DKG Art Gallery Spotlight

Susan Salesses - Photography - Beta Iota - Florida

Susan Salesses, after 42 years of teaching, volunteers at her last school because working with the students brings her joy. Experiences for this retired educator include the elementary classroom, middle school Language Arts, and as a library media specialist, PreK to grade 8. Susan has always enjoyed taking phots but when camera on her cell phone made it handy and easy, she began taking more photos everywhere. She enjoys capturing special moments in nature to remind her of beauty of the world.

She stated, “Last year I turned many of my photos into large canvas prints and I now have them hanging around our home.  It is so nice to look at prints and reflect on the moments of when and where the photos were taken.  Great memories help us get through our days.”

Susan enjoys taking pictures of animals and can capture them instantly and later find just the right one. When asked what she thought made a good photo she remarked, “A good photograph is one where the image is clear and the beauty that you see comes through in your photo.”

Susan began her photography journey with a 35mm camera but as cell phone cameras improved, she switched to her phone. She can take many shots that are easy to locate and edit.

Susan recommends lots of practice and patience as you work with your camera, keeping a steady hand and finding the image that will be of interest to others. She feels that the arts are extremely important in education.  Many students struggle with their academics and for many the arts are the area in which they shine. Photography is an outlet for students to learn things from a different perspective.

An active member of DKG for 35 years in CT and FL, Susan has served in a variety of offices at the chapter and state level.  Her biggest honor was receiving the State Achievement Award in CT in 2007.  One thing she has learned is that your DKG sisters are always there to support you, and many become lifelong friends.  Susan has loved every minute spend at chapter meetings, state and international conferences and conventions.  She says, “They are the best and you are able to meet some of the most incredible and talented women from around the world.” 

Someone Believed in Your Potential

As you accepted an invitation to become a member of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, your chapter and its members became a valuable resource to you.  As time went by, you watched your chapter leaders.  You noticed their qualities – compassion, strength, listening, organization, passion for DKG.  You decided there is a path for you to follow too.  Leaders can do that for us.  They inspire us to want to be like them.  To emulate what we see, hear, and feel.

That is what happened to me.  I saw how our chapter leaders truly embraced Delta Kappa Gamma.  I wanted to know more, so I attended my first state organization meeting.  Wow!  There was a whole room of women who I wanted to be like.  First, I became a chapter leader.  After a while I was approached about becoming a state organization leader.  I put myself out there and was rewarded time after time with the honor of leading our state organization members in various roles.  Of course, as a state organization leader, I began attending international events.  A bigger wow was coming.  A huge room of women who I wanted to be like was all around me.  Several years later and with many international committee assignments under my belt, I can truly say the leadership journey has been fulfilling. 

So what is the message? I turn to the following statement from the Honor of Membership - Someone believed in your potential. 

If I had never been approached to become a member, I would not have the opportunities I not only sought for myself, but were suggested to me as well.    

In the coming weeks, if you have the good fortune of attending a state organization convention/meeting or even more fortunate to attend the International Convention, look around you and see how the women of DKG are living up to their potential.  When you are back in your chapter meetings, formulate a plan to attract educators who have the potential to add their expertise to your chapter and most importantly to our International Society.

International Educational Excellence Committee

Let your voice be heard!

Blog #4 - The proposed amendments of 2024 are a combination of proposals from Convention 2022 and from the present biennium 2022-2024.The inclusion of the 2022 proposed amendments represents those items not addressed at the Convention in New Orleans due to time constraints. The March/April issue of the DKG NEWS contains information on the 94 Proposed Amendments to be considered at the 2024 International Convention in July.  All members are encouraged to review the proposed amendments and share among chapters and state organizations.  Watch the Q&A sessions and the two Inside International sessions which give members an opportunity via Zoom to ask questions before attending the convention in National Harbor. Helen Popovich, Parliamentarian, and Constitution Committee members will explain and answer questions about the proposed amendments. The 2024 Proposed Amendments are presented to members following a multitude of reviews/analysis by various committees, proposers and the Administrative Board in an effort to give the “Voter” all the information needed for a well-informed decision. Plan on attending the convention where these changes to the governing documents will be considered by the membership. Let your voice be heard!

DKG Travel Policy

Our Society wants and needs your participation. As members, we were recognized for our leadership capabilities and potential. We can give back to the Society by applying for elected positions at the international level and applying to be on an international committee. To encourage member leadership and leadership development, DKG provides reimbursement to international volunteer leaders for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred during authorized Society-related travel, as stated in the Travel Reimbursement Policy found in the GAPP document.

The travel policy was recently updated, clarified, and approved. Instead of appearing in the Constitution and Standing Rules, it is part of the GAPP document under the policies-Travel Reimbursement Policy.

Members seeking reimbursement,        

• Should incur the lowest reasonable travel expenses,
• Should not receive funding from other sources,
• Should take the most conservative course of action.

