Nov.-Dec.

2011 Volume 20, Issue 3

Editor Jerrie Dooley
jemdooley@austin.rr.com

THE DELTA KAPPA GAMMA SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL

Meeting:
Monday, November 28, 2011 F 4 p.m. Social 4:20 p.m. - Meeting Fredericksburg Elem. School Library

BETA ZETA BUZZ

FREDERICKSBURG, TEXAS

Mission statement: The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International promotes professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education. Vision statement: Leading women educators impacting education worldwide.

Hostesses:
Carolyn Otto- Lead Joanne Davis Donna Itz Mollye Long Eileen Whited Sue Higginbotham Abban Lastovica
See page 3 for December hostesses.

Presidents Message Common Denominators

This month, we will learn about the Hill Country Community Needs Council and how we Beta Zetas can help the council serve its purpose. Not only that! We will learn how we can help the Food 4 Kids program, the Boys and Girls Club, the Academic Boosters Mentoring program, Special Olympics and more! The vision or mission statements of these programs are varied, but they have common denominators: With loving hearts and helping hands, the Needs Council identifies, establishes and administers services that address the basic unmet needs of people in Gillespie County. Food 4 Kids: Children, who are identified by local school counselors as needing supplemental food, are provided with nutritional snacks on weekends. Boys and Girls Club of the Texas Hill Countrys mission is to empower all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as responsible, caring, productive citizens. Helping + Children + with Needs. We Beta Zetas can be part of the equation that solves the problems of needy children. Just this week, one of my students and his siblings were taken from their parents. He was taken straight out of my classroom! What a shock it must have been to him! By the next morning, he was in a classroom in a different town. While he lived here, he received help weekly from the above programs, and I know that they made a difference in his life! They relieved him from hunger, they gave him a safe place after school, and they showed him what love is. Before my eyes he was growing and improving! He was beginning to bloom as a student! He was starting to believe in himself! I hope and pray that being plucked from his parents was for the best. I hope he will remember that he was loved by someone, and I can only hope that he and his siblings are in a loving place now. Helping + Children + with Needs. May Beta Zeta be known for these Common Denominators! Tammy Vitek, President

Program: It Takes a Whole Village. . . Serving Children of Fredericksburg Purposes:

Purpose 6: To stimulate the personal and professional growth of members and to encourage their participation in appropriate programs of action. Purpose 7: To inform the members of current economic, social, political and educational issues so that they may become effective members of a world society.

Service: Items for the

Boys and Girls Club, peanut butter for the Food Pantry, food items for Food 4 Kids program Delta Kappa Gamma Song meeting to the

Music:

Beta Zeta Website:

http://betazeta.weebly.com/

State website: www.alphastatetexas.org International website: www.deltakappagamma. org

November Meeting Join us for some post-Thanksgiving fellowship and a great program called: It Takes a Whole Village. . . Fredericksburg cares about our children and we show it in volunteer service in the community. Our main speaker will be Trish Torres from the Hill Country Needs Council who will speak on the Food 4 Kids program. See page 2 for more on this valuable program. Suggestions for items to bring for donation are attached. Janalee, Jerrie, Karen, Margaret and Evelyn will also inform us on other great volunteer opportunities to show our love for children.

BETA ZETA BUZZ

. Food 4 Kids
It is heart-breaking to think that some children in our community have little food to eat except for breakfasts and lunches at school. Its a long time between Friday lunch and Monday breakfast with little to eat. Recognizing the need to help children with food for the weekend, the Hill Country Needs Council developed Food 4 Kids. We will learn about this program at the November meeting from Trish Torres of the Needs Council. Currently 93 children are receiving weekly packages of nutritious snacks which are collected by volunteers, placed in bags and delivered to schools. Teachers and counselors identify the children, many of whom fend for themselves on weekends while their parents are working. The snacks collected are ready to eat with no can openers, stoves, or refrigeration needed. Bags of food are discreetly given to the children before they leave for the weekend. Lets donate to this important project at the November meeting. A special flyer with suggestions for appropriate items is attached to this newsletter. And theres more. . . Individual members already know the joy of participating in O.T.T.E.R, a reading program at FPS, mentoring at the other schools, working at Good Samaritan center, and other wonderful A causes. Come learn more about these at the November meeting!

