Spring is a marvelous time of year!

Spring is a marvelous time of year! I think it is my favorite until fall anyway. The Forsythia and Quince are blooming along with Wild Cherry, Bradford Pears and I saw some Tulip Poplars in full bloom. When I was teaching I was aware of seasons passing but had little time to really appreciate them. I have just spent a few days near a clear Ozark stream and it has been wonderful. A breeze blowing that was warm along with sunny,blue skies. The songbirds are moving back and adding their voices to the Spring Peepers we hear at night. What's not to love about this time of year? Get out and experience it as often as possible. Don't let another season pass you by!

Craig Jung, Judy Jung's son, reinforced my beliefs in the "best" way to live for all people on Earth. It is very satisfying to know that his generation is working toward a common goal that I was first introduced to in college when Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" was required reading. I hope everyone got as much from his talk as I did. You can make a difference at home and be a role model at school.

We had the following educators brought forth as future members: Lisa Boyet, Nicole Myers, Sherry Schuette, Carol Studebaker and Sarah Vandaveer. Happily, all were voted in. Sue Collins will contact them with the Rose Tea information but please personally invite each of these individuals. Let them know what a caring organization we are.

Also at last meeting we voted in the following Officers for the next 2 years: President-Christie Wiltz, 1st Vice President-Cindy Horn, 2nd Vice President-Sue Collins, Recording Secretary-Emily Mraz, Corresponding Secretary-Charlotte Hodges. The next Treasurer will be Deb Padgett. Historian will be Susi Junge. I will be Parliamentarian.
A special thanks goes to Pam Penrose and the Nomination Committee for taking care of this most important part of our organization.

We raised $125 for the Scholarship Fund from the raffle. A big thank you goes to all members who brought in items and/or bought raffle tickets.

NEXT MEETINGS
ROSE TEA - April 16th - Jeanne Rothermel's Home - 5 pm. (Her address is in the Redbook) Please bring to this meeting the Scholarship Forms from your buildings. Also bring a dish to share.

INITIATION AND RETIREMENT CELEBRATION - Pegg's on the Boulevard, High Ridge, MO - May 7th - 5 pm. We have 4 retiring as of now; Anne Benson, Sheryl DeLoach, Jane Lowery and Christie Wiltz. If you have any "teaching stories" about these ladies please bring them. After initiation I would like to take time to "toast" them.

Let your BUILDING REP know if you will be attending by APRIL 30th.

BUILDING REPS - Let me know by 9 pm on the 30th. I will let Pegg's know the next day.

March Meeting Information

February meetings are a problem!!!!!! Can you believe all that snow when it had been so warm for so long? I didn't even take a coat with me to Florida because it was so warm when we left. We bought sweatshirts and long sleeved shirts the day we left Destin to get us home. It was 26 degrees in northern Mississippi when we stopped there for the night. It was definitely a shock to my system. All in all it has been a very mild winter and I really can't complain.

Back to February meetings, I believe the one we had planned was so good that we have made an effort to set it up for the MARCH 5th meeting. Craig Jung will still be our speaker with the same topic. Judy will be joining us that night also. We will still have the Scholarship Fundraiser so still bring those handmade items and unwanted Christmas gifts for people to win. I am adding two more important items to that agenda. We will be voting on the new officers for the next 2 years and we will be asking for information on potential new members so we can vote on them. It takes more than some stinky weather to slow us down. We can get these important tasks done and still have a fun time! I hope to see everyone at this meeting. It feels like forever since we have been together.

The menu will be the pasta and salad as is indicated in the blog for March. I have heard frequently that is a favorite for several of you so I won't change that.
Let your Building Rep. know by FEB. 27th. BUILDING REPS.- Let me know your meal counts by 9 pm on FEB. 27th.

Sign up for Rose Tea will be that night as will the last chance to sign up for the April State Convention in Springfield,Mo. If you know you will be attending the Convention, you can let me know now if you like.

