Moving on ...

My new blog is http://corleasp.blogspot.com/

Corlea Comments

Current topic is Hawaiian leis!

Retirement...the second time around

Wish I had a photo that was taken during my retirement luncheon with the staff or my birthday party the following week. Dr. Helms sent a couple that included Dr. Carolyn Rants, who came from Iowa to Texas to attend the luncheon. I was touched and very grateful for the time with Carolyn. My electronic problems, including finding photos on the correct device to post, only seem to multiply as I try to gather all my passwords and sign-ins and other links into one place in Seguin. That was much easier when I retired the first time. I unplugged my personal computer that had been on my desk at school and brought it home. I also got two coaches and several basketball players to help bring home the desk my husband had made me. (He got tired of my complaints about standard school-district-issued desks.) At least we didn't have to bring home a desk this time...but I did have to dismantle and sell a three-bedroom house in Austin. (Glad that the housing market is "hot" in Austin these days.)
     The Society has a line item for moving expenses for administrators moving into Society Headquarters. I'm thinking it should be doubled for leaving...I had to have had twice as much to clean out as I did to move in! A moving van did come to my place and my office twice due to timing...realtors are so fussy about paring down for showing the place.
     Thank you for your notes, gifts, donations in my honor and thoughts. I am truly fortunate to know each of you and am touched by your outpouring of kindness. You can keep up with my continuing thoughts and writing on my new blog corleasp.blogspot.com/  The easiest way to get there the first time is to click on the orange and white b next to my photo down on the left of this page. Choose Corlea Comments.
   

2014 Convention Has Indy Team

Darlene Trusty, past Indiana state organization president, serves as the 2014 Steering Committee Chair for the International Convention to be held in Indianapolis. Other Indiana members from throughout the state work at various positions to help the International President offer a stimulating event for DKG.  Beginning July 28 with opening speakers, presentation of flags and Indiana Night, the convention will conclude August 1 with the Installation of the 2014-2016 DKG Administrative Board, presentation of state organization presidents and banquet.

Dr. Beverly Helms is planning outstanding speakers and workshops to interest members and non-members of all ages and all areas of education.

It's a copyright issue

Photo by Amitava Sarkar as presented
on March/April 2013 cover of Texas AAA Journal.

When Dr. Lace Brogden announced the Northwest's intention to take participants from rodeos and horses to the theater and ballet, I thought this picture would be wonderful! I took a closed up of the insurance magazine using the photo on its cover. With rather rusty PhotoShop skills, I deleted all of the type except "From two-steppin' to tutus."
     About the time was I ready to post this great photo to advertise the Northwest Regional Conference, I received an email from Joanne Davis, 2011-2013 Texas State Organization president, questioning a bill she had received because a chapter newsletter published on the chapter's website included a copyrighted poem without permission. After attorney fees and insurance company representatives, the chapter still paid $1,000, plus the state and Society added money to settle the issue.
     Back to this picture? I made three calls to numbers in the magazine's masthead before hitting pay dirt with an email. This person emailed my request to the photographer, who sent me the digital photo once I sent him $25. To read a long version of this information and another chapter charged $1,880 and copyright infringement for using photographs copied from the internet and then re-posted, read my column in the Nov/Dec DKG NEWS, page 7. Find that issue on the Society website dkg.org  in the Library, Publications, choose DKG NEWS and scroll to the date.

Good Idea for Any Year

What state organization and city proudly advertise where DKG meets each month?

I'm so far behind that I thought I was first in line

Name these members and their state organization. Win a little goodie.

Miss e-mail for a few days and hundreds are lined up in the inbox. Go to regional conventions and check your email on a phone once or twice a day, and the list explodes. "To Do It" lists seem to multiply also. It's not death by chocolate, but burial by email. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it. We've all been there.




This photo is from a visit to a southern state during the 2013 state organization season. I was fortunate to attend this meeting and
talk to numerous members involved in wonderful projects.

 

From "opera stars" to concert pianist and statewide program developers and one-of-a-kind school programs, the members of the state organization add excellence in all areas to our Society. Great members in a great state. Be the first to send me the names and state organization and I'll send you DKG goodie.

