Janet's First Message
August 2017
September 2017
Dear Omega State Sisters,
This is the story of how President Pettit led Omega State change. President Pettit is a visionary, and in her wisdom she realized we needed new structures for Omega State to function effectively. So she created an Ad Hoc Committee on Committees--a name that makes me laugh because it conjures up the Grammar Rock song from my childhood. "I'm just a bill. I'm only a bill, and I'm sittin' here on Capitol Hill. . .I might DIE in COMMITTEE." That's what happens to a lot of great ideas in a Committee--they DIE.
As the Ad Hoc Committee met many times (fully alive!), we discussed ways to streamline communications, to arrange the Committees effectively for the tasks they were created to perform, to eliminate and combine and reorder. We laughed and fellowshipped and brainstormed, and what finally came out of all of that were the changes that International President Carolyn Pittman said she's shared with others--we have a bunch of new groups working together and we call them Teams.
What I love about the process is how so many people had input into making Omega State great! President Pettit knew something needed to be done. True Morgan, Shirley Organ, Dr. Norma Silvers, and Memory Lamfers began the discussion. I joined later. Joyce Best and her Team got in on it. You voted at Convention. And in the end, here's where we've landed for now.
1. We changed the word "Committee" to "Team."
Rationale: We hope to establish the idea that we're in it to win it, playing the game, out on the court, working with the team--instead of letting our good ideas die in Committee!
While we realize this is an emotionally-powered word change, one which coaches probably love!, I'm already feeling it because members just volunteered for Teams and some Teams formed themselves and informed me later!
2. The Omega State Award, the Star Chapter Award, and Scholarships were all united into one Team called Scholarships and Awards Team.
Rationale: They are all accolades members can receive. We realize some are about money, some aren't, and some come from State and some from International. But we tried to focus on what is similar about them--they all honor DKG members in some way.
As we process through these changes, I kept 2 co-Team Leaders on the Team just to be sure everybody gets awards and scholarships, but I reduced the number of team members from 12 to 6. Ruth Ann Bearden is co-Team Leader in charge of Omega State Award, Phyllis Sinclair is co-Team Leader in charge of Scholarships, Carol Drollinger is still in charge of Star Chapter Awards. Applications are online. What we're hoping happens is that each Team Member works on each award or scholarship as she has time and one member doesn't get stuck doing it all at the last minute. The co-chairs and team members are all very active and will do a great job!
3. The Expansion Team was moved under Membership.
Rationale: Membership takes care of members, and expanding adds members so it just makes sense to put them together because they're about members.
Juana Hajek has some great new ways to start a chapter so if you'd like to help, chat with her. You don't have to officially be on the Membership Team to help out. We're all one big Team anyway!
4. The World Fellowship Team was placed under Community and World Connections.
Rationale: Our rationale was that if you're going to "fellowship" with the world, you're making a "connection" so there's no need to repeat.
This is the story of how President Pettit led Omega State change. President Pettit is a visionary, and in her wisdom she realized we needed new structures for Omega State to function effectively. So she created an Ad Hoc Committee on Committees--a name that makes me laugh because it conjures up the Grammar Rock song from my childhood. "I'm just a bill. I'm only a bill, and I'm sittin' here on Capitol Hill. . .I might DIE in COMMITTEE." That's what happens to a lot of great ideas in a Committee--they DIE.
As the Ad Hoc Committee met many times (fully alive!), we discussed ways to streamline communications, to arrange the Committees effectively for the tasks they were created to perform, to eliminate and combine and reorder. We laughed and fellowshipped and brainstormed, and what finally came out of all of that were the changes that International President Carolyn Pittman said she's shared with others--we have a bunch of new groups working together and we call them Teams.
What I love about the process is how so many people had input into making Omega State great! President Pettit knew something needed to be done. True Morgan, Shirley Organ, Dr. Norma Silvers, and Memory Lamfers began the discussion. I joined later. Joyce Best and her Team got in on it. You voted at Convention. And in the end, here's where we've landed for now.
1. We changed the word "Committee" to "Team."
Rationale: We hope to establish the idea that we're in it to win it, playing the game, out on the court, working with the team--instead of letting our good ideas die in Committee!
While we realize this is an emotionally-powered word change, one which coaches probably love!, I'm already feeling it because members just volunteered for Teams and some Teams formed themselves and informed me later!
2. The Omega State Award, the Star Chapter Award, and Scholarships were all united into one Team called Scholarships and Awards Team.
Rationale: They are all accolades members can receive. We realize some are about money, some aren't, and some come from State and some from International. But we tried to focus on what is similar about them--they all honor DKG members in some way.
As we process through these changes, I kept 2 co-Team Leaders on the Team just to be sure everybody gets awards and scholarships, but I reduced the number of team members from 12 to 6. Ruth Ann Bearden is co-Team Leader in charge of Omega State Award, Phyllis Sinclair is co-Team Leader in charge of Scholarships, Carol Drollinger is still in charge of Star Chapter Awards. Applications are online. What we're hoping happens is that each Team Member works on each award or scholarship as she has time and one member doesn't get stuck doing it all at the last minute. The co-chairs and team members are all very active and will do a great job!
3. The Expansion Team was moved under Membership.
Rationale: Membership takes care of members, and expanding adds members so it just makes sense to put them together because they're about members.
Juana Hajek has some great new ways to start a chapter so if you'd like to help, chat with her. You don't have to officially be on the Membership Team to help out. We're all one big Team anyway!
4. The World Fellowship Team was placed under Community and World Connections.
Rationale: Our rationale was that if you're going to "fellowship" with the world, you're making a "connection" so there's no need to repeat.
October 2017
Dear Omega State,
Right after I'd signed my contract to teach at Lewisville High School, I was standing in line at Subway in McKinney, TX where I lived when I heard the customers talking about the big game. "Get everybody to come tonight," they said. "We're playing Lewisville, and you know they always travel with their people." Before I'd even joined the staff, I knew LHS was amazing because people were talking about it thirty miles away!
In addition to the busloads of fans who still chant at every game, there's the mascot Big John, a large-headed farmer in overalls holding a pitchfork who leads the Fighting Farmers to victories across the state. The Farmers are as united when they lose as when they win so it's no wonder they'd invited me to join the retired teachers of Lewisville when I'm states away, and it pained me to dismiss the invitation. Once a Farmer, always a Farmer. I love these people and the spirit of unity, but I declined the invitation because A) I'm not retired and B) I'm not in Texas.
I tell you this to invite you to think about why you join an organization. Think about why you joined DKG. Then, let's use my two reasons for NOT joining to understand what will inspire others TO JOIN Omega State!
First, the Lewisville invitation is for retired teachers. I'm still teaching some semesters so why would I want to join a bunch of women whose professional status is different from mine? For those of us who are no longer in the classroom, this means we must find ways to bridge the divide between working and retired educators. We can build this bridge by focusing on the 7 Purposes that unite all working and retired women educators. Take a look at the list. There's probably one or two that attracted you when you first joined, and there's probably one or two that made you stay.
Several Past State Presidents have said that purpose #2 drew them in. They joined DKG because it was an honor to be chosen. I joined for the honor too, but over the years, my personal favorite has become #1. Though some purposes have changed since Annie Web Blanton and her troupe of educators conceived them in 1929, # 1 has remained the same. Like all people, I long for genuine spiritual fellowship. I'm delighted when I find it with anyone, and especially delighted by the connections I've made in DKG.
Please don't just skip that list. Thoughtfully consider which purpose made you join, which made you stay, which you'd like to grow in. Then why not visit a classroom or two, see the school nurse, hang out in the lounge and talk about our purposes. Share the one that touches you most and ask potential members which one calls their names. In a week or two, send them a chatty email or card about what they said. Try again in a month and invite them to join us.
The second reason I'm not joining LHS retired teachers is that I'm not in Texas, and many working educators are simply too tired to drive to a DKG meeting after a long day of school. We can solve this distance issue at Chapter levels by thinking in creative ways. Why not hold a meeting in a member's classroom right after school? That location makes it easy for her since she's already there, and she can invite others from her school from down the hall. When you tote in snacks, teachers will come. Consider other ways you can go to potential members instead of asking them to rush to a new location. Then share your new ideas with all of us.
In closing, I'd like to say that I heard that LHS description, they travel with their people, at least 20 years ago. But it stuck with me. What kind of organization travels with their people? What inspires them, unites them, moves them to all go together? And what is worth traveling for? I say, new Omega State Members.
Journey on.
Janet
Right after I'd signed my contract to teach at Lewisville High School, I was standing in line at Subway in McKinney, TX where I lived when I heard the customers talking about the big game. "Get everybody to come tonight," they said. "We're playing Lewisville, and you know they always travel with their people." Before I'd even joined the staff, I knew LHS was amazing because people were talking about it thirty miles away!
In addition to the busloads of fans who still chant at every game, there's the mascot Big John, a large-headed farmer in overalls holding a pitchfork who leads the Fighting Farmers to victories across the state. The Farmers are as united when they lose as when they win so it's no wonder they'd invited me to join the retired teachers of Lewisville when I'm states away, and it pained me to dismiss the invitation. Once a Farmer, always a Farmer. I love these people and the spirit of unity, but I declined the invitation because A) I'm not retired and B) I'm not in Texas.
I tell you this to invite you to think about why you join an organization. Think about why you joined DKG. Then, let's use my two reasons for NOT joining to understand what will inspire others TO JOIN Omega State!
First, the Lewisville invitation is for retired teachers. I'm still teaching some semesters so why would I want to join a bunch of women whose professional status is different from mine? For those of us who are no longer in the classroom, this means we must find ways to bridge the divide between working and retired educators. We can build this bridge by focusing on the 7 Purposes that unite all working and retired women educators. Take a look at the list. There's probably one or two that attracted you when you first joined, and there's probably one or two that made you stay.
Several Past State Presidents have said that purpose #2 drew them in. They joined DKG because it was an honor to be chosen. I joined for the honor too, but over the years, my personal favorite has become #1. Though some purposes have changed since Annie Web Blanton and her troupe of educators conceived them in 1929, # 1 has remained the same. Like all people, I long for genuine spiritual fellowship. I'm delighted when I find it with anyone, and especially delighted by the connections I've made in DKG.
- To unite women educators of the world in a genuine spiritual fellowship
- To honor women who have given or who evidence a potential for distinctive service in any field of education
- To advance the professional interest and position of women in education
- To initiate, endorse and support desirable legislation or other suitable endeavors in the interests of education and of women educators
- To endow scholarships to aid outstanding women educators in pursuing graduate study and to grant fellowships to non-member women educators
- To stimulate the personal and professional growth of members and to encourage their participation in appropriate programs of action
- To inform the members of current economic, social, political and educational issues so that they may participate effectively in a world society
Please don't just skip that list. Thoughtfully consider which purpose made you join, which made you stay, which you'd like to grow in. Then why not visit a classroom or two, see the school nurse, hang out in the lounge and talk about our purposes. Share the one that touches you most and ask potential members which one calls their names. In a week or two, send them a chatty email or card about what they said. Try again in a month and invite them to join us.
The second reason I'm not joining LHS retired teachers is that I'm not in Texas, and many working educators are simply too tired to drive to a DKG meeting after a long day of school. We can solve this distance issue at Chapter levels by thinking in creative ways. Why not hold a meeting in a member's classroom right after school? That location makes it easy for her since she's already there, and she can invite others from her school from down the hall. When you tote in snacks, teachers will come. Consider other ways you can go to potential members instead of asking them to rush to a new location. Then share your new ideas with all of us.
In closing, I'd like to say that I heard that LHS description, they travel with their people, at least 20 years ago. But it stuck with me. What kind of organization travels with their people? What inspires them, unites them, moves them to all go together? And what is worth traveling for? I say, new Omega State Members.
Journey on.
Janet
November 2017
When I asked Past State President Dr. Sue Pettit for her best tips on leadership, she said, "A real leader doesn't do all the work herself. Instead, she empowers others to do the work." I thought about that a lot--about what it means to "empower" others as leaders. It's something more than just giving others the opportunities to lead. It's something more than just praising them when they do a good job or giving them tips on what to do. I've learned a lot about empowerment from watching other Omega State leaders and considering exactly what it is you do to "empower leaders." Here are a few of the empowerment tools I've noticed.
At the State Fall Board Meeting, Past State President Beth Barzdukas had each member on the Membership Team present a different tab on the International website. From the stage, I could see the paper where she had listed each member's part. Maybe she assigned the parts, maybe the members each chose, but either way, Beth involved every single member. Juana Hajek is on the Membership Team as well, yet Beth gave Juana the freedom to present individually on expansion. That's part of empowerment too--allowing each member to participate at her own level. Sometimes that means gathering the info and handing it to her. Sometimes it means leaving her to her own devices to create.
Juana also modeled empowerment by beginning her presentations with questions to get the audience on it with her. To start her inspiration, Juana asked, "Have you ever felt like quitting?" With one simple question, she had me. Then, later, in her expansion presentation, she had us all raise our hands indicating where our Chapters are. By using questions to invite our participation, Juana empowered us to think about her topics and join in. As leaders and presenters, we can empower those we are growing as leaders by asking provocative questions that allow the growing leaders to come up with their own answers.
Heidi Ragsdale also modeled empowerment with her two interactive map activities. After we had stood delightedly barefoot on the map and coned it, she gave us opened-ended questions about what we noticed. This specific type of open-ended questions empowers students (and teachers, and DKGers alike!) to be the experts, to find our own voices, to draw our own conclusions. Once we engage in determining insights, we are more empowered to act upon those of ourselves and our sisters. Next, Heidi modeled how to put our Chapters on the map by posting a photo. Much like Beth showed us where to find information, Heidi showed us what to do with it. This act of showing, not telling or doing, but showing someone how to is a great way to empower leaders.
