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Viewpoint

Kappa Gamma. However, we need to look at the Figure once again and see
the downward slide of membership. Perhaps we could consider updating and
refreshing our educational image for the next century by changing our name.
Ardent advocates of keeping “DKG” may simply like the name, but in our
world today, we have to wonder if it conjures the connotation of a sorority of
educators for others exploring who we are as an organization. In my experience,
many have immediately assumed the initials promote a sorority or the stereotype
of a vintage organization rather than a vital organization made up of women in
the workplace juggling being a spouse with being dedicated to a career, creating a
home, and caring for children and family members who are ill or unable to work.
Maybe members will be willing to modernize our name for the future.
Our organization was founded on a college campus and increased in popularity
up through the 1990s. We need a name that reflects who we are and what we do
now—which is not reflected by three Greek letters that may signify a segregated
grouping of women. In line with this thinking, international leaders have suggested
we do not use the term “sisters’’ when referring to other members. Co-authors
Beverley H. Johns, Patricia Kubistal, and I were told the following when sent edits
on our article, What is Your Delta Kappa Gamma Sensitivity IQ? Do You Represent
a Supportive DKG Sister?
In general, the Society has moved away from
the use of “sister” because of the connotation
of a sorority. If you include a discussion early
in the article about the use of the term as one
denoting care and concern for a colleague/
member, the term could be used throughout
as currently written. (J. Merz [Editor],
personal communication, 2021)
Writing in Forbes (2019), entrepreneur Akalp
noted a name change can bring costs to change legal
forms with the IRS; these would vary from state
to state. However, it is possible to create a DBA
designation (doing business as) to create a marketing name. Banks would make the Everything Has a
decision about costs for adding changes such as this to the original account. Purpose - Lindsay
Griffin, MS; Fall
What if a name change was not about what we as individuals want but what 2021 DKG Fine Arts
will help our organization not just to endure but to turn the graph into one that Gallery
skyrockets in the next century? Those who are staunchly opposed to a name change
should consider what our name presently represents while looking at the graph in
the Figure.

Possibility #5: Eliminate outdated practices and rules.
At our 2022 international convention, an amendment to ISR 4.21 Induction Fee
eliminated the induction fee (C. Herzog, personal communication, 2022). Although
many chapters maintain induction ceremonies and are free to implement such
Society rituals, a person quite simply becomes a member when dues are paid.
Other outdated practices include having potential members leave the room so
other members can vote on their acceptance into a chapter. This can be seen as an
elitist action, similar to a sorority voting on a new member.

Collegial Exchange · 13