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__________________

President:

Deana James gjames8@bellsouth.net

First Vice President:

Jeanette Esch j_burkhart55@hotmail.com

Second Vice

President:

Esther Taj

etaj@comcast.net

Betty Thomason bett68@comcast.net

Recording Secretary:

Julie Hughes KSTXTN@comcast.net

Corresponding

Secretary:

Norma Cate nrcate@comcast.com

Treasurer:

Judy Leach judyjoy@bellsouth.net

Parliamentarian:

Gail Huffstutler huffstutler_gail@hcde.org

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International promotes professional and personal

growth of women educators and excellence in education.

Xi State… Growing Possibilities Wow! What a great meeting in October.

Thanks to Jeanette for her visuals as well as decorations. Also thanks to Cheryl Crowe, Beverly Smith and Jeanette for setting up. And more thanks to Esther Taj for the devotion. And then the food--from Africa, Lebanon, Italy, Mexico, Greece, Germany, USA and probably more--and everything was delicious. Next Joyce Campbell told us about opportunities with the Sister Cities here in Chattanooga. Finally a raffle for Schools for Africa brought the meeting to an end.

At our next meeting we will celebrate the initiation of our two new members, Raja Bhandari and Melissa Bayless, with the other Chattanooga chapters. We look forward to welcoming these impressive women into Alpha Xi chapter.

On December 14 we will meet at Nancy Bibler's house for a holiday celebration. Board members will provide refreshments. We will put together holiday gifts for the Holiday Store at East Lake Elementary. Our plan is to fill mugs you donate with presents and wrap them in cellophane with a bow. I have found several items at Michael's $1.00+ aisle as well as at Dollar Tree. At the grocery store I saw hot chocolate mix and thought they would go well in a mug with some candy canes. Pam has told us that the students like all kinds of things and candy is always a seller. Remember that this store only takes "good behavior bucks". Think about what the students will like for family, friends, or maybe themselves.

We have talked about a project suggested by International. A chapter in Texas has developed a program to work with local Girl Scouts (Daisies on up) to learn about DKG and teaching as a career. The Scouts can earn a DKG Rose patch (not badge) in the program. Several members have expressed that they have extended themselves as far as they can. However, I hope that there might be a few of us who could investigate this project further. If this sounds interesting, please let me know.

Now as we enter the season to think about how thankful we are, let us take the time to let those who are a blessing to you to know. Maybe you can send a note to a teacher you are thankful for, give a call to someone who is always there to cheer you up, and just a simple “Thank you for being there for me” to one who is close to you. These personal messages can bring great joy to know that you think of them. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. See you at initiation.

Alpha Xi News Delta Kappa Gamma Society International

Xi State

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November 17 Taffe Bishop 21 Harriet Bond

23 Brenda Hooper

December 11 Mary Katherine

Pace 25 Esther Taj

25 Tommye Chesney 27 Peggy Wright

28 Donna Lamkin

October Meeting Highlights

Joyce Campbell presented an enlightening program of the

Sister Cities of Chattanooga organization. The purpose of

the organization is to create bonds with people of different

countries and cultures. Chattanooga boasts an impressive

list of seven sister cities in Wuxi, China; Hamm,

Germany; Wolfsburg, Germany; Givatayim, Israel;

Gangneung, Korea; and Nizhnii Tagil, Russia.

The international- themed

meal featured dishes

inspired from Italy, Africa,

Mexico, Thailand, and

more! These were provided

by the world-class chefs of

Alpha Xi!

This impressive

display by Jeanette

Esch highlighted

the amazing

opportunities

available through

the Sister Cities

organization

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November Meeting Preview

Joint Initiation Ceremony Join us on November 17th at East Brainerd Church of Christ at 7745 East Brainerd Road for the Chattanooga chapters’ joint initiation ceremony. (The church is just past Einstein Bagels

on the left up on a hill.) Initiates and sponsors should arrive at 5:30 and the meeting will begin

promptly at 6:00. Alpha Xi’s Beverly Smith will be the speaker for the event. We know we will

hear words of inspiration for all of our members, new and old.

Meet our New Initiates

Raja Bhandari Raja is currently the Exceptional Ed teacher at Ooltewah Middle School and Lookout Valley Middle/High School for Hamilton County. Raja has taught Biology, Anatomy, Physiology, and is a tennis coach for Notre Dame High School. She taught for 15 years at LFO High School and East Ridge Middle and High School. She was a satellite operator for the United States Air Force. Raja currently teaches three nights a week at Chattanooga State Technical Community College. She attended East Ridge High School and was an excellent student of Jeanette Burkhart Esch’s. She was nominated by Wendy Morgan.

