LAMBDA SIGMA NEWS

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International Texas State Organization Lambda Sigma Chapter Missouri City, Texas Volume 30, Number 4 December, 2011 Area IV, Number 282 President: Cathie Ritchie
critchie43@comcast.net

Editor: Barb Hansen

bjhansen@windstream.net

President's Message

Dear Lambda Sigma Sisters, I hope each of you enjoyed your Thanksgiving. This is such a wonderful and enjoyable time of year. We all have so much to be thankful for living in this great country in our nice homes with family and friends. How fortunate we are! Delta Kappa Gamma has provided us with many blessings also ~ forming lifelong friendships with impressive ladies and identifying the value of our profession. Now Christmas is upon us. December is going to leave us with our tongues hanging out, but I dont think we will mind. Carla Meuth, Harriet Mantini, and Brenda Carter represented Lambda Sigma at Oakland Elementary Holiday Market on November 5th. Their hard work brought us more money for our grants-in-aid fund. Remember to thank them when you see them for giving up a Saturday for our benefit. Thursday, December 8th, is a day you should have on your calendar. It is Lambda Sigmas Holiday Appetizer Party. Our Christmas party was such a delight last year, and I know this will be just as wonderful. It is at Barb Hansens home. Bring an appetizer along with a recipe card. We are asking for a $5 donation at the door to go to our grants-in-aid, but it will also give you a chance to win one of our beautiful poinsettia door prizes. Wine and cookies will be welcome also, but they are certainly not necessary. Invite a guest. This would be a wonderful event to introduce a prospective member to our society. Remember to RSVP to Linda Russell at lrussel4@yahoo.com I look forward to a fabulous evening! We are still collecting clothing for Dress for Success and school supplies for the Juvenile Detention Center. I realize you will have your hands full bringing your goodies to the Appetizer Party, so you are welcome to run them by my house if that would be more convenient. If Im not at home, just leave them on the porch. My address is 1107 Laurel Green Road. It is off Lexington Ave. between Dulles Ave. and Hwy. 1092 (Murphy Rd.). Blessings this holiday season, Cathie Ritchie

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

Visit our chapter website

http://lambdasigma.weebly.com/
Or on Facebook search Lambda Sigma Chapter of DKG Society International

Birthday Girls! December Social Meeting Thursday, December 8 5:30 p.m. Barbara Hansens home 17310 Pecan Acres Sugar Land, TX 77498 281-494-7375 Bring an appetizer (with recipe card) to share with others. Desserts are welcome, but not required. $5.00 donation to our grants-in-aide buys a raffle ticket for a special prize. School supplies for the Juvenile Detention Home will be collected, as well.
Pat Caldcleugh Lana Petrizzo 12/4 12/15

Dale Araujo
Mary Ann Dolezal Mary Prine Julia Hamilton Denise Lofton Louise Hall Mary Louise Ivey Harriet Mantini Stephanie Bailey

12/16
12/20 12/20 12/22 12/25 12/27 1/16 1/29 1/30

It is time to nominate officers. Would you like to contribute to our society by serving as an officer? Do you have a nomination you would like to suggest? Call Nominations Committee Chair Pat Caldcleugh at 281437-5540.

At

Las Colinas

Chapter News Margaret Larson moved to Sun City in Georgetown in November. She relocated to be closer to her son and grandchildren who live in Round Rock. Her new address is 121 Bluebell, Georgetown 78633. Her phone number is 281-352-0991. She plans on visiting her Delta Gamma sisters as often as possible. Prayers are requested for MaryLaura Merritt. She is continuing her battle with cancer as a patient at M. D. Anderson. Encouragement cards would be appreciated. Cathie Ritchie is excited about visiting New York City the first week of December with her daughter (Renee), lifelong friend (Carol Pinkus), and her daughter (Tami). Renee and Tami have been friends since birth. The trip has been a long anticipated dream come true for the four friends. They will see Billy Elliott on Broadway, sightsee, shop, and enjoy a great girls getaway. NEWSFLASH! DKG International President, Jensi Souders, has contacted the Lambda Sigma "Texas Energizers" to participate during the general sessions at the International Convention in New York City, July 24-28, 2012. Mary Crochet, Joan Eubanks, Carla Meuth and Mary Ann Dolezal will be heading to the Big Apple next summer.

83rd Texas State Convention June 21 23, 2012

Start planning to attend our convention this summer. There is no better way to appreciate the benefits of belonging to our wonderful society than participating in a convention. The larger the group, the more fun! As a bonus, there are many fabulous things to see and do in the area. Think about this event as a great summer vacation with your sisters.

If there are other members who would like to join this energetic group, please

let Mary Ann know. The more, the merrier! House Education and the Workforce Committee: http://www.house.gov/eco
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

Legislative Report
Peggy Norman Awareness and involvement are the keys to making both our individual and collective voices heard in legislative matters. I encourage you to read media information and e-mails and research before making a decision or comment. Some e-mail pleas I received were from 2006! Our legislature meets again in January 2013. Local elections will be in March 2012 and the agenda for both chambers will be completed next fall. You can contact your legislators by going to their websites. Email address to all Texas Representatives: firstname.lastname@house.state.tx.us and the email address to all Texas senators:firstname.lastname@senate.st ate.tx.us. The website for all Texas Legislative Committees to hear all Committee Hearings, Live or Archived, Members, Bills with status and more: search Texas Legislature Online or www.legis.state.tx.us. Toll Free to United States Capitol, both US Senate and US House: 1.866.327.8670 and Information on US Congress, addresses, Social Security Subcommittees and other info. www.searchgov.com. For Online Legislative Alerts and Updates on national concern: Usforuminfo@usm.edu For Texas Legislative Online: www.capitol.state.tx.us Texas Education Agency: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/ The Education Advocate Online and NEA:http://www.nea.org/lac/

Committee: http://www.senate.gov/labor TCTA: http://tcta.org TSTA: http://tsta.org Texas Retired Teachers Assoc.:http://trta.org Current concerns include maintaining our pension plan as it is. Former mayor of Kemah, Bill King is on a committee to change the state contributions as we know it. You can Google his name and read the article with his views. Funding for our schools and class size are issues we need to follow as well. Lastly, I urge you to be proactive. We can no longer depend just on our lobbyists and be the silent majority. Teachers and the school children of Texas deserve better.

January Raffle Responsibility: Ceremonials, Communications, Achievement Awards

January Meeting The January meeting will be on Sat. January 7th, arrival time 9:30 a.m. at Wellness Center/ Memorial Herman HBU 7731 Southwest Freeway (feeder street between Beechnut and Fondren, past Memorial Herman Hospital if coming from Sugar Land). When you enter the parking lot, take the parking ticket inside with you to trade in at the information desk for a token to use for payment upon leaving. People at the desk can then direct you to meeting location which will be on 2nd floor. There are stairs or elevator to take. Linda Russell will be there at 9:15 to meet the Hospitality Committee. She will bring bottled waters donated by Kroger. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. The meeting will begin at 9:45 and end at 10:15. Speaker, Josh Dunn, will begin at 10:15 speaking about the latest exercises and health benefits. He will then give out guest passes to those present. A tour of the facilities will be given. At 11:00 we will have a short, private Zumba class. There will be a special drawing from Josh and the winner will need to be present. Afterwards, those interested will meet for lunch. As you see, this will be a tight schedule, so try to be on time. Look in the January newsletter for lunch details.

Minutes to our October meeting were not available at time of publication. These will be read and reviewed at the January meeting.