Our Work

March, 2026 Program:  Beta Pi's March program on a local outreach effort was provided by Mary M & Cindy. They brought in Matt Thornton, founder of My Father's Business, to speak with Beta Pi about how his life was changed by one person who reached out to him while he was in crisis, and how it lead to his work with underserved local youth. He also works as a Police Officer in Zion, IL and as a middle school SRO. Matt is also a Director of Mentorship at Home Away From Home Youth Development & Reentry, also based in Zion, IL.

March, 2026 Altruistic:     Members are involved in varied volunteer and altruistic activities outside of ADK, and those were recorded monthly hours and funds donated in the chapter altruistic log.  In addition, Beta Pi membership donated funds both individually and as a chapter to the My Father's Business organization.  

International Women's  History Month Open House:  Beta Pi Members Eva, Bridgette, and Mary MS attended the International Women's Month Open House at the Waukegan Historical Society's Carnegie Library.  Eva, Bridgette, and Mary participated in the event and shared information about ADK and their Beta Pi Chapter with women who visited the booth. What a great way to connect with the community, learn about other women's organizations in the area, and speak to others about the great things Beta Pi Lake County IL is involved in!  They also spoke with a number of  Lake County educators who are interested in ADK membership. 

February, 2026 Program:  Beta Pi's December program was provided by Carrie, Jen, Nikki, and Mary. Members wrote notes of encouragement for residents of a Waukegan skilled nursing facility and then heard from Angela Ramirez, Community Engagement Coordinator of United Way about the organization's work and programs in Lake County, IL, including Success by Six, Youth Success, Lantern, and 211. Angela spoke with us on wonderful opportunities for ADK Beta Pi to collaborate with and contribute to United Way's work in the community. 

February, 2026 Altruistic:     Members are involved in varied volunteer and altruistic activities outside of ADK, and those were recorded monthly hours and funds donated in the chapter altruistic log. In addition to writing notes of encouragement, Feburary's altruistic project was collecting water bottles, insulated lunch bags, thermoses, wet wipes, and hand sanitizer for United Way's "Let's Pack a Lunch" program.

January, 2026 Program:  Beta Pi's January program was a presentation by Detective Kelly Hansen from the Gurnee Police Department. The topic, "Safety and Awareness" was a very informative presentation on safety strategies and survival mindset that can be applied in school and community settings when danger may exist.

January, 2026 Altruistic:     Members are involved in varied volunteer and altruistic activities outside of ADK, and those were recorded monthly hours and funds donated in the chapter altruistic log. January's  altruistic project was 

December, 2025 Program:  Beta Pi's December program was presented by Pat & Polly, which focused on holiday fellowship and celebration.

December, 2025 Altruistic:     Members are involved in varied volunteer and altruistic activities outside of ADK, and those were recorded monthly hours and funds donated in the chapter altruistic log. December's altruistic project was a fundraiser for "Kaitlin's Kitchen" a teaching farm at John Lewis Middle School in Waukegan, Illinois. 

November, 2025 Program:  Beta Pi's November program was presented by Ann, Bridgette, and Judy. They were able to secure a tour of the recently rennovated Carnegie Library in Waukegan, which was converted by the Waukegan Historical Society into the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie. At this location, the Waukegan Historical Society also maintains its research archives, which houses extensive collections of books, newspapers, photos, and other documents related to Waukegan history. Beta Pi members appreciated the service the Waukegan Historical Society provides to the Waukegan community during the tour. The museum provides tours to residents and local schools on the history of Waukegan. 

November, 2025 Altruistic:     Members are involved in varied volunteer and altruistic activities outside of ADK, and those were recorded monthly hours and funds donated in the chapter altruistic log. November's altruistic project was an in-kind donation of flannel shirts to Midwest Veteran's Closet and made a donation to the Waukegan Historical Society. 

Celebrating Cyndy! Beta Pi honored Cyndy Nelson, who celebrated her Silver Sister year and also retired from teaching in Waukegan CUSD #60 district after 35 years! Congratulations, Cyndy!

