THE DELTA KAPPA GAMMA SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL

BETA ZETA BUZZ

January 2011
Volume 19, Issue 4
Editor Jerrie Dooley
jemdooley@austin.rr.com

Meeting: FREDERICKSBURG, TEXAS

Monday, January 24
4:00 p.m. - Social
4:20 p.m.- Meeting
President's Message
Fredericksburg Elementary
School Library
Love Is in the Air!

Hostesses: I know, I know – it’s not February yet, so I won’t

Delores Klussmann* write about Valentine’s Day, but have you noticed a trend
Tammy Vitek in our Beta Zeta programs this year? They’re about LOVE
Sherry Hanna – for our world, our loved ones, ourselves, and even
Joyce Smith people we do not know!
MISSION STATEMENT
Elena Howard
Margaret Bierschwale The Delta Kappa
We began with Zumba for our bodies, inside and
Donna Itz Gamma Society
out, and then we brought new sisters into our fold. We
Vondell Jordan International promotes
learned about the university in our community striving to
Emily Bierschwale professional and
train student teachers, many of them second-career moms.
We ate together, sang, and were merry at Lindy’s home. personal growth of
Program: This month we learn about caregiving for loved ones, and women educators and
next month we’ll hear how we can make life better for excellence in education.
Aging with Grace-presented
by Special Olympians. Following that, we’ll see how we can VISION STATEMENT:
preserve the teaching heritage that we so love, and in April Leading women
Patrice Doerrie, HC Senior
Cares Coordinator we’ll learn about Green Living and keeping our Hill educators impacting
Country’s environment beautiful. education worldwide.
Purpose 3: To advance the
professional interest and position
of women in education.
We love -- sometimes with happy hearts,
sometimes with broken ones, and sometimes because we
Purpose 6: To stimulate the have to. Sometimes we’re bored in our love relationships, A delightful thank you
personal and professional growth and sometimes we’re tired. Often we love out of habit. note was received from
of members and to encourage
Sometimes we’re alone. the Boys and Girls club
their participation in appropriate staff and children for our
programs of action. donations this past year.
It’s hard to break away from lonely feelings. But
Service: Bring items for when we have had time to re-charge our batteries and find Excerpts appear on page
3 of the newsletter.
the Boys and Girls Club the strength and time to focus on others, something great
Thanks to everyone who
happens. Our own challenges seem smaller, and we live
Music: “Delta Kappa remembers to bring
Gamma Song”
for others. Our Beta Zeta sisters care about you and are
games, toys, supplies
here, even in the hard times, to work with you to make this
Beta Zeta website: and teaching items each
world a better place for everyone! What’s not to love about
http://betazeta.weebly.com month for these children.
that? Tammy Vitek, President
Thanks also for donations
State website:Monday’s Program---Aging with Grace .
Perhaps no situation presents a greater challenge as well as reward at Thanksgiving
than to bring
www.alphastatetexas.org
taking the role of caregiver to an aging parent, spouse, or other loved one. In happiness to a needy
International website: family.
addition, we each face changes brought on by our own aging. At our January
www.deltakappagamma.org
meeting, our program will be on “Aging with Grace”.
Our speaker, Patrice Doerrie, is the Senior Cares Coordinator for the Hill
Country. She will be talking about how we personally handle aging and how we can
assist our aging loved ones. She will also be telling us about all the resources that
are available here in the hill country to assist our senior citizens and caregivers.
Patrice is a former Texas public school teacher and a TCU graduate. (Her
mother was a Delta Kappa Gamma girl!) She's worked in non-profit organizations
most of her adult life. She also ran two literacy programs in Dallas before moving to
Kerrville.
BETA ZETA BUZZ
Lucille is shown here at the
November meeting sharing
her memories of the early
work getting a University
Center established in
Fredericksburg.
Winter
Page 2
Lucille—Recognized Far and
Wide
What a treat to open the San Antonio Express
News on Dec. 28th and see Lucille Rochs peeking out from
the bottom of page one! The caption said it all, “No
Slowing Down—Former S.A. teacher Lucille Rochs has
been a Fredericksburg community leader in her
‘retirement’ years”. Directed to the Metro section, the
reader is treated to pictures and a wonderful story on the
impact our own Lucille has made in both San Antonio and
Fredericksburg.
The article chronicles her past work at Edgewood
and Northeast ISDs, San Antonio College and Sul Ross
University as well as her past and continuing leadership
here at our hospital, the Child Welfare Board, the
University Center, City Council, the Needs Council,
Golden Hub, and the list goes on. Lucille has always had
a knack for seeing a need and translating it into a viable
solution to meet that need. Her giving nature is
unparalleled in our community.
If you missed the article in the SA paper, click here
to read it in full:
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/state/article/At-95-
January February
Carolyn Otto - 2 Tammy Vitek - 3
Cheryl Moore-2 Helen Weiss - 4
Beverly Harrell - 4 Catherine Davis - 17
Donna Itz - 6 Vondell Jordan - 25
Debby Hardin - 6
Jane Nielsen - 19
Glenda Fritz - 28
Edition of Lone
Carolyn Star -News
Kuhlmann 28 Online
Winter Lone Star News Online
 Beta Zeta’s Joanne Davis, State Editor/Photographer, has done a fabulous job
on the winter edition of Lone Star News now posted on the Texas State DKG website
at http://www.alphastatetexas.org/lonestarnews/winter2010.pdf. Sixteen color pages
are filled with great news, program ideas, convention info, and much more. Thanks so
much for all your work on the Lone Star News, Joanne.
Click on this link and check out these items:
• Scholarships-- deadline is March 1 for member scholarships and grants as well
as aspiring educator scholarships.
• Capital Rally—Feb 3. DKG members will visit their state representatives and
senators to discuss current issues.
• Conference information and activities at state level of DKG. Read it today!

