We are well into January of 2011 and have new things to share. The Bulletin has a fresh new cover so watch for it's arrival in your mail. The Constitution and International Standing Rules, 2010, has been printed and is ready for purchase for the Society store and for your Kindle. The Bulletin will soon be available for the Kindle.
Headquarters is humming with activities for regional conferences and processing multiple applications. The information department has launched the beginnings for the regional Web sites. Watch for additions and changes on these sites. Planning of the next editions of the DKG News, the President's Page and the Bulletin, with editor, Judy Mertz, have already begun. Operations is keeping the building running efficiently and warm for Austin's sudden cold snap. This department processes scholarship and world fellowship applications so they are busy as bees. The executive department stays busy with travel arrangements for committees, planning for future conventions and training the new Educational Foundation assistant. Membership has been working tirelessly with the membership committee to provide new versions of orientation and a completely new re-orientation guide.The educational excellence committee is working fast and furious to provide new and fresh materials for projects and ways to support early career educators.
I've been experimenting with a flip camera and here's a short video of the Planning Meeting held in September.
On a personal note, I have a new red car, a Ford Edge. I am so excited and love the ride. It rides great and has lots of new technologies that I'm learning to use. I'm loving being in Austin and have settled well in my home. I'm looking forward to traveling to state organization conferences and regionals this summer.
I've been working on my dissertation for a year now and seem to be making some progress. I recently got chapter 3 back from my advisor with major rewrites to do. I completed that task today. I've sent it back and hope I'll soon be able to move to the next chapter (five chapters in all). I took the holidays off to rest but now I'm back at it. I spend lots of Saturday and Sunday afternoons writing or reading. The coursework was tough but I'm beginning to think this is harder.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Holiday Time
Many committees have met during the fall. Seeing these groups meet and begin their work makes for exciting happenings at headquarters. We've celebrated birthdays and had a few days for Thanksgiving to share with family and friends. Now it is Christmas time for many and we are tying up jobs, wrapping packages, setting calendars for the new year and planning for regional conferences. The staff at headquarters is always busy. It is amazing how much work takes place in Austin. From membership questions to helping state organizations and chapters with web sites, all are answering questions, helping someone or solving problems. We enjoy visitors coming in for tours so when in Austin, make sure you visit us.
The building's schedule follows the Austin School District's calendar so will be closed Monday, December 20- January 1. We will return to the office Jan. 3, 2011. Have a wonderful holiday season as you celebrate your holiday event with family and friends. My dog and I will be traveling to Tennessee to see family. So Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I'll be back in January.
Friday, September 3, 2010
New Theme, New Board, New Committees
Delta Kappa Gamma began a new biennium in July with the completion of the international convention. Our new international president, Dr. Jensi Souders, has been working hard to prepare for the upcoming training and orientation session to be held in Little Rock, Arkansas. She has a blog up and soon will lead regional directors and committee chairs in new directions.
I thought it might be informative to share with you, our members, what takes place at the international level for this transition to occur. We met with Jensi in Austin during the first week in August. Our job here at headquarters is to help her with what she needs to have a successful orientation and training meeting in Little Rock. Each staff member has a different role to play as we offer suggestions, advice and answer questions. The international president has a big learning curve in spite of her vast knowledge and experiences within the Society. Jensi came to Austin with lots of notes and ideas. She asked questions about each agenda and the process for the preparations. Each day was long and mind-boggling but when she left Austin, Jensi had agendas almost finalized, materials set in motion and much homework. I have known Jensi for a long time since I am from Tennessee and had the privilege of entertaining her while she was here. Once our work was done, we managed to run a few errands and have a relaxing dinner at Chuy's ( an Austin Tex-Mex tradition).
After Jensi left Austin, we started preparing for Little Rock in addition to daily activities keeping Society business moving forward. My role is centered around information and the production of that information. So we began re-working a document from Jensi's arsenal of ideas. We updated the format and improved its appearance, printed and cut pages to size for a productive activity she plans. Meanwhile, we work on the September/ October News, assist the new Bulletin editor with the fall the edition and develop the next month's home page stories for the Web site as this is changed weekly, minimally. In between all this activity we are preparing the new international directory, beginning the process of formatting the upcoming Constitution, installing software upgrades and answering phone calls and emails. We stay busy here making sure everything runs smoothly.
Next week the four administrators travel to Little Rock for our first full sessions with the new board and committee chairs. For some this will be their first international committee experience while others have been on the board before or worked on a committee. We want everything to be wonderful as we meet at the Peabody Hotel to learn, grow and design the future of the Society together. This will also be a first experience for me in my new role. I know some of the members we will met and some will become new friends. I spoke to Peggy McCall on the phone the other day and this is her first committee adventure. I could hear the excitement in her voice as she said, "I'm so excited about this experience and coming to Austin." Peggy is one of those friends I already know and I too am looking forward to seeing her. Watch the Web site for updates on these experiences. I'm taking pictures so be a web watcher and find someone you know.
