Biennium draws to a close!

All,

It is without a doubt that I say to all "Thank you" for your support during my biennium as Epsilon President. I could not have done this job without the help and support of my sisters in this great organization which promotes personal and professional pursuits for educators. 

Martha Turner begins her biennium Monday, July 1.  I will support her work and efforts to continue the growth of Epsilon through projects and events. I ask that you also support Martha as our state president. Be receptive to change. Say "Yes" to request to participate on committees, chair events, etc.  Epsilon is a great state organization and one that I am very proud to be a member of.

Outfitting Oklahoma - Great Project!

"OUTFITTING OKLAHOMA”

A project conceived and developed by Mary E. Le Blanc of Westwego who is a member of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (a professional organization of key women educators in all 50 states and 18 countries.) Her idea was to help meet the need of fellow organization members, their families and communities in the area of Moore, OK. In the 18-mile span of the tornado destruction, 7 schools were lost. It was very clear that their need was great. How could that need be met, was the question. Faith in God, put everything into place.

Sandy Arabie, owner of Arabie Trucking volunteered to provide an 18-wheeler, driver, and fuel to transport the boxes. Joe Peoples of the Westwego Police Department volunteered to handle storing the boxes and loading the truck. Moya Collins of NOLA Box Co. provided hundreds of boxes and strapping tape.

Great professional and civic organizations, businesses, churches, families, carnival krewes, private schools, and individuals contributed various components necessary for the project’s success. Westwego Civic Association, True Vine Baptist Church, and Banter Fraternity gave the use of their halls to man the tremendous effort of tireless volunteers who worked often 15-hour days to sort, and prepare the individual care packages that will be handed out to individuals upon arrival in Oklahoma. Many people offered their time and resources to the project. Audrey Labiche, Betty Landry, Vera Vedros, Sandra Smith, and Loretta Brehm, all senior citizens, worked daily to fill the interior of the sometimes endless interior of the 53’ long, 10’ high, and 8’wide truck.

Project director, Mary Le Blanc said, “ May God richly bless all of the people who came together in this effort, and the people in Oklahoma who will be the recipients. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”

The anxiously awaited truck will arrive on Sunday morning. You can follow the trip on Facebook under Lagniappe from the Bayou, Arabie Trucking Services, Outfitting Oklahoma. Or, you can track the trip on email at marabie37@yahoo.com

If you missed out on participating in the project, you can send a check to “Moore Public Schools Donation Center/ Tornado Relief Center”, c/o 250 Louisiana Street, Westwego, LA, 70094-4114. The contact person there will be able to replace more items for the schools that was destroyed.

Bea Davis Class of 2013

Congratulations to the Bea Davis Class of 2013. Great job ladies! I know that you will do wonderful things for DKG.

 

Ashley Allen – Alpha Alpha Chapter, NE

Kay Bradford – Theta Chapter, NE

Dawn Chaisson – Chi Chapter, SW

Dolores Hackler – Alpha Sigma, NW

Paula Hotard – Kappa, S

Katherine Jackson – Psi Chapter, C

Yvonne Normand – Alpha Zeta, SW

Betsy Warwick – Alpha Upsilon, C

DKG International: Administrative Board Meeting Actions May 16-18, 2013

 

Actions taken:  DKG International Administrative

Board Meeting

May 16-18, 2013

 

 

·      Approved the cost for translation of the International Standing Rules (2012) into Spanish not to exceed $70.00 and for translating the Constitution and ISR into Japanese, as per their official request, for an amount not to exceed $4,000.

·      Endorsed policy and guidelines of the Arts & Humanities Jury, as amended, for approval by the executive board. To substitute the words “may be inadmissible” for the words “is not appropriate” in the second sentence of the last paragraph of the general policy. 

·         Approved the procedures manuals for finance, non-dues revenue, communications and publicity, and constitution committees.

·         Added “Sharing DKG Administrative Board Responsibilities” to the Administrative Board Policies and Responsibilities to I. A. and moved current A. Policy for Electronic Communications to B.

·         Proposed an amendment to add “Update Sharing DKG Administrative Board Responsibilities” biennially to Constitution Article VI, Section C Duties, 10, b, as (3) and move current (3) to (4).  (Proposal will be forwarded to the Constitution Committee.)

·         Changed the Employee Handbook for Society Headquarters page 9-1 Service and Retirement Awards to read: all current employees shall receive $50 from the Society upon completion of ten (10) years of service and at the end of every ten (10) years of service after that.

·         Changed pages 8-7 and 8-9 in the Employee Handbook to reflect a 30-workday limit for extended sick leave.

·         Went into executive session to discuss salaries.