Members will receive a written invitation from the International President or her designee for conventions, conferences, meetings, or other events eligible for reimbursement by the Society. Members must confirm eligibility before making arrangements. Members must submit a Travel Reimbursement Form (Form 70) and supporting documentation within 14 days of trip completion to receive reimbursement for expenses.

The International President, Executive Director, or Finance Director must approve the reimbursement submission. The International President is the final authority.

Take note:

•         DKG will not prepay any personal expenses to be “repaid” later, nor will any personal costs be reimbursed.
• DKG will reimburse only for the lesser amount of the Society portion or the actual expenses when Society travel is extended for personal purposes.
• DKG will consider exceptions to the travel policy made in writing and approved before booking travel.

In our upcoming article, eligible meetings and events and volunteer positions eligible for reimbursement will be explained in greater detail. These reimbursements are designed to encourage member leadership and leadership development. The Society needs you!

Impact of Dues

When Dr. Annie Webb Blanton founded our Society on May 11, 1929, she emphasized that we were “Not a Sorority, but a philanthropic Society.” The twelve Founders saw the need to unite women educators in efforts toward better professional preparation, recognition of women’s work in the teaching profession, and scholarships to help those needing further education.

Today we strive to maintain those goals, but as times change, DKG has also evolved into a Society that encourages women educators to be professionals, speak with authority, recognize the global impact of education, be involved in the world, to be leaders. As members of this wonderful Society, we need a well-thought-out, efficient, modern organizational structure to promote these purposes.

DKG has a structure that is supported by the memberships’ dues which in turn supports the purposes of the Society. The $40.00 active, $20.00 reserve and collegial, annual dues benefit our organization and offer much to our members in exchange for our membership. We could say our payment of dues keeps DKG financially healthy. Or, as some say, membership dues keep the lights on. Your dues and membership have an impact on the organization.

Looking at the graph above, we can see how our dues make an impact. The largest percentage, 47.41%, goes to the membership. The volunteer members are the members who serve on International Boards, Committees, and Juries. Travel, food, lodging, and supplies for these boards, meetings, and training are covered by the Society. A detailed accounting of these expenditures can be found in the 2022-2024 budget. These trained members are the liaison to state organizations and chapters.

Conventions and conferences constitute 21.08% of the total dues received. Our Society plans and conducts biannual conventions and conferences that promote the professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education. These bring together members for renowned speakers, breakout sessions, and camaraderie. Every member is eligible and encouraged to attend these conferences and conventions.

General and administrative purposes use 14.89% of the international dues collected. Our dues pay for the Society’s operational expenses, such as postage, telephone, taxes, and fees. Technology, iMIS database and website, printing, and office supplies are also included. There are 16 full-time staff members divided into four teams: Executive Services, Accounting, Technology, and Membership Services. Member dues pay for these salaries, taxes, and benefits. These excellent employees keep our Society running.

Publications and media receive 15.78% of the dues received. This amount includes the cost to produce and mail the Bulletin and Collegial Magazine, a stipend for the editor of the Bulletin and Collegial Magazine, the cost to print and mail DKG News for members electing to receive a paper copy in the mail, and a stipend for the editor of the DKG News.

Fundraising is less than 1% at .84% of the dues’ usage.

You can view the Society’s budget by going to the DKG website under Resources, then clicking on Finance Tools. You will find an icon for the approved budget, and you can browse through the numbers at your leisure. To get the budget approved, it must go through several steps. First, the Finance Committee creates the budget, then it is reviewed by the Administrative Board. The budget is only approved when there is a majority vote in favor of the budget by the Executive Board; your dues are spent very carefully.

Dr. Blanton would be proud of the “modern” DKG Society and how we have embraced our vision of “Leading Women Educators Impacting Education Worldwide.” Your dues and membership have an impact on our Society. Thank you!

Prepare to Vote!

Blog #3 - The supporting information of each proposed amendment is a “must read” in preparing to vote. Understanding these components will offer members a glimpse into the goal behind each submission.  Some components of the rationale include a brief summary of the reasoning for changing/altering the current amendment. Submitted by: Proposed amendments are submitted each biennium online by one or more members of DKG.  A member may be the author of a proposed amendment, or it could be a combination of members with the same interest in changing the Constitution or International Standing Rules. In addition, an international committee could be the authors of a proposed amendment.  All of the above authors/groups can be found listed with each of the proposed amendments. Fiscal Impact: Crucial information for our Society when reviewing the impact of impending finances on DKG if the proposed amendment is adopted. Recommendation: This comes with one of two suggestions “to adopt or not to adopt” the proposed amendments. The Administrative Board reviews the proposed amendments throughout a period of time in which multiple factors are explored with each proposal.  Check out Blog #4 for more information on the collection of the proposed amendments.