Courtesy Photo Society of Women Educators, Alpha Xi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma members Pauline Buchner, left, Jan Mooradian, center, and Carol Kindt pose for a photo during a recent meeting.

The Society of Women Educators, Alpha Xi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, met on Oct. 20 at Hunan Restaurant for dinner, an informational meeting and business. The focus of the meeting was to provide professional growth for our membership.

Paula Gehrke, Advisor of the Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Program at Alpena High School, spoke to us about this national program. We learned that the State of Michigan requires high schools with career and technical training programs to have a Career Technical Society Organization (CTSO) to provide leadership training for students. FCCLA is one such CTSO and the AHS Teacher Academy program is a part of this. Two officers of the Academy, Mazie Walker and Peyton Gohl, were also guests at our dinner. They spoke to us about their participation in State and National competitions, the leadership opportunities they have had, their experiences in classrooms and the fundraising they do as members of the Teacher Academy. Both have plans to enter the teaching profession.

The next fund raiser for Teacher Academy will be on December 2 at Culver’s Restaurant from 5pm – 8pm. Members will serve the meals and a portion of the cost of the meal will be donated to the student group.

During our business meeting, Pauline Buchner reported on the staff encouragement activity for this year. Breakfast bars were purchased, placed in bags for each school in the Alpena, Montmorency, and Presque Isle school districts. These have been distributed as a token of thanks to each staff member for the work they do educating and supporting students.

New teachers to schools in the Alpena, Montmorency and Presque Isle School Districts will have the opportunity to apply for $100 grants to purchase materials for their classrooms. These applications will soon be available and the grants will be awarded at our January meeting. Lori Vought is chairperson of this program.

In other business, Betty Masters reported on our participation hosting visitors to Green School during Harvest Days and preparations for decorating the organization’s Christmas tree for Season of Light. Next, Julie Usher updated the membership on our designation as a 501c3 organization.

Our next meeting will be on Dec. 2 at the Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan.