International Committees - Forward Moving Ever

Your International DKG Committees!

The International Educational Excellence Committee met on Friday and Saturday, October 26-27, 2012. This committee is composed of two representatives from each of the five regions, a committee chair, plus the DKG/NGO primary representative, the international music representative, the international president, and a headquarters administrator.

It never ceases to amaze me how much work can be accomplished in such a short time, when dedicated, conscientious educators come together in Austin. I have seen this with every international committee that has met.
Check the website at www.dkg.org for the results of the educational excellence committee's meeting. Information will be posted soon. Also, be sure to check the website for updated information from the Constitution, Communications and Publicity, Leadership Development, and Membership Committees, as well as the Editorial Board. All of these met earlier in September and October.

Your International Administrative Board meets this week. Regional Directors will begin on Tuesday evening and the rest of the Board will join them on Wednesday. On Saturday, the International Speakers Fund Committee will meet. Deadlines for submitting applications for an International Speaker is November 10.

Much activity is going on at your Society Headquarters! Keep up to date by reading our Blogs, checking my personal Facebook posting, as well as DKG's page, following us on Twitter and reading your DKG NEWS. While directed specifically to chapter presidents, the Presidents' Page contains useful information for all members. These publications are posted on the Society website. Go to Library, then click on Presidents' Page.

Keep Sharing Our Vision ~ Strengthening Our Society!

Expansion into Japan

DKG Welcomes Kochi, Japan

October 14 was a historic day for The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. While the international executive board voted in July to expand to Japan, the 60 Japanese educators did not become members of the Society until the impressive initiation ceremony that was held in Kochi, Japan on October 14, 2012.

My heart was thrilled when, as the installing officer, I watched sixty key women educators from Kochi, Japan become members of our great organization. They varied in age from 25 to 70+ , and in positions from classroom teacher, nursing instructor, administrator, and university professor to teacher of the fine art of Kimono dressing. Personally, I have never witnessed an initiation ceremony with 60 initiates from the same chapter, at any one time. Perhaps, this is even a first for the Society?

Only one of the original potential members was unable to be present for the ceremony. She is to be initiated soon, along with, Hiroko Minami, the chair of the Board of Directors and President of the University of Kochi and Kochi Junior College.

Dr. Fusa Nakagawa is the state organization's first president. With her enthusiasm, wisdom, dedication and graciousness, she will lead continued expansion in our 18th country. Fusa will be joined by the other eleven founders, as well as the additional 48 members in  extending to other distinguished educators in Kochi and other Prefectures, the gift of membership in our Society.

What an honor it was for me to be the international president and represent our Society. Corlea Plowman, Executive Director, and members from Hawaii, Washington, Arizona and California shared the joyful and historic occasion with me.

Arigatou (Thank you very much, in Japanese) for the ways in which many of you have welcomed Fusa and the other 59 members to our outstanding organization.

Yours in DKG.

If You Can Read this, Thank a Teacher

World Teachers' Day 2012

                   DKG  supports educators and impacts education world wide. 
                            The following information was shared by UNESCO. 

“Take a stand for teachers!” is the slogan of World Teachers’ Day 2012 (5 October) which UNESCO is celebrating along with its partners, the International Labour Organization, UNDP, UNICEF and Education International (EI).  

Taking a stand for the teaching profession means providing adequate training, ongoing professional development, and protection for teachers’ rights.

All over the world, a quality education offers hope and the promise of a better standard of living. However, there can be no quality education without competent and motivated teachers.

On this day, we call for teachers to receive supportive environments, adequate quality training as well as ‘safeguards’ for teachers’ rights and responsibilities...We expect a lot from teachers – they, in turn, are right to expect as much from us. This World Teachers’ Day is an opportunity for all to take a stand.    

       Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General

Teachers are among the many factors that keep children in school and influence learning. They help students think critically, process information from several sources, work cooperatively, tackle problems and make informed choices.

Why take a stand for teachers? Because the profession is losing status in many parts of the world.. World Teachers’ Day calls attention to the need to raise the status of the profession - not only for the benefit of teachers and students, but for society as a whole, to acknowledge the crucial role teachers play in building the future."

Join Delta Kappa Gamma in thanking our educators, everyday!

 

 October 4, 2012

Are You Leading?

     The Leadership Development Committee just completed its meeting. They discussed many issues, including committee goals, regional conferences, pre-conference training sessions, info fairs, workshops, press releases, news articles, chapter strengthening, communications, mentoring, use of technology to enhance communications, resources, members as leaders and visions of leadership.

     Dr. Kay Clawson from West Virginia chaired the committee. Other members included, Dr. Elaine Alexander, Tennessee, Dr. Mary Jane Kaufman, Ohio,  Dr. Donna Niday, Iowa, Beth Schieber, Oklahoma, Bjorg Nakling, Norway, Corlea Plowman, Executive Director, and your international president.

With excitement, animation and a plethora of metaphors and analogies,  the committee agreed  that every DKG member is a leader. Getting each member to understand the role she plays in the chapter's leadership cycle is not always easy. Apparently, some chapters are having difficulty securing leadership. Some have dissolved due to the lack of members being willing to assume a leadership position.

Ideally, members volunteer to lead their group for a period of time. Often, members wait on someone else to step up and say, "I will." Occasionally, there may be members willing to assume leadership positions, but are not asked. Regardless, each member was invited to join Delta Kappa Gamma because she was a key woman educator and possessed the ability to impact education worldwide.

My question to you is, "Are you leading?" You don't have to be a chapter officer or a designated leader to be leading others. There are many who support, encourage, assist, mentor and enable others to serve in designated leadership positions.

At your next chapter meeting, make a point to speak to, engage and connect with members with whom you rarely talk or sit. Connect with the members who don't attend the meetings. Never let a member miss a meeting without you, or someone, making contact to let her know she was missed.

Never forget. You are a leader. You may be the very person who can make a huge difference in your chapter.