Eta Zeta Press

Texas State Organization

Five Star Award Newsletter

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International

Volume 51, Issue 6
Eta Zeta,Chapter 174, Dallas, Dallas County
Area 9,Texas State Organization, Texas

DKG Vision Statement: Leading Women Educators Impacting Education Worldwide

March 2015

Delta Kappa Gamma promotes professional and personal growth of women

educators and excellence in education.

Aundrea Wright Young, Editor

aundrea_wright@sbcglobal.net

Young Artists Making a

Kinder World

Sandys Stylus
There is something remarkable and
unique about Eta Zeta Chapter. Your
attendance at our make-up February
meeting is an example. Again I want to
thank you for adjusting your busy
schedules to attend. The panel guided us through an
amazing opportunity to increase our knowledge of
DKG. The panel included, in order of presentation,
Sandra Foster Brown, Sharon Kraus, Evelyn Hamilton,
LaDelle Rose Smith, Seretha Merchant, Norma
Matthews, Mary Bixler, Mary Claire Welch, and
Joanne Szalay. In the process we showered Early
Career Educators of various schools with supplies and
teacher necessities inside a beautiful, donated bag.
Special thanks to each of you for your attendance,
participation and donations.
Marilyn Gregory was nominated for 20152017 president at the TSO Nominations Committee
Meeting on January 17, 2015. Gregory is from Epsilon
Kappa, (Austin-7). Other new nominees are Patti
Belknap, Theta Alpha, Arlington-9, first vice president;
Cookee Johnson, Zeta Omicron (Lubbock-12), second
vice president; Sandi Causey, Epsilon Kappa (Austin-7),
corresponding secretary; and Shalan Inmon, Alpha
Sigma (Slaton-12), recording secretary. For more
information, please consult the Lone Star News. While
you are reading, pay close attention to Bettys Buzz for
some important information on finance.
As you make your travel plans, please include
the CTAUN conference to be held on Saturday, April
11, 2015, Houston Texas.

Speaker:

Karen Blessen

President & Co-Founder, 29 Pieces

Date:

March 23, 2015

Time:

5:00 p.m. Eat & Socialize

6:00 p.m. Meeting

Location: Highland Park Cafeteria

1200 N. Buckner Blvd.
Dallas, Texas 75218
Inspiration/Meditation:
Aundrea Wright Young
Hostesses: Kalva Scott, Jane Walker,
Tobizena Williams, Mary Claire Welch
Facilitators: Norma Matthews,
Barbara Stoddard
Eta Zeta Press wants to know.We are looking
forward to hearing from you!
Contact: Aundrea Wright Young,
Communications Chair
By Mail: 4625 Hazelhurst Lane
Dallas, Texas 75227
By Email: aundrea_wright@sbcglobal.net
By Phone: 214-577-3179
Please submit information for publication by 5/4/15
for the upcoming issue.

You, your family and friends are invited to join ASTEF

for a Road Scholar program in Savannah, Georgia, October
11-16, 2015. ASTEF welcomes your support. Of course you
are planning to attend the 86th Texas State Convention,
June 25-27, 2015 in San Antonio, Texas. Presenters are
needed for the breakout sessions. Anyone interested should
complete the interactive form on the state website and
email your proposal to Cindy Neander, Personal and
Professional Enrichment Chair, at neanderc@verizon.net.
Attention, Eta Zeta Achieves Committee! Chapters
are encouraged to turn in a chapter history whether it is for
the last biennium or several back. Of course, Eta Zeta is
expected to be among the first to comply. All members are
hereby requested to support Joanne Szalay and the
committee in their efforts. The TSO website has an easy to
use outline under the committees, archives, Guidelines for
Writing a Chapter History.
The DCCC will honor 25 and 50 year members at the
Spring Luncheon on March 28, 2015. We are proud to have
two 25 year honorees, Joanne Szalay and Norma Matthews.
Congratulations, EZ Ladies!
The TSO Unifying Project for San Antonio, 2015 is
the BOYS & GIRLS CLUB of San Antonio. We have been asked
to bring school supplies of all kinds to San Antonio for
elementary and secondary students. You may start bringing
them to our next meeting. The list of some of those supplies
will be provided. Gift cards will be gladly accepted.
Get excited! We are looking forward to Young
Artists Making a Kinder World! See you at HPC at 5:00 p.m.
on March 23, 2015 for food and fellowship. The program
and meeting will follow as usual. Dont miss it

