Beta Chapter-Rita Corey
April 4, 2024
The BETA Chapter met in November to have our Book project day. Four of us sorted and glued Beta Chapter labels into many books for children and put them into bins. These bins were then delivered to the Women’s Crisis Center, Doctors’ and Dentists’ offices, the Courthouse and Morningside Shelter. The offices are located in Brattleboro and Bellows Falls.
We met again in December at Dummerston School to have our Christmas cookie exchange. Yummy!
We met in January to discuss plans for our March 13th guest speaker event at Dummerston School. Beta Chapter will be hosting Ann Braden, a well-known author who lives in Brattleboro. Ann writes books that are geared toward middle school aged children. She taught at BUHS many years ago before going into full time writing. Ann travels around the country speaking to students and teachers about her books.
We were so looking forward to having Ann as our guest speaker. Unfortunately, she had to cancel for personal reasons. Ann will contact us to set up another date for her presentation. We plan to invite all teachers and paras in the district. We will extend this invitation to all of you as well. I will send more details to all when we have set a new date.
Judy Abascal, a BETA member, spent a month in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
While there, she attended a DKG meeting in San Juan. In Judy’s words “I spent a lovely afternoon having a pot luck lunch and doing a painting project with my San Juan sisters.”
Judy sent us some lovely pictures of the members. She will share her visit with us at our May meeting.
Beta Chapter held their annual book project on November 1st at Dummerston School. All year long we collect children's books that are in good condition. We meet and put book plates on the front page of each book, and then create a selection of books for different ages to be put in small bins and taken to various places in the community. We bring them to Dr. and Dentist offices, the Courthouse , Morningside Shelter, the Crisis Center and many other places in the BRATTLEBORO and Bellows Falls area.
Beta Chapter Hosts DKG Vermont State Spring Convention in Brattleboro, VT on April 30, 2023
Beta Chapter Report- April 30, 2023
BETA CHAPTER REPORT
DKG Vermont Winter Executive Board Meeting 1-28-2023
BETA Chapter has been busy planning for the DKG VT Spring Convention on Saturday, April
29th in Brattleboro. The Executive Board will meet on Friday evening, the 28th, at Centre
Congregational Church on Main Street in Brattleboro.
Every active member is on board to help make the Convention interesting and fun!! We have
been meeting in the music room at my school in Dummerston. In September we inducted a new
member, Deborah Hall, a retired teacher..
In October, President Carol Barbagallo attended our meeting and gave us encouraging words
about the history of DKG and how it has evolved over time into what we have today. We had a lively
discussion of how we can attract new members.
In November, we had our annual book project. Members collect new or slightly used children’s
books and bring them to the meeting. We glue a small DKG information sheet onto the inner cover of
every book. We then place 10-15 books into attractive containers. Each of us takes one or two
containers with us to deliver to the Women’s Crisis Center, Pediatrician offices, the local courthouse,
etc. for children to read in the waiting rooms.
In December, I began a Christmas letter online asking each member to reply with a few
sentences of what they would be doing during the holidays. Every member responded! It was a
wonderful way to stay in touch with everyone and catch up on their plans and traditions.
We support four social concerns throughout the year. We donated socks and toiletries to
Morningside Shelter. We are collecting winter socks, hats, gloves, jackets and boots as part of our
Winter Warmth project. Some members are giving a monetary contribution.
We are connecting with each other by email or phone as we go over the list we are following for
the Spring Convention. We are very much looking forward to hosting the Convention in Brattleboro.
Please be sure to attend!
Respectfully submitted,
Rita Corey
DKG Vermont Winter Executive Board Meeting 1-28-2023
BETA Chapter has been busy planning for the DKG VT Spring Convention on Saturday, April
29th in Brattleboro. The Executive Board will meet on Friday evening, the 28th, at Centre
Congregational Church on Main Street in Brattleboro.
