Happy New Year Theta and wishing you all the best for 2022!!!

New Year, New You!!! Make your presence known in DKG.

New members let us know if you have any questions about how to become active in DKG - Theta. We welcome new ideas and suggestions. We want everyone to feel welcomed and to let you know your membership counts. YOU matter!!! For those of us who have been here for a while, please reach out to our new members and get to know them. We have had some amazing ladies join Theta this past year. Also, Theta please reach out to the members that have been unable to join our meetings and send them encouragement. Let them know they are missed.

The Induction Ceremony that took place at our last meeting was one that we should be so proud of. It was indeed an honor to have NC DKG President Beth Winstead participate in that ceremony. We welcomed some amazing women to Theta. We look forward to every one of you being a part of Theta and all that you have to offer.

Thank you Theta for making the Foster Pantry Community Project a spectacular success and showing continued support for the Beginning Teachers. As the semester moves forward, let's get excited about our Grant Winners and their future presentations of how they creatively utilized the monies they've received. Theta, you should be so proud of the lives you have touched and changed within this past year. Let's keep it going!!!!

Theta, please consider attending the 2022 NC DKG Convention being held at the Asheville Crowne Plaza Hotel and Resort on April 29-May 1. It will be a great time of learning, sharing and getting to know those from other chapters. Don't wait, make your plans now.

Theta thank you all for your commitment and making Theta amazing!! I appreciate you all!!

Hope to see everyone at the next meeting on January 29th.

Have a prosperous and healthy year ahead.

Stay safe! Stay well!

Kindly,

Kimberly Bigelow Stokes

Delta Kappa Gamma Society

Theta Chapter President 2020-2022

thetadkgpresident20202022@gmail.com

Grants

DKG Theta's Scholarship Committee is happy to say that four project Grants of up to $500 each were awarded to teachers before they left school for the Christmas holiday. The winners are:

1. Lizette Day (NHCS Digital Teaching and Learning Specialist): "Kinder Coders"

2. Melinda Durant, Tracey Tugwell, Carrie Boos(4th Grade Teachers at Carolina Beach Elementary School): "Roll into Coding"

3. Haley Miles (1st Grade Teacher at Bradley Creek Elementary School): "Reading is Fundamental"

4. Mary Porter(3rd Grade Teacher at Pine Valley Elementary School): "Informational Guided Reading Texts"

Acknowledging that we are a member-driven organization includes understanding that the work of our organization is accomplished by women educators who are willing to serve. Society members at all three levels are encouraged to connect, collaborate, and contribute as they seek to make a difference.

To serve means to give of yourself whether by your time, talents, leadership, ideas, or support of the many other opportunities provided through membership in DKG. A wonderful aspect of service is that while it may benefit someone or something else, the person who is serving also benefits. Carrying out the mission of our organization provides members the opportunity to grow and make a difference in someone’s life or even in the world.

It’s exciting that chapters across the Society continue to invite women educators to become members and then assume the responsibility of helping support and encourage them as they pursue their passion for service. Do you inspire other DKG members? Are you someone who makes an effort to bring out the best in others?

One of our responsibilities as members is to identify women who will join us on our journey and assist us not only in carrying out our mission to serve but also in ensuring our sustainability. Inducting members and increasing the size of your chapter is a first step. What will you provide in your chapter life that will give those new members a strong sense of being connected in an organization that strives to remain relevant almost 100 years after it was founded? Discussing this topic within your chapter is critical. The information revealed in these discussions is a great way to guide decisions regarding programs and projects that will “fit” the needs of your members.

Some of you are aware that every month I have the amazing opportunity to participate in a Zoom session with new members throughout the Society who have joined DKG in the previous month. Remember, I am having conversations with women who have only been involved in the organization for a few weeks! At some time during the 1-hour Zoom, I try to ask two questions: “Why did you decide to join DKG?” and “What do you hope to experience as a member?” Listening to them describe how they feel about being a member and what they look forward to in their membership is so inspiring. Personally, it has given me a fresh insight into the expectations of members and has motivated me to work harder to share that important information with leaders at the chapter, state organization, and international levels.

In the last year I have been asked many times to speak about DKG with groups that aren’t familiar with our organization and its Founders. As I prepare for these opportunities, I am always reminded of the women who worked to ensure that we would be able to enjoy the benefits as well as the responsibilities of DKG membership. Their wisdom, courage, and forward thinking led the way. Now it is our turn to demonstrate our own passion for service and excellence.