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LAMBDA SIGMA NEWS

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International

Texas State Organization Lambda Sigma Chapter
Missouri City, Texas

Volume 29, Number 2 September, 2010

Area IV, Number 282

President: Cathie Ritchie Editor: Barb Hansen

critchie43@comcast.net bjhansen@windstream.net

President's Message

Dear Lambda Sigma Sisters,

Ready or not, the ‘10-‘11 school year is rushing forward! I thoroughly enjoyed my Labor
Day holiday, and am now counting the days until Thanksgiving holiday. Well, that is a slight
exaggeration – I am really counting the days until my son’s wedding, November 6. It is difficult
to cram all the school work, committees, church duties, family obligations, and numerous other
activities into our busy schedules, but I guess that is what makes us all faithful members of
Delta Kappa Gamma. We all share the ability to balance our multi-tasked lives with our bonds
of friendship, service, and dedication to our career in education. The greatest benefit of our
group, I think, is the friendships we share.

Our first meeting on August 21 was a tremendous success. Kathy Nelson’s lovely home
was the perfect, beautiful setting for our initiation of five new members. They are all anxious to
participate in our society’s endeavors. Sheri Lim provided delicious refreshments at this great
start for our year.

On August 28, eighteen sisters actually managed to get up early enough (on our first
Saturday after school started) to meet at 7:00 a.m. to form carpools to drive to Lake Jackson for
our Area 4 Workshop. What a fun time was had by all! The sessions were very informative and
well-presented. We came away with great new ideas to enhance our meetings. Best of all was
the laughter we shared, and the good food, too.

Our next meeting is rapidly approaching on Thursday, September 30, 4:30 p.m., at
Lexington Creek Elementary. Your officers and committee chairs have planned a good meeting
that I am sure you will enjoy. Be sure to bring your checkbook to pay for your dues, if you have
not already done so. $80 – active $30 – reserve. We are also going to raffle off some items
you are sure to want.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Sincerely,
Cathie Ritchie
 The Delta Kappa Gamma Mission
Statement
The Delta Kappa Gamma Society
International promotes professional and
personal growth of women educators and
excellence in education.

19 members of the Lambda Sigma Chapter attended

the Area IV workshop in Lake Jackson, TX on
Saturday, August 28.

September Chapter Meeting

Birthday Girls!
Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010 4:30 p.m.
Lexington Creek Elementary Library
2335 Dulles Avenue, Missouri City 77459
Tel: 281-634-5007 Sep-01 Mary E. "Zooks" Campbell
Sep-10 Joan Eubanks
Hostesses: Sep-10 Martha Ewell
Sep-10 Lee Ann Moody
Mary Crochet Martha Ewell, Chair
Sep-10 Darlene Tresselt
Sandy Harvey Joan Eubanks Sep-10 Arlise Wilson
Oct-06 Carolyn Hynes
Program: Parliamentary Procedure Oct-06 Nita Smith
Introducing our new website Oct-06 Paula Burns
Oct-06 Amy Stoesser
Scholarship opportunities Oct-06 Peggy Wood
Oct-06 Carla Meuth
Pay Dues and Update Yearbook Oct-06 Vicki Delgado
Information! Oct-06 Pat Schroyer
Oct-06 Susan Voradakis

