Vision Statement: Leading women

zetZeta Xi News
Volume 17 Issue 2 September, 2010
educators impacting education
worldwide
Vision Statement: Leading women educators impacting education worldwide

President, Lois Templeton

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International
Alpha State, Texas Area XIV Editor, Patti Groce
Midland, Texas #158
pgroce@midland.edu

s Mission Statement: The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International promotes professional and
personal growth of women educators and excellence in education.

Maridell Fryar Speaker for October

Date Monday, October 4th

Program: “Educating Congressional Members to Benefit Teachers”

Presenter: Maridell Fryar
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: Anita Patton’s Home
3505 Trinity Meadows

Directions:Trinity Meadows is located West of Midkiff Avenue and North

of Wadley.
Hostesses: Susan Harmon, Heather Bostic, Carol Hartman, Jean Alvey, and
Carolyn McGaha

Maridell Fryar, a retired MISD teacher and the

past Executive Director of Instruction K-12, is
now the First Vice-President/Membership for the
Texas Retired Teachers Association, and the
Parliamentarian for the Midland Association of
Retired School Personnel. Maridell will be
speaking on the need for educating congressional
members to repeal the Government Pension
Offset(GPO) and the Windfall Elimination
Provision(WPE).

This program is the one Zeta Xi will nominate for

the Annie Award. Please plan to attend this
wonderful presentation by Maridell Fryar.
Attendance does count.

Happy Birthday Zeta Xi

At our October meeting we will celebrate the 49th Birthday of
Zeta Xi. Of course there will be cake and candles. Our
organization is very close to the ½ century mark. Be sure to
wear your Delta Kappa Gamma pin to the party.

In addition to Celebrating Zeta Xi’s birthday, we

will be initiating two new members Sandy
Hammontree and Martha Savage.

Please come to the October meeting to help us

celebrate our 49 years of recognizing,
encouraging and supporting key women educators.
Also help us welcome our two newest members.

Dues Time
Susan Harmon, treasurer, will be collecting dues at
our October meeting. The dues are due by the end
of October. Please write a check to Zeta Xi for
$78.00 for regular members and $43.00 for the two
reserve members (you know who you are).

Since you have your checkbook out, now would be a good time
to write a donation check to Zeta Xi in support of Storybook
Christmas, our annual project that gives a book to every 1st
grader in Midland County. Designate on your check that this
is your Storybook Christmas Donation.

We will be collecting birthday pennies for those of you who had

birthdays in September and October. You November birthday babies
might want to add to the birthday pig, too. Please bring your
donations of toiletries for Safe Place and magazines for Casa de
Amigos to the meeting. If you would like to help distribute
these items to the respective places, sign up with Lois
Templeton.

Great August Meeting

Dr. Ryder Warren, MISD’s new superintendent, was the guest speaker for
Zeta Xi’s August meeting at Dorothy Blair’s home. Thanks to Virginia
Conner for asking Dr. Warren to speak to our members. We enjoyed meeting
Dr. Warren and we were one of the first groups he had spoken to since
moving to Midland from Marble Falls. Dr. Warren wants to come back and
keep us informed about the school district.

At the August meeting, those attending the Delta Kappa Gamma Convention
in Waco: Virginia Conner, Anita Patton, Kathy Anderson, Susan Harmon,
Lois Templeton, Natalie Eustace, and Nancy Doss gave a colorful and
noisy presentation, “It’s a Celebration”, to share with the membership
the honors received by Zeta Xi at the June Convention. The Chapter won
the Exemplary Yearbook Award, the Annie Award for our Fairhaven
program, the PACE Award, and member Joyce Hobbs was presented a
certificate for winning the Member in Print Award for her published book
The 2nd R, Writing Across the Curriculum.

