Name of Chapter and District: Alpha Delta, District V

Date of Organization: November 5, 1949

Geographical Location: SW Georgia
2014-2016 Biennium
Officers
President-Jan Westberg
1st Vice President-Lisa Gilligan
2nd Vice President-Robin Cartright
Secretary-Annette James
Treasurer-Deborah Fiveash
Parliamentarian-Dr. Annie Laurie McElroy
Past President-Faith Shiver
Summary of Programs from each meeting
September 2014: Our program was presented by Ashley Finch, who is very involved in our
areas Backpack Buddies program. This programs beginnings stem from the need for
children to have access to food when not in school. Each week, volunteers pack
backpacks with food for weekend and holiday meals for children who qualify. Various
churches sponsor students by packing the bags and delivering them to schools. At this
time, approximately 400 city and county students are served through this endeavor.
Many children would be without food when not in school without assistance. Fifty
children who benefit from BPB were also able to attend Camp WinShape through First
Baptist Church scholarships during the summer of 2014. Danny Dukes, Second Harvest
director, explained his companys role in providing affordable food for programs in our
area. Second Harvest is involved in several community projects that enable needy
students to have access to food. One is an after school feeding program, Kids Caf,
which will begin soon.
November 2014: Our program was presented by the Open Door Adoption Agency. Open
Door Adoption Agency began as a ministry of two doctors wives. Jane Gilbert and
Lauren Fieldings presentation included the beginning of the agency to where it is today.
The agency operates under Christian values and does not accept federal or state funding.
Currently, there are 18 24 caseworkers in the state of Georgia. In order to help unite
parents and children, an endowment campaign will begin soon. The goal is to raise
$2,000,000 in endowment monies to be used for adoption fees. Stacy Fiveash Hayes,
daughter of member Deborah Fiveash, told of her personal adoption story. Through the
use of the Open Door Adoption Agency, she and her husband will be adopting a baby boy
at his birth in December. We also celebrated the 65th anniversary of our chapter.
February 2015: Robin Cartright presented our program on World Fellowship. World
Fellowship began in 1946 at the National Convention with four German teachers
receiving funds to study and visit Sweden. In 1972, the World Fellowship Committee
became a standing committee. Once a year, our chapter holds a meeting in which
members bring homemade goodies and/or crafts to sell to fellow members. $50 of the
funds raised from the sale are donated to the World Fellowship fund, and the remainder is
used for our general scholarship fund.

Ms. Mallory Jones from the Thomasville Center for the Arts presented out
meeting program. Mallorys topic was Being at the Center of it All: Thomasville Center
for the Arts. Mallory shared the roles that the Center for the Arts has as it strives to meet
the needs of a diverse community. Plays, lessons, gatherings, artists in residence, and
exhibits are just a few examples of the offerings provided by the center. Members were
also offered the Thom handout.
September 2015: Our program was about Camp ARROW, which is a week-long
residential camp designed to meet the special needs of children with multiple disabilities.
Located at the Camp Tygart facility in southwest Georgia, Camp ARROW has been in
operation since 1974, making the summer camp experience available to children who
would otherwise be unable to participate in camp activities. Camp ARROW serves
children ages seven to fourteen from the southwest Georgia area who have a variety of
disabilities. Some examples are: autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, spina bifida, or
hearing, visual, or cognitive impairments. Camp ARROW is staffed by an enthusiastic
group of individuals who are passionate about working with children who have special
needs. The staff consists of co-directors, an administrator, two full-time nurses, activity
leaders, cooks, and counselors. A ratio of at least one counselor to two campers is
maintained in each cabin. A camp doctor is present at check-in, and is on call for the
duration of the week. Activities at Camp ARROW are designed to encourage
independence and foster self-confidence. Daily activities include swimming, arts and
crafts, music, and games. Special activities include a banquet and dance, trips to
restaurants, a bowling alley, fishing, canoeing, and horseback riding. Each year, children
make memories that they will treasure for the rest of their lives!
November 2015: Wallace Goodman, director of Pebble Hill Plantation, presented a very
interesting program about Pebble Hill Plantation. Mr. Goodman has spent the last 18
years at Pebble Hill and shared its history and its present role in the community.
Currently Pebble Hill attracts 18,000 visitors annually. There are several events coming
up on the Pebble Hill event calendar supporting the Plantation Wildlife Arts Festival and
continuing through the holiday season.
February 2016: Lisa Gilligan presented our program, Staying Abreast with DKG on the
Web. She reviewed Web sites, Twitter, and Facebook use as a way to stay connected to
DKG International.
May 2016: This months program was on Schools for Africa. Schools for Africa is an
educational initiative inspired by Nelson Mandela. It supports quality education for
children in 13 African countries. New members initiated into our chapter are Delisa
Barrow, Keri Johnson, Erin Rehberg, Nancy Rogers, Lisa Williams, and Brandee
Zambrano. We welcome the new ideas they will bring to our chapter. Two scholarship
winners were announced: Katie Meissner from Grady County and Olivia Clark from
Thomas County.
Important Committee Reports
September 2014 and 2015: Executive Board gave reports and goals for new biennium
after an extensive planning meeting in the summer. New committees and regrouping was
established to create an atmosphere where all members know each other, and
committees are appropriate for the needs of our chapter.
2014-2016: Membership committee submitted a total of nine prospective new members,
which were voted on and initiated during this biennium.