Christie did a great job of taking care of things in my place! Thank you for doing that for me.

I was sorry to hear we had 2 members to have a loss in their family while I was away. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Lastly, the EXECUTIVE BOARD will meet at 4 pm in the Valley Library before this MARCH 5th meeting.

Happy New Year!

Happy 2012!

Where did 2011 go??? We have some great stuff planned for the upcoming meetings. I am excited by the topic and activity for Feb. 13th. Craig Jung (Judy's son) will be speaking on sustainability. Craig (a.k.a. Mr. Green) is the founder of St. Louis Green Inc. which helps teach sustainability. He also created and managed the Holiday Light Recycling Drive. I just saw a container for collecting lights at CarX this morning. Our activity will be equally exciting to me. We will be "Shopping " for the Scholarship Fund.

Are you the creative sort that makes an item that you are willing to donate to the cause OR did you receive a Christmas gift that is the wrong size, color or design for your home that you would like to get rid of? If either of these apply to you bring it with you to the Feb. meeting. We will be raffling off each of these items as a fundraiser for the Scholarship Fund. We already have a Bath and Body Basket donated. Who can't use that??? This will be a lot of fun to see what we have to bid on!

Please let your Building Rep know if you need a meal for this meeting by Feb. 6th.
NOTICE THE FOLLOWING CHANGE: Building Reps let CHRISTIE WILTZ know your building meal count by 9 pm on Monday the 6th.

Want to be part of a "Great Girls Weekend" on April 13-15 in Springfield, MO? I have registration forms for the Delta State Convention. We can carpool and see what trouble we can get into while we are there.

Be sure to join us with your goodies on Feb. 13th. See you there.
Regina

Gamma Tau Christmas Celebration

December 3rd was the Gamma Tau Christmas Celebration. We were celebrating all the positive work we have done together this year. I really appreciate the purses, beads for key chains and all the purse necessities. Susi Junge raised an extra $44 for the Women's Shelter with her clever fundraiser. We are each very blessed and it feels so good to share that with others less fortunate. After the great breakfast, we did some retail therapy. Pam made some great pictures of the members and many guests in attendance. I haven't had my picture taken with Santa in more than 50 years. Lucky for him I didn't go for one on his lap. A picture I mean. What were YOU thinking. I hope you enjoy seeing us at play.

Wishing you and your families peace and joy at this wonderful time of year.

BRO Service Day

 Another satisfying day was spent by Gamma Tau members working at the Board of Religious Organizations. We helped fill a midsize panel truck with Christmas gifts for children in need. The work we did helped 2200 children have Christmas this year. In total, the BRO provided Christmas gifts to over 4,000 children in need in the St. Louis area. Thanks to all that worked that day. We documented the fun, hope you enjoy the photos.

PS. The BRO sends love and thanks, too!

November / December 2011

We have just finished a very rewarding project with the purses for the Women's Shelter. I can't think of another project we have done that was as touching or as satisfying.

 The speakers, Barb and Brenda, were excellent as was the response from our members with all the purse necessities. As you can see we all had fun packing purses and our key rings were an important part of the gift. From start to finish this was a joyful project that I have had a lot of positive feedback about. I want to thank Sue Collins so much for her work on this project. It would not have been possible without all her extra effort.

Pam Penrose is taking nominations for 3 positions on the Executive Board for the next biennium. Pam's email address is in the Redbook.

The positions are:
SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT (PRESENTLY CINDY HORN)
RECORDING SECRETARY (PRESENTLY JUDY SHERRELL)
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY (PRESENTLY SUE COLLINS)

 Think about members you know would be good in these positions and let Pam know.

Next Meeting

December 3rd, 10 am, at the Blue Owl Restaurant in Kimmswick, MO.