Past Personal and Professional Pride Chair, Linda Pitts also modeled a method of empowerment which I am trying to emulate. As leader of a Committee that had no direction from State or International documents, Linda collected information and created a notebook which offered the next Team Leader a place to start. As State President, I am keeping a record of what I do when, complete with some tips about some of the processes I've used to complete tasks. I'm not talking about the Chapter President's calendar--which is a great help in telling us what to do. I'm trying to include how to do it. No one expects the next leader to do things exactly the way the previous one did, but having a how to manual gives the new leader a place to start.
Think about how leaders you know empower other leaders to grow into leadership positions. Then think about how you can empower others to lead at Chapter, State, and even International levels of DKG. Take a moment to read the monthly Leadership Tips from Dr. Trish on this website. Think about my Omega State goal: We're growing leaders; We're growing as leaders. Join conversations about how we're growing in our leadership and how we're growing others. Thank you all for modeling leadership styles and helping me grow!
Janet
At the State Fall Board Meeting, Past State President Beth Barzdukas had each member on the Membership Team present a different tab on the International website. From the stage, I could see the paper where she had listed each member's part. Maybe she assigned the parts, maybe the members each chose, but either way, Beth involved every single member. Juana Hajek is on the Membership Team as well, yet Beth gave Juana the freedom to present individually on expansion. That's part of empowerment too--allowing each member to participate at her own level. Sometimes that means gathering the info and handing it to her. Sometimes it means leaving her to her own devices to create.
Juana also modeled empowerment by beginning her presentations with questions to get the audience on it with her. To start her inspiration, Juana asked, "Have you ever felt like quitting?" With one simple question, she had me. Then, later, in her expansion presentation, she had us all raise our hands indicating where our Chapters are. By using questions to invite our participation, Juana empowered us to think about her topics and join in. As leaders and presenters, we can empower those we are growing as leaders by asking provocative questions that allow the growing leaders to come up with their own answers.
Heidi Ragsdale also modeled empowerment with her two interactive map activities. After we had stood delightedly barefoot on the map and coned it, she gave us opened-ended questions about what we noticed. This specific type of open-ended questions empowers students (and teachers, and DKGers alike!) to be the experts, to find our own voices, to draw our own conclusions. Once we engage in determining insights, we are more empowered to act upon those of ourselves and our sisters. Next, Heidi modeled how to put our Chapters on the map by posting a photo. Much like Beth showed us where to find information, Heidi showed us what to do with it. This act of showing, not telling or doing, but showing someone how to is a great way to empower leaders.
Past Personal and Professional Pride Chair, Linda Pitts also modeled a method of empowerment which I am trying to emulate. As leader of a Committee that had no direction from State or International documents, Linda collected information and created a notebook which offered the next Team Leader a place to start. As State President, I am keeping a record of what I do when, complete with some tips about some of the processes I've used to complete tasks. I'm not talking about the Chapter President's calendar--which is a great help in telling us what to do. I'm trying to include how to do it. No one expects the next leader to do things exactly the way the previous one did, but having a how to manual gives the new leader a place to start.
Think about how leaders you know empower other leaders to grow into leadership positions. Then think about how you can empower others to lead at Chapter, State, and even International levels of DKG. Take a moment to read the monthly Leadership Tips from Dr. Trish on this website. Think about my Omega State goal: We're growing leaders; We're growing as leaders. Join conversations about how we're growing in our leadership and how we're growing others. Thank you all for modeling leadership styles and helping me grow!
Janet
December 2017
Dear Omega State,
Imagine what it will be like if four members of your Chapter want to be Chapter President! Each will present why she'd be a good leader and share her dreams and goals for the Chapter. You'll have big discussions of what you want in a leader and new directions your Chapter wants to go in. Then together the Chapter will determine the best leadership positions for each of the four. Of course, you'll do a lot of talking because since four members want to be Chapter President, four others will want to be Secretary and four others will want to lead the Community and World Connections Team, and four others will want to be. . .Imagine.
It's kind of obvious that in order to inspire a host of members to clamor for leadership positions, we must learn how to grow leaders. My second State goal--We're growing leaders; we're growing AS leaders--invites us to do two things--be active in growing ourselves while taking an active role in developing the leadership skills of others.
Growing leaders requires more than just telling someone what to do. It involves mindful, intentional efforts to discover our own skills as we laud and embrace the skills of those around us. Here are some of the ways I'm learning to lead and inviting others to learn with me.
In planning a meeting, we often ask: What are we going to do? How will we do it? But as I'm learning to lead, I've found that I must step back and first determine: What is the purpose of this meeting?
I learned a bit about this from our centerpieces for the Fall Board Meeting. My purpose was to get rid of some old baskets, have something pretty on the tables, and have every table look alike.
Leila's purpose taught me much that centerpieces could be much more! First, she invited her chapter members to create them with her. That's including and inspiring others. Second, she got members to give her tips on methods for spraying the wreaths. That's using the expertise of others. Third, she went to an older member and found what skill she could do. That's caring for older members, including, and using expertise of others. Fourth, she made 66 bags of individual items to take home with instructions on how to make your own. Thus, she reminded me that the purpose of centerpieces can be more than decorating the tables uniformly or showing off a talent, but rather it can be teaching others how to create as well.
From Lelia's modeling, I have grown as a leader. Here's a simple list of what she taught me.
1. Include other members in the creation. This means giving up your control. This takes time.
2. Use the expertise of others. This means being willing to ask questions when you don't know.
3. Inspire others as you do the project together. This means praising, thanking, and leading hope.
3. Be sure to care for older members and use their skills. This takes time and effort to include them.
4. Use every opportunity to teach others how to do what you're doing. This means you have to determine the process, write out the process and things you learned along the way, and find a way to disseminate the info to everyone.
I invite you to do two things. First, plan, lead, and attend your next meeting mindfully. Ask yourself what the purpose of your meeting is and then lead the meeting with that purpose in mind. Of course, the Chapter President can do this, but each members can too by asking why she's attending the meeting. If you're willing, tell us how it was different from a meeting where you just DO things.
Second, examine your leadership style. What do you do well? Then I invite you to think of other leaders. What do they do well? Pick a couple of skills somebody else has and try them out in your next meeting at your Chapter. If you want to grow with us, let us know what you've observed and how it goes with you trying out those skills.
Leila has taught me to reconsider the purpose of the centerpieces. In the evaluations, many people said they would take home Leila's instructions and use with their Chapter immediately. From Leila's modeling, I am going to draft instructions and provide materials to create the next centerpieces, leaving leeway to create like I did this last time. I've already got volunteers excited to make them!
If you want to make one or two, let me know!
Happy learning in your leadership style!
Janet
Imagine what it will be like if four members of your Chapter want to be Chapter President! Each will present why she'd be a good leader and share her dreams and goals for the Chapter. You'll have big discussions of what you want in a leader and new directions your Chapter wants to go in. Then together the Chapter will determine the best leadership positions for each of the four. Of course, you'll do a lot of talking because since four members want to be Chapter President, four others will want to be Secretary and four others will want to lead the Community and World Connections Team, and four others will want to be. . .Imagine.
It's kind of obvious that in order to inspire a host of members to clamor for leadership positions, we must learn how to grow leaders. My second State goal--We're growing leaders; we're growing AS leaders--invites us to do two things--be active in growing ourselves while taking an active role in developing the leadership skills of others.
Growing leaders requires more than just telling someone what to do. It involves mindful, intentional efforts to discover our own skills as we laud and embrace the skills of those around us. Here are some of the ways I'm learning to lead and inviting others to learn with me.
In planning a meeting, we often ask: What are we going to do? How will we do it? But as I'm learning to lead, I've found that I must step back and first determine: What is the purpose of this meeting?
I learned a bit about this from our centerpieces for the Fall Board Meeting. My purpose was to get rid of some old baskets, have something pretty on the tables, and have every table look alike.
Leila's purpose taught me much that centerpieces could be much more! First, she invited her chapter members to create them with her. That's including and inspiring others. Second, she got members to give her tips on methods for spraying the wreaths. That's using the expertise of others. Third, she went to an older member and found what skill she could do. That's caring for older members, including, and using expertise of others. Fourth, she made 66 bags of individual items to take home with instructions on how to make your own. Thus, she reminded me that the purpose of centerpieces can be more than decorating the tables uniformly or showing off a talent, but rather it can be teaching others how to create as well.
From Lelia's modeling, I have grown as a leader. Here's a simple list of what she taught me.
1. Include other members in the creation. This means giving up your control. This takes time.
2. Use the expertise of others. This means being willing to ask questions when you don't know.
3. Inspire others as you do the project together. This means praising, thanking, and leading hope.
3. Be sure to care for older members and use their skills. This takes time and effort to include them.
4. Use every opportunity to teach others how to do what you're doing. This means you have to determine the process, write out the process and things you learned along the way, and find a way to disseminate the info to everyone.
I invite you to do two things. First, plan, lead, and attend your next meeting mindfully. Ask yourself what the purpose of your meeting is and then lead the meeting with that purpose in mind. Of course, the Chapter President can do this, but each members can too by asking why she's attending the meeting. If you're willing, tell us how it was different from a meeting where you just DO things.
Second, examine your leadership style. What do you do well? Then I invite you to think of other leaders. What do they do well? Pick a couple of skills somebody else has and try them out in your next meeting at your Chapter. If you want to grow with us, let us know what you've observed and how it goes with you trying out those skills.
Leila has taught me to reconsider the purpose of the centerpieces. In the evaluations, many people said they would take home Leila's instructions and use with their Chapter immediately. From Leila's modeling, I am going to draft instructions and provide materials to create the next centerpieces, leaving leeway to create like I did this last time. I've already got volunteers excited to make them!
If you want to make one or two, let me know!
Happy learning in your leadership style!
Janet
January 2018
Dear Omega State,
In this holiday season, we spend a lot of time with family, and I was thinking about how communication happens within groups. We talk to those who live with us every day, and we talk to students in our classrooms every day. We talk to friends at church or other groups once a week, and we talk to our Chapters once a month. But what goes on in between time? Do we think about our Chapter sisters or our State Teams? Do we meet one on one with some of them? Do we call those who couldn't come just to say hello? Or do we simply forget about them until the next month?
How we communicate and how often we communicate depends on our purposes for communicating. Research shows that for communication to be effective, it has to be regular, often, and repeated. It wasn't that way 1936 when Omega State was organized, and it certainly wasn't that way when I was growing up. When I was told to do something, I just did it the first time. When I agreed to do something, I just did it immediately.
But as our values have changed, so have our styles of communication. At 90, my father can't remember lots of things so I patiently remind him. And we need this kind of repeated, patient reminders with each other too because though we're not all octogenarians, we're all busy. We forget. We live in a world of instant, frequent communication--text, snapchat, and millions of other tools, we're so busy we need to be reminded, and we've got the technology to do it. We just need the practice.
President Pettit and President Barzdukas built momentum for us to communicate effectively. They helped us use email and Go To Meeting, and created and re-created our website to communicate more often and spread our leadership ideas quickly across the state. Now we're even looking at technologies to form online Chapters, and International has piloted a new handy app for iPhones that allows quick easy access to dkg.org.
Omega Peaks grew in methods of distribution and numbers of publications per year. Editor and Webmaster, Nancy Scofield emails a copy to Chapter Presidents who email it out to members and make copies for members who prefer hard copies. Nancy also posts The Peaks on dkgcolorado.weebly.com where members can access it online at home or at the public library. Some of our members even get their grandkids to show it to them on mobile devices such as iPhones and iPads. It's now easier and quicker than ever to share our great ideas!
I've invited State Teams to share tips with Chapter Representatives each month, and Dr. Patricia Champion of the Leadership Development Team has begun sending out emails and posting tips dkgcolorado.weebly.com. My second State Goal is We're growing leaders; we're growing as leaders, and I hope you can use Trish's tips to grow as leaders within your Chapters. In addition, look for the Pre-Conference Leadership Training that will be announced on our website soon!
I'm asking each of you to think about how you communicate with other DKG members--how often, how positively, how patiently you remind your sisters, and I'm challenging you to enter 2018 with a new plan for staying in touch on a regular basis. Whom have you not seen lately? Whom should you call, email, or write a praise note to?
We're all busy, but it only takes a moment to wish you a truly Happy New Year in 2018!
Janet
In this holiday season, we spend a lot of time with family, and I was thinking about how communication happens within groups. We talk to those who live with us every day, and we talk to students in our classrooms every day. We talk to friends at church or other groups once a week, and we talk to our Chapters once a month. But what goes on in between time? Do we think about our Chapter sisters or our State Teams? Do we meet one on one with some of them? Do we call those who couldn't come just to say hello? Or do we simply forget about them until the next month?
How we communicate and how often we communicate depends on our purposes for communicating. Research shows that for communication to be effective, it has to be regular, often, and repeated. It wasn't that way 1936 when Omega State was organized, and it certainly wasn't that way when I was growing up. When I was told to do something, I just did it the first time. When I agreed to do something, I just did it immediately.
But as our values have changed, so have our styles of communication. At 90, my father can't remember lots of things so I patiently remind him. And we need this kind of repeated, patient reminders with each other too because though we're not all octogenarians, we're all busy. We forget. We live in a world of instant, frequent communication--text, snapchat, and millions of other tools, we're so busy we need to be reminded, and we've got the technology to do it. We just need the practice.
President Pettit and President Barzdukas built momentum for us to communicate effectively. They helped us use email and Go To Meeting, and created and re-created our website to communicate more often and spread our leadership ideas quickly across the state. Now we're even looking at technologies to form online Chapters, and International has piloted a new handy app for iPhones that allows quick easy access to dkg.org.
