Footprints

I am very honored to serve as International Vice-President for the North Central Region. Regional officers and terms will be re-structured after this biennium. I find some humor in being the last IVP for North Central, and will do my best to end the IVP era in a manner that honors the distinguished women who have held this office!

This is the first newsletter of the biennium. It is titled Footprints because we are taking steps together into the future of Alpha Delta Kappa. North Central Presidents, please forward the newsletter to chapters and state/provincial board members. North Central PEs are already on the distribution list, so my apologies for duplicate emails. For future newsletters, d istribution will be adjusted as needed.

There is more North Central "organizational" information to be finalized, but the content of this newsletter will get us started! North Central Officers and Committee Chair appointments are almost done, and will be shared with state and provincial presidents when the list is ready. The website will be updated. The logo was shared with State and provincial presidents, but the logo on the international website has been corrected to show a white/transparent background not black.

Thanks for your patience!

Here is some information about me. I am a Speech-Language Pathologist with 35 years (combination of full and part- time) in public education and a year or so working part-time in a medical/rehabilitation setting. I earned a B.A. and M.S. in Speech Pathology from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) and mid-career earned a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Oakland University (Rochester, Michigan). My favorite teaching assignment was preschool special education/early intervention classroom teacher.

My husband, Larry, and I have been married for 46 years. We have a son, a daughter, and four grandchildren. We are also blessed to have a daughter-in-law and son-in-law who are wonderful spouses to our children and parents to our grandchildren!. In my spare time I enjoy knitting, playing bridge, and reading. I am determined to get back to playing golf!

I was initiated into Michigan Alpha Upsilon in 2002. I never dreamed that random circumstances resulting in attending the 2007 International Convention in San Diego would lead to meeting so many wonderful women by serving on the state board and attending state, regional, and international events. My Alpha Delta Kappa journey is all the result of just taking that first step beyond my chapter!

We have experienced challenging times since March 2020 including the cancellation of the 2020 NCR Conference in Frankenmuth, Michigan. Immediate Past IVP, Roberta Casabon, Conference Chair Anita Moseley, the conference committee and Michigan sisters had planned a fantastic experience for North Central sisters, their guests, and International members. Canceling the 2020 Regional Conference was disappointing, but the good news is that same wonderful experience will be happening in Frankenmuth July 17-July 21, 2022! Learning sessions begin July 18 and end July 20. With a few tweaks and updates for 2022, this conference wheel will be ready to roll!

The Bavarian Inn transferred the 2020 hotel reservations to the 2022 dates unless a reservation was canceled. Those who still have their reservations will be contacted in the next few weeks by email with the new dates for your arrival and departure. This email will come from either Becky Ayers, Sheila Stark-Perreault, or Ann Ainslie.

For those who still need to make a room reservation, the rates are the same as in 2020; the Bavarian Inn suggests reserving your room sooner rather than later. 2022 room rates are below. Call 1-855-652-7200 for reservations and use Group Number 12R29J to get the group rate. Room rates are subject to 6% sales tax and 5% county occupancy tax.

• $119 per night for standard double room
• $129 per night for premium double or king room
• $194 per suite (single, double, triple, and quad occupancy)., additional $15 per night per person for a 5th or 6th person in the room.
• $15 per night for a rollaway bed; cribs are $15 per night.

My goals for NCR are to increase member involvement beginning at the chapter level and to work on bridging the generation gap between an aging membership and younger members who are “in the trenches”. The infusion of technology and expectations for its use has grown exponentially in the past 2 decades. Technology has changed how we communicate and function, and it is placing more demands on our chapters. The demands are easily assimilated by some chapters and may be overwhelming for others. A∆K must find that sweet-spot that allows all members to enjoy the benefits of sisterhood, continue the A∆K mission (educational excellence, altruism, inclusion, and world understanding), and manage the diversity of sisters' ever-changing needs and interests.

(Note: please be sure to read the section about Chapter Officers' Packets and International Dues!)

The 2021 International Virtual Convention was an experience! The Educational Symposium was July 6-9, and business sessions were July 13-16. Some sessions were held on July 5 and July 12. International President Mollie Acosta along with International Chapter and the International Executive Board were installed for the 2021-2023 Biennium. President Mollie’s theme is Share the Love.

The virtual format had its hiccups and most sisters missed the camaraderie of an in-person convention, but the 2021 convention also offered many sisters who would not or could not travel the opportunity to experience an International Convention! The content of the learning sessions and speakers were excellent. The learning sessions, business sessions, speakers, Evening of Entertainment, and Installation were all recorded and are accessible on the International Website to those who registered for the convention. The opportunity to re-watch the learning sessions and use for chapter programs is definitely one of the best outcomes of the virtual format.

One thing that is never missing from any Alpha Delta Kappa event, virtual or in-person, is “sister creativity!” The pictures below show capture some of the experience. Manitoba sisters had a “watch party” for Dueling Pianos (the Evening of Entertainment). The smiles on their faces show how they felt about being together for the first time in over a year!

For several days in July, I would check the alz.org/adk website and watch our numbers grow steadily upward. I'd look at the team's progress and smile because I knew who was trying to overtake whom. At times, only dollars separated teams in their rankings.

When the KAPPAN went to press for the September issue on July 22, our total raised was $193,176.10. As amazed as I was on that day, I was astounded when Pippy Rogers notified me we had reached $198,000. a couple of weeks later. Today, I am speechless. Our original goal to raise $50,000 for the work of the Alzheimer's Association has been more than quadrupled. Our total raised, dare I say "so far", is $216,475.10. How proud I am of my Alpha Delta Kappa sisters, and how grateful I am to each one for their promotion of and participation in events held related to The Longest Day. We teamed together on the brightest day of the year to help others face one of the darkest diseases known to mankind. What a difference you have made as individuals, as chapters, S/P/Ns and International participants. "Thank you" seems inadequate, but thank you I do.