If you DID NOT sign up for a meal at the meeting, you need to CONTACT ME by phone or email by Nov. 26th at 9 pm. This is a change to our normal method of meal count but it allows you to get in on the count even on Thanksgiving break. I hope to see you there where we can share one of Oprah's Favorite Things, the Mile High Levy Apple Pie. That day will be the beginning of the Christmas Festival. I hope you can join us for some relaxed social time. We will collect for Oaxacan student that day.

Enjoy your break and eat until you are full and then add pie!!!!

 Regina

Purse Party

October/November/December

Here it is the mid of October and I am sitting on the edge of the Tuckasegee River in North Carolina. The sun doesn't burn the fog off until about 10 am so the day begins perfectly for me. Being here for a week really brings home what is important in life. It is not what you do on a day to day basis that defines you but who you are and what you really love. For me it will always be other people but it is also the beauty of nature in it's simplest form. The mountains have taken on fall color everywhere I look. The behavior of the birds, trout and small mammals all around me is always fascinating. I haven't had a chance to observe the behavior of any large mammals and for that I am grateful! Take time for you. You are definitely worth it. I have often forgotten that in the hustle and bustle of daily life. I am so grateful for the time to find that again.

JOINT COUNCIL was Oct. 10th while I was away so Christie took my place. You'll find her report here. http://gammatauk.blogspot.com/2011/10/joint-council.html

Next meeting will be Nov. 14th at the Valley Library at 5 pm. Building Reps are now current on the blog. Please let your Building Rep know if you will be wanting a meal for this meeting by Nov. 7th. The menu for that meeting is here on the blog. http://gammatauk.blogspot.com/2011/08/dinner-menus-2011-2012-this-is-way-we.html

Building Reps, please let me know by 9 pm on the 7th. This is not a meeting you will want to miss.

We have 40 to 50 purses for the "Purse Party". We can not FILL all of these but we have a keychain for each that we made at last meeting. We will be able to put a few items in each purse. I have found a lot of make up samples that I never used because of the colors but they are still good products. Some ideas for what to bring to the November meeting are anything you have in your purse right now, i.e. a wallet or coin purse, make up, lotion, nail or hair care products, a reusable water bottle or a $10 gas or phone card. If you are out shopping feel free to ask if they have anything to donate to the cause. Local grocery stores or shops might be happy to give a gift card or excess items they have piled in back. You don't know until you inquire! Bring all your goodies to the November meeting. We will fill the purses and give them to our guest speakers of the evening to be distributed to the needy women at the shelter. Who knows we may have enough to fill that need for a full year. What a wonderful way to give back to our community.

Also at this meeting we will be taking written nominations for several positions which we will vote on at the February meeting. I know we need a 2nd Vice President and a Recording Secretary for sure. There are others I am not positive about but will be by the meeting. Pam Penrose is the chairperson of that committee. Be thinking about potential candidates.

November 28th will be the BRO(Brotherhood of Religious Organizations) Gamma Tau Volunteer Workday. So sign up at the Nov. meeting if you will be working with us. We can use 10 to 12 volunteers. It is a very satisfying way to spend a day. We will carpool from the 270/30 Commuter Lot leaving at 8:30 am. Bring a sack lunch and a drink. Dessert, snacks and water will be provided.

December meeting will be at the Blue Owl Restaurant in Kimmswick on Dec. 4th at 10 am. Mark it on your calendar now since I know how fast that month books up.

I am very happy with all the good work we are doing together this year. Thank you so much for your very important part in it.

Pam Penrose

Hi Regina:Just wanted to let you know that I had a wonderful time last night at the Joint Council meeting. Thanks for nominating me for the award. It was a honor to represent our chapter. I've attached a picture that Nancy Bohle took for me.See you in November,Pam

Joint Council

Joint Council was held at the Methodist Church in Festus. As usual the Methodist women served a very nice meal of salad, cranberry chicken, green beans, rice, homemade rolls and desserts. Alpha Iota hosted the event.