Omega Peaks grew in methods of distribution and numbers of publications per year. Editor and Webmaster, Nancy Scofield emails a copy to Chapter Presidents who email it out to members and make copies for members who prefer hard copies. Nancy also posts The Peaks on dkgcolorado.weebly.com where members can access it online at home or at the public library. Some of our members even get their grandkids to show it to them on mobile devices such as iPhones and iPads. It's now easier and quicker than ever to share our great ideas!
I've invited State Teams to share tips with Chapter Representatives each month, and Dr. Patricia Champion of the Leadership Development Team has begun sending out emails and posting tips dkgcolorado.weebly.com. My second State Goal is We're growing leaders; we're growing as leaders, and I hope you can use Trish's tips to grow as leaders within your Chapters. In addition, look for the Pre-Conference Leadership Training that will be announced on our website soon!
I'm asking each of you to think about how you communicate with other DKG members--how often, how positively, how patiently you remind your sisters, and I'm challenging you to enter 2018 with a new plan for staying in touch on a regular basis. Whom have you not seen lately? Whom should you call, email, or write a praise note to?
We're all busy, but it only takes a moment to wish you a truly Happy New Year in 2018!
Janet
March 2018
Dear Omega State,
One week in February, I had the pleasure of visiting three chapters, and seeing them consecutively was an excellent way to highlight the unique strengths of each. Here I'll share with you a small part of the joy I experienced, and I'm inviting you to bring your favorite project or program to share at the March 17 Board Meeting. With this sharing, we can all grow together!
First, I visited Mu Chapter's co-meeting with AAUW in Longmont. Mu's co-meeting models a way for chapters to join forces with other educational groups in your own communities. Think about your own community. What other groups in your area are working to create excellence in education? How can you partner with other groups for a meeting? Could you invite new chapter members from that other group as well?
Mu Chapter President, Susan Burnett, arranged an amazing panel discussion on Mental Health in Our Community. The program gave me a wonderful set of resources, and I am so grateful to see such powerful programs in our chapters! One panel member was a high school counselor who directly teaches mindfulness strategies to 9th grade students to help them take charge of their own feelings. Another panel member coordinates Longmont's Supporting Action for Mental Health which engages the community to remove the stigma of mental health needs; you can request their free Conversation Guide for a chapter or community discussion from bit.ly/supportingactionformentalhealth. The guide is very informative and easy to use. It includes conversations starters like: When a community is at its best in supporting members who are struggling with mental health issues, what does it look like? What is your vision for our community in the future? I also like their handout with three levels of crisis and local numbers to call for help, and there's more information at http://letstalkco.org/. Wouldn't it be amazing for Omega State chapters to use these 3 Situation levels to develop local resources for our own communities and make great strides in meeting mental health needs all across Colorado?
Next, I visited Kappa Chapter in Johnstown. I had already been delighted with Kappa Chapter President Robin Denman when we worked on the 2017 State Convention, but when I arrived at Judy's house, I didn't know a single person in the room. Each member introduced herself, chatted about reading and sewing hobbies and asked me about mine (I write and paint watercolors), and then we sat together eating homemade corn chowder and minestrone soup and other culinary delights.
The program on salmon fishing in Alaska was lots of fun, and the business meeting included Kappa's tradition to donate a dollar to World Fellowship and have a drawing for a gift that a member has brought from her travels. This process raises money and lets a member share details of her trip as she gives to another member--so it's a win/win/win. Since Sharon had won last time, she gave me the amazing dates from Yuma, the magnetic black stone necklace (I'm wearing), and the lovely pink stone swan which was her gift. There were so many beautiful creations and gifts to each other; each sister got a heart-shaped fabric sachet, a can of salmon, and a beautiful handmade embossed card. Kappa's Spirit of Sisterhood leads us all--love your sisters, give to your sisters, share your talents. Think about these three things. How do you love your chapter sisters? What do you give to them? How do you share your talents at each meeting?
From Johnstown, I went to Sedgwick, way out near the Nebraska border, to visit Alpha Eta. One member said she lives right on the Colorado/Nebraska state line! Co-presidents Pam Green and Karen Lechman continue growing the chapter, and even this meeting had two new initiates. As a dozen of us sat around Pam's table (covered in the most beautiful crocheted tablecloth I have ever seen), she said she wanted her chapter to feel like family. Young teachers spoke about how they loved being in the chapter with the older teachers who had mentored them, making me realize that family atmosphere is exactly the kind of chapter Pam and Karen have created!
Members gave me so many new ideas--using physical activity during classes to help student learning and behavior, painting an underwater self-portrait with something behind me and something in front, and choosing a word each January to guide my personal growth--Jeni's article in Omega Peaks details the process. From Alpha Eta's yearly theme "Going for the Gold" to the February meeting theme "Hearts of Gold," this chapter amazed me. My favorite thing was something they did so naturally they didn't even think about it. The chapter had presented an activity with felt hearts to a local nursing home. When the library needed an activity, Alpha Eta donated the extra felt hearts; thus, with one single activity, they had touched three parts of the community--the nursing home, the library, and the little children. That is exactly what Omega State does--welcomes everyone into our family and connects all parts of our community. Think about your chapter. Do you want to feel like family, like sisters? How do you connect to each other? To your community?
I would love to write about my visit to every single chapter, sharing all the grand ways we're promoting personal and professional growth of women educators and excellence in education! Seeing Mu, Kappa, and Alpha Eta in the same week gave me a distinct picture of how unique each of our Chapters is, how strong each is, and how we can share ideas to grow each other.
Thank you for the honor of joining you.
Janet
One week in February, I had the pleasure of visiting three chapters, and seeing them consecutively was an excellent way to highlight the unique strengths of each. Here I'll share with you a small part of the joy I experienced, and I'm inviting you to bring your favorite project or program to share at the March 17 Board Meeting. With this sharing, we can all grow together!
First, I visited Mu Chapter's co-meeting with AAUW in Longmont. Mu's co-meeting models a way for chapters to join forces with other educational groups in your own communities. Think about your own community. What other groups in your area are working to create excellence in education? How can you partner with other groups for a meeting? Could you invite new chapter members from that other group as well?
Mu Chapter President, Susan Burnett, arranged an amazing panel discussion on Mental Health in Our Community. The program gave me a wonderful set of resources, and I am so grateful to see such powerful programs in our chapters! One panel member was a high school counselor who directly teaches mindfulness strategies to 9th grade students to help them take charge of their own feelings. Another panel member coordinates Longmont's Supporting Action for Mental Health which engages the community to remove the stigma of mental health needs; you can request their free Conversation Guide for a chapter or community discussion from bit.ly/supportingactionformentalhealth. The guide is very informative and easy to use. It includes conversations starters like: When a community is at its best in supporting members who are struggling with mental health issues, what does it look like? What is your vision for our community in the future? I also like their handout with three levels of crisis and local numbers to call for help, and there's more information at http://letstalkco.org/. Wouldn't it be amazing for Omega State chapters to use these 3 Situation levels to develop local resources for our own communities and make great strides in meeting mental health needs all across Colorado?
Next, I visited Kappa Chapter in Johnstown. I had already been delighted with Kappa Chapter President Robin Denman when we worked on the 2017 State Convention, but when I arrived at Judy's house, I didn't know a single person in the room. Each member introduced herself, chatted about reading and sewing hobbies and asked me about mine (I write and paint watercolors), and then we sat together eating homemade corn chowder and minestrone soup and other culinary delights.
The program on salmon fishing in Alaska was lots of fun, and the business meeting included Kappa's tradition to donate a dollar to World Fellowship and have a drawing for a gift that a member has brought from her travels. This process raises money and lets a member share details of her trip as she gives to another member--so it's a win/win/win. Since Sharon had won last time, she gave me the amazing dates from Yuma, the magnetic black stone necklace (I'm wearing), and the lovely pink stone swan which was her gift. There were so many beautiful creations and gifts to each other; each sister got a heart-shaped fabric sachet, a can of salmon, and a beautiful handmade embossed card. Kappa's Spirit of Sisterhood leads us all--love your sisters, give to your sisters, share your talents. Think about these three things. How do you love your chapter sisters? What do you give to them? How do you share your talents at each meeting?
From Johnstown, I went to Sedgwick, way out near the Nebraska border, to visit Alpha Eta. One member said she lives right on the Colorado/Nebraska state line! Co-presidents Pam Green and Karen Lechman continue growing the chapter, and even this meeting had two new initiates. As a dozen of us sat around Pam's table (covered in the most beautiful crocheted tablecloth I have ever seen), she said she wanted her chapter to feel like family. Young teachers spoke about how they loved being in the chapter with the older teachers who had mentored them, making me realize that family atmosphere is exactly the kind of chapter Pam and Karen have created!
Members gave me so many new ideas--using physical activity during classes to help student learning and behavior, painting an underwater self-portrait with something behind me and something in front, and choosing a word each January to guide my personal growth--Jeni's article in Omega Peaks details the process. From Alpha Eta's yearly theme "Going for the Gold" to the February meeting theme "Hearts of Gold," this chapter amazed me. My favorite thing was something they did so naturally they didn't even think about it. The chapter had presented an activity with felt hearts to a local nursing home. When the library needed an activity, Alpha Eta donated the extra felt hearts; thus, with one single activity, they had touched three parts of the community--the nursing home, the library, and the little children. That is exactly what Omega State does--welcomes everyone into our family and connects all parts of our community. Think about your chapter. Do you want to feel like family, like sisters? How do you connect to each other? To your community?
I would love to write about my visit to every single chapter, sharing all the grand ways we're promoting personal and professional growth of women educators and excellence in education! Seeing Mu, Kappa, and Alpha Eta in the same week gave me a distinct picture of how unique each of our Chapters is, how strong each is, and how we can share ideas to grow each other.
Thank you for the honor of joining you.
Janet
April 2018
When my husband was a child, he did his homework at an antique secretary desk. The left side has a curved glass door that protects shelves of books, and the right side has a wide door that folded down to place his Big Chief tablet and fat red pencil on. During our thirty years of marriage, we have moved that desk from state to state and house to house, always being careful to lock the folding door shut to protect it for the move.
In our shortest move, just a block across the neighborhood, the movers lost the key to that desk, and it has remained locked despite my trying a myriad of antique keys we've inherited from family members. Some have three extensions on the key, some have two, some have none, some are skeleton keys supposed to open anything, but, alas, the desk remains locked and we have no idea what treasures we left inside. I tell you this to illustrate the importance of a key.
Take a moment and consider what it means to be key women educators. I could be a woman but not an educator. I could be an educator but not a woman. I could be a woman educator, but not a key woman educator. As a key woman educator, I hold the power to unlock a life-long love of learning, the hope of possibility, the joy of inspiration. Think back to lives of students you've changed. I know you can name a dozen, a hundred, or a thousand, and you've probably got notes and stories to prove it.
My point is, YOU are a KEY woman educator. You open doors, hearts, ideas, and hope. You open the treasures in your Chapter sisters. You can't help it because you're a key, and opening things is what you do!
The more I know about our Society, the more I marvel at the wisdom of our founder, Annie Webb Blanton. She carefully considered the name of our Society, making sure the Greek letters she chose to represent us said exactly what we are--key women educators!
We pronounce ∆ιδασκαοι—Didaskotikai as "Delta" which means teachers.
We pronounce Κλειδουχοι—Kleidouchai as "Kappa" which means key.
We pronounce Γυναικεz— Gynaikes as "Gamma" which means women.
Now you can no longer say, "It's all Greek to me," because you know that DKG literally means "key women educators!" And you know you're the key that opens the treasures in your Chapter sisters!
Happy opening,
Janet
In our shortest move, just a block across the neighborhood, the movers lost the key to that desk, and it has remained locked despite my trying a myriad of antique keys we've inherited from family members. Some have three extensions on the key, some have two, some have none, some are skeleton keys supposed to open anything, but, alas, the desk remains locked and we have no idea what treasures we left inside. I tell you this to illustrate the importance of a key.
Take a moment and consider what it means to be key women educators. I could be a woman but not an educator. I could be an educator but not a woman. I could be a woman educator, but not a key woman educator. As a key woman educator, I hold the power to unlock a life-long love of learning, the hope of possibility, the joy of inspiration. Think back to lives of students you've changed. I know you can name a dozen, a hundred, or a thousand, and you've probably got notes and stories to prove it.
My point is, YOU are a KEY woman educator. You open doors, hearts, ideas, and hope. You open the treasures in your Chapter sisters. You can't help it because you're a key, and opening things is what you do!
The more I know about our Society, the more I marvel at the wisdom of our founder, Annie Webb Blanton. She carefully considered the name of our Society, making sure the Greek letters she chose to represent us said exactly what we are--key women educators!
We pronounce ∆ιδασκαοι—Didaskotikai as "Delta" which means teachers.
We pronounce Κλειδουχοι—Kleidouchai as "Kappa" which means key.
We pronounce Γυναικεz— Gynaikes as "Gamma" which means women.
Now you can no longer say, "It's all Greek to me," because you know that DKG literally means "key women educators!" And you know you're the key that opens the treasures in your Chapter sisters!
Happy opening,
Janet
May 2018
Dear Omega State,
Recently, I had the opportunity to meet Daymond John, whom you may know as "The People's Shark" from Shark Tank. He was also the founder of a clothing company called "Fubu in the 1980s," and I think I've still got one of his jackets around somewhere!
Daymond outlined his talking points along "SHARK," and, of course, I couldn't help thinking how Omega State DKG members could use his ideas. "S" stands for "set a goal," and there was enough advice in this one letter alone to totally revitalize your chapter!
SET A GOAL
I've run out of room for "HARK," but if you're interested, I'll do a breakout session on his ideas later. They are so powerful that I'd like to share them.
Janet
Recently, I had the opportunity to meet Daymond John, whom you may know as "The People's Shark" from Shark Tank. He was also the founder of a clothing company called "Fubu in the 1980s," and I think I've still got one of his jackets around somewhere!
