National President
Jenny Wade-Mu Lambda, Stockton, California
Theme: Live a Lasting Legacy
I was born and raised in Enid, Oklahoma. I attended school there from first grade through college.
Two days after college graduation, I married my husband who was from Stockton, CA and two days later we moved there where he went into the sign business with his father. Three months later, I was hired by Stockton Unified School District and started teaching math and science at a pregnant minor program.
Gateway School was one of the first in the state to bring teen mothers into a school rather than home instruction. My first students and the head teacher gave me a Surprise Birthday party when I turned 21! Two years later, the head teacher, Lynn Ellen Hahn, invited me to attend a meeting of her sorority. I pledged and was initiated in April 1971 into Delta Theta Tau. My pledge project was a Delta cruise.
There were issues with the date and when we arrived at the dock, we saw the boat sailing off on the river without us! My husband had a good friend who sold boats, so we ended up using other boats and we all enjoyed a Delta cruise with hors d’oeuvres and drinks after all. It was one of the strangest fundraising projects we ever enjoyed!
After fifteen years, I was part of an attempt to form an alumnae chapter. We failed at that after two years and I became MAL for 10 ½ years. I was asked to attend a party for Mu Lambda in the fall of 1999 and it was announced I was considering becoming active again. I certainly did not want to deny such a pronouncement, so I chose to become active.
With daughters out of college and on their own, my time began to fill with sorority happenings and moving to a new house. By this time, I was the Curriculum Specialist for Science and Health for my school district. In 2006, the curriculum department was cut and it was back to teaching biology at a high
school. That fall, my husband of 37 years died unexpectedly and life changed in immeasurable ways.
Sorority filled my life with friends and activities. I became Delta Province Chairman for two years and started attending more National Conventions. A few years after my Mu Lambda sister, Dona Mostafa, was National President, I was able to become a National Officer and with guidance from many National Officers these past several years, I find myself in the position of National President.
I am fortunate to have two daughters. Dr. Leanne Wade is a board certified music therapist and minister and Laurie Forrest is an elementary teacher who also has three teen aged boys. Laurie and the boys live in Hollister, CA and Leanne lives with me currently after her job was cut in Carmichael, CA and she had sold her own house in Stockton when Covid hit. It was nice not being alone throughout the Covid pandemic.
I am a member of United Congregational Christian Church and the Oak Grove Docent Council where I am Educational Coordinator. We provide field trip opportunities to schoolchildren in our area. I get to
teach about how the Native Americans utilized the plants in our Native Plant Garden.
I hope to get to meet as many of you as is possible. I love Delta Theta Tau and am fulfilled by the fact that we provide assistance to so many throughout our communities. I am grateful to be in contact with those who believe as I do.
Live a Lasting Legacy means that your efforts become a part of the communities we endeavor to be kinder for all. I am glad you are part of that legacy.