ARCHIVES News From Alpha Sigma 2019 PA STATE CONVENTION
Betsy Wolford, Bonnie Barnes, Carol Herbert, Diana Borowski, Dr. Karen Matis, Mary K. Davis, and Debbie McMillin attended. Chapter President Diana Borowski presented "CommonLit in the Secondary Classroom". Dr. Karen Matis received a Women of Distinction Award for receiving a "Accomplished Alumna Award" from Westminster College. Mary K. Davis and Dr. Matis received Enrichment Grants.Betsy Wofford attended the First Timers' Reception Deceased Alpha Sigma sisters, Dr. Michelle McCollin and Barbara Benson were remembered at the Celebration of Life Ceremony. Convention Coordinator Karen Tinstman, longtime Alpha Sigma member caught up with her sisters, Karen has transferred to a chapter near her new home. We congratulate our new State officers and thank the retiring biennium officers.
2018 INTERNATIONAL AUSTIN TEXAS
Bonnie Barnes was the recipient of the Golden Gift Award. She arrived in Texas for the leadership seminar two weeks before the convention convened. Stef Fulena, Rose Ann Fulena, and Carol Herbert joined her there for the beginning of the convention. Almost 2000 were in attendance. There was a lot of work accomplished as we debated and voted on 122 (!) amendments to our Constitution. It took some extra sessions. We also attended breakout sessions, banquets, wonderful keynote speakers, tours to DKG Headquarters, fun with our PA sisters, and conversations with sisters from all over the USA and around the world. The next International (2020) will be in PA. Get ready!
2018 PA STATE CONVENTION PSU
Ten Alpha Sigma Sisters (Bonnie Barnes, Diana Borowski, Mary K. Davis, Stef Fulena, Rose Ann Fulena, Carol Herbert, Karen Matis, Debbie Mc Millin, Karen Tinstman (Who was coordinator of the entire convention!), and Octavia Payne attended at the Nittany Lion Inn PSU. Rose Ann, Ursula Payne, and Michelle McCollin were honored as Women of Distinction.
2017 NERC WINDSOR ONTARIO
Bonnie Barnes, Carol Herbert, and Debbie McMillin attended the Northeast Regional Conference in Canada this July. They returned with great ideas and stories for our chapter. At the conference, Dr. Lyn Schmid, former Alpha Alpha President and former DKG International President became the newest International Achievement Award honoree.
2017 STATE CONVENTION @ PSU
Bonnie Barnes, Diana Borowski, Rose Ann Fulena, Stephanie Fulena, Carol Herbert, Karen Matis, Debbie McMillin, Octavia Payne, Ursula Payne, Jean Speight, and Karen Tinstman attended Alpha Alpha State Convention in June 2017. Rose Ann and Ursula were awarded Women of Distinction Honors, presented to them by Alpha Sigma President Karen Matis. Karen Tinstman did an excellent job in her second year of Convention Coordinator, Carol Herbert was in charge of Convention Protocol . Bonnie Barnes serves as The Keystonian editor, Stef Fulena is on the State Comunications Committee. Alpha Sigma received Newsletter and Web Page Awards. All had a wonderful time visiting Alpha Alpha sisters, shed tears remembering sisters who have passed at the Celebration of Life Ceremony, bid farewell to our wonderful outgoing President Tracey Dusch, and welcomed incoming President Barb Gasperini who already has us excited about future endeavors like our new state project with the Girl Scouts.2016 International Alpha Sigma was well represented at the International Convention in Nashville this summer. Carol Herbert and Karen Tinstman were on the Floor Pages Committee, Bonnie Barnes worked on the Timekeepers Committee. Everyone had a great time in Nashville. Congratulations to PA's own Dr. Lyn Schmid on the end of her great biennium as International President. Our attendees received a stipend to attend and represent us from Alpha Sigma Chapter.
2016 State Bonnie Barnes, Diana Borowski, Carol Herbert, Rose Ann Fulena, Stephanie Fulena, Karen Matis, and Karen Tinstman represented Alpha Sigma at the PA Alpha Alpha 2016 State Convention at PSU. Karen Tinstman did a stalwart job as Convention Coordinator. Alpha Sigma made supplies for the Friday night fun event at the Alpha Sigma May meeting at home. On Friday night, Rose Ann Fulena received the Women of Distinction Award. Octavia Payne, not in attendance, also received the Women of Distinction Award. Outgoing President Diana attended the executive session. On Saturday morning Bonnie Barnes was a presenter at the Communications workshop. Alpha Sigma celebrated Birthday 55 at the Celebration Luncheon. After lunch, Rose Ann and Stef presented their program "Hola Habana" to a full house audience. Diana passed the rose to Incoming President Karen Matis at the Presidents' Banquet Saturday night. After the Sunday business meeting we headed home. Another great convention! Alpha Sigma presented a stipend to our attendees. President Karen hit the ground running the very next day with a Rules meeting at Stef Fulena's house.