Gently used books and stuffed animals were collected to be turned into Book Buddies. Cathy Hippert reported on the Book Buddies. She said it started in May by giving 50 to Operation Home Front. These Book Buddies go to military families children. Each month she has been called for more Book Buddies. Since she started this project, she has donated over 3,000 Book Buddies. She says as long as there are garage sales and thrift stores, she will continue to create the book buddies.

AND the winner of the 50/50 was ... Christie Wiltz. She donated the $79.50 to "Missouri Night 2013.

"There were greetings from the State President, Bev Teri. She spoke of the conference in Springfield, MO on April 13, 14, and 15th. On Friday during the conference there will be a auction to help raise money for Missouri 2013. She also mentioned her program teachers helping another teacher. The idea is to help a new teacher feel welcome by listening or helping out in many different ways. We want to keep them in the profession.

The guest speaker was Jack Jordan. He is a retired administrator from Mehlville School District. He is very active on several teacher retirement boards. He discussed many legislative issues that may affect teachers. Especially the Representative from Cape Girardeau, Jason Crowell. He plans to present several bills to the legislators that may hurt teachers and affect PSRS. We may need your phone calls, letters and emails if he should present these bills. We are blessed to have Sherri Talbot. Most of the information Mr. Jordan talked about we have already heard from Sherri or Peggy Cochran.

The meeting was called to order. Leadership Achievement Awards were presented to the following: Alpha Iota - Mary Tidd, Beta Delta - Nancy Woods, Beta Pi - Nancy Strain, and Gamma Tau - Pam Penrose. We are blessed to have Pam represent us. One person was supposed to receive a 20 year pin. We also learned Gamma Tau will turn 20 next year. The meeting was adjourned after we all held hands and sang the Delta Kappa Gamma song.

Don't miss the first meeting, August 29, 2011

Don't miss the first meeting of the year!
August 29, 2011 5:00 PM
The Valley Library

Remember when you were a child, how excited you were when the start of school began to get close. All the new clothes, pencils, crayons and a protractor. Does it get any better than that anticipation? Now we are all grown up and still get excited about new teacher stuff for the year. Thinking about all of that makes me think of the Joplin teachers and how they will begin school this year. Sherri Talbott had the great idea of collecting at least $10 per member at the August meeting. Then matching that amount up to $300 from the money I have not spent from last year's budget. Just imagine if we could donate up to $600 to help give that wonderful "staring a new school year" feeling to the teachers and students of Joplin, Missouri.

Also at the August meeting we will have an Initiation Ceremony for Kati Clark and do the Favorite Things for this year. So bring your favorite things for $10 or less to share with us. Following this activity we will have committee planning time for the upcoming year's programs.

The menu for the August 29 meeting is: Italian Beef Sandwiches with Au jus, salad, chips, pickles, iced tea, and chocolate Texas Sheet Cake. Let your Building Rep know by August 22 if you are coming so they can contact me by 6PM that day. I realize that so many building moves have been made this year that some of you may not have or know who the Building Rep is yet, just let me know by the above date and time so I can include you in my count. Retirees should contact Sherri, as usual.

New this year will be the PIN TIN. If you forget your pin, please drop a quarter in the PIN TIN. It will be by the sign-in sheet.


We have several other really satisfying projects this year. In September we will again collect gently used books, toys, games and stuffed animals for the BRO. The Volunteer Day for the BRO will be November 28 this year. The November meeting will be a "Fill A Purse Party" for an abused woman. More details on that later.

Joint Council will be on October 10th. Alpha Iota is hosting and I hear the meal is always good, but the dessert is outstanding! It will be at the First United Methodist Church in Festus, Missouri starting at 5 PM. The sign up sheet is on the table with the Pin Tin. I have not heard the deadline for the count as yet. We had wonderful support from the other chapters for our Joint Council so we need to be supportive of other's efforts. Karen Evans said we are a hard act to follow and she hates being the one to do just that. Let's help her out this year!