Eta Zeta Chapter Programs for

2014-2015
Expand the Vision: Educate,
Inspire, Encourage

Monday
August 18

Monday
September 22

Monday
October 27
Monday
November 24

Monday
January 26

Monday
February 23

Monday
March 23

Saturday
March 28

Program: Welcome to a New Year of Eta Zeta in DKG!

Time: 6:00 PM Eat, Socialize, Meeting
Location: St. Luke United Methodist Church
5710 R.L. Thornton Freeway, Dallas, Texas 75223
Hostesses: Executive Board & Beverly Leonard, Seretha
Merchant, Jean Stoner, Carol Lipton
Program: Shelter from the Storm: A Human Rights
Initiative
Time: 5:00 PM Eat and Socialize 6:00 PM -Meeting
Location: Highland Park Cafeteria
1200 N. Buckner Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75218
Hostesses: Diana Gonzalez, Sandra Woodruff, Mary Bixler,
Maria Viera Williams

Program: Education: The Good, the Bad & the Confusing

Time: 5:00 PM Eat and Socialize 6:00 PM- Meeting
Location: Highland Park Cafeteria
1200 N. Buckner Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75218
Hostesses: Elia Pardo, Marca Lee Bircher, Yvonne
Manuel, Bradley Sue Howell
Program: Honor and Welcome Eta Zeta Members!
Time: 5:00 PM Eat and Socialize 6:00- Meeting
Location: On The Border
3130 Knox Street, Dallas, Texas 75205
Hostesses: Cynthia DeVies, Heather Hawthorne, Melanie
Moseley, Aundrea Young
Program: Stand Up and Speak! Do You Dare?
Time: 5:00 PM Socialize 6:00 PM -Meeting
Location: Highland Park Cafeteria
1200 N. Buckner Blvd. , Dallas, Texas 75218
Hostesses: Lisa Bagley, Arlene Delgado, Debbie Duke,
Kendra Perkins
Program: Whats in Your Bag? Got DKG?
Time: 5:00 PM Eat and Socialize 6:00- Meeting
Location: Highland Park Cafeteria
1200 N. Buckner Blvd. Dallas, Texas 75218
Hostesses: Johnnie Cunningham, Charlenta Govan,
Kathryn Hons, La Tonya Hadnot
Program: Young Artists Making a Kinder World
Time: 5:00 PM Eat and Socialize 6:00- Meeting
Location: Highland Park Cafeteria
1200 N. Buckner Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75218
Hostesses: Elizabeth Johnson, Kalva Scott, Jane Walker,
Tobizena Williams, Mary Claire Welch

Dallas County Coordinating

Council Luncheon
Lakewood Country Club
1912 Abrams Road, Dallas, Texas 75214

A sister by heart,

Monday

Sandy

May 18

Eta Zeta Chapter President

June 24-27
2015

Program: Happy Birthday and Founders Day!

Time: 5:00 PM Eat,and Socialize 6:00- Meeting
Location: On the Border
3130 Knox Street, Dallas, Texas 75205
Hostesses: Patricia Webb, Chelsea McNair, Norma
Matthews, Barbara Stoddard

86th Texas State Organization

Convention
Grand Hyatt, San Antonio, Texas

To this end the greatest asset of a school is the

personality of the teacher. John Strachan (Quote found
at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/
topic_teacher2.html)

By: Mary Bixler

and learned about the power of being

relentlessly pleasant and leaning in.
We made new friends in a special bond
that will be renewed when we go to conventions
and serve on State committees together. I met
women from all areas of Texas that I probably
wouldnt have met otherwise. Each key woman
educator was interesting, talented, smart, and
gracious. It was an amazing experience.
I hope you will get to experience this
wonderful opportunity for personal and
professional development provided by the Alpha
State Texas Educational Fund. Its offered in
February of odd numbered years, and the
application is due in October of even numbered
years. Its important to list committees you have
served on, offices held, and programs or projects
in which youve been involved in Delta Kappa
Gamma.

