On a picture perfect day on September 18, the smell of mesquite was wafting over Lazy Brook Park in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania. Williams' hosted its 4th Annual BBQ Cook-Off, featuring scrumptious BBQ, local entertainment and the opportunity to network with friends in the natural gas industry. And here’s the best part: proceeds from the event, with eligible match dollars, were donated to area United Way chapters.

Pictured (l-r) are: Rich Mackey - UWSC Advisory Board member, Lyndsey Pompey - Girls Scouts in the Heart of PA, Tammy Bonnice -Williams, Deserae Davis - Williams, Kim Merithew, UWSC, Robin Cobb - UWSC, Bill Jones CEO, United Way of Wyoming Valley.

This year’s event was so successful in that it raised a record breaking amount with Williams to match every dollar raised. In addition, Williams’ employees generously contributed to United Way through their work place campaign. The employees also graciously donated their personal time to share in the Day of Caring assisting local nonprofits with a variety of projects.

Williams recently presented the United Way of Susquehanna County (UWSC) with a check totaling $29,085 with Williams match bringing the total donation to $58,170. This figure represents an increase in total giving of more than $7,700 from last year. This represented one of the largest donations among all United Way supporters in Susquehanna County.

“I believe strongly in the United Way and in its network of social service providers. The reach of United Way in the community is outstanding and I always encourage other businesses and suppliers to do their part and get involved.  Everyone deserves opportunities to have a good life: a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support a family through retirement, and good health….and all of us at Williams are proud to do what we can to make this community dream possible”, said Mike Atchie, Public Outreach, Williams.

“As this year’s campaign chair and first time attending the Williams annual BBQ Cook-off, I was delighted to see the attendance and show of support of the local United Ways. In turn, United Way is able to allocate dollars to families and children in need by enhancing their safety, stability and well-being. It is clear that the generosity of Williams and its employee’s support of United Way of Susquehanna County allows us to be poised to improve and help change the upward trajectory of the community”, said Kim Smith, NBT Bank.

At a recent meeting of the Beta Rho Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, members contributed items for baskets to be given to support teachers early in their teaching career.  This international project of the society is called S.E.E. (Support for Early Career Educators).  The project was selected because statistics now show that early career educators are leaving the teaching profession after only three to five years.  Hopefully, with strong support from long-time career educators as well as retired teachers, new teachers will commit to staying in teaching.

Pictured Beta Rho Chapter member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, Gretchen Warner (far right) presented a basket of school supplies which she recently won at a chapter meeting to new teacher, Patrick Matthews (left).  Patrick teaches K-3 Learning Support at Lathrop Street School in the Montrose School District. The supplies are a part of the state-wide S.E.E. (Support Early Career Educators) Project by the Society. 

Women teachers who are members of the Beta Rho Chapter are from Bradford, Susquehanna, and Wyoming Counties.  In a free drawing, Gretchen Warner, a fifth grade teacher at the Lathrop Street School in the Montrose Area School District was the winner of the basket.  She donated the basket of items to new teacher Patrick Matthews.  Patrick teaches K-3 Learning Support at the Lathrop Street School. He happily accepted the basket of supplies and was so pleased to receive the items and the support.

Eileen Fernane Martin

A special lady, who used to live in New Milford and Susquehanna Borough will be 95 years young this week. Eileen Fernane Martin has worn many hats beside those of eife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother over the years. Many will remember her much loved and respected late Husband, Michael, who was Principal for the Oakland, Laurel Street, and Thompson Elementary Schools. Let’s all surprise her and shower her with cards and fond memories. Eileen’s Address is: 12200 Glasgow Drive, Romeo, Michigan 48065.

The December meeting of the Beta Rho Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International whose biennial theme is “Embrace Life’s Endless Possibilities,” was held at the Tea Room at Dreyer Hall in Montrose.  The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International is a professional honor society for women educators with more than 82,000 members in seventeen different countries around the world.  The Society defines its mission as promoting professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education.

Three teachers were initiated into the Beta Rho Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, the largest society of women educators in the world, at the December meeting in Montrose.  Pictured (l-r) are Dr. Deana Patson, Peggy Walker and Heather Oldfort.

The meeting began with the lovely ceremony conducted by Dr. Nancy Simon and her committee to initiate the new members. Heather lives in Hallstead and teaches 5th/6th grades at Faith Mountain Christian Academy.  Deana is from Dushore and recently received her doctorate degree at Wilkes University in Educational Technology and is a library media specialist at Wyalusing Valley Jr/Sr High School.  Peggy lives in Susquehanna and is a third grade teacher at Faith Mountain Christian Academy.  The membership sang The Delta Kappa Gamma song and individually welcomed each of the new members following the ceremony. 

Co-president Jeanette Saulo then called the business meeting to order and corresponding secretary Pat Carpenter conducted the roll call with each in attendance responding to “What is the first word you think of when the holidays are coming?”  President Jeanette congratulated member Karen Voigt on her appointment as the superintendent of the Mountain View School District and Deana Patson for recently receiving her doctorate degree.

