Actions of the Board of Directors at its 30 January - 1 February 1998 meeting follow:

Items Related to Members

• Reviewed the membership statistics and took note of the continued decline in good-standing members.
• Reviewed a membership survey report by Jack Frymier and Larry Barber and referred the report to the board and staff membership committee.
• Approved the appointment of a committee to look at ways of providing special incentive benefits and programs for retired members.
• Reviewed the plans for the implementation of the direct membership pilot.
• Reviewed the bylaws requirement of annual recertification for life and emeritus members and referred the item to the Constitution and Bylaws Committee.
• Considered a proposal from Marketing General to provide services to reinstate members not in good standing and decided to take no action at this time.
• Asked staff to reconsider a multiple-year dues incentive to be reviewed by the board at the summer meeting.

Items Related to Chapters

• Authorized the executive director to proceed with the installation of the Immaculata College Chapter upon receipt of the Standards and Goals form and verification of 20 member petitioners.
• Approved the request of the Northeast Missouri State University Chapter that its name be changed to Truman State University Chapter.

Items Related to Areas and Districts

• Referred to the 1998 district conferences the presentations of scrolls to chapters awarded permanent charter status, 1997-98 Annual Fund Awards, and membership development recognition awards.
• Accepted the recommended schedule for board/staff participation in the 1998 district conferences.
• Approved the per-chapter allocation for the 1998 district conferences at $25, with the number of chapters in each district to be the number eligible to be represented in the conference.
• Approved the transportation allowance for the officer leadership conferences in those areas where the staff recommendation is 100%.
• Approved the transportation allowances for the officer leadership conferences in Areas 7B and 7G at 75% and in Areas 6I and 6M at 55%.
• Approved that the transportation allowances in those areas where an OLC site has not yet been reported be fixed by the staff as sites are provided.
• Approved the transportation allowance for the summer 1998 DR/AC meetings in all districts at 100%.
• Accepted the geographic boundary descriptors for Areas 7B and 7G in District VII.
• Officially recognized the board's appointment of Sandee Crowther as District III Representative to serve the remainder of the term of office.
• Approved the appointment of a staff committee to review the feasibility of bringing newly elected area coordinators to the international office for orientation in conjunction with the winter 1999 board meeting.

Items Related to Professional Programs

• Accepted the report on the fall 1997 Leadership Skill Institutes and noted the termination of the program.
• Accepted the report on plans for the 1998 PDK/Gallup Poll.
• Accepted the report on the League of Values-Driven Schools.
• Accepted the report on Future Educators of America and noted plans for the 1998 FEA conference in Dallas, Texas.
• Accepted the report on the Center on Education Policy and commended Jack Jennings for his continued collaboration on support for the public schools.
• Accepted a status report on the public school forums project and the advocacy priority, noting that 23 chapter and 14 PTA forums are scheduled for the current year.
• Accepted the report on the Excellence in Student Teaching Awards Program.
• Reviewed the evaluation reports from Accountability and Development Associates on seven Foundation-sponsored programs and the Phi Delta Kappan.
• Approved the 1998 Doctoral Dissertation Awards Program and asked the president to appoint a committee to review the Doctoral Dissertation Awards process.
• Accepted the update on the FastFacts document on current issues and noted that a committee is being appointed to assist in the selection of future topics for the series.
• Approved an urban initiative proposal to be jointly funded by PDK and the Educational Foundation and authorized funds from the Contingency Fund in the amount of $8,000.
• Approved the creation of a blue-ribbon committee to develop plans for celebration of the year 2000.

Items Related to the Organization

• Approved the extension of expenditure-reducing measures from January 1996 and July 1997 to remain in effect for the 1997-98 fiscal year.
• Gave approval that the board investments/finance committee be authorized to ease spending restrictions as imposed and/or take steps as may be necessary to balance income and expenditures in 1997-98.
• Gave approval that the 1998-99 district project funds be apportioned using a formula that provides $2,500 for each district and allocates the remaining funds among the districts on the basis of each district's percentage of membership in good standing; that 1998-99 entitlements be based on a total allocation of $57,500; and that actual allocations be made by reducing each district's specific entitlement by the distict's unexpended balance on 30 June 1998.
• Reviewed the financial summary of the 1st Legislative Council and Conference on Advocacy for the Public Schools.
• Approved plans and initiatives to carry out the amendments and legislation from the 1st Legislative Council.
• Approved Bloomington, Indiana, as the site of the 2nd Legislative Council to be held as a governance meeting.
• Reviewed reports on the Kappan Core, a project enlisting the assistance of experienced Kappan leaders in PDK's projects and initiatives.
• Approved $5,000 for an audiotaping project of the history of PDK's Educational Foundation.