I was privileged to be
selected to attend the
Leadership Seminar 2015 at
the Hyatt Regency in North
Dallas/ Richardson on the
weekend of February 20-22,
2015. Only 30 participants are
selected from applicants throughout the state of
Texas. Sometimes there are alternates, when
one of the selected participants cannot attend.
This year every one of the selected participants
arrived at the Hyatt on Friday, February 20 for
the opening session at 4:00 p.m.
Some of the participants arrived at 1:30
to tour the Texas State Organization
Headquarters at 6220 Campbell Road, Suite 204.
We were greeted warmly at headquarters by
Cheryl Crawford, Juanita Harmon, and Betty
Vines. We were invited to sign the guest book
and informed about the treasures on display. It
was exciting to see some of the special items that
are part of DKG history, such as the door that
visitors signed when staying overnight and the
china used for meals.
From our opening meeting on Friday
afternoon to the final ceremony on Sunday
morning, we were kept very busy with activities
to develop our leadership skills. The presenters
were members of the TSO Leadership Seminar
Committee: Leadership Seminar Committee Chair
Janice Harsch, TSO President Nancy Newton, and
Leadership Committee Members: Kimberly
Brumley, Susan Harmon, Charlotte Nyman, Eileen
Pink, Bonne Stroman, Betty Vines, Mary Claire
Welch, and Frances Ziegenhals. They were well
prepared and dynamic in their presentations.
They kept us guessing and involved with creative
activities. Saturday evening, we had a special
surprise: a visit from the TSO Presidential
Nominee Marilyn Gregory!
We learned how to make powerful
introductions, cooperated in purposeful, fun
activities, heard controversy about The Song,

Participants of Texas State Leadership Seminar Class of

2015 were from many different cities in Texas.

Texas Leadership Seminar 2015 Presenters and

Participants.

Above:
Greetings from
TSO
Administrative
Assistant Cheryl
Crawford.

Guest book at TSO Headquarters.

Left:
China Cabinet
at TSO
Headquarters.

Betty Vines,
Janice Harsch,
Mary Claire
Welch, and TSO
President, Nancy
Newton chat.

TSO Presidential
Nominee
Marilyn Gregory
brings greetings
to the
Leadership
Participants.

Participants gathering for the TSO Headquarters tour.

Permission to use photographs were granted by the

following members: Charlotte Nyman, Area XVII, Alpha
Pi, Seminar Photographer; Dr. Laura Sheneman, Area
V, Mu Zeta, Seminar Participant; and Kellie Rogers,
Area II, Kappa Chi, Seminar Participant.

The ASTEF piggies were in attendance at the Leadership

Seminar, too.

Eta Zeta Birthday

Wishes

TSO News

March Birthday Wishes

You Can Use

March 1
Linda Horowitz
March 17

Check out our new website which is

DKG approved and ready to roll.

Cynthia DeVies

Go to http:/www.dkgtexas.org
and save in your bookmarks.

March 21
Seretha Merchant

Its Beginning to Look Like Convention?

All clipart used from Microsoft Office.com found within

Microsoft Word, Publisher, and Excel for Office 2013.

Photo Gallery
February Chapter
Meeting
Whats In Your Bag?

Left: Elizabeth Taheri discussing the contents of the bag at Table 8.

Got DKG?

Right: Johnnie Cunningham at Table 7

looking at the contents of the bag.

Sharon Kraus
discussing the
contents of a purse.

Evelyn Hamilton
reading questions to
be answered from
the DKG website.
All panel members and program participants
holding gifts of sewing kits presented by
President Sandra Foster Brown.
Left to right: LaDelle Rose Smith, Sharon
Kraus, Seretha Merchant, Leigh Taylor, Joanne
Szalay, Mary Bixler, Mary Claire Welch,
Sandra Foster Brown, Norma Matthews, Evelyn
Hamilton

LaDelle Rose Smith and

Barbara Stoddard looking
for the answer to the
questions about ASTEF.