The Second Meeting is September 12
The time between meetings is so short that I will have a sign up sheet for the September meal count at the August meeting. The deadline for letting your Building Reps know if you are attending will be September 6. Building Reps should contact me by 6 PM that evening. Everyone should know who their Building Reps are by the November deadline. The menu for the September 12th meeting is: Chicken Salad sandwiches, salad, chips, tea, and my personal favorite dessert, Lemon Passion Cake.

I am so looking forward to seeing everyone, doing some good work for others, having a little fun and learning something new along the way. Thanks for sticking with me these past two years and now on to the third and best ( I hope) year yet.

Sincerely,

Regina

Dinner Menus 2011 - 2012 ( This is the way we spell dinner!)

This is the way we spell Dinner




August 29



Italian Beef Sandwich w/au jus, salad, pickles, chips, tea, Chocolate Texas Sheetcake



September 12



Chicken Salad, salad, chips, tea, Lemon Passion Dessert






November 14


Roast Pork w/gravy, stuffing, Greenbean Almondine, Salad, roll & butter, Cookie assortment




February 13



Chicken Tettrazini, broccoli, Salad, Garlic Bread, tea, Pineapple Upside Down Cake,



March 5



Mostaccioli,Pasta Con Broccoli and Pasta House Salad, Rolls & Butter, tea, Angelfood Cake with strawberries


All dinners will be $10.

Meeting Dates 2011 - 2012

Meeting Dates 2011 - 2012

August 29, 2011

Favorite Things

Collection for Joplin Schools Recovery

September 12, 2011

Gently used toys, books, etc, for Board of Religious Organizations (BRO-St. Louis)

Professional Affairs

Sue Ritchey

October 10, 2011

Joint Council

First Methodist Church in Festus, MO

Hosted by Alpha Iota

5:00 PM

November 14, 2011

Purse Party

Legislation

Robin Berger

December 3, 2011

10:00 AM

Blue Owl

Finance

Cindy Horn

February 13, 2012

Scholarship

Mary Thomasson

March 5, 2012

Personal Growth

Becky Wyatt

April 16, 2012

Rose Tea

Jeanne's Home

May 7, 2011

Initiation

Membership

Edith Evans

Regular meetings are at 5:00 PM at the Valley Library. Meals are $10.(revised 8/17/11) December 3, Blue Owl event, is at 10 AM.

May Update

Executive Meeting June 6th - 5 PM - Valley Library. Dinner will be served so RSVP with my by June 2nd. Bring your red Yearbook with you.




Can you believe another Gamma Tau and school year is about over? Unlike the weary feeling at the end of the school year, I feel just the opposite about Gamma Tau. I am energized about the coming year and the Executive Meeting to bounce ideas off others and hear their ideas for upcoming meetings.



I am so pleased with what we have accomplished this year. Do you remember the "How NOT to Dress" examples? Was that about the best Joint Council ever? We did well in November helping to provide Christmas presents for Jefferson County and St. Louis area children in need. How about all the fun we had at the Blue Owl, Rose Tea and Pegg's? We made cards that really looked good in February and I am watching my cholesterol much more closely after the March meeting.




I am very proud of and grateful for all we have accomplished together this year. On top of all of that we have 5 new members with 1 more to be initiated at the August 29th meeting.




A VERY GOOD YEAR!











I wish for each of you a great summer of exactly what you want and need. Mine is jam packed and active and I can't wait to get started. If your summer includes a change of address and/or email, please be sure to update your information by a call or online form for International. Let Christie Wiltz know so we can update the Yearbook. If you are moving to another school district and would like to transfer your membership. please contact me for help in doing that.

Did you know that as a member the International will send you $500 if your home is severely damaged in a natural disaster? Just another benefit of membership. I pray none of us will ever need to use it!

First meeting of the 2011-2012 year will be August 29th at 5 PM in the Valley Library. We will do Favorite Things/Initiation/Meeting Planning so write it on your calendar right now!