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May/Jun 2023 | Vol. 80 No. 3

Spring Forward Moving Ever!

By Dr. Debbie LeBlanc

2022-2024 International President

his time of year, many inevitable if we are to be vital, relevant, and sustainable
Tmembers are busy to women educators around the world. I expect that we
preparing for their state will hear information that may make us uncomfortable
organization conventions and, and that may lead to difficult conversations. I know
for some, reconnecting for that DKG members are not afraid to participate, and
the first time in person since I promise opportunities for your voices to be heard. I

the pandemic shut us down. am committed to this initiative so that we celebrate
Society representatives are enjoying their visits and our 100th anniversary in 2029 with increased vitality,
sharing the Society message, relevant workshops, and relevance, and sustainability.
roundtables with members. We appreciate the candid I have heard and read concerns that members
conversations regarding the relevancy, vitality, and have expressed regarding the high costs of our Society
sustainability of this organization. events. Conferences and conventions have been
Just like spring, DKG is pivoting itself to organized to address the seven Purposes of our Society

opportunities for a fresh new makeover. As you know, and provide personal and professional opportunities
DKG is facing challenges in recruiting and retaining for our members. We have these meetings at nice
members. Our members matter — without you, this venues, and, as many of you have experienced as event
organization would be extinct. These challenges planners yourselves, the food and beverage minimum
include membership numbers, leadership in a variety budget is often astronomical. It is these prices that
of roles, and marketing our organization. Avenue drive the cost of tickets at the meals, not the expense
M Group has been hired to help evaluate what our of a speaker. I welcome your thoughts and ideas that
members need so that we may attract, engage, and can help us address these concerns. If that means
retain them today and into the future. Avenue M has putting what we have always done in the past to the

already begun a deep-dive discovery of relevant side and exploring new and different options, then we
documents, including the strategic plan, past research will. I hope you will join me in an open conversation
and data, and the Society’s website. Member input about these issues. Katherine Russell said, “Every
is critical to a deeper understanding of the needs, problem has a solution; it may sometimes just need
interests, motivations, and jobs to be done by women another perspective.” Please join me in Town Hall
educators. Already, Avenue M has received a random meetings to share yours.
sample of members across the Society (active, The State Organization Leaders Training will

reserved, and dropped) as well as a list of women be held in Irving, Texas, on June 23–25, 2023. Here
who are eligible for membership but have never been is where the new (and sometimes returning) state
asked. An invitation to participate in this study was organization leaders will gather and learn about their
sent from Headquarters to those selected individuals. positions, engage in conversations with job-alike
Interviews have been happening this past month, and women across the Society, spend time with their own
a summary of the interviews will be included in the state organization leaders discussing the potential
final report. There must be a realization that change is for the new biennium, and See PRES p. 3

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