Kappa Phi News

Kappa Phi Chapter, No. 261, Area 9

Carrollton-Farmers Branch, TX
1 The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International
Texas State Organization
Vol. 41, Issue 2 September, 2019

2
DKG Mission Statement: The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International promotes professional and personal
growth of women educators and excellence in education.
Vision Statement: Leading Women Educators Impacting Education Worldwide

3 From the President’s Pen

Friends and fellow Kappa Phi members,

Our September meeting promises to be fun as we partake of Italian food and participate in
a fun and enlightening program. Don’t forget to bring magazines and any other sources of
pictures for our project.

August has been a busy month for Area 9 Chapter Presidents and the Coordinating Council of Dallas.
Both groups met to make plans for the coming year. The Chapter Presidents committed to the goal of
increasing membership and discussed ways to draw people in. We began planning the reception for Patti
Belknap, our current State President, in late March or April of 2020. And we also started making plans
for the Area 9 Workshop to be held on September 19, 2020.

The Coordinating Council of Dallas began planning for the Spring Luncheon which will be held at Lake-
wood Country Club again this year. The date is April 4, 2020. Chapters volunteered for responsibilities,
and we have entertainment again this year. The group was very impressed with the Police Choir last
spring and felt it would be appropriate to have them again given the climate we find ourselves in now
and the support our first responders need. They were very complementary and our job is simple. It is a
nice feeling.

The first Convention Keys newsletter for the 91st Texas State Convention in McAllen is attached at the
end of this newsletter. Please note the date changes for the 2020 Convention. It will start on Wednes-
day, June 17 and end Friday evening, June 19, so we can travel on Saturday and be home in time for
Father’s Day on Sunday. We will continue to forward information to you as it comes in.

Looking forward to a great meeting next week! See you there…

Lee Nitcholas, Kappa Phi President

Kappa Phi Officers, 2018-2020

President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lee Nitcholas 1st Vice President. . . . . . Marilyn Marsh
2nd Vice President. . . . . . . Mary Funk Recording Secretary. . . . Chris Little
Corresponding Secretary. . . Sally Saar Treasurer. . . . . . . . . . . . . Pat Bielamowicz
Parliamentarian. . . . . . . . Nancy Shaheen

Editor: Celeste Craig, 6210 White Rose Trail, Dallas, TX 75248 celrob56@gmail.com
Website: kappaphitexas.weebly.com
3 $$ Money Matters $$

Pat is in Australia enjoying her grandchildren. When she returns home, the
Treasurer’s Report will be sent to all members via email.

Early Educator Grant

Tina, Debbie, and Vicky have developed an application form for our Early Educator Grant. The intro-
ductory paragraph reads as follows:

The Kappa Phi Chapter of The Delta Gamma Society International will award up to four grants
during the current school year, not to exceed $500 each. The grant funds are intended to fund class-
room resources such as: books, manipulatives, learning games, adaptive special education materials,
software licenses, etc. Early Educators who are starting their 1st to 5th year of teaching may ap-
ply for the grant between September 9th and November 15th, 2019. The link to the online application
can be found below. Grantees will be awarded funds the week of December 9th, 2019 via personal
delivery. Grantees will also be invited to the May meeting of Kappa Phi to share the successes of the
purchased materials and how they impacted students.

The application in its entirety is attached at the end of the Newsletter. Thank you, ladies, for your hard
work in developing the Early Educator Grant!

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3 3

Yearbook Reminders
I am working on the Yearbook. If you have a new email address, phone number, or home address, please
let me know as soon as possible. After all, we have to meet the Early Bird Deadline! Also a reminder
about photos: if you’d like a different Yearbook picture, please contact me at smprice@hotmail.com. I
can look for a photo in my files for a picture from a meeting and/or make arrangements to take a new
photo at a meeting. If I use a prior picture, you get to view it and tell me your decision. This offer
expires a month before the Yearbook Deadline, that is, September 30.