Heather Hawthorne looks

into a bag to determine its
contents.

Left: Sharon Kraus presenting the Musical Interlude.

Right: General view of chapter meeting and screen
where the website information was projected. Beverly
Leonard is taking minutes in foreground.

Photography by Joanne Szalay

6

Eta Zeta Committee Updates

CTAUN Meets IN HOUSTON

By Joanne Szalay

By Norma Matthews
Global Awareness Chair

Archives Committee

The Committee on Teaching about the

United Nations (CTAUN) will hold a conference
on the theme of Cultural Awareness: A Pathway
to Peace on April 11, 2015, at North American
University in Houston, TX.
The keynote speaker will be David
Anthony, Chief of Policy Advocacy and
Coordination Unit in UNICEF'S Division of
Data, Research, and Policy. UNICEF is the arm of
the United Nations that oversees the DKG Schools
for Africa program.
The cost of the one-day conference is $50.
For more information and registration go to
www.dkgtexas.org. Topics covered will be human
trafficking, sustainability of the environment,
immigration issues, and connecting
classrooms to the larger global viewpoint.

The Archives Committee is to organize

and maintain important documentation
pertaining to Delta Kappa Gamma
International, the Texas State
Organization, and our local chapter,
Eta Zeta. Joanne Szalay is the Chairman.
The committee members are Mary Bixler,
Cynthia DeVies, and Barbara Stoddard.
The committee met in June to work on
organization of materials. A new portable
file will soon be purchased to facilitate
this system, and to aid in the future.

Information taken from the Lone Star News, Spring 2015 issue

****************************************
What should you bring
to San Antonio for the
TSO Unifying Project?

Courtesy Committee
The Courtesy Committee is to send
birthday cards to Eta Zeta members, and
to send cards and/or donations to Delta
Kappa Gamma Society International Funds
in cases of illness or death. The Courtesy
Committee also presents an Amenities
Report at each chapter meeting.
Amenities include birthdays,
anniversaries, important news about
members, and other member
celebrations. Joanne Szalay is the
Chairman. The committee members are
Kendra Perkins, Jean Stoner, and Patricia
Webb.

Tissues
Glue bottles or glue sticks
Crayons
Wide ruled notebook paper and notebooks
College ruled notebook paper and notebooks
Rulers
Colored pencils
Ballpoint pens
Highlighters
3-ring binders
Markers
#2 pencils
Backpacks
Pencil sharpeners
Composition notebooks
Graph paper
Erasers
Pocket folders with brads
Gift cards as well will be gladly accepted

Occupational Segregation:

Occupational Segregation:

Are You Talking About Me?

Are You Talking About Me?

By Mary Claire Welch

I loved to talk and came from a family that honored

communication. I was fascinated by Helen Kellers
story of a child who was deaf and blind cracking the
linguistic code to share her story. I enjoyed the study
of sciences. Several of my family members were
educators who had provided well for their families. As
a Speech and Language Pathologist, there was the
option for me to ply my expertise in a hospital, a home
health setting, a long term care facility, an educational
setting, or in a private practice. Werent these good
building blocks for the study of Speech and Language
Pathology? Was my thinking influenced by the culture
in which we live to select a field of study welcoming
to my participation as a female? Did society limit my
choice of a profession?
The truth is I do not know. I followed my
interests and did not think about the financial factors as
much as I thought about what was of interest to me. I
guess I did assume that I would be only one of two
wage earners in a home when I got married. Through
the years, that assumption was sorely tested as I
became a single parent following a divorce for a period
of years. While the educational setting afforded many
advantages for parenting, being financially secure was
not one of them. As I powered through the years in an
educational setting, my salary increased and my
interest in the topic of my industry did not waiver. I
supplemented my income in the schools with private
practice and guest appearances as a home health
professional. Now as a married professional, I continue
to benefit financially from my professional career.
Could I have had a more lucrative career that matched
my gifts and talents? That is the question. I have been
blessed with the enjoyment of what I do for a living;
however, it would probably have been beneficial for
me to consider the financial impact of my professional
choice upon my life.
Did occupational segregation influence my
career choice? Yes, I believe it did. Will it in my
future? Yes, I believe it will. In 1963, President John
F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act. Since that time,
women have been paid 77 cents to every dollar a man
was paid often for the same work. not been a change in
the gender wage gap since then.