Every active member is on board to help make the Convention interesting and fun!! We have
been meeting in the music room at my school in Dummerston. In September we inducted a new
member, Deborah Hall, a retired teacher..
In October, President Carol Barbagallo attended our meeting and gave us encouraging words
about the history of DKG and how it has evolved over time into what we have today. We had a lively
discussion of how we can attract new members.
In November, we had our annual book project. Members collect new or slightly used children’s
books and bring them to the meeting. We glue a small DKG information sheet onto the inner cover of
every book. We then place 10-15 books into attractive containers. Each of us takes one or two
containers with us to deliver to the Women’s Crisis Center, Pediatrician offices, the local courthouse,
etc. for children to read in the waiting rooms.
In December, I began a Christmas letter online asking each member to reply with a few
sentences of what they would be doing during the holidays. Every member responded! It was a
wonderful way to stay in touch with everyone and catch up on their plans and traditions.
We support four social concerns throughout the year. We donated socks and toiletries to
Morningside Shelter. We are collecting winter socks, hats, gloves, jackets and boots as part of our
Winter Warmth project. Some members are giving a monetary contribution.
We are connecting with each other by email or phone as we go over the list we are following for
the Spring Convention. We are very much looking forward to hosting the Convention in Brattleboro.
Please be sure to attend!
Respectfully submitted,
Rita Corey
A mini-newsletter of what we've been up to lately!
Dear Beta Chapter members,
Welcome back to another year as members of Delta Kappa Gamma, Beta Chapter! I hope you had a lovely summer doing many of the things you enjoy! I hadn't gone to a wedding in a few years. This summer I went to two weddings which were both so special; one in Virginia Beach and the other in Connecticut. I had my 6 year old granddaughter visit for 6 weeks this summer. What a blast! We took her to Story Land and Clark's Bears. I think I had as much fun as she did, maybe even more! It was just a nice break from last school year. Let's plan on each person giving the highlights of their summer at our gathering. It is so great to share what is special in our lives.
We will be holding our first meeting next Wednesday, 9/14, at 4:00 at Karen's house in Brattleboro. Please bring a dish
to share for our Potluck dinner. We will also have the pleasure of inducting our new member, Deb Hall! Deb is a retired Academy School teacher. Welcome Deb!
For those members not able to attend in person, we will invite you to be with us on Zoom.
We have a busy year ahead of us with our meeting dates set. We will be planning for Beta to host the Spring 2023 DKG VT Convention in Brattleboro! YAY! It will be fun working together to make this the best convention!
I am looking forward to seeing everyone next Wednesday.
All best wishes, Rita
Latest news on our Spring Convention 2023 planning:
Convention will be held at Centre Church, Main Street, Brattleboro
Karen Duggan has reserved rooms at the Comfort Inn
We have a speaker! Her name is Edna Thayer, RN.
She has her Masters in Nursing and Counseling.
Edna specializes in Humor Talks.
Topic: "Laugh for the Health of It!"
Chartered February 15, 1947
Charter Members:
Grace Brouillette, Virginia Brown, Ethel Eddy, Inez Hanlow, Carmelita Hinton, Helen Ingram,Jessie Judd
Mildred Kingsbury, Alida Merrill, Grace Mounce, Erminie Nott, Geneva Patterson, Anna Richardson
Roxie Talbert, Florence Wellman, Catherine Wilcox. All Beta Chapter Charter Members are deceased.
Charter Members:
Grace Brouillette, Virginia Brown, Ethel Eddy, Inez Hanlow, Carmelita Hinton, Helen Ingram,Jessie Judd
Mildred Kingsbury, Alida Merrill, Grace Mounce, Erminie Nott, Geneva Patterson, Anna Richardson
Roxie Talbert, Florence Wellman, Catherine Wilcox. All Beta Chapter Charter Members are deceased.
