Kappa State News Of

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society Arkansas

March 2017 Vol. 59, No. 2

I n s ide t h i s i s sue:

President’s Page 2

State Nominee Information 3-4

Member/Chapter News 5

Dates to Remember 6

Traveling Kappa State:

As The Journey Continues

Convention Planning Committee Chairman Cathy Toney, all Kappa State officers and committees are hard at work to make the 2017 state convention a success. The following decisions have been made and de-tails are being added constantly: The theme: "Traveling Kappa State:

As The Journey Continues" The venue: Lake Point Convention

Center on Lake Dardanelle The date: June 9-11 The speakers: International 2nd Vice

President Becky Sadowski, International guest; Susan Harper, Garvan Woodland Gardens, Saturday luncheon speaker; Breakout session leaders, still applying until March 24

Save the date. Join the fun. Look for additional details to appear in the May Kappa State News and at kappastate.weebly.com .

Kappa State Convention Preparation in Full Swing

The geese love Lake Point and so will you.

Come join them and your DKG sisters

June 9-11, 2017

In February the Kappa State Nominations Committee reviewed submit-ted nomination forms from which they selected the following slate of candi-dates for balloting at the 2017 state convention:

State Officers: President—Joy Graham, Gamma Beta First Vice President—Cathy Toney, Theta Second Vice President—Sue Cook, Alpha Beta Secretary—Laura West, Delta

Education Foundation Board of Trustees: Rebecca Jones, Kappa Terri Smith-Leins, Alpha Pi

2017-2019 Nominations Committee Members: Chairman—Karen Roe, Gamma Rho Members-at-Large—Jane Adair, Chi, and Carolyn Brooks, Iota

The Nominations Committee consists of seven members. One member is elected from each area at the four area meetings in the spring of even numbered years. The other three are elected at the convention. The chair-man for the coming biennium is chosen from current Nominations Committee members and the members-at-large can be from anywhere in the state. These DKG members serve on the current committee: Chairman—Dr. LaVonne Kirkpatrick, Gamma Iota; Area 1—Joye Ryan-Jones, Iota; Area 2—Dr. Jo Chesser, Gamma; Area 3—Karen Roe, Gamma Rho; Area 4—Kathryn Dickinson, Alpha Delta; Members-at-Large—Betty Kelley, Beta Beta, and Patsy Reynolds, Beta Epsilon.

Thanks to everyone on the committee and congratulations to the key women selected to lead Kappa State in the coming biennium. Note: Pictures and short biographies of the nominated officers and board members are on pages 3 & 4.

2017-2019 Leadership Slate Chosen

Turtles, too

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Kappa State News March 2017

Applications Requested

Submitted by Rebecca Ward, Personnel Committee Chairman

The Personnel Committee is ac-cepting applications for the posi-tion of Kappa State Editor to be filled this spring.

The qualifications and application forms will be posted soon on the Kappa State website.

The deadline for applying is May 12, 2017.

For additional information, con-tact Rebecca Ward at rjmward@gmail.com.

I cannot express my thanks enough to you for having allowed me to serve as your president the past two biennia. I am honored that you put your trust in me to lead our beloved state organization and I hope that you are pleased with the progress we have made. I have been blessed and honored to serve with some excellent leaders, educators and members who have worked with the organization’s and its members’ interests at heart. When we began serving together, we established goals to improve DKG in our state. One of our goals was to reinstate our Leadership Seminars in Kappa State. We did it! One decision we made was that no matter how many or how few wanted to attend, we would provide this important training. We have

had two seminars, one in each of the past two biennia, which 26 members have attended. Another important deci-sion was made to ask chapters to sponsor their members who wished to attend by paying half their registration fee. This gives the chapters ownership of developing their leaders for the future and an opportunity to invest in this critical piece of chapter health.

Another goal for the Leadership Seminars was to make it affordable and give participants professional develop-ment hours accredited by the ADE. I am very proud of this as we are the only state organization that does this. Where else can you get 12 hours of quality PD for $130?

Perhaps the most rewarding thing for me in having been a part of these seminars has been getting to watch as light bulbs came on, laughter erupted, and friendships were made for some truly excellent women educators. It is amazing what can happen in two days!