Daymond outlined his talking points along "SHARK," and, of course, I couldn't help thinking how Omega State DKG members could use his ideas. "S" stands for "set a goal," and there was enough advice in this one letter alone to totally revitalize your chapter!
SET A GOAL
- Don't let others set your goals for you. Think about your chapter. What do you want your chapter to be? To look like? To do?
- You become what you think about. Think about the possibilities for your chapter! That's how we started our biennium together so let's continue!
- 20% of your customers are 80% of your sales. When you invite 100 new members to your chapter, 20 may join. And those 20 can power 80% of your chapter needs! If only 1 person from a chapter of 20 spoke praise about your chapter every day, imagine how many members you would gain! Try it and see what happens!
- Assets feed you; liabilities eat you. Do some asset mapping. What's great about your chapter? Feed these things. Grow them.
- Activate the power of broke. Where is your chapter broken? How can you activate that break? Who can help you?
- Put your brand on everything. I put my biennium theme "Promoting Praise and Possibility" on my business cards, my stationary, my email signature, and some gifts for some of you in the future. In my recent acceptance speech for an award, I shared a story from DKG. How can you brand your chapter? Can you speak about the assets of your chapter in every single place you go?
- A "no" is an absolute "maybe." This made me laugh. At the Spring Board Meeting I asked someone to invite a chapter member to be a Team Leader next year. She said, "YOU ask her, Janet. You can convince anybody of anything." I had not convinced that member to be a Team Leader, but she was still pretty sure I could convince someone else! Here's the thing: we often need time to warm up to ideas and see how our talents match them. Ask again, just in case.
- Stalk investors. I have gathered 6 new members for chapters in the past two years because I invite, and praise, and stalk. I go out to lunch with them, I email them monthly, I invite them to present, I buy them coffee, I chat about DKG. If you try it, you'll get 6 new members too! Just be sure to nurture them once you get them.
- Always look to change. Daymond John created and lost businesses and then created more. He's always looking to the next big thing. What's your next big thing? Will you lead a State Team? Will you inspire your chapter? Will you be on the Omega State Executive Board? I don't know what my next big thing will be yet, but I'm looking forward to it, watching out for it, and embracing any possibility. Come on and join me!
I've run out of room for "HARK," but if you're interested, I'll do a breakout session on his ideas later. They are so powerful that I'd like to share them.
Janet
June 2018
Congrats to our new and returning Chapter Officers! Your vision and leadership style will guide your chapter through the next two years, and since June is Omega State Leadership Conference month, I've been thinking a lot about leadership. One member told me she'd heard on NPR, "Great leaders make great followers." That made me think about how our Omega State leaders step in wherever needed, leading or following. I thought about some leaders who do this kind of lead/follow pattern all the time. They work behind the scenes, doing things most members never even realize need doing, and then they step up to lead publicly.
Take, for example, Omega State Finance Team Chair, Ronda Collette. Unless you've been at one of the Finance Team meetings, you've probably not seen all her cool, on-the-spot math calculations as she leads her Team in creating a budget. Yet when it came time to share a breakout session at conference, Ronda chose to lead us in making eyelash leis--a skill she'd learned at the Southwest Regional Conference in Hawaii last year and one you can have fun with at Chapter meetings! I admire how Ronda quickly arrives at math sums in her head and then switches over to her right brain to create leis. She leads, she teaches, she does math, she crafts. That's the picture of a true leader!
Our Omega State First Vice President, Leila Koenig, is another leader who works from both sides of her brain. Behind the scenes, she worked to make beautiful toilet paper wreaths and ornaments for our Fall Board Meeting, and she creates beautiful cards and scrumptious jams throughout the year. I think of Leila as a creator, but then she switches on her teacher mode and brings us an emotional breakout session on resilience at the same conference where she heads up the logical progression of Chapter President Training. All the while, behind the scenes, she's organizing the Colorado contingent for the International Convention in Austin the very next month. She's another picture of a true leader; leading, following, organizing, creating!
Most of us know that our Omega State Corresponding Secretary, Memory Lamfers, takes copious notes at meetings by recording and then transcribing. And we've seen a bit of her other side when she leads us in yoga. But this conference showed us even more facets of Memory as she taught us the Making Choices curriculum and read us her recently published children's' book Yogi. Talk about modeling leadership in all dimensions!
Of course, there's Omega State Webmaster and Editor, Nancy Scofield who, with Beta Chapter President Pam Salas, her co-sponsor of the conference, traded in their left-brain leadership styles to create beautiful favors and baskets for us. And, there's Alpha Iota Chapter President, Cela Varosy, who quietly worked behind the scenes to create table decor for the Fall Board Meeting and certificates for conference but then publically gave us a breakout session on The Speed of Trust.
And then there's you and me. We lead; we follow. We use our right brains and then our left brains--sometimes both at the same time! I love this about DKG--how leading lets us grow personally and try new ways of thinking about leadership! I invite you to think of leaders in your chapter who lead well and follow well, who create and add and share their awesome leadership styles with you. And then I invite you to write about them. Photograph them. Share their stories on our website Travels, Toddlers, and Tidbits section and in Omega Peaks. I invite you to join me in celebrating those who model for us how to lead. . .and how to follow.
Janet
Take, for example, Omega State Finance Team Chair, Ronda Collette. Unless you've been at one of the Finance Team meetings, you've probably not seen all her cool, on-the-spot math calculations as she leads her Team in creating a budget. Yet when it came time to share a breakout session at conference, Ronda chose to lead us in making eyelash leis--a skill she'd learned at the Southwest Regional Conference in Hawaii last year and one you can have fun with at Chapter meetings! I admire how Ronda quickly arrives at math sums in her head and then switches over to her right brain to create leis. She leads, she teaches, she does math, she crafts. That's the picture of a true leader!
Our Omega State First Vice President, Leila Koenig, is another leader who works from both sides of her brain. Behind the scenes, she worked to make beautiful toilet paper wreaths and ornaments for our Fall Board Meeting, and she creates beautiful cards and scrumptious jams throughout the year. I think of Leila as a creator, but then she switches on her teacher mode and brings us an emotional breakout session on resilience at the same conference where she heads up the logical progression of Chapter President Training. All the while, behind the scenes, she's organizing the Colorado contingent for the International Convention in Austin the very next month. She's another picture of a true leader; leading, following, organizing, creating!
Most of us know that our Omega State Corresponding Secretary, Memory Lamfers, takes copious notes at meetings by recording and then transcribing. And we've seen a bit of her other side when she leads us in yoga. But this conference showed us even more facets of Memory as she taught us the Making Choices curriculum and read us her recently published children's' book Yogi. Talk about modeling leadership in all dimensions!
Of course, there's Omega State Webmaster and Editor, Nancy Scofield who, with Beta Chapter President Pam Salas, her co-sponsor of the conference, traded in their left-brain leadership styles to create beautiful favors and baskets for us. And, there's Alpha Iota Chapter President, Cela Varosy, who quietly worked behind the scenes to create table decor for the Fall Board Meeting and certificates for conference but then publically gave us a breakout session on The Speed of Trust.
And then there's you and me. We lead; we follow. We use our right brains and then our left brains--sometimes both at the same time! I love this about DKG--how leading lets us grow personally and try new ways of thinking about leadership! I invite you to think of leaders in your chapter who lead well and follow well, who create and add and share their awesome leadership styles with you. And then I invite you to write about them. Photograph them. Share their stories on our website Travels, Toddlers, and Tidbits section and in Omega Peaks. I invite you to join me in celebrating those who model for us how to lead. . .and how to follow.
Janet
July 2018
Dear Omega State,
I recently helped a Chapter contact members who hadn't been attending meetings. One lady returned my call and said, "Thank you for your phone call. I dropped my membership last year because my husband and I retired, and we're traveling. I hated to drop my membership, but I thought I'd better let you know." I invited her back to the chapter and told her she's always welcome to renew her membership. She sounded like she might actually consider it.
But I couldn't help wondering why this lady thought it was important to call me back when we had never met. Wouldn't most people who had dropped DKG membership just ignore my message instead of returning my call? What was so special about this woman that she called back? And why couldn't we make our chapters so valuable that she would choose to stay?
Obviously, this lady is the kind of DKGer we want in Omega State. She has a sense of duty and responsibility. DKGers do. She expressed thanks. DKGers do. She returned my call. DKGers do. She communicated her feelings. DKGers do. She made me feel appreciated. DKGers do. She was pleasant to talk with. DKGers are.
Her call got me thinking about how we work together, why we respond, and what makes it worth responding to someone, and I remembered something that happened over 20 years ago when I was teaching in a high school where each class had over 1000 students.
There was no way I could get to know 150 students in 40 minutes a day, and it was really easy to be a faceless, nameless person in the midst of 3000 others. So I made up my mind to do two things. First, I decided I would always stop whatever I was doing to listen to a student who came to my room during my conference or lunch period and before or after school. I put students first. And second, I offered to go to one activity each student was involved in during the year. Listening and sharing seem like obvious ways of caring, but the students were delighted
I told them I would grade no papers on Thursday nights because it was date night, and they decided to combine my visits to their events with my date night with my husband. I'd find myself stopping by a pet store to see Antonio before I went to dinner where Alfonzo was a waiter. I went to bike stores, the Missouri rabbit breeders association judging, dance and piano recitals, soccer-football-basketball-baseball-hockey games, and a host of other events. I made time for those 150 students because they needed me to, and I made time for Mike because he needed me too.
The following year, I got a letter from one of the quiet students who had been in my classroom. She'd made an A, but she'd never invited me to one of her events. She said, "Thank you for being so kind. In this big school, it's easy to get lost. I never needed anything special last year, and I don't now either. I just wanted to tell you that when I see you smile at me in the hallway full of students and say, 'Hi, Tanya,' I know that if I ever did need anything, I could come to you. Thank you for knowing my name."
My point is this. No matter how busy we get, we always make time for the things we really value. What can we do to make each DKG meeting so valuable members must attend? Maybe it's just calling someone who hasn't been there in awhile and inviting her back. How can we build relationships that bind us so closely together that we wouldn't dream of giving each other up? Sometimes, all it takes is making time to listen and knowing someone's name.
Janet
I recently helped a Chapter contact members who hadn't been attending meetings. One lady returned my call and said, "Thank you for your phone call. I dropped my membership last year because my husband and I retired, and we're traveling. I hated to drop my membership, but I thought I'd better let you know." I invited her back to the chapter and told her she's always welcome to renew her membership. She sounded like she might actually consider it.
But I couldn't help wondering why this lady thought it was important to call me back when we had never met. Wouldn't most people who had dropped DKG membership just ignore my message instead of returning my call? What was so special about this woman that she called back? And why couldn't we make our chapters so valuable that she would choose to stay?
Obviously, this lady is the kind of DKGer we want in Omega State. She has a sense of duty and responsibility. DKGers do. She expressed thanks. DKGers do. She returned my call. DKGers do. She communicated her feelings. DKGers do. She made me feel appreciated. DKGers do. She was pleasant to talk with. DKGers are.
Her call got me thinking about how we work together, why we respond, and what makes it worth responding to someone, and I remembered something that happened over 20 years ago when I was teaching in a high school where each class had over 1000 students.
There was no way I could get to know 150 students in 40 minutes a day, and it was really easy to be a faceless, nameless person in the midst of 3000 others. So I made up my mind to do two things. First, I decided I would always stop whatever I was doing to listen to a student who came to my room during my conference or lunch period and before or after school. I put students first. And second, I offered to go to one activity each student was involved in during the year. Listening and sharing seem like obvious ways of caring, but the students were delighted
I told them I would grade no papers on Thursday nights because it was date night, and they decided to combine my visits to their events with my date night with my husband. I'd find myself stopping by a pet store to see Antonio before I went to dinner where Alfonzo was a waiter. I went to bike stores, the Missouri rabbit breeders association judging, dance and piano recitals, soccer-football-basketball-baseball-hockey games, and a host of other events. I made time for those 150 students because they needed me to, and I made time for Mike because he needed me too.
The following year, I got a letter from one of the quiet students who had been in my classroom. She'd made an A, but she'd never invited me to one of her events. She said, "Thank you for being so kind. In this big school, it's easy to get lost. I never needed anything special last year, and I don't now either. I just wanted to tell you that when I see you smile at me in the hallway full of students and say, 'Hi, Tanya,' I know that if I ever did need anything, I could come to you. Thank you for knowing my name."
My point is this. No matter how busy we get, we always make time for the things we really value. What can we do to make each DKG meeting so valuable members must attend? Maybe it's just calling someone who hasn't been there in awhile and inviting her back. How can we build relationships that bind us so closely together that we wouldn't dream of giving each other up? Sometimes, all it takes is making time to listen and knowing someone's name.
Janet
August 2018
Dear Colorado State,
When Temple Grandin came to our State Convention, she talked with me an hour about her ideas for education. She said students need to go outside and examine grass before they study photosynthesis. She advocated learning by doing first with formal education after.
This idea of learning by doing was also presented to us at our 2018 Leadership Conference by newly graduated education student, Julia Campfield. She plans to give her students problems to solve before she teaches the formal mathematical concept. For example, students might work through several probability problems before she introduces them to the concept. (By the way, Julia has started her first teaching job in St. Louis, MO and joined a DKG Chapter there!)
Isn't learning to lead pretty much the same as learning anything else? You have some idea of what it means to lead, but you don't really have all the details so you jump in with your excitement and your set of knowledge, and you start out leading. As you go along leading, you learn and grow your leadership style--all the while receiving praise and wisdom from older leaders. Isn't this what our founder Dr. Annie Webb Blanton had in mind all along?
This idea of learning to lead by leading is quite relevant since members at the 2018 International Convention voted overwhelmingly to invite college education students to join Delta Kappa Gamma International. If the collegiate member works in education after her graduation, she will become a full member and pay active dues. If she chooses to work in a field other than education, her membership is dropped. But either way, we get a few years of her talents to move us forward and most likely some other members who will stay with us.
