Delta Zeta's Chapter History and Our Charter Members
Delta Zeta was chartered on December 2, 1989 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina by Pi Chapter. Dorothy Snyder, Eta State Executive Secretary, was the Presiding Officer. There were 20 Charter Members from Dare County, presently including President Carroll Harrell, Marjalene Thomas, Linda White, Bea Basnight, and Diane Forrest. The group spent the first two years learning more about Delta Kappa Gamma and its goals, purposes, and history. A time of fellowship and getting to know our sisters was a big part of Delta Zeta. We met in the members' homes and contributed to our community with projects directed towards literacy, for young and old alike.
Meet Mabel Evan Jones , a woman who was the Founder of Pi Chapter (our "parent" organization). She did this out of her Seatone home (and camp) in Manteo. Her additional life experiences are breathtaking: what a woman's story! (Thank you, Mrs. Marjalene Thomas)
Our chapter grew in membership to thirty-nine members in the next 8 years. Delta Zeta voted to invite new members every other year. During the non-invitational years, the chapter continued to focus on strengthening our knowledge of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society, preparing programs of interest with membership involvement, and enhancing our inter-personal relationships with our sisters. This was also the time when we made Honorary Members part of our group: those whom, although they weren't eligible for active membership, rendered notable service to education or to women.
Our group has been greatly involved in our local, state, national and international organizations. Carol Harrell was Eta State President from 2003-05. Nancy Griffin served on the Eta State Leadership Committee. Barbara Hardy served as Regional Director from 2014-16. Several members have been awarded their school’s Teacher of the Year. Shauna Leggett received the AIG Teacher of the Year for the state of North Carolina. Barbara Hardy and Becky Strickland were awarded Teacher of the Year and went on to receive the prestigious Dare County TOY. Members have served in leadership positions on various local, regional and national boards, including (but not limited to): NCCenter for Advancement of Teachers, Dare County Board of Education, Children and Youth Partnership, Food for Thought, Dare County Education Foundation, Outer Banks Sporting Events, Master Gardeners, Hotline, Dare County League of Women Voters, and The International Dyslexia Organization.
Giving to others has been important to our Chapter. As of January of 2020, our Grant-in-Aid has provided many college scholarships for prospective teachers, with an average of $500 given to each student. We procure these monies through hosting the OBX Community Spelling Bee, which takes place one evening in March, each year since 2008. Proceeds from the Spelling Bee also go to the Dare Education Foundation, which in turn, supports the teachers and students of our county. We acquired funds from members through the Dimes Project, in which we collected “spare dimes” for extra impact.
Earlier in our history, we shared part of our expenses with Run Hill Ridge, a locally funded teacher housing tract, by purchasing a brick in their building process. Another local place was the initiation of the Wright Place for Youth, which we supported (and now houses the Children and Youth Partnership Program). We provided an Angler’s Club Tile on Jennette’s Pier, in honor of our own Marc Basnight, retired State Senator who was important to educators statewide. We have taken on the Outer Banks Marathon, where we provide a “Hydration Station” for all runners, offering them drinks and snacks in their run. This happens annually, in November. The Dare County Relay For Life, by the American Cancer Association, wouldn’t be complete without our Chapter group walking along, too. We’ve had Chapter members that have been affected by Cancer, either personally or through family and friends. Our Sister Danielle James passed away with Cancer, and was memorialized with a donation to a community garden in her honor.
We assisted in Hurricane Maria relief to two Puerto Rican Chapters of DKG during the 2017 school year. We gave “Dollars to Dorian” to help our friends in Hyde County with the devastation that hit Ocracoke Island, due to Hurricane Dorian this past year. As well, we also helped back the Family Literacy Project/Mano Al Hermano, which in turn, has community members who help the Hispanic population with schoolwork and literacy concerns. Children At Play is another local resource for our young pre-school children. Presently, we support Food For Thought, a local charity who provides “healthy meals for strong minds”, by giving toiletries and funding to their cause. Dare County’s Food Pantry is also a recipient of our earnings. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library benefited from the Delta Zeta Chapter during the past. These are just a few of the many causes we’ve been a part of during our past 31 years.
As NC DKG members, we continued to support Schools for Africa and the World Fellowship Fund. Additionally, Beginning Teachers benefit from gifts of our Chapter each year: the local newly minted teachers start their year by receiving a “Goody Bag” of essential items for each to begin their classrooms, such as marking pens, stickers, snacks, and notepads. During the school year, they were rewarded with a Movie Night out. In this way, we support our NC Delta Kappa Gamma’s worthy causes on a local level.
From being involved in our State Conventions, to publishing books, taking on leadership positions on boards and moving up from teaching to administration, we will continue to unite, to honor, to advance, to support, to endow, to stimulate, and to inform our sisters, our colleagues, and our neighbors of the importance of education in our society.
Charter Members of Delta Zeta Chapter:
*Mary Alexander
Bea Basnight
*Ella Jane Buckingham
Diane Forrest
Elizabeth Foster
*Jeannette Gard
Carroll Harrell
Valerie McCarter
*Bertie Meekins
*Mary Meekins
*Milah Meekins
Lynn Midgett
Caroline Pearce
Beatrice Rodeheffer
Rose Smith
Marjalene Thomas
Claudia Twiford
Beatrice Ward
*Jean Ward
Linda White
*deceased