CTAUN 2017 - A Wonderful Experience!

What is better than a weekend in New York City? A weekend in New York City attending the CTAUN conference at UN Headquarters!  DKG members from around the country attended the conference to gain a new perspective on the challenges faced by refugee families around the world.  The focus of the 18th annual conference was Refugees:  The 21st Century Challenge.  We enjoyed presentations from speakers affiliated with the United Nations, UNICEF, and agencies that work with refugee families.  However, my favorite presentation involved students who grew up as refugees and are now studying in the United States.  They captured our hearts, stretched our minds and broadened our perspectives.

DKG Members at CTAUN 2017

Start making plans to attend the next conference -  will I see you at CTAUN 2018?

Did YOU Hear?

We have a joke at our house - my husband often leaves me out of the loop when he is buying things. You know, like horses, tractors or even property!  So, I really do know how it feels when everyone else seems to be "in the know" and you're not.

Don't miss out on the communication of important information!  DKG is now emailing members regularly to keep you informed about events, opportunities and benefits of your membership.  We send Focus on DKG:  International Highlights to every member for whom we have an email address. Unfortunately, we do not have an email address for almost half of our members.  And of those email addresses to which we send the Focus on DKG, approximately 10% are "undeliverable" due to server security programs or inaccuracies.

What can you do to "stay in the loop?"

• Sign in to the DKG Website and update your profile to include your correct email address and indicate your desire to receive DKG communications by email.
• Use a personal email address for DKG communications (many educational institutions do not accept ".org" emails) or "whitelist" the dkg.org domain with your email server as "not spam."
• Be sure your state organization officers have your correct email so that you can receive communication from them as well.
• Read your DKGNews and, if you are a chapter president, your Presidents' Page.  Share the information you learn with your chapter members. 
• Visit www.dkg.org frequently to stay up to date on DKG news and events.  

Be informed.  And spread the news!

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!