I actually had a college student at MSU Denver who wanted to join DKG. She had gotten all available college credits in high school and entered college as a junior. She was in my honors class, taking all honors classes, and already doing her observations in elementary school, excited about how great her cooperating teacher was and how fun the students were and creating new ways to help them learn.
I would have loved to have had her in my chapter because she would have taken on any leadership role the same way she approached her classes--always doing her best, always way ahead. Our new collegiate members are not allowed to hold office except for parliamentarian, but imagine if a girl like this took over one of your chapter committees and made it go, go, go! These young women are already doing a million things so giving them a place to lead will really grow them professionally, and most of them will bring in a half dozen more just like them with new ideas and lots of energy.
Inviting college education students to membership is a new idea and a new way to support young educators. It's a way to let them learn as they lead. Let's all visit colleges, and invite these young women to join us as we promote personal and professional growth of women educators and excellence in education!
Janet
When Temple Grandin came to our State Convention, she talked with me an hour about her ideas for education. She said students need to go outside and examine grass before they study photosynthesis. She advocated learning by doing first with formal education after.
This idea of learning by doing was also presented to us at our 2018 Leadership Conference by newly graduated education student, Julia Campfield. She plans to give her students problems to solve before she teaches the formal mathematical concept. For example, students might work through several probability problems before she introduces them to the concept. (By the way, Julia has started her first teaching job in St. Louis, MO and joined a DKG Chapter there!)
Isn't learning to lead pretty much the same as learning anything else? You have some idea of what it means to lead, but you don't really have all the details so you jump in with your excitement and your set of knowledge, and you start out leading. As you go along leading, you learn and grow your leadership style--all the while receiving praise and wisdom from older leaders. Isn't this what our founder Dr. Annie Webb Blanton had in mind all along?
This idea of learning to lead by leading is quite relevant since members at the 2018 International Convention voted overwhelmingly to invite college education students to join Delta Kappa Gamma International. If the collegiate member works in education after her graduation, she will become a full member and pay active dues. If she chooses to work in a field other than education, her membership is dropped. But either way, we get a few years of her talents to move us forward and most likely some other members who will stay with us.
I actually had a college student at MSU Denver who wanted to join DKG. She had gotten all available college credits in high school and entered college as a junior. She was in my honors class, taking all honors classes, and already doing her observations in elementary school, excited about how great her cooperating teacher was and how fun the students were and creating new ways to help them learn.
I would have loved to have had her in my chapter because she would have taken on any leadership role the same way she approached her classes--always doing her best, always way ahead. Our new collegiate members are not allowed to hold office except for parliamentarian, but imagine if a girl like this took over one of your chapter committees and made it go, go, go! These young women are already doing a million things so giving them a place to lead will really grow them professionally, and most of them will bring in a half dozen more just like them with new ideas and lots of energy.
Inviting college education students to membership is a new idea and a new way to support young educators. It's a way to let them learn as they lead. Let's all visit colleges, and invite these young women to join us as we promote personal and professional growth of women educators and excellence in education!
Janet
September 2018
Dear Colorado State,
Here's a photo of me when I was in second grade. This was the one time in my whole life that I had my hair cut short. Other than this, it's always been long. Note that even then, my hair was curly--like today, my glasses were cat-eyed and colorful--like today, I grinned openly--like today (but I have more teeth!), and I was wearing a brightly colored pink flowered dress--like today. Why share this with you? Because I want to show you that more than anyone else I know, I hate change.
If you come to visit, you'll see that I never move my living room furniture, I have the first pair of cowboy boots I ever bought, the washstand where I learned to brush my teeth is in the foyer, and the tiny chair I sat in as a child is in my bedroom. More than anyone I know, I hate change. I'm still friends with my best friend from kindergarten even though she moved away that year. We chat on Facebook and visit each other. Need I say it again--I hate change.
So, maybe you can imagine the struggle I face as Colorado State President when I give up the name Omega State and move forward? Maybe, like me, you don't want to do all the forms online or read the Collegial Exchange on your iPad. I love tradition and antiques, but, despite my feelings, Delta Kappa Gamma Society International is moving into the future, and I'm here to help you navigate the changes as they come!
The amendments made big changes to membership. Here are some of them. We can now have collegial members. I actually like this change because it brings in young educators. I had a girl in my honors class at MSU-Denver who was ready to join DKG and lead so I know it will work. Colorado State needs to decide how much we want state collegial dues to be. I don't want their money as much as I want their verve and new ideas. They don't have much money to give anyway, but what they lack in finances they make up for in energy so I'd love to have them join us!
These other changes also seem good to me--the chapter determines how to select members and a member becomes a member when she pays her dues. We now "induct" members instead of "initiate" them. We can still have initiations, but this frees us up to have membership start at dues collection.
Even the controversial one makes sense to me--a member can be a member of international, state, and/or chapter. While some people think members will just join international and bypass the chapter, I think we can carefully guide our new members to be a part of each chapter just as we've been doing. Most of you don't know it, but I don't belong to a chapter here in Colorado. I'm a member of state and international. I was Colorado Expansion Chair for years, trying to start a chapter in Douglas County so I didn't join an existing chapter here. I came to all the state and international events, but locally all I got were a half dozen new members I put in existing chapters so I guess I'll have to give up and go join a chapter myself. The best part of DKG membership is the chapter anyway so I hope we draw members to our chapters just as we've always done!
There are a bazillion other changes that your Colorado Executive Team will be bringing you as soon as we can sort them out, but I find it kind of funny that I spent half my time saying how much I hate change and the other half saying how much I like all the membership changes! We're in this together, ladies, so let's embrace the possibilities offered by these changes and lead on! Who's with me?
Janet
Here's a photo of me when I was in second grade. This was the one time in my whole life that I had my hair cut short. Other than this, it's always been long. Note that even then, my hair was curly--like today, my glasses were cat-eyed and colorful--like today, I grinned openly--like today (but I have more teeth!), and I was wearing a brightly colored pink flowered dress--like today. Why share this with you? Because I want to show you that more than anyone else I know, I hate change.
If you come to visit, you'll see that I never move my living room furniture, I have the first pair of cowboy boots I ever bought, the washstand where I learned to brush my teeth is in the foyer, and the tiny chair I sat in as a child is in my bedroom. More than anyone I know, I hate change. I'm still friends with my best friend from kindergarten even though she moved away that year. We chat on Facebook and visit each other. Need I say it again--I hate change.
So, maybe you can imagine the struggle I face as Colorado State President when I give up the name Omega State and move forward? Maybe, like me, you don't want to do all the forms online or read the Collegial Exchange on your iPad. I love tradition and antiques, but, despite my feelings, Delta Kappa Gamma Society International is moving into the future, and I'm here to help you navigate the changes as they come!
The amendments made big changes to membership. Here are some of them. We can now have collegial members. I actually like this change because it brings in young educators. I had a girl in my honors class at MSU-Denver who was ready to join DKG and lead so I know it will work. Colorado State needs to decide how much we want state collegial dues to be. I don't want their money as much as I want their verve and new ideas. They don't have much money to give anyway, but what they lack in finances they make up for in energy so I'd love to have them join us!
These other changes also seem good to me--the chapter determines how to select members and a member becomes a member when she pays her dues. We now "induct" members instead of "initiate" them. We can still have initiations, but this frees us up to have membership start at dues collection.
Even the controversial one makes sense to me--a member can be a member of international, state, and/or chapter. While some people think members will just join international and bypass the chapter, I think we can carefully guide our new members to be a part of each chapter just as we've been doing. Most of you don't know it, but I don't belong to a chapter here in Colorado. I'm a member of state and international. I was Colorado Expansion Chair for years, trying to start a chapter in Douglas County so I didn't join an existing chapter here. I came to all the state and international events, but locally all I got were a half dozen new members I put in existing chapters so I guess I'll have to give up and go join a chapter myself. The best part of DKG membership is the chapter anyway so I hope we draw members to our chapters just as we've always done!
There are a bazillion other changes that your Colorado Executive Team will be bringing you as soon as we can sort them out, but I find it kind of funny that I spent half my time saying how much I hate change and the other half saying how much I like all the membership changes! We're in this together, ladies, so let's embrace the possibilities offered by these changes and lead on! Who's with me?
Janet
October 2018
Mike and I just returned from a driving trip through the mountains, stopping, hiking, and standing awed by this beautiful fall of golden leaves! All these oranges and eggplants shades of color have made me think about the power of vision, and because I've taught English and critical thinking for years, I naturally head toward a dictionary to help me think.
Merriam-Websters' first definition of vision is "the act or power of seeing : SIGHT." I love this definition because it reminds me that my own action determines what I see, that I have the power to look at the positive. I can watch the news or I can watch the bears and bobcats. Both are around me; I choose which one I look at, and in choosing, I determine how I think and what I feel. The word "sight" humbles me deeply because I am so grateful that I can see at all. I got cataracts in my 30s. I remember sitting at a stop light unable to see if it was green or red and realizing how rich my life was because I could see. The doctors had no idea what caused the cataracts and weren't sure they could fix them so every day I do get to see is a beautiful day!
Isn't it wonderful that we can see? Isn't it wonderful that we have the power to act and control what we look at?
Vision is also defined as "the special sense by which the qualities of an object (such as color, luminosity, shape, and size) constituting its appearance are perceived through a process in which light rays entering the eye are transformed by the retina into electrical signals that are transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve." I like the scientific explanation of the process of seeing, but then I really like the admission that vision is a "special sense" that can't really be explained! That's exactly what most things are, half special sense half scientific process!
My first year of teaching in a tiny rural town, my creative writing students won every single award at the regional contest. It was the first time that school had ever won any writing awards, let alone all of them so when my principal asked what I'd done to make that happen, I said, "Magic." That's kind of like vision. There's a scientific process your eyes go through, but the real action of seeing is a special sense that's pretty much magic. Educators have this special sense of seeing the best in students and other educators, we have a process for letting light in just like our eyes do! Let's use our times together to let in light--for our own vision and the vision of others.
The third definition of vision is in some ways my favorite--something seen in a dream, trance, or ecstasy especially : a supernatural appearance that conveys a revelation. Education is definitely supernatural and revelatory, we've had those times in our classrooms, and won't it be grand when every single DKG meeting holds such power?! We'll have members filling the hallways, pushing to get in when we harness that kind of supernatural vision!
As we enjoy this colorful season, I invite you to join me in aligning your vision with the beauty of fall, the hope of DKG, and the glory of Colorado State as we move forward promoting praise and possibility!
Janet
Merriam-Websters' first definition of vision is "the act or power of seeing : SIGHT." I love this definition because it reminds me that my own action determines what I see, that I have the power to look at the positive. I can watch the news or I can watch the bears and bobcats. Both are around me; I choose which one I look at, and in choosing, I determine how I think and what I feel. The word "sight" humbles me deeply because I am so grateful that I can see at all. I got cataracts in my 30s. I remember sitting at a stop light unable to see if it was green or red and realizing how rich my life was because I could see. The doctors had no idea what caused the cataracts and weren't sure they could fix them so every day I do get to see is a beautiful day!
Isn't it wonderful that we can see? Isn't it wonderful that we have the power to act and control what we look at?
Vision is also defined as "the special sense by which the qualities of an object (such as color, luminosity, shape, and size) constituting its appearance are perceived through a process in which light rays entering the eye are transformed by the retina into electrical signals that are transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve." I like the scientific explanation of the process of seeing, but then I really like the admission that vision is a "special sense" that can't really be explained! That's exactly what most things are, half special sense half scientific process!
My first year of teaching in a tiny rural town, my creative writing students won every single award at the regional contest. It was the first time that school had ever won any writing awards, let alone all of them so when my principal asked what I'd done to make that happen, I said, "Magic." That's kind of like vision. There's a scientific process your eyes go through, but the real action of seeing is a special sense that's pretty much magic. Educators have this special sense of seeing the best in students and other educators, we have a process for letting light in just like our eyes do! Let's use our times together to let in light--for our own vision and the vision of others.
The third definition of vision is in some ways my favorite--something seen in a dream, trance, or ecstasy especially : a supernatural appearance that conveys a revelation. Education is definitely supernatural and revelatory, we've had those times in our classrooms, and won't it be grand when every single DKG meeting holds such power?! We'll have members filling the hallways, pushing to get in when we harness that kind of supernatural vision!
As we enjoy this colorful season, I invite you to join me in aligning your vision with the beauty of fall, the hope of DKG, and the glory of Colorado State as we move forward promoting praise and possibility!
Janet
November 2018
The THEME of a story is the point the author makes about the subject, and Delta Kappa Gamma often uses themes to center our ideas around a subject and get us moving in the right direction. The International Vision Statement functions as a theme to guide our whole society: Leading Women Educators Impacting Education Worldwide. I especially like "leading women educators" because while we know we're women educators, it reminds me that each of us is leading! Think about yourself as a leader. What are your best leadership skills? Where can you put them to work to promote personal and professional growth of women educators and excellence in education?
The second part of the International Vision Statement asks us to think big--as we're leading, we're impacting education worldwide. This is a tall order. It isn't just enough to lead; each of us must impact the whole wide world! We're pretty good at impacting our families, churches, and communities, but this idea of impacting education worldwide calls us to consider just how big our scope of influence can reach. What is your chapter doing to impact education worldwide? What are you doing?
While much of what I do for DKG focuses on Colorado State, I really thought about how to impact education worldwide. I started by writing the first bilingual article for The Collegiate Exchange, one of our International DKG publications that you can access online at dkg.org. I gathered state presidents from Nueva Leon, Baja Mexico, and Panama and we wrote in Spanish and English so I consider that a pretty big impact on the world! Let me ask you--what are you doing for the whole world as you lead?
