(Formerly Kappa State News)January, 2020 Vol. 62, No. 1

Inside This Issue:President’s Letter. . . . . . . . 2 Education Foundation Donations . 10Dates to Remember. . . . . . 10

ASO Area Meetings Coming April-May 2020

HappyNew

Ye ar!!!

The Agatha Prator Grant Award Winner for Spring 2020 is Jennifer Matthews of Conway, Arkansas. Jennifer is an elementary educa-tion k-6 major in her senior year at the University of Central Arkansas. She will complete her student teaching experience next semester and graduate. Her goal is to start teaching elementary students in Conway or surrounding areas next year. She also plans to pursue a master’s degree in either leader-ship and administration, or math education in the future. OH!….and by the way…Jennifer Matthews is the first collegiate member of Delta Kappa Gamma to be awarded the Agatha Prator Grant!!!! She is an active member of Theta Chapter. She also holds an office in UCA’s organization of Teachers of Tomor-row.

Scholarship Chairman Carolyn McGough

Spring 2020 Agatha Prator Grant Winner

Jennifer Matthews lives in Conway and is a collegiate member of Theta Chapter.

Alpha Chapter is shown during their De-cember meeting referred to as the “Christ-mas Giving Tea”. ASO President Cathy Toney was also at the meeting. (see more on page 6)

April 4, 2020, Area 3 MeetingMcCrory High School

515 N. Jackson Street McCrory, AR

April 18, 2020, Area 1 MeetingChurch of Latter-Day Saints6738 Lynch’s Prairie Court

Springdale, AR(see more about Area 1 page 5)

April 25, 2020, Area 4 MeetingFirst Baptist Church

Fellowship HallHope, AR

(see more about Area 4 page 5)

May 2, 2020, Area 2 Meeting Arkansas State University

Heber Springs, AR

January, 2020

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“Doing, Knowing, Growing with DKG” From the President:

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. It is hard to believe it is a new year-- 2020! I look forward to meeting more members of DKG as I visit chapters this year.

One of the actions voted on at the 2019 ASO Convention was to establish a task force to generate ideas which would help mem-bers be more engaged and to encourage growth in chapters. The committee has met several times since June, 2019, working hard to create the best plan for DKG Arkansas. One of the ideas is the “Heart to Heart Day”, in which all members will be asked to invite one or more persons to membership. In this issue of the newsletter you will be able to read the complete plan for Arkansas. The ASO Membership Committee will send out more information about when the special day will be. I wish to thank the members of the Task Force Committee. The members are Candi Martin, Chairman and a Past State President; Carolyn Pittman, Past State President; Dianne Letsch Thompson, Area 1 Leader; Mary Catherine Propes, Area 2 Leader; Janie Hickman, Area 3 Leader; Carolyn McGough, Area 4 Leader; Debbie Easterly, Chairman of Expansion and Revitalization Committee; and Dee Ann Daniel, Chairman of Membership and Retention Committee.

REMINDER: Each chapter’s nominations committee needs to be working currently on their new slate of officers for the 2020-2022 biennium. According to our ASO Bylaws, the election of chapter officers shall be completed by March 1 in even-numbered years. All 2020-2022 chapter officers will need to attend their area meeting for training. Area meetings will be in April and May. Please check the calendar for your area meeting date and time.

ASO President Cathy Toney

Below center, Kay Shaddock and Cathy Toney enjoy the Alpha Chapter Christmas Party.

ASO President Cathy Toney shows the orna-ment that she was given at the Alpha Chapter party in El Dorado.

ASO First Vice President Sue Cook, Alpha Chap-ter President Jackie Phillips, and ASO President Cathy Toney are shown at the Alpha Party.

ASO President Cathy Toney visited Mu Chapter in Saline County in November. Shown are Dixie Smith, Elizabeth Waldrip, ASO President Cathy Toney, Mu Chapter President Susan Jessup, and Mu Chapter First Vice President Pat Lovell. The November meeting was a live auction to raise funds for scholarships.

January, 2020

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Arkansas State OrganizationTask Force Plan of Action

The following report was compiled by the special task force appointed at the 2019 ASO Convention to address the issue of lost members and chapters. The first report of the committee was given by Chairman Candi Martin at the ASO Fall Meeting.

