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."

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!