From Virginia Breakfast (or as close as I can remember):
I’ll start with my elevator speech: We are an honor society of approximately 95,000 women educators…with 2,600 chapters in 17 countries. Each year we donate nearly $3 million to support education and educators.
Our members range from pre-Kindergarten teachers to university presidents. In (this state) we have # members. Locally we have # chapters/members.
Through a partnership with ECOSOC, the Public Relations arm of the United Nations, we have seven members of the Non-Government Organization. Our representatives have participated in the steering committee for Danny Kaye’s Fund Drives and the Conference for Teaching about the United Nations (CTAUN). Our international project is Schools for Africa…through the US Fund for UNICEF and with Nelson Mandela’s Project.
Working with the Fulbright Foundation and selected Canadian universities, we grant aid to women to come to Canada or the US to work on master’s programs. We have helped women in more than 100 countries earn their degrees. Many returning to villages to change their way of life…even own a goat!
Local, state organization and international scholarship programs for members, high school students and college students help educators and future educators continue their schooling. We help early career educators so they will remain in the profession.
We excel in leadership training at the state organization and international levels. We have an updated website—scheduled to be even more improved in 2012 when we move it to the cloud and save even more money.
We have received 501(c) 3 status for eight of our Society funds, so contributions will be tax deductible. We have updated/revamped our Constitution and International Standing Rules. We are revising our Handbook as a Go-To Guide. We have a family of literature with the design of our NEWS, Bulletin and Society brochures. These have come about with the help of a Marketing consultant.
We have an excellent staff at Society Headquarters to serve members quickly and efficiently. Our Administrative Board is hard working: they have continually updated the Strategic Action Plan, meet twice a year and have homework. The state organization presidents leadership development training during this pre-conference was packed with about as much work as the board meetings.
While we have suffered some membership loss, we are thriving. We have hard working chapters, international committees and dedicated members. You are preparing us for our future and from the looks of this group this morning, we are in for an excellent ride!
