Each of us can be compared to a spoke in a wheel. Without each spoke functioning well, our wheel won t turn. Alpha Alpha Chapter, Pi State, The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International May 2017 Celebrating our History and Future May 3 Founders Day Lakeshore Country Club Donna Noble with school bell used during the meeting Linda Kotwas honoring our founders Judy Fuller reviewing the creation of DKG and Alpha Alpha Judy presenting Dr. Roselyn Freedman- Baum with her award from Pi State Gretchen presenting Monica with her Distinguished Service Award At the May 3 Founders Day / Orientation meeting, the beginnings of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society, International and Alpha Alpha Chapter were reviewed by Historical Records Chair Judy Fuller, and a basic overview of the goals and activities of the International and our chapter was provided by Membership Committee Co-Chairs Linda Kotwas and Donna Noble. In addition, Monica Cosgrove received the 2017 Alpha Alpha Distinguished Service Award, and Dr. Roselyn Freedman-Baum received the Alpha Alpha/ Pi State 2017 Woman of Distinction Award. In addition, members were recognized for years of service.
Thanks to Membership Committee Co-Chairs Linda Kotwas and Donna Noble plus Historical Records Chairperson Judy Fuller for creating together our very first orientation/renewal meeting. Our three initiates received an overview of our chapter s roots in history as a part of an international organization and those of us who have been members for some time had a refresher course in why membership in Delta Kappa Gamma is worthy of our time and attention. The next step in our new recruitment process is a re-designed initiation ceremony which will occur early in the next school year as a stand-alone event. Our Membership Committee co-chairs are working hard to make this next step for our initiates a memorable occasion. Other positive thoughts Congratulations and thanks to Monica Cosgrove who received Alpha Alpha s 2017 Outstanding Service Award during the May 3 chapter meeting. Monica has led the Awards and Scholarships Committee for many years during which it added a number of awards and raised thousands of dollars to fund those awards. Congratulations also to Roz Freedman-Baum upon receiving the Pi State/Alpha Alpha Woman of Distinction Award for her service to DKG at both the state and local levels. 5 year Anniversary: Lori Burch 10 year Anniversary: Mary Lou Galasso 15 year Anniversary: Monica Cosgrove 20 year Anniversary: Judy Cantleberry 30 year Anniversary: Mary Ingersoll 40 year Anniversary: Gretchen Hughes Paula Barbel June 3, 2017, 8:30 am Years of Service Honorees Linda Wetherell Next ALPHA ALPHA MEETING Awards Breakfast, NY Room, SUNY Brockport -2- * Please plan to attend our Scholar Awards Breakfast on Saturday, June 3. This meeting of members with scholars and their families has historically been a wonderful opportunity Judy Wadsworth to meet our scholars and their families, to learn how our scholars are faring in their educational journeys, to support our scholar awards funds by bidding in the silent auction, and to enjoy one another s company. AND, please consider contributing items for the silent auction (and bring cash or your checkbook to bid on auction items on June 3). * Finally, I hope that you all receive the Pi State publication, Pi Lights, and noted its coverage of Alpha Alpha events and members. Page 20 features our January Legislative Breakfast and page 26 has pictures from the 90 th birthday party for Wanda Ward, Alpha Alpha Member and former Pi State President. If you didn t see this issue, it s accessible at http://www.dkgnystate.org/uploads/5/8/7/8/5878 9757/dkg_pi_state_pi_lights_spring_2017.pdf. Hoping to see you on June 3, Judy 41 year Anniversary: Esther Blackman 43 year Anniversary: Rose Swisky 44 year Anniversary: Wanda Ward 46 year Anniversary: Anne Abbey 53 year Anniversary: Jeanette D Agostino Banker, Anne O Toole 58 year Anniversary: Betty Svitavsky Our New Initiates Mia Sinclair Birthdays Say Happy Birthday to these Alpha Alpha members May 15 Lesli Myers 21 Carol St. George 22 Mary Anne Pietrzykowski 24 Joan Fenton 28 Monica Cosgrove 29 Betsy Balzano