The concept of occupational segregation is of

great interest to me because I wonder how many of the
women educators entered the field of education
because they believed there was no other option.
Education is a field often considered by society as an
appropriate career path for a woman. Sheryl Sandberg
suggests in her book, Lean In, that women are
perceived as being communal and nurturing resulting
in their participation only in certain roles or
professions. Many of these jobs deemed appropriate
for women are paid lower wages than other
professions. She discusses the issues facing women
who possess the qualities to serve in a senior position,
but who are passed over or denied opportunities for
advancement in her field or company.
Occupational segregation is a term referring
to the process of women entering the workforce in
professions welcoming to their presence due to
societys preconceived notions of their abilities as
women rather than as individuals. There are two forms
of occupational segregation. Horizontal segregation
occurs when the workforce of a specific industry or
sector is mostly made up of one particular gender.
Vertical segregation occurs where opportunities for
career progression within a company or sector for a
particular gender are narrowed. At the heart of the
discussion of occupational segregation discussion is
the gender wage gap. Women traditionally earn less
than a man even in a female dominated profession
such as education. According to an article that
appeared online, The Ten Jobs with the Biggest
Gender Wage Gap, authored by Travis Waldron
posted April 9, 2013 on THINKPROGRESS, a job in
educational administration was one of three areas of
womens employment demonstrating an even larger
gender wage gap within the group of ten jobs with
widely varying salaries between men and women in
the field. So, for women who chose to enter the field
of education as a safe career choice with the ambition
for advancement, the existence of occupational
segregation remains as a deterrent for advancement in
the world of education. Looking back, the thoughts
leading to the selection of a field of study for college
resulted from what I would consider my gifts.
8

Occupational Segregation:
Are You Talking About Me?
According to a guide generated by the
American Association of University Women entitled
The Simple Truth About Gender Pay Gap (Spring
2015) available on the AAUW website, the Economic
Justice Issue, in 2015, women were paid 78 cents for
every dollar a man earned in 2013; however, there has
not been a change in the gender wage gap since then.
The wage pay gender gap is an issue that must be
faced as women choose to step beyond the
occupations predetermined to belong to a woman.
Should a woman choose a career as an educator, she
should have the right to be paid for her contributions
in the workplace. I believe a person must pursue the
occupation that is best served by ones gifts. To follow
ones passion leads to the accomplishment of great
things. I choose to believe that ones talents are
worthy of financial reward and due recognition of
their value to our society, whether you are a man or a
woman. I do hope that a spectrum of opportunities
will continue to widen for women and that we will
have the courage to take up any occupation in which
our talents promise to grow. I hope that women will
have the courage, confidence, education, and
encouragement to resist the temptation to
occupationally segregate themselves, but instead to
choose education because they believe it serves their
gifts and others.

Community Partners of Dallas image

obtained from Google Images.

Calling all Eta Zeta Chapter Members.

Please bring the following items to our
March Chapter Meeting as we continue our
support of the

Rainbow Room:
Clothing
Shoes
Underwear
Baby Formula
School Supplies

American Association of University Women. The Simple Truth About Gender Pay Gap. Economic Justice Issue.
AAUW. Spring 2015. Web. 16 March 2015.

Hygiene Items

European Organization for Safety and Health at Work.

What does gender segregation in occupations mean?
https://osha.europa.eu. 1998-2014. Web. 16 March 2015.

Beds

Sandberg, Sheryl. Lean In: W omen, W ork, and The

Will To Lead. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2014. Print.

Car Seats

Waldron, Travis. The 10 Jobs with The Biggest Gender

Wage Gap. THINKPROGRESS. 9 April 2013. Web. 5
February 2013.

