April 08, 2008
Tuesday

Ketchikan, Alaska - This year will mark the 50th year celebration for Ketchikan's Epsilon Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma which began back in 1958 when a group of women educators from Ketchikan began a charter group of The Delta Kappa Gamma International Society and Beta Gamma (Alaska) state. These women would have a "Hat and Glove Affair" every time they met at their chapter meetings. Now in Ketchikan, Delta Kappa Gamma Epsilon Chapter is involved in many community services projects. Annually, the local Epsilon Chapter offer's a $500 mini grant for teachers to fund projects or materials they may need for their classrooms that are not covered in the budget.

The local Epsilon Chapter provides a scholarship to a graduating senior or a student in college, preferably seeking an educational profession. This annual scholarship is traditionally given out at the scholarship assembly at the High School. This scholarship is paid through annual holiday sales. Currently there are 25 members here in Ketchikan. They do various service projects, work on different platforms, state wide leadership and trainings, and put welcome back packages in each school district teachers lounges right before school starts.

Each year nominations are taken to honor a select number community members that touch the lives of our youth, but may not necessary be educators, through the Red Apple Award Program held in April each year. This year the presentations will be April 10th 2008 at the St. John's Church conference room at 7:30 PM. The venue brings members the recipients together in a casual fun evening together. It is free and community members are invited to join in the celebration. If anyone knows of recipients for 2009 please contact Sarajustine Black 225-6567.

The Ketchikan Chapter also donates and places books in local businesses for children and teenagers to read and take home with them. Locations include: Public Defender office, and Court Clerk office, Ketchikan General. Hospital, Ketchikan Eye Care Center, Woman's Place, Job Training/Work Readiness share with Public Assistance, His and Hairz, Tongass Furniture, Hometown Furnishings, Ketchikan Police Department, Parks and Recreation Center, and First Lutheran Preschool. Please contact Audrey at 225-0603 if you have any gently used or new books you would like to donate to this project.

This year Ketchikan's Epsilon Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma put cookies in the teacher lounges at the beginning of the school year, to let the teachers in the Ketchikan district take a moment to have a snack as they prepared classrooms for the hustle and bustle of the exciting new school cycle.

The chapter has initiated 8 new members and reinstated 3 members this biennium. Nationally and Internationally Delta Kappa Gamma presented various innovative professional development opportunities, service projects, state and national conferences, and continuing educational, leadership development, and networking opportunities for members. Each month a presentation is held in our Chapter that is of interest to our members. The Chapter strives to get all members and the community involved in some sort of program presentations. The monthly meetings are held later in each month on Saturdays. The Executive Board meets every month two weeks before the regular meeting. This meeting happens at Jeremiah's Restaurant and is open to any member.

Ketchikan's Epsilon Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma will celebrate fifty years in May with a Hat and Glove Affair. Current, past members, and guests are invited to the event. The celebration will be held on May 17th, from 10:00 AM - 12:00 AM at the Sunny Point Fireside Room.

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Ketchikan, Alaska