A New School Year: 2023-24
November 12, 2023: Delta Zeta Assists OBX Marathon
What a wonderful group Delta Zeta is: in the rain and the wind and the cold, DZ showed up at the OBX Marathon this Sunday. Here's what Rendy said, when handing off the photos she (and Diane) took: "It was a miserable day! It was cold, raining, blowing a gale and freezing cold. Sorry you couldn't join us!" (and we couldn't, because we were "stuck" in Ocracoke, due to those gale-force winds!) Make sure you look closely at the photo of the runners on their way over the bridge, and their way back in! BUT - hats off to the 6 women who helped out - Chris Jones, Becki Rea, Rendy King, Diane Childress, Laura Piland and Debbie Ashe.
October 12, 2023: First Meeting of the School Year
So nice to see everyone again. President Diane welcomed us all back this year, with many business items - because we don't have a quorum (and we will be changing the way our quorum is decided) there will be decisions that will be made online. Our sister, Leela Harpur-Heyder, closed with a session on mindfulness: one that everyone took home with them, hopefully in their mind and definitely win their hand - with a home-made "thinking" bracelet!
September 9, 2023: Helping with the OBX Triathlon's Hydration Station
Thank you for sending in your photos, President Diane Childress
May 6, 2023: Our Last Meeting of the School Year 2022-23
Our last meeting of the (school) year: Photos from Linda Foster and a note from VP Jodie Mitchum -
"We had such a nice time this morning honoring some of our long-standing members, hearing about the interesting work Nancy Hennessy is doing with dyslexia, and breathing and dancing with the music Becki put together for us. Such a lovely time! It was so nice to see our sisters, both in-person and virtual.
Thanks for a great 2022-23 Delta Kappa Gamma year, and we look forward to seeing you all in the fall. We will send out communications over the summer so you're ready to jump in with us in September."
"We had such a nice time this morning honoring some of our long-standing members, hearing about the interesting work Nancy Hennessy is doing with dyslexia, and breathing and dancing with the music Becki put together for us. Such a lovely time! It was so nice to see our sisters, both in-person and virtual.
Thanks for a great 2022-23 Delta Kappa Gamma year, and we look forward to seeing you all in the fall. We will send out communications over the summer so you're ready to jump in with us in September."
April 23,2023: Flying Pirate Half Marathon - Bee Sisters Dispense Treats
The Flying Pirate Half-Marathon took place Sunday, April 23, 2023. The Bee Team was swarming around and feeding runners nectar (in the shape of water, Gatorade and Energy Gels). Under the direction of Rendy, several Sisters got up at Zero-dark-thirty and met the half-marathon runners in the middle of their way out (and back in again.) It was a beautiful morning for a run and for our Bee Team!
March 13: (Finally!) 12th Annual Community Spelling Bee
Our Community Spelling Bee came off spectacularly. These are photos of our Worker Bees getting ready for the Bee, as well as conducting it. Photos of the actual competing teams are in our "Annual Spelling Bee" file, under "More"...don't forget to look!
January 21, 2023: Sunny Winter Weather Meeting
Our meeting was a welcome Saturday morning change for many of us: we celebrated our community efforts - with a talk on Kingston's Creatures, by Rendy King and Food For Thought, by Linda White and Margaret Lawler. Each gave us excellent news about how we continue to help in our locality.
November 16: Together in Thanksgiving
Good November meeting! Here are a few photos for y'all: mostly, our Sisters talking about "Who We Are as DKG, Delta Zeta Chapter - our 7 Purposes". We also discussed and passed a budget!
OBX Towne Bank Marathon/Half-Marathon
Here's some pix of our helpers at the Outer Banks Sporting Events OBX TowneBank Marathon/Half Marathon: the Bees (as we call ourselves) held a spot for the thirsty runners on either their 14th mile out of 24th mile back in. The end of First Street was the place to "bee"! It started out being a little rainy, but by the time we left (at 1:30), the sun was out. And thank you to Rendy King, (and her sister, Freda Ballard) for staying out until the last runner WALKED by - sometime after. Rendy did a great job in putting the people in place and organizing the bits and pieces of our Beehive. What a service to our community - with happy runners!
September 22: Our First Meeting of the 2022-23 Year
Our first meeting of the Delta Zeta Chapter of DKG occurred September 22, 2022 at First Flight Middle School, led by President Diane Childress. She presided over our business meeting, which included new committees, new Hostess Teams, and approval of minutes and the Treasurer's Report. We had only 23 in attendance, and needed a quorum of 25 in order to adopt our budget, per Chapter rules. Therefore, our Treasurer, Jen Smith, is unable to spend any money until we get this approved. When possible, your presence in our meetings is necessary!
