State Organizations and ISF Speakers Build Meaningful Connections

 
        Have you thought about what the word “international” means in DKG Society International? Society members reside in one of the 17 different countries in DKG. Do you wonder about the women from one of the 16 countries other than your own? Are you curious how their experiences might be the same as or different from yours? One way to connect with one of the amazing educators from other countries is to host an international speaker at a state organization convention, conference, or meeting. Along with broadening their knowledge of a relevant subject, your state organization members will learn about her country, its education system, and some of the cultural activities specific to the peoples who live there.

If your state organization leaders have not thought about hosting a speaker and have not reviewed the list sent to state organization presidents in October, you may want to discuss the concept with them to get their input and start putting plans in place. Although most speakers are requested for a conference or convention, an ISF speaker can be requested for an event beyond these sessions. ISF speakers can provide members with new learning opportunities throughout the year.

Here are a few tips to ensure a successful ISF experience for state organizations:

1.       Read and carefully fill out all relevant forms on the DKG website and submit them prior to the deadline date (May 1 or November 1).
2.       Contact your speaker as soon as she has been assigned and welcome her to your state organization.
3.       Inform the speaker where she will be staying and presenting and provide all contact information to her.
4.      Ensure that you have members assigned for pick up from and delivery to the airport.
5.       Offer translation services, if available, for presentation slides in advance if her native language is different.
6.       Check if your speaker has any specific allergies to foods or other items.
7.       Inform her of the weather in your area, so she will arrive prepared.
8.       Inquire into her interests/hobbies and plan a list of local tourism sites if she is staying in your area for a few days.
9.       Have fun!

Hosting an ISF speaker is a wonderful opportunity for learning and meeting a new DKG friend and colleague. It is a DKG experience that should not be missed by any state organization.

 

Educational Excellence: Professional and Personal Growth

Going back to special instances as a member of DKG for many years, I recall how I was encouraged by a coworker to attend a DKG meeting. It was a time when I was very timid and only related to a small circle of teachers and friends. To my astonishment, I learned about this organization and how it supported teachers from many places in the world. I also learned how DKG assisted educators of all levels and disciplines to grow professionally and personally.

Today, many years later, I ask my fellow members these questions: Why did you decide to improve yourself as a professional? Was it that you had mentors who encouraged you? Was it a personal goal to excel in your career or to reeducate yourself in another field? On the other hand, was it your aim to reach the highest level of professional degrees or maybe was it a family goal to reach the educational level that would make a difference to you and your family? These are some of the valid reasons why someone would work to attain these educational goals. DKG did that for me. My answer to all the questions is yes. I reached the highest level when I graduated from my doctoral studies. As a member I was encouraged and supported by my DKG members and at the same time accomplished the vision of DKG which is to support its members in their educational endeavors.

The organization’s Educational Excellence Committee (EEC) can help members to set priorities through multiple options that can be found on the DKG website. I will focus on three of the major areas that support the professional and personal growth of DKG members. The website provides valuable information on Committees, Resources, and Programs and Projects.

Educational Excellence Committee - The committee shall support programs of action that promote the personal well-being, intellectual growth, and global awareness of women educators; encourage a focus on the arts at international conventions, regional conferences and state organization conventions; and develop strategies that will enable chapters to encourage members to become leaders.

I would encourage you, if you are interested in advanced studies, to check in the Resources section on the second tab, where you can find information on scholarships.

Scholarship Tools - The Scholarship Tips Sheet provides tips on how to work on one of the seven purposes of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International which is “To endow scholarships to aid outstanding women educators in pursuing graduate study and to grant fellowships to non-member women educators.” This tip sheet offers suggestions as to how chapters can aid members who may be interested in applying for scholarships.

Under the About Us>Committees>Scholarship section of the DKG website, up to thirty (30) DKG scholarships are awarded annually in the amount of $6,000 (U.S.) for work toward a master’s degree and $10,000 (U.S.) for work at the doctorate level.

