Xi State Organization
Leadership Links
Founded in Nashville, TN, 1935
Dr. Dorrie Powell, President 2015-2017
December 2015
It is so hard to believe that Christmas is around the corner, that 2015 is nearly over, that our school
year is approaching the midpoint, and that this biennium is well underway with great plans for
spring and summer events. Please accept this as my heartfelt wish for you each to have a joyous
holiday season with your students, your chapter, and your family.
Next Xi State News
Remember that the deadline for submitting information for the February Xi State News is January 1,
2016. Don’t let the holidays keep you from submitting chapter pictures and news items.
Biennial Chapter Report
Remember that we have some great changes to the chapter reporting process. First, the new chapter
report combines the work of your chapter in areas such as Educational Excellence, Membership, and
World Fellowship into a single document. Also, remember that I requested that you use the Google.doc
version of the form so that your responses will be automatically entered into a spreadsheet that I can then
sort and use to complete the state form that I submit to International. Let me know if you have problems
accessing the form using the link you were emailed or if you have questions about the responses requested
on the form. Your deadline for completing the form is February 1, so consider gathering key chapter
members (be sure the treasurer is included) to complete the form together. This is a great opportunity to
brag on all that your chapter is doing because I certainly intend to brag on Xi State as a whole.
State Projects Committee – High School Essay Contest
High school essay contest guidelines and topic are now on the website in case teachers wish to have
students write the essay before Christmas break. Please note that the submission deadline has been
extended to April 1.
The committee has chosen a great topic this year, one that all of us might ponder:
“You can’t change how people treat you or what they say about you. All you can do is change how you
react to it.”
-Mahatma Gandhi
From the Chapter Strengthening Committee:
Each chapter president should have received an email or letter from a member of the Chapter
Strengthening Committee. Please do not hesitate to contact that individual to ask for help with your
chapter. If you will give specific areas of concern, this information will help the committee develop a
plan designed just for your chapter.
Communications & Publicity Commitee
Your State Organization Communication and Publicity Committee has so much to communicate to you!
Please note the following:
Website Evaluation Criteria Announced
Last month’s Leadership Links announced that there will be award certificates given for excellence in
website and social media chapter communication. For points on the Maycie Award for Chapter
Excellence and for individual chapter website awards, the following criteria will be used by the
Communications & Publicity Committee:
 Highest Honor (15 points): Must have current international certification seal displayed on
website homepage and updated at least after each chapter meeting/event.
 Honor (10 points): Non-certified websites that are updated at least after each chapter
meeting/event.
 Honorable Mention (5 points): An active, verified social media network.
Since only those websites that have the international certification are linked to the international and state
organization websites, chapters that have non-certified websites must notify your C&P committee
representative of the URL (web location) for your website. Also, if you have, in addition to a website or in
place of one, a social media network through Facebook, Twitter, Remind, etc., you must let your C&P
representative know and give her access to those sites through an invitation to join. If the C&P Committee
does not have access to your website or social media network, your communications cannot be verified
for award purposes.
Calling for Pictures of State Organization Events
As your chapter members take pictures at state organization events, please send them to Tracy Parker
([email protected]) for possible inclusion in a presentation at the 2016 state convention. Events
include last year’s convention and creative arts retreat as well as this year’s leadership seminars,
legislative symposium, new officers training, and any other event that is at the area or state organization
level. Be sure your chapter members are featured in the presentation!
Submit an Article for the EduEdge Column
Have you and your members noticed the new continuing column in Xi State News, called EduEdge? It is a
column specifically designed to share how technology can be used in the classroom. Encourage your
members to submit an article (150-word maximum) on how they are using technology in an innovative
way to further student success. Submissions should be sent to Jensi Souders ([email protected]) by
December 15 (for February issue) and by February 15 (for April issue). Articles may be submitted at any
time in the future for possible publication. Get points on your chapter’s excellence award application for
this communication!
Don’t Forget Your Web Watcher!
Have you assigned or gotten a volunteer to check out the state organization (www.xistate.org) and
international (www.dkg.org) websites on a regular basis and inform your members of what’s new? If you
haven’t, please do so. Note that the state website now has a box on the home page that tells you what is
new each month, making it easy for your web watcher to check it quickly! Just another good way to
advance chapter communication!
Expansion Committee
When you are considering prospective members for your chapter, please keep in mind the request from
the Xi State Expansion Committee that you identify outstanding women educators near the perimeter
of your chapter and invite them to membership. This recruitment strategy will not only expand your
existing chapter area and engage outstanding educators in the work of the Society, but it also serves as a
first step that may eventually lead to the establishment of new chapters in Xi State.
Please direct questions to Linda McCrary, Chair, [email protected].
Chapter Yearbooks
Remember that chapter yearbooks are due to 1st Vice President Sherrie Collins by December 15.
