The local chapter of an international educator’s sorority will welcome perspective new members during the month of October.
The local Alpha Delta Kappa (ADK) chapter, which is Beta Upsilon, covers Gilmer and Fannin County. The nonprofit civic organization is comprised of active and retired women educators, said Becky Oliver, chapter treasurer.
“They can be school teachers, counselors or college professors,” said Oliver, a former math teacher and assistant principal at Gilmer High School. “You just have to have a teaching certificate in an education-related field and (experience in your field) for one year. They used to not accept members who were retired, but the international organization has changed that in their bylaws.”
October is ADK Month, in which the 1947 founding of the entire organization is recognized.
The local chapter will hold its annual Founder’s Day meeting in Ellijay Tuesday, Oct. 3, 4 p.m., at the Boardtown Community Clubhouse on Boardtown Road. That will be the best opportunity for those interested in joining to do so or find out more about the organization, Oliver said.
“We’ll be doing our membership drive in October,” she added. “We invite those who are interested in becoming members to come to the Oct. 3 meeting, and hopefully they will continue to come. We encourage them to attend all the meetings up until March, which is when we will hold our initiation ceremony.”
The group provides a social connection for both retired and active educators, as well as an opportunity for those retired from the field to continue an education-related service to their community, noted Oliver. There are currently 31 members in the local chapter.
“When you have experienced people in a group, there’s a lot of value to that, but when you bring in new teachers, they bring in new ideas. That’s what were looking for,” said Nan Flickinger, chapter publicity chair.
Members of Beta Upsilon meet monthly at different locations, including restaurants and businesses in the two counties. They also join to participate in various altruistic community service projects throughout each year, said Mary Jones, chapter president and a co-president elect for the Dalton district, which includes Gilmer County.
“For example, we gave Hugs and Kisses (candy baskets) to the teachers this year,” said Jones.
“We do a Toys for Tots drive each December, and we alternate between Gilmer and Fannin each year. We also do a walk to end Alzheimer’s each year in Dalton,” added Oliver.
The local chapter also awards two teaching scholarships, which total almost $1,000 annually, said Flickinger.
“We provide scholarships for new teachers and teachers who are still teaching and want to get an advanced degree. We try to do what we can,” she added.