Alpha Rho Northwest District
August/September Volume 36/Number 1
Mission Statement:
News/ Photos:
2025-2026 President - Martha Turner
A message from our President...
Alpha Rho Ladies,
I hope you are staying cool this summer. I know I have had my air conditioning cranked up and my ceiling fans going. I don't mean to rub this in, but I will soon be enjoying 60 to 70 degree temperatures.
You'll probably get this newsletter while I am in Africa on my mission trip. I am looking forward again this year to working with the Webuye (Kenya) village kids at our four-day medical clinic. I will be sharing with them "The Parable of the Lost Sheep" as well as the 23rd Psalm "The Lord is My Shepherd. I am using a book that tells the story from the lamb's perspective...then I flip the book over and tell the story from the shepherd's perspective. The kids will make sheep with cotton balls, color a picture of Jesus telling the story, solve a maze to find the lost sheep, and then we will sing songs: "Jesus Loves Me" and "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands." Last year we saw 315 village kids. We hope we will see at least that many this year.
Summer will be over soon and some of us will be back to teaching in August. Several of us met in June to plan our Alpha Rho year. We believe we have planned the best meetings ever. Attached is information about our meetings this school year. We will need Grant-in-Aid recommendations as soon as possible. We will make decisions who will be awarded at our September 11th meeting. We hope to honor them all year long. We also plan to deliver cookies to our members' schools in September. Janet will take donations for these projects. If you would like to donate, we will accept cash or check at our meetings and with Venmo @AlphaRhoDKG. If donating by check or money order, please make it payable to Alpha Rho. If you would like to mail your donation, send it to Janet Bouso, 4119 Periwinkle Lane, Benton, LA 71006.
Our 1st event will be a joint chapters meeting:
Bossier-Caddo Coordinating Council Joint Fall Luncheon
Shane’s Seafood & BarBQ, 9176 Mansfield Road, Shreveport
Saturday, August 23, Registration 11:00 AM, Meal 11:30
Meal: Order off the menu.
Speakers: Carol Alford, NW District Director
Debney Biggs, State Rules Committee Chairman
Jennifer Pace, State Secretary
RSVP (if attending) text Martha Turner
318-470-3591 by August 11 *Please text Martha anyway if you would like to come, this is my fault it is past the date.*
Our 2nd event will be a chapter meeting:
Cumberland Farms” Project
Cumberland Farms Coffee House, 317 Montgomery St., Bossier City
Thursday, September 11: 4:30 PM
Committee in Charge: Finance
Start collecting school supplies for our Cumberland Farms Project.
(Bring the school supplies to the meeting.)
Speaker: Allie Hammett, Cumberland Farms
The rest of the meetings will be included in this newsletter. I hope you will be able to attend some of our meetings this year.
Hope to see you soon,
Martha
Upcoming Dates:
2025-2026 Scheduled Meetings:
August 23, 2025
11:00 a.m. Registration
11:30 Meal
Bossier-Caddo Coordinating Council Joint Fall Luncheon
Meal: Order off the menu.
Speakers: Carol Alford, NW District Director; Debney Biggs, State Rules
Committee Chairman; Jennifer Pace, State Secretary
Location: Shane’s Seafood & BarBQ, 9176 Mansfield Road, Shreveport
RSVP: (if attending) Martha Turner at 318-470-3591 by August 11
September 11, 2025
4:30 p.m.
Committee in Charge: Finance
“Cumberland Farms” Project
We will be collecting school supplies for our Cumberland Farms Project.
(Bring the school supplies to the meeting.)
Speaker: Allie Hammett, Cumberland Farms
Location: Cumberland Farms Coffee House, 317 Montgomery St., Bossier City
October 18, 2025 District Meeting
Ruston Church of Christ, 2300 Woodward Ave., Ruston, LA
More info TBD
November 13, 2025
4:30 p.m.
Committees in Charge: Professional Affairs/Research
Honor Local Educators/Lovewell Center Stores: The Eatwell and The
Dresswell
Speaker: Lovewell Center Staff Member
Invite Outstanding Educators You Know/You Work with to Join Us.
Bring cloth-like bags to donate to the Lovewell Centers for their clients to use as they check
out at The Eatwell (food items) and The Dresswell (shoes, clothing, hygiene items,
etc.)