·         Agreed to maintain the 2012-2013 salary schedule for 2013-2014.

·         Moved the executive director, effective July 1, 2013, from Level 7 Step 6 to Level 7 Step 7 on the Headquarters Staff Salary Schedule for 2013-2014.

·         Moved the operation services administrator, effective July 1, 2013, from Level 6 Step 4 to Level 6 Step 5 of the headquarters staff salary schedule for 2013-2014.

·         Adopted the updated Strategic Action Plan as amended.

·         Amended the Guidelines for International Expansion Process to ensure the 30 members required by the Constitution are present at the installation by inserting in Step Four: The Study Process a new #6, as follows:  Each state organization should reach the level of self-sustainability within five (5) years of installation.  Sustainability is defined as follows: the state organization 1) Pays dues on time; 2) Completes and submits reports on time; 3) Sends the president or designee to regional conference training and International Executive Board meetings; 4) Maintains open and interactive communication with international leaders and 5) Grows by 20% within five (5) years.  Change present #6 to #7, #7 to #8 and #8 to #9. To add “10) Identify and inform founders that they are charged with growing the organization by increasing membership, adding chapters, developing leadership and encouraging members’ involvement.  Founders should participate with other units of the Society; extend membership to eligible women; uphold excellence in projects and policies; and support the professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education.

·         Proposed an amendment to the Constitution Article V, Section C, 3. To read: A new state organization shall have no fewer than sixty (60) members of whom twelve (12) to sixteen (16) may be founders.  (Proposal will be forwarded to the Constitution Committee.)

·         Recommended executive board approval of the Eunah Temple Holden Leadership Fund Committee’s financial support of a non-member woman speaker for the 2014 International Convention (as per Constitution Article VIII, Section C. 3. a.)

·         Approved the proposed lists 2, 3 and 4 of vendors/exhibitors for the 2013 regional conferences.

·         Set fees for the 2014 International Convention in Indianapolis as follows:

      Registration - $160

      Guest - $20

      Non-member - $200

      One day - $60

·         Approved a processing fee of $30 on 2014 International Convention registration cancellations.

·         Denied approval of collection of contributions by the Golden Gift Fund Committee at its assigned activity (meet and greet) during the 2014 International Convention. ·         Determined not to allow solicitation by individuals or Society international committees at international conventions or regional conferences.

·         Approved the proposed list of vendors/exhibitors for the 2014 International Convention.

·         Approved the following vendor/exhibitor fees for registration prior to October 15, 2013, for the 2014 International Convention: DKG affiliate vendor/exhibitor: one table $87.00, two tables $173.00, three tables $259.00 DKG non-affiliate vendor: one table $345.00, two tables $575.00, three tables $805.00 DKG non-affiliate exhibitor: one table $173.00, two tables $345.00, three tables $460.00. Extra charges will be made for additional hotel fees.

·         Approved the following vendor/exhibitor fees for registration after October 15, 2013, for the 2014 International Convention: DKG affiliate vendor/exhibitor – one table $100, two tables $200, three tables $300.00 DKG non-affiliate vendor – one table $400, two tables $660, three tables $925 DKG non-affiliate exhibitor – one table $200, two tables $400, three tables $530.

·         Approved accepting the gift to Society Headquarters in honor of Ohio’s 75th Anniversary.

·         Approved the 2013-2014 Replacement Schedule.

 

Red Rose Alert from Epsilon Legislative Committee

The Senate Committee on Education met on Thursday, May 30th voting against HB160 by Rep. Gene Reynolds. This bill would have delayed the full implementation of the COMPASS evaluations system until the legislature has reviewed the data to ensure accuracy and fairness. A second bill, HB 129 by Rep. Vincent Pierre (D-Lafayette) was approved by the House Education Committee this week and sent to the full House for a vote. The bill says that both components of teacher evaluations - the objective and subjective halves - must be 100% complete before any disciplinary action can be taken against a teacher. The House passed HB 129, and amended it to include the language formerly in HB 160. Sen. Appel, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, said that he may call a meeting of the Senate Education Committee to take action on the amended bill, and that it could still have time to go before the Senate before June 6. Please contact the senate committee and let them know why they should vote for HB129. Don't delay.

See below for committee member telephone numbers and email addresses:
Senator Conrad Appel appelc@legis.la.gov

Senator Eric LaFleur lafleure@legis.la.gov

Senator Dan Claitor claitord@legis.la.gov

Senator Jack Donahue donahuej@legis.la.gov

Senator Elbert L. Guillory guillorye@legis.la.gov

Senator Michael A. Walsworth walsworthm@legis.la.gov

Senator Mack A. White, Jr. whitem@legis.la.gov