Key Educational Themed Conferences

My vision for Delta Kappa Gamma was based on expanding opportunities for women educators at a time when options were limited because the political and educational structures of the times hampered the advancement of women. How delighted I am to see DKG embracing that vision again within the Society itself by mounting five international conferences based on key educational themes this summer! I had begun to wonder—along with many members—whether the regional structures we had created had begun to outweigh their purposes, creating a focus on the regions rather than on education and growth of women educators.

To be clear: Regions were designed to provide a convenient structure for activities and oversight. Their use evolved in 1946 as an organizational or structural tool for dissemination of Society information and for training of state organization leaders. In other words, they evolved as practical divisions to make gathering, communicating, and training easier at a time when these three tasks were far more difficult than today.

Specifically, in August 1944, President Dr. Margaret Stroh convened 14 Society leaders to project the work for the coming year. Among the considerations was a suggestion made by previous president Dr. Emma Reinhardt—that regional meetings would be a way to spread enthusiasm and information about Delta Kappa Gamma. At the meeting, the idea was expanded to include the proposal of having regional directors. My disapproval of this concept is duly noted in Our Heritage I:

It was not until the San Francisco Convention that regional directors became part of the official family. For several years the idea had been promulgated that regional meetings might be efficacious. Dr. Blanton did not favor the suggestion, probably because she was so earnestly building a unified group spirit among members in all states. (p. 33)

Yes, regional gatherings might be “efficacious,” but dividing our members can dilute the unique international spirit of our Society.

So, I applaud members for moving toward conferences that are based on educational themes—and referenced accordingly: i.e., International Conference on Arts & Humanities; on Leadership; on Technology; on Professional Research and Practices; on Global Awareness. Although I know it will take some time to recalibrate our thinking from the traditional regional mindset for conferences, ultimately the change will keep us forward moving ever.

Leadership Links

Congratulations for having accepted the leadership position as your state/province membership chair. Your International Membership Committee welcomes you to this important link in the membership chain!
                    
Chapter Membership………….You…………International Membership
    
With LEADERSHIP as the international conference theme, training to prepare you for your position as membership chair will be “front and center” in Des Moines, Iowa, July 10, 2019.  We are planning and will be presenting specific information and strategies to assist you in carrying out your upcoming responsibilities. 

The topics on the agenda include,
 “All Membership Classifications: Active, Reserve, and Collegial,” “Ceremony of Life,” “Induction Ceremony,” “Chapter Climate,” “DKG Website,” “Go-To-Guide and Other Resources,” “Issues:
Dissolution or Merging of Chapters,” “Presentation and Communication Skills,” and “Recognizing and Developing Future Leaders.”
We welcome you to Iowa for your Leadership Training!

A New Look Is Coming!

In 1974, as the Society planned its GOLDEN Anniversary celebration, the idea emerged that a special fund – the GOLDEN Gift Fund – be established. The Society celebrated its GOLDEN Anniversary during the summer of 1979 using the theme: “We have defined our purposes; let us shape our destiny.” An ad hoc committee, formed in 1980 suggested creating the Leadership Management Seminar as a way to develop the leadership, communication and management skills of DKG members. The Leadership Management Seminar (LMS), supported by the Golden Gift Fund, is currently held during the summer of even-numbered years. Twenty-one seminars have been held since the first one in 1980 at Baylor. Subsequently, DKG members attending the 1982 International Convention in Atlanta voted to establish the Golden Gift Fund Committee as a Society Standing Committee.

The original vision behind the development of the LMS continues today. The 2018-2020 Golden Gift Fund Committee will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the LMS with “A New Look!” Be assured, the Golden Gift Fund is not going away. The LMS and our partnership with University of Texas will remain intact. Future blogs from this committee will highlight this new look as we share these topics:  “A New Name,” “A New Design,” “A New Application,” and “A New Experience.” A “New Look” is definitely coming!

RUMOR HAS IT #2

Here is another rumor the 2018-2020 Nominations Committee is addressing to keep DKG members “in the know” …

Rumor has it that if you submit an application you’ll get selected for something. The Nominations Committee is charged to select the best candidates possible for the elected positions in DKG and to put forth those names for election.  They solicit nominees for the positions by holding workshops at international conferences, publishing articles in the DKG News and the Collegial Exchange, and by blogging on the DKG website.

Once applications have been received for elected positions an intensive deliberation of all applications begins. Each applicant indicates on her form the position which she seeks. An assessment tool is used to evaluate and rank each applicant.

On occasion an elected position has received no applications. When that has occurred members of the Nominations Committee must then search for a candidate for that position. That is accomplished by looking through the applications to find an individual qualified for the open position. Only applications originally submitted to the committee are reviewed since they reflect members who have expressed an interest in serving at the international level. Also, information to use in evaluating their qualifications is readily available on their application. This process follows ISR 8.82. g. (3), “The committee reserves the right to place a name in nomination for a position other than that stated on the application.”

Many applications are received for the 20 to 22 positions to be filled. That means that not all applicants will be selected as a nominee.  Just because an application is submitted does not mean that applicant will be put forth as a nominee. That’s just a rumor!