May 2015:

2014-2016: Scholarship committee met to review the names possible scholarship

recipients. Two $100 scholarships were awarded each year during this biennium to
beginning teachers to use for classroom supplies.
2014-2016: A new committee, the Non-dues Revenue committee, met numerous times to
research and discuss possible ways to earn money for our chapter without having to ask
members for additional funds.
Chapter Projects
2014-2016: Literacy Project collecting childrens books at every meeting for the Food
Bank
Donated $50 from chapter & $50 from a member for SE Regional Conference, which
was held in Savannah in July 2015.
2015-2016: Increased awareness of DKG by ordering new membership brochures,
collecting items and compiling 90+ bags that were distributed to new teachers in Thomas
& Grady County
2014-2016: Annual Craft/ Home Baked Goods sale to raise money for World Fellowship
& our general scholarship fund
2014-2016: $50 per year was donated to World Fellowship
2016: Celebrated 65th anniversary of the founding our chapter
Revamped committee groups and expectations to keep up with the changing times
Increased communication by sending quarterly newsletters to all chapter members
2016: Held a yard sale to raise funds for scholarships and general fund
Chapter Members Participation at District
Jan Westberg, Alpha Delta President 2014-2016
Faith Shiver, Alpha Delta Webmaster
Lisa Gilligan, Alpha Delta 1st Vice President & chair of Non-Dues Revenue Committee
Deborah Fiveash, Alpha Delta Treasurer
Diana Rineer, Alpha Delta member honored for 35+ years of membership
Lois Duncan, Alpha Delta, previous treasurer
Chapter Members Participation at State
Jan Westberg, Alpha Delta President 2014-2016
Faith Shiver, Alpha Delta Webmaster
Beth Womble, Alpha Delta Photographer
Our chapter provided a picnic lunch for Delta Hostel in Spring 2016
Delta Hostel participants from our chapter Robin Shaver, Deborah Fiveash, Lisa
Gilligan, Susan Thompson, Jan Westberg
Chapter Members Participation at Regional
Jan Westberg, Alpha Delta President 2014-2016
Faith Shiver, Alpha Delta Webmaster
Lisa Gilligan, Alpha Delta 1st Vice President
Chapter Members Participation at International
Jan Westberg, Alpha Delta President 2014-2016
Faith Shiver, Alpha Delta Webmaster
Awards and Special Recognitions of Chapter
Award for Chapter Excellence
Award for supporting Early Career Educators

Award for Exemplary Communication

Psi State - Order of the Rose for Maintaining or Increasing Membership During the 20132015 Biennium
Psi State - Setting the Gold Standard Chapter Award for Achieving the 2013-2015
Membership Challenges
Awards and Special Recognitions of Members
Faith Shiver - Shining Star of Georgia Gold Award & Elise Boylston Foundation Grant
Beth Womble Elise Boylston Foundation Grant
Amy Fowler Elisa Boylston Foundation Grant
New Members
Gail Clark (2015)
Catherine Thompson (2015)
Austin Humphries Harrell (2015)
Delisa Barrow (2016)
Keri Johnson (2016)
Erin Rehberg (2016)
Nancy Rogers (2016)
Lisa Williams (2016)
Brandee Zambrano (2016)
Necrology Report
None