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Tis the season to be giving. . .

Beta Zetas take seriously the African Proverb: It takes a whole village to raise a child, which is the title of Novembers program. The projects below are our way of making an impact on children in the community. At our November meeting, you will learn of a number of opportunities for service to children. Here is a new one and several of our ongoing service projects. We encourage members to get involved. Jo Dodd smiles as she readies a participant at the Special Olympics meet. All ages are included and allowed to shine on their special day.

Special Olympics
Beta Zetas participated for the first time last April in the area Special Olympics meet in Marble Falls. The joy on the faces of the special students, their families, and their teachers left all who participated saying Lets go back again! Many volunteers are needed to make the meet work. Wont you join us next April for a heart-warming experience? Stay tuned for details.

Boys and Girls Club

Beta Zeta members have been regular contributors to the B & G club for the past 4 years. We bring games, supplies, books, and prizes to each meeting throughout the year. Some members volunteer to tutor during Power Hour. The smiles on the childrens faces and their wonderful thank you notes are motivation to keep this project ongoing year after year. CHAPTER OFFICERS

November Marsha Weatherford-12 Abban Lastovica-20 December

Katie Shafford-20 Janalee Hannemann-26 January

Ann Pfeiffer-2 Olga Peacock-3 Marsha Pape-4 Sherry Hanna-5 Rita Travis-12 Margaret Bierschwale-18 Glendene Underwood-19
Suzanne Wessels-27 Eileen Whited-27

Carolyn Otto-2 Cheryl Moore-2 Beverly Harrell-4 Donna Itz-6

Glenda Fritz-28 Carolyn Kuhlmann-28

President Tammy Vitek 1st Vice President Karen Loeffler 2nd Vice President-Andrea Hudson Treasurer Tisha Clements Recording Secretary Amy ONeil Corresponding Secretary- Janet Hext Parliamentarian Jerrie Dooley

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Peanut--- Peanut Butter!

Sending out a call for peanut butter! A yummy treat, peanut butter is also a great source of protein in a form children rarely turn down. The Food Pantry is finding that the increased cost of peanut butter is making it impossible to buy it in bulk to distribute to their clients. Please bring a jar or two to the November meeting. (You can also make a donation and we will buy some more jars to donate.) Its one more way we can help the children of Fredericksburg. The Food Pantry is always in need of food and cash donations to help those families who need assistance with nourishing food for their families. Call them at 830-997-9383 to make a personal donation.

Lucille Rochs Honored for Dedication to Education

It is hard to think about education in Fredericksburg without our own Lucille coming to mind. To honor her work to bring higher education to our city, the Hill Country University Center board of directors has established the Lucille Rochs Scholarship Fund. Lucille is considered a driving force in bringing the Center here. She served on the original Higher Education Steering Committee and has maintained a supportive role throughout the 20+ years it took to make the University Center a reality. The initial goal is to raise $20,000 by Dec. 31st. Anyone who wants to honor Lucille with a contribution to this fund can mail their check to HCUC, 2818 E. US HWY 290, Ste.6, Fredericksburg, TX, 78624. HCUC is a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information on this Scholarship Fund, you may contact Bob Hickerson at 830-990-4968. Congratulations, Lucille!

Time to Start Planning!

Summer means conventions for DKG members. Will it be Las Colinas or New York City---or both?

Las Colinas Site of Texas Convention

Come join the fun at the 83 state convention of DKG on June 21-23 in Irving, TX. Joanne Davis will preside as state president. Reserve rooms now at the Omni Mandalay at http://omnihotels.com/FindAHotel/DallasMandala y/MeetingFacilities/DeltaKappaGammaSociety6.a spx. Registration starts after Christmas. Beta Zeta has had a strong presence at the conventions for the last 10 years. Participants also report a great time of learning, laughing, and bonding with DKG sisters from around the state. Says first-timer Helen Usener, Attending the Delta Kappa Gamma State Convention for the first time made me realize even more how special DKG is and made me feel especially proud to be a member. Las Colinas offers many interesting things to see and do. (Gondola ride, anyone?) Watch for more information in future newsletters.
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New York, New York!

