The Happiest Holiday of All - to You!

What an exciting time of year!  Almost magical.  And yet, while the busy-ness and bright-ness can be alluring, we sometimes find that time becomes short and we become frantic.  Too little time to shop for all the presents. Too little time to make all the connections.  Too much time wrapping up the year and not enough time to think about the New Year to come.

So, take a little time for you.  If it is cold outside in your part of the world, build a fire in the fireplace and read a book for the evening.  If not, enjoy an few moments on the porch with the sun in your face or with a good view of a starlit sky.  Whatever your preference, stop and "smell the roses" as they say.

Celebrate the life you have and the folks in it.

It is with gratitude that you are in mine that I wish you the Happiest of Holidays.

We are Listening to You!

Your international leadership and Society Headquarters staff are always seeking feedback from members.  Do you have something you want to say about your membership experience and how we could help make it better?  There are a variety of ways you can easily make your voice heard:

• The survey on the Homepage of the DKG Website is designed for quick feedback from members and changes every month.  So keep an eye out for topics that interest you and answer the poll.  You can also see what others are saying by clicking on "Results."
• The contact information for the members of the International Administrative Board is available under the "About Us" tab.  Email them with your thoughts and recommendations. 
• The contact information for Society Headquarters staff is available under the "Contact Us" tab. Email us with your concerns and recommendations.
• You will also find the phone number for Society Headquarters under the "Contact Us" tab.  Feel free to call us between 7:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. CST.  

So, log in, email us or give us a call - we want to hear from you!

Ready, Set, Initiate!

Have you made plans for your chapter to grow this year?  If you have not already considered using the new Membership Recruitment Plan, you might check it out!  Find an overview and sample documents under the Resources tab at www.dkg.org.

The plan preserves the integrity of the invitation to membership (honor) and the initiation ceremony (tradition), but allows for a more effective way to present the Society to prospective members.  By changing the order of the process, prospective members are oriented to the organization before being invited to join.  And the chapter has already approved the list of prospects, so initiation plans can be made easily and quickly.

And one really exciting part is that the plan also engages chapter members as mentors to the new members - a simple, effective and purposeful way to keep new members active in DKG for life. In fact, mentors can be a great way to engage transferred and reinstated members in chapter activities as well.

For assistance or more information, contact us at mem@dkg.org.

Back to "Busy" Again

For educators returning to the classroom, this is the time of year where "busy" becomes the norm. Back to school plans and activities, adjusting to a change in routine, gathering a new wardrobe and planning for 2016-2017 DKG activities can take be time-consuming and energy-draining.

While I cannot help you with the back to school plans and clothes, I can help you find everything you need for your DKG planning. Check out the website at www.dkg.org for all the resources you need, new ideas and strategies, and information about upcoming events and deadlines.  Be sure to visit frequently because the Home Page Rotator and News items change often to keep members informed about the latest happenings.

And remember you will need to log in to access members-only areas.  See your chapter president for information or  call/email Society Headquarters if you need assistance. We are here longer to serve you better:  our new hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. CST.

Now that You are Home...

If you were able to participate in the 2016 International Convention in Nashville earlier this month, then you know how inspiring, uplifting and exciting it was!  Share your excitement with your chapter at the first meeting this fall.  Report about the events of the week and share what you learned. Summarize the actions of the business meeting and share "snip-its" from the speakers and the many members who inspired us with their reflections on "85 Years & Beyond."

We hope to provide on-demand viewing of some sessions through the DKG Website, so keep your eye on www.dkg.org for details.

And, if you missed the fun in Nashville, begin planning now for Austin, Texas, in 2018.  Until then, see you in Spearfish, Honolulu, Windsor, Myrtle Beach or Tallin next summer!

The Excitement is Growing!

Wow!  I cannot believe it has been two months since my last blog!  I admit it - I have been busy with convention plans and getting excited about our time together in Nashville.  I hope you are, too!

After a wonderful leadership weekend in Sweden and another equally wonderful time at a leadership conference in Wyoming, I was also honored to represent the Society in Tennessee.  I continue to be awed by the amazing women who are DKG - no matter where in the world I go, I find phenomenal women who lead the way with innovative thinking and progressive action.

As we turn our attention to the last minute details of the convention, we hope you are planning to join us.  With over 100 breakout sessions, outstanding keynote speakers, mini sessions in the Cyber Center, and a variety of Hot Topics sessions, everyone will find something of interest.  Shop the Marketplace, experience Nashville, and visit with friends - the ones you have not seen in a while and the ones you meet during the week.

Haven't registered yet?  There is still time!  Let's meet in Nashville - see you there!

Warm Enough to Melt the Snow

It was snowing one more time in Akron, Ohio, when I left on Sunday.  But you would have never known it by the warmth of the DKG members there!  What an exciting convention!  From the opening reception with a local band that inspired us to dance to the closing brunch that reminded us of the many ways we impact our world, I enjoyed every moment with the members of DKG Ohio.

With all the exciting happenings in Ohio, it is hard to choose one to highlight.  However, check out the Be Wise Camp in Mason, Ohio.  We heard a few inspirational words from DKG member and Be Wise Director, Jo Ann Benseler.  The camp, held at Denison University, features STEM activities in all of its classes which are designed to stimulate interest in mathematics, science, engineering and technology.  The exciting piece of that news is that the campers are girls!  Visit Be Wise Camp at bewisecamp.org.

Who is Coming to Your Initiation?

It is spring time and so, DKG chapters throughout the Society are thinking about new members. Have you invited someone to membership recently?  Our Purposes include uniting and honoring women educators, as well as advancing the profession.  If you see yourself as the professional educator you are and want to advance our profession, then consider inviting your professional peers to membership in DKG.  What better way to honor other exceptional professional educators for the job they do while strengthening our profession as well?

With approximately 75,000 members around the world, DKG makes a significant impact worldwide. I am proud of the impact we make, but let's double that impact in 2016!

Winter Months Still have WOW!

I have to say that I usually expect the Winter months to be rather uneventful. The weather always keeps us indoors and the skies are often gray - promoting a slower pace and sleepy attitude.

However, January proved to be so eventful that it appears I have failed to keep you all up to date!

DKG launched a new website - have you checked it out?  Members-only areas of the site require log in, so check with your chapter president about the username and password for your first access.  The Presidents' Page provided information for your chapter president to share.  We aimed for a user-friendly website filled with member resources and helpful information.  Let us know what you think!

In addition, a secure and private DKG Community allows members to connect with other members around the world - so opt in and join in.

I was also delighted to attend the CTAUN conference this year.  What a wonderful and informative conference.  Check out www.ctaun.org for information about the Sustainable Development Goals and how they can impact your world.   And next time, plan to attend!

It's going be a great 2016!

Wow!  The new year is off to a big start and promises to be exciting!  Did you know that Society Headquarters will be open longer each day?  We have staggered our work times to allow for extended hours in the early morning and late afternoon:  You can reach us by phone now between 7:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. every day.  We look forward to hearing from you soon!

The new website is also coming within a few days:  after a little more testing this week, we hope to launch the new site around the middle of January.  Some member benefits will only be available after log in (remember to use your member ID as your username and the default password - ask your chapter president to share the Presidents' Page info with you!).  However, the main parts of the website will be public and will not require a log in. Remember, online registration for convention will require a log in.

With these changes and other
exciting happenings, 2016 promises to be the best ever!