The Voice of Southwest Louisiana

SWLA
Alpha
Gamma:
International
Honor Society of
Professional
Female
Educators
By Marilyn Monroe
Founded in May 1929,
Delta Kappa Gamma is an
international honor society
of professional female
educators from all levels of the
educational sphere.
“The goal, or mission,
of the organization is to
empower women educators
and promote their learning,
their professional growth and
their personal growth while
Alpha Gamma Founders Day honorees: Courtesy Alpha Gamma. Alpha Gamma, a chapter of the professional women educators
society Delta Kappa Gamma, presented three Excellence in Education awards April 26 at their Founders Day event. Pictured are
Arlene Hobaugh, committee chairman; Laura Leach, Outstanding Community Member honoree; Karen Williams, Outstanding
Education Leader; and Charlotte McCallum, chapter president. Also honored was Holly Foshee as Outstanding Teacher.
also giving them the support
they need,” said Charlotte
McCallum, president of Alpha
Gamma, a local chapter of
DKG. Alpha Gamma was
organized in May 1946.
Following DKG’s mission,
Alpha Gamma offers support
and recognition to area
women in the education
field, including the giving
out of a scholarship to a local
education major each year.
“It isn’t a big amount
but when you are in school,
every little bit does help,”
said McCallum, “And it comes
directly from the chapter.”
The group also
acknowledges the work of
others during their annual
Founders Day event. This year’s
Courtesy Alpha Gamma Alpha Gamma members give to Oasis' women's shelter for Mother's Day. Pictured Kristine Hite, Oasis;
Norma Freedom, Alpha Gamma; Charlotte McCallum, chapter president; Barbara Cahee, Oasis.
luncheon was held in April and
those honored locally include
Holly Foshee, Outstanding
Teacher; Karen Williams,
Outstanding Education Leader;
and Laura Leach, Outstanding
Community Member. Members
also recognized the key
women who established Delta
Kappa Gamma as well.
Alpha Gamma also gives back
to the community.
“Every year for Mother’s
Day, we give toiletries,
cosmetics and personal care
items to Oasis’ shelter for
women, and we usually also
include gently-used jewelry
for the children to choose
from to give to their mothers,”
said McCallum. The group
also brings, at Christmastime,
educational items to Oasis as
gifts for the children.
Society members, said
McCallum, are also very
active in their own churches
Dot Akins
and in other community
organizations as well. “A
number of our members
are retired from salaried
teaching, but they are
still very active in the
community,” she said.
But membership numbers
in the society are not
what they once were and
the decrease has been
notable, according to
McCallum. Alpha Gamma
has a current membership of
39 and is one of two local DKG
chapters. The other chapter is
Alpha Chi. “There were once
three chapters in the Calcasieu
Parish, but we have dwindled
in numbers. One closed last
year,” she said.
However, McCallum
emphasizes that this year there
is a focus on increasing their
membership.
“We will be having some
activities to introduce our
society to others and hopefully
promote it in a positive light,”
she said.
Currently, Alpha Gamma
is preparing for the Super
Summer Salad Supper, also
known as the “Four S’s.”
McCallum states that the
summer event is a popular one
among the members.
“There are salads of every
Courtesy Alpha Gamma
Alpha Gamma, a chapter of the professional
women educators society Delta
Kappa Gamma, held their Founders
Day program on April 26. During that
event, they honored key women who
had established Delta Kappa Gamma
and set high standards for the teaching
profession.
Norma Freedom
kind, from the sweet kind that
can be a dessert to the more
appealing kind that could be
for a meal. It is wonderful to
see all the varieties, and it is a
social event for members and
guests,” she said.
The group is also planning
another event that is much
larger in scale. Alpha Gamma
will be hosting the upcoming
Delta Kappa Gamma of
Louisiana Southwest District
convention.
“It will be held on October
1 at the Pioneer Club for all of
the chapters in the Southwest
District,” said McCallum. “Last
year, the convention was held
in Franklin, and there were 100
attendees.”
All the “planning and
brainwork” has been done
for the event, said McCallum.
“Now, it’s all legwork.”
JUNE 2016 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 3 • Number 11 Volume 3 • Number 11 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM JUNE 2016