Finally, I would advise you to explore how DKG is supporting its members through Programs and Projects such as the support for early career educators

SEE (Support for Early Career Educators) - The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International established Supporting Early-career Educators (SEE) as its second international project during the 2012 International Convention in New York City. SEE encourages members/chapters to be creative in support of early-career educators with a variety of strategies, such as 1) giving support for phone calls and visits, 2) helping with lesson plans and bulletin board ideas, 3) offering advice on classroom management and parent-teacher relations, and 4) providing support in appropriate and practical ways.

DKG has multiple ways to lead its members to gain access to professional development, scholarships, personal growth, and a variety of demonstrations of the talents and accomplishments that might have been hidden on many occasions or maybe were not explored. Take the time to go through these suggested areas of what DKG has to offer. I can assure you that DKG helped me in many ways to search and apply for committees and grow professionally and as a leader. You will succeed and DKG is here to support you!

We encourage you to research the DKG website for a wealth of resources which will help you grow personally and professionally. Don’t hesitate to reach out to an EEC member for assistance!

DKGIEF: World Fellowship

Contributions to World Fellowship, one of the nine funds managed by DKGIEF, change lives. 

A World Fellowship recipient from Ukraine said that DKG support for women gives her a sense of empowerment because DKG members have encouraged her with their words and financial support. “I've been very touched by this endless support, and I honestly feel like they are helping me to mentally survive these dark times away from home.”

A World Fellowship recipient from Kazakhstan said, “I hope to return to my country and apply my knowledge to make the lives of kids with special needs better. I am grateful to DKG for this life-changing opportunity.”

The World Fellowship Fund, established in 1960, has provided awards totaling $3,739,250  for 1,029 women from 122 countries to pursue graduate studies in Canada and the United States. Twenty-five women in 23 countries received awards in 2021-2022 totaling $83,500.

The amounts and numbers of World Fellowship awards depend on contributions to the fund. Your donation helps other women become future leaders around the world. Your gift to the World Fellowship Fund through DKGIEF supports the dreams of countless women and impacts countless others.

Bang #35 Guidelines for Chapter Leaders

You will find everything you need to know to be the chapter treasurer and answers to other financial questions in the Guidelines for Chapter Leaders. The chapter treasurer oversees collecting dues, paying bills, keeping a ledger of expenses and receipts, reporting at meetings, budgeting, filing forms with the IRS, maintaining a chapter roster, and serving as an ex officio on the executive board.

Treasurers should keep a permanent file of bank statements, ledgers, and membership records. In the guidelines, a Retention Schedule can be found advising how long items need to be kept. Treasurers will also handle the chapter’s contributions to the state organization and DKG International Educators Foundation.

A chapter must maintain an Available Fund and may have a Scholarship Fund if members vote to do so. Every year a financial review of the chapter needs to be done. To help accomplish this, a handy checklist is provided in the guideline. Other resources provided include assistance for when a chapter wants to raise their dues or if they want to sell items.

These guidelines are a valuable asset to answer any question about chapter finances and any other chapter concerns.

Are You Ready to be Challenged?

Are you a leader?

Are you a team player?

Two very important aspects to working within a group.

As a leader you recognize your goals, what you want to achieve in your life, and how. As a member of a team, you focus on what you can contribute and achieve as an individual. In so doing, you support and complement the team leader. You provide strength to your team as well as assistance toward achieving the goals of the team, such an important and critical part of being a good team player.

Team leaders must have a vision and take initiative but being a team player is equally important. A good leader knows that great achievements usually require the work of many. A leader is only as good as what she can achieve through other people.

The most rewarding part of leadership is to see others grow, find the strength within them, and see them accomplish work that they would never have dreamt possible.

In DKG we are all able to become leaders of a team, but some don’t know it yet. We notice this even now as we are finding members to take leadership roles at the chapter level. But the rewards of DKG leadership are many - a chance to grow, develop oneself, and strengthen leadership skills. It is important to look for the sparkle and help the member to step outside her box. For some this may be easy, while others may need to be challenged.

Every experience offers a time to learn something new. Are you ready to be challenged? Seize the opportunity!