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History of Pi Chapter
Alpha Alpha State in Pennsylvania was the 25th state organization in the country, and it was said to be started in 1937. The records show that the first meeting of the Pi Chapter was held at the Penn Wells Hotel in Wellsboro on September 20, 1947. The State President, Blanche Foster of Philadelphia, conducted the meeting of 13 new members. At initiation, using a flannel graph the emblem was explained. Each member received a red rose.
At that time membership was limited to 10 percent of teachers from Tioga, Potter, and Bradford counties. Because of geographical distance many meetings were held in Wellsboro. In April 1954 Bradford County split and formed its own Chapter which is know as Alpha Zeta Chapter.
In those days meetings were opened with roll call and ended by playing a Greek alphabet game. Attendance was mandatory and absence was excusable only because of illness, absence from town, bereavement, school duties, or bad weather. Hats and gloves were the accepted dress for the 40's and 50's. Dues were $5 and the cost of the meals in 1948 was $1.40.
The programs ran a wide range from pioneers who opened new avenues in education, studies of social minority groups in Pennsylvania, teacher morals, alcoholism, child abuse, the one-room school, educational circles, music therapy, and exchange students. Travelogues, slide presentation, panel discussions, and speakers provided variety. One of the original purposes of the society was the scholarship fund now known as Recruitment Grant. It was given to local students studying to become teachers and originally called "Grant-in-Aid". At one time Pi Chapter also had an interest in helping underprivileged children in foreign countries. Several projects were used to subsidize the scholarship fund. If a member did not wear her pin, she paid a 25 cent fine. Other money making projects were white elephant sales, rummage sales, and the sale of homemade craft items at meetings. Beginning in 2010-2012 biennium, a chicken BBQ became a non-dues revenue event.
The members of Pi Chapter have been active in professional organizations, have attended state and international conventions along with regional conferences, have been listed in the Who's Who of American Women, and have been recipients of Delta Kappa Gamma Scholarships. Member Sylvia Wood, along with many school children, has been recognized as contributing to the creation of an endangered species stamp for the manatee. Many members are generously sharing their talents to advance the purposes of Delta Kappa Gamma.
In a report of a regional meeting it was stated that DKG members are not to say "no": being willing to do whatever is asked of them. And it was stressed that we are a professional, not a social organization.
Pi Chapter can be proud of the accomplishments of its members. Probably the most frequently mentioned benefits or blessings of Delta Kappa Gamma membership would be the friendships we make. "Membership is the Heart of the Society." We must keep ours strong.
At that time membership was limited to 10 percent of teachers from Tioga, Potter, and Bradford counties. Because of geographical distance many meetings were held in Wellsboro. In April 1954 Bradford County split and formed its own Chapter which is know as Alpha Zeta Chapter.
In those days meetings were opened with roll call and ended by playing a Greek alphabet game. Attendance was mandatory and absence was excusable only because of illness, absence from town, bereavement, school duties, or bad weather. Hats and gloves were the accepted dress for the 40's and 50's. Dues were $5 and the cost of the meals in 1948 was $1.40.
The programs ran a wide range from pioneers who opened new avenues in education, studies of social minority groups in Pennsylvania, teacher morals, alcoholism, child abuse, the one-room school, educational circles, music therapy, and exchange students. Travelogues, slide presentation, panel discussions, and speakers provided variety. One of the original purposes of the society was the scholarship fund now known as Recruitment Grant. It was given to local students studying to become teachers and originally called "Grant-in-Aid". At one time Pi Chapter also had an interest in helping underprivileged children in foreign countries. Several projects were used to subsidize the scholarship fund. If a member did not wear her pin, she paid a 25 cent fine. Other money making projects were white elephant sales, rummage sales, and the sale of homemade craft items at meetings. Beginning in 2010-2012 biennium, a chicken BBQ became a non-dues revenue event.
The members of Pi Chapter have been active in professional organizations, have attended state and international conventions along with regional conferences, have been listed in the Who's Who of American Women, and have been recipients of Delta Kappa Gamma Scholarships. Member Sylvia Wood, along with many school children, has been recognized as contributing to the creation of an endangered species stamp for the manatee. Many members are generously sharing their talents to advance the purposes of Delta Kappa Gamma.
In a report of a regional meeting it was stated that DKG members are not to say "no": being willing to do whatever is asked of them. And it was stressed that we are a professional, not a social organization.
Pi Chapter can be proud of the accomplishments of its members. Probably the most frequently mentioned benefits or blessings of Delta Kappa Gamma membership would be the friendships we make. "Membership is the Heart of the Society." We must keep ours strong.