Message from the President
Greetings, DKG Sisters!
Welcome to August, and the beginning of a new school year for many of you. I know that you can count on the support of your DKG chapter and the Tennessee State Organization as you influence the lives of young people throughout the state. We welcome our new chapter officers and hope that plans are underway for engaging programs and projects. Be sure and go to the state website at www.tndkg.org and check the EEC Corner Spotlight for ideas, and to take advantage of resources available on that site. Please help us advertise our upcoming workshops for early career educators (details below). Share your DKG story and let's strive to recruit new members to experience the excellent opportunities this organization can provide.
Tennessee was well represented at the DKG International Convention in National Harbor, MD. I think the final number attending from Tennessee was 31! The convention location was beautiful, and the keynote speakers and workshops were top notch.
We are so proud of our Tennessee leaders who were elected to International positions:
International President - Dr. Beverly Hall-Maughan; Southeast Regional Director - Nancy Davis;
DKGIEF Board - Dr. Elaine Vaughan; International Finance Committee - Dr. Dianne Anderson; and US Forum Southeast Representative - Peggy Monroe. We also offer congratulations to Dr. Beverly Hall - Maughan for receiving the International Achievement Award, and to Mary Frances Wadley who is Tennessee's Star of the Southeast. Dr. Regina Henry, Terry Sharp, Dr. Dianne Anderson, and Chasity Ragsdale represented Tennessee at the DKG Ignite Leadership Seminar in Austin, TX after the convention. We are so fortunate to have excellent leaders in our Tennessee State Organization!
I urge you to consider becoming more involved at the State and International levels of DKG. I am confident that you will grow both professionally and personally by taking advantage of the leadership opportunities, networking, sharing, and fellowship with Leading Women Educators Impacting Education Worldwide.... with a focus on Passion and Purpose.
In Harmony,
Marsha Brewer
615-838-1793
Chapter Presidents' Information
The next P2P meeting is scheduled for August 18, 2024 at 2:30 P.M Central Time, 3:30 P.M. Eastern Time. New chapter presidents are encouraged to join.
From TNSO Treasurer Dr. Dianne Anderson:
Unpaid members will get an email on August 1, 2024 reminding them to pay their dues and then another on September 1, 2024. Unpaid members will be dropped on October 1, 2024.
You may turn in dues as often as you want. If you have any problems with the dues portal or are new to the office of Treasurer and have questions—please do not hesitate to contact me at andersond3851@gmail.com. We can set up a zoom meeting and go over how to work with the dues portal.
From Dr. Elaine Vaughan, Chapter Strengthening Chair 2023-2025:
Chapter Presidents/Treasurers, please join us in the continuation of the “Reinstatement Campaign.” In a nutshell – we are reviewing all dropped members from the chapter, completing a Form 18A for members who have died (instead of a Form 6 which is for current members who pass away), then sending a letter encouraging members to consider reinstatement. If you would like to volunteer your chapter, please contact Elaine Vaughan (mevaughan@ortn.edu ) for more information.
State Presidents' histories are now available on the TNDKG website under About Us - History.
Orlean Ophelia Bauman Literary Grant
Several members and chapters have reached out to Alpha Rho requesting information and suggestions on how best to honor TNSO First Vice President Orlean Bauman due to her recent passing. Alpha Rho Chapter will be accepting donations to the Tennessee State Organization Vision Foundation to establish a Vision Foundation Literacy Grant in Orlean’s name.
Contributions or bequests from chapters or individuals to the Vision Foundation are deductible as charitable contributions for U.S. Federal income tax purposes. Donations to the Orlean Ophelia Bauman Literacy Grant (payable to the Xi State Vision Foundation) can be sent to:
Tennessee State Treasurer
Dr. Dianne Anderson
497 Como Street
McKenzie, TN 38201
For additional information, please contact Alpha Rho Chapter President Judy England at judydengland@gmail.com.
