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NOTES A TO Z

"Key Notes A to Z"

A Publication of

Alpha Zeta Chapter

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society

International

St. Clair County, Michigan

Vol. 21, No. 1 Winter, 2019

PRESIDENT’S PRESS By

Pam Naplin

Dear Alpha Zeta

Sisters,

It is hard to believe

that Thanksgiving

has come and gone.

How thankful we are

for the blessings of family,

friends, love, and freedom.

I am sure everyone is

eager for the Christmas season

to be able to spend time with

family and friends. I love

Christmas!! The hustle and

bustle of shopping, wrapping,

card writing, baking, visiting

friends, and Christmas

concerts. What a busy time of

Year!

Yet our group puts aside

their Christmas activities to

give to others through our book

wrapping. Seeing the smiles of

the children and teachers as

they receive their books. I

enjoy the smiles, laughter,

and chatter as we busily wrap

about 600 books. What a

wonderful project. I am so

blessed to be a part of such a

great organization who cares

about the needs of others. We

are a hustle bustle active

chapter and I thank all of you.

The new year will bring

our group together to work on

several projects such as Days

for Girls, Marshall Islands

project, fashion show and

scholarship.

I am really excited to be

a part of initiating new

members this year. Keep up the

great work.

I wish you a Merry

Christmas and Happy New Year.

(Pam delivered this letter to me

for the newsletter before the

holidays.)

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FALL KICKOFF AND PICNIC

By

Gretchen Ploeger

On Tuesday, September 11,

2018, Alpha Zeta Chapter met at

Loupatti’s for our annual fall

picnic. Our “new” returning

president, Pam Naplin, opened

the meeting welcoming members

and four guests.

Installation of officers

for 2018-2020 was conducted.

They are: President, Pam

Naplin; Vice-president, Sandy

Stein; Secretary, Karen

Jamison; Treasurer, Pat

Eppley; Parliamentarian,

Gretchen Ploeger.

Carol Boden and Correen

Woodley received lifetime

achievement awards from the

state.

The members and guests

enjoyed a delicious potluck

provided by Alpha Zeta members

and the business meeting that

followed helped us set up our

plans for 2018-2019. The

budget for the coming year was

discussed and passed.

Condolences to:

Marilyn Abernathy on the

passing of her husband, Tom, on

October 5, 2018.

Kay Goodman on the passing of

her sister, Joyce Taylor, on

October 28, 2018.

Little House on the Prairie By

Sandy Stein

Barb and George Hawkins,

founders of Little House Site

Tours were our October guest

speakers. Barb described

their interest and knowledge

of the life of Laura Ingalls

Wilder. Their interest has led

them in the creation of the LH

Site Tours. These tours of the

homesteads and family journeys

of Laura Ingalls Wilder were

first organized in 2000 and

still continue today. People

from 23 states and 39 countries

have joined Barb and George as

they have caravanned through

Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa,

and Kansas having experiences

relating to the life of Laura

Ingalls Wilder.

Barb Hawkins

MISSION STATEMENT

The Dela Kappa Gamma Society International

promotes professional and personal growth of women educators and

excellence in education.

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Guatemala

By

Leah Hamlin-Morgan

My daughter, Malena, and

I were privileged to be asked

to make a presentation to our

Chapter on our trip to

Guatemala. My only problem was

how to condense all we wanted

to share in a half-hour time

slot!

The little mountain town

of Camotan in eastern

Guatemala has become a special

place in our hearts. We hoped

to convey not just the poverty

of the people but the abundant

strength and perseverance of

the people we met and their

true appreciation for any help

given.

Nancy Sheldon, a Port

Huron native, has spent 29

years building a mission there

not only delivering spiritual

guidance but providing medical

care, school supplies, and

construction projects.

We were able to

participate in all these

aspects of the mission in our

three trips to Guatemala.

Also, we were very excited to

personally deliver the 49 Days

for Girls kits that our chapter

completed. They were so well-

received that, in August, we

sent down 75 more kits from the

Farmington group.

Hopefully you had a

chance to check out the items

that were on display—such

colorful weavings, beaded

items, the currency (quetzals)

and photos of the children of

Guatemala.

If you

would be

interested in a

Mission trip to

Guatemala, let

me know. There

are medical,

construction,

school trips and

miscellaneous

projects travelling there. It

is very rewarding and

something you will never

regret!

Special thanks to Sandy

Stein for borrowing the

projector and sharing her

valuable technical expertise

in creating the power point

with Malena.

