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.