Decatur High students charter sorority to focus on community service
Last week, girls from Decatur High created a new sorority for those who wish to perform more service acts, as well as have a good time. The creation of Delta Omega was spearheaded to increase community involvement. Charter members include Emma Brannon, Katie Cannon, Bailie McRae, Mariah Mort, Cathy Nguyen, Lauren Owens, Hanna Shelley, Hayden Shelley, Mickalyn Summerford and Mary Katherine White. Additional members who joined by invitation are Boston Claborn, Celia Gannaway and Madeline Johnson. These ladies chose the name because Delta means change, and they sincerely want to make a difference in their community.
Already slated to assist with a variety of community service projects, they have also included a fundraiser to each month’s calendar to assist charities. Their first fundraiser will be a yard sale Sept. 10 at the White home at 2407 Pennylane S.E. In addition to serviceable acts, they will host a dinner to announce their officers and they plan to attend “Wicked” in Atlanta to promote sisterhood. Sponsors for the newly formed organization include Pam Brannon, Laura Cannon, Suzanne Horsley, Renee Mort, Michelle Owens, Amy Shelley and Elizabeth Summerford.
DKE chapter at UA receives top honor
Members of the Psi chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity at the University of Alabama, won the honor of best DKE chapter in the 2010-11 academic year and have been awarded the prestigious Lion Trophy for its efforts to help the community after the April 27 tornadoes.
Members founded and organized a new charitable Foundation, UA Greek Relief. Through this organization, the UA Greek community raised more than $180,000 and provided relief to the city of Tuscaloosa in the form of 52,000 hot meals and hundreds of thousands of pounds of non-perishable goods.
The trophy, which is the highest honor that can be achieved by a DKE chapter, will be presented to the chapter during UA’s homecoming weekend on Oct. 7.
Decatur natives Jacob Gray, Tom Gray, Christian Smith and Levi Cook are active members and officers of this fraternity. Austin Wofford, a 2011 Decatur High graduate, is a new member. Congratulations, gentlemen, on your continued success!
Back-to-school swim party
As teachers readied their rooms for the start of school, students enjoyed their last few days of summer. Among those who celebrated were Austin High School sophomores Chris Sparkman, Ashton Kracke, Caroline Lilly, Audra Reeves, Riley Camp, Mollie Olinger, Daniel Gaietto, Austin Landgraf, Anna-Grace Throneberry, Peyton Miller, Joye-Michael Doss, Prestley Bramlett, Katie Spillman and Julianna Rose. These students enjoyed a swim and slip-and-slide party at the Bramlett home.
School supplies party
More than 200 parents and children attended a back-to-school party at Rhodes Ferry Park on Saturday. The event included free hot dogs and soft drinks and free school supplies.
The event was sponsored by the Morgan County Democratic Women’s Club, Morgan County Alabama Democratic Conference and Morgan County Democratic Executive Committee.
Among those attending were Michelle King, District 1 school board representative; Ernestine Elliott, Morgan County Democratic Executive Committee co-chairwoman and Democratic conference treasurer; Linda Legg, Morgan County Women’s Club president.
Tools for Schools
The Chapel Hill United Methodist Church youth group, called “God’s Gang,” decided to collect school supplies during vacation Bible school for needy children in Decatur. Sunday school teacher Aileen Russell made a school house and these eager students went to work. At the VBS “Shake it Up Cafe” they had a baking contest for members of the church. Each contestant had to bake two entries — one for the contest and one to auction off. The winner of the contest was Charlee Moore with her “Nanna’s Cake.”
The children collected $412 to buy school supplies. This gang of generous givers challenged the members to bring in school supplies. They dropped off the supplies at a Tools for Schools donation spot to ensure their supplies would be placed where they were needed most. What makes this so special is that Chapel Hill is a small church with an average of 45-50 in attendance each Sunday. God’s Gang has 11 children who attend on a regular basis. Now that is what you call a little going a long way.
Fall into a fling with fashion
The Women’s Chamber will host its annual Fall Fashion Fling on Sept. 22 at the Princess Theatre Center for the Performing Arts from 7 to 9 p.m.
The latest trends and styles will be presented by Goodie 2 Shoes, Cricket by the Creek, GrecoFiore, Divas, Doodlebugs and Debutants, Eloise & Henry, Little Feet Boutique, Tallulah’s and Carriage House. The event will include giveaways and goodie bags.
Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door and can be purchased from any member or at Jimmy Smith Jewelers, Tammy Eddy Gifts and Antiques or the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Fall fashion at Women’s Connection
The Women’s Connection will meet at the Decatur Country Club on Sept. 2 at 11 a.m. for a delicious meal and fellowship. This month’s feature includes a fall fashion show presented by Belk and guest speaker Phyllis Fights of Guntersville, who will share how she overcame her consuming fear of death. The group required no dues or membership costs. The luncheon costs $13.
Singles luau at Rhodes Ferry
Being single does not require you to be a “lonely only.” Opportunities abound for those who find themselves alone. Single adults ages 25 to 105 can attend a luau at Rhodes Ferry Park on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. for an evening of fellowship, food and games like a hula hoop contest, horseshoes and lawn golf.
Meet at the large pavilion wearing your Hawaiian shirt, muumuu or grass skirt. Shorts or jeans are OK, too! Feast on Kalua pork and bring a side dish or soda and dessert to share. Come out and enjoy the music and fun; kids are welcome. Be sure to bring a lawn chair.
In my life
With the start of school last week, an all-consuming illness fell over my home. Senioritis is something one might think only happens to high-school seniors. That is an urban myth. In actuality, mothers of seniors in high school have been known to contract the year-long sickness.
Last week, as I walked into Winston’s room to summon him for a nice, home-cooked dinner, an emotion not unlike hysteria overtook me. I overheard him tell someone that when he came home from college all he would ever be able to hope for from me was chicken fingers and loaf bread. I began to sob uncontrollably as I grabbed him in my arms to tell him how much I love him and will miss him when he is off at college next year. He looked up at me in what I thought was going to be the start of a meaningful conversation, rolled his eyes and grunted, “Not chicken fingers again!” It’s going to be a very long short year.
Decatur freelance columnists Wendy Lang and Shelley Sedlak rotate writing Chatterbox, which runs on Tuesdays and Sundays. Want to be featured in Chatterbox?
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