Mississippi Convention Features 3 Rs

Whoever was in charge of weather in Gulfport, MS, earned an A for the weekend of April 5-6 and the Mississippi State Organization Convention. Planners, decorators, participants, workshop presenters, musicians...they had it all and also earned A's.
     Linda Lightsey, executive secretary, met me at the airport and answered questions for me and just about everyone else all weekend. Karen Fayard, 2011-2013 Mississippi president, joined us for lunch and my love affair with seafood was rekindled.
     To be continued ...

HQ Administrators Hope to Fascinate

(Left to right) Dr. Linda Eller, information services administrator; Sally Hogshead, award winning speaker and author; Phyllis Hickey, operation services administrator; Nita Scott, membership services administrator, and Corlea Plowman, executive director, pause during book signing activities to smile for camera.

 When Society Headquarters' administrators took some professional development time recently, they attended the Great Ideas Conference sponsored by the American Society of Association Executive (ASAE). Keynoter Sally Hogshead challenged the ASAE audience to use their personalities' natural advantages to fascinate members. The administrators took advantage of the free test offered through the conference and purchased Hogshead's latest book. I don't know if we'll become fascinating but we do have some new tools to use. The internet holds numerous pages about Hogshead and her Fascination: Your 7 Triggers of Persuasion and Captivation. It's worth a search!

Myers Joins DKG

In late December 2012 I read a moving article by Lisa Myers ( http://lisamyers.org/ ). I blogged about her article, "To America from a Teacher." When I attended the Texas State Organization Leadership Seminar in February, another committee member and I discussed inviting Lisa to membership. Because Lisa and this committee member lived in the same town, it wasn't long before Lisa was invited and accepted. You just never know where you will find new members.

And...Lisa announced March 1 that she is running for the Redwater ISD Board of Trustees in Texas.

Members Train Members in Leadership Seminar

Virginia Bowers and Gail Herring compare APPs on their phones while waiting

to check in members of the 2013 Texas Leadership Class.

 

Texas State Organization held its semi-annual Leadership Seminar in Dallas Feb. 8-10. The Class of 2013 had 32 participants, including Dr. Beverly Helms, international president. The group sang, answered questions, asked questions, read materials, performed original skits and gave speeches. As usual with a DKG event, they bonded. The Leadership Committee did the same. They learned; we learned. Long days yielded more topics to cover and more speakers/leaders to hear. I enjoyed being on this committee. If you have not attended a leadership training session in your state organization, it's time to sign up, apply or go. Georgia is holding its Drive-In Leadership Training August 17. Maybe I'll see you there.

Welcome to Seguin, Friends



Karen stands by Seguin's pecan, a must for tourists.



When Karen Crumley came to Austin, Texas, to join the Eunah Temple Holden Leadership Fund Committee, we thought it would be an excellent opportunity for this New Yorker to see "small town" Texas.

     Following her orientation to the work of the committee, Karen drove with me for an hour on one of the most publicized roads in the nation...US130: with speed limits of 80 and 85 mph. Of we course chatted...lots. Karen was the chair of the 2012 International Convention in New York City. She and I had spent several years working together to gear up for the event and keep it rolling.

     My point? The Society provides us with interesting and new connections. Without DKG, Karen and I would not have met and enjoyed each other's company. We did not spend time in a deer blind or boot skootin' in a dance hall, but we did enjoy a local sandwich shop and several locally owned stores. A good time was had by all. I hope we do it again soon. Perhaps you can join me next time? I hope you have had the chance to enjoyed this kind of camaraderie in DKG.





Dr. Beverly Helms explains Eunah Temple
Holden's will and the creating of the ETH
Leadership Fund Committee to Karen.

Comments can go viral

     When Lisa Myers, an English teacher in Texarkana, TX, wrote To America from a Teacher December 17, she had no idea it would "go viral." Her heartfelt reaction to events in Newtown, Connecticut, has touched thousands of readers. Go to this link to read her comments and her follow up:  http://lisamyers.org/author/junk5865/  I think it is worth reading, but then we are "the choir."
      Lisa and her husband, pastor of Highland Park Baptist Church, have one daughter who recently earned her MBA. Lisa is not a member of DKG. So many times I meet or hear about outstanding women and wonder how we "missed" inviting them to membership. Did they decline? Did we reach out to them at the busiest time in their lives and never ask again? Did we not bother to turn in names? Did we do their thinking for them and assume they didn't have time?  
    