Carol Herbert 2016 Alpha Sigma Achievement Award Winner Alpha Sigma sister Carol Herbert is presented the Alpha Sigma Chapter Achievement award for this biennium by Outgoing President Diana Borowski. Carol has served in almost every office in Alpha Sigma and on many PA Alpha Alpha state committees. She will currently become our new chapter treasurer. Congrats, so well deserved, Carol.
2015 Alpha Sigma Sisters Carol Herbert and Bonnie Barns attended NERC (Northeast Regional Conference in Baltimore in July, 2015. Alpha Sigma sisters Bonnie Barnes, Diana Borowski, Rose Ann Fulena, Stef Fulena, Carol Herbert, Karen Matis, and Karen Tinstman attended the Alpha Alpha State Conference in June. Stef was honored Friday night as a 2015 Woman of Distinction. On Saturday morning, Stef and Roe presented "Yay, We're Irish again" a travelogue and genealogy program. Karen Tinstman has accepted the position of 2016 Convention Coordinator, a formidable job! Congrats, Karen. Many Alpha Sigma members are serving on state committees. There were many touching and inspiring moments during the weekend, including watching our friend Tracey Dusch being installed as new Alpha Alpha State President and being pinned with International President Dr. Lyn Schmid's state president's pin. Alpha Sigma, Alpha Omicron, and Lambda met at Gallo's Italian Village in New Castle on April 11. The Three Chapter meeting was happy to host Alpha Alpha State President Kay Stuart who traveled from Knoxville, PA in Northeastern Pennsylvania to be with us. Other distinguished guests were State First Vice President Tracey Dusch from Brockway, PA, and former Alpha Alpha State Presidents Louann Shrader from Hanover, PA, and Sue Stamm, local Lambda member from Grove City. President Kay was our featured speaker. Alpha Sigma celebrated its birthday at The Confluence in New Castle in January. Cards were made for the 2015 State Convention.
2014 Alpha Sigma News Bonnie Barnes, Carol Herbert, and Karen Tinstman attended the International Convention in Indianapolis in July. Besides the thrill of watching Dr. Lyn Schmid become our international president, they had the honor of being in charge of entertainment at Pennsylvania night. A good time was had by all! Bonnie Barnes, Diana Borowski, Rose Ann Fulena, Stephanie Fulena, Carol Herbert, Bess Ondako, Jean Speight, and Karen Tinstman attended the 2014 Alpha Alpha State Convention in June at the Nittany Lion Inn, Penn State University. All our attendees appreciated our chapter's financial support for attendance. Bonny, Carol, and Karen serve on State committees. Carol provided our donation basket and the special international speaker's gift from her store. We all took turns working the focus table and almost all our chapter-made cards were sold. On Friday night, Bess Ondako and Diana Borowski attended a First Timer's event. Later, Rose Ann and Stephanie Fulena were both honored as 2014 Women of Distinction at a ceremony and a reception following. Their information was displayed in the Album of Distinction. Diana then attended the Executive Board meeting. Before the Saturday morning general session, Diana and Bess attended an "Under 40-ish" breakfast. Morning breakout sessions for all committees followed; Bonnie Barnes, Alpha Alpha State Keystonian editor was a presenter at the Communications Breakout. We covered all the committee breakout sessions gathering information for our chapter. At the Celebration Luncheon, Stef picked up certificates for our newsletter, Alpha Sigma Clapper, and for our website, which is one of only six in Alpha Alpha State certified by DKG International. After lunch, Stef and Jean Speight presented "Forgotten Women in PA History", a presentation which they created. One hundred and twenty-five sisters attended their presentation!! That evening, at the Presidents' Banquet, President Diana Borowski was passed the rose by Immediate Past President Rose Ann Fulena. Sunday morning, Karen Tinstman (state membership committee), read at the Celebration of Life Service. Arlene Pascarellla, our deceased member was one of those remembered. At the Sunday general session, Stef and Rose Ann were awarded Enrichment Grants for their trip to Scotland/Ireland.
