DKG WSO President's Page
Pat Bennett-Forman
Greetings
I am excited to be serving as the Washington State Organization DKG President for the 2021-2023 biennium. Susan Fritts, president 2019-2021, took us through a very difficult period for our organization as the COVID pandemic shut down all in-person conferences, meetings and committee work. We had to learn a whole new vocabulary and set of skills to continue our work virtually. Staying connected, particularly with members without technology, was challenging but managed so gracefully by Susan, and with such empathy. Now we are endeavoring to re-envision, re-energize and re-commit ourselves to a new DKG. The organization is seeking to improve and grow to be an even better professional organization while still focused on the values and purposes that we initially committed to when we accepted the invitation to join. |
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I hope you will engage with the WSO, its officers, and committees and with your own chapters to advance our purposes and grow our organization to better serve women educators and education.
I welcome your comments and input at any time. Please feel free to use the “contact me” space on this page to share your ideas, your concerns, and your excitement at DKG. We are better together!
Thank you.
Pat Bennett-Forman
2021-2023 WSO President
Theme: Coming Together to Build Community and Advance Our Purposes.
One of the most frequently cited reasons for retaining membership in DKG is appreciation for the fellowship and Community that comes from participation in the Society, for the role models members met and the support they receive in enhancing their own professional and personal growth.
The President’s Theme for 2021-2023 is “Coming Together to Build Community and Advance Our Purposes.” Particularly after the COVID year and all its disruptions, the notion of “coming together” is important. Like in an old-fashioned barn raising or a Habitat for Humanity project, when people come together to build, they build more than a lasting structure; they build community.
We “build community” in DKG when we come together to:
1. Connect with and support members and prospective members;
2. Create a Sense of Belonging that welcomes and includes all women educators;
3. Promote Relevant Programs of Action in our professional development, advocacy and service
opportunities; and
4. Enhance the Leadership Skills of all members.
Along with the Strategic Action Plan, these four component strategies will be the focus for our Washington State Organization DKG in the 2021-23 biennium as we re-envision, re-energize, re-commit to and re-build our state DKG organization. When all these components are in place, we create an organization that has value to all educators, that women will want to belong to, and that actualizes our vision to “impact education worldwide.”
Statewide Unity Project
Our DKG State Organization has a rich history of “coming together” to work on a unified project in which all chapters and all members contribute. Dresses for Africa, Purpose-filled Purses, Snuggle Time Fleece Blankets, Breast Intentions and Literacy projects have demonstrated the power of our working together to positively impact the lives of women and children.
Our 2021-2023 Unity Project focuses on Supportive Connections. Collaborations make an impact on those engaged in the collaboration. They increase the retention rate for new educators. Collaborative relationships can help adolescents make smart choices. Rose Buddies help integrate new members into the chapter community. Mentors ease the way for new officers as they take the reins of chapter leadership. Collaboration between chapters can encourage struggling chapters to try new avenues for membership recruitment. When we make collaborative connections, we can and do make a difference.
In Fall 2021, chapters are asked to discuss possible opportunities for collaborative connections and choose one or more activity that fits their membership. WSO officers will be available to assist chapters as needed to develop their collaboration programs. Chapters are encouraged to detail their projects and to share their stories in the Washington State Organization News and to complete the interactive form Successful Programs found on the WSO web site. Let’s discover the power of Supportive Connections to assist members and prospective members and to revitalize our chapters.
Contact Me
Your comments, suggestions, questions and ideas are welcomed by your WSO Executive Committee. Please feel free to contact Pat Bennett-Forman at any time using the form below.
I welcome your comments and input at any time. Please feel free to use the “contact me” space on this page to share your ideas, your concerns, and your excitement at DKG. We are better together!
Thank you.
Pat Bennett-Forman
2021-2023 WSO President
Theme: Coming Together to Build Community and Advance Our Purposes.
One of the most frequently cited reasons for retaining membership in DKG is appreciation for the fellowship and Community that comes from participation in the Society, for the role models members met and the support they receive in enhancing their own professional and personal growth.
The President’s Theme for 2021-2023 is “Coming Together to Build Community and Advance Our Purposes.” Particularly after the COVID year and all its disruptions, the notion of “coming together” is important. Like in an old-fashioned barn raising or a Habitat for Humanity project, when people come together to build, they build more than a lasting structure; they build community.
We “build community” in DKG when we come together to:
1. Connect with and support members and prospective members;
2. Create a Sense of Belonging that welcomes and includes all women educators;
3. Promote Relevant Programs of Action in our professional development, advocacy and service
opportunities; and
4. Enhance the Leadership Skills of all members.
Along with the Strategic Action Plan, these four component strategies will be the focus for our Washington State Organization DKG in the 2021-23 biennium as we re-envision, re-energize, re-commit to and re-build our state DKG organization. When all these components are in place, we create an organization that has value to all educators, that women will want to belong to, and that actualizes our vision to “impact education worldwide.”
Statewide Unity Project
Our DKG State Organization has a rich history of “coming together” to work on a unified project in which all chapters and all members contribute. Dresses for Africa, Purpose-filled Purses, Snuggle Time Fleece Blankets, Breast Intentions and Literacy projects have demonstrated the power of our working together to positively impact the lives of women and children.
Our 2021-2023 Unity Project focuses on Supportive Connections. Collaborations make an impact on those engaged in the collaboration. They increase the retention rate for new educators. Collaborative relationships can help adolescents make smart choices. Rose Buddies help integrate new members into the chapter community. Mentors ease the way for new officers as they take the reins of chapter leadership. Collaboration between chapters can encourage struggling chapters to try new avenues for membership recruitment. When we make collaborative connections, we can and do make a difference.
In Fall 2021, chapters are asked to discuss possible opportunities for collaborative connections and choose one or more activity that fits their membership. WSO officers will be available to assist chapters as needed to develop their collaboration programs. Chapters are encouraged to detail their projects and to share their stories in the Washington State Organization News and to complete the interactive form Successful Programs found on the WSO web site. Let’s discover the power of Supportive Connections to assist members and prospective members and to revitalize our chapters.
Contact Me
Your comments, suggestions, questions and ideas are welcomed by your WSO Executive Committee. Please feel free to contact Pat Bennett-Forman at any time using the form below.
Updated 8-6-21