3 Susan Price, Yearbook Chairman

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 This Is My Dream and I Decide How to Get There
3

That is the program theme for our first regular meeting for 2019-2020 on September
5 at 2 Guys from Italy at 11637 Webb Chapel, Dallas 75229. Their phone number is
972-247-6814. Bring your catalogs and magazines (other supplies will be provided)
for designing and producing your very own Vision Board. Do bring your thoughts
and dreams to put “You” on paper. I can’t wait to see what each of us comes up with while getting to
know each better. See you all on September 5 at 6:00 p.m.

Marilyn Marsh, First Vice-President

September Meeting 5

This Is My Dream and I Decide How to Get

There
Date: Thursday, September 5, 2019 Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Place: Two Guys From Italy Program: Creating Vision Boards

11637 Webb Chapel
Dallas, TX 75229 972-247-6814

Purpose: To Unite To Honor To Advance To Stimulate

Mark the Date for Our Next Chapter Meeting:

Date: October 10, 2019 Time: 6:00 p.m.
Place: Church of the Apostles Program: Indian Nation Treaty With
329 N. MacArthur Blvd. Highways
Coppell, TX 75019

Purpose: To Advance To Stimulate To Inform

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 7 Spotlight On Susan and Carrie Price and BIND

BIND—Brain Injury Network of Dallas—provides tools and a bridge of

support to adult brain injury survivors so they can reconnect into life, the
community, and workplace. Susan and her daughter Carrie were both part
of the group that were instrumental in getting BIND started.
Now through September 3 you can see The Mask Exhibit at The Shops at Willow Bend. The Mask Ex-
hibit tells different members’ stories about their brain injury. Most of them share the importance of BIND
in their current life. The exhibit includes actual masks made by the members. You can find information
about BIND on their website: https://thebind.org/ You can also ask Susan Price any questions you might
have. She will be happy to share information about BIND and her family’s journey.

Susan’s Daughter Carrie Price

Short Chuckles
From Seniorific News August 2019: 4 Print.

People want the front of the bus, the back of the church, and the center of attention! 8

The other day I confused my printer by selecting it to print a portrait of a landscape!

What do you call a rabbit with fleas? Bugs Bunny

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 Happy Birthday to You!
Lee Nitcholas September 12
3
3 Susan Price September 19
Barbara Taylor September 24
Tina Flatt September 28

Future Meetings

December 5, 2019 6:00-8:00 p.m. Christmas Party and Auction Location TBA
Olive Garden
Chapter Birthday Celebration 2418 S. Stemmons Pkwy
January 9, 2020 6:00-8:00 p.m. Essential Oils Presentation Lewisville
Holocaust Museum
Saturday, Tour of NEW Holocaust Museum 300 N. Houston St.
February 8, 2020 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Lunch at Corner Bakery Dallas
Ole’s Tex Mex
Officer Election for 2020-2022 600 Sandy Lake Rd.
April 2, 2020 6:00-8:00 p.m. Parliamentary Procedure Coppell
Café de France
Officer Installation 17370 Preston Rd.
May 7, 2020 6:00-8:00 p.m. Founers’ Celebration Dallas

The deadline for the October/November newsletter is Wednesday,

September 25. Please note: this is a different date than previously pub-
lished. This edition will combine both October and November information.
If you would like to submit an article for that edition, please send it 6
to Celeste (celrob2@sbcglobal.net) by September 25.

1, 2. Graphic courtesy of dkgtexas.org/graphics 3. Photos courtesy of Kappa Phi Members 4. Graphics courtesy of Microsoft Word non-
commercial use graphics 5. Free Illustration: Journal of My Life: CITA-CITA atau ANGAN-ANGAN? 6. Free Illustration: period-
481478_960_720.jpg 7. Free Illustraion: http://sandierpastures.com/wp-content-uploads/2013/08/spotlight-550x352.jpg 8. Free Illustration: http://
i94.photobucket.com/albums/1100/Harmadah_2006/Emotions-Bigger/1156287724.gif

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 DELTA KAPPA GAMMA INTERNATIONAL
KAPPA PHI CHAPTER
MINUTES
August 8, 2019
MEETING HELD AT home of Lee Nitcholas
CARROLLTON, TEXAS

Our meeting was preceded by pot luck dinner.

