Courtesy Photo Pictured, from left, are Bonnie DesRocher, co-president; Claudia Werner, guest speaker; and Julie Kowalski and Lisa Rhea, co-presidents.

ALPENA ­– The Alpha Xi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, a society of women educators, met in September at Calvary Episcopal Church in Hillman, for their first meeting of the school year. The group enjoyed a homestyle chicken dinner prepared by the women of the church.

The special guest for the evening was Claudia Werner, a former teacher and principal in the Alpena Public Schools and former member of Alpha Xi. She spoke to the group about a project she and her church have spearheaded to construct a hospital, Tsiyon Family Hospital, in Sayyi, Uganda. The hospital has now been completed and work continues to provide for the additional health needs of the community. The Alpha Xi group gave a monetary donation toward achieving those goals.

During the business meeting, the 2023-2024 budget was presented, committee assignments were given, members signed up to serve as hostesses at Green School during the Harvest Days celebration, and the group discussed ways to support the school staffs in Alpena, Montmorency and Presque Isle counties.

The next meeting will be held on Monday, Nov. 6 at the Alpena County Library.