Meetings, meetings, meetings

During a recent Go-To Meeting, Dr. Beverly
Helms follows material on her computer screen
 and prepares for the next item on her iPad.

The Golden Gift Fund committee meets Friday, January 11, and Saturday, January 12, in Austin. They will plan for the 2014 Leadership Manager Seminar and prepare for programs at the Regional Conferences...Info Fair and workshop. Updating brochures, checking for current information resources on the committee's website page and writing an article for the NEWS will be among tasks that will keep us busy. Dr. Vicki Davis, Texas, chairs this committee.
     January 15-16 the Eunah Temple Holden Leadership Fund committee will meet. Checking on finances, this group will verify that all five regional conferences have requested their $1,000 from ETH to help bring a woman speaker from outside the organization to the events. This is a unique committee set up under the terms of Holden's will. Betty Oswald (Mississippi) chairs this group.
     Nominations Committee will arrive in Austin for its January 18-19 meeting. Dr. Liz Tarner (Virginia) chairs this 10-member group.
    The Ad Hoc Election Procedure Committee brings up the end of the month on January 31-February 1. Dr. Carolyn Rants, chair (Iowa) has worked with the committee via email to jump start their work.
     It's busy at Society Headquarters! We prepare for the meetings and then have much work by way of followup. Of course day-to-day operations and interaction with members continues with or without meetings. Still must pay the utilities and taxes.

New Year's Food Traditions Vary

Did you eat something "special" to ensure you would have good luck for the new year?
    Here in south Texas we eat Mexican tamales at midnight. Because we have southern connections, we also eat black-eyed peas on January 1st. These are supposed to bring us good luck in the new year. I like both, so I enjoy the traditions.
     I have celebrated when the hostess insisted on serving pickled herring...a northern thing? or Danish? I tried to buy some this year...just in case, but our local grocery store that does usually carry pickled herring was sold out. Guess we have some folks here who ate herring for new year's day, just not me.
     Please share your food traditions with us in the comments below.

2013! Comfortable but challenging




Current Guadalupe County, Texas, Courthouse stands
in town center of Seguin. Pecan is the State Nut;
Seguin is one of two  Texas Pecan Capitals.The town square
offers a lively mix of old and new throughout the year.

As my husband and I drove around Seguin, TX, running errands January 2, the newness of another year and the sameness of the town touched me. We picked up a calender, folder for income tax organization (hope springs eternal), smoke alarms, AC filters, red pens and a few movies (to enjoy the last few days of vacation). Nothing unusual, same stores we shop regularly, but it was now 2013.

   I turned right where the lumberyard used to be (The man who owned that lumberyard originally built my house almost 100 years ago.). When a gas station was built on the corner of the lumberyard lot, it became four corners (because each corner had a gas station).  Now we only have two gas stations there and the lumberyard is gone, but longtime residents still call it four corners. Later I turned left at the corner where the Chevrolet dealer sold cars for many years. He married a young woman who grew up in my house and then they lived in my house for almost 20 years. The Chevrolet dealership has changed hands and moved closer to the highway for more room and visibility. I still use the Chevrolet dealership in driving directions.

The Texas Theater, built around 1935,
was still showing movies when we moved
to Seguin. Following a massive renovation,
the Seguin Conservation Society
operates the building which proves venues
for a variety of community events.
Old and new meet.

   That's what makes some things seem the same...we say, "Go past where the Ford dealer was and turn left by the old high school before you come to where Tommy lived." It's comfortable that way, but the directions are almost impossible for a newcomer to follow, or anyone who didn't know Tommy. So we adjust to the new and we make changes without even realizing it. Subtle and important at the same time.

     Enjoy the photos I took with my phone (that's new) of many of the old places around town that keep Seguin comfortable and challenging. Comfortable because we know about log cabins and court houses. Challenging because we need money to keep them in shape and to keep them vital. We want them to remind us of our past, to teach us about our heritage and to be relevant to our future. Much like DKG.

The Campbell Log Cabin was moved to its downtown
location to preserve it. The two-room cabin has the
typical "dog run" in the center. Annual celebration
of Seguin's birthday is held in and around the cabin
where old and new annually.

What Texas town would be complete without a local garage
and tire shop? Looks old and comfortable but uses some
pretty new technology.

More details about DKG expanding into Kochi, Japan

These are the kimonos we wore for the ceremonies.