Beta Chapter Officers 2022-2024
President Rita Corey 603-313-7220 65 Liberty Lane, Keene, NH 03431 rcorey@wsesdvt.org
Vice President Mary Ann Runge 365-4542 20 Newfane HIlle, Newfane,VT 05345 [email protected]
Treasurer Deborah Hall
Recording
Secretary Janis Kiehle. 254-5665 263 Abbott Road, Brattleboro, VT 05301 [email protected]
Corresponding
Secretary Karen Duggan 257-9331 7 Just So Lane , Brattleboro, VT 05301 [email protected]
President Rita Corey 603-313-7220 65 Liberty Lane, Keene, NH 03431 rcorey@wsesdvt.org
Vice President Mary Ann Runge 365-4542 20 Newfane HIlle, Newfane,VT 05345 [email protected]
Treasurer Deborah Hall
Recording
Secretary Janis Kiehle. 254-5665 263 Abbott Road, Brattleboro, VT 05301 [email protected]
Corresponding
Secretary Karen Duggan 257-9331 7 Just So Lane , Brattleboro, VT 05301 [email protected]
Beta Committee Chairs 2020-2022
Chapter Service Project: Karen Duggan 257-9331 [email protected]
World Fellowship: Judy Abascal 257-5732 [email protected]
Communications
& Publicity: Megan Boraski 1-414-364-1254 1 Morningside Commons [email protected]
Brattleboro, VT 05301
Educational Excellence
/Early Career Educator: Mary Ann Runge 365-4542 20 Newfane HIlle, Newfane,VT 05345 [email protected] Membership/Initiation
Music: Rita Corey 603-313-7220 [email protected]
Scholarship:
Finance and Fund Raising: Judy Abascal 257-5732 [email protected]
Nominations:
Beta Chapter Meetings 2022-2023
September 14, 2022
Wednesday 4 pm
Karen Duggan's house.
Potluck dinner.....please bring a dish to share.
Induct Deb Hall as a new member.
Convention planning.
October 12, 2022
Wednesday 4 pm
Dummerston School
Visit by Carol Barbagallo, DKG VT President.
Social concern: Morningside Shelter.
Convention planning.
November 2, 2022
Wednesday 4 pm
Dummerston School
Book Project
Convention planning.
March 22,2022
Wednesday 4 pm
Dummerston School
Convention planning.
April 28, 2023
DKG VT Spring Convention dates
April 28 &29, 2023
DKG VT Spring Convention
April 28, 2023 Friday- Executive Board meeting at Centre Church.
April 29, 2023 Saturday -DKG Vermont Spring Convention at Centre Church.
May 24, 2022
Wednesday 4 pm
Dummerston School.
Build a budget.
September 14, 2022
Wednesday 4 pm
Karen Duggan's house.
Potluck dinner.....please bring a dish to share.
Induct Deb Hall as a new member.
Convention planning.
October 12, 2022
Wednesday 4 pm
Dummerston School
Visit by Carol Barbagallo, DKG VT President.
Social concern: Morningside Shelter.
Convention planning.
November 2, 2022
Wednesday 4 pm
Dummerston School
Book Project
Convention planning.
March 22,2022
Wednesday 4 pm
Dummerston School
Convention planning.
April 28, 2023
DKG VT Spring Convention dates
April 28 &29, 2023
DKG VT Spring Convention
April 28, 2023 Friday- Executive Board meeting at Centre Church.
April 29, 2023 Saturday -DKG Vermont Spring Convention at Centre Church.
May 24, 2022
Wednesday 4 pm
Dummerston School.
Build a budget.
BETA CHAPTER REPORT April 2022
Our last meeting was held on Zoom on March 30th. Beta Chapter now has 9 active members. Two of our members passed away this past year and will be remembered at our Convention during the Service of Remembrance. We discussed ways in which we could do more outreach to acquire new members. We will be welcoming a new member as soon as she returns from Florida.
