Actions of the Board of Directors at its July 23-25, 1999 meeting were as follows:

Items Related to Members

• reviewed the membership statistics for June 30, 1999, and took note of the following: good-standing membership is at 109,000 members, the number of arrears members has increased, the number of initiates has decreased, and direct members accounted for approximately 20% of total new members in 1998-99.
• approved that language be drafted for a proposal to the 2nd Legislative Council amending the Constitution and Bylaws to include the direct membership category; that the proposal include a provision for direct membership to be continued on a pilot basis until the chapter referendum is completed; and that the amendment become effective immediately upon ratification.
• approved that a proposal be brought to the 2nd Legislative Council amending the Constitution and Bylaws to authorize the international office to directly offer renewal to undergraduate student members on behalf of the chapter.
• accepted an update on the Kappan Core noting that the membership committee will develop guidelines for Kappan Core members.
• accepted a report on the "Dues Plus" proposal that the committee will meet after reviewing responses to the fastback standing order insert included with the March 1999 dues billing and that the committee will bring a recommendation to the January 2000 board meeting.
• approved implementation of a Canadian and international postage-paid return envelope.

Items Related to Chapters

• approved the petition of the Walden University Cyberspace Club and authorized the executive director to proceed with its installation.
• accepted the reports on the 9-12 month visits for the University of Maine, Immaculata College, and City University-Cascades Chapters and the upcoming 21-24 month visit for the Bridgewater College Chapter.
• approved the charter surrender of the Shenandoah University/Blue Ridge Chapter and the merger of its membership with the Loudoun-Northern Virginia Chapter.
• approved the request of the Mankato State University Chapter to change its name to Minnesota State University-Mankato Chapter.
• approved the request of the Bradley University Chapter to change its name to Bradley University/Heart of Illinois Chapter.
• approved the request of Northeastern Ohio Chapter to change its location from Ashtabula, Ohio, to Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio.

Items Related to Areas and Districts

• accepted the reports on the 1999 Officer Leadership Conferences and referred information to the district representatives for discussion at the summer DR/AC meetings.
• approved 100% transportation reimbursment for the summer 1999 DR/AC meetings in Districts IV, VII, and VIII.
• approved 100% transportation reimbursement for the summer 1999 DR/AC meeting in District I with all other expenses to be the responsibility of participants.
• approved 100% transportation reimbursement for the winter 2000 DR/AC meetings in Districts IV, VI, and VIII.
• authorized the staff to determine centrality for the remaining winter 2000 DR/AC sites and to set transportation reimbursement according to Board Policy.
• appointed a replacement to complete the unexpired term of the District V Representative with the name to be released as soon as notification occurs, and the appointment to be effective at the conclusion of the 2nd Legislative Council.
• accepted the report of chapter visits by area coordinators and discussed the value of this information for district representatives.

Items Related to Professional Program

• accepted the report on the outstanding student teacher awards program, approved continuation of the program for 1999-2000, and discussed strategies for increasing the participation rate.
• allocated $25,000 from the unused spending authority in 1998-99 to the Future Educators of American program.
• allocated $25,000 from the 1998-99 unused spending authority in support of the Center on Education Policy.
• accepted the recommendations of the executive director to continue the ethical leadership program for 1999-2000 and name the program the Frymier Student Institute for Ethical Leadership; also approved an additional $10,000 from the professional program line of the 1999-2000 budget for the program.
• accepted the report on the National Center for Effective Schools and approved that the executive director of NCES report directly to the PDK executive director until such time that the restructuring plan to be submitted by the executive director is approved by the Board of Directors; also specified that NCES collaborate with other areas of PDK in carrying out the Center's mission with appropriate chargebacks made monthly by those areas to NCES.
• accepted the report on the forums and the advocacy projects and authorized continuing the forums in 1999-2000.
• extended appreciation to Lowell Rose for his contributions to PDK's forums and advocacy efforts.
• authorized negotiations with the Gallup Organization for the 32nd Annual PDK/Gallup Poll on the Public's Atttitudes Toward the Public Schools.
• authorized the executive director to ask Lowell Rose to serve as director for the 32nd Annual PDK/Gallup Poll.
• commended Jack Frymier, Willard Duckett, Richard Boyd, Emeral Crosby, Luvern Cunningham, Bruce Gansneder, and Arliss Roaden for their work on the urban initiative publication, Are Ohio's Urban Youth At-Risk?
• committed non-financial support to the members of the urban initiative committee as they attempt to secure a positive response from funding sources, the Ohio State department, and from other public policymakers with reference to the report.
• authorized staff to proceed with implementation of plans for the 2000-2001 celebration and authorized the executive director to use the services of Ron Joekel for specific assignments related to the celebration.
• authorized the president-elect and executive director to identify the logo to be used as the official 2000-2001 celebration emblem and to the use of the logo on all printed materials related to the celebration.
• accepted the report and recommendations of the outstanding doctoral dissertation awards committee with the recommendations to be implemented for the 2000 district conference competition.

