Now that you are home...

Regional Conferences are over and you are back home - settled in, relaxed, and - I hope - INSPIRED!
So, what's next?  How do you keep the momentum going?

• Share what you have learned with a friend or professional peer.
• Inspire someone else to attend an international event - International Convention will be held in Austin, Texas, in July of 2018.
• Volunteer to make it a chapter program - share your photos, your experiences and your greatest "take away" with your chapter members.
• Visit DKG.org frequently and share information with your chapter at each meeting.
• Review the DKG Constitution and consider the role it might play in designing the future of DKG. Proposed amendments are due October 1. 

Our Founders were courageous and forward thinking women - mavericks in their time.  They risked their professions and, in some ways, their lives to found and grow this great organization we know as DKG.  What a gift to us as members!  Pay it forward and share membership with other key women educators in your corner of the world.  We CAN and WILL make a difference but only if we continue to grow and thrive.  Let's honor our Founders in the greatest possible way by being the same progressive, brave and innovative women they were!

HAVE YOU HEARD THE GREAT NEWS? Now, It's All in ONE Place!

COMMITTEE BLOGS (AND A BLOG FROM ANNIE WEBB BLANTON) ARE NOW PART OF THE DKG "UNIBLOG"!

SUBSCRIBERS TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE BLOGS (C&P, MEMBERSHIP, EEC, FINANCE, CONSTITUTION), PLEASE NOTE: 

In response to members' suggestions, DKG is now posting all international committee blogs in a "uniblog" accessed from the home page at dkg.org (look for the "Blog" button just above the survey!). In this way, members will be able to find all blog messages quickly and will be informed about all areas of DKG. A new feature is included, as Founder Annie Webb Blanton will be blogging as well!

 

Note: 

Tabs at the top of the blog will allow quick access to specific committee posts if one so desires. 

All committee posts will now be done through the uniblog rather than through individual blogs on committee pages.

If you wish to continue following the your favorite committee's blog, please subscribe to the uniblog at http://dkgsi.blogspot.com/   

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!

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!

Keeping in Touch

My husband and I travelled a little last week to places we had not visited in a
while. It felt good to reconnect with old friends and make new ones in the process.

As we survey dropped members, we are finding that approximately two-thirds found the DKG membership experience to be satisfactory and would consider reinstatement in the future.  So, take some time during the holidays to reach out to former members in your chapter.  Ask them to join you at the holiday social event or even at a meeting.  Or just chat on the phone or enjoy a cup of coffee together.  Reconnecting can lead to reinstating!

For more ideas, check out the blog on the membership committee page at www.dkg.org or look for more in the Making Members Matter column in each issue of the DKG News.

(For the full dropped member survey report, contact me at nitas@dkg.org) 

Coming up: The Future!

A group of young members met recently at DKG Headquarters in Austin, TX, to focus on DKG and the future.  Out of that group grew DKGnext! Even the name makes me stop to think about what may be next for DKG.

I was honored to be included in some of the discussions that took place during that meeting. How inspiring, challenging, exciting, energizing and magnetizing it was to hear them talk about their hopes and concerns for our great Society. As one member wrote in a follow up to the meeting,

We want to create a group of forward thinking members to explore and analyze the best ways we as a Society can recruit, retain, and support our membership. We want to find ways to merge our traditions with new innovative ideas and diverse opinions to create a culture that attracts key women educators.

You can read her thoughtful words at www.dkg.org by clicking on the Rotator item "DKGnext!" (https://www.dkg.org/content/dkgnext-0#node-7749)  I encourage you to check it out - I think you will be inspired, too.  And, after you think about it, post a comment here and tell me what you would hope to be next for DKG!

The Difference One Member Makes

I was honored to visit Iota Upsilon Chapter in Priddy TX yesterday.  I was invited to share with them about the DKG Girl Scout Patch Project. They invited two Girl Scout troop leaders to join us and by the end of the evening, we were all excited about the possibilities.

I am particularly excited about the DKG Girl Scout Patch for two reasons.  One is because a relationship between DKG and the Girl Scouts is so natural... both organizations focus on growing leadership in women and girls. However, it also so exciting for another reason that has nothing to do with the mission of either organization! It is a project that began as one member's vision and has gained momentum with chapters throughout the country.  It truly shows the difference one member can make within an organization.

What will be your contribution to DKG?  How will you make a difference as one member?  Share your vision for DKG and the impact we can have on education, for women, in the world, in your community.

It IS what YOU make it.

 My late mother always said "you get out of something what you put into it." I believe she was right. I just expanded my exercise routine to add a little interest and step up the intensity.  I spent quite a bit of time researching the wide variety of programs available on CD, TV, DVD, at the Gym, in my home or even live streamed from somewhere else I may never go.  If I had spent this much time
exercising, I would be fit again by now!

However, I realized suddenly that the most important factor is ME! I am, quite simply, going to get out of any program about what I put into it.  It is not really as much about the program itself as it is about my commitment to it.

And so, I think, it is with DKG. Are you committed to the Purposes and mission of DKG?  Would you count the women in your chapter as professional peers and friends?  Do you want to impact education worldwide in a positive way?  Do you work alongside dedicated educators who care about the success of their students, whether young or adult?  Then, what are you waiting for?  Ask a fellow educator to join DKG.  Get engaged in whatever way suits you best.  Volunteer for the next project, step up to a leadership role, or  log in to the communities through the DKG website or APP and network globally.

DKG is what you make it - so make it count for you today!

Moving Forward - Together!

If we are not moving forward on our journey in DKG, we will either stay where we are or go backward.  So, perhaps the basic laws of motion will lead us all to agree that we want to move forward in our journey. The question, however, is how?

As a member of DKG, you have a voice - use it as effectively as possible.  Talk to the leaders in your state organization about what you envision for the DKG of tomorrow.  If you are an officer or chair in your state organization, bring those ideas to the international boards. The conversation has already begun, so take part - have a chapter discussion, participate in a poll, or Tweet about it!

Remember, however, your voice speaks loudest when you vote as a member at international conventions. At the 2016 International Convention in Nashville TN,  your state organization president's votes on behalf of the members will elect the next International Administrative Board.  Candidate nominations are due to the International Nominations Committee by October 15, 2015, and can be submitted by any member, even yourself! Recommend a member you feel is qualified to lead DKG forward. Inform your president how you would like her to vote when the slate is published.

And your most effective voice?  The vote you cast when you attend convention in July where the International Standing Rules will be amended. Amendment proposals are due by October 1 and come from any committee, chapter, state organization or member - that's You!  And then be present to vote again in 2018 (in Austin TX ) when the Constitution is amended.

Make your plans to be in Nashville and be heard!

A Tool for All Seasons (And Many Reasons!)

Have you downloaded the new DKG App yet?  If you attended a regional conference this summer, you may have downloaded it for use during the conference.  It provided easy access to the event schedule, session information, maps and more.

However, the DKG App is so much more than just an event app.  It provides you easy access to news, website features, blogs, DKG social media sites, the DKG Store, meeting schedules and many other items of interest.  For fun, use the "postcard" feature and take a selfie or a chapter photo.  Access information about Society projects and view videos.  Use the "My DKG" icon to access your personal profile and information in the DKG database and social communities.

Download the DKG App through the Google Play Store (android smartphones) and the Apple App Store (iPhones, iPads can use the iPhone app).  After all, even though there is so much to see and do now, we will all be heading to Nashville for the 2016 International Convention before we know it!