In addition to being guided by the International Vision Statement, each Colorado State President chooses her own state theme--a subject she directs the state toward and a point she wants to make about that subject. My biennium theme is: Promoting Praise and Possibility . As an English teacher, I like alliteration so I chose some 'p' words to focus us and narrowed my goals to two specific activities--praising and looking at possibilities. I want to be a praise promoter, and I want each of you to be one with me! Because I believe praise makes us all stronger together. And I want to see possibilities instead of problems, just as I want you to, too.
Corresponding State Secretary Kerry Tripp really helped me bring this possibility idea into action with the way she applied it. When someone says, "Oh, we can't do that," she asked them, "Then what can we do?" I've been using her technique, and members offer the most amazing suggestions for possibilities! It's quite fun to redirect focus and inspire other to share their ideas.
The 2018 Colorado State Fall Board Meeting theme was "Step Right Up!" Our whole meeting was about ways members can step up into leadership roles in chapter, state, and international positions. As you think about your Chapter meetings, you can think about the program or project you'll be focusing on and create a catchy verbal theme that draws members into the excitement of the action. Even though I've got the 2019 Spring Board Meeting theme in mind, I want to hold onto it a little long and let it evolve, but the Convention Planning Team is working fast and furious on our plans for June 28, 29, 30 so I wanted to share that theme now just to whet your whistle!
As I thought about the 2019 Colorado State Convention, I considered the past and the future and realized that all our new amendments and possibilities lead us out into the wild blue yonder. I like the idea of table decorations and favors being red for our rose symbol and blue for our gaze into the future, and even as our future is open and wide, I want to hold onto the DKG song phrase of "forward moving ever." So here's our 2019 Colorado State Convention theme for you to ponder: Into the Wild Blue Yonder--Forward Moving Ever! As we head toward 2019, think of ways you're moving out into the wild blue yonder, and come join us at the Convention to share your plans!
The second part of the International Vision Statement asks us to think big--as we're leading, we're impacting education worldwide. This is a tall order. It isn't just enough to lead; each of us must impact the whole wide world! We're pretty good at impacting our families, churches, and communities, but this idea of impacting education worldwide calls us to consider just how big our scope of influence can reach. What is your chapter doing to impact education worldwide? What are you doing?
While much of what I do for DKG focuses on Colorado State, I really thought about how to impact education worldwide. I started by writing the first bilingual article for The Collegiate Exchange, one of our International DKG publications that you can access online at dkg.org. I gathered state presidents from Nueva Leon, Baja Mexico, and Panama and we wrote in Spanish and English so I consider that a pretty big impact on the world! Let me ask you--what are you doing for the whole world as you lead?
In addition to being guided by the International Vision Statement, each Colorado State President chooses her own state theme--a subject she directs the state toward and a point she wants to make about that subject. My biennium theme is: Promoting Praise and Possibility . As an English teacher, I like alliteration so I chose some 'p' words to focus us and narrowed my goals to two specific activities--praising and looking at possibilities. I want to be a praise promoter, and I want each of you to be one with me! Because I believe praise makes us all stronger together. And I want to see possibilities instead of problems, just as I want you to, too.
Corresponding State Secretary Kerry Tripp really helped me bring this possibility idea into action with the way she applied it. When someone says, "Oh, we can't do that," she asked them, "Then what can we do?" I've been using her technique, and members offer the most amazing suggestions for possibilities! It's quite fun to redirect focus and inspire other to share their ideas.
The 2018 Colorado State Fall Board Meeting theme was "Step Right Up!" Our whole meeting was about ways members can step up into leadership roles in chapter, state, and international positions. As you think about your Chapter meetings, you can think about the program or project you'll be focusing on and create a catchy verbal theme that draws members into the excitement of the action. Even though I've got the 2019 Spring Board Meeting theme in mind, I want to hold onto it a little long and let it evolve, but the Convention Planning Team is working fast and furious on our plans for June 28, 29, 30 so I wanted to share that theme now just to whet your whistle!
As I thought about the 2019 Colorado State Convention, I considered the past and the future and realized that all our new amendments and possibilities lead us out into the wild blue yonder. I like the idea of table decorations and favors being red for our rose symbol and blue for our gaze into the future, and even as our future is open and wide, I want to hold onto the DKG song phrase of "forward moving ever." So here's our 2019 Colorado State Convention theme for you to ponder: Into the Wild Blue Yonder--Forward Moving Ever! As we head toward 2019, think of ways you're moving out into the wild blue yonder, and come join us at the Convention to share your plans!
December 2018
Dear Colorado State,
Since my father died in March, I've been going to Missouri every month to spend time with my mother on the farm and make sure she's well taken care of. I take her lunch, play Sorry, color, and do a sticker book with her each day I'm there. This month, the roads were so icy that I couldn't take her out to lunch, so we had to improvise. When I left to brave the icy roads back to the hotel, she said, "Thank you for the day."
Thank you for the day. What a grand sentiment! I had done nothing special, given only the gift of time, and yet it meant the world to her. As you enjoy your Christmas season, please remember that it's the simple gift of time that means so much to many of our sisters. It's the best gift of all. Make some time to share with the sisters in your chapter who need it most during this blessed season.
When I spent a year in MSUDenver's leadership training, one focus was the psychology behind being a leader. Part of that training included instruction about and activities in happiness. This may sound silly, but it really helped me grow in ways I didn't expect, and some of the ideas may be useful to you in this holiday season as well.
The workshop began with the story of a man standing at a train station who started looking at his watch and tipping up onto his toes, acting like he was annoyed that the train was late even though the train was on time. Within 2 minutes, everyone on the platform was acting annoyed at the train that wasn't late. This revelation made him realize that if he could lead others into annoyance, he could lead them into happiness too, and The Happiness Project was born. In one video, Gretchen Rubin gives some very specific actions that can help inform our happiness throughout the holiday season. You can watch her whole video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzuawrFE1xM. I'll share some of her ideas here.
Rubin's research discovered many professional definitions of happiness--contentment, satisfaction, bliss, peace, joy--to name a few. I agree with her that just knowing happiness is different for everyone and that it takes many forms can open up my understanding of my own happiness. I may not have my father this Christmas, but I spent a wonderful day with my mother despite the icy roads. I would say I'm content with that day, and so was she!
According to Rubin, three things impact our happiness. First is genetics. We're naturally a Tigger or an Eyore. Second is life circumstances like age and health, and third is the way we think and act. This seems very basic, but she suggests specific actions that can lead to being happier--sing in the morning, do something new that challenges you. Even going out to a new restaurant is a challenge that can make us happier. She also mentions ways to get more happiness from the possessions we have--make a shrine of photos or books. Another idea I love is that if I can do something in a minute--make the bed, scan a bill--I should do it because I will feel happier because I've accomplished something. In this very busy holiday season, just completing quick little tasks will build satisfaction that makes us happier.
Most powerfully for DKG, Rubin talks about face-to-face meetings and how groups offer fun, relationships, and accountability. She says that happy people are more interested in helping others and helping solve world problems, so by becoming happier, we actually help others, too! I've mentioned my favorite video at DKG.org Leadership Lab before, Amanda Gore's The Power of Joy. it's a great season to spend a few minutes hearing her ideas, too. The MSU Leadership workshop ended with each of us receiving a gratitude journal. At first I thought it was a really stupid idea, but when I began writing things I was grateful for each day, my whole attitude changed in a month. This holiday season is a great time to pause and jot down things we're thankful for to increase our feelings of happiness.
We know it's the season to be jolly, fa la la la la...la la la la. So if you're like me and needing some actions that will make you happier, sing a song in the morning and make some time to sit with sisters who are alone this season. Mail a card, make a phone call, share a coffee. Do something new. And make yourself a Very Merry Christmas!
Since my father died in March, I've been going to Missouri every month to spend time with my mother on the farm and make sure she's well taken care of. I take her lunch, play Sorry, color, and do a sticker book with her each day I'm there. This month, the roads were so icy that I couldn't take her out to lunch, so we had to improvise. When I left to brave the icy roads back to the hotel, she said, "Thank you for the day."
Thank you for the day. What a grand sentiment! I had done nothing special, given only the gift of time, and yet it meant the world to her. As you enjoy your Christmas season, please remember that it's the simple gift of time that means so much to many of our sisters. It's the best gift of all. Make some time to share with the sisters in your chapter who need it most during this blessed season.
When I spent a year in MSUDenver's leadership training, one focus was the psychology behind being a leader. Part of that training included instruction about and activities in happiness. This may sound silly, but it really helped me grow in ways I didn't expect, and some of the ideas may be useful to you in this holiday season as well.
The workshop began with the story of a man standing at a train station who started looking at his watch and tipping up onto his toes, acting like he was annoyed that the train was late even though the train was on time. Within 2 minutes, everyone on the platform was acting annoyed at the train that wasn't late. This revelation made him realize that if he could lead others into annoyance, he could lead them into happiness too, and The Happiness Project was born. In one video, Gretchen Rubin gives some very specific actions that can help inform our happiness throughout the holiday season. You can watch her whole video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzuawrFE1xM. I'll share some of her ideas here.
Rubin's research discovered many professional definitions of happiness--contentment, satisfaction, bliss, peace, joy--to name a few. I agree with her that just knowing happiness is different for everyone and that it takes many forms can open up my understanding of my own happiness. I may not have my father this Christmas, but I spent a wonderful day with my mother despite the icy roads. I would say I'm content with that day, and so was she!
According to Rubin, three things impact our happiness. First is genetics. We're naturally a Tigger or an Eyore. Second is life circumstances like age and health, and third is the way we think and act. This seems very basic, but she suggests specific actions that can lead to being happier--sing in the morning, do something new that challenges you. Even going out to a new restaurant is a challenge that can make us happier. She also mentions ways to get more happiness from the possessions we have--make a shrine of photos or books. Another idea I love is that if I can do something in a minute--make the bed, scan a bill--I should do it because I will feel happier because I've accomplished something. In this very busy holiday season, just completing quick little tasks will build satisfaction that makes us happier.
Most powerfully for DKG, Rubin talks about face-to-face meetings and how groups offer fun, relationships, and accountability. She says that happy people are more interested in helping others and helping solve world problems, so by becoming happier, we actually help others, too! I've mentioned my favorite video at DKG.org Leadership Lab before, Amanda Gore's The Power of Joy. it's a great season to spend a few minutes hearing her ideas, too. The MSU Leadership workshop ended with each of us receiving a gratitude journal. At first I thought it was a really stupid idea, but when I began writing things I was grateful for each day, my whole attitude changed in a month. This holiday season is a great time to pause and jot down things we're thankful for to increase our feelings of happiness.
We know it's the season to be jolly, fa la la la la...la la la la. So if you're like me and needing some actions that will make you happier, sing a song in the morning and make some time to sit with sisters who are alone this season. Mail a card, make a phone call, share a coffee. Do something new. And make yourself a Very Merry Christmas!
January 2019
Dear Colorado State,
Happy New Year! Are you planning to make some resolutions? I've already made up my mind about some personal changes, but since I heard that the majority of people don't keep the resolutions they make, I wondered why I do and thought about the linguistic nature of making a resolution.
If I "make a resolution," the action is "make" and once I've made the resolution, I'm done. I've made my resolution, and no further action need be taken. That may be why people don't keep the resolutions since once they're made, they're finished!
However, if I "resolve" to do a thing, the action is "resolving" and gives me the opportunity to awake each morning and resolve to do the thing again that day. Maybe it's a way I want to become, a physical goal I hope to achieve, or a way I want to lead my chapter sisters. If I find myself slipping during the day, I can return to resolving again and again.
This resolving is an important part of being a leader for DKG! Imagine if I started my biennium of Colorado State President with my theme of "Promoting Praise and Possibility" and renewed my resolve to promote praise for all of you. Imagine if I renew my resolve to look for possibilities in all situations! Just as I began in 2017, I start each day of 2019 resolving to praise others and look for possibilities.
Some people have tried to solve the problem of breaking New Year resolutions by choosing a word to guide their new year--something like courage or love or hope. Then they think of that word each morning and go through the day intentionally focusing their thoughts and actions on the chosen word.
Whether you resolve over and over or choose a word to hang onto or use some other method of centering your mind on the good, think about what you want most for your chapter this year. Is it the same as you wanted last year? Or is it something new and forward looking? Or maybe it's something good you're hanging onto and extending more!
I like to review the State Goals each month, and in reviewing them for the new year, I'm proud to say our Executive Team has completed many of them and continues with them. One of them failed, but garnered a new member, and one of them worked out in a unexpected way. Just as our Executive Team is reviewing our State Goals and looking for ways to revise and revisit, take a moment to reexamine your Chapter Goals and see how far along are you in reaching them. Is there something you can do to move farther in 2019? Are there some goals your Chapter can revisit and revise?
I'm excited about our new year together and look forward to all your new ideas! Share them on our website on the Travelers, Toddlers, and Tidbits page and the new Colorado State Art Gallery. Write articles for Colorado Omega Peaks or DKG Bulletin and submit your art and writing to the online international gallery. Get your Chapter going and let's make 2019 the best year ever!
Janet
Happy New Year! Are you planning to make some resolutions? I've already made up my mind about some personal changes, but since I heard that the majority of people don't keep the resolutions they make, I wondered why I do and thought about the linguistic nature of making a resolution.
If I "make a resolution," the action is "make" and once I've made the resolution, I'm done. I've made my resolution, and no further action need be taken. That may be why people don't keep the resolutions since once they're made, they're finished!
However, if I "resolve" to do a thing, the action is "resolving" and gives me the opportunity to awake each morning and resolve to do the thing again that day. Maybe it's a way I want to become, a physical goal I hope to achieve, or a way I want to lead my chapter sisters. If I find myself slipping during the day, I can return to resolving again and again.
