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Monday, December 21, 2020

"Indebted" by Caitlin Zaloom

        The opportunity of providing a quality college education coupled with the problem of college affordability are currently hot topics and challenging issues facing students and their parents today. Parents are caught between a desire to provide their children with a better life through investment in their future and a look at family needs and assets that can affect the well-being of all concerned. In her book Indebted, author Caitlin Zaloom explores this problem and the financial pressures of paying for college.

        The student finance issue is complex and complicated. Zeroing in on these issues, Zaloom shows how the different government sponsored college investment programs can be an answer to the finance issue and help provide financial assistance, but she also brings out the problems associated with investment in these programs that middle class families may experience. Besides these programs the limited availability of federal grants based on middle class income and the filling out of the outdated FAFSA form that leads to the expected family contribution adds to the financial pressures of the college experience.

    Indebted was one of the top five books evaluated by the DKG Educators Book Award Committee. Author Caitlin Zaloom, through countless interviews with both parents and students involved, looks at the struggles, implications, and consequences of trying to navigate the financial process and make the financing of a college education work for them. This book is a must read and a valuable resource for all parents who are going through or have gone through the college financial maze.

Monday, December 14, 2020

Help Is Just A Click Away

 

Do you need help planning a new member orientation? Are you looking for ideas to encourage your chapter and promote the benefits of being a DKG member? Then a visit to the DKG website (www.dkg.org) will be your answer. All the forms you need can be found by clicking on Membership. Also, under the Resources tab, you can find PowerPoints and videos such as Pride in the Big Picture which provide resources for a new member orientation. Other videos and presentations will guide you to information like the basics of creating a website and copyright information. A scrolling rotator screen keeps you current on new happenings of DKG. An online chat feature allows you to receive answers to those membership questions quickly during business hours. Check out the online communities (found under MYDKG tab) that provide ideas and communication tools with DKG members who have similar interests. Books, social media and membership groups are some examples of what is available. There is even one for home projects. Visit the different forums (found under the About Us tab) to keep abreast of happenings in your area and others. Access to all the online publications like DKG News and The Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin are on the website under the Publications tab. The list of resources is long, so it is certainly worth a visit. In fact, visit the site regularly to stay current on the DKG happenings. Remember to access much of the information, which is member only, you must log in by clicking on Sign In on the top right of the page. Your username is your 6 digit membership number which is found on your membership card or is available from your chapter treasurer. The password is available from your chapter president or treasurer if you have not ever visited the DKG website. If you have forgotten your password, simply click on the “Forgot Password?” under the Sign in and a link to reset your password will be sent to the email we have on file for you. With the many resources and information available on the DKG website, one blog post could not possibly list them all, so plan a visit and go back often.

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

More Bang for Your Bucks

 

The 2020-2022 Finance Committee will be sharing a blog series entitled “More Bang for Your Bucks”. Through these posts we hope to inform you of the “value” of being a DKG member. It may “interest” you to learn about the opportunities DKG provides you not only in a “monetary” way, but a common “cents” way to “cash” in and keep informed of what is “available” for you. We hope you get a “bang” out of our posts.

More Bang for Your Bucks

A logical place to start is to help you understand the power of your membership dues. Each member pays her dues to her chapter treasurer according to her membership category…active, reserve, or collegiate. The $40 USD paid by active members along with the $20 USD paid by reserve and collegiate members is mailed or wired to DKG International Headquarters in Austin, Texas from our 17 member countries.

At this point, the collective power of member dues starts to make a difference. When member dues are combined to support the work of the Society, those dollars provide a return of investment to members, personally and professionally, and reach beyond the member to her community and around the world.

Upon arrival at DKG Headquarters, member dues are processed by the staff of the Membership Services Team and prepared for deposit to a bank by the staff of the Accounting Team. While some dues will remain in the Available Fund as part of the required reserve—the rest is put to work!! Here is where “More Bang for Your Bucks” begins.

Bang #1 A Building

Essential to the work of any organization is the space in which it conducts its business. DKG is no different. Members, through a portion of their dues, support the maintenance and operation of the DKG Headquarters Building. The building was built in 1956 and is approximately 12,500 sq. ft. For the work of the Society to be carried out at headquarters, building expenses must be paid such as utilities, telephone, taxes, security, landscaping, and cleaning---everything that any member who owns a home might expect to pay to provide a secure and safe place to live.

Bang #2 Staff

Equally essential to an association is the staff that is employed to work on behalf of its members and to assist in executing its mission. Members, through another portion of their dues, pay salaries and benefits for 17 full time staff members who work in the Headquarters Building. These staff members are organized into four teams: Executive Services, Accounting, Technology, and Membership Services. They maintain membership data, process member dues, answer member questions, manage the website, disburse payments for Society programs and expenses, ensure regulatory compliance for non-profit status, coordinate conferences and conventions, process contributions to society funds, produce and distribute society publications, ship society materials and so much more!

Bang #3 Volunteers

Member dues support one more group of individuals that are essential to DKG fulfilling its purposes and goals. They are the members who volunteer, or are elected, to serve on DKG International Boards and Committees. Member dues provide reimbursement of expenses, as specified in the governing documents, for these boards and committees. They plan and provide training to our state organization leaders including state organization presidents, treasurers, membership chairs and EEC chairs. They manage the Society’s funds, prepare the budget for approval, propose nominees for International offices, seek non-dues revenue, plan workshop and takeaway sessions at conferences and conventions, plan the DKG Ignite: Leaders Empowering Leaders Program, award scholarships, issue fellowship grants, and the list continues.

Adding it all up, a single member’s dues, in combination with all dues paid, supports a building, staff, and volunteers while maintaining a cash reserve and investments. Now that’s really “More Bang for Your Bucks”!

Friday, December 4, 2020

Happy 10th Anniversary!

 

    UNICEF USA and DKG are celebrating 10 years of partnership in 2020. Our shared vision for children has resulted in $450,000 in contributions for Schools for Africa. See what these investments have provided by watching Whitney Simon, Manager of Global Cause Partnership for UNICEF, who presented a session in July at our DKG Virtual Event.

    This inspiring and informative session, DKG and UNICEF, is available on the DKG website under 2020 Virtual Event. This is a must see to be shared with members and chapters. Planning virtual meetings? This topic is certain to focus everyone on this meaningful international project.

    Check back to this blog site in the future as we highlight links to additional videos that show how DKG and UNICEF have transformed the lives of children in Africa through educational opportunities realized through our partnership.

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