A Look at Your Committees
The Achievement Award Committee
recognizes Chapter members for their work
at the State and local levels. Throughout
the year individuals will be singled out for
their service to Lambda Sigma and the DKG
Society. Mary Louise Ivey is chairman of this
committee along with Judy Bartay, Kathy
Riley and Nita Smith.
Mary Louise is a charter member of Lambda
Sigma. She retired from FBISD in 2000 with
30 years of service. During the early years
of the Chapter, she held a number of
offices. Since retirement, Mary Louise has
worked as a Field Supervisor for ACT
Houston (Alternative Certification program).
She is married to Wayne and they have 5
grandchildren and another due in January.
Professional Affairs Committee
Chair - Jeannette Spain
Members - Paula Jay, Louise Nutzman,
Lucille Williams, Sharon McGlaun
Purpose - sponsor the grants-in-aid Lambda
Sigma awards each year to high school
graduating seniors or college student
pursuing a degree in education
Responsibilities - The Professional Affairs
Committee establishes a timeline, prepares
the application, and provides information to
the chapter members. Applications will be
distributed to counselors at each of the
district's high schools and made available to
members. The Committee will establish
criteria and a scoring rubric, review all
applications, and make a final selection.
The grant-in-aid recipients will be invited to
the Founders Day Luncheon in May to be
recognized and receive the grant. The
Committee will submit a bio of each recipient
to the Communications Chair for the chapter
newsletter.
Committee Chair - Jeannette Spain is the
Director of Gifted and Talented and
Academy Programs for Fort Bend ISD. In
her job she oversees the GT Program for all
students in the district, grades K-12, as well
as the International Baccalaureate (IB)
Middle Years and Diploma Programs, the
middle school GT Academy, and nine high
school career academies. Jeannette served
as Lambda Sigma's president from 2006-
2008 and parliamentarian from 2008-2010.
Jeannette has three sons and one
grandson. Her oldest son Joe lives with his
wife Holly Palmer and son Maceo in
Hollywood. Joe is a model, actor, artist, and
all around creative person. He recently
finished a photo shoot for Target, three
commercials for Apple, and worked as the
art director for Mattel. You might also see
him in the Walgreen's flu shot commercial.
Holly had a part in the movie My One and
Only for which she also sang the film's lead
score. Her albums are available on iTunes.
Jeannette's middle son Scott lives in Maui
and works as an assistant manager for
Enterprise Rental. The youngest son Logan
graduated in May with a degree in film from
the University of Texas and he leaves soon
to complete graduate work studying special
effects make-up. Jeannette is certainly
proud of her sons and visits them whenever
she can. This summer she spent ten days
in Hawaii and then quality time with her
precious grandson.

Getting to Know You
Our newest members
Stephanie Bailey holds a
BA in Sociology from the
University of Colorado. She
moved to Houston several
years ago to pursue a
career in teaching, after
having been a Corporate
Trainer for a financial
institution in Denver, Colorado. Stephanie
currently holds both GT and ESL
certifications, and teaches first grade at
Lexington Creek Elementary.
When not teaching, Stephanie enjoys
spending time with her husband Jarrett,
walking and playing with her two year old
Labradoodle, cooking/entertaining for friends
and family, camping, traveling (almost
anywhere) and fishing in the Gulf!
Stephanie is thrilled to have the opportunity
to be a member of DKG and looks forward
to the various service projects, professional
development opportunities and the new
friendships she will form with this great
organization.
Currently Salethia Morris
can be found doing what’s
best for second graders at
Austin Parkway
Elementary. In addition to
serving as Team Leader,
Salethia teaches the gifted
talented curriculum for her
grade level. She began her journey as a
professional educator in 1985 teaching first
grade at Martin Petijean Elementary School
in Rayne, Louisiana. Mrs. Morris has been a
member of the Fort Bend ISD family since
1986. She has shared her expertise on four
FBISD elementary campuses with
experience spanning first through fourth
grades additionally serving as team leader
on three of the four campuses. Salethia is
credited with service on a multitude of
committees and programs to enhance
education and community. In 2003, she
obtained her Reading Recovery certification.
It was her honor to serve as her Campus
Teacher of the Year in 2004.
Salethia is the wife of Bill Morris and the
proud mother of two daughters Jasmine, a
sophomore at Elkins High School and
Charmecia who is a sophomore at Baylor
University.
In 1980 as a high school senior, Salethia
was selected as a recipient of a four year
annual scholarship award from the Beta
Omega Chapter of this honorary society as
she pursued her first degree in Elementary
Education.
She is humbled and honored to have come
full circle by being inducted to active status
of the Lambda Sigma Chapter of The Delta
Kappa Gamma Society International on
Sunday, August 21, 2010.
Sue Sowell teaches
Kindergarten at Settlers
Way Elementary. She has
taught in FBISD for 11
years total; 2 years
Reading Recovery / 1st
Grade Math/Sci./SS, 1 year
PreK/ESL, and 8 years Kindergarten.
Sue and her husband Martin have been
married 28 years and have 2 sons. Erich
graduated from Clements High School and
Alex graduated from Elkins High School.
Both sons went on to graduate from Texas
A&M. She attends All Saints Episcopal
Church in Stafford, Texas and is involved in
the Kairos / Cursillo / Mission ministries.
Sue enjoys reading, going to the movies Committees will have items to raffle off in order
and museums, traveling, and visiting with to support our grants-in-aide fund.
family and friends.