Complete the Xi State Chapter Yearbook Evaluation (attached to this email and available at
www.xistate.org/forms.html.) Then send both the completed evaluation form and a digital (pdf) copy of
your yearbook to Sherrie at [email protected].
Xi State Convention Breakout Session Proposals
Sherrie Collins, Xi State 1st Vice President, urges chapter members and state committees to submit
breakout session proposals by February 1. All Xi State Convention breakout sessions will be offered on
Friday, June 3. The breakout session proposal form is attached to this email and also available at
www.xistate.org/forms.html. Send your proposals to Sherrie at [email protected].
Vision Foundation Grants Available
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Want to get on the bandwagon with Xi State in “Growing Possibilities” through enhancing student learning
and creating teacher leadership opportunities?
The Xi State Vision Foundation provides grants for educational research, educational projects, publication
of research, and professional development opportunities to promote the personal and professional growth of
Xi State members and excellence in education.
Applications for the Liz Whorley Bradley Professional Growth Award and for Vision Foundation
Grants are attached to this email and also available at www.xistate.org/forms.html.
Due date is December 31. Submit applications to Lynn Caruthers at [email protected] . Please note
that the address listed for Lynn in the November Xi State News Vision Foundation article is not the correct
one. We apologize for this error.
Legislative Symposium
The 2016 Xi State Legislative Symposium will be held January 26-27 at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel,
2025 Rosa Parks Boulevard, Nashville. The symposium begins Tuesday evening with questions posed to
legislative panelists (email questions for this panel to Trish Stephenson - [email protected])
and concludes with a breakfast speaker before we adjourn to the Hill. Remember that the Legislative
Committee will provide talking points as we share our concerns with legislators. Be sure to set up your
appointments with state legislators well in advance.
The room rate this year is $119 for reservations made by January 3, 2016. The cost for breakfast on
Wednesday will be $25. Look for the registration form soon on the Xi State website under Forms or
contact Trish Stephenson with questions.
National Legislative Seminar
If legislation is your passion, consider attending the National Legislative Seminar March 13-16 at the
Holiday Inn National Airport, Crystal City, in Arlington, VA. Make reservations directly with the
hotel (www. hinationalairport.com) using Delta Kappa Gamma Group Code DKS or call 888-294-5059
by February 12 to receive special rates. You can find the registration form at www.usforumdkg.org or
contact Carrie Frye ([email protected] ) for more information. The US Forum, chaired by Tennessee’s Judy
Jackson, promises outstanding speakers, briefings on current legislation, and group discussion and
participation activities that will make the trip well worth the effort.
Finance Committee
The finance committee will be sending a short survey to chapter treasurers asking for their best
practices. Chapter presidents are also asked to contribute ideas regarding fundraising efforts and practices
for painless dues collection. The committee plans to present these ideas at the next Xi State convention in
June. Please contact Finance Committee chair, Marge Lofstrom ([email protected]), with your
ideas and questions.
Nashville 2016 Convention
Last call for volunteers for the Nashville 2016 International Convention! Help us meet our goal of 400
volunteers and 100% chapter participation by having individual members sign up to volunteer at the
convention and by having the chapter sign up to prepare hostess baskets or TN Night items. Complete
the volunteer form available at www.xistate.org/forms.html by the end of December. Help us make 2016 a
convention we can all experience with pride.
Nashville 2016 Breakout Session Proposals
If you are looking for another way to contribute to the success of the Nashville 2016 Convention, consider sharing
your talents, interests, and experiences with a breakout session. Proposals are due to Dr. Lyn Schmid by
February 1. The International Convention Breakout Session proposal form is attached to this email and available
at https://www.dkg.org/forms.
New Chapter Officers Training in April
Your chapter should already be thinking about your next slate of chapter officers. Remember that they need to be
elected though not necessarily installed by the New Officer Training events: Knoxville on April 9,
Murfreesboro on April 23, and Jackson on April 30. Details on specific locations, schedules, and sessions will
come directly to chapter presidents no later than February. These training events will give your new chapter
officers the tools and tips they need to succeed.
Leadership Management Seminar
If your members seem to feel unprepared to lead at the chapter level, encourage them to apply for one of the Xi
State Leadership Management Seminars. The Xi State Leadership Development Committee is pleased to announce
that the next Beginning Leadership Management Seminar will be held in West Tennessee, April 1-2, at St.
Columba’s Episcopal Retreat and Conference Center near Memphis. Dr. Beverly Helms (FL) will conduct the
seminar entitled “Finding the Leader Within.” Any Xi State member who has not attended a Beginning
Leadership Development Seminar is encouraged to apply by February 5. The application form is attached to this
email and is also available at www.xistate.org/forms.html .
Attachments to this Issue
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Yearbook Evaluation 2015
Xi State 2016 Breakout Session Proposal
Liz Whorley Bradley Grant – 2015
Vision Foundation Project Grant Application
International Convention Breakout Session Proposal
Xi State Beginning Leadership Manangement Application
Xi State . . . Growing Possibilities