Thoughts from our Young Friends at the Boys and Girls Club
(Excerpts from a Thank You Note to Beta Zeta)

 We want to say “Thank You”. We wish you a Merry Christmas. We love our club and teachers
and games and. . .I think we should say thank you three more times. (3rd grader)
Thank you, thank you, thank you from the members, staff, and board of the
Boys and Girls Club of Fredericksburg.

Questions and answers:

 Why do we give presents? “Because Jesus was a present to Mary and Joseph. . .that started it
all.” (5th grader)
 Where was the first Christmas? “I am not sure, but it was far away. There were lots of animals,
a donkey, sheep and a dog. Oh wait, I don’t think there was a dog. I think it was a cat. (really
concentrating) Yeah, it was a cat.” (3rd grader)
 Why do we celebrate Christmas? “Because Christ was born. Christ is part of Christmas. See
C-h-r-i-s-t is first, then m-a-s. I’m not sure why they added mas, but it’s about Christ.” (4th
grader.)
 If you could ask the donors a question, what would you want to know? “Where do they live and
can they come play with us?” “Do you like to play outside? Can you run fast?” “Do they wear
glasses? You have to be careful outside not to break your glasses.” “Would they like to come
read to us? We can read to them!” “I hope they have a Merry Christmas and get to eat turkey
and pumpkin pie.”

From a 2nd grader: “I think we should have a big party for the people who give money to the club
because I think they work so hard for enough money for their kids and us too. I think they are tired and I
think it would make them happy like they make us.” And the planning began. .. the kids were so
animated and full of excitement thinking at what would make you happy! ……………..Enjoy your party:
Invitation: “A big heart, a picture of baby Jesus and a peace sign.” Decorations: “A cake in the middle
of the room. It will be dark when they come and we will yell SURPRISE and throw confetti. They will
love that.” Music: “Fiesta music. . .but slow. Deck the Halls—my mom likes that one and she’s older.”
Food: “Pizza, ice cream and tropical punch. Chocolate chip cookies, a chocolate chip cake, apple
juice, water. and chocolate chip cup cakes.” Entertainment: “They are grownups like our parents, right?
Then they want to see things we made and what we learned and that we eat healthy snacks and do our
homework. They like that. It makes them smile.” Dress code: “Very fancy, with flowers and real poufy.
The donors should dress like Princes and Princesses.” Party favors: “We can have a big box and they
can crawl inside and choose a prize that we made. Give them stars they can put on their trees.”
What a wonderful party!
 Beta Zeta closed out 2010 with a November meeting and a December Christmas party.

In November, members learned about the Hill Country University Center and higher education
opportunities in Fredericksburg. Member Jerrie Dooley who is the admissions advisor at Texas Tech at
Fredericksburg presented the program and led the tour of the new building that houses TTU, ACC, and
Concordia. The Beta Zeta scholarship recipient, Noel Ottmers Clark was presented. She graduated
from Texas Tech 2 weeks after the meeting and now holds EC-6 and ESL certification.

In December, Lindy Haley’s beautiful historic home was the setting for the Christmas party.
Members enjoyed tasty treats and lively conversation. Tammy Vitek provided the music on piano for the
sing-along that has become a Beta Zeta holiday tradition.
 The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International
Beta Zeta Chapter Minutes
November 22, 2010
Meeting was called to order by President Tammy Vitek and she thanked Jerrie Dooley,
Texas Tech Admissions Advisor and Hill Country University Center for hosting the meeting.
During the business meeting an inspiration was given by Janie Immel. Guests were
introduced and included our Beta Zeta Scholarship recipient, Nicole Ottmers-Clarke, and her
four children. Nicole had 6 days left of student teaching in Harper Elementary and was
scheduled to graduate Dec. 18 from Texas Tech. Thank you to hostesses Karen Loeffler,
Elizabeth Bispo, Helen Usener, Suzanne Wessels, Jo Dodd, Lindy Haley, Rita Travis, and
Linda Runkel.
Minutes were approved as attached to newsletter for October 25, 2010 meeting. Tisha
Clements filed Treasurer’s Report for audit; there is a balance of $1,437.46. Janet Hext read a
thank you note from Linda Runkel. Jo Dodd of Personal Growth and Services Committee
thanked members for contributing to help family for Thanksgiving and donating to Boys and
Girls Club. Communications Chair, Jerrie Dooley, asked members to send articles for
newsletter and is looking for book reviews. Janet Hext reported that 36 members were in
attendance at the new Hill Country University Center. Lucille Rochs distributed pamphlet from
Alpha State with legislator contacts and encouraged us to go to Capital Day with Delta Kappa
Gamma February 3rd. Karen Loeffler reminded us that Lindy Haley would host December 13th
Christmas Party in her historic home.
New Business- Catherine Davis is looking for our Charter. (She reported at December
gathering that it had been found.)
A blessing prayer was given by Catherine Davis, and we closed business meeting with
a song led by Lindy Haley.
Jerrie Dooley led a tour of the Hill Country University Center as our program.

Respectfully submitted,

Amy O’Neil, Secretary

Tammy Vitek, President