We have been through a Pandemic in the past two years, with Covid wreaking havoc on our world, but in particular, our schools. We have still been able to induct members into our group, but haven't been in meetings in order to share our lives with each other! Consequently, our Executive Board introduced a theme for this year, "Celebrate Us". We spent time in a Speed Dating (?) situation as an ice-breaker for this theme, and learned a new tidbit about many of our Sisters.
Diane also introduced our new committees, as they are right now: members need to sign up! Also, members need to obligate themselves for one Hostess Team throughout the year.
Our members were very generous in putting together Gift Cards for our 17 Beginning Teachers - $40 each!
Here are the Upcoming Events:
October 31 - Chapter Dues to Jen Smith (if you didn't pay them previously)
November 1 - Nominations for Honorary Members - to Becki Rea
November 13 - Marathon
November 16 - Next Chapter Meeting (make plans to attend!)
Anticipated Newsletter Submission Dates: 11/20/22, 1/20/23, 2/20/23 (Thank you Jodie Mitchum for editing our DZNews!)
We have been through a Pandemic in the past two years, with Covid wreaking havoc on our world, but in particular, our schools. We have still been able to induct members into our group, but haven't been in meetings in order to share our lives with each other! Consequently, our Executive Board introduced a theme for this year, "Celebrate Us". We spent time in a Speed Dating (?) situation as an ice-breaker for this theme, and learned a new tidbit about many of our Sisters.
Diane also introduced our new committees, as they are right now: members need to sign up! Also, members need to obligate themselves for one Hostess Team throughout the year.
Our members were very generous in putting together Gift Cards for our 17 Beginning Teachers - $40 each!
Here are the Upcoming Events:
October 31 - Chapter Dues to Jen Smith (if you didn't pay them previously)
November 1 - Nominations for Honorary Members - to Becki Rea
November 13 - Marathon
November 16 - Next Chapter Meeting (make plans to attend!)
Anticipated Newsletter Submission Dates: 11/20/22, 1/20/23, 2/20/23 (Thank you Jodie Mitchum for editing our DZNews!)
September 2022: Volunteering at The Outer Banks Triathlon
Photos: Thank you - Diane Childress and Becki Rea
New Members Inducted and New Executive Committee Installed in May Meeting
At our meeting today, 4 new members were inducted: and it was marvelous to see their shining faces and bright smiles! They are Shannon Brinkley, Leela Harpur Heyder, Trasa Rossi, and Hillary Braden. Happy membership, ladies!
We also witnessed these folks in an outgoing Executive Board, of President Anna Thomas, 1st Byrum, 2nd VP Laura Piland and Corresponding Secretary Kassie Mount. Incoming Board installed were President Diane Childress, 1st Vice-president Jodie Mitchum, 2nd VP Becki Rea, Correspondence Secretary Becky Strickland, and (continued tenure) Recording Secretary Debbie Whitaker, Parliamentarian Linda White and Treasurer Jen Smith. Kudos to ALL of the people who serve us!
We also witnessed these folks in an outgoing Executive Board, of President Anna Thomas, 1st Byrum, 2nd VP Laura Piland and Corresponding Secretary Kassie Mount. Incoming Board installed were President Diane Childress, 1st Vice-president Jodie Mitchum, 2nd VP Becki Rea, Correspondence Secretary Becky Strickland, and (continued tenure) Recording Secretary Debbie Whitaker, Parliamentarian Linda White and Treasurer Jen Smith. Kudos to ALL of the people who serve us!
Receives Dare County Volunteer Award
Our Sister, Rendy King, was honored with receiving the NC Governor's Volunteer Service Award for 2022, in her service to Kitty Hawk United Methodist Church. Her constant care for those in need is one of the sparks of her giving nature. We are so proud of you, Rendy! Here's a copy of what was written in the Outer Banks Voice, 4/22/2022.
