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May/Jun 2024 | Vol. 81 No. 3
From the Desk of the Director

t is hard to believe it is May and convention is right around the corner. This one will be
Ia hard one for me as it is my last as Executive Director. Although I know my decision
is the right one, I will miss a career I have loved and a job I have been honored to hold.
Transitions, while sometimes challenging and emotional, can also be beneficial and
productive. Remember the last time you moved to a new home? I am sure you reflected
Nita R. Scott, CAE on every item you packed as you carefully placed it in the box—thinking about how it
Executive Director
came to be a part of your home, smiling or even crying over the memories it inspired,
considering whether it was still valued or useful, and then either placing it in the box or adding it to the collection
of all the items you planned to give away. And then comes the day when it is time to leave with all the boxes in

tow, and you look back one more time. It is a bittersweet emotion, combining the sadness of leaving what has
been familiar and the excitement of a new home. And so, this feeling is with me now.
For DKG, this is also a challenging time with membership concerns and transitions to new leadership.
However, the Avenue M report has inspired many chapters to think about new strategies and engage members
differently. We welcome a new Membership Director, Sy Franco Stern, who is excited to share new ideas with
you. Sy brings enthusiasm and experience to the position, and you can expect to hear from her frequently!
Soon, we will also welcome a new Executive Director as the hiring process is wrapping up. Keep your eye

on the website for updates. With a new International President to be elected at the upcoming convention, the
Transitions Training Team (Dr. Debbie LeBlanc, Immediate Past International President Becky Sadowski, and
I) will spend time working with both nominees in order to ensure the smoothest transition possible. Although
many other organizations have provisions in place to train new leaders before they take office, we are required
to wait until elections take place. Thus, I am grateful to the Administrative Board for honoring my request to
provide some overlap between the hiring of the new Executive Director and my departure. This overlap will allow
me to spend some time with the new Executive
Director prior to convention and provide her with
the opportunity to experience convention with the

Headquarters team and assist with the training
and orientation of newly elected or appointed
international leaders. It also gives me the chance
to train the new Executive Director alongside the
newly elected International President. Again—this is
a time that is both bittersweet and exciting!
I hope I have the opportunity to visit with you

in National Harbor at the International Convention
in July. As members, you are all stewards of this
organization. Your voice and your vote are critical
to our future. There will be so much to enjoy about
the event this year: speakers, amendments, big
decisions about our future, breakout sessions, and
the chance to see old friends and See DIR p.7

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