By

Karen Jamison

September 11, 2018

President-elect Pam

Naplin welcomed members and

four guests: Mae Bynum, Nancy

Domke, Erin Peyerk, and Malena

Morgan.

Installation of Officers

was conducted:

Pam Naplin, President

Sandy Stein, Vice-president

Secretary, Karen Jamison

Treasurer, Pat Eppley

Parliamentarian, Gretchen Ploeger

Secretary’s report was

filed as presented. Received

TIDBITS OF THE

MINUTES

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thank you notes from Phyllis

Brown for help with Days for

Girls and from Kristine

Oppliger for retirement gift.

Treasurer’s report: Pat

reported regular account has

$3619.72; scholarship has

$3228.48. Next year’s dues

must be paid in the spring.

New members must be initiated

before May 20. Budget for

2018-2019 was presented.

Moved by Cheryl Frank,

seconded by Lynn Wilhelm to

accept the budget. Motion

carried.

Calendar:

▪ Sept. 17, packing for

Marshall Islands

▪ Sept. 18, 8:30 a.m.

breakfast at Cracker

Barrel

▪ Oct. 16, 5 p.m. next

meeting with speakers

▪ Executive Board changed

to Nov. 13

▪ June 8, Scholarship

luncheon at Dorsey House

Kathy Loewenthal is on

fashion show committee, not

Sandy Stein.

Nondues revenue committee

has been eliminated.

Cheryl Frank looking for

volunteers to write memorials

of deceased members.

Membership approved

recommendation to donate

initiation robes to Salvation

Army.

Volunteer forms

distributed. Return my June 1.

Updated biographical

sheets are due.

Website updated by Lynn

Wilhelm and Barb Teller.

Carol Konkel’s brother

passed away.

Donnilee Hernandez unable

to attend due to health issue.

Ellen Ganhs has resigned.

Presentation by Leah

Hamlin-Morgan and her

daughter, Malena, on their

mission trip to Guatemala.

October 16, 2018

Welcome by Sandy Stein,

Programs Committee. Twenty

members and two guests were in

attendance. Guests were Mae

Bynum and Donna Lill.

Barb and George Hawkins

gave a presentation on Laura

Ingalls Wilder. The

presentation was followed by

dinner provided by the Program

Committee.

President Pam Naplin

called the meeting to order.

Secretary’s report filed

as printed.

Treasurer’s report: Pat

reported our regular account

has $3,000.03; Scholarship

has $3,228.48. Donations of:

$550 for Christmas books

$190 for backpacks

$355 for Days for Girls

$380 for Marshall Islands

Don’t forget memorials of

members who have passed.

Give to Cheryl Frank. Please

update biographical forms if

you have not already done so.

Linda and Jim Hall took old

robes to Salvation Army.

Remember to check our web

site:

dkgmialphazetaweebly.com

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Pam Naplin attended the

fall conference. Discussed

eliminating the conference.

Calendar:

▪ Oct. 23, 12:30 p.m.,

Days for Girls

▪ Nov. 11, Lunch and Play

▪ Nov. 13, 10 a.m.

Executive Board

▪ Nov. 15, 1 p.m. Days for

Girls

▪ Nov. 20, 8:30 a.m.

breakfast at Cracker

Barrel

▪ Nov. 26, 10 a.m. Book

Pre-wrap

▪ Dec. 11, 5 p.m. Book

wrapping party

▪ State convention first

weekend of May at

Mackinac Island

December 11, 2018

Meeting called to order

at 5 p.m. by President Pam

Naplin. Twenty-eight members

and four initiates were in

attendance.

Secretary’s report

accepted as printed. Email

from Sue Hadden was read.

She shared Clare Vivian’s

address: Hidden Lake Senior

Living, 5670 Pine Court,

Smiths Creek, MI 48074.

Treasurer’s report:

Regular account: $2,962.60;

scholarship: $3,228.48.

Committee reports:

Letter from scholarship

recipient Maggie Bachellor

expressing interest in

renewing her scholarship to

Oakland University. Barb

Teller had yearbooks for new

members and a three-page

updated insert for the rest

of the membership.

Calendar:

▪ Dec. 18, 8:30 a.m.

breakfast, Cracker

Barrel. Small gift

exchange.

▪ April 13, Riverlake.

Basket theme is “Ice

Cream.” Cheryl Rogers

will take donations of

gift cards or money.

