What is Branding?

 

Delta Kappa Gamma International is currently looking at the Society’s branding. Do members and potential members recognize our organization as “Leading Women Educators - Impacting Education Worldwide”?

A brand is a simple mental model that represents, collectively, what people feel, think, and say about a product, service, or organization, and where meaning is established over time through consistent positive experiences and engagements.

A brand says “This is what I am. This is why I exist. If you agree, if you like me, support me, join our organization, and recommend me to your friends.” It’s what sticks in your mind associated with a product, service, or organization.

Branding is as vital to the success of an organization as having financial coherence or having a vision for the future. A brand is represented by the intangible elements of promise, perceptions, expectations, and persona. The tangible elements include a logo and messaging.

Bottom-line, a brand is clear, reliable, and believable to your members and potential members. Branding is convincing that voice in someone's head to be on your side and to join you.

Do you think members and potential members instantly recognize our brand? Why or why not?

Overlooked Email Courtesies

 

You have an important update for your chapter. You type a short, to-the- point email. That is appreciated on the receiving end. But you spoil it all by putting everyone’s email address in the “To” portion.  To do so is considered poor manners by many, but it is really unacceptable from a privacy stance. Most group emails should have the addresses put in the “Bcc” slot. There are a few exceptions, but making a habit of using Bcc is really best.

You just received an email from someone in DKG. Do you just delete it or do you quickly send a reply? Common courtesy suggests that you reply with at least a “Thank you” or “Got it.” You don’t have to write volumes, but a brief reply lets the writer know that the email was received. This courtesy alone would eliminate a multitude of questions and worry that emails are not being delivered.

Will you make an effort to reply to all DKG emails and use Bcc when appropriate?

Times and Attitudes Have Changed

 I am proud of the modern woman educator! Times and attitudes about women and about educators have changed a great deal since 1929 and the early days of this Society. In those days women with careers were rather unusual. Women were expected to devote themselves to domesticity, and women who did not were considered a bit odd. Social norms caused people to look askance at women who united for any reason except to be a social group.

The first sororities and fraternities were formed in the mid-1800s by students who met in secret, usually to discuss issues or to debate topics their faculties did not deem appropriate.  Thus when we Founders formed an organization for women educators we risked censure by our colleagues and much of the population because of prevailing social attitudes. Social norms of the time forced us to assume the appearance of a sorority, and we adopted many of the accoutrement of a sorority—Greek name, keypin, song, emblem, secrecy, rituals, and careful selection of members. 

We twelve did not view our organization as purely social; we wanted to provide a haven for women educators that would unify and empower them to use their combined strength and energy to make them better teachers with opportunities to excel in their classrooms and in their careers. A sorority-like image was the only way we knew to do that.

Now women are expected to have careers, to be professionals. They do not need the protection of a sorority persona. Social culture now expects women to speak with authority and fervor about their careers. I say to you, DKG members, acknowledge that times and attitudes have changed and make changes with DKG that proudly proclaims and advances a professional image. I exhort you to make changes in the Society that express the status of women that social norms have come to expect, accept, and encourage. I want you to live up to your modern image. Take pride in the united spirit of professionalism!