Contributed report

VA Pocahontas District of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary organization for women educators, attended the 2009 VA State Convention at The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia March 27 - 29, 2009. The district consists of chapters in Farmville, Powhatan, Chesterfield, Chester, Colonial Heights, Hopewell, and Dinwiddie. District chapters attending the convention were Delta, Kappa, Alpha Delta, Beta Upsilon, Beta Phi, Gamma Eta, and Gamma Kappa. VA Pocahontas District officers and committee chairmen represented were President Conway Blankenship (Gamma Kappa), Secretary Carol Williams (Gamma Kappa), Chaplain and Historian Adelaide Weeks (Delta), Immediate Past President Kay Ellen Woolridge (Gamma Eta), and Altruistic Chairman Vicki Bowers (Gamma Eta).

All district chapters earned the State President’s Award and VA Gamma Eta was recognized as the only chapter in the state to earn all 36 criteria by sponsoring a new chapter - VA Gamma Xi, chartered in Dinwiddie County on June 25, 2008.

State Vice President and Membership Consultant Betty Perkinson presented the State Membership Award to Kappa, Alpha Delta, Alpha Eta, Beta Upsilon, Gamma Eta, Gamma Kappa, and Gamma Xi for initiating new members.

The Making A Difference Award was presented by District President Conway Blankenship to Delta, Kappa, Alpha Beta, Alpha Delta, Alpha Eta, Beta Phi, Gamma Eta, Gamma Kappa and Fidelis Beta chapters.

VA Gamma Eta Chapter President Debbie Spivey received a state scholarship, which enabled her to attend the 2009 VA Transition Forum held in Norfolk, Virginia.

District President Conway Blankenship presided over the district breakfast and presented a workshop with Tracey Ingle (VA Gamma Kappa), entitled “Pavel’s Garden”, which taught participants about an exciting interdisciplinary project that brought together an entire school and created a beautiful memorial garden. The activities presented at the workshop were centered around Night by Elie Wiesel, and I Never Saw Another Butterfly, a collection of poems written by children of the Holocaust. Participants learned how creative movement, art, and poetry transformed the teachers and students at Powhatan High School.

State Music Chair Kay Ellen Woolridge directed the convention choir, which performed for the convention luncheon, banquet, and necrology service. District Secretary Carol Williams was the convention accompanist.

Future highlights for VA Pocahontas District include the formation of a new chapter in Prince George County and attending the Alpha Delta Kappa International Convention July 8 - 10, 2009 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

To learn more about Alpha Delta Kappa, please visit our website at http://www.alphadeltakapp

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