Delta Kappa Gamma Society International
“The Alpha Tau Talk”
“Leading Women Educators Impacting Education Worldwide,
Honor, Learn, Lead through DKG
2020-2022 International Theme
www.dkg.org –International www.dkgmissouri.com–State
Myrna Walker—Newsletter Editor
myrnaLwalker@gmail.com
Wow!! I
started
Karen’s Korner out my
article in
July with
the line, “Can things get any crazier?!!” I think we have
our answer. More Corona, more uncertainty, more
craziness! But we will persevere!
We demonstrated flexibility in our September
meeting. We changed locations, changed meal options,
had the meeting available on Zoom, and managed to
install the 2020-2022 officers and induct our newest
member, Betty Glasgow.
We are looking at plans for the Annual Scholarship
Auction in November. The Music Committee of Magda
Neill, Karla Spear, Sharon Westfall, and Rose Mary
Owens will be hosting a live auction. Also, we are
looking at items such as food, gift cards, supplies that
can be used. According to the bylaws, each member is
to bring an item(s) that is (are) of $10.00 value for the
auction. If you are unable to attend, you should send
$15.00 for the auction.
Also, a short program will be presented by the
scholarship committee: Jessie Sergent, Jessie Gray,
and Christa Rowland. The meeting will be on
November 14, 2020 at Halfway Schools Library at
9:30. There will be a virtual element, either Zoom or
Google Meet. More details will be shared as the time
draws closer. I am trying to come up with a plan that
would allow those participating virtually to take active
part in the auction. These funds support our local
scholarship and our grants-in-aid fund. Plus, this is a
fun event and our participation is what makes it fun.
Let’s demonstrate our fortitude and make this one of
the best ever!
I closed our meeting in September with the quote—
”Kind words are like honey--enjoyable and healthful.”
My thoughts for all of you are joy, good health, and
kindness to yourselves and to each other.
I hope to see many of you in November!
Karen
Volume 4, Issue 3
Fall, 2020 p. 1
Next Meeting Information
Alpha Tau Chapter will meet at 9:30 a.m. at
Halfway Schools Library on Saturday,
November 14, 2020. The cost of this
Continental Breakfast will only be $5. Checks
should be made to Alpha Tau. If you are unable
to attend, you must please send e-mailed or
written regrets to:
Karla Spear
2371 E. 368th
Louisburg, MO 65685
spearkarla@gmail.com 417-399-8959
by 2 pm on Wednesday, November 11th.
It is Alpha Tau’s policy that you must pay for the
meal if you do not send regrets in the allotted time.
Our program? Silent Auction! Please bring 2-3
items to auction off for scholarships/grants-in-
aid. If you cannot attend, please send a check for
$15 with written regrets or to Cay Sergent, our
treasurer, at 4169 S 243rd
Halfway, MO 65663
*We will also update service pins for those
earning them every five years. Please bring yours
to turn back in.
Announcement!!! There will be a door prize
for those in attendance! Also, denim is the
suggested dress code for this meeting!
IN THIS ISSUE
President’s Message------------------------------- p. 1
Next Meeting Information ----------------------- p. 1
Previous Meeting Information ------------------p. 2
Alpha Tau’s Officers------------------------------- p. 2
Looking Ahead------------------------------------- p. 2
Sister Personal/Professional News ----------- p. 3
Spotlight on Education --------------------------- p. 3
From a Covid-19 Survivor------------------------p. 4
Upcoming Conferences ---------------------------p. 4
Legal Brief -------------------------------------------p. 4
New Committee Assignments------------------- p. 5
There’s an App for That!--------------------------p. 5
Zooming ---------------------------------------------p. 6
Sister Chat--------------------------------------------p. 7
2020-2021 Budget---------------------------------- p. 8
 Delta Kappa Gamma Society International
The Alpha Tau Talk
Fall, 2020 p. 2
Alpha Tau Officers for 2020-2022
President—Karen Gorden
First Vice-President—Karla Spear
Second Vice-President—Kay Otterness
Secretary—Sarah Oglesbee
Treasurer—Cay Sergent
Parliamentarian—Debra Agee
Immediate Past President—Myrna Walker
Looking Ahead to our Meetings
As far as we know now, here are the dates of
our meetings for this biennium. The starting
time will be 9:30 a.m. Locations and cost of
meal are to be decided at a later point in time.
