Kappa Spotlight

Chris Hockert, Gamma Chapter, Psi State/TN

 2019-2020 National President Chris Hockert has ‘Reached for the Stars’ during National President Brenda Morrison’s 2020-2021 presidency and has definitely made a difference for Kappa Kappa Iota.  Several projects that Chris has been involved with include; Kappa’s Five Year Strategic Plan, Kappa’s Grant Writing Committee, and the National Emergency Catastrophic Plan Protocol. Chris is also a whiz at looking over the monthly financials!

Chris Hockert, Gamma Chapter, Psi State/TN

Diane Cox, Iota State/NE and Helen Silversmith, Beta State/NM       

Diane and Helen have been very busy sewing – masks!  They both share patterns with each other; adult size and child size. Both ladies have made and given away over 8,000 masks to EMTs, Law Enforcement, Elderly, Kappa Friends, and many others.

Kat Rhoads, Zeta Eta Chapter, Alpha State/OK

Kat volunteers to help the Executive Director with basic and special tasks (such as preparation for Convention).  She works hard, and Kat is always ready to lend a hand if needed.

Marilyn Bridges, Zeta Eta Chapter, Alpha State/OK

Marilyn Bridges, Zeta Eta Chapter, Alpha State/OK

Carolyn McElveen, Iota Chapter, Eta State LA                       
Carolyn is very active in her church and community, but she is known by her Kappa sisters as the
go-to lady to get things done!  Carolyn is a Sunday School teacher for the Circle of Joy class at First Baptist Church in Franklinton.  She is the photographer for the church’s Vacation Bible School.  Also, she serves on a Sunday night supper team.  Carolyn is chairperson for the Mile Branch Spelling Bee for fifth and sixth grade students at the Washington Parish Fair Association.  She is currently the secretary of the Washington Parish Retired Teachers, and a member of the Louisiana Retired Teachers’ Association.  Also, she is the president of Beta Rho Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma.  She has served as State President of Kappa Kappa Iota – Eta State Louisiana, a State and National photographer and also is still serving as a substitute teacher in the Washington Parish School System.

Carolyn McElveen, Iota Chapter, Eta State/LA

Judith Goodin, Epsilon Beta Chapter, Alpha State OK

Judy has retired after teaching 37 years in the OKC Public Schools. Judy knows how to coupon, and she uses her knowledge to get extra items to give to those who are without. She belongs to a Facebook group, “Down on Your Luck” where she finds people in need and coordinates donations, or provides the items that people are needing. She has made her garage the place where she organizes and dispenses the donations to others.

Judy and her daughters help the homeless through donations to “SISU–a Homeless TeenShelter” and “the Church Under the Bridge”. She crochets hats and scarves to help keep the homeless warm. Her Epsilon Beta sisters have helped her with projects, too. We filled pill bottles with shampoo and donated other items at a meeting for the “Church Under the Bridge.” We collected socks for “Socks of Love” and books for “Little Read Wagon,” and Judy delivered them to those charities. We donated items for Christmas bags for the SISU group. Judy and her chapter sisters have donated to Passageways, as well, which is a shelter for abused women and children for many years.

Judy always has a giving project going. She has helped many organizations and individuals. Other donations of love have been given by Judy to “Jordan’s Crossing,” “Kaleo Foundation,” “Crisis Nursery,” and “Pine Box Around OKC”. Judy has taken on a retirement job of helping others. So, for all of the things she does,we, her Epsilon Beta sisters, hope you will honor Judy for her many philanthropic deeds. Judith (Judy) truly deserves to be highlighted for Making a Difference in the lives of many people.

Judith Goodin, Epsilon Beta, Alpha/OK

Teri Poreda, Zeta Eta, Alpha State Oklahoma

Teri Poreda has had a different kind of teaching career.  She taught within the Tulsa Police Department and other law enforcement settings.  Once she retired, Teri worked for Tulsa Public Schools in the Police Department.

Teri has served as President and Secretary of her Chapter, Zeta Eta.  In addition, she has served as the Tulsa Area Council President. She has also served in all levels of the Alpha State Executive Board, including President.  She has volunteered on many committees in the local, council and state level.  She has also volunteered at the National Headquarters, assisting former National Director Marilyn Bridges in daily tasks, as well as in preparation for special events, such as National Convention.  When she took the job as National Executive Director, she only had a “crash course” in the many duties of her position.  Teri has risen to the occasion and is not only learning “on the job,” but performing her duties well.

Sue Hagan, Alpha Chapter/Upsilon State SC

Sue Hagan joined Kappa in 1992.   After an invitation by long-time supporter and mentor Pete Johnston to transfer to her chapter, Sue became very active in her State.  She served on many committees, worked up to State President and later ran for National Recording Secretary.  She was National President during the year 2013-2014.  Lately, Sue has been helping out with replacing and updating the computers at Headquarters in Tulsa.  She is always willing to go to Tulsa to help. 

Sue is extremely tech-savvy, working for her district for many years in that capacity.  She is currently her church’s part time secretary, and is involved with Work with Women in Missions.  Sue also sings in the choir.  

In her community, she is a volunteer with a local food bank called Feed Berkeley.  Sue also calls bingo for the Bonneau Civic Club.

Sue’s favorite past time is Traveling. In fact, “Go” is her middle name, according to her family!  She is always ready for a trip and a new adventure!

Carolyn Wilkins, Zeta/Alpha Beta; Xi State FL

Carolyn has been a member of Kappa for 18 years. She joined Zeta chapter and later founded Alpha Beta after realizing a need in the community for younger teachers to have a supportive group of educators. Carolyn has been chapter president of both Zeta and Alpha Beta Chapters. She has served as State President of Xi State, as well as State Committee Chair for Philanthropy, Empathy, Scholarship, and History. Carolyn has served on national committees for those same committees. 

Several years ago, she prompted the National Executive Board to consider tracking professional development in order to enable us to report on our core mission at national conventions. Through her work with Kappa, Carolyn has helped raise funds (using yard sales, raffles and sold items) for many Kappa programs while also helping to generate funds to support the philanthropic goals in the annual plans. Additionally, she organized a toy drive for local children in foster care for the last 10 years. Recently, Carolyn led Kappa groups, Zeta and Alpha Beta, to join forces and become a sponsor of Girls on the Run of the Treasure Coast.

Carolyn currently serves as Vice President of Xi State and is working on implementing a Five Star Chapter Award. She sees it as a way to motivate chapters to set and reach goals. Through these goals, Carolyn sees opportunities for more engagement. 

In her community, Carolyn also is part of her local Woman’s Club, the Daughters of the American Revolution, Girls on the Run Board, and Treasure Coast Blue Star Mothers. She frequently pairs the work of one organization with another to capitalize on the philanthropic goals in common. For the DAR, she partnered with a local Assisted Living Facility to revamp their library using collected donations from the Woman’s Club, DAR and Blue Star Mothers. Carolyn was able to add approximately 500 books to the library and organize it alphabetically.