Videos of Chapter Projects (ongoing)
Chapter Presidents - I am asking that you make a video of your chapter service projects to be shown at next year's convention. Please begin your video with a greeting, your chapter name and location, and a few words about the project. Then just shoot some footage of your chapter and/or community members involved, and the finished product. My vision is for us to showcase your wonderful projects in a " Service In Harmony" presentation. If a video is not possible, please take lots of pictures!
From Marsha Brewer, TNSO President
Please share these Leadership Links with your chapter members each month. I am not planning to send out a separate email to members. Points can be earned on the new Maycie Award form for sending the Leadership Links out to your chapter members. I appreciate your help in keeping our members up to date on news and activities at the state and international level!
FORUM ON THE TNDKG WEBSITE! Our State Webmaster, Sherrie Collins, has created a forum on our website for members and non-members to ask education related questions and to receive help and support. We are currently developing the forum rules and parameters. If you have computer skills and would be willing to help moderate the forum, please email me and let me know. I think this can provide a valuable resource for our active educators and give everyone a voice.
News of Committees
Information from our TNSO Officers and Committees
Many thanks to those of you who are serving on state committees for the 2023-2025 biennium. . Participating on a state committee is a great way to connect and network with members across the state, and to be involved in DKG at the state level.
Many of our committees are excited to share information with you and want to keep you up to date on deadlines and events:
Harriet King and the Arts and Personal Growth Committee:
Hello ladies,
I cannot believe that the Arts Retreat is so close to happening. Please mark your calendars for September 27-28, 2024, at the Venue in the Village at Casey Jones in Jackson, TN. Our committee feels that we have a variety of workshops to offer, and fantastic leaders directing each one. Please go to the following link to register by September 6: https://forms.gle/mKyuXyYaiY1bLy3s6.
Our workshops include wreath making ($10 to take it home with you,) color quilt ($5 donation for the quilting), crafts (involving cards, notepads and other items), calligraphy, music and a sweater pumpkin on Friday night. The Committee will also take orders for T-shirts like the ones sold at convention. Here are some suggested hotels in the area:
Exit 85: LaQuinta Inn and Suites
Comfort Inn
Howard Johnson
Holiday Inn Express and Suites
Exit 83: Hampton Inn
Courtyard Marriott
Exit 80- Comfort Inn and Suites( beside Casey Jones)
Double Tree- South of Casey Jones- .4 mile
Please come and have a great, relaxing weekend. Registration and check-in will begin at 5:00 on the 27th. We look so forward to seeing you there.
Beth Naylor and the TNSO Awards Committee:
The new and improved Maycie Chapter Excellence form is here! The new form is streamlined for simplicity for chapters. It will be presented as a Google Form for award submission and as a PDF for chapters to use as a worksheet. The new format was shared at the TNSO State Convention, and chapter presidents had an opportunity to review the new form and make suggestions and provide input. The Awards Committee will be presenting a Zoom Workshop to answer questions about the new form. See details in News at a Glance above.
Linda McCrary and the TNSO Bylaws and Rules Committee:
Thank you for submitting your chapter Rules for review by the TNSO Bylaws and Rules Committee. We appreciate you. If you were unable to submit your Rules in 2024 more information can be found at https://www.tndkg.org/. Click on Resources and scroll to Bylaws and Rules. (also attached to this newsletter)
The deadline to submit proposals to amend the Bylaws and Rules is December 1, 2024
Dr. Elaine Vaughan and the Chapter Strengthening Committee:
Chapter Strengthening Due Date: September 30, 2024
The Chapter Strengthening Committee has released the link to the Connection Survey for 2024. Chapters may earn the Connection Award certificate for completing the survey by Monday, September 30, 2024. Please use the following link to earn your Maycie Points and the Connection Award certificate:
https://forms.gle/wMo7dgmKE9E2wU2y9
Judy England and the Communications and Marketing Committee:
I wish to congratulate all the chapters that have submitted newsletters this past year. You may continue to submit your chapter newsletters to the committee member to whom you previously submitted. If your chapter would like to submit newsletters but you aren't sure who to send them to, you find the list on tndkg.org. Go to Resources, select Communications and Marketing; there you will find the contact list for your chapter. I hope to get newsletter participation from every chapter!
