LAMBDA SIGMA NEWS

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International Texas State Organization Lambda Sigma Chapter Missouri City, Texas Volume 30, Number 6 February, 2012 Area IV, Number 282 President: Cathie Ritchie
critchie43@comcast.net

Editor: Barb Hansen

bjhansen@windstream.net

President's Message

Dear Lambda Sigma sisters, What a delightful time was had by all at our Saturday, January 7, meeting! Linda Russell planned a very informative meeting concerning our health and over all well-being at the Memorial Hermann HBU Wellness Center. The speakers were informative, our tour was interesting, the Zumba lesson was exhilarating, and our luncheon was delicious. A total good time! I hope you are planning on attending our next meeting on Wednesday, February 15, at Lexington Creek Elementary. Besides celebrating Lambda Sigmas birthday, we will be nominating new members and presenting the slate for new officers. I am certain there are numerous ladies you know who would benefit from Delta Kappa Gamma and make wonderful contributions to our organization. Please give it your attention and bring a nomination form to our meeting. We have concluded our Juvenile Detention Center and Dress for Success donation drive. Our donations were happily accepted by these organizations. They were thrilled with our generosity. We will now focus our attention on the Cinderella/ Cinderfella Project. More information will be given at our February meeting. It is time to make your plans to attend our Texas State Convention June 2123 at Las Colinas. I know this is going to be one of the best planned, beneficial, and enjoyable conventions we have had. Hotel rooms fill up quickly, so come prepared to sign up at our meeting. I can guarantee that you will enjoy it! Delta Kappa Gammas International Convention will take place in New York City on July 24-28. Besides a fabulous convention, amazing side tours are planned. Four of our sisters are already definitely attending. If you are interested, let us know at the February meeting. We have fabulous plans for the rest of this year. I hope to see you at each event. Fondly, Cathie Ritchie, President

The Delta Kappa Gamma Mission Statement The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International promotes professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education.

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February Business Meeting Wednesday, Feb. 15, 4:30 p.m. Lexington Creek Elementary Library
2335 Dulles Avenue, Missouri City 77459 Tel: 281-634-5007

Birthday Girls!

Come celebrate our Lambda Sigma Chapters birthday. Arrive between 4:154:30 and receive a delicious surprise. We will also be voting on our new officers for the upcoming two years. Hostesses Brenda LeBlanc Gless Jeannette Spain, Melissa Milligan, Janet Lavong

Jeannette Spain Shirley Renfrow Christi Chrisman Brenda Carter Brenda Gless Louise Nutzman Georgia Hicks Mignonette Underhill Ocie Whitaker Julie Gehring,

2/3 2/6 2/9 2/9 2/9 2/12 2/14

2/24
2/27 2/29

March meeting/Bunco Night This is your last chance to contact Linda Russell at 281-499-5885 or lrussel4@yahoo.com to volunteer your house for our March 2nd meeting and Bunco night. We'll need to have areas for 5-6 tables to seat 4 at each. There will be a sign-up sheet for appetizers, desserts and condiments for the mashed potato martinis. Sign-up sheet will be e-mailed out after the meeting to those who weren't able to attend.

January meeting at the Wellness Center

February Raffle Responsibility: Yearbook, Constitution/ByLaws/Legislation, Membership/Necrology

Chapter News
Ann Thompson and husband Randy attended a destination wedding in Puerto Vallarta during the first week in January. They stayed at a fabulous resort that was all inclusive and had breathtaking grounds! The wedding itself was on the island (Los Caletas) that was formerly owned by movie director John Huston who had no electricity! Everything was candlelight or Tiki torches. This led to a "little problem!" The two-year-old flower girl sat down on a rocky step and her large skirt draped over a votive candle and caught fire! The bride's very brave cousin started patting at the flames and throwing sand on the fire. The dress was removed immediately and the little girl was just fine. However, the netting on the dress melted onto the young man's hand and caused second degree burns! He was treated by the kitchen staff and by the next morning was in pretty good shape. Prior to the "fire" the highlight of the wedding was a parrot that flew from a hilltop with the wedding rings in a bag in his beak to the minister. He did fine with the bride's ring but when it was time for the groom's ring he flew halfway and then circled the altar and flew back to the trainer. They were told he was "night blind" and did not like to fly when it was getting dark. The trainer retrieved the bag and threw the ring to the minister and all was well! All in all, it was quite an adventure! Barb Hansen completed the Sugar Land USA Fit Marathon on Sunday, January 29, benefitting the Fort Bend Education Foundation. It was her third 26.2 mile race.

Brenda LeBlanc Gless and Janet Lavong have started a business called The Tutoring Cottage. The facility offers tutoring to children of all grade levels in all subjects. The Tutoring Cottage provides Certified Teachers who already tutor students a unique learning environment. This way, teachers who tutor no longer have to go to a students house or tutor students at their own home. We would love for you to come by any time and take a tour of The Tutoring Cottage. It is located at 3417 Skinner Lane in Richmond. If you know of a student who needs to be tutored or teachers that live in this area, Pecan Grove, Waterside, Richmond, or even Rosenberg, and would like to become a tutor, please spread the word!

Health Tip #1 It only takes a second to turn a plain jug of water into something much more exciting. Add a few handfuls of ice then try any one of these simple things: Add a few slices of fresh lemon or lime. Quarter an orange, squeeze in all of the juice, then toss in the squeezed quarters for color and extra flavor. Scrunch a handful of fresh mint in your hands to get the flavor going then add that to the jug with a squeeze of lemon or lime juice. If youre feeling a bit adventurous, add a few slices of cucumber or apple, too. Keep in the refrigerator and fill your water bottle often!

Delta Kappa Gamma

Lambda Sigma Chapter

Minutes for the Meeting Held on Saturday, January 7, 2012 Memorial Hermann HBU Wellness Center 9:30 a.m.
The meeting was called to order by President, Cathie Ritchie, at 9:40 a.m. She welcomed Barbara Anders, Area IV Coordinator, who visited our meeting. Barbara spoke to the group about the benefits of belonging to Delta Kappa Gamma and urged members to participate not only in chapter activities, but to attend conferences and conventions. Our State Convention will be held June 2123 at the Irving Convention Center in Las Colinas, Irving, Texas. Our Area Workshop will be held on August 11 in Victoria. Judy Wallis read an inspirational message from a health food book which motivated the group to strive for a healthy lifestyle with good food and exercise. Linda Russell, First Vice President, announced plans for our Bunco Night to be held on March 8. Members voted to dine on mashed potato martinis once again. They were such a hit last year. If you would be willing to host this event in your home, please contact Linda. Sally Cain, Second Vice President, reported that 21 members and two visitors were present. She passed out new member recommendation forms. Members are asked to seriously think about ladies who would benefit from and make contributions to our worthy society. She asked for you bring your recommendation form to the February meeting. We will vote on new members as well as officers at the March (Bunco) meeting. Dale Araujo, Treasurer, was absent due to illness. She sent her report stating that we presently have a balance of $3,356.81 in our account. Mary Crochet, Yearbook Chairman, provided directories for members. She will bring them to the February meeting if you were not able to attend. New officer nominations need to be made now. The Nominating Committee will present the slate of officers for 2012-2014 at the February meeting. Please call Pat Caldcleugh at 281-437-5540 to make your recommendation. Cathie Ritchie announced that the Dress for Success and Juvenile Detention Center donations will be delivered to those organizations the end of January. Please call Cathie at 281-499-3305. She will come to your house and pick up your donations. Charlotte Conner proposed that Lambda Sigma investigate having the documentary American Teacher be made available to be shown to local audiences. More on this subject will be visited in the February meeting. Many organizations would have to be involved in this endeavor. Our next meeting will be held at Lexington Creek Elementary on Wednesday, February 15, at 4:30 p.m. New member forms will be turned in and our slate of officers will be presented. We will celebrate Lambda Sigmas birthday. Thanks was given to Harriet Mantinis hospitality committee who provided delicious bagels, muffins, fruit, and juice. They were enjoyed by everyone.

Dawn Westfall won the fabulous raffle Beat the Winter Blues. Marylaura Merritt and Dale Araujo need our prayers as they battle cancer. Linda Russell introduced our speaker, Angela Jones, from the Memorial Hermann HBU Wellness Center. She spoke on the values of the many types of exercise and programs available at the center. She then gave members a tour of the vast facilities. It was quite impressive. Everyone attending this meeting was given a complimentary two week guest pass. Each will have access to fitness equipment, group exercise classes, and aquatics. What a fantastic deal! Members laughed, sweated, and panted as we participated in a Zumba class lead by instructor Ashley Kennedy. We thought it was going to be a 10 to 15 minute introduction, but she had us dancing for 30 minutes! I was quite impressed at how many of our members kept up with her fast pace. Sadly, I was not one of them, but it certainly was fun. A nutritious, delicious chicken fruit bowl lunch was provided by My Fit Foods. Kelli Moore, from My Fit Foods spoke about the healthy, low fat meals produced by this company. She gave wonderful tips on making good choices with our eating selections. This meeting was enjoyed by everyone! Respectfully submitted by Cathie Ritchie for Lana Petrizzo