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Service was the strongest theme,
160 136 113 identified with 136 references including
Number of Times Mentioned in Interview 100 75 finding was not surprising because
140
concepts like “support,” “empower,”
“lead,” “serve,” and “mentor.” This
120
DKG’s vision is based upon impacting
80
education, and of course, service is
60
a direct means to have impact. Past
40
of service in their leadership and of their
20
leadership in their service. They shared
0 28 presidents recognized the significance
Service Feeling Growth Engagement that they expected to serve and were
Code Groupings Identified honored to serve, wanting to be the best
they could be. One respondent shared
Figure 3 that networking and service defined her life. Her advice to other educators was to

Code Groupings “look for opportunities to serve.”
In terms of service, another interesting finding was the response by one past
and Resulting president that members should be approached personally to serve on this or that
Themes Identified
committee; one should not just assume that they would serve. She stressed the need to
Note. Additional help them understand what a committee or office entails. “I just think you’re going to
stand-alone words get more support, make the efforts of the chapter stronger” by the personal interaction
deemed significant and getting to know each member and giving them a chance to understand the need
were “geography” for and details of a committee or office. Her focus was on sharing the significance of
and “small.”
the service, supporting the individual, and empowering the individual to serve most
effectively. Essentially, this president took the role of a mentor as she guided others
through their service.
Respondents reported a sense of belonging through their service. “Service kept
me connected to ‘other’ teachers, and I feel still connected with the legislative end of
things.” One shared that, through her service and “with the support of state officers,”
she was able to steer a true course forward for Beta Upsilon.
Feeling was the second most prevalent theme, with 113 references to words such
as “fellowship,” “feeling,” “friendship,” “sharing,” “honor,” and “recognition.”
I was flattered to be invited because three of my former teachers were
founding members of our chapter, and I just considered it an honor even to
be included in their midst, you know, even in the legacy. [Membership] is
such an honor.
Another mentioned a sense of duty with the honor, saying she was “honored,
absolutely honored, and also felt a sense of duty.” Past presidents stressed the
significance of the feeling of honor and the implication that attention should be
directed to this concept in relation to membership in the organization.
Feelings of fellowship and of interaction with members and friends in the group
enhanced the lives of these presidents. They professed they enjoyed the company
of fellow members “in the car as we traveled to the meeting and also attended as
many conventions as I could, and all the meetings.” One stated, “The main thing
I think of—I have enjoyed completely and thoroughly the fellowship in the Beta
Upsilon meetings and the members greatly.” One respondent reported that during
her presidency in the past,
We had six counties and that spanned a lot of area, but we were able to
manage by allowing time for fellowship, sharing time, and having our

40 The Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin: International Journal for Professional Educators