November 14, 2020-----Halfway Schools Library
Silent Auction
Wear denim!
February 13, 2021---World Fellowship Offering
April 10, 2021 ---------------Award Scholarships
September 11, 2021 ------------------
November 13, 2021---------------Silent Auction
Wear denim!
February 12, 2022-- World Fellowship Offering
Vote on New Officers
April 9, 2022-------------------Install New Officers
Award Scholarships
Something you need to know?
Look it up at
alphataumo.weebly.com !
The password for our yearbook
under Resources is dkgalphatau
If You Missed the September Meeting . . .
It was a meeting of FIRSTS! FIRST of all, you did not
have to pay for the “meal!” The September meeting was
held in the Halfway Elementary Library, and cinnamon
rolls, fruit salad, and juice were donated! Secondly, it
was our FIRST meeting to be “zoomed” to those who
wanted to take part in that way! How exciting is that?!
Look on page 6 for comments about zooming a meeting.
Skylar Mueller zoomed at our FIRST zoom meeting
and commented that it was very convenient and the
easiest way to social distance. She said, “We were able
to sign on easily, and could hear all speakers clearly.”
Eleven members were in attendance and three
additional members joined by Zoom. Laurie Whitlock
installed the 2020-2022 Alpha Tau officers. Members
shared a roll call by telling someone that they know
because of their involvement in Alpha Tau.
Treasurer Cay Sergent presented the budget for
this biennium (see p. 7) and the Financial Report. This
report showed that we have a balance of $4455.93 in
the bank, with $1905 in Grants-in-Aid and $2980 in our
Scholarship Fund. Obviously, we need to get busy and
give some money away to some deserving ladies!
It was also a FIRST meeting for our new member,
Betty Glasgow (see picture below). Betty is the
Coordinator for BoMo works apprenticeship and A+,
senior seminar, and health at Bolivar High School and
we welcome her into Alpha Tau!
President Karen read a Thank You from Kassidy
Owens for the Grants-in-Aid Scholarship she received,
and she also presented the purposes of DKG.
Discussion was then held as to changes of format and
location of future meetings due to Covid-19, especially
the November meeting. The Auction Committee will
decide details. The DKG Song ended the meeting.
Betty Glasgow, our new member, is inducted by V-P
Karla and Pres. Karen at the September meeting.
 Delta Kappa Gamma Society International
The Alpha Tau Talk
Fall, 2020 p. 3
SISTER FUN NEWS
*Evonne Miner and husband Bob are
building a home in Fair Grove--their second
one in three years. She says, “We aren’t very
bright, are we (lol)!” Their previous home
sold quickly and they were left without a
home. So they were thankful when their
youngest (Drake) invited them to stay with
him for 2 to 3 months until the new house is
completed. Drake is working on 2 graduate
degrees at MSU. Wow!!! Evonne says she
is worried they might be cramping his style!
This editor thinks it might go either way!!
*This is in no way fun news, but one of our
charter members, Rose Mary Owens, was in
the hospital for nearly 3 weeks during July and
August for total dehydration. At least part, if
not all, of that time, she was in the ICU. She
says it was one of the worst experiences of her
life! We are so sorry we did not know about
this! She is still in therapy, so keep her in your
prayers.
Covid-19 and Children’s Rights
Continuing with our Legal Brief from p. 4,
the article states that recommendations to
protect our children’s rights during this
pandemic include that governments and
schools should:
*prioritize efforts to continue education for
all children and make it accessible to all, using
all available technology.
*consider providing targeting funding in
under-resourced areas.
