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Personal Reflection/Anecdote

Talking About DKGNext

By Shannon Cato

The DKGNext initiative was created by Past International President Dr. Lyn
Schmid, with the first session held in 2015. Schmid brought together seven
women representing Generation Y to discuss their perceptions of DKG and its

future. Subsequent international presidents continued the concept, each crafting
a group of varied members to participate in a think tank format of sharing and
envisioning. Here, Shannon Cato, a member of the 2020–2022 DKGNext group

created by International President Becky Sadowski, reflects on the experience
she shared with Heather Dunn (Arkansas), Becky Johnen (Pennsylvania),
Chastity Ragsdale (Tennessee), Leslie Valentincic (Texas), and Tina Wolfe
(Louisiana).

I have been a member of DKG for 5 years. Although I have served as a chapter
treasurer and am currently president of a chapter chartered during the pandemic,
I still consider myself a new member. So, when I received the email invitation
to DKGNext (which was the first I’d heard of it), I was surprised and intrigued.
It was described as a “Think Tank experience devoted to DKG’s future,”
and the invitation stated, “This is a weekend for you to be HEARD.” It was
also in Austin, Texas, so without much further thought, I knew I was in!
As we arrived, I still didn’t really know what to expect, but Friday night
I met President Becky Sadowski and the other participants, who came from
Pennsylvania, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee, in the hotel lobby. After
chatting for a bit, we met up with members of the 2020–2022 Administrative
Board and the professional staff from Society Headquarters and had dinner.
It was exciting to meet more people involved in DKG and to see in person a
couple of people with whom I had exchanged emails. President Becky explained
that she and others from headquarters want to know members at all levels
because we all make up what members often refer to as “international.”
Saturday morning, we met early, had breakfast, and settled into the
conference room where we would spend the day talking (and eating). There
was a lot of food! President Becky asked us to think about what it would look
like for DKG to move forward, what the challenges are that might prevent it
from happening, and what we need to do to prepare to meet those challenges.
She was also very open to hearing whatever we wanted to talk about. She
assured us that if the conversation went off topic…that would be ok.
We talked all day in open discussions, and some of us even talked DKG into
the night (bonding, as well, over football—though rooting for different teams).
Thoughts from the group included getting out of the secret society mentality;
making connections with and impacting the community; marketing and updating
swag; finding balance between old and new ideas; encouraging lifelong,
engaged membership; and helping members achieve different levels of expertise.

Collegial Exchange · 29