We couldn’t convince Dr. Warren to stay for our special Taco Stack Dinner.
He didn’t know what a great dinner he missed. The Taco Stack was delicious
as were the many desserts that members prepared. Below is the extra
delicious Layered Lemon Dessert that Lois Hagins made. Lois was nice
enough to provide the recipe for us. Thank you, Lois

Layered Lemon Dessert

1/2 cup butter 1/4 tsp. salt

1 cup flour 3 eggs beaten
1/2 cup chopped nuts 1/4 cup vinegar
1 (8 ox.) pkg. cream cheese softened 1/4 cup lemon juice
1 (8 oz.) ctn. whipped topping 2 cups water
2 cups powdered sugar 1 Tbsp. butter
2 cups sugar 1 tsp. lemon extract
1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp. cornstarch Additional whipped topping

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix flour and 1/2 cup butter until mixture
resembles coarse meal. Stir in pecans. Press mixture into 9x13x2 inch pan.
Bake for 15 minutes. Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until fluffy.
Fold 1 1/2 cups whipped topping into cream cheese mixture. Spread over
crust. Chill. Combine 2 cups sugar, cornstarch and salt in heavy saucepan;
add 1/4 cup water, stirring to make smooth paste. Add eggs, vinegar,
lemon juice and remaining 1 3/4 cups water, stirring well. Cook over
medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils. (about 35 min.) Boil 1
minute. Remove from heat; add butter and lemon extract; cool. Spread on cheese
layer. Add whipped topping to top.

Minutes of August 30 Meeting

 Zeta Xi Chapter Alpha State Texas
The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International
Chapter Meeting Minutes August 30, 2010

The first meeting of the 2010-2011 year was held in the home of Dorothy Blair with
22 members and two guests present.

Kathy Anderson introduced our speaker, Dr. Ryder Warren, Midland ISD’s new superintendent. He spoke on
“striving for excellence in education.” Joyce Hobbs then gave the inspirational thought.

After a taco stack dinner, the meeting was called to order by President Lois Templeton She welcomed our two
guests, Sandi Hammontree and Martha Savage.

The ladies that attended the Delta Kappa Gamma Convention: Virginia Conner, Anita Patton, Kathy Anderson,
Susan Harmon, Lois Templeton, Natalie Eustace, and Nancy Doss presented “It’s a Celebration” to share with
the membership the honors received by Zeta Xi at the June Convention. Included were: Exemplary Yearbook
Award, Annie Award for our Fairhaven program, the PACE Award, plus Joyce Hobbs was presented a
certificate for Member in Print for the book she wrote and had published.

Virginia Conner gave the program itinerary for the coming year: October, Maridell Fryar; November,
Computer Security Tips; December, Storybook Christmas, February, Girls Night Out; March, Interior Design;
April, Make-A-Wish; May, Founder’s Day.

Carol Hartman read thank you notes from Gloria Grunenwald, Patti Groce and Jann Pullig.

Susan Harmon reminded members to pay their dues and expressed concern that Midland Teachers Credit Union
would be charging our account $7 per month. No action was taken on that concern.

Natalie Eustace lead us in a pictograph of the first few lines of our Delta Kappa Gamma song to aid us all in
learning all the words in a fast, fun and easy way.

Pat Adams and Ann Andrews brought letters written to potential donors for Storybook Christmas for the
members to sign. They reported $1000 in Storybook Christmas account.

After hearing short biographical sketches for Martha Savage by Kathy Anderson and Sandy Hammontree by
Lois Templeton, the members voted by secret ballot to include them as members. They will be initiated at our
October meeting.

Patti Groce reminded members to let her know of any newsworthy events going on in our lives to be included in
our monthly Newsletter.

The Rose was not passed this month.

Lois reminded us to bring magazines for CASA and toiletries for Safe Place, plus our birthday pennies. She
also reminded us to wear our pins each month. Every “home” hostess will be responsible for contacting her
group of hostesses for the month.

Respectfully submitted,

_____________________ _____________________
Dorothy Blair Lois Templeton
Recording Secretary President

Developing An Elevator Speech

As you are aware better communications is a goal of the Delta Kappa
Gamma organization and the Zeta Xi Chapter. We plan to use e-mail,
brochures, newsletters, regular mail, website, Twitter, and Facebook to
not only keep members informed, but also to let others in the community
know about The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, a society for
key women educators.

As part of this goal Zeta Xi members will be developing an elevator

speech. An elevator speech (according to the Internet) is an extremely short
description of an organization, a product or service, prepared in
advance to be used in situations where time is of the essence. The term
comes from the hypothetical situation of somebody seeing a pin or
something similar on your person that arouses their curiosity while in
an elevator (good reason to wear our Delta Kappa Gamma pins), and then
asking you what exactly the pin stands for.

This quick, concise speech can be used anytime someone asks, “What is
Delta Kappa Gamma?” As a help in formulating this speech, please
consider the purposes of Delta Kappa Gamma and the mission statement
(see first page of newsletter). Each member is asked to come up with an
appropriate elevator speech then we will consider each and vote on the
best one.