TNSO 2nd VP Terry Sharp and the Convention Steering Committee:
Many thanks to the Convention Steering Committee and to all who volunteered as pages, table hostesses, etc. for a wonderful state convention!
Chasity Ragsdale and the TNSO Educational Excellence Committee:
Please continue sending in your excellent chapter programs and projects to be included on the EEC Corner Spotlight on the website. Congratulations to Lambda and Kappa Chapters for winning the Iris Award for best program and project!
Dr. Dorrie Powell and the TNSO Finance Committee:
Four of the proposed amendments approved during the 2024 TNSO Convention directly impact the 2024-2026 TNSO Budget. These approved amendments increase the award amount of the Evangeline Hartsook Scholarship, the Lottye McCall Scholarship, the Louise Oakley Scholarship, and the Eleanor Osteen Scholarship from $1250.00 each to $1500.00 each (see Rules 4.7.2.B., 4.7.2.D., 4.7.2.E., and 4.7.2.F).
These increased award amounts are reflected in the revised budget attached to this issue of Leadership Links and represent the only change to the previously approved state organization budget. Members of the TNSO Executive Board will receive an electronic ballot in the next few days asking them to approve this revised budget.
Please contact Finance Committee chair Dorrie Powell (731-234-5763 or powell.dorrie@gmail.com) if you have any questions.
Belinda Juergens and the TNSO Leadership Development Committee:
Mark your calendar for the second Beginning Leadership Seminar which is scheduled for September 13-14, 2024 at Henry Horton State Park. The registration form is below:
The TNSO Advanced Leadership Seminar is being planned for March 7-8, 2025. Location is TBD and the presenter will be Becky Sadowski.
Dr. Carolyn Tucker and Brenda Oldham and the TNSO Legislation Committee:
Please contact Dr. Carolyn Tucker at ladybaldwintucker@gmail.com or Brenda Oldham at
travelers4043@bellsouth.net and let them know the contact information for your chapter Legislation Committee Chair. They would like to provide updates on legislative news and events.
Sixty-nine DKG members from 26 states attended the US Forum in Washington DC in March. This was an exceptionally well planned event, sponsored by DKG, which heightened the importance of legislative awareness.
If your TN chapter was not represented at the Forum, you might want to consider sending a legislative minded member in 2026. The forum is a fully-packed four day meeting covering all topics affecting education, legislation, member involvement and instruction before lobbying Congress. Registration fees cover meals and the hotel room rate is reduced for attendees. This is one of DKG's best efforts to educate members with useful information for application at all levels of involvement. Beverly Hall, Lynn Caruthers, Linda McCrary, Pam Thompson, and Brenda Oldham attended from TN.
Peggy Monroe from Alpha Rho Chapter was elected to the position of Southeast Representative for the US Forum at the International Convention.
Dr. Linda Eller and the TNSO Membership Committee:
Question: Is your chapter required to vote on new members? See the answer in the attached document below from International, "Voting on a Member"
The TNSO Membership Committee will be offering new awards this biennium for the chapter that reinstates the greatest percentage of dropped members. For the data on members from your chapter that have dropped that you would like to contact, email Linda Eller at tndkg.mem@gmail.com for a listing. Please send Linda Eller a list of reinstated members so that you will be eligible for recognition. Congratulations to the chapters who received awards and recognition at the convention.