This resolving is an important part of being a leader for DKG! Imagine if I started my biennium of Colorado State President with my theme of "Promoting Praise and Possibility" and renewed my resolve to promote praise for all of you. Imagine if I renew my resolve to look for possibilities in all situations! Just as I began in 2017, I start each day of 2019 resolving to praise others and look for possibilities.
Some people have tried to solve the problem of breaking New Year resolutions by choosing a word to guide their new year--something like courage or love or hope. Then they think of that word each morning and go through the day intentionally focusing their thoughts and actions on the chosen word.
Whether you resolve over and over or choose a word to hang onto or use some other method of centering your mind on the good, think about what you want most for your chapter this year. Is it the same as you wanted last year? Or is it something new and forward looking? Or maybe it's something good you're hanging onto and extending more!
I like to review the State Goals each month, and in reviewing them for the new year, I'm proud to say our Executive Team has completed many of them and continues with them. One of them failed, but garnered a new member, and one of them worked out in a unexpected way. Just as our Executive Team is reviewing our State Goals and looking for ways to revise and revisit, take a moment to reexamine your Chapter Goals and see how far along are you in reaching them. Is there something you can do to move farther in 2019? Are there some goals your Chapter can revisit and revise?
I'm excited about our new year together and look forward to all your new ideas! Share them on our website on the Travelers, Toddlers, and Tidbits page and the new Colorado State Art Gallery. Write articles for Colorado Omega Peaks or DKG Bulletin and submit your art and writing to the online international gallery. Get your Chapter going and let's make 2019 the best year ever!
Janet
February 2019
Dear Colorado State,
When you see me out somewhere, I'll have on two symbols that let everyone know my top two values--a cross because I worship Jesus Christ and my wedding ring because I love my husband. Symbols are important to us because they remind us of what we value and let others know our values as well. It always warms my heart to look at the meaning behind the symbols of our Society. I invite you to go along with me as I look at the symbols and examine yourself and your chapter to see how you embody them.
The colors of Delta Kappa Gamma are crimson and gold – red for courage and gold for loyalty to our members and to the ideals of our Society. Think about courage for a moment. What does it mean to be courageous? In what ways are you courageous? Does it take courage to lead your chapter? Consider loyalty. How are you loyal to the members of your chapter? To the ideals of DKG? No matter how our Society changes, I always hearken back to our mission of "promoting personal and professional growth of women educators and excellence in education." Helping educators and education has been my life's work, and I hope I will always remain loyal to this focus.
Our flower is the red rose, a beautiful creation from nature that reflects beauty of mind and spirit. I love how Annie Webb Blanton saw a rose as the embodiment of "beauty of mind and spirit." Give yourself a little praise for a moment, celebrating the beauty of your mind. Think about the miracle a mind is--that we can think at all. Take another moment to celebrate the beauty of your spirit. The spirit is the life force within us, the force that guides us, and the very nature of an educator is that she gives and loves her students. Consider ways your mind and spirit enrich your Chapter.
Our keypin is a golden ellipse. Across its center are the Greek letters. Above them a wreath of laurel leaves symbolizes the distinction which those who wear this keypin have achieved. Below the letters is a cup which represents knowledge. Delta Kappa Gamma literally means "key women educators," and these three Greek letters adorn our keypins. Every DKG member is a key woman educator who has earned the honor of membership! The wreath of laurel leaves symbolizes your distinction of achievement. Each day, we DKGers achieve something. Sometimes it's great; sometimes it's small, but always it is distinct because each of us holds unique qualities that lead to achievement. The cup at the bottom of the letters stands for knowledge. I've seen each of us engage in life-long learning, and I rely on DKG members as my models for always seeking new knowledge.
Our coat of arms consists of a red shield with a band of gold. Three Tudor roses on the band symbolize the Society’s ideals of beauty of spirit, tradition of loyalty, and dedication to excellence. Our coat of arms uses the red and gold again--courage and loyalty, and here there are three roses that unite the meaning of the rose (beauty of spirit), the gold (loyalty), and a new phrase "dedication to excellence." Of course, knowledge is a part of excellence, buy mostly I think of the International Mission Statement of "excellence in education." Think about what that looks like for you? What does excellent student education include? What does excellent education for you include?
The flaming lamp and the open book on the shield signify scholarship and knowledge. The laurel sprays are the traditional symbols of achievement. A lamp for scholarship; an open book for knowledge. You can see how each symbol uses part of a previous one and adds a new concept. Here, the new concept is scholarship. A dictionary defintion of scholarship is academic study or achievement; learning of a high level so you can see how scholarship goes beyond mere knowledge to something higher. And again is the idea of achievement and how membership in DKG honors your achievement. Think about what you've achieved and make a plan to achieve something great today!
As you journey with me through the symbols of our Society, I hope you'll think about ways to use these descriptions with your chapters. Give groups a phrase and have them discuss how individuals exhibit these qualities. Maybe have members ferret out all the words and give them small paper symbols to give to one another, making sure each member gets one as you talk about how she exhibits that quality. However you choose to use the symbols of Delta Kappa Gamma, may you embrace courage, loyalty, beauty of mind and spirit, achievements, knowledge, loyalty to each other and our Society, excellence, and scholarship as we move forward ever!
Janet
When you see me out somewhere, I'll have on two symbols that let everyone know my top two values--a cross because I worship Jesus Christ and my wedding ring because I love my husband. Symbols are important to us because they remind us of what we value and let others know our values as well. It always warms my heart to look at the meaning behind the symbols of our Society. I invite you to go along with me as I look at the symbols and examine yourself and your chapter to see how you embody them.
The colors of Delta Kappa Gamma are crimson and gold – red for courage and gold for loyalty to our members and to the ideals of our Society. Think about courage for a moment. What does it mean to be courageous? In what ways are you courageous? Does it take courage to lead your chapter? Consider loyalty. How are you loyal to the members of your chapter? To the ideals of DKG? No matter how our Society changes, I always hearken back to our mission of "promoting personal and professional growth of women educators and excellence in education." Helping educators and education has been my life's work, and I hope I will always remain loyal to this focus.
Our flower is the red rose, a beautiful creation from nature that reflects beauty of mind and spirit. I love how Annie Webb Blanton saw a rose as the embodiment of "beauty of mind and spirit." Give yourself a little praise for a moment, celebrating the beauty of your mind. Think about the miracle a mind is--that we can think at all. Take another moment to celebrate the beauty of your spirit. The spirit is the life force within us, the force that guides us, and the very nature of an educator is that she gives and loves her students. Consider ways your mind and spirit enrich your Chapter.
Our keypin is a golden ellipse. Across its center are the Greek letters. Above them a wreath of laurel leaves symbolizes the distinction which those who wear this keypin have achieved. Below the letters is a cup which represents knowledge. Delta Kappa Gamma literally means "key women educators," and these three Greek letters adorn our keypins. Every DKG member is a key woman educator who has earned the honor of membership! The wreath of laurel leaves symbolizes your distinction of achievement. Each day, we DKGers achieve something. Sometimes it's great; sometimes it's small, but always it is distinct because each of us holds unique qualities that lead to achievement. The cup at the bottom of the letters stands for knowledge. I've seen each of us engage in life-long learning, and I rely on DKG members as my models for always seeking new knowledge.
Our coat of arms consists of a red shield with a band of gold. Three Tudor roses on the band symbolize the Society’s ideals of beauty of spirit, tradition of loyalty, and dedication to excellence. Our coat of arms uses the red and gold again--courage and loyalty, and here there are three roses that unite the meaning of the rose (beauty of spirit), the gold (loyalty), and a new phrase "dedication to excellence." Of course, knowledge is a part of excellence, buy mostly I think of the International Mission Statement of "excellence in education." Think about what that looks like for you? What does excellent student education include? What does excellent education for you include?
The flaming lamp and the open book on the shield signify scholarship and knowledge. The laurel sprays are the traditional symbols of achievement. A lamp for scholarship; an open book for knowledge. You can see how each symbol uses part of a previous one and adds a new concept. Here, the new concept is scholarship. A dictionary defintion of scholarship is academic study or achievement; learning of a high level so you can see how scholarship goes beyond mere knowledge to something higher. And again is the idea of achievement and how membership in DKG honors your achievement. Think about what you've achieved and make a plan to achieve something great today!
As you journey with me through the symbols of our Society, I hope you'll think about ways to use these descriptions with your chapters. Give groups a phrase and have them discuss how individuals exhibit these qualities. Maybe have members ferret out all the words and give them small paper symbols to give to one another, making sure each member gets one as you talk about how she exhibits that quality. However you choose to use the symbols of Delta Kappa Gamma, may you embrace courage, loyalty, beauty of mind and spirit, achievements, knowledge, loyalty to each other and our Society, excellence, and scholarship as we move forward ever!
Janet
March 2019
Dear Colorado State Leaders,
This month I invite you to think about three things you can do to grow your chapter and enrich your members--courting, hosting, and seeking diversity. In the 1800's when a man went a-courting, he'd put on his nicest clothes and his best behavior to impress his lady--and her mother and father. He'd sit in the porch swing with her, getting to know her week after week. He might bring flowers or take her for a walk in the forest or a ride in his buggy.
We can learn a lot about courting our members and potential members. Perhaps we could put on our nicest clothes for a meeting and be on our best behavior to impress members and guests. Perhaps we could go visits members or prospective members at their homes--and do it weekly or bi-weekly--just to get to know them better. We could even bring flowers or take them for a ride.
I recently went to a Beta Chapter meeting where I saw the best of courting members and potential members. The activity lined us up in two lines facing each other to discuss one question with each of the three ladies we passed. One question was: Would you rather go without TV or fast food for a year? Past State President Sue Pettit said, "I could go with about anything." I said, "What about comfortable shoes?" And we laughed and laughed.
When we all returned to our seats, Activity Leader Linda Pitts read aloud a guest's name, and let a member tell something she had learned about that guest, getting members and guests all sharing. With this fabulous activity, Linda led us all a-courting, learning about each other, but her courting techniques didn't stop there. Each meeting Beta Chapter brings addressed cards to mail to absent members. A member takes a card and mails it to an absent member to let her know she was missed and inform her of what went on at the meeting. If you like these ways of courting members and potential members, just ask Linda. She's always willing to share.
When my husband worked for Ross Perot, I actually read books about hosting. I learned how to pick out the quiet person at a table and compliment her hair or scarf to honor her, but I learned some other things about hosting from Theta Chapter. They were driving from Sterling to Boulder to see a play and thought to invite me. That's the first part of hosting--think about who is not in your group that you can invite to visit a Chapter meeting. But Theta didn't just invite me; they invited members, potential members, daughters of members, and past members who had dropped out. Each Chapter could do that kind of hosting and seek out that kind of diversity. You can even google "hosting" and find out some great ways to host others!
Chapter Co-President Penny Propst modeled another fabulous hosting technique. As she introduced people to me, she told me where and what they taught or included something that linked us personally, setting us up to have something to talk about immediately. One woman was raised in MO like me; another had taught in a men's prison so I knew exactly the kinds of questions to ask her. And Penny remembered to take photos which meant we all had another reason to connect after the event.
As I visit each Chapter, I am wowed by the ways you honor your members and engage with potential members! I just loved these two February visits and wanted to share ways they courted, hosted, and sought out diversity in hopes that each chapter can borrow their ideas. Please write up your ideas for courting, hosting, and seeking diversity and share them with us all in Colorado Peaks.
Janet
This month I invite you to think about three things you can do to grow your chapter and enrich your members--courting, hosting, and seeking diversity. In the 1800's when a man went a-courting, he'd put on his nicest clothes and his best behavior to impress his lady--and her mother and father. He'd sit in the porch swing with her, getting to know her week after week. He might bring flowers or take her for a walk in the forest or a ride in his buggy.
We can learn a lot about courting our members and potential members. Perhaps we could put on our nicest clothes for a meeting and be on our best behavior to impress members and guests. Perhaps we could go visits members or prospective members at their homes--and do it weekly or bi-weekly--just to get to know them better. We could even bring flowers or take them for a ride.
I recently went to a Beta Chapter meeting where I saw the best of courting members and potential members. The activity lined us up in two lines facing each other to discuss one question with each of the three ladies we passed. One question was: Would you rather go without TV or fast food for a year? Past State President Sue Pettit said, "I could go with about anything." I said, "What about comfortable shoes?" And we laughed and laughed.
When we all returned to our seats, Activity Leader Linda Pitts read aloud a guest's name, and let a member tell something she had learned about that guest, getting members and guests all sharing. With this fabulous activity, Linda led us all a-courting, learning about each other, but her courting techniques didn't stop there. Each meeting Beta Chapter brings addressed cards to mail to absent members. A member takes a card and mails it to an absent member to let her know she was missed and inform her of what went on at the meeting. If you like these ways of courting members and potential members, just ask Linda. She's always willing to share.
When my husband worked for Ross Perot, I actually read books about hosting. I learned how to pick out the quiet person at a table and compliment her hair or scarf to honor her, but I learned some other things about hosting from Theta Chapter. They were driving from Sterling to Boulder to see a play and thought to invite me. That's the first part of hosting--think about who is not in your group that you can invite to visit a Chapter meeting. But Theta didn't just invite me; they invited members, potential members, daughters of members, and past members who had dropped out. Each Chapter could do that kind of hosting and seek out that kind of diversity. You can even google "hosting" and find out some great ways to host others!
Chapter Co-President Penny Propst modeled another fabulous hosting technique. As she introduced people to me, she told me where and what they taught or included something that linked us personally, setting us up to have something to talk about immediately. One woman was raised in MO like me; another had taught in a men's prison so I knew exactly the kinds of questions to ask her. And Penny remembered to take photos which meant we all had another reason to connect after the event.
As I visit each Chapter, I am wowed by the ways you honor your members and engage with potential members! I just loved these two February visits and wanted to share ways they courted, hosted, and sought out diversity in hopes that each chapter can borrow their ideas. Please write up your ideas for courting, hosting, and seeking diversity and share them with us all in Colorado Peaks.
