DELTA KAPPA GAMMA SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL

March 2015

Alpha
Kappa
Chapter
Zeta State

O p po rtu nit y, Wi sdo m , Lead ershi p

President....Donna Hopper
1st Vice President..Lainie Anthony
2nd Vice President....April Dill
Recording Secretary....Marilyn Maddox
Corresponding Secretary Cathy Curtis
Treasurer.......Kathy Dawkins
Parliamentarian...Patty Newsom
Historian .... Hellen Polk

MAY 5, 1976

RUBY ANNIVERSARY

MAY 5, 2016

UPCOMING MEETING

March 28, 2015

Never too Old to Learn!

Think back to your time in the classroom.
There before you sits a room full of young
minds, some eager to learn and some not so
eager. The subject matter on your desk is not
a favorite, some consider it quite dull. What
do you do? How do you take this subject
matter and turn it into something that
creates genuine excitement in these young
learners?
th

March 28 our own Barb Adkins will share

one such unit with us as she discusses how
her students are immersed cheerfully into
Shakespeare. I have seen it first-hand several
times and can attest that it is truly something
to behold.
Our focus this meeting is all about LEARNING.
What better time for our SEE mentee and
Grant-in-Aid recipient to visit with us?
Taylor Brown is a third year teacher of first
grade at Sudduth Elementary. As our SEE
mentee, we have supported her monetarily
and with supplies, we have organized a
Career Day and are currently aiding her with
her classrooms Good Behavior Store. We are
excited to have Taylor join us for this
meeting!

Debi Valentine leads our Scholarship

Committee in the search for our Grant-In Aid
recipient. We look forward to meeting this
young lady as she, hopefully, will be in
attendance.
Such a busy meeting! But Im not done! One
of the Honor Chapter criteria states:
Chapter members are offered opportunities at
meetings to share innovative ideas, to display
projects and to demonstrate skills.

This is the perfect time for this! Please bring

to this meeting something you can put on
display which fulfills this statement. They will
all be on display for our two young educators
and for us to enjoy as well.
LastlySILENT AUCTION! In keeping with our
focus on learning, bring with you something
that could inspire someone to learn
something. And, dont forget your
checkbook!
So much going on!
See you then,

Donna Hopper

SEE & Grant in Aid Focus

&

Silent Auction
LOCATION CHANGE!
@FBC OUTREACH CENTER

10:00 a.m.
Hostesses
Karen Graham*
Hellen Polk
Kathy Dawkins
Leota Cardwell

Historia
Trish Corrigan
Cathy Kemp
Susan Street
Wanda Thomas

Program
Bringing Shakespeare to Life
Barb Adkins
Also
Meeting our Grant-in-Aid recipient &
SEE Mentee

Bring:
1. Item for Silent Auction
(Teach Me Something;something that inspires
you to learn something new)

2. Checkbook for Silent Auction

3. Classroom project to display

| Issue #15.1.5

From our last

meeting
Oktoc Community Center

Our annual Souper Luncheon

Dr. Mariah Smith & Austin Jacobs present a
program on Identity Theft.

Jackie Pruett gave an update

on our service project,
Christian Womens Job Corp.

Robin Pigg shared a brief

review of the DKG
International Constitution and
International Standing Rules.

Alpha Kappa members donated many bags filled with professional clothing
and office supplies for our service project, Christian Womens Job Corp.

| Issue #15.1.5
Minutes of Delta Kappa Gamma Meeting
Alpha Kappa Chapter
Date: Saturday, January 31, 2015
Place: Oktoc Community Center; 10:00 a.m.
The fourth 2014-2015 meeting of the Alpha
Kappa Chapter was called to order by
President Donna Hopper.
The reading of the Collect was done by
Fleming Rogers.
Donna introduced the topic, Identity Theft,
and asked chapter members to raise their
hands if they had ever experienced any type of
Identity theft. Many members lifted their
hands. Then Donna introduced Dr. Mariah
Smith Morgan, Assistant Professor from MSU
Extension Center for Tech Outreach. She has
visited over 3,500 people and has spoken on
200 different topics in her outreach program.
Assisting her with the presentation was Austin
Jacobs. Through her power point presentation
and question and answer session afterwards,
Dr. Morgan touched upon identity theft issues,
such as types of identity theft, susceptibility,
online threats, recognition techniques,
protection strategies for ourselves and for our
students, phishing emails, dangers of social
media and games, recovery from identity
theft, and helpful websites.
After the presentation, Lainie Anthony
presented Dr. Morgan with a monogrammed
bag in appreciation for her time and her
willingness to share this much-needed
information.
Jackie Pruett then led in the singing of the
blessing, Bless Our Food.
While the hostesses were preparing to serve
the food, Hellen Polk, who is the keeper of the
key for the Oktoc Community Center, talked
briefly about its history, beginning in 1923
when the Oktoc Garden Club was formed. At
that time, the kitchen was a one-teacher
school, and the other large room was the
Vernon Cumberland Presbyterian Church. At
present, the Oktoc Center is the location for
the Oktoc Garden Club, which still meets the
third Tuesday of each month and is over
ninety years old. Since 1927, it has also been
the location for the Oktoc Community Club
meetings. Hellen directed chapter members
attention to the displayed loving cups that
were presented to recognize the Oktoc Club as
the best community club. She also pointed out
that the quilt displayed on the exterior of the
community center is a part of the Quilt Trail
being developed between Starkville and the
refuge and is the first on this trail to be
exhibited. Another interesting fact disclosed

