INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION

Delta Kappa Gamma International President (1998-2000) Evelyn Barron has written an interesting article in the Delta Kappa Gamma NEWS, "Resolve to Share the Gift of Membership". Since March is devoted to Membership Initiative, President Barron’s query : Why are you a member of Delta Kappa Gamma? seems appropriate. A condensed version of her article follows:

Why are you a member of Delta Kappa Gamma? Within your answers to this deceptively simple question lie the secrets to successfully reaching the goals of the Society’s Membership Initiative.

Answers to this question may vary at different points in your membership experience. The most basic answer to the question is this: Someone- another member of Delta Kappa Gamma- selected you to be invited to membership. As I visit chapter and state organizations throughout our Society, I always make the point that "Each of you is special." You were invited to membership because another member considered you to be a key woman educator, evidencing "a potential for distinctive service in any field of education."

Once you received this invitation, you had a decision to make- to accept or decline. What factors

influenced your decision to accept? Was it the fact that Delta Kappa Gamma is an international organization, a women’s organization, an honorary organization? Were you impressed with the Society’s Purposes? Did you already know and respect other Society members? Chances are that your decision to become a member was motivated by a combination of these factors.

Now, perhaps, some years later, why are you still a member? Is it because of the…

Here, too, the answers probably include a combination of these and other reasons. Your continuing membership testifies to your belief that membership in Delta Kappa Gamma is for you a beneficial experience, both personally and professionally.

In today’s world people tend not to be "joiners" unless they perceive there is a personal benefit to be gained. To be worthy of our time, an organization must appeal to our interests and use our talents and skills. The "personal touch" is important; careful mentoring of new members is a must. The highest rewards of Delta Kappa Gamma membership lie in involvement- in knowledge and understanding of the Society and participation in its programs and projects. Each new member brings new talents, new skills and perspectives. Seek support and nurture this diversity.

In this year of our Society’s 70th anniversary, let us each resolve to share the gift of membership with other deserving educators. Members, individually and collectively, will be enriched.

Delta Kappa Gamma NEWS January/February 1999

Visit the Society Web site at: http://www.deltakappagamma.org.