Members present: Lee Nitcholas, Laura Harbin, Susan Price, Nancy Shaheen, Sammie Perry, Chris
Little, Barbara Taylor, Mary Funk, Sarah Eaton, Vicky Herr, Marilyn Marsh, Elsa Ashley, Barbara Gil-
bert, Roberta Gould, Debbie Moss

Welcome: President Lee Nitcholas welcomed all members. She also presented Mary Funk with a certif-
icate honoring her for her 25 years of membership in Delta Kappa Gamma.

Inspiration: Vicky Herr gave the inspiration for the evening. A sheet was passed around for members
to volunteer to give the inspirational message for future meetings.

Secretary’s Report: Chris Little reported that the minutes from the May meeting were included in the
newsletter. No corrections were made.

Treasurer’s report: Pat Bielamowicz was not in attendance. Lee reported that the treasurer’s report
was included in the newsletter. Laura Harbin reported on the budget meeting which was held at the home
of Vicky Herr. At that time the required audit was performed by members of the Finance Committee
which included Vicky Herr, Laura Harbin, and Chris Little. Pat Bielamowicz was also in attendance at
the Finance Committee meeting.

Old Business: Vicky Herr reported on the Grant in Aide. Debbie Moss presented the new application
form which will be sent to Newman Smith High School as well as the elementary and middle schools
(10) which feed into Newman Smith. The goal is to encourage more participation from those teachers
who are starting their first to fifth year of teaching. Money raised from our annual December auction
will continue to fund the grants. Members agreed to consider whether or not all teachers in their first to
fifth year of teaching could be eligible to receive the grant. A more complete explanation of details can
be found on the application form presented by Debbie Moss at the August meeting. More discussion and
a vote will be taken at the September meeting concerning the eligibility of candidates for a scholarship
grant. The scholarship fund currently has $3,264. 22 as scholarship grants have not been awarded every
year. The committee hopes to offer 4 grants of $500 each this year. The committee would like the money
used for the scholarships to be kept separate from the chapter’s budget so accounting for the funds can
be done more easily. Also suggested was presenting the recipients of our grants at a school board meet-
ing so that more people know about Delta Kappa Gamma. We also plan on inviting recipients of the
grants to our Kappa Phi chapter meeting in May. The current launch date for the program, application
deadline, and selection dates for the applicants may need an adjustment as the timeline is very narrow.
Discussion will occur before a vote at the next meeting. This information will be included in the newslet-
ter so members have an opportunity to consider the options.

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New Business: Laura presented the proposed budget for 2019-2020. The proposed budget was included
in the May newsletter. As the proposed budget has been presented to the membership, members will vote
at the September meeting. Questions and discussion will be entertained prior to a vote for approval of
the proposed budget.

A question was raised about the funds ($500) provided for the chapter president to attend the state con-
vention. There was concern that the amount of money was not sufficient as the convention will be held
in McAllen this year. Because of increased costs for transportation, hotel, and food, an adjustment may
be needed. Questions were raised as to how the chapter could secure additional funds whether from rais-
ing the chapter dues, fund raising, donations, or using a portion of the reserve funds. Time for discus-
sion on the matter will be provided at the September meeting before chapter members vote.

Marilyn Marsh presented the programs for the coming year. Members were given copies for reference.
Included is one Saturday meeting as well as a later starting time for all meetings. The December meeting
location is still to be determined.

Donations were accepted for a small memorial for DeDe’s husband who passed away this spring.

Announcements: Susan is updating photos for the yearbook. Contact her if you would like a new pho-
to.

Members signed a card for our member, Charlotte Davis, who is ill.

Remember to bring magazines or catalogues for our next meeting to create the vision boards

Adjourn: Lee Nitcholas adjourned the meeting at approximately 8:35.