Of course, I did not do this by myself. I did very little. Thanks goes to our Leadership Development Committees and their chairman, Leisa Dodson, who organized and executed these truly memorable seminars. Their fruits have been chapter leaders, state committee members, National Legislative Seminar attendees, Regional Conference and International Convention attendees, International Committee members, International Convention presenters, and more knowledgeable and involved members. In my view, that is an incredible return on your investment.

It is not too soon to start making your plans to attend the 2018 Kappa State Leadership Seminar. Dates are yet to be determined, but do think about how you and your chapter can benefit from your attendance. You deserve it!

Candi Martin

2015-2017 Kappa State President International World

Fellowship Facts World Fellowship is a scholarship program for non DKG members living outside the United States and Canada. The World Fellow-

ship Program was initiated in 1946 at the National Convention in San Fran-cisco. It wasn’t until 1958 that the program began to look like it does to-day. In 1972, the World Fellowship Committee became a DKG standing committee.

Applicants apply through the Institute of International Education (IIE) when they plan to study in the United States. If the applicant plans to study at one of the approved Canadian universities, they apply to the DKG World Fellowship Committee in the province in which the approved university is located.

World Fellowship has come a long way from 1960. In 1960, the Delta Kappa Gamma World Fellowship Committee awarded $2,500 and in 2016-2017 the Committee awarded $91,200. Since 1960, 941 women from 122 countries have received 3.9 million dollars from DKG World Fellowship.

The 2016-2017 recipients are some amazing women. They are from 25 dif-ferent countries. Twelve are PhD candidates while the other eighteen are working on their masters. Their fields of study vary widely, from Women’s Studies to Biomedical Engineering.

The World Fellowship Committee continues to work to endow scholarships to aid outstanding women educators in pursuing graduate study and to grant fellowships to non-member women educators.

Our Journey Together…

Candi’s Comments: Thank you, Kappa State Organization Members!

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Kappa State News March 2017

DKG Service: 12 year member; has attended 3 area, 2 state, 1 regional and 1 inter-national meetings Chapter-served as president 2 times; designer and webmaster of chapter website State—2nd VP, Membership Committee Chairman, Records & Properties Committee member; KS Leadership Class of 2014 International—current Non-dues Revenue Committee member

Professional Experience: BSE & MSE, UCA; Library Resource Endorsement, Prairie View A&M; 41 years experience teaching; kindergarten and first grade, currently Media Specialist for Conway Public Schools

Honors: Herb Lawrence Leadership Award—Arkansas Association of Instructional Media; Retta Patrick Award—Arkansas Library Association; Teacher of the Year—Sallie Cone Elementary School

Other leadership roles/responsibilities: Arkansas Association of Instructional Media President, Arkansas Association of School Librarians President and Conference Chair, Arkansas Library Association Secretary

DKG Service: 22 year member; has attended area, state, regional and international meetings Chapter- President, two chapters; parliamentarian; corresponding secretary, 2nd vp State- 1st & 2nd VP, chairman of Educational Excellence, Membership, Nominations and Personnel committees; KS Leadership Class of 2016

Professional Experience: BSE, UA-Pine Bluff; MSE, ASU; Educational Specialist, Hen-derson State; 28 years in public and private schools; currently Special Programs & District Test Coordinator for Drew Central School District in Monticello; previously Drew Central Middle School principal and District Federal programs coordinator, as-sistant elementary principal, librarian/media specialist, music teacher and high school choir director; state certified Praxis III assessor

Honors: Master Educator Award—Drew Central Schools; Recognition of Service—Arkansas Association of Middle Level Education; Appreciation Award—Southeast Re-gion of the Arkansas School Counselors Association, graduate of Arkansas Leadership Academy Master Principals’ Institute

Other leadership roles/responsibilities: Arkansas Association of Middle Leader Educa-tors-regional representative, state secretary, and state president; church choir member and Sunday school teacher

DKG Service: 27 year member; has attended many area and state meetings in New Mexico & Arkansas, 2 SWRegional (presenting at one) and 2 international meetings Chapter- President and treasurer in both New Mexico and Arkansas, chairman of Finance, Program, and Scholarship Committees State- New Mexico—Secretary, Arkansas—Expansion & Revitalization Committee Chairman; Education Foundation Board Member, area leader for 2 biennia