Alpha Alpha State Convention 2013 & NERC 2013: Carol Herbert, Bonnie Lee Barnes. Karen Tinstman, Jean Speight, Rose Ann Fulena, Stephanie Fulena, Karen Matis, Linda Macarevich attended. Dr. Karen Matis received the Past State Presidents' Award. Linda O'Neill and Dr. Mary Todora received Women of Distinction Awards. Stephanie Fulena accepted the Newsletter Award for the Alpha Sigma Clapper. Linda Macarevich was a flag bearer.
Carol Herbert and Bonnie Lee Barnes attended The Northeast Regional Conference in Portland, Maine in July.
Fall Area Conference 2012: Deb Allebach, Bonnie Lee Barnes, Rose Ann and Stef Fulena, Carol Herbert, Karen Matis, and Karen Tinstman attended the Western Fall Area Conference in Cambridge Springs. Carol and Karen M. presented a Strategic Plan Workshop at both the East and West Conferences. Bonnie Barnes, Keystonian Editor, presented the Communications Breakout with Cynthia Devonshire, State Webmaster.
New York New York: Karen Tinstman, Carol Herbert, and Bonnie Lee Barnes attended The Delta Kappa Gamma International Convention in NYC in July, 2012. A second International project (joining Schools For Africa), Support for Early Career Educators, was introduced. Our sisters were impressed by the fabulous speakers at the convention. They also were able to see our own Alpha Alpha sister, Dr. Lyn Schmid, become International Second Vice-President. New International President, Dr. Beverly Helms, was helpful to me (Stef) when setting up this web site. First Vice-President Carolyn Pittman was with us at Penn State in June representing International. Congratulations to a great team of incoming officers.
Alpha Alpha State:2012 Bonnie Lee Barnes, Rose Ann and Stef Fulena, Carol Herbert, Karen Matis, Jean Speight, and Karen Tinstman travelled to Penn State for the Alpha Alpha State Conference in June, 2012. Karen Matis received two scholarships, the Margaret J. Wolf State Award and the M. Margaret Stroh International Scholarship, totaling $9000 to aid in her doctoral studies. (Karen recently presented her doctoral work in Rhode Island.) Four Alpha Sigma members are currently serving on Alpha Alpha State committees: Rose Ann serves on the Alpha Alpha State Membership Committee, Karen Matis, the Strategic Planning Committee, and Carol Herbert, the Nominations Committee. Bonnie Barnes serves as State Editor of The Keystonian.
Alpha Sigma 2012 Achievement Award: Stephanie Fulena received the 2012 Alpha Sigma Achievement Award at the May meeting at Gallo's Italian Villa. Stef served as Alpha Sigma President for two bienniums, 2006-2010. She has also served as First Vice President. She has been Communications Chair and Alpha Sigma Clapper editor for fourteen years. She created the Alpha Sigma web page and is co-web master. On the state level, she was a presenter at the 2011 State Conference at Penn State and a recipient of a State Enrichment Grant. Stef served on the NERC Steering Committee and Chaired the Properties Committee at Hershey.
NERC: Bonnie, Roe, Stef, Carol, Jean, and Karen attended NERC (NorthEast Regional Conference) in Hershey in July, 2011. They were very busy there. Stef Fulena and Karen Tintsman were members of the NERC Steering Committee. Stef chaired theProperties Committee, Karen was in charge of all banquet menus. Carol Herbert chaired t he Book Award Committee. Roe Fulena and Jean Speight were on the Properties Committee, and Bonnie worked with Karen on many other committees. Stef, Roe, and Jean also presided over several workshops. We had the opportunity to work with wonderful women from many places. We all thank our chapter for the financial support for both conferences.
Alpha Sigma hosted the 2010 Fall Area Conference West! UNION AREA MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL, NEW CASTLE, PA SEPTEMBER 25, 2010
Scholarships: Three Alpha Sigma sisters, Rose Ann Fulena, Stephanie Fulena, and Katen Matis were awarded grants/scholarship from Alpha Alpha State for 2010. Rose Ann and Stef received travel enrichment grants. The subject of their grants was Renaissance Art and Architecture of Northern Italy. They flew to Italy the day after receiving their award at Alpha Alpha State on June 13. Karen's scholarship will be used as she continues work on her D.Ed. (Doctor of Education) at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. All three received their awards at the Alpha Alpha State Convention this June.