With our number of active members being low, we started a conversation regarding the future of Beta Chapter. It was a healthy conversation where many ideas were shared. We plan to continue this discussion at our May meeting, which will be held IN PERSON! Our May meeting will be hosted at the home of our longest serving member, Marion Daley. Marion has been a member since 1976! She said “We must host the Convention next year in Brattleboro because it may be the last one I attend!” That was enough to motivate our members to step up to the plate and accept the honor of hosting next year’s Convention.
In lieu of our annual book project, which had to be canceled for 2 years due to Covid, we decided to continue to collect children’s books. We presented boxes of books to Academy School’s library in Brattleboro where we welcomed 13 new students from Afghanistan!
Our Treasurer, Judy Abascal, spent two months in Puerto Rico this winter. While there, she connected with 2 DKG sisters in Carolina, Puerto Rico. They invited her to attend their DKG meeting where all members wore hats. Judy invited Evelyn and Rosadelia to lunch in Carolina. Judy was the head of the Spanish and French Department at Brattleboro Union High
School for many years. She was able to communicate in Spanish with Evelyn and Rosadelia during the meeting and during the luncheon.
We are looking forward to our May meeting in person where we will begin our planning for next year’s Convention in Brattleboro.
Respectfully submitted, Rita Corey
Beta Chapter President
BETA CHAPTER REPORT
Saturday, 2-5-22
. Held our planning meeting on 9/1/21 on Zoom.
. Meetings on Zoom on 9/29/21 and 10/25/21
. 2 other 2022 meetings TBD
. Winter warmth project: took 3 boxes of warm socks and toiletries to Morningside Shelter in
December.
. Notes of encouragement will be distributed to teachers for Valentine’s Day.
. Maira Arteaga, Kindergarten teacher in Guilford, was chosen to be the recipient of the Excellence in
Education Award.
. All meetings will be held on Zoom until further notice.
. A retired teacher in our district has expressed interest in joining Beta Chapter upon her return from
winter months in Florida.
. Plans for Spring: Potluck dinner, fund-raising project to be held at the Brattleboro Co-op.
• Windham Southeast Supervisory District, in Brattleboro, will be welcoming Afghan refugees
into our schools. Beta Chapter will donate 80 books that we have collected over the past couple
of years to the new Afghan students. This will be our annual service project. What a great way
to welcome the new Afghan students to our school district!
Respectfully submitted,
Rita Corey
President of Beta Chapter
Saturday, 2-5-22
. Held our planning meeting on 9/1/21 on Zoom.
. Meetings on Zoom on 9/29/21 and 10/25/21
. 2 other 2022 meetings TBD
. Winter warmth project: took 3 boxes of warm socks and toiletries to Morningside Shelter in
December.
. Notes of encouragement will be distributed to teachers for Valentine’s Day.
. Maira Arteaga, Kindergarten teacher in Guilford, was chosen to be the recipient of the Excellence in
Education Award.
. All meetings will be held on Zoom until further notice.
. A retired teacher in our district has expressed interest in joining Beta Chapter upon her return from
winter months in Florida.
. Plans for Spring: Potluck dinner, fund-raising project to be held at the Brattleboro Co-op.
• Windham Southeast Supervisory District, in Brattleboro, will be welcoming Afghan refugees
into our schools. Beta Chapter will donate 80 books that we have collected over the past couple
of years to the new Afghan students. This will be our annual service project. What a great way
to welcome the new Afghan students to our school district!
Respectfully submitted,
Rita Corey
President of Beta Chapter
Art Project with Pat O'Connor
Beta Chapter Spring News
Beta Chapter’s last in-person meeting was held March 5, 2020. We met in the art room at Dummerston School. Our program was an art project with Pat O’Connor. She prepared all the materials for us and we put together mini boxes and bags, then filled them with chocolate treats! It was a fun event. (Little did we know that this would be our last in-person meeting for sometime to come!)