Professional Experience: BSE-SAU; MSE- UCA; certified in elementary, special educa-tion, early childhood, administration, TESOL, & reading; 44 years teaching experi-ence; currently teaching at Central Elementary, Magnolia; planning to retire this spring

Other leadership roles/responsibilities: New Mexico teacher evaluator; New Mexico IRA (now ILA) state president; currently teaching SAU Kid’s College classes and church mid-week and summer Bible school

2017—2019 Kappa State Officer Nominees

Second Vice President—Sue Cook, Alpha Beta

President—Joy Graham, Gamma Beta

First Vice President—Cathy Toney, Theta

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Kappa State News March 2017

DKG Service: 7 year member; has attended all state meetings since 2014, presenting in 2015 Chapter – President, historian State – Membership Committee, KS Scholarship Recipient International—Cornetet Grant, 2016

Professional Experience: BA—UALR; MS—Texas A&M, Texarkana; Non-Traditional Licensure Program—ADE; ESL Academy—HSU; National Board Teacher’s License; GT Certification in progress—UALR; Residential Counselor; 14 years middle school experience in history, sci-ence, humanities, currently social studies coordinator & GT Coordinator at Hot Springs Intermediate School; TESS trainer; New Teacher Mentor; presented and published with Association for Middle Level Education

Honors: Teacher of the Year—Hot Springs School District; Hot Springs VFW Teacher of the Year (2 years); Middle School Teacher of the Year—College Hill; Distinguished Educator Award—Hot Springs School District; Grants for projects and seminars from AEA, DKG, PTO, EZ Mart, Mt. Vernon Teacher Institute, Humanitarian Law Institute (Red Cross Internation-al), Civic Voices Seminar, Gilder Lehrman Seminar at Duke University; Arkansas repre-sentative to the Presidential Academy for American History; Sponsored travel—Friends of Russian Folklore to Russia, National Endowment for the Humanities to South Africa, Goe-the Transatlantic Outreach Program to Germany, Fulbright-Hays Seminar Abroad to Poland

Other leadership roles/responsibilities: Support provider—National Board; Cooperating teacher—Henderson State; Trainer—Southwest Arkansas Education Cooperative; Duke-TIP Test Administrator; Arkansas Geographic Alliance; Hot Springs Leadership Committee; Hot Springs Future Fund; HSIS—representative to district Professional Devel-opment Committee, new teacher hiring committee, Superintendent’s Council; CHMS sponsor for Student Council and Destination Imagination; National Parks Quarter series lesson plan for U.S. Mint

DKG Service: 30 year member; has attended area, state, regional and international meetings Chapter- President & all offices and several committees State- Corresponding Secretary; Recording Secretary; Scholarship Committee Chair-man; state convention co-chairman, KS Leadership Class of 1998 Regional/International- steering committee for 2009 SE Regional & 2002 Internation-al Convention

Professional Experience: BSE & MSE—ASU; 35 years experience as second grade, math and reading teacher, parent center facilitator at Sloan-Hendrix & Imboden Schools; NCA steering committee; retired in 2011

Honors: ASU regional leader Other leadership roles/responsibilities: trustee of church; coordinator of 21-year com-

munity project of Christmas meal boxes and gifts for families; 40 years as recorder/treasurer and 2 years as council member for city of Imboden

DKG Service: 37 year member; has attended area, state, regional and international meetings Chapter- President—Alpha Pi and Eta; held most other offices State- Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, area leader for two biennia, Chairman of Women in Art and Records & Properties Committees, KS Leadership Class of 1998 International- First Aid/Lost & Found chairman for 2002 International Convention

Professional Experience: BS & MS, Ft. Hayes—Kansas State University; public school teacher, 1972-74; assistant professor, UA-Ft. Smith from 1976-present

Honors: Who’s Who in American Education; Advisor of Year for Arkansas Black Student Association; Arkansas Star of the Southeast, 2016 International Convention

Other leadership roles/responsibilities: Chairman or member of UA-Ft. Smith commit-tees including Curriculum, President’s Council, Senate, Faculty Development, Gen-eral Education Steering, and Awards; church - secretary and member of Truth & Spirit Singers