Julie Gehring is in her 26th year of teaching

first grade. She loves first graders and is
challenged by the enormous amount of
academic growth that happens during that
year. Teaching is and has always been her
passion. When Julie was a child, her dad
even let her convert the garage into a
classroom, because she was so driven to
teach! For many years, Julie’s birthday
money was spent going to the local
teachers’ supply store. Teaching is
definitely in her blood also, as she comes
from a family of educators. In 1999, Julie
was very honored to be named the FBISD
Elementary Teacher of the Year.
Not only did Mary Ann Dolezal present a Treasurer’s
Julie and husband Ronnie have 3 wonderful Session (along with Ann Thompson) and a Personal
children. Megan, 19, is in her second year Growth and Services session at the Area IV
workshop in Lake Jackson, but she also won the
of college. Austin, 17, is a senior in high Lambda Sigma raffle basket-
school, and Hannah, 7, is a second grader. Snack Attack!
They are all very different in personality with
varying interests, and they definitely keep
them hopping!

Julie’s husband is a Middle-School Youth

Pastor and Operations Pastor at their
church, Colony Creek Community Church.
He has truly found his passion as well and
really has a way with those middle-
schoolers! They are all very involved in
church activities and feel blessed to have
Next months meeting –
such a wonderful church home.
Julie is so excited to be a part of Delta
Kappa Gamma and looks forward to getting October 27th - 4:30 p.m. Lexington Creek
Elementary. Traci Hoke the CFO of FBISD will
to know many of you better!
speak about the FBISD budget.

September Raffle
Bookmark This!
Don’t forget to bring some
extra $$ to the September meeting. The
Communications, Hospitality, and Yearbook
http://lambdasigma.weebly.com/
 at their summer home. They will be making the
22 hour drive in 3 days, spending a night in
Amarillo, then in Durango, CO visiting Mesa
Verde National Park to see the beautiful cliff
dwellings before they reach Ridgway.
Temperatures are in the 40s in the evenings and
70s during the day. The aspens are beginning to
turn so they are looking forward to some
amazing scenery and time away from suburbia!

Sandy Harvey’s son, Michael, got married

on July 31st. He and his wife (Elaine Hymel
Harvey) are both teachers at Cornerstone
Elementary (Michael -4th, Elaine-3rd). Sandy’s
Chapter News daughter, Allison Harvey, is teaching 5th
grade at Sugar Grove Christian School, her
first teaching position! They are officially a
Mary Ann Dolezal will be presenting an in- family of teachers. Sandy’s husband is the
service workshop," If You're Smoking Around
only one who isn’t officially a teacher, but is
Here, You Better Be on Fire!" on Sept. 28 after
school at Fort Settlement Middle School. A heavily involved in Scouting, which we think
class set of materials from the research based makes him a teacher in a way!
curriculum, Toward No Tobacco Use (TNT), will
be distributed to teachers who sign up for the 10
session program that is appropriate for grades
4-8. Health and Science TEKS objectives
correlate with the curriculum. To register, select
the code HLTH 092.001 for Sept. 28 at FSMS.
Mary Ann is a retired FBISD health educator
who now works with Fort Bend County Health & Just a Thought
Human Services in tobacco control.
“If there be any truer measure of a man than by
what he does, it must be by what he gives.”
Linda Russell’s youngest daughter, Pamela,
had her third child, a little girl on June 24th. Her -Robert South
name is Rachel Hansen and weighed in at 6 lbs.
7oz. and 19 3/4 inches long. They live in
Pearland and Linda’s gets to see them often.
She now has 4 grandchildren.