Our next meeting was held via Zoom on June 2nd at 6:15 pm. It was good to see what people were up to during the past few months! Marilyn Grunwald, our State President, joined our meeting. (We used the DKG Vermont Zoom account for this meeting).
On June 22nd at 10 AM, Beta conducted its summer planning meeting. This time we used an individual’s Zoom account. It went really well. We did get our budget established for the coming year and a tentative program agenda.
Janis Kiehle
Past President,
Beta Chapter
Beta Chapter’s last in-person meeting was held March 5, 2020. We met in the art room at Dummerston School. Our program was an art project with Pat O’Connor. She prepared all the materials for us and we put together mini boxes and bags, then filled them with chocolate treats! It was a fun event. (Little did we know that this would be our last in-person meeting for sometime to come!)
Our next meeting was held via Zoom on June 2nd at 6:15 pm. It was good to see what people were up to during the past few months! Marilyn Grunwald, our State President, joined our meeting. (We used the DKG Vermont Zoom account for this meeting).
On June 22nd at 10 AM, Beta conducted its summer planning meeting. This time we used an individual’s Zoom account. It went really well. We did get our budget established for the coming year and a tentative program agenda.
Janis Kiehle
Past President,
Beta Chapter
Puerto Rico Visit
In the last issue of the DKG Collegial Exchange, I read with interest the article about the impact of hurricane Maria on schools in Puerto Rico. I emailed the author of that article, Evelyn Lugo Morales, explaining that I would be in P.R. during the month of February and hoping we could meet. She replied telling me to call her when I arrived. I called and she graciously invited me to lunch! I went to lunch with her and another DKG sister, Rosa Fernandez. We had a delightful afternoon in old San Juan and we ate in a typical Puerto Rican restaurant. They then gave me a lovely invitation for their upcoming meeting, which I graciously accepted. On 22 February I went with Evelyn to the home of one of their Delta chapter members where I met 24 delightful members. We had a pot luck lunch followed by a meeting with a presentation about special services for students on the island. Their Upward Bound program serving first generation students has been especially successful. I was asked to speak about Beta chapter and our community outreach programs. All 25 attendees left with a rose. It was a delightful and professionally exhilarating experience.
Judy Abascal
Beta Chapter
In the last issue of the DKG Collegial Exchange, I read with interest the article about the impact of hurricane Maria on schools in Puerto Rico. I emailed the author of that article, Evelyn Lugo Morales, explaining that I would be in P.R. during the month of February and hoping we could meet. She replied telling me to call her when I arrived. I called and she graciously invited me to lunch! I went to lunch with her and another DKG sister, Rosa Fernandez. We had a delightful afternoon in old San Juan and we ate in a typical Puerto Rican restaurant. They then gave me a lovely invitation for their upcoming meeting, which I graciously accepted. On 22 February I went with Evelyn to the home of one of their Delta chapter members where I met 24 delightful members. We had a pot luck lunch followed by a meeting with a presentation about special services for students on the island. Their Upward Bound program serving first generation students has been especially successful. I was asked to speak about Beta chapter and our community outreach programs. All 25 attendees left with a rose. It was a delightful and professionally exhilarating experience.
Judy Abascal
Beta Chapter
Judy Abascal, Beta chapter, VT, holding the article written by Dr. Evelyn Lugo Morales
Dr. Evelyn Lugo Morales, Judy Abascal, and Professor Lindy Pacheco, who hosted the meeting in her home.
President Evelyn Lugo Morales (r.) with other members of Delta chapter in San Juan, P.R.
A delightful afternoon in a park in old San Juan.
Seated on the left of the statue of a famous Puerto Rican
composer is Dr. Evelyn Lugo Morales,
president of the four chapters in Puerto Rico.
To the right of the statue is Rosa Fernandez, state treasurer.
Induction of our new member, Mary Ross was held in fall 2020. And, we also invited our Early Career Educator awardee, Maggie Hanson, to come and help with the project! It was a very busy event!!
Last updated 4/05/2024