Delta Kappa Gamma Intl. Releases Minutes of Recent Meeting

On March 9 at 10 a.m., Co-Presidents Kathy Lundy and Virginia Shellhouse welcomed 12 members and Ron Marvin, curator of the Wyandot Co. Museum, to the Kappa meeting of Delta Kappa Gamma Intl. at the museum.

Lundy opened the short meeting, prior to the speaker, with a short poem. The minutes from the December 9, 2023, meeting were accepted as sent digitally. There was no treasurer’s report. Sandy Berry read a thank you from the Carey Dorcas Public Library. Shirley Spitler asked for newspaper clippings for Kappa’s scrapbook.

Bonnie Eyestone spoke about her interest in the events of World War 2 for many years. For this meeting she researched three women journalists, Martha Gellhorn, Helen Kirkpatrick, and Lee Miller, who reported about the European theater of World War 2.

Women were usually not permitted to be on the front lines of war unless they were nurses or hospital personnel. There were no bathrooms, tents, or amenities to provide the private needs for a woman, so women journalists had to invent ways to get to the front lines to cover the news of the war. Gellhorn posed as a hospital worker, helped to evacuate soldiers after the battles, and was married to Ernest Hemingway for a time. Lee Miller was a fashion model and photo journalist. Some of her pictures documented the shaving of women’s heads in France if they slept with Nazi soldiers. There were an estimated 20,000 women who slept with the enemy. Some women were killed for doing that. Helen Kirkpatrick reported for the Chicago Daily News and other newspapers. She wrote about various events of the war and was highly respected for her body of writing. One of her books is called “Under the British Umbrella”. She was able to visit the Eagle’s Nest, Hitler’s summer home, where she was photographed taking a bath in Hitler’s bathtub. Eyestone suggested a visit to the WASP Museum in Sweetwater, Texas for more information about women who served in WW2. Eyestone researched these journalists using several books including “First to the Front”.

Eyestone was thanked for her informative presentation. Discussion followed concerning the future of Kappa Chapter. Kappa Chapter has existed for 86 years by 2024. Sandy Berry volunteered to become the president for 4 meetings for just one year. The other officers will stay in place to complete their duties. A planning meeting will take place in June so as to form committees to find speakers, a meeting place, and to decide on lunch or snacks.

The bags for the African project and brag/pin fine were distributed to collect donations. There was discussion of a few members who have decided to drop their membership. Berry asked for help in fulfilling her duties for the year, and all attendees have promised their support.

It was announced that the next meeting is Saturday, April 13, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Kenton Mary Lou Johnson District Public Library in the meeting room. The speaker will be Dave McPheron. Lori Paul, Jodine McKinley, and Sandy Berry will be hostesses. A light brunch of fruit, muffins, and various beverages will be provided.

Ron Marvin was thanked for opening the museum and providing assistance for the meeting. Having no other business, Kappa’s meeting was adjourned and all were wished safe travels.