▪ May 3-5, State

convention, Grand Hotel,

Mackinac Island

▪ May, Fashion show

▪ June 8, 11 a.m.,

Scholarship luncheon at

Dorsey House

Business meeting in March.

Need committee to chair

meeting and find location for

dinner.

Initiation of new members:

Susan Amato

Mae Bynum

Nancy Domke

Erin Peyerk

Donna Lill (initiated via phone)

Snacks and book wrapping

followed.

Kristine Oppliger’s

New Address

235 West 75th Street

Apt. 4K

New York, NY 10023

810-689-3332

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ESCANABA IN

DA MOONLIGHT By

Kathy Loewenthal

Twenty-five Alpha

Zeta members and guests had a

grand time at our second annual

Marine City theatre outing on

November 11, 2018. We began

the afternoon at The Little Bar

for an excellent lunch and

great comradery. From there we

were able to explore the many

unique and interesting shops

in downtown Marine City. Some

of us even found our way to The

Sweet Tooth candy store for a

sweet snack to enjoy during the

play. Then we walked the short

distance to The Snug, a tiny

and quaint theatre, to enjoy

the funny and irreverent

production of “Escanaba in Da

Moonlight.” Written by

Michigan’s own Jeff Daniels,

the play’s setting takes place

in the Soady family deer camp

near the town of Escanaba in

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Using the vernacular unique to

the area, the play questions

the problematic opening day of

deer season for the Soady clan—

Albert, Rueben, and Remnar.

The problem confronting the

motley cast of Yooper

characters is that thirty-

five-year-old Rueben maintains

the infamous reputation of

being the oldest Soady in

family history never to bag a

buck. Hilarity ensues at the

lengths Rueben will go to

finally get his deer and break

the spell of bad luck and

superstition surrounding his

place in the annals of the

Soady family.

From lunch at The Little

Bar to belly laughs at The Snug

Theatre, a delightful

afternoon was had by all!

BOOK WRAPPING

By

Leah Hamlin-Morgan

Our December meeting

began with (thanks to the

diligent work of the

Membership Committee) the

induction of five new members:

Sue Amato, Mae Bynum, Nancy

Domke, Donna Lill, and Erin

Peyerk.

It was a first for our

chapter in inducting Donna

Lill via speaker phone! We are

so happy to welcome each of

these new members and all they

have to bring to our group.

Pam Naplin led a brief

meeting and then we all enjoyed

the tasty dishes everyone

brought to share.

We then focused on

wrapping over 500 books to be

distributed to pre-school,

kindergarten, and first grade

children at Cleveland, Crull,

Garfield and Roosevelt

schools.

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Thank yous to the book

wrapping committee and to

volunteers who just showed up

to help prepare the bags and

cut paper. Thanks to all the

members who wrapped and to the

ladies who volunteered to

deliver the books to the

schools and read a Christmas

book to the children.

Special thanks to

Loupatti who so willingly

shares her “Party Palace” and

all its amenities.

Merry Christmas to all. A

job well done!!!

Marilyn Abernathy shows bags

full of books!

Our members made short work of

wrapping more than 500 books.

DAYS FOR GIRLS

By

Linda Hall

We are in the process of

preparing 50 kits to be taken

to Malawi with Hope Endeavors

this Spring. Our work schedule

in January and February is to

meet every other Thursday,

beginning January 3. We meet

at Loupatti’s from 1-3 p.m. and

anyone is welcome to join us.

Right now, we are pretty caught

up with supplies, but we will

always need washcloths,

underwear, dark thread, Ziploc

gallon freezer bags, quilters

cotton and good quality

flannel. If you have

questions, please contact

Linda or Leah.

MARSHALL ISLANDS By

Sandy Stein

“in our local custom, now

y’all are literally cousins,

sistas and aunties”

(Principal, Ebeye, Deo LeEddo

Kuju)

Because of the generosity

of our members we have

contributed 137 boxes of

teacher supplies and library

books to our Marshall Island

teacher friends. Our project

began in 2016 and continues as

we have purchased, packed and

shipped supplies to the

islands of Majuro, Ebeye,

Mejatto, Ebadon, Santo, and

Enniburr. In December, Deo

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used his own boat to take some

of our supplies to these

isolated intra-atoll islets

which are part of the 29 atolls

and 5 islands which make up the

Marshall Islands. He is most

grateful and writes, “effects

in learning and reading are

years to enjoy, thus

continuous sowing as fruits

blossom with each soul.”