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 Kappa Phi Early Educator
Grant Application
The Kappa Phi Chapter of The Delta Gamma Society International will award up to four grants dur-
ing the current school year, not to exceed $500 each. The grant funds are intended to fund classroom
resources such as: books, manipulatives, learning games, adaptive special education materials, soft-
ware licenses, etc. Early Educators who are starting their 1st to 5th year of teaching may apply for
the grant between September 9th and November 15th, 2019. The link to the online application can be
found below. Grantees will be awarded funds the week of December 9th, 2019 via personal delivery.
Grantees will also be invited to the May meeting of Kappa Phi to share the successes of the purchased
materials and how they impacted students.

Applicant Name:__________________________________________________

Campus, Grade taught:_________________________________________________

Email Address: ________________________________________________________

Phone number:_______________________________________________________

Subject(s) you teach:___________________________________________________

What resources are you interested in purchasing?____________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

How will you use these materials with your students?: ___________________________

______________________________________________________________________

What is the estimated cost?______________________________________________

Should you be chosen to receive this grant, we would love to acknowledge your award on our chapter
website.
By signing below, you give permission for Kappa Phi to post information to our website including your
name, picture, and information such as teaching position, years of experience, etc.

__Yes

__No

Link to online application: http://bit.ly/EarlyEducatorGrant

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 91st Texas State Convention ~

August, 2019
McAllen ~ June 17-19, 2020

Destination—McAllen!
Deep South Texas is gearing up for the 91st Texas State Convention. McAllen is located at
the southern tip of Texas in the beautiful Rio Grande Valley.

TSO President, Patti Belknap and the 2020 DKG Steering

Committee will welcome the members at the McAllen

Convention Center. This multi-purpose event center with

174,000 square feet of state-of-the-art and multifunctional
spaces is sure to provide plenty of room for our Delta Kappa
Gamma sisters to enjoy as we share in fellowship, learning,
and celebrating a dedication to excellence in education.

Watch for deadline and registration information in future editions of Convention Keys.

Day Changes for the 2020 Convention

The 2020 Convention will start on Wednesday morning, June 17 and finish up on Friday
evening, June 19. This will allow those who would like to be home for Father’s Day to travel
on Saturday. The Rio Grande Valley has so much to offer that it would be worth coming early
or staying late. We would encourage you to extend your stay and spend some time in our
subtropical area. We will feature locations in more detail in future newsletters, but for those
wanting to take a look now here is a short list of places to visit.
Quinta Mazatlán International Museum of Arts & Science Veteran’s War Memorial
South Padre Island Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle National Shrine
Gladys Porter Zoo Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park National Butterfly Center

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 Embassy Suites
by Hilton
The newly-constructed convention hotel, Embassy
Suites, is steps
from the convention center. It offers a stylish stay and a
convenient location to shopping and restaurants. Compli-
mentary McAllen airport shuttles are available upon re-
quest. We are investigating Harlingen shuttles
Settle into a spacious two-room suite with modern décor.
The living room has a sofa sleeper, work space and 55-
inch HDTV, plus a kitchenette with microwave, mini-
refrigerator and coffee maker. The private bedroom has
a king or two queen beds and an additional 55-inch
HDTV. Enjoy complimentary WiFi in all suites and public
areas of the hotel.
Greet the day with Starbucks® coffee and free made-to-
order breakfast. The Brickstone Grill serves delicious
American favorites that can also be delivered to your
door. Join sisters for a complimentary Evening Social.
There’s plenty of outdoor seating to enjoy McAllen’s
weather, plus an outdoor pool.

The convention rate for all of these wonderful amenities

is $134.00 per night.

Drive or Fly?
If you choose to drive, take US 281 or US 77 South.
If you choose to fly, book your flight into McAllen International (MFE)
on Allegiant, American, or United Airlines or into Valley International
Airport-Harlingen (HRL) on Southwest.

Convention Steering Committee at the first meeting with

TSO President Patti Belknap and Executive
Secretary Cheryl Crawford. Pictured are: Front row:
Lori Shontz, co-chairman, Patti Belknap, TSO
president, Kitty Hutchcroft, chairman, Cheryl
Crawford, TSO Executive Secretary. Second
Row: Barbara Johnston, consultant, Eloisa Villanueva,
treasurer, Sara Hayward, secretary. Third row: Adela
Navarro, registrar and Pam Bond, publicity.
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