Diapers
Money
Gift Cards

By: Lisa Bagley

Many of us will argue that we simply dont have

time to do this, but students can definitely sense
when their teachers are stressed, so in reality,
taking care of yourself means taking care of your
students, as well. A few things that help me when
Im really feeling the pressure are

Whew! The spring

semester is always tough for educators and
administrators. Just as youre congratulating
yourself for successfully making it through the
fall semester with your sanity relatively intact,
you suddenly remember exactly how looooong
spring semester really is! I jokingly liken the
slog through spring to childbirthif one could
properly remember the pain involved, no one in
their right mind would do it more than once!
Thank goodness for Spring Break!

One thing that makes spring feel a bit

more anxious is the impending state standardized
tests about to be administered. Weve all been
working so diligently with our students to prepare
them for these high-stakes examsupon which
so many educational decisions about a childs
future are based. While its often not realistic to
expect that all of our students will be successful
on their exams, we still hope and pray each child
performs to the best of their abilities when tested.
Of course, every educator knows that our students
are much more than a test score and that
education cannot simply be distilled down to an
exam, however rigorous. It is a challenge to
instill this truth in them even while
simultaneously reminding them that the tests are
important and they are being judged on their
scores. At the secondary level, we are also
launching into Advanced Placement testing in the
spring. AP tests allow students to earn college
credit via exam while still in high school. Scoring
well on these exams is critical for many or our
high school students, as a qualifying score means
that they will not have to pay to earn credit for
that course once they are in collegeits like
money in their pockets. Understandably, many
students are very anxious about these difficult and
important exams. With all the stressors that spring
can bring, its vitally important that educators
take time to care for their own physical and
mental health.

Getting outside and seeing the sky. Youd be

surprised at what a calming and balancing
effect fresh air and the open sky can bring
A brief, brisk walk. Its true that we dont
have a lot of time, but even a quick 20 minute
walk has been shown to lower blood pressure
and elevate mood.
A short meditation or prayer. Remember,
were in education for the greater goodfocus
on the big picture when the minutiae threaten
to bog you down.
Setting aside one FULL day to no school
work, including grading papers. Whether its
Saturday or Sunday, you deserve at least one
FULL day of resttake it!

Finally, one of the very best ways to

rekindle that sense of camaraderie and purpose is
to reach out and communicate with your DKG Eta
Zeta sisters! Even if a sister isnt in the classroom
now, she was at some point, as she certainly
knows what its like to feel stressed! I find that
talking with my EZ sisters about professional
stress and difficulties helps me keep my
perspective positive and remember that this too
shall pass. Life is shorttake the time to take
care of yourself. Your body, mind and spirit
deserve it, and the positive effects will absolutely
flow through to your classroom practice!

10

Eta Zeta Members Attend Delta Pi

Chapters Social
By: Evelyn Hamilton

President Sandra Foster Brown, Evelyn Hamilton, and Sharon Kraus attended
Delta Pi Chapters Social. The event was
held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 21,
2015 at the Red Hot and Blue Barbeque
Restaurant. We experienced great food and
fun and a genuine fellowship. It was wonderful to see Delta Kappa Gamma members with whom we already knew. It was
equally wonderful to meet other Delta
Kappa Gamma members.

Cynthia De Vies, Sharon Kraus, and

Marca Lee Bircher were judging
Dallas Summer Musicals High School
Musical Theater awards. Way to go
Eta Zeta!
Lisa Bagley was honored by the
Mesquite School Board and
Superintendent Linda Henrie on
Monday, March 2nd, for coaching
swimmer Jeremy Nichols of North
Mesquite High School to a two-time
District Championship and UIL State
swim meet qualification in the boys
50 and 100 yard freestyle. The
previous State swimming
qualification for Mesquite ISD
occurred in 2007. Upon graduation,
Jeremy will be swimming at the
University of Texas at Austin.

From left to right: Cathy Criner, TSO Membership

Chairman, Alpha Alpha Chapter; Dedra Bernard,
First Vice President, Delta Pi Chapter; Pam Ponners,
President, Delta Pi Chapter; Chris Dudek,
Parliamentarian, Delta Pi Chapter; Sandra Foster
Brown, President, Eta Zeta Chapter; Evelyn
Hamilton, Immediate Past President, Eta Zeta
Chapter; Sharon Kraus, TSO and Eta Zeta Music
Chairman; and Michelle Grandinetti, Area 9
Coordinator.

