Beta Xi: Distinction in Fellowship, Service, Altruism, and Commitment to Education, March 2016 – Diane Tinucci Initiated almost two years ago, I leapt at the chance to describe the excellence of my Beta Xi chapter. At each monthly meeting, I join a multi-generational group of teaching colleagues committed to improvement of education and life in our community and beyond. With consistent 75% or above attendance, our group of 35 includes 5 National Board Certified Teachers, 9 Teachers of the Year, and 3 Presidentially Recognized instructors; all have earned advanced degrees. We share strategies, experiences, and personal support, while learning about our area and completing service projects. Last year, we “adopted” a second year teacher‘s class and her colleagues in the St. Louis Public School system: We filled a pickup truck with classroom supplies and brought a holiday gift to each student. We made and delivered hygiene bags along with uniform shirts donated by a local church. Members donated jewelry, so these students could “shop” for Mothers’ Day. That teacher, in a new position outside the city this year, is now one of our new members. We are looking toward our annual scholarship luncheon on April 2, which, through a silent auction, supports the achievements earned by district seniors choosing careers in education. In 2015, we awarded a $1000. and two $500. scholarships. This year, we have one $1000. and one $500. scholarships to present to students and families invited to our luncheon. In addition, we present each recipient with a new teacher guide book, Essential Wisdom for Successful Teaching, co-written by one of our sisters. We have appreciated the attendance of our state president at the last two events. Chapter meetings include a range of activities like creating Valentines for Veterans and holiday baskets for deserving families. We enjoy a range of speakers: Learning about topics like Dementia and Alzheimer’s, support for homeless young mothers, and sex trafficking victims often sparks our next altruistic project plan. Some speakers come from our ranks: As utilization of ADK sorority scholarships is actively encouraged, sisters who have taken advantage of them have shared experiences to Morocco and South Africa. Another sister’s ADK Month presentations and monthly world understanding questions help us learn more about the history and tradition of the sorority within which we share, serve, and grow. This year, at an October Soup Fest, an original play blended ADK lore with memories of a member who had moved out of state closer to children. Our long distance sister then joined us from South Carolina via Skype. SCR International Vice President Brenda’s and State President Sandra’s attendance truly capped our celebration. Meetings can, enjoyably, be rich in sister recognition: Our membership includes last year’s Rockwood District Teacher of the Year, a 2014 Presidential Award for Math and Science Teachers Finalist, presenters at NAGC, MoreNet, and METC educational conventions, member of the National Board Design Team and District Professional Development Committee Chair. Meetings also include invitations to and reports on local, district, regional and national activities. Within our membership, we have the State Technology Committee Chairman, Auditor, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary and Sergeant at Arms. Sisters have travelled to state and regional conventions, and three attended the most recent one in Salt Lake City. This year, our president will present at both the regional and state conventions. When I offered to share the quality of Beta Xi, sisters swarmed to remind me not to forget to mention our donations to Circle of Concern food bank, baby items to Almost Home, sweats to Women’s Crisis Center, and our project of filling Manna bags for Feed My Starving Children, an agency serving third world countries. I learned that our president helped Branson, Missouri, start a new chapter, and that we donated money, ADK letters and a badge replica to our new Branson sisters. I hadn’t known we had supported a Boy Scout Eagle project by making blankets for our local Mercy Children’s Hospital and donating the fleece scraps made into toys to a no kill dog shelter. I knew we had seven new members, but I learned we have a 100% retention rate. I was not, however, surprised by that. I remembered that we had had a fall “Rush” party to which we invited newly recognized Teachers of the Year and National Board Recognized Teachers. Young and old, new to the profession, well within it or retired, we come together for two hours each month to recharge in the company of colleagues with a lifetime commitment to education and community improvement. We catch up on our lives and move quickly to brainstorming how we might improve the lives of others. I believe it is telling that, when one of my sisters called to be certain I knew that we had earned all seven pearls this biennium, she, a knowledgeable ten year member, added, “Gosh, I didn’t realize we had earned that many.” Isn’t that, then, a true Chapter of Distinction? As Beta Xi fulfills its ADK mission through the authentic generosity of spirit of its members, it reached benchmarks as a surprising, secondary benefit, rather than a motivation for action. A member of few such organizations, it is my privilege to be affiliated with the distinctive Beta Xi chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa.