Beta Rho Chapter of DKG Christmas Meeting
PHOTO CAPTION: The Beta Rho Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International met for its Christmas meeting at the Susquehanna County Library in Montrose. The tables were decorated with a holiday theme and snacks were provided by the hostesses. The centerpieces were made by the hostess committee and were given away at the end of the meeting. Pictured with the hostesses are the winners of the centerpieces. Left to right are Rose Borgna, hostess; Kathy Fuller, recording secretary; Patricia Carpenter, chapter president; Janeen Nieratko, first vice-president; and Patricia Arnold, hostess.
The Beta Rho Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (DKG) recently met for its Christmas meeting at the Susquehanna County Library in Montrose. They were welcomed by decorated tables with buffalo plaid tablecloths, holiday centerpieces and napkins and the seasonal scent of wassail. Hostesses Rose Borgna and Pat Arnold prepared the holiday atmosphere for the meeting. Pat gave a history of wassail explaining that it is a beverage made from hot mulled cider and spices and is traditionally drunk as a part of wassailing. The drink is a salutation involved in door-to-door charity-giving, ensuring a good harvest for the following year. Thus the song, “here we go a wassailing.” Delicious snacks were available as the members gathered before the business meeting which was called to order by President Patricia Carpenter. Member Janet Small led the flag salute and led the recitation of the society’s collect.
President Carpenter welcomed members and invited members to check out the speakers that DKG is offering on Zoom. She also encouraged members to visit the DKG International Gallery of Fine Arts on the DKG website where members Donna Biglin, Amy Radford, Cindy Reynolds and Jeanette Saulo, have their work jury selected for posting. She also thanked members for completing the DKG survey for the US Forum.
Peggy Walker, chapter projects chairman is preparing the plans for a Beta Rho fund raiser. Items will be for sale at the Christmas in Montrose Festival next year, December 2, 2023. In Peggy’s absence, Janeen Nieratko presented and made suggestions of how to make some items for this fund raiser. Members enthusiastically reacted to this project.
Teresa Cavalier, Angie Zick, and Sarah Empett read the next three lessons from The Leadership Mindset by Becky Johnen, a member of the Pennsylvania State Leadership Committee which supports President Pat’s “Bonding and Building Bridges” theme. Teresa read Lesson #4 Communications; Angela Zick read Lesson #5 Synergy; Sarah Empett read Lesson #6 Attitude and Kathy Roe read Reflection…a summary of the lessons.
President Carpenter welcomed members and invited members to check out the speakers that DKG is offering on Zoom. She also encouraged members to visit the DKG International Gallery of Fine Arts on the DKG website where members Donna Biglin, Amy Radford, Cindy Reynolds and Jeanette Saulo, have their work jury selected for posting. She also thanked members for completing the DKG survey for the US Forum.
Peggy Walker, chapter projects chairman is preparing the plans for a Beta Rho fund raiser. Items will be for sale at the Christmas in Montrose Festival next year, December 2, 2023. In Peggy’s absence, Janeen Nieratko presented and made suggestions of how to make some items for this fund raiser. Members enthusiastically reacted to this project.
Teresa Cavalier, Angie Zick, and Sarah Empett read the next three lessons from The Leadership Mindset by Becky Johnen, a member of the Pennsylvania State Leadership Committee which supports President Pat’s “Bonding and Building Bridges” theme. Teresa read Lesson #4 Communications; Angela Zick read Lesson #5 Synergy; Sarah Empett read Lesson #6 Attitude and Kathy Roe read Reflection…a summary of the lessons.
To help members become more familiar with the Beta Rho Directory, President Carpenter and member Cindy Reynolds led members in a game to find facts in the chapter directory. The first member to find the correct answer and give the page number to answer each question won a lottery ticket.
Corresponding Secretary Kathy Fuller called the roll. Eighteen members were present. She then read the correspondence report noting that the new process for submitting RSVPs for meetings is working smoothly. She also read a letter of thanks from newly inducted member Krista Treible expressing her appreciation for the beautiful induction ceremony at the October meeting, the SEE Basket, the Goodie Bag for working members, and for being invited to join the Beta Rho Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. The communications committee will be sending notes to members who have not been at meetings in a while, to let them know that we miss them and are thinking about them.
The secretary’s minutes for the October 6th meeting were submitted online by Recording Secretary Susan Lee and the treasurer’s report was submitted online by Treasurer Sheri Wolfe. Both reports will be on file for audit.