2017—2019 Kappa State Officer and Board Nominees

Secretary—Laura West, Delta

Education Foundation Board of Trustees—Rebecca Jones, Kappa

Education Foundation Board of Trustees—Terri Smith-Leins, Alpha Pi

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Kappa State News March 2017

You can enjoy the beach with DKG sisters from many states and strengthen your organizational and professional knowledge at the same time

when you attend the Southeast Regional Conference

July 19-22.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

SEMINAR RENAMED

Last fall in recognition of Ella Reese’s years of devotion to training and strengthening the leadership abilities of Arkansas DKG members and in celebration of her eightieth birthday , the Kappa State Executive Board acted to re-name the state’s leadership development semi-nar in her honor. It is now the Ella Reese Lead-ership Seminar. Her response follows:

“Observing through the years that thriving organizations continuously devote time and resources to development of leadership capabilities in their members, I could not be more honored by my Kappa State Delta Kappa Gamma sisters than to have my name attached to our Leadership Develop-ment activities. You surely know how to please an octogenarian! Thank you very much. Working with the Kappa State Lead-ership Seminar committee was a personal blessing and has greatly benefitted our or-ganization. It is my prayer that leadership training will continue to be a high priority. I am convinced that it is the key to our or-ganization’s longevity.” Ella Reese, Theta Chapter 1997-1999 Kappa State President International Leadership/Management Seminar Class of 1997

In February, Chi Chapter members celebrated the chapter's 70th birth-day with rosebud cake pops and cook-ies. They also do-nated 39 pairs of new shoes to home-less children in the area.

Awesome!!!!

Happy Birthday, Chi!

Pictured above is Alpha Rho Chapter Treasurer, Vivian Owen, presenting a check to member, Courtney Cochran. She will use the $1,000 scholarship for her Master's studies. Cochran is Arkansas' cur-rent state Teacher of the Year. Congratulations, Courtney on this out-standing achievement!

Alpha Rho Scholarship Awarded

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Kappa State News March 2017

Travel with DKG Is a Win-Win! Submitted by DKG International Non Dues Revenue Committee

Everyone raves about traveling with fellow

DKG members! Now it’s your turn! Join them on a tour of Lisbon, Portugal, prior to visiting Seville, Cordoba, Madrid, San Sebastian, Burgos, Bilbao and other parts of the Basque Country in Spain. Traveling with DKG affords benefits to members who like to share experiences with friends and receive first class service. Go Ahead Tours is part-nering with DKG and its international non-dues revenue committee. A percentage of the earnings from the tour are returned to DKG. So, it is a win-win for members and for DKG itself.

Board your overnight flight on Friday June 2, 2017, and arrive in Lisbon to be welcomed by your tour director and fellow travelers. You will depart from Spain on Wednesday, June 14, 2017, for home. You may book your own air fare or Go Ahead Tours will book it for you.

The price is great for 11 nights in handpicked hotels, breakfast daily, 5 three-course dinners with beer or wine, one olive oil tasting at an olive farm and one wine tasting, guided sightseeing, select entrance fees included, private deluxe mo-tor coach and multilingual tour director plus other optional excursions. Outstanding DKG camarade-rie, excellent sights such as cathedrals, monaster-ies, museums, castles, the Chapel of Bones, Royal Alcazar, once home to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella; mosques, public baths, Flamenco shows, the Mezquita, a UNESCO world Heritage site, and more can be yours if you call 1 800 438 7672 and book today!

To view a daily itinerary, visit

portugalandspaindkg.grouptoursite.com. You may also contact Dr. Beverly Helms, DKG Ambassador, at 850.547. 3220, or bevhelms@embarqmail.com for additional information.

Dates to Remember

Kappa State Convention June 9-11, 2017 Lake Point Convention Center

Russellville Southeast Regional Conference July 19-22, 2017

Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel Myrtle Beach, SC

International Convention July 16-20, 2018 JW Marriot Austin Austin, TX

Deadlines

March 24—State Convention Breakout Session Proposals April 1—Agatha Prator Grant Applications April 1—Order of the Rose Nominations April 10—Items for May Kappa State News May 1, September 1, February 1—Applications for Cor-

netet Professional Development Awards (dkgef.org) June 30 & December 1—Kappa State Scholarship Applica-

tions

Stay Connected With DKG International Follow us here:

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Kappa State News is published online the first of each odd numbered month at kappastate.weebly.com. Send articles, comments and questions to Norma Brown at 15132 Stephens Rd. Siloam Springs, AR 72761 or brownfarms@centurytel.net