Linda had a busy summer out of town also, as

she was in Il, WI, MN, and TN. No escape from
the heat, as everyplace she visited was hot. Her
oldest daughter met her in Chicago and they Minutes to the August 21 Initiation
celebrated Linda’s birthday at a surprise party and Meeting follow:
and later met all the cousins at a Cubs game in
Wrigley Field. It was an experience that will be
remembered!

Mary Ann and Phil Dolezal are packing long

sleeves, jackets and jeans as they head to
Ridgway, Colorado to visit Lee and Jon LeGrand
 Delta Kappa Gamma Lambda Sigma Chapter
August 21, 2010

I. The gathering of Delta Kappa Gamma members began with the initiation ceremony. We are
pleased to welcome Stephanie Bailey, Julie Gehring, Harriet Mantini, Salethia Morris, and
Sue Sowell.

II. President Cathie Ritchie called the meeting to order at 1:35. Judy Wallis read the inspiration, a
poem entitled, “To Be of Use” by Margie Piercy.

III. Carla Meuth read the minutes from the May 22 meeting. One correction was added and the
minutes were approved.

IV. Reports:

A. Treasurer Dale Araujo reported our treasury has a balance of $1257.13. The estimated
expected income for this year is $7380 and estimated expenditures - $7264. Dale
reported some of the ways the money is used: on convention, initiation, miscellaneous
supplies, and postage. Dale will send an email detailing exactly how the dues are
allocated to the state and to our chapter. The membership dues for this year are: Active
member $80, Reserve member $30, Initiates $80 + $10. Dues were collected. State dues
will increase in 2011.

B. First Vice President Linda Russell explained the raffles for each meeting, and she will
provide a letter for members to give to businesses for possible donations for future raffles.
The items for raffle at the meeting were: from the Music committee, 2 jeweled crosses,
from the Finance committee, a cookbook, and from the Ceremonial committee a
Reference Bible. It was reported that the Communications, Hospitality, and Yearbook
committees will provide raffle items for the next meeting. The program for the next
meeting will be Parliamentary procedures and the Lamba Sigma website. A progressive
dinner is planned on Dec. 7 from 5-8 pm.

C. Second Vice President, Sally Cain, reported there were 31 members and 1 guest, Dawn
Westfall from the Alief chapter, in attendance.

D. Mary Crochet, Yearbook committee chair, passed a paper for members to check their
current information so it can be added to our yearbook.

E. Barb Hanson, Communications chair, requested that if you would like a hard copy of the
newsletter sent to you, please provide 5 self-addressed stamped envelopes to her. Let her
know of any news by the first of each month so it can be included in the next newsletter.

V. New Business:

A. There are 23 paid members set to attend the area workshop. Last year, our chapter won
the award for having the most members in attendance.
 B. Ideas of a magnetic name badge were discussed as a fundraiser. Any ideas for fund
raisers should be given to Linda Russell.

VI: Announcements:
A. Thank you to Kathy Nelson for providing her home for our meeting, to Sheri Lim for the
refreshments, to Christi Chrisman and the music committee for the songs, and Denise Loftin
and the Ceremonials committee for the initiation.

B. Janie Holsapple will provide applications for new member nominations at each meeting.

C. Our next meeting is at Lexington Creek Elementary on Sept. 30 at 4:30.

D. Our music committee entertained us with the song, “Where Oh Where”

VI. The meeting was closed with the singing of the Delta Kappa Gamma song.

Minutes reported by: Lana Petrizzo, Recording Secretary

_____________________________________ ____________________________________
President Recording Secretary