3
by Hellen is that Leota Cardwell, chapter
member, spoke to the Oktoc Community Club
in 2004.
The business portion of the meeting continued
after everyone had been served food. Marilyn
Maddox called the roll, and since the focus of
the meeting was on empowering women, each
chapter member answered with the name of a
woman who had most empowered her. DKG
member Marty Friend was named by two as
the woman most admired because of her
strong encouragement of each to attain a
masters degree.
Next, Donna asked if there were any
corrections to the minutes from the last
meeting, which had been printed in the
newsletter. There were none, so the minutes
stood approved as printed.
President Donna Hopper began the officer
reports with an update on Honor Chapter
requirements. She directed the members
attention to copies of the one-page document,
Why Are You a Member, that were located
at each table. By distributing her review of
an article from a DKG publication, Donna met
one of the requirements for being an Honor
Chapter. She asked that members read the
document and provide feedback to her
concerning what the chapter is doing right and
things that could be done to improve the
chapter. Next, Donna discussed with members
the convention, which is being held in Olive
Branch on Friday, April 10th and Saturday,
April 11th. Members from this chapter were
excused from the planning meeting held there
today since today was a scheduled meeting
day for our chapter.
Donna also passed around a sign-up sheet for
members who are planning to attend the
convention in April and provided information
about room cost. Our chapter may be
providing items with logos, and Lainie
Anthonys husband will help with this project.
Donna should know our chapters duties for
sure after the meeting in Olive Branch today.
Next, Kathy Dawkins gave the treasurers
report, which was as follows:

Committee reports were the next order of

business. Robin Pigg from the
Communications and Publications Committee
gave a brief review of the DKG International
Constitution and International Standing Rules
and then passed the publications around for
members to view. The Constitution was last
updated in 2014 and contains information on
aspects of DKG chapters at all levels. The
International Standing Rules involves some of
the same areas while emphasizing the
standing rules for each level.
Donna reported for the Scholarship
Committee. The committee has taken steps to
identify the Grant-in-Aid recipient. This year,
since the chapter has the expense of providing
items for the convention, only one student will
be chosen, and next year the number of
recipients will be reevaluated.
Lainie Anthony reported for the Educational
Excellence Committee and gave an update on
this chapters mentee, Taylor Brown. The next
project is to help Taylor with her students as
they shop in the classroom store. Taylor needs
at least one person per week from 1:45-2:30
p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays. Lainie
distributed a sign-up sheet for volunteers with
dates through May 1st included. Barb Adkins
asked Lainie to find out if Taylor needs
contributions from chapter members for items
to include in her stores merchandise.
Jackie Pruett next gave a report on our service
project, the Christian Womens Job Corps.
She stated that Rita Usher is the director, and
this is the fifth year of work of this
organization.
Over one hundred women have been served.
Some of the services are Bible study,
computer classes, and instruction in
communication and technical writing as well
as interview skills. An additional facet is
instruction in management skills regarding
issues with health, anger, stress, and conflict.
These women are also taught how to set
smart goals that are specific, realistic,
timely, attainable, and measurable instead of
living from day to day. Also an employer
round-table discussion is held. Women who
complete this program share what they
have learned. There is a closet director who
puts together an interview outfit from donated

| Issue #15.1.5

clothes for each lady. Mentors for the women

are Christian Friends, with one to match
each participant. There are both day and night
classes with meals provided. Even with MSU
students and community volunteers,
additional volunteers are still needed.
Donations, such as clothing, office supplies,
or money, are always welcome.
There was no new business.
Donna reminded members that the next
meeting will be March 28th at 10:00 a.m. at
First Baptist Church in the Multipurpose
Room of the new Childrens Building. For
this meeting, Barb Adkins will present her
teaching unit on Shakespeare. Two special
guests will be Taylor Brown, our mentee and
the recipient of our Grant-in-Aid. Chapter
members are encouraged to bring an
innovative idea they have used in teaching.
The silent auction will also be a part
of this meeting, and members are asked to
bring any item that can serve as inspiration to
learn something new.

Zeta State Convention

April 10-11
Hostess Chapter
What we know so far:

Turns out we are not to order anything with logos

after all. We are in charge of the Celebration
Luncheon on Saturday. Once again we provide
centerpieces, printing of various items and then
setting all these on the tables just prior to the
luncheon. I have asked a few of our members for
decorating ideas. We may have some work to do!

At the convention:

The meeting was adjourned.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Marilyn
Maddox, Recording Secretary.

MORE
Drawing for FREE DUES (for 2015-2016)
will be at this meeting!
All members who have attended all 5
meetings for this year are eligible.
Only 1 winner.

LAST service project opportunity

for this year!
Cotton District Arts Festival
Saturday, April 18
More info and sign up at this next
meeting!

Hellen Polk and Jackie Pruett each will

serve as a hostess for a breakout session.
Paula Mabry and Billie Lane Hood will be
working the Registration Tables.
Jackie Pruett has been asked to lead
The DKG Song at the beginning of the
Presidents Banquet on Saturday night!
Lainie Anthony and Edie Irvin are serving
on the Decorations Committee and are
part of our team in decorating for the
Celebration Luncheon.
All Alpha Kappa members attending will
help place the table decorations for the
Celebration Luncheon on Saturday.
Donna Hopper will represent the
Northern District on the Minutes
Committee for the convention, will attend
the Chapter Presidents Update meeting
and the Executive Board Meeting,

Of course, our own Paula Mabry will be

honored as our Woman of Distinction at this
luncheon!
Attending
Lainie Anthony
Edie Irvin
Jackie Pruett
Hellen Polk
Paula Mabry
Billie Lane Hood
Donna Hopper
I am so proud of the visibility of Alpha Kappa
at our state convention!
Not too late to go!! Girls Trip!