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Features

The Constitution Story:

2022

“If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday.”
– Pearl Buck

Members at the 2022 International Convention will consider 120 proposed
amendments to the Society’s governing documents. Here, we share the importance
of the task before us by placing it in historical context and providing an overview
of key proposals and their potential impact. Informed and engaged voters are
essential to the future of the Society.

Context is Important

Once upon a time—even before COVID-19 altered just about everything—
DKG was already at an interesting inflection point in its history. At regional
conferences in 2017, state organization presidents revealed a common
concern: Members were increasingly frustrated by complex processes and
rules and, as chapters and state organizations struggled to attract members and
recruit leaders, “the complexity of life in DKG might be a discouragement
for those who might otherwise be willing” to step into membership
and step up to leadership (Collegial Exchange [CE], 2018, p. 5).
Their concern coalesced around a simple realization: Because members “are
the ones who craft the documents and make all the rules, members can take
responsibility for making DKG life a bit easier and therefore more attractive”
(CE, 2018, p. 5). Thus was born a mindset of change based on a basic directive:
“Simplify.” And armed with four core concepts (Figure 1), members set out to

Make it simpler to be an active, involved member:
• Broaden membership parameters.
• Provide additional latitude for chapter and state organizations.
• Streamline dues processing.
Make it simpler (and safer) to take risks for personal growth:
• Allow options by using “may” instead of “shall.”
• Reconsider leadership training options to include a team approach.
• Reconsider processes for nominating and electing officers.
Make it simpler to fulfill a leadership role:
• Reconsider/reconfigure leadership training (time/place/delivery).
• Change tasks for treasurers (cf. dues processing). Figure 1
Make it simpler to respond to change as an organization:
• Allow modification of Constitution every 2 years. Core Concepts
• Eliminate “shalls” for “mays” to allow piloting and experimentation. for Simplifying
(from 2018).

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