Congratulations image obtained

from Google Images.

Photo by Evelyn Hamilton

11

In 1977 Liz met her husband and her name

changed from Elizabeth Rose to Elizabeth Taheri. They
met at a reunion in Moorehead University. Her husband
was from Iran and began to attend Henderson Junior College in Texas. In 1980 the couple moved to Dallas where
Liz joined the staff at Davy Crockett Elementary. When
Davy Crockett Elementary was closed she moved to Ignacio Zaragoza Elementary where she taught until her
retirement in 2008.

Eta Zeta Spotlight

Liz Taheri

By: Mary Claire Welch

Elizabeth Liz Taheri is an Eta Zeta member
who has been in our chapter since. She currently is one
of the voices you hear on the telephone reminding you
of an upcoming meeting. She always has a cheerful voice
and is happy to visit with you about any details you may
need to know. It is important to Liz that Eta Zeta continues to have great attendance to our meetings and she is
always encouraging to new members and to those members she has brought to our chapter. Liz is someone who
welcomed me when I was a new member. She is the first
one to ask me to be a part of a program. At the chapter
level, Liz has served as Chapter President, 1st Vice President, Chair of the Ceremonies Committee, Chair of the
Scholarships Committee and has worked on numerous
other committees. At the state level, Liz has served on
the TSO Ceremonies Committee.

When asked what she enjoys teaching most, Liz

admitted that teaching Science was her favorite. When
asked who had influenced her life most, she described
the aunt with whom she had lived during her freshman
year in college as being an amazing business woman and
community leader. When asked what Liz valued most
about Delta Kappa Gamma, she quickly described how
the camaraderie with leaders at state had added an element of joy to her life. She added that she treasured the
opportunity to maintain friendships with Eta Zeta Chapter members. Liz also shared that she valued the opportunities to meet and share with educators from all over the
world through Delta Kappa Gamma events and projects.
What many people may not know about Liz is
that she is a person is constantly seeking to learn. Currently, in her retirement she is taking six to nine hours a
semester of classes at Richland Junior College. She is
learning to trace her family ancestry by studying Genealogy and she seeking to improve her computer literacy by
taking classes to become adept at the use of different
software. Liz volunteers to help as a volunteer for the
Emeritus Conversation classes offered to international
students. She helps to facilitate two to five students once
a week in conversations in English and, at times, she has
helped to facilitate reading sessions. The participants are
from a variety of different countries around the world
and she describes the experience as being like working
at the United Nations.

Liz Taheri is originally from Ohio. She was born

in Dayton, Ohio and spent her formative years in Seaman, Ohio. She was born to a family of six children and
she lived two miles out of town on a farm as a child. She
attended elementary through high school in Seaman,
Ohio and upon graduation from high school enrolled in
Moorehead University near Lexington, Kentucky. Liz
was interested in becoming an architect; however,
changed her major to music after realizing she did not
have some of the required prerequisites for architecture.
Undaunted, she pursued an education in music until she
realized her true calling was in elementary education. Liz
earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and
went on to earn a Master of Science degree in Education.
Liz held several interesting jobs as she was
working to pay for her college education. She worked at
a bank between high school and college entering data for
the bank. She also worked for the Cinncinati Symphony
for one year and then went to work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a time. Lizs first job in education was in Batesville, Indiana where she taught
everything but P.E. she recalls. After two years Liz
moved to Morris Hills, Indiana where she taught for
twelve years. Liz taught first grade through eighth grade
during her twelve years in Morris Hills.

What a treasure and inspiration Elizabeth Liz

Taheri is to Eta Zeta Chapter! We are so blessed to have
her as one of our friends and chapter members. Her creativity, energy, and intelligence is contagious. Thank you
Liz for being a member of Eta Zeta.
With love and respect,
Eta Zeta Chapter

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Southwest Regional Convention

By Joanne Szalay

Dear Area 9 Members,

No housekeeping.

No phone calls.
No emails.
No lists.
Its three days of all about YOU.
Attend society workshops to get the
latest, most updated information.
Attend as many personal interest
sessions as you can squeeze in.
Hang out with your friends.
Meet new people.
Shop.
More shopping.
Three days of friends, fun, facts,
food, and festivities.
Thats whats so great about
convention!
Where?

