ALPHA UPSILON CHAPTER

2018-2019 Projects

2019 Zeta State Convention

Greetings from a Zeta State First Timer! The Convention exceeded all expectations! It was a privilege for me, as your president, to accept numerous accolades for Alpha Upsilon. Because of your hard work this past year, AU received recognition for achievement in Yearbook, Newsletter, Red Rose, SEE, Chapter Service, Grant in Aid, and Woman of Distinction. Alpha Upsilon is on its way to another Honor Chapter Biennium!

Participating in the convention with Jeannine Stone, Toni Cook, Linda Lightsey, Karen Fayard, Kathy Drummond, Jackie Wintruba and Denise Costello, was one of the highlights of this year. Alpha Upsilon was well represented. I served as a conference page. Jeannine sang in the chorus and she and I also attended the Pre-conference Seminar. Toni added visuals to our meetings by creating and sharing Power Points. Linda worked tirelessly behind the scenes taking care of society business. Karen presented proposed changes to Zeta State bylaws. Denise attended the Treasurer’s Training workshop to learn the new procedures for dues submission. Kathy, as a member of the Nominations Committee, had the honor of inducting Jackie as the Southern District Assistant Director. Congratulations, Jackie!

Members of Alpha Upsilon also received special recognitions: Belinda Pearce; Woman of Distinction, JoDell Beckam; 2019 Mississippi Star, and Shelia Brachear and Miral Patel; Can Do Spirit Awards. Sondra Adams submitted a pastel for display in the Fine Arts Fair. We also remembered the late Dr. Frances McDonald and other members who are no longer with us during A Celebration of Life program. ~ Lady Bruce

Front Row: Jackie Wintruba, Lady Bruce, Kathy Drummond, Toni Cook; Back Row: Karen Fayard, Linda Lightsey, Jeannine Stone; Not pictured: Denise Costello

2019 Woman of Distinction

Trish Stoll, (right) Personal Growth & Services Chair, presented the 2018-2019 Woman of Distinction Award to Belinda Pearce (left) at our December meeting. Belinda has been a member of Alpha Upsilon Chapter for 23 years. She has served on most chapter committees and is currently serving as chapter secretary. She has attended Zeta State Conventions and Southern District Meetings. She is one who prefers to work behind the scenes and is willing to serve wherever her chapter needs her. Belinda was an elementary teacher in the Bay Waveland school district. She also served as the Special Populations Coordinator for the Hancock County Career Technical Center. She retired in the spring of 2011. She is very involved in her Church and community.

2019 Red Rose Recipient

Our Red Rose recipient is Betty Patecek, who is the co-founder of Music, Arts, and Practicality (MAP). MAP is a non-profit organization. It is a theater and arts experience that is offered to all Hancock County children at no cost to them. They recently partnered with the Alice Mosley Art Museum to provide year-round art programs. Betty is actively involved in all phases of MAP.

Nancy Smith and Betty Patecek

Teachers Night Out Events

To reach-out to potential new members we attended two Teachers Night Out events, one sponsored by Hancock County Chamber of Commerce and one sponsored by Infinity Space Center. We gathered information on over120 prospective members. We will invite these women to learn more about Delta Kappa Gamma, and hopefully gain new members.

SEE: Supporting Early Career Educators

This project lasts all year long as we mentor those women educators who are just beginning their teaching careers. One way we do this is through our ECE (Early Career Educator) Baskets. We choose 2 women and they give us some ideas of what they need for their classrooms. Our ECE Basket recipients are Chelsea Matheson who teaches at Westside Elementary in Picayune and Savannah Poirier who teaches at Anniston Avenue Elementary in Gulfport.

Chelsea Matheson, SEE Recipient and Shelia Brachear, Membership Committee

Silent Auction

The Professional Affairs Committee and World Fellowships Committee organizes an annual Silent Auction to raise money for our chapter Kathy Pair Grant-in-Aid, the Zeta State Emergency Fund, the International World Fellowship Fund, Schools for Africa, and our general fund.

UPDATE:

Our Silent Auction was held during our October meeting. We raised $676! Also, a one-time divergent of funds from the Zeta State Emergency Fund will be made. The money will be sent to the Leadership Management Fund to support the Leadership Management Seminar in June.

Seated: Miral Patel. Left to right: Toni Cook, Tammy Krutzfeldt, Lady Bruce, & Sondra Adams

Tables were filled with goodies as members take time to shop and bid on their favorites.

October Special Guest Speaker

Kelly Riley, MPE Executive Director and daughter of Nancy Lockhart, discussed teachers' rights and legislative advocacy. She reminded us about our legal rights and political activity. She also gave us a quick overview of the Legislative Session timeline and highlighted potential legislation for the up-coming session. She shared contact information for our Leadership and encouraged us to be advocates for education, our students and ourselves.

Sheila Brachear, Kelly Riley, Lady Bruce

#blue4msteachers

Teachers and supporters of education are encouraged to

wear blue every Friday during the legislative session.

Community Service Projects

For our December community project we collected hand sanitizer, tissue, and wipes at our Christmas meeting at Bull's Restaurant. We collected enough items to fill ten bags. These supplies will be shared with our local elementary schools to help combat sickness during flu season.

For our January community project we brought kitchen towels, $25 gift cards and a letters of encouragement packed in Ziploc bags to our January meeting. We will donate these items to a chapter in North Carolina which was affected by Hurricane Florence and/or flooding.

2018 Initiation & Reinstatement of Members

We inducted two new members and welcomed one reinstatement at our September meeting. Tammy Krutzfeldt and Stacie Tripp were inducted, while Hope Adcock was reinstated.