The speaker will share with us how we can help/donate to their stores throughout the year.
Come prepared to SHOP for Christmas at the Do Good Store.
Location: Do Good Store 100 Boardwalk Blvd. Bossier City
December 6, 2025
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Committee in Charge: Communications
Christmas Brunch
Come and enjoy brunch and fellowship with a Christmas Season flair.
Location: Kim Howell’s Home, 207 Echo Glen, Bossier City
January 15, 2026
4:30 p.m.
Committees in Charge: Finance
Pottery Painting/ClayGround
Choose from walls full of unique pottery to create your one of a kind treasure. After
completing your work of art, The ClayGround will glaze and fire your masterpiece. They will contact you to pick them up in approximately 7 days.
Cost: Pottery ranges from $15 to $60 with a large selection of pieces under $30. Price includes your pre-fired pottery, all needed art supplies & paint, clear glazing & kiln firing fees.
Location: ClayGround, 3820 North Market, Building A, Shreveport, LA
February 12, 2026
4:30 p.m.
Making Sour Dough Crackers/World Fellowship Program
Learn how to make yummy sour dough crackers.
Committees in Charge: Educational Excellence/Scholarship/World Fellowship
Speakers: Denise Wood/Leni Smith
Location: Asbury Methodist Church, Seekers Room (Use the north entrance
at awning.)
March 13-15, 2026 DKG State Convention
More information about registration coming soon!
Location: Hotel Bentley, 200 DeSoto Street, Alexandria
March 26, 2026
4:30 p.m.
Committees in Charge: Membership/Personal Growth
Creating Salads/Salad Bars
We will munch on our creations in addition to tasting
a variety of olive oils and vinegars.
Cost $15.00
Location: Bella Nonnas Olive Oil & Vinegar Tasting Bar, 1409 E. 70th St. Unit
107, Shreveport
April 11, 2026
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Committees in Charge: Rules
Potting Flowers/Plants
Bring a pot from home or purchase one there. Select your variety, size, type of flowers or plants to pot from the potting shed. Cost depends on the flowers/plants you choose.
Price point is approximately $5 for potting soil, and an additional cost for the pot if you purchase at Lex Farms.
Location: Lex Plant Farm Garden & Center, 9045 E. Kings Highway, Shreveport
April 25, 2026
10:30 a.m. Registration
11:00 a.m. Induction
Bossier-Caddo Coordinating Council Founders’ Day Luncheon/New Member
Induction/New Officers’ Installation
Meal: Order off the menu.
Location: Silver Star Restaurant, 5815 Youree Drive, Shreveport
Alpha Rho Chapter Committees
Society Business
Finance: JJ Stallcup, (chair), Martha Turner, Janet Bouso
Membership: Deborah Mullinnix (chair), Mary Lou Hughes, Terrie Johnson
Nominations: Educational Excellence Committee
Rules: Kathye Blackburn (chair), Margene Watters, Rebecca Barrish, Alison Ferrero
Communications: Kim Howell (chair), Ashley Umphries, Shuntay Banks, Bayley Jandres*
Society Missions and Purposes
Educational Excellence (Program): Denise Wood (chair), Rebecca Young, Shayna Vincent, Leni
Smith, Kathye Blackburn, Deborah Mullinnix, Kim Howell, JJ Stallcup
Personal Growth (Music): Rebecca Young (chair), Brenda Collins, Teri Schalewski, Emily Cryer
Professional Affairs/Research: Shayna Vincent (chair), Maggie Reeder, Karyn Flowers, Margie
Carleton, Ann Allred
Joys...
Please let us celebrate Joys with you. Email: echoglen21@gmail.com
Concerns...
Please keep in your prayers :🙏🏽
2025-2026 School Year - Please pray for our educators & students.
2025-2026 Alpha Rho Officers
President - Martha Turner
1st V.P. - Denise Wood
2nd V.P. - Deborah Mullinnix
Treasurer - Janet Bouso
Corresponding Secretary - Kim "Lovie" Howell
Recording Secretary - Margene Watters
Parliamentary Advisor - Kathye Blackburn
Historian - Ann Allred