Melissa Bayless Melissa has been a teacher for 2 years. She teaches Anatomy and Chemistry at the high school in Spencer, Tennessee in the Van Buren County School System. She also works at Fall Creek Falls State Park. She was an assistant at Oak Ridge Research Institute. Her mother is Dot Bayless, a member of our chapter since 1955. She was nominated by Harriett Harris.

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Growth Possibilities… Are you looking for a little incentive to get moving on that great idea you have

for your school or classroom? Xi State can help and it isn’t too late to take advantage of these opportunities, but time is short, so note these important deadlines…

Liz Whorley Bradley Professional Growth

This award, administered through the Xi State Vision Foundation, provides financial assistance for one or more of the following:

o a national or international seminar, workshop, or professional meeting

o a new classroom practice you plan to initiate

o a new supervisory practice that you plan to initiate

o a new administrative practice that you plan to initiate

o a new workbook, textbook, or other professional writing that you plan to

undertake

The Deadline is December 31. Visit the Xi State website at www.xistate.org/forms.

Xi State Vision Foundation Project/Grant

The Vision Foundation Grant provides financial assistance to conduct

educational research and to develop special projects related to the

improvement of education in Tennessee

The Deadline is December 31. Visit the Xi State website at www.xistate.org/forms

Xi State Scholarship

Scholarships ranging from $1250-$3000 are awarded for members seeking advanced education degrees.

Applicants must have been a member of Delta Kappa Gamma for at

least three years.

Service to Delta Kappa Gamma is an important criterion in the selection of a

recipient.

Regular attendance at chapter meetings and activities shall be considered, as well as

convention participation at all levels of the Society. Former recipients of major ($3,000) scholarships are not eligible again.

The Deadline is February 1st. Visit the Xi State website at www.xistate.org/forms

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IMPORTANT DATES November 17 Joint Initiation East Brainerd Church of Christ Initiates and Sponsors: 5:30; Dinner 6:00 Cost for catered meal $17; pay Judy Leach

by November 1 December 1 Deadline to send in 2016 Xi State

Convention proposals to state First Vice President

December 14 Christmas Tea at Nancy Bibler’s home; Oak

Street, Chattanooga; Gift Mug Project for East Lake Elementary

December 31 Deadline to apply to Xi State Foundation

grants and Liz Whorley Bradley Professional Growth Awards

January 12 Board meeting at Western Sizzler in

Ooltewah, 10:30 February 1 Deadline to apply for a Xi State Scholarship

to pursue advanced degree February 18 Chapter meeting at Western Sizzler in

Ooltewah; 5:30 Program: Literacy

Upcoming Chapter Project:

Holiday Store at East Lake

Elementary

At our December meeting, we will put together gift mugs for the students’ holiday store. We will need the following items:

Holiday mugs

Small gifts (lotion, candle,

Candy, Cocoa mix, Candy canes Clear cellophane Bow/ribbon

Concerns Please remember Peggy Wright. She was recently hospitalized with a heart issue that was possibly a side effect of one of her medications; she is recuperating at home. Norma Cate’s husband, Jim will have his last treatment for bladder cancer next Tuesday. He will have a surgical biopsy in December to verify all cancer cells have been eradicated. We extend our sincere sympathy to Julie Hughes and her family in the passing of her mother-in-law and former member of Alpha Xi, Betty Hughes.

We need YOU to make 2016 a success!

DKG International Convention is

July 5-9 at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville

Visit the Xi state website and go to “Forms” for

more information on how to volunteer.

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Editor’s Note This time of year and the initiation ceremony brings back fond memories for me. When I was invited by Beverly Smith to join the Alpha Xi chapter of DKG, I had two overwhelming

feelings. The first was great pride that a respected colleague would see something special in me;

and the other a feeling of complete unworthiness. How could I ever live up to the examples of

professionalism and excellence that I saw all around me? Now, three years later, I have learned

that this is not an organization that is looking for a woman who has achieved all she was meant

to be, but one that is ready to help her become all she is meant to be. I am so grateful to all of

you who are guiding and encouraging me and I look forward to working with our new initiates.

Welcome, ladies.