May, 2025 Program:   Celebrations, New Member Initiation, and Year End Wrap Up 

Beta Pi’s  May 2024 meeting centered on a theme of “Celebrations.” We are excited that two new members, Nancy Varney and Carrie Seligman, were initiated into our ADK Beta Pi Chapter! Welcome Nancy and Carrie! 

Our chapter president, Eva Korellis, guided membership in reflecting on this year’s various educational and altruistic programs and their positive impact on Alpha Delta Kappa, our chapter, and the local and global community. This process helped the membership wrap up their work for the year and begin thinking about the next half of the ADK North Central Region’s 2024-26 Biennium. 

This program was organized by the Membership and Initiation Committee, Bridgette Otterbacher, Mary McCoy, Ann Roberts, and Chapter President Eva Korellis.

May, 2025 Altruistic:     Members are involved in varied volunteer and altruistic activities outside of ADK, and those are recorded monthly hours and funds donated in the chapter altruistic log. 

April, 2025 Program:     In keeping with the Alpha Delta Kappa FARM theme, Illinois Beta Pi presented its April program, “Helping Others Learn to Grow” at the University of Illinois Extension AG Facility in Grayslake, IL. Members learned about the extensive horticultural and agricultural programs that the U of I Extension has to offer from Master Naturalist, Mr. Alex Landberg, the U of I Extension AG Lake County Program Coordinator. The Lake County Extension boasts the second largest number of Master Gardeners in the state with 150 members!  Illinois Beta Pi members learned about the Extension’s educational and community programs, the Extension’s Seed Library, and composting with red wiggler worms. They also got a tour of the facility’s numerous demonstration gardens, greenhouse, and large, working, compost bins, all of which are used as part of their educational programs. 

This program was organized by members Eva Korellis, Polly Mazmanian, and Peggy Petropoulos Kiriazis.  

Beta Pi Chapter was honored to have ADK Illinois President, Dawn Pelton in attendance at this meeting! 

April, 2025 Altruistic:     Members are involved in varied volunteer and altruistic activities outside of ADK, and those are recorded monthly hours and funds donated in the chapter altruistic log. Beta Pi donated funds to support the U of I Extension AG Lake County Program.

March, 2025 Program:      Chapter membership  participated in lecture and fruitful small group discussion with Rev. Lance around the philosophy of having a "worldview". Beta Pi Sisters learned how our worldview is our personal lens through which we interpret our world (including our  beliefs, values and assumptions about life, the the universe and our place within it) which shapes how we interact with the world.  

March, 2025 Altruistic:     Members are involved in varied volunteer and altruistic activities outside of ADK, and those are recorded monthly hours and funds donated in the chapter altruistic log. 

December, 2024 Program:    Holiday fun program with socializing, puzzles, and games! Welcomed two prospective members to today's program.

December, 2024 Altruistic:   Collected 24 packs of diapers of various sizes for this month's project to support Keeping Families Covered in Waukegan, IL. 

November, 2024 Program:  Speaker Amy Bothmann from Love, Inc. presented on the how the non-denominational organization coordinates efforts between churches and agencies to provide for physical needs and build relationships with our struggling neighbors.  

November, 2024 Altruistic:  Final set of flannel shirts collected at this meeting. They were brought to Midwest Veterans Closet by Lydia. 

September, 2024 Program:  Chapter president, Eva Korellis presented on Fostering Altruism - Building Relationships - the state theme for the 2024-26 Biennium. 

September, 2024 Altruistic:  Members recorded monthly hours and funds donated in the chapter altruistic log

January Program:  White Elephant Silent Auction fundraiser. Presentation: Getting Organized and Reducing Stress in 2020. Discussed The Book of Calm, created by Adams Media. Members also shared tips for reducing stress in the new year. 

January Altruistic:  Members contributed items needed by Waukegan Animal Shelter to support the Shelter’s mission.  In addition, the $5.00 contributions collected from members at the ADK Beta Pi December 14 meeting enabled the chapter to purchase knuckle bones for the Waukegan Animal Shelter.