The 2022 International Convention in New Orleans was, overall, an amazing experience.
I was privileged to lead the Colorado delegation comprised of: Paulette Evans-Deutsch and
Karen Libby from Alpha Gamma Chapter; Leila Koenig, Nancy Pierce, and Pat Mrozeck Van
Allen from Chi Chapter; Heidi Ragsdale, Liz Henrickson and Therese Moran from Alpha Mu
Chapter; Memory Wollenweber from Pi Chapter; Marsha Henry, Judie and Carol MItchell from
Alpha Beta Chapter; Heather Pilage from Zeta Chapter; Lilly Vigil from Alpha Sigma and me
from Alpha Chi. Brenda Small, a new member from Eta Chapter, was not an actual delegate;
she presented a session and sold her book at the Marketplace.
State Chapters Alpha Mu and Chi also had booths at the Marketplace, and had a couple
successful sale days. Heidi Ragsdale volunteered as a Tech Goddess/Support person; Memory
Wolloenweber volunteered at the Dress for Success Table and I volunteered at the Volunteer
Sign In Table. Some stayed at the Convention hotel while others stayed at a condo; but to a
person, everyone enjoyed their time in New Orleans. The Colorado delegation members toured
the city, listened to great jazz, took a lot of selfies, and enjoyed a jazz riverboat dinner excursion
together the Thursday night of the Convention. The sunset was amazing!!
The Executive Board meeting, which was held Tuesday, July 12th, was my opportunity to
reconnect with the women I met at the New Presidents’ Training in Atlanta. We followed an
agenda that was repeated during the First General Session . We all participated in a “Second
Line Parade”, a New Orleans tradition that allows participants to follow a jazz band. Usually this
event is after a wedding or a funeral, but it was just plain fun! If you look on the State webpage,
you will see some of the photos. Scheduled activities included a tour and tasting at the Szaerac
House, a distillery, and a tour at the Mardi Gras warehouse where the famous floats are put
together. Great cuisine, wonderful sites and the New Orleans energy kept us busy when we
were not in General and Breakout Sessions.
The biggest news coming out of the International Convention was that the amendments t
concerning the name change proposed for DKG, and the amendment, that originated in
Colorado, concerning the cost of name changes on the International level were not “gotten to”.
Due to the number of proposed amendments-–four years’ worth—the business of the DKG
Convention was not finished by the end of the last general session. Even with the bundling,
pulling and moving around the order of the amendments, several were not addressed. There
will be a formal report from International as to the amendments that were voted upon and did
pass. The Executive Board has to finalize those passed amendments and deal with the
implementation of the rewording as a result of those passed amendments. Look for that
breakdown in the first issue of PEAKS AND PLAINS.
As we sat through the Business of the General Sessions, and DKG members from
around the world voiced their opinions, I was struck by the passion of these ladies. While I
might not have agreed with their stances, I respected their comments and ideas. One area that
rather surprised me was the amendment concerning the definition of “Reserve Member”; no one
was against the amendment but several ladies argued for the addition of “caregiver” to the
definition. Also, Lilly Vigil voiced concerns and said that several other State Treasurers had
voiced concerns about some of the financial changes i.e., the abolishing of the Induction Fee.
Once again, the impact of the passed amendments will be clarified.
As i move into the second year of my biennium, I pledge to visit the Chapters that I was
unable to visit last year; the Executive Committee and I are moving forward with the
Chapter President Mentoring Groups that I mentioned at the Leadership Conference in Sterling;
the plans for the Fall Board Meeting in Grand Junction are well underway, and I hope to have
more information about the 2023 Convention by September. I apologize to those of you who
are already completing your programs/yearbooks; I am doing the best I can to be in touch with
the Host Chapters Alpha Alpha and Phi. Details like the dates and location will be coming as
soon as I solidify details with those chapters. Thank you for your patience. Remember that we
are all doing the best that we can; be kind to yourself and to others. Blessings!