Janet
April 2019
Hooray for parliamentary procedure! When you have a discussion and vote at a Chapter meeting, you're using parliamentary procedure. Those two steps of discussing and voting may be all you need for a small group, but the bigger the group, the bigger the number of procedures needed to help the meeting progress in an orderly fashion and make sure all ideas are heard.
At our Colorado State Board Meeting, we used several additional procedures to work our way through the business brought before us, and I was so proud of all of you for engaging in more of the structures provided!
Two Teams has discussed ideas prior to the board meeting and written out recommendations they wanted to share with us. Since Teams had discussed these issues, the motion brought before us all had already been seconded by others in each Team and needed no second from the floor, so the Teams made recommendations and motions.
The Bylaws and Standing Rules Team recommended that we change "Omega" to "Colorado" in our state documents because International has required states remove Greek names from our documents. After they recommended this change and moved to take the issue forward to Convention, we voted to move it forward and agreed share our ideas about this change on a discussion board at dkgcolorado.weebly.com. Please do go to our website and get in on the discussion!
Once you have a motion seconded, it's time to open up the floor for discussion. To ensure both sides of the issue get heard, the discussion moves back and forth between pro and con, pro and con. If the first speaker is a con, then it's con and pro, con and pro. What's sometimes frustrating for people is that if you have three cons, only the first one can speak until you hear a pro. If there are no pros, only one con gets to speak!
A red card means you want to speak against a motion, a green card means you want to speak for a motion, and a yellow card is "point of order." Using colored cards helps keep the order of pro/con going smoothly. The yellow card must always take precedence over the other cards because it points out something in the process that needs to be addressed.
I'm especially fond of the yellow card because another member gets to help the leader by pointing out that something in the process needs to go another direction. If I've forgotten something, a member can help me remember. If I'm doing something wrong, a member can help me figure out how to do it right.
The second recommendation from a Team came from the Personnel Team which moved that we continue paying our employed personnel (State Secretary, State Treasurer, State Newsletter Editor, and State Webmaster) $500 more per year. This motion passed, and we will discuss it at Convention.
Two motions came from individuals. Since these motions had not been discussed in a Team, they did require a second from the floor. One was to restructure State dues; one was to give a $50 State Scholarship to each of us who signs up for the whole Convention by the deadline. Both passed.
After discussing each item, someone can "call the question." This means there's been enough discussion, and the group should vote on the issue. This motion is supposed to have a second each time, but oops! I didn't do that. Oops! I goofed up! Oops, my parliamentary procedure was a fizzle! Where were my yellow card holders when I needed you?!?
Sometimes that happens. Sometimes we make mistakes with parliamentary procedures. But these rules are created to help us run meetings smoothly, not to make us perfect! They're not some didactic judge to be afraid of! They're more like a kind grandma who's helping us stay orderly as we make important decisions for our Society.
If you think these processes are fun and you'd like to learn more, you might volunteer to be the next Colorado State Parliamentarian! Robert's Rules of Order has entire books you can learn more from or use as references. But, whether you embrace the whole kit and caboodle or just dabble with discussion and voting, I hope you find parliamentary procedure fun like I do!
Janet
At our Colorado State Board Meeting, we used several additional procedures to work our way through the business brought before us, and I was so proud of all of you for engaging in more of the structures provided!
Two Teams has discussed ideas prior to the board meeting and written out recommendations they wanted to share with us. Since Teams had discussed these issues, the motion brought before us all had already been seconded by others in each Team and needed no second from the floor, so the Teams made recommendations and motions.
The Bylaws and Standing Rules Team recommended that we change "Omega" to "Colorado" in our state documents because International has required states remove Greek names from our documents. After they recommended this change and moved to take the issue forward to Convention, we voted to move it forward and agreed share our ideas about this change on a discussion board at dkgcolorado.weebly.com. Please do go to our website and get in on the discussion!
Once you have a motion seconded, it's time to open up the floor for discussion. To ensure both sides of the issue get heard, the discussion moves back and forth between pro and con, pro and con. If the first speaker is a con, then it's con and pro, con and pro. What's sometimes frustrating for people is that if you have three cons, only the first one can speak until you hear a pro. If there are no pros, only one con gets to speak!
A red card means you want to speak against a motion, a green card means you want to speak for a motion, and a yellow card is "point of order." Using colored cards helps keep the order of pro/con going smoothly. The yellow card must always take precedence over the other cards because it points out something in the process that needs to be addressed.
I'm especially fond of the yellow card because another member gets to help the leader by pointing out that something in the process needs to go another direction. If I've forgotten something, a member can help me remember. If I'm doing something wrong, a member can help me figure out how to do it right.
The second recommendation from a Team came from the Personnel Team which moved that we continue paying our employed personnel (State Secretary, State Treasurer, State Newsletter Editor, and State Webmaster) $500 more per year. This motion passed, and we will discuss it at Convention.
Two motions came from individuals. Since these motions had not been discussed in a Team, they did require a second from the floor. One was to restructure State dues; one was to give a $50 State Scholarship to each of us who signs up for the whole Convention by the deadline. Both passed.
After discussing each item, someone can "call the question." This means there's been enough discussion, and the group should vote on the issue. This motion is supposed to have a second each time, but oops! I didn't do that. Oops! I goofed up! Oops, my parliamentary procedure was a fizzle! Where were my yellow card holders when I needed you?!?
Sometimes that happens. Sometimes we make mistakes with parliamentary procedures. But these rules are created to help us run meetings smoothly, not to make us perfect! They're not some didactic judge to be afraid of! They're more like a kind grandma who's helping us stay orderly as we make important decisions for our Society.
If you think these processes are fun and you'd like to learn more, you might volunteer to be the next Colorado State Parliamentarian! Robert's Rules of Order has entire books you can learn more from or use as references. But, whether you embrace the whole kit and caboodle or just dabble with discussion and voting, I hope you find parliamentary procedure fun like I do!
Janet
May 2019
I recently heard a statement that I found interesting: Parameters give you a safety net. Since the theme of our 2019 State Convention is Into the Wild Blue Yonder: Forward Moving Ever!, I began thinking about how much of our lives are just wide open wild blue yonder and how much of our lives are guided by parameters.
Some people find the idea of heading out into the wild blue yonder freeing and inspiring! You can go anywhere, do anything, be anything you want to. And that freedom to grow is certainly a part of the opportunity DKG provides to each of us.
Others find the wild blue yonder empty, vast, unguided; and providing some parameters can provide the safety net they need to head on out. Throughout my Presidency, I've always used the safety nets around me, reaching out to past State leaders and current International ones. I ask questions, seek support, and enlist others in leadership so I consider others a part of the parameter and the safety net of leadership.
As I end my biennium as State President, my future is wide open! I could apply for a position at International, go back to teaching at MSU Denver, travel the world, volunteer, write, paint, or do a million other things, and while all those options seem exciting, I find that I must set some parameters for myself in order to get started.
Think about this idea of parameters as you train leaders for your chapters and leaders for Colorado State DKG. What are the parameters that guide the position of Chapter President? How can you explain those guiding principles to some of your chapter members to get them thinking about taking the leadership position of your chapter next?
If a Chapter Team isn't working well, how can you offer some guidelines to get them started? With State Teams, I've found that some leaders need no guidance from me. They decide what needs to be done and go do it. Other Teams are ready to work, but they don't quite know what to do so I give them a few ideas, and with that safety net they start working
Each State Team is in the process of creating a Team Report that our webmaster Nancy Scofield is posting under the Team at dkgcolorado.weebly.com. Please take some time to look at these descriptions and see if the parameters set by past leaders inspire you lead or join one of our 2019-2021 State Teams. If you feel led to lead, contact State President Elect Leila Koenig and volunteer!
Think about yourself. Do you like to have some guidelines that you can't go beyond? Each Chapter has a few of those parameters that help you function, and you can always ask for more guidance in any area you need, but parameters aren't supposed to be a burden. They're supposed to help you feel safe in how you're leading.
While I really like the idea of an open future, I'm not the kind of person who can just take off driving and spend the night wherever I end up. I admire people who can, but I make a hotel reservation and head toward that. Maybe I'll try it--just start driving and see how far I get, but I must admit that I do feel safer with a set parameter!
Janet
Some people find the idea of heading out into the wild blue yonder freeing and inspiring! You can go anywhere, do anything, be anything you want to. And that freedom to grow is certainly a part of the opportunity DKG provides to each of us.
Others find the wild blue yonder empty, vast, unguided; and providing some parameters can provide the safety net they need to head on out. Throughout my Presidency, I've always used the safety nets around me, reaching out to past State leaders and current International ones. I ask questions, seek support, and enlist others in leadership so I consider others a part of the parameter and the safety net of leadership.
As I end my biennium as State President, my future is wide open! I could apply for a position at International, go back to teaching at MSU Denver, travel the world, volunteer, write, paint, or do a million other things, and while all those options seem exciting, I find that I must set some parameters for myself in order to get started.
Think about this idea of parameters as you train leaders for your chapters and leaders for Colorado State DKG. What are the parameters that guide the position of Chapter President? How can you explain those guiding principles to some of your chapter members to get them thinking about taking the leadership position of your chapter next?
If a Chapter Team isn't working well, how can you offer some guidelines to get them started? With State Teams, I've found that some leaders need no guidance from me. They decide what needs to be done and go do it. Other Teams are ready to work, but they don't quite know what to do so I give them a few ideas, and with that safety net they start working
Each State Team is in the process of creating a Team Report that our webmaster Nancy Scofield is posting under the Team at dkgcolorado.weebly.com. Please take some time to look at these descriptions and see if the parameters set by past leaders inspire you lead or join one of our 2019-2021 State Teams. If you feel led to lead, contact State President Elect Leila Koenig and volunteer!
Think about yourself. Do you like to have some guidelines that you can't go beyond? Each Chapter has a few of those parameters that help you function, and you can always ask for more guidance in any area you need, but parameters aren't supposed to be a burden. They're supposed to help you feel safe in how you're leading.
While I really like the idea of an open future, I'm not the kind of person who can just take off driving and spend the night wherever I end up. I admire people who can, but I make a hotel reservation and head toward that. Maybe I'll try it--just start driving and see how far I get, but I must admit that I do feel safer with a set parameter!
Janet
June 2019
Dear Colorado State,
In my biennium as your State President, I've traveled from Haxtun to La Junta, from Centennial to Cortez, and Chapters in between. So you know it's true when I say that DKG Chapters all across Colorado are enriching members, educators, and communities in grand ways!
Every time I tell someone that I'm State President, I start bragging about what Chapters are doing. You have made me an advocate for teachers, DKG, and education, and when I share, people say it gives them hope to hear all the amazing things you're doing in education. Thank you for filling me with the fullness of possibility to share with everyone I meet.
Of course, there's the changes to our Society and all the work that comes with being State President, but in the end, there's YOU. You who are loving your students, you who are giving hope and help to your communities, you who are keeping the faith, moving forward, holding out Praise and Possibility to your little corner of the world. It is YOU, each of YOU, who makes DKG Colorado the place to be!
I can't begin to thank each person who has changed my life during this biennium. You're all wound up in my heart together in a ball of happy hopefulness. You peek out at me in the mornings when I wake, bringing a smile to my face for a program you offered, a class you taught, a photo you took, a prayer you wrote, a song you sang, an unexpected gift you gave, a meal we shared. I am certain you are the best educators Colorado has to offer, and I am blessed to stand beside you in DKG.
Leading Colorado State with you is the biggest thing I've ever done in my life, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow with you. I leave my biennium certain of a few things. One, each Chapter is enriching each community in miraculous ways. Two, each of us DKGers is promoting personal and professional growth of women educators and promoting excellence in education all across Colorado. And, three, we'll go out into the wild blue yonder together, forward moving ever, promoting praise and possibility as we change the lives we touch and teach.
Thank you for the most amazing journey!
Love,
Janet
In my biennium as your State President, I've traveled from Haxtun to La Junta, from Centennial to Cortez, and Chapters in between. So you know it's true when I say that DKG Chapters all across Colorado are enriching members, educators, and communities in grand ways!
Every time I tell someone that I'm State President, I start bragging about what Chapters are doing. You have made me an advocate for teachers, DKG, and education, and when I share, people say it gives them hope to hear all the amazing things you're doing in education. Thank you for filling me with the fullness of possibility to share with everyone I meet.
Of course, there's the changes to our Society and all the work that comes with being State President, but in the end, there's YOU. You who are loving your students, you who are giving hope and help to your communities, you who are keeping the faith, moving forward, holding out Praise and Possibility to your little corner of the world. It is YOU, each of YOU, who makes DKG Colorado the place to be!
I can't begin to thank each person who has changed my life during this biennium. You're all wound up in my heart together in a ball of happy hopefulness. You peek out at me in the mornings when I wake, bringing a smile to my face for a program you offered, a class you taught, a photo you took, a prayer you wrote, a song you sang, an unexpected gift you gave, a meal we shared. I am certain you are the best educators Colorado has to offer, and I am blessed to stand beside you in DKG.
Leading Colorado State with you is the biggest thing I've ever done in my life, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow with you. I leave my biennium certain of a few things. One, each Chapter is enriching each community in miraculous ways. Two, each of us DKGers is promoting personal and professional growth of women educators and promoting excellence in education all across Colorado. And, three, we'll go out into the wild blue yonder together, forward moving ever, promoting praise and possibility as we change the lives we touch and teach.
Thank you for the most amazing journey!
Love,
Janet
Updated 9/11/2018
Please refer any comments on the Colorado State website to
Nancy Scofield, webmaster, [email protected]
Please refer any comments on the Colorado State website to
Nancy Scofield, webmaster, [email protected]