*focus on making less severe the unfair
effects on children who already experience
barriers accessing education or who are at
higher risk of being excluded.
*track the numbers of children affected by
school closures and also track the number and
gender of children returning, and develop
strategies to prevent disparities.
*take all possible measures to provide the
fastest and broadest possible internet service
for all children to ensure their right to
education.
*immediately end internet shutdowns.
(continued in the next column)
(Co-vid-19, cont. from Column 1)
*adopt strategies to address the impacts of school
closures on children’s learning (recover contact hours lost,
adjust calendars, ensure fair compensation)
*prepare for immediate steps to get children back in
school once the pandemic ends.
*ensure that any Ed Tech they select protects privacy
rights.
*include data privacy clauses in contracts with Ed Tech
providers to protect any data collected during this time
from misuse.
*institute data protection laws over the longer term.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/04/09/covid-19-and-
childrens-rights
Spotlight on Education
On October 7th, just days after being released from
quarantine from his experience with Covid-19, Missouri
Governor Mike Parson released an economic and budget
update. It revealed plans to release millions of dollars to
services, including education.
The funding included over $133 million to support
critical services in several areas, including $95 million in
CARES Act funding and $40 million in general revenue. But
what was even more exciting to educators was that nearly
$100 million of the monies is going to the state’s education
system, with more than $61.5 million in CARES Act funds
specifically dedicated to K-12 schools.
The rest of the CARES Act and general revenue funds
will support areas such as assisted living, child care
providers, independent living centers, senior citizens,
building infrastructure, and serving military communities.
The CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
Security Act) was signed into law March 27th of this year,
and has a goal of providing fast and direct economic
assistance for American workers, families, and small
businesses, as well as preserving jobs for American
industries.
https://fox4kc.com/news/gov-parson-releases-millions-of-
dollars-for-missouris-education-system/
“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but
you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
—Maya Angelou
 Delta Kappa Gamma Society International
The Alpha Tau Talk
Fall, 2020 p. 4
SISTER PROFESSIONAL NEWS
*Cay Sergent has agreed to serve on the
International Membership Committee. Thank
you for your service, Cay!
*Myrna Walker is chair of the State
Communications Committee for this biennium.
*Faye Peters and Cay Sergent are on the
State Advisory Committee.
From a Covid-19 Survivor
To wear a mask, or not to wear one—that is
the question. Well, after my experience with
Covid, I vote yes. If it will help in any way, it is
worth the inconvenience for me now.
I was just helping out my church by dropping
off food, but I decided to stay for lunch too. No
mask. I sat at my pastor’s table. Who should be
safer than a pastor? But unbeknownst to him,
he had been exposed by his high school age son,
and thus it started, and our whole table came
down with it, as well as about 50 people from
our church before it was all said and done.
Some had mild symptoms, but at least four,
counting me, ended up in the hospital. My
symptoms lasted for three weeks and included
horrible body aches/cramps, headache that no
pain meds could stop, nausea, diarrhea, loss of
appetite, extreme fatigue, loss of 10 pounds
(yeah!), insomnia, and general discomfort.
These symptoms don’t sound that bad, and I
am so grateful that I didn’t get respiratory
symptoms, but when you have them for three
weeks, they are BAD! The prescription the
doctor gave for nausea didn’t really seem to
help.
The hospital stay was for dehydration and
low potassium, and that’s a whole new story
because the nurses really don’t want to take
care of a Covid patient due to having to put on a
heavy plastic gown and “gas” masks. But they
were kind when I saw them. I also had to share
an ICU room not equipped for two and only had
a porta-potty. If a nurse ever offers to give you
melatonin for insomnia, refuse. It does not
work. Ask for stronger stuff.
So, here I am at six weeks out, and still
battling a headache. But life is good in general.
My advice to you? Wear a mask. It can’t hurt!
