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Educational Excellence

Programs

The Successful Chapter Practices model (The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, 2015),
which was based on a 2008 International Chapter Survey of more than 1,200 chapters, identified practices
common in successful chapters. In relation to programs, the survey specified that “successful chapters
have a wide variety of high-quality, interesting programs and speakers, including programs that highlight
community initiatives and those that use members’ talents/expertise” (p. 67).
General advice on programs includes the following:
1. Survey chapter members for program interests.
2. Use your own members as presenters—they possess a wealth of talent and expertise.
3. Plan programs that attract all ages.
4. Arrange to give credits for state accreditation for keeping license current.
5. Arrange for college/university credits.
6. Combine with another chapter in your city/state or across states for a program via Zoom.
7. At the state organization level, invite a speaker through the International Speakers Fund (state
organization presidents arrange this opportunity).
Programs with a personal focus can include wellness, creativity, and information on a variety of topics.
Those with a professional focus can include:
• education/school issues;
• World Fellowship information (consider making arrangements to hear from a World Fellowship
recipient);
• local authors discussing the writing/publishing process;
• recipients of local grants-in-aid or scholarships talking about their use of funds;
• a focus on the 17 countries of DKG to learn more about local customs, geographic areas, and the
educational systems.

Projects
State organizations and chapters support a myriad
of projects beyond the two international initiatives.
These projects aim to promote educational
excellence and support global awareness through
collaboration worldwide. Many of the project
ideas center on contributions to local organizations.
Check in your area to find which of these have the
greatest needs. Consider these opportunities:
1. Provide assistance to agencies or groups:
• contributions to “closets” for items for
children in need at schools (could be
clothing, food, etc.);
• donations of female personal hygiene
items to middle and high schools;
• collections of toiletries for homeless shelters;
• gathering of clothing items for shelters (socks, gloves, coats, underwear, etc.).
2. Focus on books:
• to be donated to Habitat for Humanity to fill the bookshelves of new homes;
• to be placed in doctor’s offices;
• to be placed in hospital waiting rooms;
• to develop classroom libraries, especially for early-career educators.

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