BESSIE GABBARD'S PASSING
Bessie Gabbard, the first woman initiated into Phi Delta Kappa International, passed away on February 10 at Holy Cross Hospital in Ft. Lauderdale. She was 95 and, at the time of her death, was serving as chair of the Board of Governors of the Educational Foundation. Bessie presided at the January meeting of the Board of Governors and attended the meeting of the local chapter on Friday, January 19, along with staff members and the other governors. She was an inspiration to so many and her impact on the organization has been and will continue to be inestimable. Chapters wishing to honor Bessie's memory may want to contribute to the Gabbard Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Phi Delta Kappa, Box 789, Bloomington, IN 47402-0789. This fund was established in 1993 by PDK's chapters and annually supports two to three scholarships for high school seniors pursuing education careers.

SUSAN JONES SEARS NEW BOARD OF GOVERNORS CHAIR
Dr. Susan J. Sears, the vice chair of the Board of Governors, assumed the chairmanship of the Educational Foundation's Board of Governors as a result of Bessie's death. Dr. Sears is a member of the faculty at the Ohio State University and has served on the Board of Governors since 1999. She was recently recognized as a Reavis Associate.

GABBARD AWARD CELEBRATING THE LEADERSHIP OF WOMEN IN PDK
TAKES ON SPECIAL MEANING
Chapters were encouraged to nominate a member for consideration for the Bessie Gabbard Award Celebrating the Leadership of Women in Phi Delta Kappa International by March 1, 2001. This recognition program is part of the PDK/Gabbard Initiative on Leadership in Education for the 21st Century. The program also calls attention to the decision made a quarter-century ago to eliminate the gender barrier as the basis for membership in Phi Delta Kappa International.

NOMINATING COMMITTEES AND THE ELECTION OF CHAPTER OFFICERS
Chapters should, by now, have nominating committees in place and elections planned for 2001-2002 chapter officers. For further clarification contact your area coordinator.

INITIATION DATE A MUST
Chapters must provide a date of initiation when submitting the applications for new members. Evelyn Eller, in our membership accounting area, indicates that a growing number of chapters are submitting membership applications without specifying an initiation date. Put simply, membership shingles require a date and our database "runs" only with an initiation date. Additionally, chapters are urged to "hold" applications until the initiation has been conducted. Forward the applications within 30 days of the ceremony.

INITIATION CEREMONY BEING REVISED
Billie Spellman, director of membership development, is revising the ritual for initiation ceremonies. Chapters, beginning in 2001-2002, will be given two options -- the traditional ceremony or a more informal ceremony -- from which to choose. Expect the new ritual by early summer. A reminder: read the existing ritual and strike the word fraternity and replace it with association.

2001-2002 AUTHOR SEMINAR APPLICATIONS FORTHCOMING
Anticipate the arrival of applications for the foundation-sponsored author seminar/lecture program in May. The application will be for the 2001-2002 association year. Authors of fastbacks and other foundation publications make presentations at chapter meetings as a result of this program. Once the application is received by the local chapter, the chapter needs to file the completed form by 15 June. Information will be mailed to presidents, vice presidents for program, and foundation representatives. And, yes, the application will be available on the PDK website.

YOUR CHAPTER'S BALLOT FOR INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS
In January, chapter presidents received your chapter's ballot, a videotape, and printed materials on the nine candidates for president-elect and vice president. Ballots are due in the international office by April 16. Chapters must vote for three of the nine candidates and have an officer's signature on the ballot to be considered valid. If you have questions regarding your chapter's ballot, contact Judy Petermichel -- 1-800-766-1156, extension 2223.

AREA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCES
Area Leadership Conferences, planned by each area coordinator, are coming up. While some will be held in April, most are scheduled for May and June. The date of your ALC is available from your coordinator and on the PDK website. It is most important for chapter officers to attend these annual meetings. Mark your calendar now.

SPEAKING OF THE PDK WEBSITE
Did you know that summaries of current district projects are available on the PDK website? This is an excellent resource for chapters that want to "tap" the good ideas that are being addressed through district projects. District project applications for 2001-2002 will be included in each chapter's packet of materials to be distributed at the upcoming Area Leadership Conference conducted by your area coordinator.

