​THETA THOUGHTS

Theta Chapter, Nevada State
Delta Kappa Gamma Society International
The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International promotes professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education.

Volume 88                                                                                                                                                                         August 2018

President:             Jane Barnes
1st Vice Pres.:        Lori Johnson
​2nd Vice Pres.:      Terrie Camenisch

Recording Sec’y:   Kathy Leonard
                                 Kellie Crosby-Sturtz
​Corres. Sec’y          Charlene Harris

Parliamentarian:    Carol Mueller
Treasurer:                 Susan Capistrant
Past President:       Ardynne Sprinkle
​Communications:  Carol Cardillo

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WELCOME BACK
September 2018

          Hello friends!  I hope everyone has had an enjoyable and relaxing summer.  Along with their summer activities some of our members have been involved with Delta Kappa Gamma business.  Susan, Ardynne, Carol M., Carol C., Charlene, Lori and I attended the Leadership Revitalization Workshop in Eureka, Nevada.  We all came away from the workshop with some exciting, revitalizing ideas to hopefully move our Chapter forward.  More to come!

          Susan and Carol Mueller attended the Delta Kappa Gamma International Convention in Austin, Texas.  We wait in anticipation for their reports about the convention.  Anne-Marie Squatrito completed her second master’s degree in June.  Congratulations!!! 

          I look forward to seeing everyone at our first meeting on Saturday, September 8.    

Jane Barnes, President

NEW THETA WEBSITE

www.dkgnvtheta.org

CHAPTER DUES

          Please do not forget to pay your dues.  You may bring cash or check to the September meeting or mail a check directly to Susan Capistrant, Treasurer.  $70 for active members, $30 for reserve members.  Susan MUST have your dues payment by October 31 for her to meet the deadline for sending the appropriate dues/fees to the state and international organizations.  Your promptness will be greatly appreciated.

DKG TOTE BAGS

            The DKG International Society Convention held in Austin, TX in July 2018 had requested all attendees bring their own tote bags.  That worked out very well for everyone in addition to the money saved.
           Donate one or more bags!
            The Nevada State Convention planning committee for the March 2019 convention in Reno is requesting DKG tote bags from previous years.  If you have one or several tote bags from previous state conventions, would you be so kind as to donate them to NU Chapter.  Please give them to Jane Barnes who will see that they reach Carson City.  The bags must be donated early so NU Chapter can plan accordingly.  Having enough bags means the NU ladies can fill them in advance and not worry about last minute substitutes.  NU Chapter will certainly appreciate your generosity.  

SAD NEWS

            Some of our longtime members may remember Judy Armstrong and her daughter Patricia Russum.  Judy’s daughter Paula, who lives in Carson City, very kindly notified Charlene that Judy passed away on July 18.
            Judy originally joined Delta Chapter in Carson City in 1983 then transferred to Theta Chapter where she served two terms as Recording Secretary, 2002-06. Patricia joined her mother in Theta Chapter in 2005.  They were members until 2009 when Patricia and her husband Pete moved to Kansas. Judy followed and settled not too far from her daughter.  Patricia and Pete recently moved into Judy’s home prior to her passing.  You may send condolences to the following:
                              Pete and Patricia Russum
                              c/o Judy Armstrong family
                              545 W 5th Street
                              Larned, Kansas  67550-2911

RPEN

            The speaker for the Sparks RPEN Chapter in July was Ron Smith, Mayor Elect of Sparks, speaking on the remarkable growth in Sparks and the challenges facing the city.   I also received Terri Laird’s update from her July 10, 2018 notes regarding PERS and PEPB which included the following statement, “RPEN will be conducting one-on-one in-person interviews with all candidates for the NV Assembly and those running for a handful of seats in the Senate, as well as all constitutional office candidates in mid-August …”  Stay tuned for updates in the fall.
                        Carol Cardillo
                        Educational Excellence Committee
     (which includes Pers. Growth, Prof. Affairs & Research)

