The next P2P meeting is scheduled for January 26, 2025 at 2:30 P.M Central Time, 3:30 P.M. Eastern Time. P2P will be held on the 4th Sunday of January due to a convention planning meeting in Sewanee on the 3rd weekend. All chapter presidents are encouraged to join.
From Dr. Elaine Vaughan, Chapter Strengthening Chair 2023-2025:
Chapters, please consider contacting the Chapter Strengthening Committee to assist with maintaining or revitalizing chapter membership. The Chapter Strengthening Committee, consisting of 10 area directors and the chair, are willing to mentor and offer support by visiting your chapter either face-to-face or virtually The results of the 2024 Connection Survey (completed by 94% of the chapters) is a resource used by Area Directors for supporting chapters in organizing activities and gatherings as well as visits. The results of the Connection Survey also indicated that chapters are concerned with membership and ways to retain members or how to attract dropped members. The Reinstatement Project is designed to help chapters review dropped members and possibly reestablish membership. Please contact Dr. Elaine Vaughan (elainevaughan77@gmail.com) or visit the TNSO website (Resources, Chapter Strengthening) for more information.
State Presidents' histories are now available on the TNDKG website under About Us - History.
MAYCIE AWARD
The new and improved Maycie Award for Chapter Excellence Form is here! The following link will take you to the new version contents:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WOo6EEgK7oMI6rSPZWG7KXXLYKugGUsLgLau-1oNraI/edit?usp=sharing
(See more information under News of Committees/Awards below.)
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)
Update: We are still pursuing the video project, but are having issues with different formats, etc. We will try get more information to you soon on some standards for the videos. Thanks to those who have sent them in so far!
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, and highlight upcoming events in your chapter newsletters and communications. 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.
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:
Michelle Steen, Editor:
Articles scheduled for the February edition include Proposed Officer/Vision Foundation/ Committee Members (Nominations Committee), state convention information and state convention registration form (Convention Steering), reminder regarding Maycie Award for Chapter Excellence, request for Order of the Rose nominees, request for Rosebud Award nominees (all Awards Committee), Mini-Mall registration for state convention (State First Vice-President), article regarding Legislative events and Day on the Hill (Legislative Committee), Communication Award reminder (Communications and Marketing Committee), Chapter Strengthening article (Chapter Strengthening Committee), chapter news (from any chapter who would like to submit), and In Memoriam (Membership Committee). All editions of the DKG Tennessee News are available for viewing at the state website, www.tndkg.org/ More. Please send any questions to Michelle Steen, mnsteeneditor@gmail.com.
Beth Naylor and the TNSO Awards Committee:
The Awards Committee has made significant updates to the Maycie Chapter Excellence Awards submission form. The form is now a Google form. Here is the link: https://forms.gle/eu6gn9GfMw1zbHGc6
There is also a link to a pdf on the tndkg.org web site. This can be used as a planning document. Please submit the Google form by April 1, 2025.
The updated Order of the Rose and Rosebud Nomination forms can be found on the tndkg.org website or here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10NC244OQAObYu9rjH_cM2EiB909OqjDMxapORoBQ3KM/edit?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1riSTNrLrDsttZB0xv2VJsLSP_y-YAJ_Im9-1jdKAGCs/edit?usp=sharing
PDFs are attached to this newsletter.
Nominations should be submitted by March 15, 2025.
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)
Judy England and the Communications and Marketing Committee:
The updated Communications Award Score Sheet is attached to this newsletter. 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 can find the list on tndkg.org. Go to Resources, select Communications and Marketing; there you will find the contact list for your chapter, along with award forms and criteria. The deadline for submitting the award form is March 15, 2025.
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. Also, please consider submitting one of your programs or projects for consideration for the Iris Award. This award is presented at the state convention to the best chapter program and best chapter project. You must first send your program/project in to the EEC Corner Spotlight before it is eligible for the award. The application is due April 1. Here is the link to the updated application: https://forms.gle/oXEhyv1boPZK7gCm8
From Chasity's First VP Hat:
Convention Workshop Proposals are due March 15, 2025. Here is the link to the form:
https://forms.gle/dBf3Rh48aNJgenuq7
Mini Mall Applications are due May 1, 2025. Here is the link to the form:
https://forms.gle/ad5qNpsnzsQFdZo9A
Dr. Dorrie Powell and the TNSO Finance Committee:
Please submit any budget amendment proposals to the finance committee by April 1, 2025.
Jan Brown and the Historical Preservation Committee:
The Historical Preservation Committee would like your help in preserving each chapter's history.
