Tri-Chapter Luncheon widens horizons of warmth

Members of Theta Kappa Chapter, Texas State Organization, pose for a photo in the lobby after tri-chapter luncheon.

     
     I was among Theta Kappa Chapter members who drove the 30-35 minutes from Seguin, Texas, to San Marcos, Texas, for a tri-chapter luncheon on a Saturday recently. We reinstated this practice after a long hiatus. Nu Chapter in San Marcos hosted the luncheon and members of Alpha Theta in New Braunfels made the third chapter. They will have hostess honors in 2013.
     We ate a lovely catered meal with homemade desserts. Everyone in Alpha Theta and Theta Kappa won a door prize! We enjoyed a musical lesson about The Song, which had everyone smiling and singing. We shared successes and made plans to attend our coming Texas State Organization Convention and the International Convention.  In short, we enjoyed ourselves, met some new people, renewed some friendships, and enjoyed ourselves.

They let me make a plug for attending the 2012 International
Convention in New York City July 24-28...and tell a joke.

     It's so easy to fill a Saturday with errands and projects, but these three chapters have members who enjoyed the short ride with friends. So what else do we do? We catch up with what's happened during a month or more. We talk about elections and debates, the weather, the draught, and new rules leveled by area schools. We compare notes, share ideas, and laugh. We remind each other about coming events and who will drive or make the reservations.
     Sound like your chapter? Probably. This genuine spiritual fellowship grows on you and feels darn good when you need it. Whether we are mentoring early-career educators, playing Bunko with girls at the city youth club, or hearing from the superintendent, we learn and grow together. I hope you are enjoying the information and warmth of your chapter.
 

2012 marks an ending

Corlea, Cale, Barbara and Mother

The new year marked the January 12 death of my mother, Wanda Haren. She would have been 90 in August. An electronic memorial was held for her January 21, and she will be interred at Ft. Bliss Cemetery in El Paso, Texas, Jan 27.

     Thank you for the cards, emails, phone calls, flowers and warm thoughts. Your caring has helped me very much! Thank you.

Wrapping it up!

    From wrapping holiday gifts to wrapping favorite foods, this time of year offers special surprises. I've enjoyed the annual drawing of names for Secret Santa at Society Headquarters this year. As we gathered around the Blanton Room, opened gifts and revealed the Santas, we laughed and groaned at not-so-funny jokes.
     Texans finally got a cold spell (if you will count 56 C high and a 29 C low one week) and wrapped pipes, wrapped up pets and wrapped ourselves in warm coats. We began wrapping up the year by trying to finish Do-It lists and clear desks.
     We also shared wonderful food throughout December. Cookies, cakes, dip, chips, cheese...all were tasty. Friends sent cards, flowers, pears, fruit, chocolates, and popcorn in all flavors. My neighborhood had its annual cookie exchange Dec. 10. After orange juice/champagne, coffee and breakfast casserole, we chatted and circled the table taking an allotted amount of cookies each time around. Each of us went home with a wonderful variety of six dozen cookies. (Don't count calories!)
     On Dec. 3 I opened my home for the Seguin Conservation Society's Heritage Tour of Homes. It rained, but we had more than 300 people (nearly 400 by some counts) come through our homes. Linda, Nita and Phyllis made a special trip from Austin to come to the event!
     I received lovely notes from many state organization presidents by telephone, email, internet cards, and regular mail. Each greeting is treasured as are the friends who sent them. I wish you all a thoughtful close to 2011 and a cheerful greeting for 2012.

Friends, experiences create 2011 collage of variety

     One of many banquets this summer, this dinner table includes friends from Germany, England, Finland and the U.S. The necklace I'm wearing started at the Tennessee Convention, then appeared at the Texas Convention before traveling to all five regional conferences. It was a loan from my generous Tennessee friend, Nancy Davis. I'm still looking for the right thank you gift for Nancy. If you have ideas, give me a call or email.

     The summer included training sessions with the 2011-2013 state organization presidents. They are a wonderful group of caring women. They presented me with challenges, meditations, information, and warmth. Workshops, speakers and conversations taught me about using new technology, meeting new demands in the classroom, and seeking personal strengths. I grew in many areas, and I hope your regional conference experiences allowed you the same growth opportunities.

     The collage of 2011 included travel, site visits, meetings, quiet talks, passionate discussions, writing, proofing, and lots of thinking. Keeping up with friends via email and cards substituted for short personal visits and telephone conversations. It seems there just enough time in the day or days in the week. But please know that I think of you often, hear your words in my head, and try to represent you, the best of our membership in all I do and say. Thank you for a growing experience in 2011. I look forward to an interesting 2012 with your help.



Is the summer gone?

Song lyrics, the news and chat all say, "We've had fire, and we've had rain."
    I hope you have been spared some of these extremes. Our Emergency Fund requests are trickling in, so we know some of you have suffered major damage. Please keep us posted.
    Last night I attended my chapter's annual banquet. We initiated four new members into Theta Kappa. As we enjoyed each other's company, caught up on the latest news and planned future events, I was reminded of how much happiness and good we spread throughout our community. I hope your chapter also spreads this positive vibe.

Information You Requested

From Virginia Breakfast (or as close as I can remember):

I’ll start with my elevator speech: We are an honor society of approximately 95,000 women educators…with 2,600 chapters in 17 countries. Each year we donate nearly $3 million to support education and educators.

Our members range from pre-Kindergarten teachers to university presidents. In (this state) we have # members. Locally we have # chapters/members.

Through a partnership with ECOSOC, the Public Relations arm of the United Nations, we have seven members of the Non-Government Organization. Our representatives have participated in the steering committee for Danny Kaye’s Fund Drives and the Conference for Teaching about the United Nations (CTAUN). Our international project is Schools for Africa…through the US Fund for UNICEF and with Nelson Mandela’s Project.

Working with the Fulbright Foundation and selected Canadian universities, we grant aid to women to come to Canada or the US to work on master’s programs. We have helped women in more than 100 countries earn their degrees. Many returning to villages to change their way of life…even own a goat!

Local, state organization and international scholarship programs for members, high school students and college students help educators and future educators continue their schooling. We help early career educators so they will remain in the profession.

We excel in leadership training at the state organization and international levels. We have an updated website—scheduled to be even more improved in 2012 when we move it to the cloud and save even more money.

We have received 501(c) 3 status for eight of our Society funds, so contributions will be tax deductible. We have updated/revamped our Constitution and International Standing Rules. We are revising our Handbook as a Go-To Guide. We have a family of literature with the design of our NEWS, Bulletin and Society brochures. These have come about with the help of a Marketing consultant.

We have an excellent staff at Society Headquarters to serve members quickly and efficiently. Our Administrative Board is hard working: they have continually updated the Strategic Action Plan, meet twice a year and have homework. The state organization presidents leadership development training during this pre-conference was packed with about as much work as the board meetings.

While we have suffered some membership loss, we are thriving. We have hard working chapters, international committees and dedicated members. You are preparing us for our future and from the looks of this group this morning, we are in for an excellent ride!

2011 State Organization Conventions Provide More Variety for Members

Since visiting NV, MD, GB and TN state organization conventions (TX in progress now), I am stunned by the number of similarities and often surprised at the differences. Some of our traditions build the similarities, but area and cultural differences allow for some interesting practices. Not everyone ends with a banquet on Saturday night. Workshops may vary from  one choice to 40. Speakers, panels and planned discussions vary with the locale. All were interesting and enjoyable. Thank you for the chance to share and listen. If you took pictures at any of these events, please send them to me!