September 8, Meeting 9:15am

Location:      Lori Johnson
                        9835 Shadowless Trail, Reno
                        Tel.  742-8190
                        linlors@aol.com
Co-hostesses:         Jane Barnes
                                    Terrie Camenisch
Inspiration:             Ardynne Sprinkle
Program: “Getting to Know You” Ice
Breaker and Organizational Meeting

CALENDAR

Sept. 15        State Executive Board Mtg
                            Mizpah Hotel, Tonopah, NV
Oct. 13          Theta Meeting
Oct. 27          Reno Pops, Pioneer Center
Oct. 31          Chapter dues deadline
Nov. 3           Theta Meeting
Dec. 1                        Holiday Luncheon, TBA
Dec. 14, 7pm Reno Pops, So. Reno
                                    Baptist Church
Dec. 15, 2pm Reno Pops, So. Reno
                                    Baptist Church

UPDATE DKG PROFILE

           Have you had a change of address, telephone number, email address, or been elected as an officer for the coming year?  If so, please update your profile ASAP.  Restrictions prohibit publicizing the password.  If you forgot the password or need help in updating your profile, please contact Carol Cardillo for assistance.
            If you have difficulty accessing the website, please contact kelseyd@dkg.org.

STATE LEADERSHIP

WORKSHOP

          The Nevada DKG Leadership Revitalization Workshop was held on June 30, 2018 at the Eureka Opera House in Eureka, Nevada.  DKG International President Carolyn Pittman facilitated the workshop.  The three areas of concentration were Membership, Communication, and Leadership Development.  We discussed what was working well for the organization, what we wished it looked like, what challenges we need to overcome, and what to do about them. 
            Among the recommendations for improvement:  more contact/sharing with other local chapters, the critical importance of personal contact with potential new members, engaging an IT person to assist with “Go To” electronic meetings (even if the chapter has to pay for his/her services),  celebrating accomplishments of your chapter members, reviewing and updating your constitution and standing rules, honoring community leaders supportive of education, preparing a chapter brochure for public distribution (such as at our Arts & Crafts Fair), and spending time at a chapter meeting exploring the international, state, and local websites.

MINUTES

​            The May 19, 2018 minutes are attached for your review.           
            The Chapter Executive Board Minutes for June 11, 2018 are attached for your review.  

THETA ACKNOWLEDGES
​
ANNE-MARIE SQUATRITO

           ​Theta Chapter would like to acknowledge Anne-Marie Squatrito for her most recent higher education accomplishment.  Anne-Marie received her second Master’s Degree in Educational Administration in June 2018 from the Grand Canyon University, AZ.  Anne-Marie had earned her first Master’s Degree in Education with a specialization in Special Education in May 2007 from UNR.
            Anne-Marie has been a member of Theta Chapter since 2009.  During her membership, she has served in the various positions of recording secretary, membership chair, and communications chair.  She is one of our few active members working fulltime for Washoe County School District as a high school special education teacher in the CLS (Comprehensive Life Skills) Program at Hug High School, Reno.  Her teaching career started as a 4th grade teacher at Sun Valley Elementary in Sparks, NV, then three years In Jackpot, NV and another year in Elko, NV before returning to Reno. 
            Anne-Marie has graciously offered her home for meetings, co-hostessed meetings in other members’ homes, provided inspiration readings at monthly meetings, engaged her students with projects helpful to the chapter, and shown a willingness to help wherever needed.  
            Anne-Marie is from a close-knit Reno family.  Her mother Louise is a Theta chapter member having joined DKG a year earlier.   Anne-Marie has three siblings, also college educated, who all enjoy the frequent family gatherings at her mother and father’s homestead off Mount Rose Highway.  Anne-Marie has enjoyed several fascinating trips with her younger sister Theresa (the Baltic States, Africa, Scandinavian countries, and most recently a trip to Scotland this summer).
            We all know how difficult it is to work full time, take graduate courses, be actively involved with DKG, and handle all the myriad duties and ordinary challenges of daily life.  We congratulate Ann-Marie for her high achievement in earning her second master’s degree and for her dedication to her students and her profession.  Great job, Anne-Marie!  We are all so proud of you!