I was privileged to lead the Colorado delegation comprised of: Paulette Evans-Deutsch and
Karen Libby from Alpha Gamma Chapter; Leila Koenig, Nancy Pierce, and Pat Mrozeck Van
Allen from Chi Chapter; Heidi Ragsdale, Liz Henrickson and Therese Moran from Alpha Mu
Chapter; Memory Wollenweber from Pi Chapter; Marsha Henry, Judie and Carol MItchell from
Alpha Beta Chapter; Heather Pilage from Zeta Chapter; Lilly Vigil from Alpha Sigma and me
from Alpha Chi. Brenda Small, a new member from Eta Chapter, was not an actual delegate;
she presented a session and sold her book at the Marketplace.
State Chapters Alpha Mu and Chi also had booths at the Marketplace, and had a couple
successful sale days. Heidi Ragsdale volunteered as a Tech Goddess/Support person; Memory
Wolloenweber volunteered at the Dress for Success Table and I volunteered at the Volunteer
Sign In Table. Some stayed at the Convention hotel while others stayed at a condo; but to a
person, everyone enjoyed their time in New Orleans. The Colorado delegation members toured
the city, listened to great jazz, took a lot of selfies, and enjoyed a jazz riverboat dinner excursion
together the Thursday night of the Convention. The sunset was amazing!!
The Executive Board meeting, which was held Tuesday, July 12th, was my opportunity to
reconnect with the women I met at the New Presidents’ Training in Atlanta. We followed an
agenda that was repeated during the First General Session . We all participated in a “Second
Line Parade”, a New Orleans tradition that allows participants to follow a jazz band. Usually this
event is after a wedding or a funeral, but it was just plain fun! If you look on the State webpage,
you will see some of the photos. Scheduled activities included a tour and tasting at the Szaerac
House, a distillery, and a tour at the Mardi Gras warehouse where the famous floats are put
together. Great cuisine, wonderful sites and the New Orleans energy kept us busy when we
were not in General and Breakout Sessions.
The biggest news coming out of the International Convention was that the amendments t
concerning the name change proposed for DKG, and the amendment, that originated in
Colorado, concerning the cost of name changes on the International level were not “gotten to”.
Due to the number of proposed amendments-–four years’ worth—the business of the DKG
Convention was not finished by the end of the last general session. Even with the bundling,
pulling and moving around the order of the amendments, several were not addressed. There
will be a formal report from International as to the amendments that were voted upon and did
pass. The Executive Board has to finalize those passed amendments and deal with the
implementation of the rewording as a result of those passed amendments. Look for that
breakdown in the first issue of PEAKS AND PLAINS.
As we sat through the Business of the General Sessions, and DKG members from
around the world voiced their opinions, I was struck by the passion of these ladies. While I
might not have agreed with their stances, I respected their comments and ideas. One area that
rather surprised me was the amendment concerning the definition of “Reserve Member”; no one
was against the amendment but several ladies argued for the addition of “caregiver” to the
definition. Also, Lilly Vigil voiced concerns and said that several other State Treasurers had
voiced concerns about some of the financial changes i.e., the abolishing of the Induction Fee.
Once again, the impact of the passed amendments will be clarified.
As i move into the second year of my biennium, I pledge to visit the Chapters that I was
unable to visit last year; the Executive Committee and I are moving forward with the
Chapter President Mentoring Groups that I mentioned at the Leadership Conference in Sterling;
the plans for the Fall Board Meeting in Grand Junction are well underway, and I hope to have
more information about the 2023 Convention by September. I apologize to those of you who
are already completing your programs/yearbooks; I am doing the best I can to be in touch with
the Host Chapters Alpha Alpha and Phi. Details like the dates and location will be coming as
soon as I solidify details with those chapters. Thank you for your patience. Remember that we
are all doing the best that we can; be kind to yourself and to others. Blessings!