When?
Why?
See you there?
Espero que s! (I hope so!)

Delta Kappa Gamma International is

divided into five regions. They are
Southeast, Southwest, Northeast,
Northwest, and European. Texas is part
of the Southwest Region. Regional
conventions are held in alternate years
from the International Convention.
The 2015 Southwest Regional
Conference will be held this year from
July 22, 2015 until July 25, 2015 in
Wichita, Kansas. The conference
headquarters will be at the Hyatt
Regency Hotel.
The Southwest Region includes
countries, states, and areas. There are 22
entities represented within the
Southwest Region of Delta Kappa
Gamma International. They are Arizona,
Baja California, California, Colorado,
Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala,
Hawaii, Jalisco, Japan, Kansas, Mexico
D.F., Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico,
Nuevo Leon, Oklahoma, Panama, Puebla,
San Luis Potosi, Texas, Utah. Each of
these entities will be represented at the
Southwest Regional Convention.

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Delta Kappa Gamma Society International

Eta Zeta Chapter Meeting

Minutes
March 2, 2015
The welcome was given and the meeting was called to order at 6:10 p.m. by President Sandra
Foster Brown.
Leigh Taylor, our technology guide, displayed DKG website addresses on the overhead screen.
Vice President Mary Bixler introduced the program, the members of the panel, and the facilitators. Members donated bags/purses that were on each table. The bags were filled with items
that teachers can use, a chapter brochure, and a pertinent question about DKG. When a panel
member asked, Whats In Your Bag: Got DKG? the facilitators told what were in their bags,
and read the question that was in their bags. Members used their technical devices to go to the
appropriate DKG websites to find the answers to the questions. This activity was very informative. The bags will be donated to new teachers and teachers who have taught five years
or less.

President Sandra Foster Brown presented tokens of appreciation to the participants.

President Sandra Foster Brown called the business meeting to order at 7:20. The agenda was
approved by consensus.
Sharon Kraus led us with a musical selection, The Alphabet Song. Beverly Leonard read an
inspirational poem entitled, Children Must be Taught.
Evelyn Hamilton gave the Communications and Publicity Report. Every chairperson must
submit a picture and a short bio to Aundrea Wright Young, our Communications Chair.
Leigh Taylor gave the Treasurers Report. We have a balance of $2,654.92 in our Checking
Account, $1202.68 in our Savings Account, and $348.36 in our PayPal Account. She is collecting money from those who are planning on attending our Spring Luncheon on March 28,
2015. The cost is $25.00.
Mary Bixler is collecting mentor forms.
Heather Hawthorne passed out a form to collect the names of any members who have
published a book.
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Joanne Szalay presented the Amenities Report. New members introduced themselves.
Evelyn Hamilton passed the Annie Calling list around so that names could be added to it.
This is a list of inactive members. The committee wants inactive members to know that Eta
Zeta Chapter loves and cares about them.
Sharon Kraus collected $37 for ASTEF.
Presidents Remarks:
President Sandra Foster Brown spoke about the upcoming 86th Texas State Convention that
will take place June 25-27, 2015 in San Antonio. She reminded members that they must have
their membership number to log in. She stated that new members who will attend the convention will need a convention bag. If there are members who have attended before they may
give new members a bag.
Members are asked to collect school supplies for the Boys and Girls Club in San Antonio.
President Sandra Foster Brown is in need of three actors for our next meeting. The script will
be provided. Three members volunteered.
Norma Matthews and Joanne Szalay will be honored at the Spring Luncheon as 25 Year as
members of DKG. The theme for the event is Hats off to DKG. Hats may be worn. Mary
Bixler will bring several hats to be placed on our table.
Mary Bixler gave details about the meetings held by Toast Masters.
The Chapter will donate $25 to ASTEF in memory of Aleene Van de Grift. The motion was
made by Norma Matthews and seconded by Joanne Szalay.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

The Delta Kappa Gamma Song was sung.

Respectfully submitted,
Beverly Leonard

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