Delta Kappa Gamma, Xi State

Iota Chapter News

Volume 33, Issue 2 September 2017
Joy Branham, Editor
Chapter website: http://iotaxistateweeblycom.weebly.com/
Iota Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/173164679376911/

Presidents Corner
Iota Sisters,
As autumn approaches, hopefully everyone has been enjoying our beautiful
pre-fall East Tennessee weather; however, let us not forget the tragic destruction that
has come to Texas, Florida, and other regions. Our chapter has already made a
contribution to the DKG Emergency Fund. At our upcoming meeting, we will
discuss other suggested ways to personally help an affected DKG sister or school in a
hurricane-ravaged area.
I have heard nothing but positive comments about our August program.
Representative John Crawford so artfully explained to us how he personally
worked his legislative bills through committees in the Tennessee House of
Representatives. His stories of how new representatives are often humorously treated
were delightful.
Our upcoming meeting is set for Thursday, October 5, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. at
The Press Room of the downtown Kingsport Food City. The program will be
presented by Robert E. Lee, speaker and vocalist. His topic will be: The
Importance of Music to Relieve Stress and Promote Good Health. Get ready to
be entertained! Who needs stress relief more than a teacher? The meal will consist of
soup, salad, baked potato, and dessert at a cost of $12.
Remember to bring information for a new member prospect card. Better
yetbring a potential member as your guest. Lets challenge ourselves to increase
membership by 10% again this year. Bring school supplies to this meeting to fill
some additional new teacher baskets. Call your hostess group chair today to make
your meal reservation. Hostess Group #2 is in charge of table decorations and the
inspiration. And finally, remember to bring or send your dues to Sue Fischer, as they
are due this month.
See you on October 5th.
For aye,

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Jane
Iota Chapter Officers 2014-2016 Moriarty received Order of
PRESIDENT Jane Bowlin
VICE-PRESIDENT Mary Shortt the Rose.
Recording SECRETARY Becky Sutton
Corresponding SECRETARY Pat Cox
TREASURER Sue Fischer Becoming a Vital Part of
MEMBERSHIP
YEARBOOK
Martha Ward
Linda Fontaine
DKG
WEBMASTER Brenda Moriarty Have you read your newest
edition of DKG News? I thought this
was a particularly timely article from
Our sympathies go the Dear Annie column.
out to Linda Fontaine Dear Annie,
on the death of her I am a DKG member. My chapter
brother. continues to encourage me to take on
leadership positions. I enjoy our
meetings and appreciate the work that
Highlights of August real leaders do, but I dont feel
qualified to take on an office. Why are
meeting others trying to get me to do more than
Picnic at Bays Mt. moved to with what I am comfortable?
Litz Manor because of rain! Justa Member
Representative John
Dear Justa,
Crawford spoke on Members are the heart of our
experiences as a new organization. It is really true that every
legislator. member is a leader. You are a leader
Sullivan County when you volunteer to serve on a
committee, when you volunteer to help
Commissioner John with a meeting or when you help with
Gardner also attended. logistics for a meeting. You are a leader
Prospective new member when you introduce a speaker, when
Rita Frost was welcomed. you ask questions to clarify issues or
when you make an effort to know every
President Jane Bowlin member of your chapter.
specified honors received by DKG exists to build leaders.
Iota Chapter at Xi Statewe We help one another to become
stronger and more confident leaders in
received all possible
our Society, in our profession and in our
Highest Honors, Cathy communities. You do not need to
Anderson was selected as know all the answers to be a leader.
flag bearer at the opening You just need to take a step forward
ceremony, and Brenda and begin. You can rely on others to
guide you and you can learn from other