Myrna Walker
Upcoming Conferences:
**April 16-18, 2021--Missouri State Convention-
Adams Pointe Conference & Courtyard Marriott
1400 NE Coronado Drive,
Blue Springs, MO
Legal Brief
The crisis of Covid-19 has brought up the legal issue
of children’s rights. Children who contract the virus
appear to have less severe symptoms and lower
mortality rates, but in many other ways, the pandemic
is having a devastating effect on them.
More than 1.5 billion students in 188 countries
were out of school on April 9, representing over 91%
of the world’s student population, and widespread job
and income loss are likely to increase rates of child
labor, sexual exploitation, teen pregnancy and child
marriage. Family stress, particularly while
quarantined, may increase violence in the home. As the
global death rate rises, so does the number of orphans
and the possibility of abuse.
The crisis has exposed large disparities in countries’
emergency preparedness, internet access, and
availability of learning materials. For many children,
Covid-19 will mean limited or no education, or falling
further behind their peers. School closures also mean
a loss of stability and normalcy, including meals, key
health services, and information.
In fact, nearly half of the world’s schoolchildren
(310 million) have relied on their school for a daily
meal. Nearly half of the world has no access to the
internet, although much focus has turned to online
learning. In the US, 1 in 5 school-aged children don’t
have access to a computer or high-speed internet at
home.
School closures have affected children unfairly who
have already experienced barriers, such as those with
disabilities, students in remote locations, refugees, and
those whose families have lost income as a result of job
cuts.
Another concern is data privacy. Children’s
education data is far less protected than health data,
although it reveals home addresses, behaviors, and
other details that can harm children when misused.
So, what can we do to protect children’s rights
during and after Covid-19? See recommendations in
Covid-19 and Children’s Rights on p. 3.
 Delta Kappa Gamma Society International
Alpha Tau Chapter
Fall, 2020 p. 5

New Committee Assignments Committee Assignments Cont.

for 2020-2022 Finance and Auditing:
Educational Excellence: (Responsible for Myrna Walker—Past President
helping president plan) Cay Sergent—Treasurer
Karla Spear, Chair—1st VP Karen Gorden—President
Joann Brown—Personal Growth Chair Sarah Oglesbee—Secretary
Rhonda V. Agee—Professional Affairs Chair Scholarships/Grants-in-Aid
Evonne Miner—Research Chair Jessica Sergent, Chair
Magda Neill—Music Chair Jessica Gray
Personal Growth and Services (Responsible for Christa Rowland
September Programs) Hospitality and Cheer
Joann Brown, Chair Sarah Oglesbee, Chair—Secretary
Debby Dryer Debby Dryer
Carol Huser Rita Legan
Pat Dickens Nominations (Responsible for submitting a slate of
Professional Affairs (Responsible for 1st officers in 2nd February and Installation of
February Program) officers)
Rhonda V. Agee, Chair Karla Spear, Chair
Betty Glasgow Sue King
Debra Agee Erin Butler
Projects (Responsible for 2nd February Program, Kenna Presley
World Fellowship, Schools in Africa, and SEE) Webmaster
Faye Peters, Chair Myrna Walker
Skylar Mueller Please see detailed job descriptions on our website
Beverly Jenkins under Committees—alphataumo.weebly.com
Music (Responsible for Silent Auction/November
Program and music in meetings) More “There’s an App for That!”
