Alpha Beta Members Enjoy Book Discussion

Saturday, February 18, 2012 - Posted 9:21:40 AM by Carol Hughes

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Alpha Beta Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International held its February 11 meeting in Eureka at the Chanticleer Restaurant.  All members joined in the discussion of the book, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford.  

Discussion leader Shirley Mueser (Roanoke) shared that in her second reading of the book she was especially saddened by the plight of the Japanese Americans who lived on the west coast when the US entered World War II.  All those with Japanese ancestry in places like Seattle's Japantown were taken from their homes with only what they could carry and sent on to internment camps in states like Nevada and Idaho.   

Members agreed that the Romeo and Juliet theme of the story touched them as they witnessed the unfolding of the friendship and innocent love of two twelve-year-olds--Henry Lee, a Chinese-American, and Keiko Okabe, a Japanese American.  

The story also explores the relationship of parents and their children in the 1940's and 1980's. Continuing Professional Development Units (CPDU's) are available for most of the chapter's programs.  

Alpha Beta will be awarding grants of $100 each to three non-tenured teachers in the area for purchasing materials for their classrooms.  Carol Hughes (Roanoke) suggested that the applications be delivered personally.  Deadline for submitting the applications is March 1.  

President Ann Hoke (Forrest) encouraged members to help Connie Rich (Fairbury) the upcoming 2012-14 Alpha Beta president, by signing up to chair a committee.   President Hoke announced that the chapter recruitment grants will be awarded to Amy Froelich, a senior at Dwight High School, and to Kaylene Wiegand, a college student from Eureka.  They will be awarded these grants of $200 each at the April 24th meeting.  

Chapter Legislation Chair Sara Kaufman (Eureka) reported that SB 512 concerning the revamping of the teacher retirement system is dead, but that a group of legislators are working on a new bill, which would require school districts to pay more toward teachers' pensions.  Time will be allotted at the March meeting for reviewing the candidates running in the election.  

Margaret Janssen (Pontiac) thanked members who had brought gently used professional clothing for women at the New Opportunity School for Women's Mission in Berea, Kentucky.  Toiletries and monetary donations are also welcomed.   

Alpha Beta's next meeting will be held on Saturday, March 11, at the Dwight Country Club at 9:00 am.  The program will feature Sherri King of the Livingston County Master Gardeners who will focus on the iris and getting ready for the new season.      

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International is an honor society that promotes the professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education.  The Society has chapters in 17 countries and serves over 100,000 members by providing scholarships, leadership training, mentoring, and global networking opportunities for women.  For more information, visit the website at www.dkg.org or call Carol Hughes at 309-923-7370.  

Pictured in photo:  Jari Lynn Oncken (Minonk), Janet Kilgus (Fairbury), Shirley Mueser (Roanoke), Norma Harms (Forrest), and Elaine Cunningham (Minonk) discuss a variety of themes and characters in the novel, Hotel on the Corner or Bitter and Sweet.