Purpose: to improve member engagement and growth in our chaptersProposal One:ASO Membership Committee shall inform all chapter membership chairs of a

“Heart to Heart Day”, in which all members will be asked to invite one or more persons to membership. They will follow-up with prospect cards and orientation in a timely manner. Helpful, informative brochures or leaflets should be available to all prospects at orientation. The ASO Membership Committee should promote “Heart to Heart Day” through emails, AR News, President’s Update, ASO Web-site, and any other means available. The committee shall choose the specific day for the event and request that chapter membership chairs promote it to their members by all means available too. Perhaps, February (Heart Month) would be most appropriate. Ask each chapter to report their results to ASO Member-ship Recruitment and Retention Chairman Dee Ann Daniel. Chapters should be recognized in the newsletter for their success. They should also be recognized at ASO state meetings.

The following three-step plan shall be communicated and encouraged to all chapters in the state by the Membership and Expansion/Revitalization Committees and the area leaders. State officers who visit chapters should do the same. These committees and leaders should communicate extensively with one another as the process is put into place with the chapters. Chapter successes and struggles should be shared as well so problems may be addressed.

STEP ONE: Develop relationships with members.Encourage the buddy system with new members especially. The inviting mem-

ber should be encouraged to maintain contact with her new member buddy. Offer rides to meetings, sit with her at meetings, introduce her to other members, take her for a coffee or soda, be a listener when she needs it, text her about upcoming meetings and events in the chapter, offer a helping hand. This buddy “mentoring” should continue through the first year of membership.

Find ways to connect with past members and bring them back into the fold. Have a friend/member text or call them. Send them a card inviting them back. Make them feel needed in the chapter. Perhaps, they didn’t feel connected to anyone in the chapter. Be their buddy.

Be sure that all members know the benefits available to our members at all levels of the Society.

STEP TWO: Foster leaders.Identify potential leaders and encourage them to learn and accept leadership

roles. If you have served in an office, take them under your wing and teach them about the position. Talk about being a leader and its benefits. Support your chap-ter leaders! If you have “done your time” as leader, you can still play a vital role in helping others to grow into the role. DO NOT criticize your leaders. If you have a complaint, take it to them privately.

Encourage members to attend a state leadership seminar. This will empower them to step into leadership roles with confidence.

STEP THREE: Projects, programs, and partnerships!

Don’t forget to have FUN! Some programs should be for personal growth and can be a great deal of fun. Laughing together is a good bonding experience.

Provide your chapter with project options. Let members choose their projects. Provide a list of possible proj-ects from which to choose. Try Pop-Up Projects…one time, short-term projects to assist a cause in the community or schools. Try partnering with another organization in the community in a project. Always put OUR name (DKG) out in the public eye when you do projects (leave cards, brochures, wear shirts, etc.) Ask local media to cover your projects. (You will have to contact them and really sell the project.) Some organizations to consider partnering with are: Lions Club, Rotary, PEO, 20th Century Club, Chamber of Commerce, PTA/PTO, DHS, etc.

Ask members what kind of programs they are most interested in, too. Offer to allow them to get presenters or to give presentations at chapter meet-ings. Tap into local talent for program presentations. Don’t keep doing the same programs year after year. Shake it up and include member input in doing so. While it is fun to fellowship and visit together, it is also important that some of our programs have real meaning and substance. We like to learn together.

Plan outings with the group apart from meetings. Concerts, performances, museums, movie night, etc. might spark interest with members. Why not give one of these ideas a try. Going as a group to state meetings can be a lot of fun as well as educational for our members. Offer enthusiasm when you promote outings, programs, projects, and meetings to members. If we are not excited about these things, we can-not expect others to want to participate. Make it memorable!

Plan of Action continued...

(The “Heart to Heart Day” has been se-lected and will be February 5, 2020. See more details in a related article about the “Heart to Heart” event page 6)

January, 2020

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ASO Task Force Plan of Action continued...

Chapter Projects/ProgramsAs the Task Force was doing its work they interviewed the presidents

of each chapter. Below is a listing of projects that chapters are working on or have done in the past. Perhaps one of these ideas will help another chapter find an interesting project for its members to be involved.

