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A Century of Existence: Seven

Possibilities for Action to Assist

the Growth of Our Society

by Kammie Richter

In 2029, the DKG Society that Annie Webb Blanton founded will be 100 years
old. Many changes in our Society have been made during this time—moving right
along with decades of varied clothing and hairstyles—that we can reflect on with
smiles or winces.
At this point, our membership, however, has and continues to dwindle. It may
only be obvious to those who attend events on a regular basis, but the Figure makes
it abundantly clear that we must take immediate action. Time is of the essence.
This slope of membership strikes fear in my heart for the future of our Society.

Figure

Chart of DKG Membership in Thousands, 1929–2022
1991 has maximum ‘Total DKG Membership Thousands’
180
Total DKG Membership in Thousands 140
160

120
100
80
60
40
20
0
1941
1938
1947
1944
1962
1959
1968
1965
1956
1974
1971
1953
1950
1932
1929
1935
Year 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016 2019 2022
Note. Peak of membership occurred in 1991 (indicated by red dot). Graph created from data
provided by T. Woodley, DKG Membership Director, personal communication, 2022.
Data from the almost-100 years of DKG show our most positive years in
terms of numbers are behind us. To increase membership and have more such
years before us, we must reinvent ourselves. Many may want to continue what we
are doing, but this graph makes it abundantly clear what we are doing now is not
working. We must change and become different and enticing to future generations.
We are not alone in membership dilemmas. As early as 2014, journalist Taya
Flores wrote about other organizations that were once popular with previous
generations losing members. Flores stated that most millennials or Gen Xers would
not want to join a group that was originally for their grandparents. Flores added
that meetings should be social and not formal.

Collegial Exchange · 9