Purposes of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International has seven basic purposes that govern its program of work and
study. The activities of each level of the Society implement the purposes of the Society. The seven purposes
include

1. To unite women educators of the world in a genuine spiritual fellowship

2. To honor women who have given or who evidence a potential for distinctive service in
any field of education

3. To advance the professional interest and position of women in education

4. To initiate, endorse and support desirable legislation or other suitable endeavors in the
interests of education and of women educators

5. To endow scholarships to aid outstanding women educators in pursuing graduate study

and to grant fellowships to non-member women educators

6. To stimulate the personal and professional growth of members and to encourage their
participation in appropriate programs of action

7. To inform the members of current economic, social, political and educational issues so
that they may participate effectively in a world society

Zeta Xi Member Update

 This is the space in the newsletter that will include news of members
accomplishments, travels, needs, trials (as in tribulations not legal)and
family news. Please contact Patti Groce at 687-0732 or e-mail
pgroce@midland.edu with this information. We really want to know what’s
happening with all of our members, please let us know.

Kathy Anderson is planning for a cruise along the New England

states.

Natalie Eustace is the State Music Chairman for Delta Kappa Gamma.

Nancy McNerney's hopes to attend her 50th High School Reunion in

Kansas.

Carol Hartman went to a wedding for one of her grandchildren and has
a new great-grandbaby

Lois Templeton traveled to the Boy Scout Ranch and Fort Davis for a
little time away from Midland.

Patti Groce is preparing for Midland Need to Read’s 25th Anniversary

Celebration and invites all of the Zeta Xi Members to attend on
September 30 at the Blakemore Planetarium from 3:30 to 7:00.

Tell us your news!

Remember to look at Zeta Xi’s webpage President

developed and updated by member, Susan Lois Templeton
Harmon. You can read the newsletter online. 1st Vice President Virginia
Conner (programs)
This is the address of the link www.zeta-xi.org
2nd Vice President Kathy
Anderson (yearbook)
Attendance is very important this year as it is Recording Secretary
every year. Please try to make every meeting. If Dorothy Blair
you don’t feel like driving, call another member Corresponding Secretary
who will be glad to drive. Carol Hartman
Treasurer
Most of the members are receiving the Susan Harmon
newsletter by e-mail. If you do not have access Parliamentarian
to e-mail, please sign up with Brune Torres at Nancy Doss
682-6829 for an e-mail buddy. If you would like
to be an e-mail buddy, let Brune know. We love
you
 Letter
from Lois
Our year got off to an exciting start with our first meeting at Dorothy Blair’s
lovely home. Thanks, Dorothy, for so graciously hosting our large group. It was
such a pleasure to meet our new M.I.S.D. superintendent, Dr. Ryder Warren and
to hear his plans for our district. We enjoyed our time of fellowship over a
delicious meal followed by a lively celebration of all the recognitions received by
Zeta Xi at the DKG Waco convention. We were delighted to welcome Sandy
Hammontree and Martha Savage as new members.

Our upcoming meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, October 4th, at Anita Patton’s
home promises to be another great evening. We look forward to celebrating Zeta
Xi’s 49th birthday, listening to an informative program by Maridell Fryar, and
initiating our two new members.

Be sure to take a look elsewhere in our newsletter at the wonderful line-up of

programs that have been planned by our program chairman Virginia Conner.
Zeta Xi will continue to shine brightly all year long with programs that are vital to
the interests of our membership.

Start looking around your homes for things you might bring to our November
meeting for our World Fellowship auction. Fall and holiday decor have been
popular items receiving many bids in the past few years. Also, plan to support
Storybook Christmas, our annual chapter project with your contributions.

My goals for our chapter include continuing our award-winning tradition at state
convention and achieving new awards. We would love to pick up awards for
increasing our membership. Be thinking of possible new members who could
make a contribution of their talents to our chapter.

Many thanks to our communications chairman Patti Groce for a great job on our
newsletter. Also, a big thank you goes to Susan Harmon for creating our first
chapter website. Thanks also go to Kathy Anderson and her committee for the
work they are doing on preparing our chapter yearbook.
I’m looking forward to seeing all of you soon!

Love & Laughter to all of you, Lois T.