Magda Neill, Chair eduClipper: a Pinterest site, but all education
Karla Spear eQuizzer: allows teachers or students to make and
Sharon Westfall take online quizzes
Rose Mary Owens Evernote: a note-taking program that will sync
Research (Responsible for April Meetings) between all devices
Evonne Miner, Chair Fur.ly: you can put in multiple URLS and it will
Eva Marie Glor combine them into one URL so you can go from
Michelle Sechler one to the other without changing URLs
Membership (Responsible for Induction of Glogster: free version or a free 7 day trial for a paid
Members) version; you can take pictures and text to make
Kay Otterness, Chair –2nd VP into a poster; grades 3-12
Karla Spear Internet 4 Classrooms: a cornucopia of websites
Laurie Whitlock that will help with anything you are teaching
Chapter Rules Linoit: allows you to make a bulletin board of post-it
Debra Agee, Chair—Parliamentarian notes and pictures; syncs across devices; great for
Jenny Griffith—Past President a to-do list
Vanessa Maze—Past President LiveBinders: great for making an e-portfolio or
Faye Peters—Past State President finding activities; you can add pdfs of notes or
Communications—(Responsible for Newsletter) websites into a folder; you can also search for
Myrna Walker, Chair other people’s live binders or make your own;
Rhonda V. Agee grades 3-12
 Delta Kappa Gamma Society International
Alpha Tau Chapter
Fall, 2020 p. 6
Sister Chat
This issue the sister we highlight is Magda Neill.
She is only 68, lives in Bolivar, and is married to Joe
L. Neill. She spent 30 years as a teacher and after she
retired from TEACHING, she spent 14 MORE years as
a Registrar at Bolivar Intermediate before REALLY
retiring.
As far as education, Magda earned a BA and then
her Masters (plus 30). Although she is certified in
elementary education, she is also certified in Art K-8
and Social Studies K-8, so her first teaching job was at
Humansville teaching 8th grade American History,10th
grade World History, 7th-8th Art, and supervising Art
K-6—an example of why many quit after the 1st year!
The next three years she taught 4th grade at
Wheatland, then taught two years in 6th grade at
Pleasant Hope. Her first three years in Bolivar were
in 2nd grade and the remaining 21 years were
teaching 4th grade. What a variety of experiences this
woman has had!
Magda has been in DKG for 36 years, and has held
every office, with the exception of Treasurer. She has
always loved to read and has been practicing Yoga for
many years. She has recently started hand quilting
with a group at her church. She has purchased a new
sewing machine and is doing a bit of sewing too! She
loves to sing in her church choir, and she plays
Mexican Train dominoes and Canasta with friends.
One thing that is different in DKG from when she
joined is that there used to be twice as many
(cont. in column 2)
Magda
Neill—
Wife,
Retired
teacher,
friend
to all
Zooming a Meeting
Have you zoomed yet? This editor has had a
chance to live-stream and to zoom, and has decided
she likes live-streaming best. Why? You can live-
stream in your pajamas, and no one knows what
you look like! That’s the pro side. But on the con
side, the only way to participate is to write in
comments.
In a zoom meeting, everyone can see you AND
hear you, so that can be both a pro and a con. It is
much more like being at the meeting—for everyone
involved. What this editor did not like about this
was you do not realize how, shall we say, awful you
can look until you watch yourself throughout a
whole meeting! Why did someone not tell you
earlier in life that your facial expressions were so
weird? Is it too late to try to change them??!!! This
was a little disconcerting and distracting from the
meeting. This editor had to keep pulling herself
back to the meeting and away from her awful
expressions. At least you don’t have that in live-
streaming.
How do you zoom (join a meeting by zooming)?
You have to be invited by an e-mail to the meeting,
and you simply click on the link on your phone or
computer.
As far as setting up a zoom meeting, President
Karen says it is not difficult to do at all. You can also
use Google Meet, as it is equally as easy as Zoom.
You just go to the app and it will direct you how to
start a meeting. You must have the e-mail
addresses of all of the guests you want to invite to
the meeting however.
This could be a great tool for Alpha Tau to use in
the future! Three or four of our members were
able to zoom for our September meeting!
Magda, from Column 1
members and things tended to be more formal in
the past. Technology and paperwork seem to be
the biggest changes in education—more of both!
Would she choose teaching as a career again?
To be honest, she says, she is not sure. There
were not as many career opportunities for
women 50 years ago, but she is not sorry that she
taught. She has enjoyed her teaching career, all
things considered.
 Delta Kappa Gamma Society International
Alpha Tau Chapter
Fall, 2020 p. 7

Proposed Budget for 2020-2021 by Cay Sergent, Treasurer