First Vice President Janeen Nieratko reported that she has changed her schedule of teaching piano lessons, so that she can now attend Saturday meetings and it is even working better for her.
Personal Growth and Services Chairman Leslie Gossage thanked members for the eighteen purses or totes packed with items for the Women’s Resource Center as well as $215.00 in monetary donations. The March project will be to fill a backpack with items for home insecure individuals which will be donated to St. Francis of Assisi. Monetary donations may be mailed to Sheri Wolfe with St. Francis in the memo line on the check.
Leslie then asked members to “Toot Their Horn” by sharing any good news that has happened to them. Angie Zick will be on the Susquehanna County Library Board beginning in January, 2023 and she also serves as the Mayor of Hallstead, Pennsylvania. Cindy Reynolds has the honor of having her watercolor paintings for her Christmas cards on display at the Abington Community Library through to the end of December. She did a “talk through” of her artwork on December 8th at 6:30 PM at the library.
In the absence of Donna Biglin, chairman of the US Forum/Educational Legislation, Janeen Nieratko shared information about the Grant in Aid. She also shared the results of the DKG Survey for topics for the US Forum to focus on completed by Pennsylvania state members.
Rose Borgna, World Fellowship Chairman, reported on World Fellowship Grant recipients who are non-member international students studying in the United States but none in Pennsylvania. Rose Borgna will share the names of the recipients who are studying in neighboring states for members to support them with cards, notes and/or gift cards. Information will be disseminated via email.
Dr. Nancy Simon, Scholarship Committee chairman reminded members that there are several scholarships and enrichment grants available for members to apply for. The information is on the DKG Website, and all of the deadlines are February 1, 2023.
Kathy Roe, Beta Rho Achievement Award chairman reminded members to give some thought to which chapter member may be deserving of this award. She will bring nomination forms to the next meeting for the May deadline. More details will be on the nomination form.
President Carpenter reminded members about the announcements and deadlines listed on the agenda after which the meeting was adjourned. Following the meeting, members were invited to tour the Susquehanna Historical Society Museum for a guided tour by curator, Betty Smith.
The secretary’s minutes for the October 6th meeting were submitted online by Recording Secretary Susan Lee and the treasurer’s report was submitted online by Treasurer Sheri Wolfe. Both reports will be on file for audit.
First Vice President Janeen Nieratko reported that she has changed her schedule of teaching piano lessons, so that she can now attend Saturday meetings and it is even working better for her.
Personal Growth and Services Chairman Leslie Gossage thanked members for the eighteen purses or totes packed with items for the Women’s Resource Center as well as $215.00 in monetary donations. The March project will be to fill a backpack with items for home insecure individuals which will be donated to St. Francis of Assisi. Monetary donations may be mailed to Sheri Wolfe with St. Francis in the memo line on the check.
Leslie then asked members to “Toot Their Horn” by sharing any good news that has happened to them. Angie Zick will be on the Susquehanna County Library Board beginning in January, 2023 and she also serves as the Mayor of Hallstead, Pennsylvania. Cindy Reynolds has the honor of having her watercolor paintings for her Christmas cards on display at the Abington Community Library through to the end of December. She did a “talk through” of her artwork on December 8th at 6:30 PM at the library.
In the absence of Donna Biglin, chairman of the US Forum/Educational Legislation, Janeen Nieratko shared information about the Grant in Aid. She also shared the results of the DKG Survey for topics for the US Forum to focus on completed by Pennsylvania state members.
Rose Borgna, World Fellowship Chairman, reported on World Fellowship Grant recipients who are non-member international students studying in the United States but none in Pennsylvania. Rose Borgna will share the names of the recipients who are studying in neighboring states for members to support them with cards, notes and/or gift cards. Information will be disseminated via email.
Dr. Nancy Simon, Scholarship Committee chairman reminded members that there are several scholarships and enrichment grants available for members to apply for. The information is on the DKG Website, and all of the deadlines are February 1, 2023.
Kathy Roe, Beta Rho Achievement Award chairman reminded members to give some thought to which chapter member may be deserving of this award. She will bring nomination forms to the next meeting for the May deadline. More details will be on the nomination form.
President Carpenter reminded members about the announcements and deadlines listed on the agenda after which the meeting was adjourned. Following the meeting, members were invited to tour the Susquehanna Historical Society Museum for a guided tour by curator, Betty Smith.