SW Director Dr. Baethe Visits Omega State Colorado

Many plans were discussed, new acquaintances made, and old friendships embraced. Dr. Baethe met a representative group from the steering committee at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center with Dr. MaryAnn Roldan, and also had a meeting about speakers and program with state president Dr. Dorothy Snozek.

All members who came to Denver for the state board meeting enjoyed listening to Dr. Baethe's personable way of talking with the "team" about the upcoming SW Regional in Denver, June 27 to July 2, 2011. The international theme of president Dr. Jensi Souders, "Embracing the Vision, Designing Our Future," will also be the theme of the regional conference.

Captured in the first photo at the 2010 state board meeting are current SW Regional Director, Dr. Barbara Baethe, immediate past director, Kathy Flynn, and Joan Shoemaker, director 1996-1998. Colorado also has one other living director, Dorothy Dunlap, 1980-1982. Miss Dunlap has plans to attend the 2011 SW Regional.

Kick Off Fall with DKG Chapter Meetings/State Meetings

{Photos: 1) Dr. Barbara Baethe

2) Dr. Carolyn Rants

3) Dr. Dorothy Snozek, Susan Burnett, Kathy Flynn}

The students and teachers are back at school and the educational year is underway. Mu Chapter greeted 150 new teachers at the New Teacher Orientation where we had a booth with membership brochures, teacher tips, and a drawing for gift certificate from Borders Books. Several new teachers indicated an interest in learning more about Delta Kappa Gamma Key Women Educators.

Mu Chapter will hold its first chapter meeting at 4:00 pm on Thursday, September 9th, at 4:00 pm at the Longmont Library, Room B, with a 'Getting Reacquainted' social and a presentation by Elektra Greer, Longmont Children's Librarian. Chapter President, Cheryl Barnett will preside. Dues may be paid at this time and there will be a short business meeting. Kathy Flynn will share a brief summary of 2010 international convention happenings in Spokane, Washington. The Proposed Constitution passed with minor changes.

At state convention in June, 2010, Omega State and Mu Chapter hosted, Dr. Carolyn Rants, international president, as our guest. Mu Chapter earned and was awarded our sixth year in a row 4 Star Chapter Award for chapter excellence, participation and programs. State president, Dr. Dorothy Snozek and Star chapter Award Chair, Kathy Flynn, co-presented the awards; they are pictured here with Mu Chapter president, Susan Burnett (2008-2010).

The Colorado, Omega State Board Meeting will be held at the Stapleton Holiday Inn, Saturday, Sept. 18. 8:00-3:00. After attending the international planning meeting in Little Rock, Dr. Barbara Baethe, 2010-2012 SW Regional Director, will be present to plan for the 2011 SW Regional. If you'd like to attend, the registration form can be found on the Omega State Website. All of us will be needed to successfully host the 2011 SW Regional to be held at the Denver Tech Center Hyatt Regency Hotel, June 27-July 2, 2011.

Spokane: What a Wonderful 2010 Convention! Delta Kappa Gamma Key Women Educators

Spokane had everything a convention could want--great weather, interesting presenters, a well-run business/Constitution revision meeting, super workshops, great entertainment, and friends, friends--new ones, old ones, dear ones! Thank you to president, Dr. Carolyn Rants and Congratulations to new international President Dr. Jensi Souders and the new administrative board. Congratulations to Dr. Beverly Helms, International Achievement Award recipient and new 2nd V.P., and Alice Carrier, new first V.P. Congratulations and Congratulations to Dr. Barbara Baethe, new southwest regional director 2010-2012 ! Greetings to our 17th country, Panama, state president Yadira Ruiz, and Alpha chapter president Berniece Vallejos, and thanks to Jeannette Zuniga for all her work in helping establish the country of Panama as our newest member--and our 21st state organization in the southwest.
Thank you also to past president Dr. Barbara Day for her inspiration and visionary leadership.
Lastly, thank you to my mentor, Mary Lou Waitz, now from Washington state, who invited me to membership in 1990 in Longmont, Colorado. Thank you, Mary Lou, for giving the gift of membership. It was great to see you in Spokane!

Thanks for a Great Biennium! I've loved serving as SW Regional Director!

