President-Elect’s Journey Begins Across the Atlantic

Conway Blankenship’s journey to the office of International President-Elect began in Heidelberg, Germany, when an American sailor fell in love with a nineteen-year-old German girl and married her while still stationed in Germany. A few years later, on June 21, the Longest Day, he took her and their four-month-old baby daughter, Conway, home to the United States.

Now a Sapphire Sister, Conway, sponsored by Carol Williams, joined the Delta chapter in Richmond, VA. Eventually, Carol and Conway moved to Powhatan, VA. Carol retired, and Conway was teaching in Powhatan County schools. One day, Carol asked when they were going to start a chapter in Powhatan. Together with friends, they started VA Gamma Kappa.

Conway credits her mother with giving her the courage to try new things and to listen to new ideas. She admires her mother for being brave enough to leave her homeland with a baby to raise and start living in a new country where she did not speak the language. Because Conway’s father was an American serviceman, and even though she was born out-side the U.S., she is an American citizen. She has two younger sisters.

For twenty-five years, Conway disliked her first name. Every time she entered a new grade in school and her name was called, the teacher looked for a boy. Now, she loves her name because people remember it. Conway is a family name.

Her friends describe the Past VA State President as calm and unassuming, always ready to do her part and help others. They say she believes strongly in giving back and constantly does. Conway feels that flexibility in meeting the needs of members is key to retaining members. She wants new members to know what it means to be a sister and the responsibilities it carries.

At age seventeen, she met her husband, Ronnie Jay, while shopping for groceries. They married the summer before she graduated from Longwood University in Farmville, VA. They celebrated their 48th anniversary this year. Their family includes two sons, Jay Clarke and Heath Bauer, and two Scottish Terriers, Logan and Kelsey.

Conway says she is “honored to serve her A?K sisters, to be there for them and to hear their ideas.” In her essay, she stated, “Working with others, I will continue to promote visibility and recognition for A?K members in all of our states, provinces and nations.”

Mysteries and historical fiction are her preferred reading. She is a member of the A?K Pages and Pearls book group and a local book club. Her favorite way to relax is to sit in her patio garden area facing the lake and read. She also enjoys gardening and finds that knitting is a good stress reliever.

One of the many adventures she is looking forward to during her time in her International office is traveling. She has visited Germany, England and Hawaii and the sites of many International Conventions, regional conferences and state conventions. Now, she plans to take the opportunity to travel even more.

Conway’s area of expertise in A?K is membership. She has served on the International Membership Committee, has been a Southeast Region Membership Consultant and the Virginia Vice President Membership Consultant. She says, “Increased membership depends on providing opportunities to dialogue with today’s educators to discuss issues they currently face.”

Conway was a high school coordinator for the gifted when she retired in 2009. Before that, she taught middle school language arts for 19 years. She was a fourth-grade teacher for six years and also taught adult education classes. In retirement, she has proctored Advanced Placement tests, the Scholastic Assessment Test and other state tests. She is pleased to work with and learn from International President Ann Marie Brown and Immediate Past International President Mollie Acosta.

Learn more about our organization here: https://www.alphadeltakappa.org/