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members. You are critical to the
success of your chapter.
As a member of a lifelong
learning organization you have the
opportunity to learn and grow personally
and professionally throughout your
involvement in DKG. I hope you will find
several ways that you can lead in your
chapter and beyond. We need you and
believe in your potential.
AWB
DKG Sisters
By Audrienne Roberts Womack, DC
DKG Sisters
Working as one with vision
Fulfilling our goals
Learning new skills every day
Sharing lessons with others
DKG Sisters
Using our talents wisely
To urge everyone
To respect education
With dignity and honor
DKG Sisters
Taking a positive role
With the whole nation
While developing our name
As a vehicle of hope
DKG Sisters
Working hard around the world
To support others
Through service and empathy
With sincerity and love
DKG Sisters
Fearlessly paving the way
Boldly making change
Motivating the masses
Upholding our true mission
Legislative Update
PROPOSED EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT CHANGES
The new Secretary of
Education is proposing a 9.2% ($13.5
billion) cut for the Department of
Education. This would eliminate $2
billion for teacher training and Title II
and $1.1 billion for after school and
enrichment programs.
She is advocating for a 50%
increase for federally funded
charter schools.
1) This would reduce enforcement of
antidiscrimination laws.
2) If schools are not federally funded
they are not subject to Title IX rules.
[Title IX is effective because it
withholds federal funding from
institutions which are not in
compliance.]
3) Because special needs students are
more expensive to educate due to the
smaller class size and additional
expense needed for them, nonpublic
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schools are not inclined to admit these
students which increase the per
student cost leaving them in the
public education system with no
increase in the per student funding.
4) Another downside of charter
schools is that they allow more
unlicensed teachers in the
classroom along with reduced
oversight by state agencies.
5) Finally, if large numbers of
teachers leave the state-funded
system, state retirement programs will
be negatively impacted as fewer
teachers pay into the state retirement
system.
Legislators need to hear
opinions from all of us! Otherwise,
destructive legislation will be
railroaded through.
From Personal Growth and
Professional Development
committee
The University of Tennessee
offers courses that can help teachers
improve the quality of life through
learning new skills, developing new
hobbies, or enhancing everyday
living. Some noncredit courses
offered include Photography, Food &
Wine, Finance, and Health and
Nutrition. For a complete course list
go to: noncredit.utk.edu/Personal/
Passing on an Email From Xi
State President Alexander
We have an opportunity to help our
Texas DKG sisters whose schools were
damaged as a result of Hurricane
Harvey. Cookee Johnson, a Texas
member and Golden Gift Leadership
Management Seminar classmate of past
Xi State President Beverly Smith, is
coordinating "Campus Helping Hands"
(see attached flyer "Hurricane Harvey
Plan of Action"). Cookee is matching
volunteers (individuals, chapters, state
organizations, and other civic groups)
with specific needs of schools affected
by the storm. Not only would know your
donations were being used to restore
classrooms but also that you were
helping individual DKG sisters. This
would be a fantastic service project for
your chapters and your own schools,
church groups, or other civic
organizations (Rotary, Lions Club, etc.).
Contact Cookee to volunteer by
emailing her at acjohnson62@att.net .
I'm sure all donations, large or small,
would be appreciated by these teachers
who have lost everything in their
classrooms. Please consider doing what
you can to help!
Dr. Elaine Alexander
Xi State President 2017-19
2811 Pavilion Place
Murfreesboro, TN 37129-0827
elaineGalexander@comcast.net
615-900-8861 cell
615-907-1592 home
Proposed Changes to Iota
Rules
Every three years we have to
review our Rules and update them
to conform to changes at Xi State
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and International. Please review
these changes and be prepared to
vote at the September Iota meeting.
Proposed changes are in red. Some
of the changes reflect practices we
have already put in place. Some
reflect changes at state level, and a
couple are simply housekeeping
numbering that was not done
correctly the last time we updated
the Rules.
VI. Standing committees
B. Committees to conduct
Society Business
7. The Communications
Committee shall
e. Maintain and keep up to
date the Iota Chapter website and
Facebook page.
3. The Scholarships Committee
shall
b. Make information
available about the Delta Kappa
Gamma Xi State scholarship for high
school students to the appropriate
high school personnel.
5. The Literacy/Numeracy
Committee shall
c. Work to develop other
projects to promote literacy or
numeracy in Kingsport/Sullivan
County and through Xi State
activities.
6. The Legislative Committee
shall
b. Send representatives to
the Xi State Legislative Symposium
and to local legislative events.
c. Arrange for programs by
local legislators.
D. Special appointments
1. The Visual Arts Committee
shall
a. Organize the Xi State
Convention Visual and Performing
Arts Exhibit for Iota Chapter each
even-numbered year.
c. Assemble any displays
needed for projects such as Books
From Birth.
VII. Merger and dissolution
VIII. Parliamentary authority
All meetings and proceedings
are governed by Roberts Rules of
Order Newly Revised (current
edition). In instances in which
Roberts Rules of Order Newly
Revised is not consistent with the
Constitution of the Society, the
Constitution is the final authority.
IX. Amendments to Iota Chapter
rules
Catching up on Iota
pictures
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Brenda wins Order of the Rose at Xi Joy, Cathy, Jane, and Brenda at Xi
State State banquet

John Crawford talks at August

Iota meeting

Cathy carries the flag at Xi State

Joy as Mamie Sue Bastian at

brunch

Joan, Betty, Cathy, Joy, Jane, and

Brenda at Xi State (All Saints Chapel)

Happy customers at Imagination

Library booth at Appalachian Fair!

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