*Christmas auction for scholarship fund*Salad supper*Goodie bags for new teachers at the beginning of school year*Easter Tea*Make scarves for homeless; leaving the scarves on lamp posts where they stay for them to take*Make and sell holiday cookies*Collect books for women’s shelter*Old fashioned Christmas party at a member’s home, local high school chorus sings*Founders Day birthday party*Sponsor a STEM project at middle school, hands on project in engineering*Historical events of the county*Adopt a special services classroom to support*Help supply a pre-school classroom and help purchase outdoor play equipment*Provide stuffed toys for the local emergency room for children who are admitted*Run a booth in the local festivals and fairs promoting DKG and their projects*Volunteer in a local reading program*Have a teacher appreciation day for local teachers*Donate books to after school programs*Donate winter coats and clothes to local pre-k and elementary schools*Dolly Parton Imagination Library*Help with local book fairs, buy and donate books to second graders*Partner with Rotary to host gala honoring teachers of a local school, can be expanded to include more schools*Partner in projects with Audubon Society and Arkansas Game and Fish Commission*Special joint meeting with another chapter*Master Gardener presentations*Pop Up Projects—short term one-time projects can be suggested by any member, members wear T-shirts identifying chapter and DKG to every pop up

*Volunteer at The Call (a program to support foster parents and children) during certain times of need, provide supplies, if needed*Back pack food project in local schools*Volunteer at local schools helping teachers with copying, bulletin boards, tell stories, etc.

Partnering is a good way to get service done and to market DKG in the community.

If your local Lions Club is doing a project or would help your chapter do a project to help provide glasses or a doctor’s eye exam to students who can-not afford this, it would be a good project for your chapter and the Lions.

Other civic organizations would love to partner with your chapter to provide a service to your community.

Wearing DKG and chapter shirts while doing service projects is a great way to call attention to who we are! Having business cards to leave behind is a good idea! Always be sure to advertise and market DKG in your com-munity!

January, 2020

State Scholarships Awarded for Spring 2020

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Amanda Green, Chi ChapterAmanda Green has been award-

ed the Hazel L. Dabney/Gladys E. Johnson McDaniel Arkansas State Organization Scholarship.

Beginning her career as a first grade teacher in the Omaha School District, Amanda moved into admin-istration as Instructional Facilitator, Dean of Students, and then k-12 principal. She currently serves as an assistant principal at Nelson-Wilks-Herron Elementary School in Mountain Home.

Ms. Green earned her BS in El-ementary Education and Bible from Baptist Bible College, her Master of Science in Education from Walden University, and her administrator’s certificate from Arkansas State University.

Amanda has been a member of Chi Chapter since 2016. She also earned her Master Principal certi-fication from the Arkansas Leader-ship Academy in 2018.

Amanda plans to use the $1,000 scholarship toward her Specialist ED.S. in Superintendancy at Arkan-sas State University. Amanda has completed 6 hours in the program already.

Sarah Huddleston has been selected to receive the Elizabeth Buck/Lois W. Thomas Arkansas State Organization Scholarship.

Ms. Huddleston is a 7th grade literacy teacher in El Dorado with 22 years teaching experience. She has been a member of Alpha Chap-ter since 2016.

Sarah received her BS in Educa-tion in 1998 and her Library Media Specialist certification in 2018 from Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia.

She will use the $1,000 scholar-ship toward her ESOL endorsement to be completed in the spring.

Ms. Huddleson has been active in the Arkansas State Teachers As-sociation for over 15 years, being a co-founder of the first local chapter in El Dorado. She participates in the El Dorado School District Teacher/Mentor Program and hosted an intern from Henderson State Uni-versity this last semester. She is also very active in her local church in children’s ministries.

Sarah Huddleston, Alpha ChapterKarla Tarkington was selected as

the winner of the Dr. Flora M. Gal-lentine/Ida Ruth Reeves Arkansas State Scholarship.

A member of Beta Beta Chapter since 2013, Karla currently serves as the high school principal in the Beebe Public School. She also previously served as the elementary school principal.

This scholarship will help her in her pursuit for her PHD in Educa-tional Leadership from Arkansas State University. She has currently completed 55 hours toward this degree.

She earned a BA in Communica-tions from Ouachita Baptist Univer-sity in 1985, her Masters in Gifted Education in 2005 from University of Arkansas Little Rock, and Spe-cialist in Education from Arkansas State University in 2014.

Karla serves as a mentor for beginning administrators with the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education and for principals in the Arkansas Leader-ship Academy’s Master Principal Institute from which she earned her Master Principal certification.

