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Viewpoint

The message: DKG is in trouble
because our membership numbers
are decreasing. We must look for new
prospective members.

The Avenue M study shows challenges of
recruiting new members who indicated they are
familiar with DKG. Most of these women surveyed
cited many personal and professional reasons for
not joining. Membership in DKG was not valuable
to them. Accordingly, the data suggested we should
not focus on working to convince those who have
heard of DKG that membership has value.
More importantly, we need to reach prospective
members who have never heard about our Society.
What was really disappointing in the Avenue M
study was the lack of survey information relative to such potential members. We need to understand and
respond to the key challenges of recruiting new prospective members: they need to know what and who
we are.

The message: DKG is in trouble because our membership numbers are plunging.
Is public perception a problem?
Because the Avenue M study says little about how others perceive DKG, we must rely on anecdotal
information. Many members have a story of trying to describe DKG to a prospective member or a person
from the general public and hearing their response: “Oh, you are a sorority.” By the time one gets around
to explaining “No, we are a society,” the listener has moved on. One reference in the Avenue M study
refers to the negativity associated with the sorority image and how a name change might be a solution. A
name change could open the door to significant recognition and more favorable public perception. A more
meaningful and recognizable name will translate into easier recruitment of prospective members.

The message: DKG is in trouble because our membership numbers are alarming.
Marketing strategies with rebranding could be helpful.
As many members know, the idea that rebranding will enhance marketing efforts is not a new one.
The process of considering changing the DKG name started in 2016 at the International Convention
in Nashville when British Columbia State Organization presented its proposed amendment to the DKG
Constitution and ISRs. This proposal was defeated. A name change was then proposed again in 2018 in
Austin, Texas—and was again defeated, but by a smaller margin. The amendment was resubmitted in
2020, but the DKG International Convention in Philadelphia was cancelled due to COVID. In 2022, the
proposal was resubmitted again for the DKG International Convention in New Orleans but fell to the floor
because of time constraints. The DKG Administrative Board recommended approval of these proposed
amendments each time they were submitted.

The Proposal
DKG British Columbia State Organization has again submitted a name change proposal for the
Constitution and ISRs to be presented at the DKG International Convention in National Harbor, Maryland,
in 2024. The proposed name is “International Society of Women Educators (DKG).” The proposers
believe the Society needs a name that shows clearly where, what, and who we are. We know that we

Collegial Exchange · 21