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Membership & Expansion

members, such as past state organization presidents, spoke to the new chapter via Zoom. The DKG
California Expansion Committee was afraid members would think the ceremony was too long. However,
the members commented it was exciting that so many people were behind them!

Step 11: Support the New Chapter.
After the chapter is chartered, mentors should be assigned to assist the new chapter. This is
particularly important if the chapter is composed of members new to DKG. These mentors should
agree to stay involved with the chapter for 3–5 years until it is truly ready to be successful on its own.
Mentoring can be in person or over Zoom.

Lessons Learned from New Chapters
New—and particularly younger—members want flexibility and meetings that fit into their schedules.
One chapter wanted to include
people they knew who lived from
San Diego to San Francisco, a
distance covering 500 miles. They
started a virtual chapter to meet their
needs.
Members want their chapters
focused on projects that are
important to them. One member
left her existing chapter and helped
form a chapter of people interested
in healing. As a result, they support Initiates of the new Kappa Epsilon Chapter participate in their
virtual initiation via Zoom on August 29, 2020.
projects revolving around health.

What’s Next?
As this is being written, planning has started for the next new chapter. Dr. Lisa Cooper Wilkins was
appointed Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at City College of San Francisco. When I attended her
going-away party—and because I am always looking for DKG opportunities—I asked her what she was
going to do about attending DKG as her chapter is 100 miles from where she is now living. She said she
knew there was no chapter in San Francisco. I said, “Would you like to start one?” And off we go!

Could chapters be chartered within other state organizations?
Each of California State Organization’s new chapters is unique and reflects its local communities.
Simply put, it is possible to charter chapters in all types of locations. We have new chapters in a huge
city, in medium-sized suburban cities, and in rural locations. These new chapters bring diversity and
renewed enthusiasm not only to the members who join the chapter but to state organizations as well.

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