DKG sisters from around the world will convene in the Big Apple for the 2012 International Convention to be held at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers in the heart of Manhattan on July 24-28. What an amazing opportunity to see the scope of DKG on the International Stage! Meet a sister from South America or a European country. Learn about education in a foreign country. Take in a Broadway matinee during free time. New York is a city like no other in the United States. Hotel reservations will be taken beginning December 1, and convention registration will start in January. Visit the International website at www.dkg.org. Click on Events, Conventions, Schedule at a Glance for preliminary information.

Check out the online only winter edition of the Lone Star News at http://www.alphastatetexas.org/lonestarnews/winter.2011.pdf for interesting stories and information. Dont miss page 16 for a story on the effect of the Bastrop fires on our DKG sisters and how the state organization responded to help them in their time of need.

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Welcome new members initiated in October!

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Posing with our chapter president, Tammy Vitek, (center) are Floye Burnett, Judy Mayo, Barbara Heinen, and Marsha Pape. We welcome you to this great sisterhood.

Left, Crystal Nixon Schoessow and Marian Nixon, daughter and daughter-in-law of our late member Louise Nixon are shown here with Eileen Whited and Beth Luckenbach. A ceremony was held prior to initiation to honor Louise. Center, members enjoy a yummy baked potato bar provided by the meeting hostesses. Right, Catherine Davis and Area VI coordinator, Elvira Barrera, take time to catch up on DKG happenings.
Cynthia Berkman will host the Beta Zeta Christmas Party at her lovely home at th 202 N.Cherry St.(corner of N. Cherry and W. Austin) on Monday, Dec. 19 at 5:00 p.m. (Please note this is a date and time change from that stated in the yearbook.) Hostesses will be Cynthia, Lead; Janie Immel, Debbie Klein, Leola Mills, Maria Robertson, Catherine Davis, Suzanne Wessels, Laurie Ward, and Judy Mayo. Everyone please come for food and fellowship. Bring food items, money or HEB gift cards for the food basket for a family in need. And tune up your voices. . . there will be singing! Dont forget Come to the November Meeting on Monday after Thanksgiving, 4:00 at the FES Library. Bring: Designated food items for Food 4 Kinds (see attachment), Jars of peanut butter for the Food Pantry, Items for Boys and Girls Club. Mark your calendar for the Christmas party on Monday, December 19, 5:00 p.m. at Cynthia Berkmans house, 202 N. Cherry, Fredericksburg. Bring items, money, or HEB gift cards for a food basket for a family in need. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Grant-in-Aid Update Our treasurer, Tisha, reports that we have raised $330.50 from our monthly drawings and Initiation dinner. Way to go, ladies! Just $169.50 left to our goal to fund this project.

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International BETA ZETA CHAPTER

Minutes of September 26, 2011 President Tammy Vitek called the meeting to order at 4:20PM. Karen Loeffler gave an inspiration based on Johnny Appleseed Day. She then led the Program Welcome Back to the Big Apple which was a scavenger hunt to find Beta Zeta sisters with certain characteristics. 2011-12 Budget was approved after committee made the motion to accept and Lucille Rochs seconded. New budget includes increase in State dues. Members were encouraged to pay their $73 dues or mail to Treasurer, Tisha Clements and donate $7.50 for fundraiser meal in October (which will also be Initiation). Nine members attended the June State Convention and several members gave reports from the McAllen Alpha State Convention where Beta Zeta sister, Joanne Davis, was installed as State President. Members were invited to the 2012 Alpha State Convention, which will be in Las Colinas (Irving-close to DFW airport). A thank you from Kim Baiza, our grant-in-aid recipient, was read by Janet Hext. Members were invited to attend the October 24 th meeting and Initiation at 6PM at the Presbyterian Church on N. Milam by Program Chairperson, Karen Loeffler. Carolyn Otto reminded members to visit our website at www.betazeta.weebly.com/. Members were informed that they may start making reservations on December 1st for the 2012 International Delta Kappa Gamma Convention to be held in New York City. Beta Zeta sister, Cynthia Berkman, has offered to host the Christmas Party. Thirty seven members and one guest attended the first meeting of the 2011-12 year. The meeting was closed with a song led by Lindy Haley, The Apple Song. Minutes recorded by Amy ONeil.