Teachers Change Lives!

 

"The mediocre teacher tells,

The good teacher explains,

The superior teacher demonstrates.

The great teacher inspires."

                                    William Arthur Ward

 

Thanks to all educators

who are impacting education

worldwide.

You are appreciated!

 

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International

Estonia - Five Years Old!

I have been amazed at the diversity and unity of different state organization conventions at which I have served as the Society representative. Each state organization and its chapters have much autonomy and are different in many ways. However, the unity in the Society's Mission and Purposes is always evident.


In Estonia, a new chapter, Gamma, was installed and 12 members were initiated. An additional member was also initiated into Alpha chapter. Margarita Hanschmidt, state organization president, has mentored, encouraged and provided the leadership to keep this young state organization thriving,  relevant  and attracting both extremely young career educators as well as educators with more years of experience. The state celebrated its fifth birthday in the DKG Society.


Margarita Hanschmidt, Estonia state organization president, cuts the birthday cake

celebrating Estonia's fifth year in the Society.

 

 

New Jersey has largest attendance ever!

I asked state organization presidents to share the great things happening at their conventions. Below are a few of those shared by Roxanne Adinolfi, New Jersey State Organization President. The convention was April 12 – 14, 2013.

ü  President’s membership challenge of 75 new members for the 75^th Diamond Jubilee (exceeded)

ü  First Alpha Zeta Strategic Action Plan (adopted)

ü  Comprehensive Revisions to the 2000 Alpha Zeta State (AZS) Standing Rules (adopted)

ü  Comprehensive Revisions to the 2012 AZS Bylaws (adopted)

ü  Publication (605 pages) Alpha Zeta State 1938-2013 Diamond Anniversary History of the NJ State Organization

ü  343 Registered Attendees at the convention (Largest number ever!)

ü  Keynote Speaker for the convention Stacey Bess Author/Teacher Beyond the Blackboard Lessons on Love from the School With No Name (Hallmark Hall of Fame Movie)

ü  Cindy Reynolds as “Miss Annie” provided interesting information about our NJ Founders and Dr. Annie Webb Blanton

ü  Past State Presidents presented NJ Founders Skit with “Miss Annie”

ü  Dr. Lynda Schmid, DKG Society Representative  qwas featured speaker for birthday luncheon, workshop presenter and initiates orientation presenter

ü  Dual Celebratory Resolution (NJ STATE ASSEMBLY and SENATE) presented to the membership

ü  Congratulatory Letter from NJ Governor Chris Christie

 

Society Reps - Make Connections

Invite a Society Representative to your state meeting.

Below are a few of the comments from state organizations regarding the value of having a Society representative at a state meeting.  Sixty five of our state organizations requested and received a member of the international administrative board as its Society representative.

 If your state did not request a representative for 2013, consider requesting one for 2014. The names of the representatives and state organizations have been omitted since all comments could not be included.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you for sending ------as our Society Representative for our  State Convention. She was an incredible addition to our group and we were very tempted to just keep her! "

 

"____ was knowledgeable about DKG Society and shared that knowledge with a friendly and enthusiastic spirit that everyone responded to positively.  She was not afraid to join in conversations and participate in activities with our members."  

"Her openess and accessibility elicited very positive comments especially from members who were at their first out-of-chapter experience."

"We were delighted to have ___ on her first trip to a state convention as a Society Rep. She blended right in and our members loved her."

 

"____'s speech was very thought provoking and incited more conversations and willingness to do more.  We were very pleased and had a wonderful convention!"

"__ was the perfect Society representative  for our state!  She was inspirational, uplifting and encouraging. She fit right in as if this was her home. "

 

"Her knowledge about the needs of our members and what they value in their membership was awesome. We got some great ideas to use to retain (and reinstate) our members. Thank you!"

 

"Thank you for sending ___. She was very knowledgeable about DKG and shared things about our state of which our members were unaware. She did her homework! Thanks." 

 

 

 

It Doesn't Take Barbells to Strengthen a Chapter

     At each of the 2013  regional conferences, a pre-conference session will be held to emphasize chapter strengthening. Believing that you don't have to be sick to get better, and, consistent with the biennium theme of Sharing Our Vision - Strengthening Our Society, the international administrative board enthusiastically supports the training sessions. Two chapter level representatives will be asked to participate from each state organization.

     Dr. Lyn Schmid, International Second Vice President will coordinate the sessions and conduct the training in Portland, Maine. She will be assisted by four other DKG leaders who will conduct the session in their regions. Carolyn Pittman, International First Vice President, will be in Orlando, Florida;  Dr. Vicki T. Davis, Chair, Golden Gift Committee, in Branson, Missouri;  Ingibjorg Jonasdottir, Chair, European Forum, The Netherlands; and Barb Whiting, International Member-At-Large will conduct the training in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

     Participants will receive a complete training packet and be encouraged to share the information with their chapters and state organizations.

     Congratulations to chapters and state organizations that are Sharing Our Vision ~ Strengthening Our Society!

Successful Conventions

Share your state convention news!

 

Society representatives, who serve as members of the international administrative board,  are enjoying opportunities to network with members at their state conventions. Below is a note from an excited state organization president. I would love to hear about your state convention!

 

"I was relieved that we were able to pass a small dues increase, approve our revised Bylaws, the budget, and elect our fine 2013-15 state officers. 

 

We also initiated a state honorary member and 15 chapter members. 

 

We proudly honored chapters that received our Gold Key award, reclaimed members,  met our membership challenge, and published outstanding newsletters. 

 

We also presented Achievement Awards to two very deserving members.  

 

 For the first time in many years, we had three rounds of workshops  that covered a variety of topics that were appropriate for both retired members and those still employed. 

 

We collected more than 6,000 books that will be donated to six children’s hospitals for their literacy programs. 

 

Our two A. Margaret Boyd recipients attended the convention and were a wonderful addition. 

 

We also awarded seven Esther H. Strickland student teaching grants of $1,000 each, and two of those young ladies joined us to accept the grants. 

 

As you can tell, it was a busy weekend with 412 members and nine guests in attendance, our highest attendance in a number of years. "

Expansion - Strengthening DKG State Organizations

The Expansion Committee under the leadership of Chair, Claudia Estrada, Guatemala, is addressing the strengthening of many of the 30  state organizations outside the United States. At a recent meeting in Austin, Texas, the site of the DKG Society Headquarters, decisions were made to use expansion funds to support the attendance of designated individuals from six state organizations outside the U.S. to specific DKG activities.

For more information contact Claudia Estrada at claudia.estrada@gmail.com

The International Expansion Committee members

from New York, Georgia, Guatemala, Texas and Iceland

at work in Austin.