THE ANNUAL REPORT AND REPORT OF OFFICERS FOR 2001-2002
As a result of action by the 2nd Legislative Council, the Annual Report and the Officers List for 2001-2002 are now due at the same time -- June 30, 2001. The forms for the annual report and for reporting officers for 2001-2002 will be available on line and may be transmitted electronically. Both reports are important. We count on the current president of each chapter to file these reports.

MEMBERSHIP CONTACT VIA THE WEB
Billie Spellman, working with our Information Technology Department, has undertaken a major project to assist chapters with membership recruitment and retention. Persons interested in membership in a local chapter, using the PDK website, are now referred to the respective chapter's vice president for membership (or president). Anticipate contact from prospective members under this new approach. Approximately 500 PDK chapters have vice presidents for membership (or presidents) with email addresses.

STUDENT MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT
If your chapter offers PDK membership to undergraduate students (half dues), please enroll these students using the tri-fold, four-color brochures. If you are still using the 8 1/2 by 11 inch NCR forms, please discard them and order the brochure. The brochures are available by calling PDK's shipping department; the newer brochure provides the international office with more complete information. There is no charge for quantities of 250 or less.

NEWSLETTER/WEBSITE CONTEST DEADLINE APPROACHING
Billie Spellman advises chapters that May 1 is the deadline for chapters submitting entries for PDK International's annual newsletter and website contests. Be advised that judges in these contests will be evaluating entries from their home, as compared to coming to Bloomington, this year. Therefore, four copies of each newsletter will be required. This is a change from previous procedures that required only one copy of each newsletter entered.

THE FIVE-YEAR CERTIFICATES
Just a reminder, if your chapter was one of the approximately 80 chapters that asked for certificates awarded to members at five-year intervals of membership to be mailed to the chapter, please be sure the certificates are mailed to those members who were not present at your chapter meeting. Phi Delta Kappa International mails the certificates to members directly, unless the chapter requests the certificates be mailed to the chapter.

FOUNDATION REPRESENTATIVES EXPECT TO RECEIVE
Around April 1, the foundation representative for each chapter will receive two important flyers -- one for the International Graduate Fellowship program and one for the Victoria C.T. Read Adopt-A-Scholar program. A total of six graduate fellowships are available to members with regard to the first program. The Victoria C.T. Read Program provides grants to chapters who identify at-risk high school students and serve as mentors to the students in order to increase the students' chances of finishing high school and entering college. Student participants in the Read program may earn scholarships once enrolled in college. In addition to the information being sent to foundation representatives, applications/information on both programs are available on the PDK website.

STUDENT TEACHING AWARDS
Vice presidents for membership should be on the lookout for information regarding PDK's awards for "excellence in student teaching." That information will be in the hands of the chapter vice presidents for membership by April 1. Applications for nominating student teachers are available on PDK's website. Nominees must be PDK members or, as a minimum, scheduled for induction.

SECURE TRANSACTIONS -- A HIGH PRIORITY
The Information Technology area here at Phi Delta Kappa International has as a major priority the availability of "secure, on-line transactions" for members and customers. A September 1 date is projected.

GABBARD INSTITUTES ARE COMING TO TOWN, MAYBE YOUR TOWN!
Five weeks of Gabbard Institutes are planned for Summer 2001 and at five different sites. Here's a quick summary.

Bloomington, IN -- June 18-24
Focus on Curriculum Alignment with Indiana Standards

W. Long Branch, NJ -- July 25-29
Focus on Classroom Management

Orlando, FL -- June 25-29
Focus on Literacy for All Learners

Breckenridge, CO -- July 16-20
Focus on Teaching Diverse Learners

Chicago, IL -- July 30-August 1
Focus on Principals at Work: A Seminar for Instructional Leaders
In cooperation with The Coalition of Essential Schools

Graduate credit is available and members receive a discount, compliments of the Educational Foundation. Additional information is available on the web or by calling Phi Delta Kappa International.

GOAL SETTING . . . JOINT EFFORT
Each year Phi Delta Kappa asks chapters to set membership goals. This involves setting goals for the number of new members to be initiated, the number of initiations to be held, and the date(s) of the initiation(s). The chapter's current vice president for membership should discuss goal setting with the Kappan who will serve as vice president for membership next year; that discussion should occur before the Area Leadership Conference.