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Educational Excellence

The Arts

EEC promotes a focus on the arts at international
conventions and conferences and at state organization
conventions. Members’ artistic contributions through music,
the spoken word, and visual displays are highlighted.
Promote the arts at chapter and state organization levels
by
• exploring the DKG Art Gallery on the website at a
meeting;
• encouraging members to submit art for the DKG Art
Gallery;
• holding a Creative Arts Retreat where members
spend time engaged in various projects related to a
variety of art forms (a number of state organizations
hold such retreats, which are sometimes available to
members outside the state);
• having an arts display at state conventions;
• raffling or having a silent auction of items artists
want to donate—being sure to check the laws of the
specific state, province, and/or country as they relate
to raffles and relevant taxes;
• including music at all meetings;
• inviting artists to speak at chapter and state
organization events;
• asking chapters to craft centerpieces for state
organization conferences/conventions;
• encouraging members to take classes to learn new
crafts/arts and then showcasing their items at the end
of the class;
• highlighting talents at conferences/conventions;
• inviting performance groups to chapter and state
organization meetings/conventions;
• sponsoring an essay contest for middle/high school Guardians of the Dunes© Painting/Pastel by
students and inviting top winners to a meeting to read Debra Stinson, North Carolina;
their works; Spring 2024 Art Gallery
• conducting field trips to museums, galleries, and
theaters.

Conclusion
The Educational Excellence Committee’s red umbrella brings unity and clarification to educational
excellence. As related by a participant at the 2023 leadership training session for state organization EEC
chairs, the focus areas of educational excellence “are relevant to all educators, including early educators,
current educators, retired educators, and collegiate education students.” By considering the many
opportunities suggested in this article, chapters and state organizations can raise their red umbrellas high
in recognizing and connecting the focus areas of educational excellence.

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