I thought it might be informative to share with you, our members, what takes place at the international level for this transition to occur. We met with Jensi in Austin during the first week in August. Our job here at headquarters is to help her with what she needs to have a successful orientation and training meeting in Little Rock. Each staff member has a different role to play as we offer suggestions, advice and answer questions. The international president has a big learning curve in spite of her vast knowledge and experiences within the Society. Jensi came to Austin with lots of notes and ideas. She asked questions about each agenda and the process for the preparations. Each day was long and mind-boggling but when she left Austin, Jensi had agendas almost finalized, materials set in motion and much homework. I have known Jensi for a long time since I am from Tennessee and had the privilege of entertaining her while she was here. Once our work was done, we managed to run a few errands and have a relaxing dinner at Chuy's ( an Austin Tex-Mex tradition).
After Jensi left Austin, we started preparing for Little Rock in addition to daily activities keeping Society business moving forward. My role is centered around information and the production of that information. So we began re-working a document from Jensi's arsenal of ideas. We updated the format and improved its appearance, printed and cut pages to size for a productive activity she plans. Meanwhile, we work on the September/ October News, assist the new Bulletin editor with the fall the edition and develop the next month's home page stories for the Web site as this is changed weekly, minimally. In between all this activity we are preparing the new international directory, beginning the process of formatting the upcoming Constitution, installing software upgrades and answering phone calls and emails. We stay busy here making sure everything runs smoothly.
Next week the four administrators travel to Little Rock for our first full sessions with the new board and committee chairs. For some this will be their first international committee experience while others have been on the board before or worked on a committee. We want everything to be wonderful as we meet at the Peabody Hotel to learn, grow and design the future of the Society together. This will also be a first experience for me in my new role. I know some of the members we will met and some will become new friends. I spoke to Peggy McCall on the phone the other day and this is her first committee adventure. I could hear the excitement in her voice as she said, "I'm so excited about this experience and coming to Austin." Peggy is one of those friends I already know and I too am looking forward to seeing her. Watch the Web site for updates on these experiences. I'm taking pictures so be a web watcher and find someone you know.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
International Convention Success
The 2010 International Convention had lots for all. You could go to workshops, attend a panel discussion, learn more about the proposed Constitution, enjoy Spokane on a variety of tours and meet friends from everywhere. The 2008-2010 administrative board met prior to convention to complete the final aspects of their work. The executive board met and had an enjoyable lunch together in preparation for convention events. Iowa state organization held a reception for Dr. Carolyn Rants and every region had a special breakfast.
This was my first international convention as a headquarters staff member and I was busy doing so many things I never thought about as an attending member. I had lots of backstage work. Some days it was running presentations, other days making sure speakers knew how to get backstage and to their assigned microphones. Other days were spent helping a member solve an issue or attending pre-convention training for editors and web masters. I met so many wonderful members and enjoyed putting names and faces together.
Gather on the River was an incredible evening. For those who were not able to be there this was a new experience. Coca Cola Enterprises sponsored the event. We had wrap sandwiches, coke products in special bottles and a jazz group playing from the river. The weather cooperated everyday and this event launched the convention on a positive note.
During the workshop days, I was on the technology panel which Judy Merz organized. What an experience. Judy lead us through practical topics to set the audience up for the Q & A time. We started on time and ended on time with lots of interaction from those attending.
During another workshop session, I slipped into one of the DKGnetwork sessions. Since convention we have had more than 50 new members join the social network. That's a fine beginning. Jensi Souders has told me she has updated her blog in the network so I must take a few minutes to read it.
One of the highlights for me was the President's Banquet. I had guests. My cousin, Jack and his wife Donna, drove up to Spokane on Friday to visit for a short time. I invited them to the dinner and they dressed up and met lots of ladies. They made friends at the Double Tree, too. I warned them that I'd have to sit at the head table but they would be fine for our members are friendly. They had a great time. We went out afterwards to catch up.
I stayed a few extra days as vacation and went to the park, relaxed with an afternoon at the spa and had dinner with a few remaining friends. The convention was a great success. Watch for more highlights and news on the DKG Web site.
This was my first international convention as a headquarters staff member and I was busy doing so many things I never thought about as an attending member. I had lots of backstage work. Some days it was running presentations, other days making sure speakers knew how to get backstage and to their assigned microphones. Other days were spent helping a member solve an issue or attending pre-convention training for editors and web masters. I met so many wonderful members and enjoyed putting names and faces together.
Gather on the River was an incredible evening. For those who were not able to be there this was a new experience. Coca Cola Enterprises sponsored the event. We had wrap sandwiches, coke products in special bottles and a jazz group playing from the river. The weather cooperated everyday and this event launched the convention on a positive note.
During the workshop days, I was on the technology panel which Judy Merz organized. What an experience. Judy lead us through practical topics to set the audience up for the Q & A time. We started on time and ended on time with lots of interaction from those attending.
During another workshop session, I slipped into one of the DKGnetwork sessions. Since convention we have had more than 50 new members join the social network. That's a fine beginning. Jensi Souders has told me she has updated her blog in the network so I must take a few minutes to read it.
One of the highlights for me was the President's Banquet. I had guests. My cousin, Jack and his wife Donna, drove up to Spokane on Friday to visit for a short time. I invited them to the dinner and they dressed up and met lots of ladies. They made friends at the Double Tree, too. I warned them that I'd have to sit at the head table but they would be fine for our members are friendly. They had a great time. We went out afterwards to catch up.
I stayed a few extra days as vacation and went to the park, relaxed with an afternoon at the spa and had dinner with a few remaining friends. The convention was a great success. Watch for more highlights and news on the DKG Web site.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)