The committee reports began with Agnes Massacesi reminding members to submit recommendations for recipients for the Grant-in-Aid.  Carol Goodman reviewed the ideas for Projects to raise money for a Serendipity Fund.  She showed examples to encourage members to get together in small groups to produce items to be sold at a Focus Table at the State Convention in June.  Historical Records chair Cindy Reynolds thanked members for sending her articles about any activities involving Beta Rho sisters to be included in the scrapbook.

The highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the Beta Rho Achievement Award.  Mary Ann Cunningham, chairman of the committee, began the presentation by talking about some of the recipient’s contributions.  With great pride and excitement, Mary Ann announced Lansdale Shaffmaster, PhD as the sixth recipient and pinned her with the specially designed pin for the award.  Ironically, Lansdale was on the original committee to develop guidelines and was instrumental in designing the pin working with the jeweler from the Jewelry Room in Clarks Summit.

Once the membership settled from excitement, Lansdale and Cindy Reynolds moved to the next item on the agenda by reviewing the initial step to developing the chapter’s Strategic Action Plan which was done at the October meeting.  The members were then divided into four groups for input on the four areas of programs, involving members, information, and membership/attendance. Using the two questions:  1) Where are we now? and 2) Where do we want to be? each group discussed its area.  A scribe for each group made notes which were collected and will be used at the March meeting to decide on two areas of focus and objectives to address each of those areas.

Nominations chair, Gail Franko, then announced the slate of officers for the 2016-2018 biennium, which included Dr. Nancy Simon, president; Pat Carpenter, vice president; Barbara Davis, recording secretary; Kathy Fuller, corresponding secretary; and treasurer, Carol Davis.  The slate of officers will be voted on at the March meeting and the new officers will be installed at the May meeting.

Moving on with the agenda, a decision was made concerning memorial gifts for members who pass away to donate $25.00 to whatever organization or charity is listed in the obituary. That way memorial gifts can be taken care of in a timely fashion.  Members were encouraged to “Ring the Bells” for the Salvation Army to benefit the needy in our area.  A contact number was provided.  Other items discussed included the state project “Little Free Libraries”; a search for a place to house the Beta Rho archives; members were encouraged to apply to do workshops at state convention; and the distribution of returned pins was proposed.  Because of the lengthy business meeting, the program was presented during the lovely buffet luncheon. Carol Goodman presented highlights of her sure-to-work tips for “Discipline in the Classroom” and distributed copies of the ideas. 

The next Beta Rho Chapter meeting will be at the Center for Anti-Slavery Studies (CASS) in Montrose and the program will be the history and progress of the 200th Anniversary of CASS.  Members were encouraged to attend other upcoming events beyond the chapter level which include the PA State Organization Leadership and Professional Development Seminar on April 23, 2016 in Altoona.  The Alpha Alpha State Convention is June 10-12, 2016 at the Nittany Lion Inn in State College and the International Convention in Nashville, Tennesee July 8-11, 2016.

Dreyer Hall in Montrose was the setting for the December meeting of the Beta Rho Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.  Co-president Jeanette Saulo, retired teacher from Susquehanna Community Schools, conducted the business meeting.  The highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the sixth Beta Rho Achievement Award.  Mary Ann Cunningham, chairman of the committee, began the presentation by explaining that the presentation was to be made at the October meeting, but because the recipient was not in attendance, it was put off until this meeting.  She then gave a few highlights of the member’s dedication and involvement at the chapter level who had served as the chapter president and chaired several chapter committees throughout her thirty-one years of membership.  She presently co-chairs the Strategic Action Plan Committee.  She has also attended the Society’s Fall Area Conferences, State Conventions, Regional Conferences, and International Conventions. She was initiated when the Beta Rho Chapter was installed in May, 1984, at Shadowbrook in Tunkhannock

During the comments, the suspense grew as members eagerly awaited the announcement of the recipient.  With great pride and excitement, Mary Ann Cunningham announced Lansdale Shaffmaster, PhD as this year’s recipient and pinned her with the specially designed pin for the award.  Ironically, Lansdale was on the original committee to develop guidelines and was instrumental in designing the pin, working with the jeweler from the Jewelry Room in Clarks Summit.  Lansdale resides in North Abington Township with her husband and was a professor of Early Childhood Education at Keystone College.  They have traveled extensively.

Pictured (l-r) are Mary Ann Cunningham, chairman of the Achievement Award Committee pinned Lansdale Shaffmaster, PhD, with the Beta Rho Achievement Award at the December meeting of the chapter in Montrose.

The chapter award is given to recognize and honor a member who has given distinguished and outstanding service to Beta Rho Chapter and has promoted the purposes and policies of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.   

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International is a professional honor society for women educators with more than 82, 000 members in seventeen different countries around the world.  The Society defines its mission as promoting professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education.

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.