President's Report
March 2021
Cathy Fortunato, Lambda Chapter President
Happy First Day of Spring!
I open this meeting looking back at our first Lambda program of the new year via Zoom organized by Susan Muniz, our 1st vice president. The topic was “Teaching Virtually: Best Practices and Challenges.” The panel discussion included five active educators. It was special to us as the speakers were all Lambda sisters, one of whom is recognized as a DKGNJ State Induction Committee Chair, Carol Boehm, and four newly inducted sisters.
The program was well received. Here is a quote offered by our DKGNJ State photographer and Lambda sister, Michele Contala,
"Thank you, Susan, for organizing and hosting the virtual teaching program and to the presenters for providing the learning opportunities for our children. They are the sunshine and the hope during these confining days of the pandemic.” End of quote.
The presenters were: Carol Boehm, Music Teacher in Red Bank School District, Darlene Tammara, Transition Teacher from Matheny School, Felicia Querrey, Art Teacher from Matheny School, Lynn Rubinfeld, Speech Language Specialist from Piscataway Township School District, and Teresa Morelli, Supervisor of Academics at Somerset County Vocational Technical HS and the Academy for Health and Medical Sciences.
The first order of business this afternoon is to recognize and thank all of our educators!
Websites offer valuable sources of information:
1. DKG International Website- All members are encouraged to log on to the International website at dkg.org to be sure your information is updated on the “My Profile” link, especially if your home address, phone #, email address, or name has changed. The ID is your DKG membership #. If you haven’t changed your password the default is ‘dkg2014society’
2. DKGNJ State Website- Register for the DKGNJ 2021 Virtual Convention on April 17th and 18th at the state website, dkgnj.org More to follow during Peggy’s committee report.
3. Lambda Chapter Website- Please visit the Lambda website at dkgnjlambda.com for dates and times for programs, meetings, and events. View photos, service projects, and much more. The site is chock full of information. Thank you to Felicia Q., website master, and Michele C. for most of the photographs. You’ll recognize which photos are Michele’s artwork.
Book Drive: To Literacy!
Last year Lambda sisters donated 529 books. Due to the quarantine, the James O. Bryant Food Pantry is not accepting book donations this year for their library.
We will continue to collect books to donate to BookSmiles. Books ranging from pre-K through high school will be collected and are guaranteed to be distributed to students. We have 54 books collected so far and would like to collect over 500 books once again.
Please contact me if you are willing to donate books.
Gratitude:
Thanks to Dr. Marilyn G. and her committee, the Early Educator Award will be presented to a worthy candidate this summer. Donations are still being accepted. More to follow during Marilyn’s committee report.
Thanks to Joan S. and her fundraiser team, the Kilolo School in Iringa, Tanzania and the James O. Bryant Food Pantry received donations from the procured profit. Thank you to every sister who purchased a mask or visor and for those who donated to the Gift Card Club. The Kilolo School was gifted additional funds from sister’s individual donations. No money was taken from our treasury for these two service projects.
Noteworthy:
Congratulations to our nominees for state office! Kudos to Dr. Nora P. for DKGNJ State President and Annabelle B. for DKGNJ State 2nd Vice President.
Admiration for Susan M. who started her 14-week training course to become certified as an active listener for the suicide lifeline with Caring Contact in Westfield.
Inspiration by Wilhelmina Bryant’s community service as executive director of the James O. Bryant Food Pantry. Volunteers with the pantry joined forces with the Piscataway police handing out donations of food essentials, and signing up residents for the COVID-19 vaccination registry.
Promotion of the Arts. Three of our talented sister’s artwork will be displayed in the DKG International Spring Gallery in April! Three cheers for Felicia Q., Michele C., and Miranda M. We’re proud to have you represent Lambda Chapter on the international level.
Recognition for Dr. Susan Mansfield-Byrne who was reelected to a second term as Secretary of The Rutgers Club.
Lambda Events:
March 24, 2021 at 6:30 PM- Webinar with Dr. Alan Gertner from Kean University about “hearing and hearing issues that we might be experiencing as we mature.” Endorsement from Dr. Barbara Glazewski, “It will be an interactive Zoom event, so he will also be available for questions after the presentation. He’s not only brilliant and a gifted teacher, he’s also a super presenter. Please try to attend.”
March 25, 2021 at 12:00 Noon- Brenda’s Book Club will meet via Zoom to discuss “A Women is No Man” by Etaf Rum.
April 8, 2021 at 6:30 PM- Last meeting of Joan’s Gift Card Club. Thanks to all sisters who supported this fundraiser. Zoom meeting.
April 16, 2021 at 6:30 PM- Lambda Pajama Party on the eve of the state convention. Zoom meeting.
April 17-18, 2021 DKGNJ Virtual State Convention, calling all Lambda sisters to register.
June 19, 2021 at 11:00 AM (rain date June 26) Lambda Business Meeting & Picnic, In person & outdoors at Linda’s home in Hillsborough!