Gamma Gamma Ray
Newsletter of the Gamma Gamma Chapter
January 2026
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
*Thursday, January 15 – Zoom about scams, 7:00 pm
*Tuesday, February 10 – program at Schaumburg Library 4:00 pm
*Tuesday, March 10 – program about Native Americans 4:30 pm
*Tuesday, April 7 – paint night 5:00 pm
*Thursday, April 16 – new member info session and executive board meeting *Thursday, May 7 – Spring Banquet
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
*From Our Gamma Gamma Treasurer, Linda Stolt:
2025 Holiday Auction Results
Thanks to the generosity of our wonderful DKG members, we raised $4,661 at our Holiday Auction ($1347 in cash and $3314 in checks), which is $839 more than last year. My sincerest thanks to all of the members who participated in the auction and to those who planned the event.
If you were unable to attend the auction and would like to make a contribution, please send a check made payable to Delta Kappa Gamma to:
Linda Stolt
1912 Quaker Hollow Lane
Streamwood, IL 60107
Book Club News
January 27 By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult
February 24 The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
March 24 The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict
April 28 The Well Lived Life by Gladys McGarey (in person meeting) May 26 The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ COMMITTEE REPORTING:
Society Business (Finance, Rules, Research)- Joan Gazdic, jmtg@att.net
*No report.
Membership – Madelynn Brossard, rtb1445@yahoo.com
*Please start thinking about who you might like to invite to join the Gamma Gamma chapter of DKG. Since the new member info session is April 16, those nominations should be in by the end of March.
*If you need a name tag (or a new name tag) please let Madelynn know.
Educational Excellence-Scholarship –Denise Pawelczyk, dreismom2@yahoo.com *As I look ahead to the new year, I am counting my blessings: For the members of this committee, for the Gamma Gamma sisters who have stepped up to mentor, for the support and generosity of our chapter; for helping to make our future and young educator community so successful!
*What a fun and jolly fundraiser we had in December!!! You lovely ladies were soooooo supportive of our fundraising efforts for our chapter Recruitment Grant!!! Due to the popularity of the baked goods that were auctioned off, we will most certainly bring that back next year!!! (Don’t know about all of you, but it sure was nice to have delicious hostess gifts and yummy food for the holidays that I could bring fresh, or reach into the freezer and pull out..!!!) *The past and present mentors; along with our future educators, collegiate members, and young educators; got together for brunch on December 29th. It was a time to socialize, but also to be resources for one another, and to give pause to what teaching is all about. I had the opportunity to share an article from the latest DKG Collegial Exchange. The title is “Learning from the Learners–Laugh at Yourself, Lead with Purpose” (written by Tracie J. Metz). It’s a good read. I think it applies to life both inside the classroom AND out.
*Happy New Year’s all! May 2026 fill us with strength, resilience, and the determination to continue the good fight for all educators and sound education programs!!! (To quote the saying on my IRTA t-shirt: “RETIRED NOT SILENT”.)
Programs- Kris Beaudette, krisbeaudette1@gmail.com /Marcy Dubinsky, notime4mom@comcast.net
*MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
*Thursday, January 15, 2026, 7:00 pm
Zoom program: Police program: Scams and Crime Prevention,
The Schaumburg Police Department will talk to us about scams and crime prevention. 7:00 pm – Zoom program from the comfort of your own home. The Zoom information will be sent by a separate email closer to the date.
*Looking ahead: February 10, 2026, 4:00 pm
In-person at the Schaumburg Library: Library current offerings and opportunities The staff will provide our group with an overview of the library’s current services and include any upcoming programs. We will also provide a tour of the Innovation Hub and if you are interested, a tour of the 2nd floor as they just completed a renovation late last year.
*More upcoming fun: February 24, 2026 5:00 pm
Meet-up for an early dinner at the Schaumburg Portillo’s. Time to socialize and enjoy each other’s company. We can chat and eat and maybe even play a game. (We hope this timing
works for our young educators! �� �� )
Communication, Deb Hopp, debhopp@comcast.net
*I want to thank everyone for picking up the yearbook/directory. The ones not picked up were mailed. Please remember to destroy your old directory (shred or burn). If any of your information has changed please let me know. I wish you all a wonderful 2026.
Service and Special Projects- Cindy Sheely, sheelyj@sbcglobal.net
*No service project this month.
CARE TEAM NEWS:
Please contact Glenda Klein-Mali glendaklein@sbcglobal.net (and Rose Marie Mincey rmincey@comcast.net ) if you have any news for the Care Team. We also love to hear your good news and celebrations! Let us know what you would like shared with your Gamma Gamma sisters.
Many of our chapter sisters have health issues or other situations they are dealing with which prevent them from coming to meetings. If you haven’t heard from a Gamma Gamma sister in a while, please take a moment to call or email her. We can all do our part to check on our members and support them when they need us most.
To all our Gamma Gamma sisters, don’t forget to let us know if you need our support The Care Team
OPPORTUNITIES:
*To our Gamma Gamma members who are in need of Professional Development credits (PDs), check out the “What’s Happening in DKG Illinois the Week of…” that is forwarded from Bev Johns! There has been, and will continue to be, opportunities to acquire PD credits by Zooming in on some of the programs listed.
ROSE MARIE’S NOTES:
*I wish a happy and healthy new year to all our DKG sisters. Thanks for reading this far!
WEBSITES TO REMEMBER:
(Hold down control key and click to activate link)
Gamma Gamma chapter: http://www.gammagamma75.org
Illinois State Organization: http://www.deltakappagamma.org/IL
International: http://www.dkg.org
Zoom links for DKG-ISO programs: http://www.ilsozoom.weebly.com (Note: this is a change.) http://www.YouTube.com. Subscribe to this channel: Delta Kappa Gamma, Illinois, Key Women Educators. Many/most of the slide shows from Zoom programs are saved to this channel. The Zoom sessions are not recorded, but the slides that the presenters used are all saved here, for your convenient viewing.
Facebook Pages to visit:
DKG-Gamma Gamma Chapter
DKG-Illinois Key Women Educators
The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International
DKG-ILSOWIACAR- This is the Facebook page for the Illinois State Organization Women in the Arts Creative Arts Retreat (virtual.)
Gamma Gamma Chapter 