The75 page Membership Moments booklet can be found on the state website at www.tndkg.org or can be accessed here. https://www.tndkg.org/_files/ugd/4ad137_72ad2fda6a504ff99238137fd326ed82.pdf
Sandra Pineault and the Nominations Committee:
I hope you are taking time to enjoy summer activities, be they outdoors or staying inside to stay cool. It is important to us all to recharge, and for many, especially those still in the classroom, summer is the best time to do this. While you take some extra time for yourself, please consider committing to a greater engagement to DKG by applying to be a state officer or to serve on an elected committee—Finance, Personnel, Nominations or the Vision Foundation Board.
I hope you will also commit to encouraging promising women in your chapters to submit applications for these positions. There are so many great leaders in our ranks; sometimes it only takes a word from someone else to encourage them to step up to serve on the state level. Make a commitment to speak to at least one person in your chapter to help give them the confidence to apply for one of the officer or elected committee positions.
Applications are found on the TN DKG website at https://www.tndkg.org/forms and are accepted through October 31, 2024. You could make a valuable contribution to the Tennessee State Organization in the 2025-27 biennium by applying or encouraging someone else to apply for one of the positions.
Janice Stooksberry and the TNSO Personnel Committee:
All TNSO Related Personnel have been retained for the next year, and contracts have been signed. We appreciate the excellent work of our Treasurer, Dr. Dianne Anderson; Executive Secretary, Jennifer Lusk; Webmaster, Sherrie Collins; and Editor, Michelle Steen.
Elaine Warwick and the TNSO Planning Committee:
TNSO Chapter Strategic Plan Update for 2023
The TNSO Planning Committee asks state committees, state officers and related personnel, chapters, and members to review the current TSO Strategic Plan and propose changes that you think are needed. The current plan, as well as the form for submitting changes, appears at www.tndkg.org under Resources/Strategic Plan. Please send suggested changes to Planning Committee Chair Elaine Warwick (elainewarwick@att.net) by November 1, 2024. (form is attached below) Thank you for benefiting the state organization and your chapter by your efforts in planning!
The Planning Committee conducted a survey of all state chapters concerning the updating of their chapter strategic plan. The information gleaned from this survey is very enlightening and needs to be shared with all the stakeholders involved. Attached below is a summary of the chapter strategic plan survey results.
Please look at these results, share and discuss them with your chapter members. You will find that chapters have similar concerns such as membership retention and recruitment. Collaborate with other chapters in your area and find ways to help each other or share ideas. Contact your area director, TN Chapter Strengthening Committee, or other state officers if you need assistance in any way.
If you would like a copy of all survey results in an Excel spreadsheet, I would be happy to share it with you. Contact me at elainewarwick@att.net.
Cindy Lynn and the TNSO Scholarship Committee:
Ladies, the Scholarship Committee would like to encourage you to apply for a scholarship. The scholarships for those working on masters has been increased from $1250 to $1500 beginning this year. We would love to help you further your career.
Linda Mann and Mildred Nelson and the TNSO Special Events Committee:
Thank you for your donations to the Silent Auction at the TNSO Convention. The auction raised $2840.00, and another $1298.00 was raised through the sale of Iris Notecards and other Iris-themed merchandise for a total of $4138.00. All proceeds benefit leadership development for our state.
The Special Events Committee is preparing for the 2025 Silent Auction. All chapters are
encouraged to participate and help the state organization meet the goal of 100%-
chapter participation. Money raised at the Silent Auction is used to fund the Tennessee
Beginning and Advanced Leadership Management Seminars, Leadership Conference
for Committee Planning, and other professional development activities. Developing
leaders is one of DKG’s most important tasks.
Mary Wadley and the TNSO State Projects Committee
EARLY CAREER EDUCATORS PROMOTIONAL FLYER IS HERE!!
EXCITING NEW STATE PROJECT - The TNSO State Projects Committee has received a Lucile Cornetet Seminar Award in the amount of $3064.00 And a Vision Foundation Award of $2500.00 to host three regional workshops for early career educators in the fall of 2024. Workshops have been scheduled for September 21, 2024 at St. Columba Retreat in Memphis, October 26, 2024 at The Dwelling Place in White Bluff, and November 16, 2024 at Falls Creek Falls State Park. Here is the link to the promotional flyer:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a3AthnQLHCvE1ukOEJeh7SoP6zG10c9Y/view?usp=sharing
It is also attached to this newsletter as a PDF.
Please email this to administrators, Central Office, and any early career educators you know. Who is eligible? All who have been teaching 5 years or less. You do not have to be a DKG member. Male teachers are welcome also! This is a positive step forward in our mission of supporting educators and excellence in education.
Area Directors
Be sure and contact your Area Director and invite her to a chapter meeting. Your Area Directors are there to support your chapter, and to aid in organizing activities and gatherings within your area. The list of Area Directors is attached, as well as the Area Realignment map.
Contact your Area Director and ask about the possibility of some of your area chapters combining for a joint Orientation for new members. Any of our TNSO Officers and Related Personnel and our Chapter Strengthening Chair would love to be invited to help facilitate the orientation. They possess a wealth of knowledge about our society and they rarely have the opportunity to visit with chapters. Officers and Related Personnel include the following:
East Tennessee: 2nd VP Terry Sharp and Webmaster Sherrie Collins. Chapter Strengthening Committee Chair Dr. Elaine Vaughan.
Middle Tennessee: President Marsha Brewer, 1st VP Chasity Ragsdale, Recording Secretary Dr. Regina Henry, Corresponding Secretary Belinda Juergens, Executive Secretary Jenni Lusk, and Parliamentarian Dr. Kathie Harned
West Tennessee: Treasurer Dr. Dianne Anderson and Editor Michelle Steen.
Calendar
August 1, 2024 - Collegial Exchange Submissions Due
August 8, 2024 - Deadline to apply for Beginning Leadership Seminar
September 1, 2024 - State Organization Treasurers submit Form 16
September 13-14, 2024 - Beginning Leadership Seminar
September 15, 2024 - Arts and Humanities Fall Gallery Submissions Due
September 21, 2024 - Early Career Educators Survival Kit Workshop (West)
September 27-28, 2024 - TNSO Creative Arts Retreat
September 30, 2024 - All Dues must be entered in the portal to avoid members being dropped October first.
September 30, 2024 - Connections Survey due
October 1, 2024 - Bulletin: Journal Submission (International)
October 26, 2024 - Early Career Educators Survival Kit Workshop (Middle)
November 1, 2024 - DKGIEF Cornetet Application due
November 15, 2024 - Chapter Treasurers must file IRS form 990
November 15, 2024 - Bulletin: Collegial Exchange Submission
November 16, 2024 - Early Career Educators Survival Kit Workshop (East)
December 1, 2024 - Deadline to submit proposed amendments to Bylaws and Rules
December 15, 2024 - Chapter Yearbook Submitted to TNSO First VP
December 15, 2024 - Deadline for International Collegial Exchange Submission
December 31, 2024 - Vision Foundation Applications due
December 31, 2024 - Liz Whorley Bradley Application due
February 1, 2025 - TNSO Scholarship Application due
March 7-8, 2025 - TNSO Advance Leadership Seminar
March 15, 2025 - Order of the Rose and Rosebud nominations due to Awards Committee
March 15, 2025 - Chapter Communications and Chapter Marketing Award submissions due
April 1, 2025 - Maycie Chapter Excellence Award Application due to Awards Committee
April 1, 2025 - Chapter Rules for review (if review year) to Bylaws and Rules Committee
May 1, 2025 - TNSO Convention Registration due
May 1, 2025 - Deadline to apply for DKGIEF Cornetet Award
May 15, 2025 - Deadline for submission to International Journal
May 18, 2025 - TNSO Executive Board Meeting (virtual)
June 5-7, 2025 - TNSO Convention in Sewanee, TN
July 29-August 2, 2025 - International Conference in New Orleans, LA
June 5-7, 2025 - TNSO Convention