Someone from the committee will be contacting you to send in an updated chapter history.
If you already have an updated chapter history, you can send it to Jan Brown at tndkg.hispres@gmail.com or janubrown@aol.com
The committee will also be discussing items each chapter should maintain and items that are ok to delete (let go of).
Belinda Juergens and the TNSO Leadership Development Committee:
The TNSO Advanced Leadership Seminar will be held February 28 - March 1, 2025 at Henry Horton State Park. The presenter will be past International President Becky Sadowski. The seminar will be based on the book The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander. Registration cost will be $30.00 for participants, and anyone who has attended a TNSO Beginning Leadership Seminar is eligible to apply. The registration link can be found in "News at a Glance" above.
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.
The TNSO Legislation Committee will be hosting a Zoom session on Navigating the Tennessee General Assembly Website on Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 6:00 Central Time, 7:00 Eastern Time. Participation in this session will count as points on the Legislative Award. Here is the link to the Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88366378229?pwd=Zy1Jrv7qgz0Tc362atdHwAFIf0ojNT.1
It will be grand if you, your chapter, friends of education, and stakeholders in education, attend in person, Tuesday, FEBRUARY 25 " An Evening with Missy Testerman", the 2024 National Teacher of the Year from Rogersville, TN. She will share her stories of the experience of travels across the nation and the impact educators can have in the classroom and as active participants in the civics of a city, county and state. There will also be a brief time of updates on current legislation in the Legislature presented by a TEA lobbyist. Talking points for going on the hill on Wednesday, FEBRUARY 26 will be beneficial. The evening is from 7-9 PM at the Tennessee Education Association building 801 Second Avenue, Nashville 37201-1099. Parking is free. Please come, and help us fill the room to celebrate one of our own nationally recognized veteran teacher of Tennessee. Contact Brenda Oldham for more information. travelers4043@bellsouth.net 615-384-6018
Dr. Linda Eller and the TNSO Membership Committee:
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
Elaine Warwick and the TNSO Planning Committee:
TNSO Chapter Strategic Plan Update for 2023
(See information in "News at a Glance" above)
Cindy Lynn and the TNSO Scholarship Committee:
The Scholarship committee would like to be sure members are aware that all former $1250 scholarships are now $1500. Also those applying for Masters or other graduate study now only need to have been a member for one calendar year. Please encourage members to apply! The updated Scholarship Brochure can be found on the state website, and is attached to this newsletter.
The updated Scholarship application can be found on the website at:
https://www.tndkg.org/chapter-forms-reports The deadline to apply is February 1, 2025.
Linda Mann and Mildred Nelson and the TNSO Special Events Committee:
As the new year begins, the 2025 DKG Tennessee Convention is getting closer. The Special Events Committee is looking forward to seeing all the great items for bid at our 2025 silent auction at Sewanee. Please start planning what your chapter can do to help our silent auction be a success. All chapters are encouraged to participate and help the state organization meet the goal of 100%-chapter participation. We had a great time last year! It seems that every year your entries get more creative and beautiful. 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
The State Projects Committee will not sponsor an Essay Contest this year. Chapters are welcome to conduct essay contests locally, but there will be no awards given at the state level for 2025 due to the focus on Early Career Educators.
January 1, 2025 - Articles sent to Michelle Steen for DKG TN News
January 4, 2025 - SAP Progress Reports from State Officers, Related Personnel, and Committee Chairs due
January 5, 2025 - Deadline to apply for TNSO Advanced Leadership Seminar
January 7, 2025 - Inside International Zoom at 12:30 P.M. Central Time
January 23, 2025 - Navigating the Tennessee General Assembly Website Zoom session at 6:00 Central Time
February 1, 2025 - TNSO Scholarship Application due
February 1, 2025 - International Scholarship Application due
February 15, 2025 - Arts and Humanities Submissions for Spring Gallery
February 28 - March 1, 2025 - TNSO Advanced Leadership Seminar
March 1, 2025 - International Bulletin Journal submissions due
March 1, 2024 - DKGIEF Project Application due
March 15, 2025 - TNSO Achievement Award Application due
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
March 15, 2025 - Convention Workshop Proposals due
April 1, 2024 - Deadline for proposed amendments to the TNSO Budget
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
April 1, 2025 - Deadline to submit EEC Iris Award Form
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)
May 29-31, 2025 - TNSO Convention in Sewanee, TN
July 29-31, 2025 - State Organization Leadership Training in New Orleans, LA
July 31-August 2, 2025 - International Conference in New Orleans, LA