Rendy King, a retired Title 1 math instructor for Dare County Schools, has received a 2022 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award for her volunteer service to Kitty Hawk United Methodist Church, where she is responsible for coordinating the Care Ministry’s community outreach. King was nominated by Dr. Elaine “Lainie” Walls Reed, who serves as Kitty Hawk United Methodist Church Care Ministry team member. In her volunteer role with Kitty Hawk United Methodist Church, King supervises 11 teams of up to 12 members each who maintain personal contact with church members, their referrals and members of the community in need of assistance. The assistance provided ranges from telephone contact and sending frequent greeting cards to making once-a-week meal deliveries for individuals who have either a temporary or a long-term need for help. “If a team is unable to complete a task, Rendy completes it herself in a quiet, seamless manner that has enabled many persons to remain at home with moderate help rather than rehabilitate or relocate elsewhere. This important role has become even more vital during a pandemic as much of the older population Care Ministry serves is hesitant to interact outside their homes,” Reed wrote in her nomination form. According to Reed, “Rendy has filled this position since 2015. At about the same time, she and her grandson, Kingston Haynes, then age 8, began a free ministry of Kingston’s Kreatures, which are stuffed “monsters” she creates on her sewing machine based on his designs that are then given to anyone in need of a hug. Their efforts continue, including many adults in Care Ministry’s reach, and as of this nomination, now number 1,119 Kreatures donated to persons in need.” A June 13, 2016, article published in USA Today about the Kingston’s Kreatures cites examples of recipients of these stuffed “monsters” ranging from “children in cancer treatments to a boys’ soccer team coping with the loss of a teammate to children with cerebral palsy.”
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/NCDARECOUNTY/bulletins/3147878
March 14, 2022: Meeting at FFMS
Good meeting today! Karen Brown came and talked to us about the benefits of meditating on a daily basis; we voted in our new executive committee for the next two years; we discussed money matters; and Felicia B. took home the Raffle! Next Meeting will be May 5, 2022, where we will induct new members. Be on the lookout for where in Manteo this meeting will take place!
February 5, 2022: Meeting at Sandpiper Cay
November 2021: In Person Meeting Finally Occurs!
2021-22 School Year Begins Virtually, but Successfully
For our first meeting of the year, President Anna Thomas put together a brief part to highlight a woman who is working on a national front: the Afghan Refugee Resettlement. Mary Beth King, (in blue frame), presented her idea for buying books for Afghan children that are refugees. These books, which are written in their native language (Farsi Persian), will be purchased so that children will read with their parents and have a "taste of home" while settling into their "new" land. Mary Beth, who is the Executive Director at Frank Adoption Agency, also told about what she is doing in her work to support resettlement efforts and to provide aid to those left behind in Afghanistan.
Pandemic: A Virtual February Meeting for All
Beginning Teachers Receive Gifts from DZ Members
Trasa Rossi, Beginning Teacher at FFMS and Jillian McElhaney, Beginning Teacher at FFES both receive their giftcards from two past Presidents, Diane Childress and Jodie Mitchum. Giving these gifts in times of Covid19 is a little different this year: in years past, each Beginning Teacher received a bag chock full of interesting items that each teacher couldn't live without. This year, they get a gift card, which is ALSO something that a BT can't live without!
September 23, 2020: the First Meeting of the Year went down in history as a 1) spectacular first meeting with President Anna Thomas and crew; 2) a virtual meeting on Google Meet - showing the Sisters who are working in school (and know how to use this technology) vs. the Sisters who don't (and had a tad bit of problems with it!) 3) a great learning experience in Dyslexia, taught to us by our own Nancy Hennessy, (educational consultant and past president of the International Dyslexia Association, and present member of the NC International Dyslexia Society.) and with follow-up by another one of our own, Laura Daniels, a mother of a child with dyslexia, a 4th grade teacher and member of the NC International Dyslexia Society. This was a very interesting look into the facts and myths of dyslexia, given to us by two individuals with personal and professional experience therein.
Best of all, we had the chance to lay eyes on each other, although we weren't all in the same room! We all look forward to a time when we'll be together again.
Best of all, we had the chance to lay eyes on each other, although we weren't all in the same room! We all look forward to a time when we'll be together again.
June, 2020: Virtual Meeting (Due to Coronavirus!) Welcome new Inductees, as well as Installation of Officers for the 2020-2022 interim. Thank you to Felicia Byrum and Diane Childress, for their wonderful photo-taking skills!
Scrapbook: Starting in 1989
February 2020: Business Meeting and Breakfast Snacks
A February day, long ago!
November 2018: Business Meeting
January 2018 Business Meeting
July 2018 Dolphin Tour: Jodie Mitchum's First Meeting as President
May 2018: Initiation of New Members and Installation of New Officers
2018 Delta Zeta Annual Spelling Bee: March
November 2017: Business Meeting
November 2016: Business Meeting and Book Share
2016 Delta Zeta Annual Spelling Bee
September 2015: Business Meeting