Dear Theta Friends,

Friendship is a special place; I’m glad we are there.

With summer coming to a close and our first DKG meeting approaching, I feel your support as I begin my biennium as Theta’s president. Our Executive Board met and has turned its attention to making plans. Officers and Committee Chairs have stepped up to take the lead, and other members have agreed to offer their support. I want to say a sincere “Thank You” to all who answered my calls, texts and emails, and chose the committees which most interest you. Many of you will soon be contacted as your committees meet and prepare to report plans and progress at our September 10th meeting. There is important work Theta can do this year, and it will take all of us working together to get it done. Supporting Education and Educators is our goal!

I am looking forward to our September meeting. We will make and share our favorite foods,

hear the bold plans committees have for the upcoming year, and enjoy the long-awaited “Native Plants” program our own Joyce Huguelet (gardener extraordinaire) is preparing for us for the third time. Joyce’s program has been the victim of both the pandemic and a snow storm, so cheers go out to her for being persistent!

Mark your calendars and let’s set a record for attendance at this first general meeting of the

biennium!!

Fondly,

Connie Marks

Delta Kappa Gamma Society

Theta Chapter President 2022-2024

marksvics@aol.com

Our annual covered dish luncheon is something everyone has missed. Since the meeting is being held at the Pine Valley Library, we will not have a full kitchen. Along with your covered dish, please bring a utensil for serving. Bottled water and paper products will be provided.

We are also excited to finally have Joyce Huguelet present her program on "Native Plants".

Thank you to Theta's President Connie Marks for hosting our Executive Board Summer Planning Meeting in her home today. We had a productive meeting and 2022-23 should be an exciting year in Theta! The 12 members who were able to attend enjoyed the fellowship and food very much!

Our Beginning Teacher Committee is excited to support beginning teachers from Forest Hills Elementary School.

Judy Busick has bought some small notecards to take to our meeting on September 10th for those present to write short notes of encouragement to a BT. We will deliver the notes and a small bag of treats to the school the following week.

This summer I was privileged to attend DKG Ignite 2022: Leaders Empowering Leaders. In talking about recruiting and keeping members in any organization, one speaker said you must remember WIIFT— What’s In It For Them? If we consider what’s in it for each member, Purpose V is a great recruitment and retention tool to use to share some benefits of membership. Delta Kappa Gamma offers scholarships and grants on the state and international level. Our own North Carolina Educational Foundation has several opportunities for members and nonmembers. Many chapters also offer opportunities for grants and funding.

Make sure all of your members and prospective members recognize this valuable benefit from DKG.

On a side note – I wish each of you could have been there the morning Carol Bostian was announced as the North Carolina Star of the Southeast. She was positioned right in front of the podium, poised to take the recipient’s picture. The surprise on her face was evident. I am grateful to Dr. Teresa Cowan for taking the camera from Carol and to Susan Kuenzel for also taking some photos. It is always so rewarding to honor such a dedicated NC DKG member.

Congratulations also go to our very own Dr. Teresa Cowan for being elected as the 2022-2024 Southeast Regional Director. I look forward to working with her along with the other Southeast Region presidents.

Beth Winstead

NC DKG President 2021-2023

The current DKG websites, member and nonmember, were developed in 2014. Slight changes were made in 2017. However, the DKG Communications and Marketing Committee has heard members’ frustration about navigating the website. This concern was brought to CTOG—a group that includes tech professionals at Headquarters and several members who are critically concerned with communication, including the president, executive director, administrators, Communications and Marketing chair, and Society editor.

Two key concepts drove the website redesign decisions of CTOG. The first key principle is “User Focused” - who is visiting the website, and why are they coming? The second key principle is “User Friendly” - a logical progression of topics and only four to five clicks to get to the needed information. The redesigned member site will include seven key tabs, and the nonmember site will have six key tabs.

Members are encouraged to preview the site maps and the location of topics on the redesigned site. A link to the website redesign information is available under the rotator on the DKG homepage. A feedback form is available by scrolling to the bottom of the website redesign page. CTOG is continuing to request feedback before the site debuts in late fall.

Questions? Contact Dr. Teresa Cowan, 2020-2022 Communications & Marketing chair, or Dr. Judy Merz, DKG Bulletin editor