Karla Tarkington, Beta Beta Chapter

January, 2020

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All ASO members are invited to attend 20/ONE VISION, Area 4 Meeting on Saturday, April 25, 2020, at the First Baptist Church, Hope, AR, from 9 am-2 pm. The registration for this event will only be $6.00 per person thanks to Area 4 chapter and private donations! Officer training, fun activities, and share time will be on the schedule, as well as good food and door prizes. The highlighted whole group experience speaker/leader is our own Candace Martin! Registration may be sent to Meeting Registrar Diana Keith at 504 Columbia Circle, Hope, AR 71801 Please indicate your chapter name, chapter and state leadership positions, and any food allergies. Any other questions about the meeting can be addressed to Carolyn McGough, Area 4 leader, at cmcgough14@gmail.com or text 903-826-3532.

An Invitation from Area 4

At this time it is important to

remind members of the annual DKG International scholarships awarded for those seeking ad-vanced degrees for the amount of $6,000 and $10,000 for doc-toral degrees. Applications are found at dkg.org.

The deadline is February 1, 2020.

I am your contact person on the DKG International Scholar-ship Committee and am happy to help you apply for the Interna-tional Scholarships.

My email address is powlld1@hardemancountyschools.

Dorrie J. Powell, Ed. D.

Scholarships Are Available

Read What is Brewing for the Area 1 Meeting!

The Area I meeting theme will be “Rise and Shine!.” With spring in full swing on April 18th, we all need to finish shedding our winter attitudes and aspirations, and put on our spring mind sets of renewing, renovating and rising as female educators. Planners want this day to be a wonderful relax-ing experience full of collaboration and fun times. There will be training by Cathy Toney for all presidents and training for all treasurers by Linda Vailes. Leadership training (for anyone) will be offered by Joy Graham, Google Technology will be presented by Christine Hogg, and Laughing Yoga will be done by Candice Martin. Other choices will be make-and-take crafts, as well as, organizing and time management classes.

Now if this isn’t enough revamping for our souls, we have the delightful keynote speaker Sondra Torchier taking us back to teaching in historical long-ago days with humor and grace. Sondra is a retired educator with a flair for drama and acting. You will love her presentation.

Watch for the registration form coming out soon and plan to attend April 18, 2020 with a continental breakfast at 8:30-9:00 am and ending with door prizes at 2:45 pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at Har-Ber Meadows on Lynch’s Prairie Court in Springdale, AR 72762.

Make plans and reserve April 18 for a relaxing, enjoyable, restorative day. See you there!

Area 1 Leader Dianne Letsch Thompson,dletsch@sbcglobal.net

ASO Task Force Introduces “Heart to Heart Day”

The first annual “Heart to Heart Day” will be held on February 5, 2020. The idea comes from the ASO Task Force Committee. Members statewide can save DKG starting with one teacher at a time. Each member of each chapter should invite one new prospect or bring back a lost member to their chapters.

All chapters should notify their membership of this special day. Programs will be provided around the first of the new year to be used at the first chapter meeting after February 5th. Available programs will include “Binding Together DKG Hearts”, “Healthy Hearts”, and “Teaching with Heart”.

Chapter membership chairs should report the number of pros-pects and former members attending the first chapter meeting after February 5th to 2nd Vice President Dee Ann Daniel, ASO Member-ship Chair, as soon as possible. Her email is deeanndaniel@icloud.com. Dee Ann also asks that membership chairs notify her with the number of prospects and former members as soon as they are actually inducted.

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January, 2020

Alpha ChapterNews from Chapters

Alpha Chapter gives back to the local Salvation Army through their Angel Tree Christmas project. For years and years Alpha has collected money and bought presents for Angel Tree recipients from the Salvation Army. In recent years Alpha has started calling their December program the “Christmas Giving Tea” to tie in with their local charitable donation to the Salvation Army. Alpha takes great pride each year collecting donations and ornaments to give to a local family from the Salvation Army Angel Tree Project.

Alpha strives each year to select a family that has multiple children and purchase Christmas gifts for each child. This year’s collection has surpassed all other years with donations of over $600. In attendance at the Christmas Giving Tea was ASO State President Cathy Toney and ASO First Vice President Sue Cook. The “Christmas Giving Tea” was held at Al-pha President Jackie Phillips’ house. Cathy was given a city area themed ornament with an oil derrick decorated with El Dorado’s name.

