Presenters Available for Local Chapter Programs 



Enrichment Program- Topic- Great Geocache!- “I’ve found it. I’ve found it.”

Description-
Just like Sherlock Holmes in "A Study in Scarlet," participants will employ their observation and deduction skills to unveil the mysteries associated with the popular outdoor activity geocaching. 

Participants will learn that geocaching is an enriching family-friendly activity that all age groups can participate.  The history and evolution of geocaching will be addressed in addition to the types of geocaches that exist, the equipment that is needed to geocache, geocaching etiquette and miscellany information such geotrails, souvenirs, trackables and pathtags.
Contact:
Marcia Erickson-  merickson222@verizon.net
Chapter- Beta Epsilon
Location- Duncansville, PA

Chapter Program and Project Ideas Shared by Members at State Convention

Educational Legislation:

• Joined with others in to draft a resolution for preserving Social Security at NERC
• Committee members keep chapter abreast of legislative items.
• Updates on issues are shared by email or at chapter meetings.
• A chapter invited their state representative.
• Members are encouraged to write letters and are given samples to assist them.
• Local congressman talked about pending legislation.

Professional Affairs:

• Book Reviews
• Book Exchange (take your own book back if it doesn’t go)
• Best Buy provided a free workshop of the latest in technology
• Tour of green school
• Publicized scholarships
• Achievement Award
• Worked with Olivia House in York for grief counseling
• Survival Kit for new teachers
• Scholarships for new teachers
• Partner with outside groups to give grants to new teachers

Visual and Performing Arts

• Use talents of members for programs (dance, dulcimer)
• Share information about a performance that was attended.
• Reenactments (historical in nature)
• Sing DKG song to tape or CD
• Use talents of community.  Pay a stipend
• Bagpiper as part of a program
• Family singers
• Use programs as community outreach
• “Hat Show” – wears hats/ tells history
• Develop local talent through community theater
• Involve kids from local school to entertain
• Member taught how to make Christmas ornaments out of nature materials
• Jewelry making session
• Brought in community members to talk about life experiences in foreign countries
• Art Work displayed of several members’ artwork
• Fashion Show (vintage) history program
• Shares upcoming community events at meetings (concerts, art shows, etc.)

Projects:

• “Y” – Victims’ Resource Center – needs and money
• Dresses for Africa – on a website
• Made covers to be used at shelters.
• Sell Raffle Baskets for extra money for projects
• Bring a book/ Buy a book
• Fines for missing pins for extra money
• Collect items for local crisis shelter (Women’s abuse)
• Afafanto Scholarship Fund raises money to send young girls in Ghana to secondary school.
• Collect funds each month to support local charitable organizations
• Donate children’s’ books to schools
• Make fleece blankets/quilts for women’s resource center
• Help organize children’s area of donations from community for yearly
• Raise funds for Big Brothers / Big Sisters
• Scholarships for HS students
• Collect food for food banks
• Toiletries for Samara House
• Grants for High School student going into education.
• Funds & Food for Food Bank
• Project Linus
• School supplies for 3rd world countries
• Books by the inch
• Blackburn Center      
• Operation Santa Claus
• Socks for troops
• Butterflies for Holocaust Museum
• Hope Center – donations for women and children in shelter
• Tutoring
• Books for pre-school groups
• Tote bags for school kids
• Literacy /Numeracy supplies K-6
• Cat in the Hat
• Library money
• Make boxes of children’s books for doctors’ offices

Personal Growth and Development:

• Keep folders about each member and update them every 1-2 years.  Uses:

          --good for reflection
          --good to use when nominating someone as in “album of distinction”, scholarships,        
             community awards, etc.
          --member forget what they have done—folders are helpful to them.  Lots of sharing comes from thi                       

• Member per-assigned to give a “thought for the day” and it is used for reflection  as well as                      member discussion.
• For a meeting they divide in groups of high school teachers, middle school, elementary ed. and special ed.   Round table discussion follows and   helpful ideas emerge, as well as retired members are kept up to speed with what is occurring in curriculum and classroom.
• Take ten minutes of a meeting and someone shares her hobby—bring any item(s) to show or demonstrate the hobby.
• Take ten minute of meeting time to “share your vacation” ideas
• Take ten minutes of meeting time to “share your volunteer work”.   It’s interesting and it instructs others as to ways they can volunteer.
• Have themes for meeting --examples:

        --Every 2 years this group goes to tea and a program is presented such as a presentation on the civil                war, by a member who studied and enjoys this topic
        --One year they had a local person who presented as “Jane Austen I”: The tea was a Victorian themed                tea, with chapter members wearing period outfits. 
        --One year the program was on the “history of tea” presented by a member who had researched it

• Have professionals come in and speak to chapter at meeting—examples:

        --Environmental presentation, naturalist
        --Chiropractor--talk entitled” How to Live to be 100”
        --financial planner with relevant information
        --flower arranger

• Yoga instructor showing gentle yoga moves to interest people in doing yoga.
• Members bring an object that jogs a memory of theirs and give a 1 minute talk about a personal memory brought to mind by that object
• Speakers for healthy lifestyles -- example

         --Women’s heart healt
         --Proper nutrition
         --Handling stress