Items Related to the International Office and Board Operation

• Ratified the board's earlier action to extend through the 1998 year the contract with Acordia for comprehensive medical coverage for employees.
• Appointed the firm of George S. Olive and Company to conduct the 1997-98 audit of Phi Delta Kappa International's fiscal records.
• Approved purchases of three IBM-compatible personal computers, a digital camera system and equipment necessary to support the system, and two Hewlett Packard laser printers for the international office and authorized the relining of the underground oil tank.
• Approved staff and professional staff salaries in amounts proposed by the executive director, with salaries to be on file in the office of the executive director.
• Approved the contract with Phillips Brothers Printers for the spring 1998 issue of News, Notes, and Quotes at a cost of $12,378 for 100,000 copies delivered and $103.50 for each additional 1,000 copies delivered.
• Gave approval for the executive director and international president to pursue options for the sale of All Ways Travel, with the Board of Directors retaining final authority for any decision regarding a sales agreement.
• Fixed 5-7 February 1999 as the dates for the next winter meeting of the Board of Directors.

I would like to share some additional information with you.

Meeting of the PDK Educational Foundation Board of Governors
The Board of Governors met on 16-17 January 1998 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Reports were received on the Ohio farms, the Foundation trust, and the Foundation-sponsored programs. Also reviewed was the external evaluation of seven Foundation programs and the Phi Delta Kappan and a proposal for a planned giving and capital campaign. The board decided not to act on the capital campaign at the present time. It will continue its review of the program evaluations at its summer meeting. Bessie Gabbard was reelected chair of the Foundation, and Don Anderson and Arliss Roaden were elected vice-chair and secretary consecutively.

Senior Membership
Do you know of members who have retired from education and then dropped their membership in PDK? If so, please make these individuals aware of PDK's senior membership option. Senior membership is available to retired members who are age 55 or older. Annual dues are only one-half of fraternity and local chapter dues. Let's keep our retired members active in PDK.

Multiple-Year Dues Payments Are Possible
Members of PDK have the option of making dues payments for up to three years. When the multiple-year payment option is used, members are exempt from any dues increases during the period for which their dues have been paid. This is a good way to keep your dues current and your good-standing status intact.

Graduation Gifts
PDK has added two new items to its product line that are suitable as graduation gifts. A bronze-plated medallion engraved with the PDK name and crest is available for $20.00. The medallion hangs on a 30" red and white ribbon. Also available is a red and white honor cord for $5.00. The braided cord is 58" long with two-inch tassles on the ends. Either item would make a fine gift from the chapter to its graduating members. Contact the PDK order department today.

Reminders from the Legislative Council
The legislative council passed resolutions encouraging PDK chapters to:

• Nominate candidates for district election. District representatives and area coordinators will be elected at the fall 1998 district conferences.
• Sponsor an area high school or middle school club of Future Educators of America or Future Teachers of America.
• Form an initiation team that is ready to initiate interested persons as they are ready rather than holding only one initiation each year.

Advocacy for the Public Schools
Two years ago Phi Delta Kappa identified advocacy for the public schools as its major program priority. The public school forums have been the centerpiece of the advocacy initiative. This year 34 forums are scheduled in cooperation with the National PTA and the Center on Education Policy. PDK's relationship with both of these organizations has been outstanding, and the collaboration has provided real benefits to PDK. Plans are now underway for PDK's Center for Professional Development & Services (CPD&S) to produce an instructional manual and conduct workshops and training sessions on how to plan, conduct, and moderate a forum on the public schools. It would be wonderful for PDK and for public education to have every chapter conduct a community forum. If your chapter has not yet done so, please consider it as a future project. In addition to providing a public service for the schools and our children, a forum is an excellent way to involve members and generate chapter interest and support.

PDK Products Can Promote the Advocacy Effort
Are you looking for ways to promote the public schools in your chapter's service area? PDK has two bumper stickers designed to serve that purpose. One is green and gold with the PDK advocacy logo and the message "The Public Schools Served Me Well." The second is a schoolhouse in red, white, and blue that reads "The Public Schools: An Investment in Tomorrow." The bumper stickers are available through the PDK order department. They sell for 50 cents each, $20.00 for 50, or $35.00 for 100.

We also received a number of inquiries for low-cost PDK pencils and pens to be used at chapter functions or special events. Both items are now in stock. The pencils and pens are white and imprinted in red, with the words "Phi Delta Kappa International." The pencils are sold in minimum quantities of 50 pencils for $15.00. The nonrefillable ball point pens are sold in quantities of 25 pens for $15.00. They make excellent table favors or give-away items in conference packets. Call the order department and ask about other inexpensive items, such as notepads and "post-it" pads.

Executive Director Update
I have been Phi Delta Kappa's executive director for just over two years. When I accepted the position in December 1995, it was for a three-year term that will end in December 1998. The Board of Directors knew that I would not be a long-term director because I was nearing retirement. At its winter meeting, the board asked that I continue for an additional year. I agreed with the understanding that my target date for retirement was 30 June 1999. A board planning committee has been appointed to develop procedures for the search of PDK's next executive director.

Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Awards Competition
Entry forms and guidelines for the 1998 Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Awards competition will be mailed this month to chapter presidents and research representatives. This activity is sponsored by Phi Delta Kappa's Center for Evaluation, Development, and Research. The chapter's responsibility is to nominate graduate students it feels are worthy of consideration. Nine awards will be given, one for each of the nine districts. The award includes $500 and a certificate of recognition. The entry deadline is 31 August 1998.