Giving Back to the Local Salvation Army

Shown are the Salvation Army Angel Tree presents with Committee Chair Mary Beth Simpson and Committee Member Sharon Patterson from Alpha Chapter.

Alpha President Jackie Phillips presents Kay Shad-dock with the recognition certificate for 62 years of mem-bership that was received on her behalf at the ASO Fall Meeting in October. In both photos Alpha members are shown during the “Christmas Giving Tea” .

Alpha Chapter revived an educational grant and presented a check to the Barton Public Library. It will be used for the Chil-dren’s Center of the Library. Shown at the presentation on November 19, 2019, are Al-pha President Jackie Phillips, Children’s Li-brarian Karla Nelson, Alpha Treasurer Sue Hull, member Allyson Menifee, and Alpha Vice President Nanette Darden.

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January, 2020News from Chapters Continued...

Alpha Chapter

Beta Omega Chapter

Zeta Chapter

ASO President Cathy Toney attended the December 5th meet-ing of Beta Omega in Stuttgart. Shown in the photo are Beta Omega President Susan Luebke, ASO President Cathy Toney, and Area 3 Leader Janie Hickman.

Zeta Chapter met Tuesday, De-cember 10th, for a potluck and Dirty Santa gift exchange. Members are shown with their gifts.

Alpha held an induction ceremo-ny in November for two new mem-bers. The new members are Abby Thomas and Sara Bullard, shown with their certificates.

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January, 2020

Mu ChapterMu Chapter Non Dues Commit-

tee members Donna Brown and Sara Ward lead the annual auction in November. The auction is held to help raise money for the chapter’s scholarships.

Delta Chapter

Delta Chapter celebrated the Christmas season at their De-cember 3rd meeting. All mem-bers contributed much needed items to the Ouachita Children’s Center. Mark Howard from OCC had spoken to the membership at their November meeting.

Delta members Laura West, Sue Hall, Katy Hall, Chelsea Hall, and Carolyn Dubriske en-joyed a festive holiday meal.

After a great meal, members tried their hand making tin or-naments under the direction of member and Hot Springs High School art teacher Michelle Watts.

News from Chapters Continued...

* February 1, May 1, September 1 Applications for Cornetet Professional Development Awards deadlines. (dkgef.org)* April 4, 2020 Area 3 Meeting, McCrory High School, 515 N Jackson Street, McCrory, AR * April 18, 2020 Area 1 Meeting, Church of Latter-Day Saints, 6738 Lynch’s Prairie Court, Springdale, AR* April 25, 2020 Area 4 Meeting, First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, Hope, AR* May 2, 2020 Area 2 Meeting, Arkansas State University, Heber Springs, AR* May 15, 2020 Deadline for submitting applications for the Ella Reese Leadership Seminar * June 30-July 1, 2020 Ella Reese Leadership Seminar, Red Apple Inn, Heber Springs, AR* July 7-11, 2020 International Convention, Philadelphia, PA

January, 2020

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Arkansas State Organization News is published online the first of each odd numbered month atdkgarkansas.weebly.comSend articles, pictures, comments, and questions to: Linda Davidson at

lindavidson@comcast.net or 618 LaSalle DriveLittle Rock, AR 72211

or text to (501) 580-4309

Dates to Remember and Deadlines:

Contributions to the Kappa State

Education Foundation

Memorial:

Honorarium:Charlotte Akelaitis,of Delta Chapter

by Terri Leins, Alpha Pi Chapter.

Mr. Farris G. Bonds,Father of Marla Vest of Beta Xi Chapter

by Beta Xi Chapter.

Puzzled or perplexed by Parliamentary Procedures?

Your ASO Parliamentarian is happy to help you figure it out.

Questions are welcome by email:

(going2bigflat@yahoo.com) or text message/calls

(870-365-6343).

Candi Martin, Parliamentarian

Congratulations to Candace Martin,

2020-2022 SE Regional Director

NomineeOur own Candi Martin, nominee for

Southeast Regional Director, currently serves on the International Membership Committee. She has served as Southeast Representative to the US Forum. She was Arkansas State Organization President for two successive biennia from 2013-2015 and 2015-2017. She is currently serving ASO as Parliamentarian and is the Chairman of the Task Force to help solve diminishing mem-bership issues.

Leadership Development

is now accepting applications

for the2020 Ella Reese

Leadership Seminar

Applications are available on the ASO Website:

dkgarkansas.weebly.com