   














       While being fitted for kimonos for the installation, founding ceremonies and closing dinner celebration, Dr. Beverly Helms, international president, and I were able to try on some other lovely kimono designs. The red and green silk kimonos are decorated with embroidery and applique. The very long sleeves are intended for a young woman to impress her young man.
      The gown begins as a very long wrap and is tucked, pulled and wrapped into place by the trained dressers. My green gown started out as long as Beverly's red one. If you look where my  waist should be, you will see the cord holding much of the kimono in place. An obi will be added to the ensemble and hide everything. We even had proper white socks with the seamed toe for our thongs that were always left at the door.


      After the initiation ceremony, we joined a tour planned by the Hawaiian members. One of the stops between Kochi and Osaka was a puppet theater.  Beverly and I are posing with the main puppets from the show we saw. The daughter puppet on the left is 100 years old. The mother puppet is much younger. It takes three puppeteers to operate each puppet.

                                                                





Japan gathers 60 initiates

What a wonderful problem: How do we initiate 60 members at one ceremony? We organized, we honored the Japanese tradition of not having anyone's back to the audience and we practiced.

     Signing the Member Register took the most time as initiates took carefully formed the English letters vs. Japanese characters for their names. Only one member certificate had a spelling change. All three tall candles and 60 small candles lasted throughout the initiation. It was impressive.
     Twelve founders were charged with the growing of the organization by increasing membership, developing leadership and encouraging members' involvement. Additional responsibilities include:  "to participate with other units of the Society; extend membership to other women eligible to wear the golden key; uphold excellence in programs, projects and policies; and support the professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education."

Travels Worth the Effort

Dr. Beverly Helms, international president, checks
messages while watching over two carts of suitcases.

     Paperwork, brass, books, booklets, documents, pins, more pins ... Linda Davenport, membership services supervisor, carefully loaded, repacked, wrapped and rearranged DKG materials into two large black suitcases--one for me and one for Dr. Beverly Helms. Even after all of her work, we had to transfer a few pounds from one "official" bag to a personal suitcase. Our Heritage I, II, III with two charters and 60+ membership certificates are not light. Add 59 little brass candle sticks, 60+ yellow initiate cards, framed cross-stitched keypin and crest canvases, 60 membership pins, 12 founders pins, two presidents pins (state organization and chapter), five scripts, 60 Constitutions, 60 Go-To Guides and various gifts for exchanging.
     We stopped in five airports each way, LAX to Tokyo being the longest leg of the trip at about 10 hours. We lugged bags from carousels to carts for inspections and to change to buses and to move into a hotel. We enjoyed the comment, "Our culture does not allow for tipping." We marveled at the politeness and appreciated the special attention and rescheduling when our last connection didn't click. After a day or more of travel (crossed the international dateline so it was difficult to figure time with the 14-hour difference) , we arrived in Kochi-si. How beautiful.

Planning ahead & Japan

     If you have received your Sept/Oct DKG NEWS, you may have read my column about Planning Ahead. We are really good at that in our organization.
     For the past two to three years, members of Hawaii State Organization have been working with women in Japan. The criteria for founding a new state organization had been updated and approved by the Administrative Board about the same time. More than 50 Japanese women have shown an interest in joining our Society. Nearly 10 attended the 2012 International Convention in New York City.
     To make a long story short:  Dr. Beverly Helms, 2012-2014 international president, will conduct ceremonies to establish Japan as the 18th country and the 80th state organization in DKG on October 14 in Kochi, Japan. I will be better with pictures and post some from that event.

Handouts, instructions and materials leave HQ

ABF driver takes a break while loading boxes headed for NYC.

Photo by Irene Morales

Busy week is an understatement for July 9-13. The staff finished packaging, labeling and documenting 147 boxes headed for New York City and the 2012 International Convention. (Of course, we had some last minute printing of items, too.)
     From committee handouts and instruction sheets for convention volunteers to timers and flags, the listing and packing slips were checked, then double checked. The numbers were verified before boxes made it to the dolly and then checked again as they went out the door on Friday, July 13, around 5 p.m.

     We're glad they're on the way!  (And so are the 31 Leadership Management Seminar graduates who received their Golden Gift Fund LMS pins under the watchful portrait of Dr. Annie Webb Blanton. That celebration began at 5:30 and wrapped up around 8:30 p.m. ...more later)