CENTRAL CHAPTER NEWS
By Jean Blonigen,
Central Chapter President
Wow! It's hard to come back down after the exciting Spring Conference - Hooked on Helping (Counseling), which was just held in Pierre. It provided opportunities for learning, renewal of bonds with others, forming new connections and personal rejuvenation. Central Chapter hopes everyone had as much fun being there as we did in being your hosts.
On behalf of Central Chapter thank you's are extended to Kelly Duncan, Executive Director for SDCA and Marcia Price, SDCA President for jobs well done. Thank you's are also extended to all of the committees who worked so hard to make the conference successful:
- The Registration Committee - Glenda Nedved, Eileen Peacock, Cynthia Charger, Gina Veo, Hoodie Smock, Christine Bisek, Carol Butzman, Patty Peacock, and JoEllen Miller did a fantastic job! Thanks for your diligent hard work.
- The Decoration Committee - Patty Peacock, Carol Carney, Kim Goebel, Heidi Lundborg, Sue Bubbers, Carol Butzman - did a wonderfully creative job. The necklaces and key chains were a true hit.
- The Auction Committee - Levi Reindl, Heidi Lundborg, Sue Bubbers, Bev Penn - (Levi's hidden talent was shown!)
- The Entertainment Committee - Kris Sanchez and Bobbi Brown. The Randy Love Band was the hit of the conference banquet.
- The Fun Run Committee - Jean Lakner - Thanks mostly to Jean's efforts $2,000 was raised for SDSCA and Headstart playground equipment. Way to go!
- The Banner Committee - Char Nicolas and Kathy Askew. Thanks so much for the wonderful banner, which was so appropriate for the theme of "Hooked on Counseling".
(For anyone who was inadvertently left out, please accept my apology.)
Congratulations to Glenda Nedved, who was honored as the C.J. Peterson Award recipient for career counseling at the banquet. Congratulations to Central Chapter, who won Honorable Mention as Chapter of the Year.
Officers for next year will be Levi Reindl, President, Heidi Lundborg, President-Elect and Bev Penn, Secretary-Treasurer. One last item of business is still the Fun-Day for Central Chapter. Ideas were bantered around at the April 21st meeting, including a golf day, boat ride on the Missouri River and/or dinner at Bob's Steakhouse. All of these ideas include family members. Please let me know your thoughts about this day, so it can be arranged for the last week in May or the first week in June.
CORNBELT CHAPTER NEWS
By Anna Fischer,
President-Elect
Well, the year is winding down and the Cornbelt Chapter has seen a lot of progress this year and we are excited for the next! On March 20, 2006 we had a meeting in Sioux Falls where we discussed the future of our chapter and toured the new Avera McKennan Behavioral Health Facility in Sioux Falls.
The new officers have been elected: Anna Fischer is our new President, Kate Miller is our President Elect, and Kalli Fliehs has been elected our Treasurer/Secretary. We started talking about a new membership recruitment plan for the summer/fall of 2006. We began to plan our calendar of meetings for the following year as well and have come up with some very exciting adventures once again. We are hoping to not only have some great meetings and socials, but some incredible learning opportunities as well.
The first annual Cornbelt Chapter Scholarship has come to a close and soon we will be picking our recipient. This has been such a great chance for many area students to earn a small amount of cash!
PALACE/PHEASANT CHAPTER NEWS
By Deliane Branum,
President-Elect
My experience at the SDCA convention in Pierre was most beneficial. It met my needs. Our having a first grader killed in an accident, two graduates killed in Iraq, parental deaths, several people with cancers, etc., my rubber band was being stretched as Thursday's presenter shared. The laughter, insights, information and just being with our super support persons did wonders with my putting things back into perspective. My deepest gratitude to all.
Bonnie Haine's book BIGGER THAN THE BOX -The Effects of Labeling is an excellent source of ideas, suggestions, quotes, eye openers, things to think about, things to try, stories and experiences that give great insights. She generously shared books with those who attended the convention. It reads as if one is visiting with me. Thanks!
Our principal has started having a book study for our faculty meetings. BOYS and GIRLS LEARN DIFFERENTLY! By Michael Gurian. It has been interesting and challenging. Many of the things he points out have been useful. One is that usually boys need more time to verbalize their thoughts than most girls do. By asking them if they need more time to work out their thoughts, they looked relieved, said "yes". Then later they volunteered their thoughts with ease.
We discussed having local gatherings with the area members-i.e. Platte along with the ESA 3; Mitchell; Chamberlain; Huron. The use of the DDN may be our best way of sharing speakers and other information due to the distance problem. Our hope is to have more contact with the mental health counselors. We need to work with school improvement issues and their relationship with counseling. The other important goal is to increase our membership.
SIOUX CHAPTER NEWS
By Kurt Turbak,
President
Sioux Chapter is ending another successful year and looking forward to providing a new year of activities for our members. Thursday, May 18 will be our final Chapter event for this year. The Chapter will meet at the South Dakota Army National Guard Armory from 4 to 6 PM. The Guard will provide an opportunity to learn about and experience their drug prevention Ropes Course. Following this interactive event the Chapter will celebrate with our traditional Ice Cream Social.
I personally want to thank the members of the Sioux Chapter Executive Committee for all of their time, effort and professional talents they have given throughout the year. Without their dedication and hard work Sioux Chapter would not have been able to earn the distinction of the SDCA Chapter of the Year!
Also a special thank you to Andree Johnson for her three years of presidential leadership with Sioux Chapter. Andree has set the standard for our Chapter's success. Congratulations also to Jessica Paulson our new President. We all look forward to your enthusiasm and energy!
WEST RIVER CHAPTER NEWS
By Beverly Dafler,
President
The WRCA chapter meeting at the SDCA Conference on April 21st was well attended by at least a dozen members. As a result of discussion among those present, WRCA has decided to host a social/workshop on June 2nd from 5:00 to 9 pm. This will be held at Western Dakota Technical Institute in Rapid City, South Dakota. A meal will be provided along with an hour of socializing. This will be followed by a "mini-conference" with sessions presented by WRCA members. Those sessions can garner up to three continuing education units for the participants. The total cost for the event will be $15.00, which will include the price of the meal, WRCA membership for 2007, and the continuing education units. Registration forms and Call for Presenter forms can be obtained through Beverly Dafler, the current WRCA President. Her email address is BDafler@wdti.tec.sd.us.
President Elect Shirley Andrews was introduced at the chapter meeting and led a discussion of potential activities for the coming year, which will again include opportunities for earning continuing education units. School counselors were most interested in "banking" those hours for college credit. Shirley will be researching that possibility.
The current President will step down as of June 30, 2006. An earlier article indicated that she would relinquish the gavel at the SDCA conference as per tradition, but that was amended at the chapter meeting. The incoming slate of officers for 2007 are Shirley Andrews as President, Jean Gliedt-Peter as President-Elect, and Nancy Kennedy as Secretary/Treasurer. Shirley Andrews is a counselor at Sturgis Brown High School. Jean Gliedt-Peter is the career counselor at STAR Evergreen High School. Nancy Kennedy is the counselor at Hill City High School.