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Educational Excellence

Relevance

Mentoring the new member is where relevance comes in. The chapter provides a reason for that
member to join and remain a member. What the chapter does has to be relevant to that member’s needs.
To achieve that, a chapter can do several things to mentor the new member:
• Assign a member to the new collegiate or active educator. That person’s task is to communicate
with her on a regular basis, bring her to meetings, and invite her to events such as seminars and
conventions.
• Get the new member involved in the chapter immediately. Give her a reason to join and stay as a
member.
• Provide opportunities for personal and professional growth. Programs and seminars are a great way
to do that. Present programs that educators need in their careers and personal lives.
• Tap into new members’ hobbies or interests. One chapter has a member who runs a literacy program
for adults. Some of the members have volunteered in this program, thus serving not only the
community but also fostering relevance for membership in the chapter.
When a member has a mentor, the mentor engages, educates, equips, encourages, empowers,
energizes, and elevates the mentee. Chapter leaders do the same things. Chapter leaders mentor all
members and are role models as they carry out their duties. That is how sustainability develops.

Sustainability
Sustainability means that a chapter is fulfilling the needs of members without affecting members
who follow. Chapter leaders know their members and try to meet their needs:
• Chapter leaders must understand the wide range of generations in the chapter and provide a wide
range of programs that will help keep all members engaged.
• All members need to have some responsibility in the chapter, even if it is to pick up someone and
bring her to a meeting, provide treats, and so forth.
• Understanding that seasoned members probably belong to other organizations, chapters can develop
partnerships that help both organizations. For example, one chapter has partnered with AAUW on
several activities.
• Chapter leaders should take advantage of seasoned members’ knowledge and experience. These
veterans have “lived it” and understand how the world works, so they should be included in the
decision making and the development of programs and projects.
Making the Connections

When the chapter mentors its members and its members mentor each other, the chapter will have
the vitality that will make members want to be a part of
that chapter. When the chapter provides personal and
professional opportunities for its members, it has relevance.
When a chapter has vitality and relevancy, it can be
sustainable.
A mentor comes along in many instances. In DKG, we
often have those occasions that stand out that assist us in
our work in the Society, as was the case when Dr. LeBlanc
provided her comments in our EEC meeting. Each member
has the potential to serve as that member/mentor. State
organizations and the international Society are strengthened
by chapters that choose to emphasize vitality, relevance,
and sustainability through their work as mentors.

Collegial Exchange · 55