Please Tell Me About It!

Communication is key to marketing any new or great idea.  We all agree that membership in DKG changes lives, develops women as professionals, and promotes richer learning at all levels.  So, spread the word! Find a way to communicate that works best for your chapter and state organization.

California State Organization did.  I recently subscribed to the email distribution list the state organization has developed.  They are sending to all the subscribers on the list a weekly email that is informative, positive and inspiring.   The one I received this week recounted the story of a young educator who received a Cornetet Grant from the DKG Educational Foundation and was so inspired by the experience that she has since joined DKG! Not only will this amazing story inspire members to share the benefits of membership with other women educators, it will also perhaps remind us all about the membership benefits we forget to enjoy ourselves!

Think about the ways that you can best communicate to your community, state organization, members and potential members about DKG.  Explore the options.  Then, Spread the Word!

PLAN for Membership Growth

One of the best parts of my job is meeting members!  The International President and I were privileged to join members of three chapters in the Orange, TX, area recently.  After 

Historic Stark House - Orange, TX

a wonderful meal at a local restaurant, we shared with them the new membership plan promoted by both the International and the Texas State Organization Presidents.  With the plan, we also discussed ways to maintain membership by keeping members active and engaged at all three levels of the Society. Members in Orange are excited about the possibilities - what a wonderful evening it was!

Have you considered new ways to recruit and keep members?  The plan recommends a change in the order of recruiting and suggests developing a strategy for being sure new members are welcomed and involved in activities.  If you are interested in more details, email me at nitas@dkg.org.  I would love to share!

The Best Gifts are Given Away

The holidays are a wonderful time of year!  The weather has turned cooler (of course, here in South Central Texas, that could just mean we can open the windows and turn the air conditioning off!), the sky is a deeper blue and the lights of the holiday decorations dance on the roof tops and trees around town.

And I have realized over the years that the best gifts are the ones I give away.  Xi Chapter TX
traditionally meets here at Society Headquarters every December for a holiday celebration and initiation.  We initiated two new members (one a fourth generation member!) and this year we all brought stuffed toys to be donated for the New Life Treatment Center here in Austin.  What a wonderful time and how special to know that our gifts would enrich the lives of others!

May your holidays be joyous and may your New Year bring peace and prosperity.

Be Someone's "Someone"

I love my job and the wonderful opportunity I have to meet people every day from around the world.  The amazing women who are DKG!  Today I chatted with DKG member and author, Dede Rittman.  We talked about the joys of teaching and the influence we each have on the world around us.  She has published a book providing insight for student teachers and is realizing in a real way how powerful words of encouragement can be.  Read more about her book and learn from her insights and experiences through her blog at http://www.bunnyteacher.blogspot.com/ . 

In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday we celebrate in the U.S. this week, take a moment and think about this:  Has someone influenced you in a powerful and positive way? If so, have you said thank you?  And go ahead - play it forward today.  Be that someone for someone else. 

There's a Member in Membership

It's that time of year again.  Schools are back in session, the seasons are changing and, in fact, the holidays are quickly approaching.  As a member of DKG, you may be wondering who you might recommend for membership or perhaps you are already planning an initiation for your chapter.  Eligible and deserving women educators are all around you - in the schools, universities and other institutions of your communities. 


However, when the ceremony is over and you are celebrating new membership, remember there's a "member" in that word.  Studies show that most members and customers maintain a connection to an association or company because of personal relationships. We have so many avenues for maintaining personal connections these days - letters and phone are now joined by texting, email, and social media in various forms - that it breaks my heart to hear that members drop out of DKG because they do not feel connected to other members or do not feel a part of the chapter.  And, according to our surveys, they do just that for just that reason. 


So, whether by phone or Facebook, reach out to each other today.  Remember Purpose number 1?  It's about  "genuine spiritual fellowship" and it's important. 

Outside Of the Box

Boxes can be a great way to secure items, keep them safe and transport them easily.  But boxes are also confining.  Boxes can also hide what is inside the box.  That can be good or ... sometimes not.

For example, I love the anticipation of a gift.  Beautifully boxed and wrapped.  I shake it and turn it and examine it in hopes of identifying what is inside.  Anticipation can be sheer joy.

But until the box is opened and the hidden contents are taken Outside Of the Box, the gift cannot truly be enjoyed.

So, open your box.  Expand your horizons.  Find ways to think outside of the box in your life and in your DKG chapter.  Here is one idea:  Arizona State Organization is hosting its Fall Conference at a tech high school where they will enjoy a delightful luncheon and breakfast prepared by the culinary students.  What a wonderful way to connect DKG with the community and school.

I just heard from a young educator in California who wants to connect with the chapter who mentored and supported her as a student teacher.  While she was not eligible for membership at that time, their relationship to her is paying off because she is now employed and ready to connect with them again - this time as a member.  Thanks to the great network of DKG members in California, I am confident she will be a member soon!

More to come...don't climb back in that box yet!

Just Share Your Excitement!

It's really about sharing your excitement - that's all.

Marketing can be such a frightening word to many people.  But it is really very simple:  when I was in the classroom, someone once shared a tip with me about a household cleaning product that would

clean my classroom's whiteboards to a polished shine.  It worked! And I was so excited that I told every teacher I knew about my new find!  Guess what?  I was marketing that product every time I told someone else about it.  And I was just sharing my excitement about a product that worked for me.

Are you excited about your membership in DKG?  Share that excitement with the world.  Those women who are eligible will be excited to learn more.  Those people who are not eligible may know others who are.

Carola is a member in The Netherlands who participated in the recent Golden Gift Leadership Management Seminar held in Austin, Texas.    She  attended a seminar held this month for educators in Europe.  She wrote "These are people from all over the world and I try to promote DKG."

Now, that's marketing!