Items Related to Organizationally Focused Items

• approved $187,044 of the unused spending authority from the 1998-99 General Fund budget to be used to rebuild and prepay professional program lines as recommended by the executive director and the business manager.
• approved adjustments in expenditures for 1999-2000 as recommended by the executive director and the business manager.
• approved a recommendation to the 2nd Legislative Council that international dues for the 2000-2002 biennium be set at $45 and that the reinstatement fee remain at $5.
• approved a recommendation to the 2nd Legislative Council for a biennium budget with spending authorization of $9,031,409 and accompanying authority to draw up to $350,000 from the Reserve Fund to bring the budget into balance.
• approved an allocation of $36,397 from the 1999-2000 General Fund to restore the district project fund to a total of $57,500 and make the recommended allocations to each district.
• authorized a board appointed committee to review the staff recommendations on the Gerald H. Read Travel Seminar program.
• received a report from the development officer on special gifts and planned giving strategies for the Educational Foundation from 2000-2006.
• approved the vision, mission, and goals statements of Phi Delta Kappa International as revised.
• referred the Statement of Purpose and Future Directions to the Future Planning Committee for review prior to the 2nd Legislative Council.
• authorized staff to determine fees for the 2nd Legislative Council for individuals not part of the official family, with such fees to include the cost of meals and materials.
• received a report on the sunset review of PDK programs noting that three programs are yet to be reviewed prior to the 2nd Legislative Council.
• confirmed the appointment of George Kersey, Jr. as executive director of Phi Delta Kappa International and expressed appreciation to the search committee and to staff for its assistance with the process.
• approved a recommendation that 1999-2000 prices for PDK jewelry and accessories remain unchanged.
• tabled a report on PDK exhibits until the October 1999 board meeting, at which time staff will bring recommendations to the board.
• received a report from the board committee on future national conferences for PDK recommending that continuing discussion about an appropriate time and investment occur.
• approved the collaboration with AASA, NASSP, and NAESP to plan and conduct a symposium/forum/conference on the topic of impending crisis in school leadership.

Items Related to International Office and Board Operation

• charged the executive director to reconceptualize the international office and the deployment of staff with a preliminary draft to be provided to the Board of Directors by October 1, 1999.
• authorized the president to bring in the board appointed technology committee in fall 1999 to review the status of technology updates at the international office.
• appointed business manager Gary Lettelleir to the All Ways Travel Board of Directors replacing Ron Joekel, and asked that the executive director report back to the board with recommendations regarding All Ways Travel.
• accepted a report from the Kappan Core committee on selection, eligibility, and responsibilities of Kappan Core members, and asked staff to edit the report for revisions as discussed.
• received reports from the board committees on membership and FEA.
• approved the purchase of a new scale for the shipping department from Pitney Bowes at a cost of $5,047.
• approved that the summer 2000 meeting of the Board of Directors meeting be held at the international office in Bloomington, Indiana, on July 28-30.
• accepted the bid from United Graphics, Inc., of Matoon, Illinois for the printing of the 1999-2000 issues of News, Notes, & Quotes.
• approved the salary request for senior and mid-level staff at the international office as presented by the executive director, and charged the executive director to present to the board, by October 1, 1999, a plan that will include a salary structure for senior and mid-level staff, criteria for future salary increases, and development of salary ranges that will include a maximum and a minimum for each position.