May 3 Founders Day Meeting Judy Cantleberry and Mary Anne Pietrzykowski Sister Edwardine Weaver and Dr. Betsy Balzano Mary Ann Geonie and Pam Quamo at registration table Members look through historical materials. Monica Cosgrove, Lynne Keefer, Jan Marchetti, and Donna Noble Judy Wadsworth & Wanda Ward Jeanette Banker and Monica Cosgrove, standing to be recognized as part of the membership recognition -3-
Pi State Convention - April 28-30 The Pi State choir, led by Bridget Bishop, sang at several convention events. Roz Freedman-Baum is a chorister. Past Pi State President Andrea Morris, Bridget Bishop and Pi State 1 st VP Karen Butters played during the Memorial Service for Pi State members who had died during this biennium. Faith Prather and Margie Lovett-Scott participating in the Membership workshop. Margie is a member of the Pi State Membership Committee. Sue Genthner discussing the communications portion of the Pi State Strategic Action Plan (SAP) during the convention workshop on the SAP. Also seen is SAP Chairperson Barbara Boswick Quinn. Judy Wadsworth and Sheila Brady- Root at a convention dinner. Judy and Jean Fuller at the convention. The memorial service table holding white roses placed there in memory of those who died. Among those remembered were Alpha Alpha Honorary Member Eunice Chesnut and Charter Members Betty Vary and Dr. Frances Moroney Whited. Sue Genthner, Bridget Bishop, and Roz Freedman-Baum at a convention event. Margie Lovett-Scott read one of the memorial selections Esther Blackman and Sue Genthner at a convention dinner. Alpha Alpha members at the Pi State Convention. Eleven Alpha Alpha members attended the Pi State Convention in Cooperstown: Bridget Bishop, Esther Blackman, Sheila Brady-Root, Roz Freedman-Baum, Jean Fuller, Judy Fuller, Sue Genthner, Margie Lovett-Scott, Faith Prather, Judy Wadsworth, and Wanda Ward. Wanda is a Pi State Past President. Bridget is the Pi State Music Representative and in that role led the music performances at all major convention events. Sheila, Sue, Margie, and Judy serve on Pi State committees. The convention included the annual business meeting, several workshops, and meal functions where awards were distributed. Among award winners was Roz Freedman-Baum who received the Pi State Woman of Distinction Award for Alpha Alpha Chapter. At the annual meeting, Pi State officers were elected for the 2017-19 biennium: Mary-Martha Harvey, known to many Alpha Alpha members, was elected President. Other incoming officers are Sue Kenoyer, 1 st VP; Jennifer Lee-Alden, 2 nd VP; Lisa Huyck, Secretary; and Immediate Past President Deborah Bedard. -4-
Alpha Alpha Communications Survey: Summary of Responses Earlier this school year, a survey was circulated among Alpha Alpha members to learn their preferences for communications among chapter members. Of 72 members, 31 (or 43%) responded to our recent survey about preferred forms of communication. Of particular interest was reaction to the current forms of communication email, MailChimp, website, and Newswheel as well as possible interest in creation of a Facebook page. Major findings included: Among respondents, almost 84% report that they receive MailChimp messages. The other 16% do not. About 53% of us access the website at least some times, including about 10% of us who use it often. Most users use the newsletter, calendar, and home pages. Almost 84% of us report that we read the Newswheel carefully; another 10% reports that they skim looking for items of interest. Regarding whether or not Alpha Alpha could benefit from hosting a Facebook presence, 45.2% said YES, 19.4% said MAYBE, and 35.5% said NO. More than half of those responding said they would like the Facebook page to list upcoming events, chapter business, and education-related information. Smaller numbers requested Pi State and DKG information and information about individual members. The survey responses received will help the chapter executive committee as it considers ways to improve communications. A more complete summary of survey results is accessible on the Alpha Alpha website at http://www.dkgalphaalpha.org/index.html. Lori Burch, 2 nd Vice President Research on Founding Chapter Member shared at Brockport Scholars Day One of Alpha Alpha s founding members, Betty Evershed Weidel, was the topic of research presented during the April 12 Scholars Day at the College at Brockport, 25 years after her death in 1992. Her accomplishments were recognized in a presentation "Journey to the Past: A Look at a Former Brockport Student the 1940 s" by Museum Studies student, Lyndsey Richardson, Class of 2018. Betty's scrapbooks and other records are in the Brockport College Archives and Lyndsey chose to research them. Scholars Day is an annual celebration of scholarship and creative activity featuring student work. This year s Scholars Day was the 34 th such celebration of scholarship and artistry on the campus. Betty was an active member of our chapter from its founding to her death, serving as Treasurer for many years. In gratitude for Betty s contributions to Alpha Alpha, chapter members in the 1990s named one of its scholarships, The Betty E. Weidel Independent Study Grant, in her honor. This study grant is available to any active member of Alpha Alpha to further professional growth and life-long education such as trips, conferences, or study courses. The current balance in this fund is $378.79. -5-
Alpha Alpha Silent Auction to support our scholar awards funds during our Awards Breakfast Saturday, June 3, 2017 Please contribute an item for bid like some of the items listed here or anything you d care to donate. Help make our auction exciting Plan to come early and bid often. Items for bid will be displayed with bid sheets on which to write your number ;/and bid price. The last bid listed when bidding is closed purchases the item. If you d like, you could find a basket, and fill it with thingsto eat, to drink, to use, to admire, to enjoy. Delta Kappa Gamma items Wines Store gift certificate Afghan Gift certificate for homemade baked goods Jewelry Artwork bag Quilted place mats Wine basket Jewelry Quilted table runners Ice cream basket Handmade shawl, scarf Restaurant gift certificate "Please contact auction coordinator, Eileen Wuethrich at 682-0025 or ewuethrich@rochester.rr.com, as to what you will be donating"
32 nd Annual Alpha Alpha Awards Breakfast to honor our scholar award recipients Saturday, June 3, 2017 New York Room, Cooper Hall, The College at Brockport 8:30 11:30 am Presentation of 2017 Award Recipients Clara D. Bishop Award ~ Lorraine A. Sherwood Award Katharine M. Reichel Award ~ Dorothy E. Foster Award Betty Vary Award ~ Frances Moroney Whited Award Mary I. Luskey Award The Mary Bastian Lecture Dr. Margaret B. Blackman Mayor, The Village of Brockport Silent Auction to support our AWARDS funds (Please bring checks and/or cash only.) Please join us and bring guests! Cost: $22 per person Checks payable to ALPHA ALPHA Reservations due by May 28, 2017 to Elaine Leshnower 216 Village Lane, Rochester, NY 14610 442-9180 or eleshnower@rochester.rr.com *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Reservations for June 3, 2017 Awards Breakfast I will attend: Number of guests Names: I am enclosing an additional contribution ($ Total ( x $22 per person) payable to Alpha Alpha Chapter ) to help defray the costs of award recipients meals. (Whether or not you will be attending on June 3) I wish to make a contribution to an award fund** ** To ensure that your contribution is tax deductible, make award fund checks payable to either The Brockport Foundation (for the Reichel, Foster, Whited, and Luskey awards, or to FLACE fbo Alpha Alpha for the Bishop, Sherwood, and Vary awards. Indicate specific award fund, if you wish, on the check memo line. Checks made out to Alpha Alpha Chapter are not tax deductible. -7-
Alpha Alpha Chapter, Pi State, The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International May 2017 Janet Winter, Editor winterjanets@gmail.com 2016-2018 Alpha Alpha Officers : President Judy Wadsworth 442-4737 1st Vice President Betsy Balzano 594-0314 2nd Vice President Lori Burch 520-7512 Secretary Mary Ann Geonie 637-0045 Treasurer Annie Tran Flesch 406-3706 Parliamentarian Roz Freedman-Baum 442-6769 Past President Pamela Eberhardt 889-2754 INSIDE At the Pi State Convention 1 May 3 Meeting 2 From our president; upcoming meetings, birthdays 3 May 3 Meeting 4 Pi State Convention 5 Communications Survey 6 Silent Auction 7 Awards Breakfast Registration Form NEXT NEWSWHEEL DEADLINE: June 5 At any time, please forward items you d like included in the Newswheel to the editor at the email address listed above. -8- Former Pi State Presidents Wanda Ward and Jeanne Schenk Alpha Alpha Esther Blackman, Sue Genthner, Sheila Root, Bridget Bishop, and Wanda Ward