Convention in Spokane was memorable as was the seminar in Tacoma, "Where Art and Nature Meet." Thanks to the Ed. Foundation Team with Barbie Sharrard in charge of the seminar planning, it was a great experience with a Glass Museum, Art Museum, and Washington History Museum. The exhibits were excellent.

At the 2010 Convention for Delta Kappa Gamma Key Women Educators, members passed the revised Constitution which gives chapters more autonomy in asking educators to join our Society. Now, teachers in their first year of employment and retirees, no matter how long they've been retired, are both eligible for membership. The decision rests with the chapter. This expands the opportunities for DKG members to 'give the gift of membership.'

The Southwest region breakfast featured two speakers: Dr. Marine Avagyan, CA, spoke about her first regional conference in Reno and her first international convention. WOW was the theme of her speech! WOW on 4 counts according to Marine. #1--We are truly a global Society. She said, "I realized I needed to identify my state when people asked me where I was from--not just my city. #2 WOW because of the inspiration she received from dedicated leaders in the Society and "in whose shadow I am honored to flourish." #3 WOW was for the amazing organization of events at both international meetings and the scope of these events--professional speakers and workshops, and learning about all the Society committees. #4 Wow was the Constitutional Revision. Dr. Avagyan further commented, "My conclusion as a first timer is that DKG’s global reach and impact (17 countries), its powerful leadership, and tremendous service to the community and the field of education are unquestionably WOW-worthy. Nowhere do I feel the great pride and appreciation for being a women educator as I do when I am among my Delta Kappa Gamma sisters.Delta Kappa Gammans are the Women of Wonder. So in the style of Amanda Gore, I would like to add a visual honoring all of you, the phenomenal women of wonder – WOW!

Kathy Davis, OK, shared on change and 'Collaborative Connections.' Her emphasis was that change and progress will benefit DKG and our members, but only if we follow through on our commitment to our mission and work to promote Excellence in Education by helping our teachers in the schools. Continuing, visible support for our local educators is to be a focus of the chapters in the communities they serve. We would like to be known as the organization who helps teachers!

What a treasure we have in our musicians of the southwest. Terre McPheeters, MO; Berneil Drake, AZ; and now, Flor Perez, CR. Our music was fantastic! Of course, we sang "Hand in Hand" and "As We Leave This Place." Thank you to Hawaii for my beautiful rose head piece. It was lovely.

What a wonderful convention! Thank you to the Washington members and Dr. Rants' programming, this was a most memorable occasion. Lastly, thanks to an amazing administrative and executive board who showed courage to move our Society forward.

One If By Land and Two If By Sea: State Visit to Massachusetts Convention 2010

Dr. Anita Newman, state president, has as her biennium theme "From Vision to Action: Creating a Powerful Network" for the convention held in historic Plymouth, MA. What a wonderful experience meeting the members and sharing their passion for DKG. Activities centered around leadership training for the new chapter presidents, workshops on leadership, membership, and the arts, with wonderful music. Christine Bonci, executive secretary, was my host at the convention, and Anita was my tour guide for a day and a half following the meeting. Massachusetts members had much to celebrate as several chapters took in many new members. A highlight for me was a children's choir, under the direction of Marianne Oien, singing my song, "Hand in Hand." They were delightful! And they even wanted the composer's autograph ! Touring Plymouth and boarding the Mayflower, seeing the crowded quarters of the pilgrims, was an experience of stepping back into history. The 'first mate' looks a lot like my youngest son! Thank you to the members in Massachusetts for continuing the work of Delta Kappa Gamma !

Photos of New Mexico Military Institute

A side visit to the New Mexico Military Institute proved most interesting. I was able to attend a military review and inspection and was guided by a DKG member and a member of the faculty at NMMI, Natalie Stewart-Smith.

Dean of NMMI, Brigadier General Douglas Murray PhD (USAF ret.) and Natalie Stewart Smith, Assoc. Professor are pictured here. Founded in 1891 by Robert Goss, women were originally students carrying broomsticks instead of rifles! After a time - when their tuition was no longer needed to sustain the school, women were no longer admitted. In the early 1970's women were day students again - to help financially. In 1977 women were restored to the roster and since that time three women have been the top cadet, Regimental Commander of the Corps of Cadets. Women are 20 percent of the corps. (Information given by Natalie Stewart Smith. Thank you.)

