Bible Conference beginning with a coffee hour and a buffet lunch will be held following the program.
Members were encouraged to attend other upcoming events beyond the chapter level which include the Creative Arts Retreat to be held on March 27-29, 2015, at the Olmsted Manor in Ludlow, Pennsylvania. Chapter member Pat Arnold will conduct a session and is also in charge of a Pamper Yourself Night at the retreat. The Alpha Alpha State Convention is June 12-14, 2015 at the Nittany Lion Inn in State College and the Northeast Regional Conference will be held in Baltimore, Maryland July 8-11, 2015.
