CHAPTER MEETINGS AND EVENTS 2023-2024 |
Eta Mu has a year filled with exciting events for members and guests. For complete details visit the Members Only Area.
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FallOur Fall programs begin with the Kick-Off in September. New members will be inducted.
In October, the Area XVII Fall Conference will be held at the Martin G. Petersen Event Center in Modesto. In November, Eta Mu will visit the Modesto Gospel Mission and Volente Coffee Roasters to learn how training has impacted local persons experiencing homelessness. A contribution of socks for Veterans will be made. |
WinterIn December, members will celebrate the season by attending "Winter Wonderettes", a musical at the Gallo Theater followed by a no-host dinner.
January will be a Soup dinner and program on Trauma Informed Instruction. Collections for Modesto Gospel Mission will be January's Community Service project. The DKG CA virtual Leadership Development Seminar will be on January 19 and 20. February's meeting is a cooking class by member Debbie Mar. Members will learn how to prepare Chinese dishes. A program on AI and Chabot will follow. As part of the chapter's service project books will be donated for Read Across America at Mary Lou Dieterich School. |
SpringIn March members will celebrate Dr. Seuss and Read Across America at Mary Lou Dieterich and Chrysler Schools.
A Potato Fest and meeting will celebrate St. Patrick's Day. The program will focus on DEI and how we are all unique individuals as we share "I Am" poems. In April Eta Mu members will meet Modesto Mayor Sue Zwahlen and enjoy pizza and salad. This is a time to donate items for Jared Boxes. Members will also participate in a Love Modesto Project. In May, members will attend the California State Convention in Burlingame. May will be a time to assemble Jared Boxes to donate to a local hospital. The year will end with a "Garden Party" in June. |
For detailed information about each event go to the calendar of events and click on the month of the event.
2023-2024 CHAPTER EVENTS
ETA MU Kickoff Breakfast to Begin 2023-24
The Founder and The Future
On September sixth, the women of the Eta Mu chapter gathered for brunch at the beautiful home of Marla Rucobo. It was a lovely day, and they knew it would be special as they were welcoming three new sisters… and honoring one very remarkable sister; chapter founding member, Adele Little would be receiving her DKG 55-year pin.
The Founder
Adele Little is the chapter’s only remaining founding member and has been an active part of the organization since helping found the chapter on April 20, 1968. Since that time, she has held nearly every position in both the chapter and the area organizations and continues to serve on various committees. In Debbie Mar’s presentation of her 55-year pin, she highlighted Adele’s amazing achievements in both education and the community of Modesto, calling her “an inspirational, very positive, spiritual and blessed person.” During her teaching career, she was an educator of the first water, first as a classroom teacher, then a reading teacher and later taking on the role of Director of State and Federal Programs. Adele has been generous to the community as well, continually demonstrating her dedication to literacy for her community. She has been the community’s Adult Literacy Program Director, sat on the board of the Adult Literacy Network, and worked with Stanislaus County Partners in Education (SPIE). Her contributions to the community led to her being named as one of the Outstanding Women for Stanislaus County 2009, and the recipient of the Jean and Clyde Dunlap Award for her dedication and devotion to literacy-- an honor that is well-deserved. All Eta Mu sisters continue to benefit from her knowledge and guidance. To make this event even more meaningful, Adele donated her previous pins to the chapter, that they may be used to honor the commitment to DKG of others.
The Future
The three women who were welcomed into Eta Mu are equally remarkable, each in their own way. Caralyn Mendoza is the newly dubbed Assistant Superintendent of Finance for the Newman Crows Landing School District. Caralyn has worked hard to ensure that the students at her school district have a solid education and are prepared for a career-- or college-- beyond their high school years. Serving in an agriculture forward community, Caralyn hopes to develop a district farm which would serve two purposes: helping students to learn agribusiness and agriculture and providing the opportunity for students to participate in a “farm to fork” culinary education. She already is posting pictures of the delicious items that budding culinary students create with the hash tag #eatlearngraduate. Caralyn is married to her husband Armando and together they have three children, Nelson, Rebecca, and Diego. We are pleased to welcome Caralyn to our chapter and look forward to her contributions.
