Theta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International met Saturday, Nov. 2, at Kingfi sher Memorial Library.

Ramona Paine, Enid, president, called the meeting to order at 10 a.m. and Jan Stinson, Fay, gave the devotional, “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” by Robert Fulghum.

The “Society Focus” was on the “Educational Foundation.” Beth Schieber, Okarche, serves on this board.

The members collected $45 for the emergency fund at their September meeting. This Fund helps members who have experienced a disaster or medical bills, etc.

The 2019-2020 essay topic is: “In the Spirit of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and its theme ‘Transforming the World,’ How Can You Individually Encourage the Acceptance of Others?”

This essay contest is open to all seventh and eighth graders.

The essays have been delivered to Kingfisher, Okarche, Waukomis, Watonga, Hennessey, Lomega and Dover.

The deadline is Feb. 5 as Theta chapter will begin judging them on Feb. 8.

Jan Stinson, nominating chair, presented the proposed slate of offi cers for 2020-2022: President, Ann Ritchie, Enid; first vice president, Jan Stinson, Fay; second vice president, Joy Rhodes, Fairview; secretary, Phyllis Hightower, Watonga; nominating chair, Lynn Barnett, Kingfisher; and members, Trinna Caldwell, Watonga, and Dana Terrell, Kingfi sher.

These will be voted on at the February meeting.

The chapter has purchased the following books to fulfill its state project “SEE” which supports early career educators: “First Days of School” by Harry Wong and “What Successful Teachers Do” by Mary C. Clement.

The chapter has given monetary donations to the following: UNICEF/ K.I.N.D. (Kids in Need of Desk), a School for Africa project of Delta Kappa Gamma; World Fellowship (provides opportunities for international women to pursue graduate studies in Canada and the United States) and to Beth Herrington Appreciation Committee, Tahlequah, to recognize her on her 90th birthday with a bronze statue at the Thompson House.

Herrington is a past state organization president, does music for DKG state conventions/leaderships as well as for DKG International.

Theta Chapter will have a booth at Winterfest on Dec. 7 with sand plum jelly, made by Karla Eischen, Kingfisher, and jalapeno jelly made by Hightower, Stinson and Caldwell, with other items.

All proceeds go to the group’s grant-in-aid scholarship.

Harri Williams, Harrah, gave the program on “The School-to-Prison Pipeline” and mass incarceration.

Williams has been in prison ministry for more than 15 years and currently serves as the program chair for Oklahoma Conference of United Methodist Women.

The school-to-prison pipeline is a term used to describe how children and youth of color are rerouted by systems and institutions, funneled away from educational success and towards the criminal justice system, Williams told the group.

Zero-tolerance policies have expanded to include a wide array of less-serious offenses, resulting in mandated suspensions, expulsions and arrests for minor misconduct, she added.

As part of zero tolerance, many schools now employ school resource officers/police stationed inside schools, Williams said.

At a later date, Theta chapter will have a project working with the Kingfisher and Blaine County sheriff’s and police departments.

Members present were: Caldwell, Hightower, Ramona Paine, Barnett, Stinson, Eischen and the guest speaker.