State Convention Visits to New Mexico! Thank You!

Roswell, New Mexico, Alpha, Alpha Theta and Phi Chapters were wonderful hostesses! ‘Piecing the Past into the Future’ formed a quilt of fellowship! Several venues hosted the meetings of the New Mexico state convention. We met in a history museum, a church with state of the art technology, a modern art museum, a park for the Ceremony of Remembrance, and had a wonderful brunch in a member’s home. Workshops were varied and emphasized everything from technology, history, and student learning to Women Pilots in WWII.(WASPS). President Yvette Moore and members organized a fantastic conference! Thanks to Pat, Jana, Megan and Nancy for Thursday evening gathering and thanks to my driver/hostess Heidi for getting me where I needed to go! It was wonderful getting to know all of you! Please note the two generations of members with Jana and her mother-both active in their Alpha Chapter. Roswell is a great small city—a growing city—with wonderful and warm DKG folks ! How nice it was to see Carmen Tapia. It has been a long time! Before leaving, I also visited the UFO Museum! Most intriguing! On my return, I was a guest in Albuquerque of Dianna Valdez and Jeannette Vigil. Thank you to all my new-found friends and my dear ones I've known a long time for your wonderful hospitality.

Costa Rica State Convention Enrichment and Enjoyment! Gracias !

A Beautiful Place With Beautiful People! "My Second Home" as Ilse wrote in her lovely song. Flor de Maria Perez, state president, organized a wonderful convention, and she was ably assisted by the capable members from Costa Rica. Much fun and fellowship abounded! Jeannette Cartin's daughter hosted our Friday evening gathering high in the hills above San Jose. It was delightful. A visit to downtown San Jose was a highlight with a tour of the cathedral and national concert hall. I especially enjoyed touring two Costa Rican schools--St Thomas public and Lincoln private, and visiting Ana Isabel's library with Elizabeth and Maria Bujan as tour guides. Ana Isabel was our hostess for the day at the beach--what fun! Many thanks to my gracious and fantastic home hostess, Elizabeth Taylor. What a joy catching up and reminiscing as Golden Gift "Diamond Doll" sisters! Thank you Costa Rica!

How well known is DKG?

Who/What is DKG? Is our organization known in your community, in your schools? What have you as a chapter or state organization done to help publicize Delta Kappa Gamma Key Women Educators International and all the good work we do?

Is your chapter reaching out and getting involved in "Collaborative Connections"? Do you have a plan in place that connects your members with the schools? Would you like to share it on this blog?

Some suggestions. Ask your members who are retired when the last time was that they were in a school. It will surprise you to know that many members no longer visit and volunteer in schools. Some chapters have "Cookie delivery" projects and others frequently take supplies to schools, but most have little or no connection and this is sad. Chapters need a "Collaborative Connections" project with the schools in their community. We need to reach out to continue to "Make a Difference." Other chapters have a "Connect with a Teacher" project where the member introduces themselves with a note or letter or e-mail, sends along a gift card for coffee, or books, or school supplies, and keeps in periodic contact with that teacher the entire school year. Other chapters have "Volunteer Readers" for classrooms--scheduled and reliable.

Just because we retire, we don't have to disappear from our schools. WE need to continue to promote women educators and Excellence in Education.

Reflecting and Celebrating 80 years of DKG! We Make A Difference!

As we look back to one strong leader, Dr. Annie Webb Blanton, and 11 other women founders having the vision and the action for Delta Kappa Gamma in 1929 in Austin, Texas, we have great pride in our organization that has grown to over 100,000 members in 17 countries. "We Make A Difference!"














Our professionalism, scholarships, world fellowships, leadership training and stipends, outreach to our schools and communities, mentoring novice teachers, volunteerism, projects, and our commitment to our mission continues to "Make the Difference."
With continued commitment, DKG will impact education, bring in new members, and be that 'known entity' in our communities, that can be counted on to "Make the Difference." With this in mind, each of us, you and I, are an important part, the life-breath, the heartbeat of DKG. Each of us can renew our commitment, set new personal goals for involvement and be the ACTION that advances DKG. Let's 'Be all that we can Be," "Do all that we can Do," and be the spark that "Makes The Difference."