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."

Welcome to Panama the 17th Country of DKG and the 21st State Organization of the Southwest Region

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International Mission Statement for Key Women Educators: To promote professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education.

On November 27, Panama was officially installed into DKG. Nineteen initiates joined that evening, and the state organization and Alpha Chapter, Panama, was chartered. What a heart-warming experience to see the new members eagerly join our wonderful organization of 107,000+ members in our 17 countries. The new initiates and officers are all accomplished educators, passionate about education, and ready to take another step forward by signing on to fulfill our mission statement. We celebrated with the initiation, installation and a celebratory banquet. It was a wonderful evening. International president Dr. Carolyn Rants, IA, Mary Lee Makinen, MD, chair of the expansion committee, Jeannette Zuniga, organizer from Costa Rica, Mury Palerm Ferri, Latin American representative from Jalisco, and Dr. Mary Cauley, SE expansion committee member, NC, officiated the ceremony. Costa Rica is the sponsoring state organization and they had eight members present in support: Vera Leiva (Beta), María Buján (Gamma),Ilse Leer (Beta), Rosaura Matarrita (Gamma) Flor de María Pérez (Gamma- State President) Miriam Solano (Gamma), María Teresa Pereira (Beta) and of course Jeannette Zúñiga (Beta). Also present from the states bringing gifts and support were: Dr. Barbara Day, Immediate Past International President, NC, Dr. Dolly Price and Marilyn Stalder-Burke, present and immediate past presidents of California DKG, Zobedia Acevedo, NY, formerly of Panama, and Kathy Flynn, SW Regional Director from Colorado.

Items given to the new state organization were: the new president's gavel from Mary Makinen's chapter in Maryland, small candlesticks from Illinois-Lambda State, large candlesticks and the table drape from Texas-Alpha State, and the brass flower bowl from Colorado-Omega State. The international organization and expansion committee provided the necessary documents, etc.

With open hearts, we welcome PANAMA as our 17th country! Congratulations!

October 27, 2009 Welcome to the Southwest Region Blog

Hello DKG Southwest and all DKG members,

May I invite all of you to share with each other on this blog. Since we are challenged to Activate Our Visions, please share some of the steps you have taken since returning from the southwest conference in Reno or other regional conferences. State organization presidents have now held at least one meeting with officers and committees, please share new actions that are being taken to promote the influence of DKG on education in our communities and states.

Since Reno, I have been answering questions on membership, helping connect some transfer members with new chapters, and completing 'wrap up tasks' for the regional conference.

I'm most excited about my trip to Panama for the installation of our 17th country into DKG. I leave for Panama City on November 24th. The installation is on November 27th. I'll have much to share upon my return.

Please feel free to connect through this blog and my e-mail as listed on the international web site. My continued best wishes for your efforts in making a difference in education.

In Delta Kappa Gamma service, Kathy