Listen to Leroy!

Leroy, the Leadership Guy

Margaret Church, North Carolina, is a faithful follower of our tweets, blogs, emails, newsletters, etc. She  submitted the following for posting on my blog.

"In my chapter, and as part of the state organization leadership committee, we provide leadership tips through a third person, Leroy, the Leadership Guy.  At our upcoming state convention, Leroy will be there with various sayings provided by members of the leadership committee.  On the back side of his sign will be a QR code that will take you to his website that has been created by chapter president, Sherry Willis.  The website address is www.leroytheleadershipguy.weebly.com 

 

He has some painted on clothes but also some clothes a member of my church made for him. Leroy will not only add some humor but his tips will make people stop and think   “I can’t do everything but I can do one thing.” 

 

We purchased the rights for this character from Shutterstock to ensure that we did not violate any copyright laws. I may post it 250,000 times with my license and I am happy to post it via your blog." 

Pat Taylor, North Carolina State Organization President, reported, "The impact of Leroy the Leadership Guy, a brainchild of our own Margaret Church and the Eta State Leadership Development Committee, has been creative and refreshing in helping members to take a look at the many facets of leadership through the eyes of "Leroy." The quotes and advice from this little guy have been shared in state and chapter newsletters as well in my presentations throughout the state.  Eta State is very proud of this positive and unique way the Eta State Leadership Development Committee has implemented to encourage the growth of state and local leaders."

Davis - Maintaining Viability

Dr. Vicki T. Davis

In the May/June 2014 issue of the DKG NEWS, I asked members to share their ideas as to the one thing they believe would make the most difference in our organization and maintain our viability into the next century. I have received numerous responses even though many members have not yet received their print copy. The responses will be the content of my last article as international president and the subject of many of my future blogs.

Below is the suggestion from Dr. Vicki Davis, Chair, International Golden Gift Fund Committee. She has held numerous offices at the chapter, state and international levels. She was the Texas State Organization President in 2009-2011. Recently, she was elected to a six year term on the Eunah Temple Holden Leadership Fund Committee.

 

 "The one thing that will make DKG viable in the 22^nd century is our ability to simplify our processes and procedures. Sometimes called voluntary simplicity, members will evaluate using data and prune with the heart. Adherence to this principle will re-shape the whole, accelerate new growth and cultivate opportunities to bloom perennially without denying our own patterns."

 

Touching lives for 100 years!

Nellie Rea Gordon, right, with Wanda Roe,
at the Southeast Regional Conference
 in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1985.
Wanda was outgoing and Nellie was
 the incoming state organization president.

     Anna Gordon Burns wrote the following about her mother, Nellie Rea Gordon, a current DKG member in Georgia, and a past state organization president in Arkansas.

 

     In finding two letters  from students of her mom, Burns shared,  "One letter was from a student in her Latin I and then Spanish I class in the mid 70s. She wrote that when asked to prepare a speech presenting an award in a post-secondary class, her speech presented “the Teacher of the Year Award at Prescott High School” to mother because of the impact she had on her life.   

     The second letter was from a former student-turned-fellow teacher who said, “You dear lady, have been a great inspiration to my life...As a fellow teacher, your acceptance of me as an equal was humbling, and your praise of me and your encouragement provided much needed confidence for some difficult times. Your enthusiasm for teaching and zest for life itself was always contagious. Speaking from my heart, whenever I hear the word, ‘teacher’ you come to my mind. You are one of the reasons I became a teacher.”

      In her 100 years Nellie Rea Gordon taught and touched numerous lives.  Both Nellie and her sister,  Addie Belle Sledge Harper, were teachers and members of DKG. Addie Belle served as Alabama state organization president (1973-1975), and in 1985, Nellie served Arkansas as its state organization president.

 

Nellie is now a member of Upsilon Chapter in Georgia, and celebrated her 100th birthday on May 18, 2014.

Human Trafficking Deplorable

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International supports the return of the Nigerian girls.

 

Education is extremely important. Human Trafficking is deplorable and criminal.

Russian educators join Estonia

DKG educators and guests at National Art Museum in Tallinn, Estonia.
From left, Valeria Bespalchaya, Russia, Janny Kisteman, The Netherlands,
Anu Ariste, President, DKG Estonia, Alla Lyutikova, Russia,
Marika Heimbach, Europe Regional Director,Germany,
Viktoria Bedareva, Russia, and Urve Laanemets, Estonia DKG Vice President.


      Prompted by Carol Hughes, Illinois, three educators from Novgorod, Russia were invited by Anu Ariste, state organization president of Estonia, to join the members from Estonia at the annual DKG state organization convention in Tallinn.

     One of the educators, Alla Lyutikova, wrote to Carol, and with enthusiasm and appreciation, described the opportunity to be involved  with the Delta Kappa Gamma Society Conference!  They learned much and met many "key women educators."  The members of Estonia made them feel "just at home."

    Alla Lyutikova wrote, " The Conference was a success! Of Course I'm not a judge but I enjoyed the company of amiable, clever professional educators! The Conference was so well-organized, so thoroughly thought through, interesting, informative, at times, entertaining. We enjoyed such a good care that we felt ourselves just at home!"

Member's son lauds chapter!

 Upsilon Chapter, New Mexico - making a positive impression.

Pauline Keene's son has read the DKG NEWS for a number of years, and for two reasons. One, his mother is a charter member of Upsilon Chapter of New Mexico state organization, and has always been extremely proud of her membership, and two, his mother was a first grade teacher who instilled in her children a voracious appetite for reading so he read almost everything he could get his hands on. His mother is 99 years old and suffers from severe dementia. 

In an email Robert stated, "I have received a much deeper appreciation of both her life and the members of Upsilon Chapter.  As she got older and less able to attend meetings, these ladies have continued to send cards, bring flowers and gifts, and provide some cheer on almost every holiday. It is very much appreciated.  Mom has reached a stage where she is no longer able to understand much, but a few things still bring a faint little smile to her face and one of them is when I mention DKG.

One of the things I like about Upsilon Chapter in New Mexico is that each year they provide mom with their notebook of activities, events, etc.  They make sure to communicate what is happening in the organization to every member, rather than making the only communication, that a member who can't attend the meetings receives each year, is their dues notice.  Every member is entitled to be informed, even if they don't attend regularly."

Ubiquitous Member loves DKG

Sammie Saulsbury,Chapter President
 Alpha Eta in Tyler Texas

     Sammie Saulsbury has  been a member of at least six DKG chapters. Shortly after having taught five years, Saulsbury was initiated into Zeta Kappa Chapter in Odessa, Texas.  Subsequent moves allowed her to enjoy membership in chapters in  Lubbock, Texas; Louisville, Kentucky;  two chapters in the Chicago, Illinois area; a chapter in Monroe, Louisiana; and now, her chapter, Alpha Eta, in Tyler, Texas.

     Sammie served as president in both chapters in Illinois, and in  Alpha Nu more than once.  She served on state committees and as a state officer in Illinois, and on several state organization committees in Louisiana.  She is currently chapter president of Alpha Eta in Texas.

     Saulsbury says, "What a blessing Delta Kappa Gamma has been for me!  One of the best things about the many moves that I made throughout my educational career was knowing that as soon as I relocated with my husband, job or no job, Delta Kappa Gamma chapters would contact me immediately.  The DKG love and friendships were assured."