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What are DKG Visionary Networks?

In 2023, the 2022–2024 DKG Administrative Board contracted with outside consultant
The Avenue M Group to “complete a deep-dive analysis into our membership and to
study trends that show why members are dropping, who are the educators who don’t join
DKG in the first place, and other points of analysis that can help us meet the goal to be
relevant, vital, and sustainable as a valuable organization for women educators” (DKG
NEWS, Jan/Feb 2023, Vol 80-1, p. 2). The Board received Avenue M’s research report in
September 2023; discussed the report at its November 2023 meeting; and developed an
implementation plan released to members on November 11, 2023.
Among the recommendations put forth by the Administrative Board was exploration
of opportunities for developing thinking groups, ultimately to be called “A Visionary
Network.” A DKG Visionary Networks Planning Group included Connie Rensink, Dr.
Teresa Cowan, Dr. Beverly Hall-Maughan, Susan Perkins, Bev Mantey Van Cronkhite,
and Dr. Debbie LeBlanc. They reviewed results from the Avenue M Phase 1 survey to
determine topics in which members might be interested. The two topics selected were
early childhood literacy strategies (professional growth) and cell phone photography
(personal growth).
Having a short time frame to complete a pilot and wanting to keep pilot groups small,
this planning group reached out to people in their personal networks who they thought
would be interested in each of these topics. Their goal was to have 6–8 members in
each group. When members responded with interest, they were sent further details of
the dates and pilot plan. Once they verified their commitment, they were assigned to the
group. Next, the planning group identified one facilitator for the literacy group and two
facilitators for the photography group.
Rensink and Cowan conducted an orientation for the group facilitators. The focus
of that meeting was to explain the nature of the pilot program and to share ideas for
structure and meeting topics or purposes. The emphasis was on learning together instead
of creating a product.
The core ideas for starting a Visionary Network Group included:
1. Create a tentative purpose—tentative in that it should evolve as the group finds
its cohesiveness.
2. Cultivate potential members: Create a quality group with a common purpose.
3. Solidify your purpose: At the first group meeting, present the tentative purpose
statement to the group and allow member input. Accept, adjust, or amend as
needed. Confirm member commitment to the big purpose. Total buy-in by all
involved is critical to the group’s success.
4. Select a platform: Find, adopt, and utilize a platform that the group agrees upon
that will be the group’s working space for discussions, communications, and so
forth.
5. Set your group norms.
6. Decide on meeting logistics—frequency, meeting dates, times, and length of
meeting.
A Visionary Network Task Force is now in place for the 2024–2026 biennium and is
being chaired by Cowan. Watch the DKG website and other communications media for
further details as the Network evolves! J. Merz, Editor

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