Deo worries that global

warming will make his culture,

people and island disappear by

2030. He continues to educate

his students about the effects

of climate change and urges

America to understand what the

denial of climate change means

to our future.”

From Deo, “thank you

PLENTY much!”

Additional Resources:

You’re Making This Island

Disappear, by John D. Sutter

(CNN); Rising Seas Give

Marshall Islands a Stark

Choice: Relocate or Elevate,

by Jon Letman (Nat Geo)

Children of Marshall Islands and

Jacquie Green packing books.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

March, 2019

Meeting place and time TBA

April 13, 2019

Riverlake

Place and time TBA

May, 2019

Fashion Show/

Scholarship Dinner

Place and time TBA

June 8, 2019

11:00 a.m.

Scholarship Luncheon

Dorsey House

May 3-5, 2019

Alpha Iota State Convention

Grand Hotel

Mackinac Island

July 30 – August 1, 2019

DKG Northeast Regional

Foxwoods Casino

Mashantucket, Connecticut

Visit the Society at:

www.deltakappagamma.net

Visit Alpha Iota State at:

www.deltakappagamma.org/mi

Visit Alpha Zeta at:

http://dkgmialphazeta.weebly.com

Web Sites

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January: 1- Cheryl Frank;

7-Janet Haas; 15-Gay Huston;

18-Jacquie Green; 24-Correen

Woodley; 25-Theresa Balboa

February: 2-Margaret Sutton;

4-Gaye Shivers; 8-Ellen Burns

March: 1-Leslie Dias; 6-Mae

Bynum; 11-Nancy Domke;

19-Judi Kuschel; 20-Marlene

Heering

April: 3-Karen Jamison;

6-Kay Goodman; 19-Cheryl

Rogers; 24-Pam Naplin;

27-Gretchen Ploeger

May: 22-Sue Hinton; 26-Joyce

Dahlberg

June: 11-Kristine Oppliger;

24-Lynn Wilhelm; 25-Kathy

Loewenthal

July: 3-Marilyn Abernathy;

12-Erin Peyerk; 26-Sue Ostrom

CONGRATULATIONS To

Pam Naplin on the birth of a

new granddaughter

Austyn Ann Naplin

November 5, 2018

2018-2020 Alpha Zeta

Officers

President:

Pam Naplin

Vice-President:

Sandy Stein

Secretary:

Karen Jamison

Treasurer:

Pat Eppley

Parliamentarian:

Gretchen Ploeger

A to Z Newsletter Editors

Gretchen Ploeger

Janet Haas

Loupatti Miller

Cathy Kahle

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BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

FOR A CROWD By

Kathy Loewenthal

3 large butternut squash (8-10) cups cooked)

4-5 ripe pears (let ripen 4 days)

2 cloves minced garlic

1-2 chopped onions

2 T oil or butter

1 T grated or refrig. Ginger

2-4 T maple syrup or honey

8 cups veg. or chicken broth

1 cup cream or half and half

Cut off ends of squash, cut in half horizontally, remove seeds

and bake cut side down in jelly roll pans in 1/2 inch of water

at 350o for 1 hour. (It’s easiest to do this a day ahead of

time). When cool, scoop out flesh to a large bowl. Set aside.

Soften onion in oil in large soup pot over medium heat for 10

minutes. Add ripe, peeled, cored and chopped pears. Cook

additional 10 minutes. Add garlic for 5 minutes. Add squash,

ginger, syrup and 4 cups broth to pot. Combine, then use

immersion blender to puree.** Add remaining 4 cups broth and

cream to pot. Stir to combine.

**A blender may be used to puree a small amount at a time.

This makes about 18-20 one cup servings. It may be transferred

to a large slow cooker on warm setting to serve.

Punalicious:

A chicken crossing the road: poultry in motion.

Acupuncture: a jab well done.

A backward poet writes inverse.

A boiled egg is hard to beat.

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INITIATION

New Members

Erin Peyerk, Nancy Domke, Mae Bynum, Sue Amato

New Members and Membership Committee

Erin Peyerk, Nancy Domke, Mae Bynum, Sue Amato, Pam Naplin,

Linda Hall, Kay Goodman, Judi Kuschel, Barb Teller

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Marilyn Abernathy and Jacquie Green watch as Linda Hall

presents Donna Lill with her Membership Certificate.

Mae Bynum, Marilyn Abernathy, Jacquie Green, Donna,

Kathy Loewenthal, Linda Hall, Sue Amato welcome Donna Lill.