Please continue in the fight against Alzheimer's as we move forward this biennium to Share the Love of Alpha Delta Kappa.

With love, respect, gratitude, and a big dumb smile spreading from ear to ear,

Sue Pelchat

A∆K TLD Global Team Coordinator 2019-21

Note from Ann: The generosity of Alpha Delta Kappa Sisters brings tears of gratitude to my eyes and hope to my heart. My mother battled Alzheimer's for over 10 years before passing away in 2007.

The Classroom Grant, Regional Mini-Scholarship, Excellence in Education Award, and Innovation Grant all have application/nomination deadlines coming up soon! More information and applications are found on the International Website under the Scholarship tab.

· The Classroom Grant is designed to assist members to enhance their classrooms with innovative teaching practices. (Every teacher has been doing this to some extent since March 2020!). There is a limit of $400 per grant. DEADLINE is September 15, 2021. Suggest this grant to a member of your chapter who is beginning the school year, and offer to help with the application process.

· The Regional Mini-Scholarship is for activities taking place between Nov.15-May 15 and is to be used for non-Alpha Delta Kappa classes, conferences, or workshops. There is a limit of $500 per scholarship. Deadline is October 15.

· The Excellence in Education Award information was sent to states and provinces for sharing with chapters 2 weeks ago. A big change is a member may nominate herself; nomination may also be by a colleague or chapter. Past applicants (including state and provincial winners) may re-submit if they were NOT chosen as the regional winner. Nominations must be submitted (online) by November 1. Nominees will be invited to complete an online application which must be submitted by January 15, 2022.

· The Innovation Grant is for non-members with up to 10 years of teaching experience, and the applicant must be nominated by a member. The purpose is to assist educators with the cost of supplies or services to enhance creative and innovative lessons. This is a great opportunity to recognize excellence and “woo” a potential member! Deadline is November 15.

There is money allocated for North Central. Let’s use it!

Aug 31: Officer Packets will be delivered via E-blast to chapter presidents and to S/P/N presidents. The packets will also be available on the website.

September: S/P/N & Chapter Treasurer Packets will be emailed from HQ.

Starting in September, PayPal and credit card options will be available for paying International Membership dues. International Headquarters will send details about this new feature by the end of August in the Chapter Officers' information packet and a future e-blast.

Please make sure officer emails are correct on the website.

The Chapter Officers' packets and the online payment of International dues are perfect ways for chapters to help chapters and sisters not comfortable with computer use. Helping the chapters retrieve the officer information and members of the chapter to pay the International dues is an excellent opportunity to bridge the "generation gap"! Contact your state president and/or state VPM/Membership Chair for recommendations of chapters needing some technical assistance.

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As this is Ann’s first Newsletter I wanted to take this opportunity to reach out to “every” member in our region and tell you how honored and humbled I am to serve as your NC Region Membership Consultant. Every member is important to their Chapter, S/P/N, Region and Internationally. We all have unique and varied gifts to share and when we work together as a “team”, we can accomplish great things! If sisters need help and can’t find it within their own chapter, all they need to do is to reach out to a neighboring Chapter! There is always a sister close by, willing and able to support you. When you need my help or have a question, please email me at maryjohnsonadk@hotmail.com.

My role is to support your S/P Membership Teams in assisting you, in any way that I can. I am currently reviewing all of the CNA Reports and the S/P CNA Analysis Reports and am so impressed with the creative ways in which you have supported one another through this difficult COVID period. It is also wonderful to read about unique programs that have kept members engaged when in person meetings were not possible.

The International website is a treasure trove of information, including the Membership Development page. It provides membership documents and forms all in one place for your convenience. The Membership Development Manual (MDM) has everything you need to know about membership and includes a comprehensive Table of Contents to guide you to the pages you need. You will also find information about A∆K Membership Awards…Pearls of Achievement Program, Distinguished Program Award (DPA) and Celebrating Membership Anniversaries.

August 1-31st…The Distinguished Program Award is designed to recognize chapters with outstanding programs that promote involvement and attendance of members, plus attract the attention of prospective members through creativity and uniqueness. Adjudication information and the rubric are on the website along with the online application form, making the process easy to follow.

International President Mollie’s statement… “Each one reach one”… encourages all members to be a part of our Membership Campaign. Let’s spend the fall talking up all that we are proud of in our organization: Altruistic Projects, Scholarships and Grants, Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, the newly formed A∆D Leadership Academy, A∆K Connect, Distinguished Programs, to name only a few…in supporting our 4 Rs…Recruit, Retain, Reinstate and Revitalize! If each chapter invited just “one potential member” as a guest to their Founders’ Day Celebrations, we would be off to a great start when our new membership Campaign kicks off in January 2022!

Best wishes to all teachers and students as the 2021-2022 school year begins. It is difficult to predict how this year will play out, but Alpha Delta Kappa supports all educators and learners!

The next newsletter will be emailed around October 15. It will celebrate Alpha Delta Kappa Month by highlighting North Central chapters and members. Please send pictures and brief descriptions about your first meeting of the year, share plans for celebrating Alpha Delta Kappa Month and pictures from gatherings held before October 15. Footprints will report what we have done, suggest opportunities, and give reminders as we Step Forward Together!