October 2015 The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International Volume 50 Issue 3 Eta Tau Chapter Austin, Texas October 2015 Texas State Organization, Area VII No. 187 International Theme: 85 Years and Beyond: Advancing Key Women Educators for Life State Theme: The Heart of the Society is Its Members Editor: Jean Fajkus jfajkus@earthlink.net 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. When: October 19, 2015 6:45 PM Where: St. John s United Methodist Church 5908 Wynona Austin, Texas Program: Making Christmas Angels, wreaths, and gift bags for residents of Windsor Care Center Call a friend and carpool to the meeting! See you there! Hostesses: Emily Farnsworth, Lois Mayes, LaVonne Rogers Door Prizes: Pat Guthneck, Marion Horowitz Inspiration: Pat Guthneck October meeting: Pat asks that members bring craft supplies they already have at home to use in making the Christmas Angels, wreaths, and gift bags (glue guns, beads, glitter, ribbon, twine, etc.). We will also begin collecting gift cards for CASA for Christmas gifts for teens. Directions: From Mopac: Take the Northland Drive Exit (also 2222). Go east on Northland Drive. Northland Drive is also Allandale. Turn left on Wynona Drive. Wynona Drive is 1 block west of Burnet Road. www.stjohnsaustin.org
FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear DKG Sisters, Fall brings a renewed sense of purpose to us. The cool weather brings a new source of energy and puts a spring in our step. With it comes a new set of goals and a desire to meet the deadlines. Our purpose is strengthened with the knowledge that our chosen projects will brighten some child or adult s life through the gifts we assemble for the Windsor Nursing Home, or through the gift cards we purchase for CASA as Christmas gifts for teens. Speaking of a spring in our steps, wasn't it wonderful to see Wilda who always has so much to share with others? This month we will be having fun decorating small grapevine wreaths and making angel necklaces for some residents of the Windsor Nursing Facility. Donna and I attend a church that holds services there on the first Saturday of each month, and we can deliver them. Bring your beads, glitter, ribbon, twine...whatever you have already. I have some for you to choose from, too. I have several glue guns, but please bring yours if you want to. I will bring newspapers to work on. Let's try to expedite our business meeting in order to have a little more time to work on our hand crafts. I believe that Laura said she could bring some sacks. What do you think about us saving our snacks to munch on as we work on our projects? Hostesses, would you please let me know what you think? I am trying to ensure that we are out of the building by nine. Heads up for next month's Silent Auction, too. I am already gaining weight just thinking about the extra calories I know that I will be purchasing. So, please be planning your contributions now for another successful fund raiser. Other than for a reminder to pay your dues, I don't have any other business items to address. Our officers do such a wonderful job of keeping our organization running smoothly. They are truly the wind beneath my wings. Each member contributes to the beautiful mosaic of Eta Tau. See you soon. Until then, love and prayers, Pat Roses to.. Brookdale for the use of their library for our September meeting as well as the delicious refreshments. Wilda Scott for being instrumental in securing our meeting space and refreshments. Emily Farnsworth and Janie Knolle for providing door prizes for the September meeting. Laura Packard and Lola Carter for leading the discussion of the new recruitment plan. Each member for the love and encouragement that you give to one another.
From the Treasurer 2015-2016 Eta Tau dues are now due! Please bring your dues to the September meeting or mail them to Cathy. Dues must be paid in time for Cathy to meet the deadline in October. Active dues are $85.00; reserve dues are $38.50. Make checks payable to Eta Tau and send them to: Cathryn Harris Updated information needed for yearbook: Please let Mary Wallace know if there are any changes in your personal information (new address, email address, change of school or position). Send to Mary at Membership News Wilda Scott has been chosen as an ambassador for Brookdale Northwest Hills Senior Living Solutions to reach out to new residents. Please send your news to jfajkus@earthlink.net. Eta Tau members love to hear about others travel adventures, stories of grandchildren and family, professional news, and anything else you d like to share. Membership Remember that Delta Kappa Gamma is now open to all women educators, active and retired, regardless of the number of years they have been teaching or have been retired. Members can be invited at any time during the year. Note: Eta Tau has voted to reduce dues for new members to half price for the first year. Please submit names of prospective members to Lola Carter, Eta Tau Membership Chair. Eta Tau Traveling Angel At the September meeting, Emily Farnsworth presented the Eta Tau Traveling Angel to Wilda Scott. Wilda has been an Eta Tau member since 1968 and has always supported our chapter in every possible way. She continues to be an inspiration to us all! It was decided at the August meeting that it is time for the angel to retire. From this time forward, the angel will reside with Wilda. Congratulations, Wilda!
