Expansion Committee Goals

Based on amendments approved at the 2018 International Convention, this biennium’s Expansion Committee has flexibility in determining its goals.  What could be more exciting than wide-open options? The focus for the next two years will be expansion in the broadest sense.  The committee will be developing ideas and materials to expand membership and to create new chapters within existing state organizations.  We plan to get ideas and information from members, chapters, and state organizations to help us in our work.  The committee’s specific goals this biennium include:

1.C.2. Communicate the value of membership 

The expansion committee will collaborate together with: 

1) other international committees and 

2) state organizations and chapters to develop: 

• strategies that emphasize the value of being a member; including but not limited to social media, pod casts and other marketing resources 

• methods and materials for state organizations and chapters to utilize in recruiting and retaining members 

2.C.1. Promote diversity in membership selection 

The expansion committee will collaborate together with: 

1) other international committees and 

2) state organizations and chapters to build diversity around: 

• Geographical concentrations 

•  Diversity of educators within a chapter (ie..elementary, secondary, specialists, trainers, etc...) 

• Diversity of ethnicity and generations 

3.C.2. Empower members to take leadership roles 

The expansion committee will collaborate together with: 

1) other international committees and 

2) state organizations and chapters to develop active leadership by promoting: 

•   Mentoring/shadowing 

•  Growing leadership (ie...presenting a workshop, participating in local and/or international seminars) 

•  Succession planning 

4.A.1. Identify barriers within the Society’s culture 

The expansion committee will collaborate together with: 

1) other international committees and 

2) state organizations and chapters  

 to address three identified barriers to create maintain, and expand human resources:  

  

• Reluctance to invite educators to become members 

• Not understanding the comprehensive value of membership 

• Retention of members 

Expect the upcoming 2019 International Conferences to be innovative and exciting!

Expect the upcoming 2019 International Conferences to be innovative and exciting! 
Everyone can find their interest at one of these conferences. 

•    In Asheville, North Carolina, you have the opportunity to enhance DKG through the Arts and Humanities.  Potential topics include: storytelling, books, music, writing, and, of course, art work.
•    Leadership will be the topic for Des Moines, Iowa.  As Arizona State Organization Treasurer, I’m looking forward to the state organization treasurer training and strategizing future plans with my state organization president and state organization membership chairman.  The rest of the conference, aimed to help develop that leadership, will be amazing! 
•    Technology is our future and the Costa Mesa; California Conference will set the pace.  How can we take DKG into the vast computer age?  Latin Americans and Japanese will have a Leadership Pre-conference state organization treasurer training just for them. 
•    Now, who wouldn’t want to attend a conference in Reykjavik, Iceland?  DKG has always promoted interests in Professional Research and Practices.  Come explore more!  State organization treasurers will receive as part of the pre-conference.
•    Finally, Global Awareness is the topic in Mashantucket, Connecticut.  Subjects are Native American issues, integration, United Nations, the Holocaust, and children’s peace artwork.  How can DKG fit into this awareness?

At every conference, there will be a workshop by the International Finance Committee members entitled Dues is NOT a four-letter word.  Positive thinking brings positive change to any situation. Learn about the many positive benefits as a result of the new dues process. Time will be allowed for networking with others about the process or other financial related topics.
Please check-out the International Conferences and choose the one that interests you!  Meet new people, make new networks, and strengthen Delta Kappa Gamma!

When members have difficulty with change, it may help to consider the difference between things that are core and those that are peripheral. For example, the move from a strictly regional focus has raised concerns about some traditions such as presidents’ parades, flag ceremonies, state pictures, and the like. In many cases, these practices are peripheral to the core purposes for which they were originally established—and developing new traditions to meet these core purposes is a real possibility!
The admiration of our beautiful leaders dressed in their finery is enjoyable—but the core issue is honoring these women. This can be accomplished in a myriad of ways, many of which may be more palatable because they eliminate the need for “rehearsals” and, sometimes, the temptation to engage in fashion judgments!
The fluttering of flags may be inspiring, but again the core issue is recognizing the many state organizations that make up DKG. This can be accomplished in myriad ways that may be more practical in use of precious time at gatherings and transport/handling of flags themselves.
Rounding up members of the state organization who are in attendance for a photo may help to create a nice piece of memorabilia and/or history, but these core outcomes can be accomplished in myriad ways, particularly with the availability of digital cameras. In fact, photography at conferences and conventions is one of the best examples of a “new tradition”—members taking pictures at their own convenience for sharing and printing as desired—replacing an “old tradition”—members rushing to get to a single session group shot and paying for prints that might or might not be available quickly.
I am not saying, of course, that all traditions should be set aside. Rather, I hope that as members consider changes and the evolution of “new” traditions, they will take time to unearth the core reasons for the old. Given the creativity and energy of our members, developing new traditions to honor core purposes will certainly keep us forward moving ever.

One Voice Matters

The DKG US Forum presents information to DKG members on legislative issues and actions that affect women, children and education so that they can make informed decisions. Members need to realize that their voice does matter and influence legislation and future results. We need to remember that through our voices and actions we can make a difference.

You are a voter.
You as a local constituent have the power to influence the U.S. Congress well beyond lobbyists for the simple reason that you can vote. You are a representative to a congressional district, and your voice does influence your legislator. 

The best bet is to meet with legislators at their local offices.
Congressional staffers can tell you that one powerful conversation from a constituent can convince them to take action.  You are more likely to have a face-to-face meeting with your legislator when they are in their home district offices. Follow up with phone calls and letters. Knowing that there are advocates in their districts will lead congressional members to follow up with their own research and seek to find a common ground.

Share your passion and concern.
You do not need to be an expert public speaker or political activist to advocate for the change you support. You do need to have an understanding of the issues.  It is important to know the pros and cons and to be factual and simplistic in conveying your concerns.  Don’t be afraid to ask if they would be willing to support a specific proposal, vote yes (or no) for a certain bill or amendment, or champion a specific issue.  Leave materials summarizing the purpose of your visit along with your contact information.

Follow up on your visitation.  
After you leave, you may think of an additional point or find relevant information to support your argument. Continue keep in touch throughout the legislative session. Remind them of your issues and ask about progress on specific bills.

Connect with your legislator via social media.       
Today many legislators communicate via social media (e.g. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.). Connect by following them, sending them direct messages, or posting to their sites. These connections help to personalize the relationship and build rapport.

Get involved.
Your voice and opinions are powerful and impactful. When you take action, you will make a difference and influence others.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. -Margaret Mead

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.