Group meets
The Alpha Lambda Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society met recently for their first meeting of the season. The meeting and luncheon was held at the Pleasant Valley Country Club, Route 982, Bullskin Township. Margaret Taylor, newly elected president, presided. Other new officers for 2006-2008 term are 2nd Vice President Donna Leighty, Recording Secretary Debra Pierce, Corresponding Secretary Sally Nurminen and Treasurer Ann Louise Natale.
Delta Kapa Gamma is an organization comprised of women educators. Membership is by invitation only. Several prospective members that were at the meeting will be initiated.
An emotional and inspiring memorial was held for Jacqueline Bercini, an Alpha Lambda sister and former English teacher at Junior High West in the Connellsville Area School District, who died on June 18. A passage from Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 was read and the song, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” was sung by the group. The service concluded with solemn ringing of a school bell. Angie Michaux, past president and member, and Joyce Shmigalsky, who was a very close friend, conducted the memorial. The society will donate a book to the Junior High West library in honor of Bercini. A book will also be placed in the Uniontown City Library in memory of deceased member Ardis Keener of Uniontown.
The meeting opened with a presentation of the president’s pin by Michaux to Taylor.
The program for the morning was a review of Delta Kappa Gamma’s purposes and goals for the next biennium. The theme for the next two years is “Passion for Learning.” The Greek symbols for the society was explained. The president also gave a review of the state convention held at State College in June.
Lucinda Pins will be sold at the next meeting. These creative pins will be sold to support the Afghanistan Women Teachers.
Another project is “Books for Babies.” Members are asked to bring a book for a child that will be given to small siblings of newborns in the hospital. Westmoreland Women’s Auxiliary sponsors the program and they give each newborn a book. The chapter also has members bring recent magazines and puzzle pages for use in hospitals and nursing homes. Nanetta Reed and Ruby Pierce, charter members, are in nursing homes at present.
The group’s Fall Area Conference will be held in Pittsburgh on Sunday and the next meeting of the chapter will be held on Saturday, Nov. 11, at Nancy’s Fancy Tea Room in Connellsville. Members are encouraged to wear hats to the next meeting.
For more information, call 724-887-5647.