October Birthdays Happy Birthday to Lola! Lone Star News is available online at www.dkgtexas.org. Delta Kappa Gamma websites: www.orgsites.com/tx/etatau www.dkgtexas.org www.dkg.org Upcoming Events..Mark your calendars. October 19 - Eta Tau Chapter Meeting St. John s United Methodist Church October 11-16 ASTEF Road Scholar Trip to Savannah October 31 - deadline for 2015-16 dues November 16 - Eta Tau Chapter Meeting St. John s United Methodist Church December 1 applications due for Golden Gift Fund Leadership Management Seminar January 18 - Eta Tau Chapter Meeting St. John s United Methodist Church February 19-21 Spectacular Texas Arts Retreat at Camp Allen in Navasota, Texas February 22 - Eta Tau Chapter Meeting St. John s United Methodist Church March 21 - Eta Tau Chapter Meeting St. John s United Methodist Church April 18 - Eta Tau Chapter Meeting Delta Kappa Gamma International Headquarters June 23-25 87 th Texas State Convention Frisco, Texas July 2016 DKG s inaugural trip to England/Scotland and Ireland July 5-9 International Convention Nashville, Tennessee July 17-29 Golden Gift Fund Leadership Management Seminar at the University of Texas in Austin Chapter Officers 2014-2016 President: Pat Guthneck First Vice-President: Jan Raby Second Vice-President: Lola Carter Secretary: Mary Wallace Parliamentarian: Donna Slathar Treasurer: Cathy Harris Past President: Pollye Hofstedt Credit for graphics: www.dkgtexas.org and www.dkg.org Send your Eta Tau committee reports and membership news to Jean Fajkus. The deadline for the November newsletter is November 5, 2015. jfajkus@earthlink.net
Draft Delta Kappa Gamma International Eta Tau Chapter Minutes September 21, 2015 The meeting was held at Brookdale Northwest Hills Senior Living Solutions, Austin, TX. Hostesses for the evening were Wilda Scott and the staff at Brookdale. Program Eta Tau members participated in a book discussion of Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. Call to Order President Pat Guthneck called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m. There were fourteen members present. Inspiration Wilda Scott spoke about the blessings in her life and encouraged each member present to count your blessings, one by one. Member News / Brag Bag Mary Wallace shared a picture of her new granddaughter, Riley, and a picture of her son, Jeremy, on a mountaintop overlooking Macchu Picchu, Peru. Approval of the Minutes The August minutes were approved as printed. Treasurer s Report Cathy Harris reported a balance of 2,757.53. Dues for active members are $85. The 2015-2016 budget will be presented for approval at our October meeting. Correspondence Eta Tau received a thank you card from Breakthrough Austin for providing shower caddies to their graduating seniors once again this year. Also included in the card was a picture of the graduates. Committee Reports Membership Laura Packard outlined a new member recruitment plan being supported by Alpha State. There is a description of the plan on the state web site. Current members identify prospective members, not necessarily friends, and concentrate on women under 35. Active members are encouraged to invite a prospective member to a short orientation/introduction meeting from 7-8 on a weeknight. Follow this meeting up with an initiation letter. Many chapters are having success with this approach. Programs Eta Tau will continue to have most of our meetings at St. John s United Methodist Church this year. In October we will be making angel necklaces and decorating small Christmas wreaths for ladies at Wyndsor Care Center. We will also put together gift bags for gentlemen at Wyndsor. Projects/Global Awareness The Texas State Organization now has a Global Awareness Committee. It is part of the Educational Excellence Committee and will include the former World Fellowship Committee responsibilities as well as Schools for Africa, the DKG/UN relationship, and learning about the 17 member countries of DKG. Janie Knolle reported that Eta Tau has promised to provide at least eight $30 gift cards from Target or Walmart to be given to CASA teens. Members may pool their resources to purchase a gift card, buy a gift card individually, or bring money to the October or November meetings to help purchase a gift card Social Donna Slathar passed around a signup sheet for hostesses, inspirations, and door prizes for this year. Yearbook Mary Wallace passed around a membership list, asking that members check their information for accuracy and note changes that need to be made.
Communications/Publicity Pat Guthneck reported that Carol Rose, our new Area VII Coordinator, was very complimentary of our newsletter. Carol said our newsletter really stands out. She especially liked the Roses that are mentioned in honor of members that have contributed something special to our chapter. Rules Our chapter Rules were approved in February. Legislation LaVonne Rogers warned Eta Tau members that Health Care continues to be a major concern. Six members of the Texas legislature will be appointed to research all possible options to save TRS Care. LaVonne also encouraged all educators to belong to an organization to support teacher concerns. Web Watcher On the International website, Donna Slathar reported that the September/October DKG News is available online. Dr. Lyn Schmid, International President, has an online video invitation to the 2016 International Convention to be held in Nashville, TN, on July 5-9. There is an updated Go-To-Guide for Chapter Members which can be downloaded. On the state level, the Fall edition of the Lone Star News is available online only. The Golden Gift Fund Leadership Management Seminar will be held on July 17-29, 2016, at the University of Texas in Austin. Applications are due by December 1, 2015. Additional information can be found on the website. New Business Traveling Angel Emily Farnsworth awarded the traveling angel to Wilda Scott. Wilda has been an Eta Tau member since 1968 and has always supported our chapter in every possible way. She continues to be an inspiration to us all! It was decided at the August meeting that it is time for the angel to retire. From this time forward, the angel will reside with Wilda! Adjournment of the Business Meeting Pat Guthneck adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p.m. Emily Farnsworth and Janie Knolle provided door prizes. Respectfully submitted, Mary Wallace