Wendy Taro is a long-time educator of Modesto City Schools. She was a classroom teacher for over twenty years before transitioning to her current position as MTSS Instructional Coach at Martone School in Modesto in order to support the students who need it the most. Known for going above and beyond, Wendy recently received the MCS Hero award for her continuing efforts on behalf of the students and staff of Martone. Wendy is always a positive influence on her friends and colleagues, ready with a funny story, joke, or a warm smile. She is an avid traveler with her husband Rob, recently hiking through several National Parks including Zion National Park. Wendy and Rob have two adult daughters, Nicole and Renee. We are so excited to have Wendy join our chapter, sharing her unique gifts and talents!
Andrea Cadrett is a respected kindergarten teacher at Agnes Baptist Elementary in the Stanislaus Union School District. She has sat on so many site and district committees that she has actually lost count! Her dedication to education and her students earned her the “Teacher of the Year” award for Stanislaus County in 2017. She continues to mentor new teachers within her district. One of Andrea’s favorite things to do is to “glamp” with her husband, John, enjoying the freedom to load up their fifth wheel and go to campgrounds around the state to enjoy nature-- and a good book! John and Andrea have two adult children, Matthew and Julia. Andrea’s wealth of knowledge and dedication to education will benefit all of our members. We are lucky to have Andrea join our chapter!
With the leadership and guidance of all of our Eta Mu sisters the future of this chapter is bright indeed. May we all continue to live this year’s motto “We rise by lifting others!”
Article submitted by Dawn Pitcock
The three women who were welcomed into Eta Mu are equally remarkable, each in their own way. Caralyn Mendoza is the newly dubbed Assistant Superintendent of Finance for the Newman Crows Landing School District. Caralyn has worked hard to ensure that the students at her school district have a solid education and are prepared for a career-- or college-- beyond their high school years. Serving in an agriculture forward community, Caralyn hopes to develop a district farm which would serve two purposes: helping students to learn agribusiness and agriculture and providing the opportunity for students to participate in a “farm to fork” culinary education. She already is posting pictures of the delicious items that budding culinary students create with the hash tag #eatlearngraduate. Caralyn is married to her husband Armando and together they have three children, Nelson, Rebecca, and Diego. We are pleased to welcome Caralyn to our chapter and look forward to her contributions.
Wendy Taro is a long-time educator of Modesto City Schools. She was a classroom teacher for over twenty years before transitioning to her current position as MTSS Instructional Coach at Martone School in Modesto in order to support the students who need it the most. Known for going above and beyond, Wendy recently received the MCS Hero award for her continuing efforts on behalf of the students and staff of Martone. Wendy is always a positive influence on her friends and colleagues, ready with a funny story, joke, or a warm smile. She is an avid traveler with her husband Rob, recently hiking through several National Parks including Zion National Park. Wendy and Rob have two adult daughters, Nicole and Renee. We are so excited to have Wendy join our chapter, sharing her unique gifts and talents!
Andrea Cadrett is a respected kindergarten teacher at Agnes Baptist Elementary in the Stanislaus Union School District. She has sat on so many site and district committees that she has actually lost count! Her dedication to education and her students earned her the “Teacher of the Year” award for Stanislaus County in 2017. She continues to mentor new teachers within her district. One of Andrea’s favorite things to do is to “glamp” with her husband, John, enjoying the freedom to load up their fifth wheel and go to campgrounds around the state to enjoy nature-- and a good book! John and Andrea have two adult children, Matthew and Julia. Andrea’s wealth of knowledge and dedication to education will benefit all of our members. We are lucky to have Andrea join our chapter!
With the leadership and guidance of all of our Eta Mu sisters the future of this chapter is bright indeed. May we all continue to live this year’s motto “We rise by lifting others!”
Article submitted by Dawn Pitcock
A JUNE GARDEN PARTY
TO CELEBRATE ETA MU’S 2022-23 YEAR
To finish the 22-23 year activities and celebrate our achievements a garden party was held at Dawn’s home. We appreciate Dawn’s husband’s and son's help get everything ready. Attending the garden party were Adele, Dawn, Heather, Janice, Linda, Kathleen, Pat, Theresa, Trudi, Wendy, Wendy’s Mom, Gwen Bruce, and Dr. Lisa Cooper-Wilkins.
After brunch, Dr. Lisa Cooper-Wilkins shared her presentation Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Lisa began her presentation by sharing her I Am poem. Lisa’s presentation included guidelines for dialogue, why DEI matters to DKG, and the path to DEI for DKG CA.
For Minutes for Business Meetings go the the Meeting and Member News Page.