Kappans Prepare Students for Job Search

When the Rowan University Chapter began initiating student teachers, it looked for programs to interest these new members. The results benefited not only the student teachers but also the chapter, PDK, other members, and the local schools.

"We tried to provide something that would be appropriate for our student teachers," explained chapter president Keith Figgs. "We also were concerned with how best to prepare them for the profession." To accomplish these goals, the chapter held two workshops on "Refining Interview Skills and Résumé Writing."

These workshops were held on Saturday mornings so that students could attend. According to Diana Bosch, the chapter's past president and the project director, the response was overwhelming. "Student teachers welcomed the opportunity both to practice interviewing before 'the real thing' and to receive professional coaching," she explained. "Kappans experienced a satisfying morning working together, building professional relationships, and sharing their wealth of experience."

During the workshops, panels of three administrators from the chapter were stationed in each of four interview rooms. Each 10-minute interview was videotaped so that the student could review it with peers and a Kappan critical observer. Bosch explained that the Kappan observer first asked each student about the positive things in the interview and then had the student discuss the things he or she would change. The students then role-played the interview to perfect their interviewing skills.

In addition to the interviews, the students also had help in completing professional résumés. Five Kappans who are school administrators served as "résumé coaches" for the students. The chapter obtained use of the university computer lab, and the students were provided with quality stationery and résumé templates so that they could produce finished résumés that would help them to land a job.

Figgs, who worked as an interviewer in the workshops, explained that the workshops not only helped the students get ready for job hunting but also helped the local schools identify qualified new teachers. "They helped me, as a central office administrator, to identify bona fide candidates for teaching positions."

Figgs also reported that the workshops provided exposure for the chapter and for Phi Delta Kappa. "We found that a lot of students in the college of education were not familiar with PDK. These workshops helped spread the word. The students became aware of the chapter and of what Phi Delta Kappa is about."

A number of students who attended the workshop joined Phi Delta Kappa, Figgs reported, and that also helped to improve the chapter's visibility. The chapter provided honor cords for the student members when they graduated, and the names of those student Kappans were listed in the university's commencement book. "We expect that down the road we will have more and more interest in PDK."

Chapter Newsletters Are Vital Links to Members and Community

Each chapter's newsletter serves as a vital link between members and their chapter leadership -- and to Phi Delta Kappa International. A few tips for newsletter editors are worth sharing:

Be certain the newsletter displays the official chapter name, number, and location. Chapter members probably know this information, but many chapter newsletters also are read by community members and serve as an introduction to PDK on several levels.

If the chapter has a website, display the URL prominently. In our "wired" world more and more Kappans -- from both the local chapter and other areas -- are going to the Web for PDK news.

Include the chapter officer list with complete contact information: addresses, home and office telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses. Making it easy for members to contact chapter leaders is a way to encourage active participation in the chapter.

Finally, take advantage of the chapter newsletter kit. Available in print and disk forms, the annual kit contains many useful elements and additional tips for making chapter newsletters effective communication vehicles.

FROM YOUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
GEORGE KERSEY JR.

Focus on Leadership

Phi Delta Kappa's 2000-2001 Celebration marks the transition to a new century and a new millennium. But, lest we forget, the focus of this celebration is on leadership.

Our schools, institutions of higher learning, and professional associations, including PDK, need a new generation of leaders. These leaders must be ready to address many challenges, from school improvement to a looming teacher shortage. The need for new leaders is especially critical as the boomer generation marches toward retirement.

It is fitting that the 2000-2001 Celebration's official title is the PDK/Bessie Gabbard Initiative on Leadership in Education. Bessie Gabbard, vigorous at age 95, actively chairs the Board of Governors of the PDK Educational Foundation and stands as an exemplar of lifelong learning and dedication to the high ideals of PDK. The first woman to be initiated in 1974 when PDK opened its door to women, she is our honored "First Lady" in every sense. She is an outstanding leader.

Local PDK chapters, their officers, and individual members provide the leadership we need now. And they can nurture the leaders we need for the future by reaching out to colleagues and young professionals to invite them to membership.

International President Rick Kolowski's biennial theme is "Leadership Makes the Difference." I join him and Bessie Gabbard in urging you to make a difference. To those chapters with new initiates, I say, Congratulations! Keep up the good work. To those chapters that did not initiate new members last year, I urge you to reach out now to the fine educators with whom you work. Our future -- and theirs -- is within your grasp.

Chapter Examines Consumers' Perceptions of Teachers

Students know which teachers are most influential, but researchers rarely ask students about this. Researchers from the Northeast Georgia Chapter decided to ask students and former students about the teacher traits that make students want to learn.

Chapter members surveyed 120 people in four groups: high school seniors, students who withdrew and then enrolled in evening school, students at an alternative learning center, and selected community leaders who completed their schooling at least five years before the study. All respondents were asked to match 34 characteristics to their most influential or least influential teachers.

Chapter research representative David Massey reported that several traits were identified by each group as common among most or least influential teachers. The most influential teachers, according to respondents, gave explanations that were clear, did not embarrass students before peers, and made classes and assignments interesting. The least influential teachers embarrassed students before peers, gave explanations that were not very helpful, were essentially humorless, did not make classes interesting, and required busy work.

There were some interesting differences among groups, Massey said. For example, the community leaders said that their most influential teachers were "scholars" and "modeled high integrity." No other group listed these traits as an important component of a teacher's influence. The community leaders also were less likely to list "has a sense of humor" as important, though they did list "lacks a sense of humor" as a trait among the least influential teachers.

Another interesting finding was that students in the alternative learning center, who were on long-term disciplinary suspensions, identified "made class and assignments interesting" and "maintained order in the classroom" as the traits of their least influential teachers. All other groups identified these as positive traits. Massey suggested that the alternative students may have identified maintaining order as a negative trait because their teachers' efforts to maintain order "subverted the use of effective instructional techniques." However, Massey said, the researchers had no explanation for why these students saw making class and assignments interesting as a negative trait.

Massey explained that it is important to understand how various "consumers" of education perceive teaching. "So often, current research focuses on the science of teaching without reference to how teachers positively influence students' will to learn," he said. Massey added that, though it is difficult to quantify, the relationship between teachers and students is worthy of careful investigation.

Second Associate Executive Director Named

James V. Fogarty Jr., immediate past president of Phi Delta Kappa International, was confirmed as associate executive director for leadership and development at the International Office by the board of directors at its July meeting. Fogarty will assume the position on a part-time basis on 15 October 2000, moving to full time in January 2001.

Executive Director George Kersey Jr. said, "Jim's experience as a chapter, area, and district PDK leader, coupled with his service as international president, allow him to hit the ground running in his new assignment. We welcome him and his ideas to the staff."

The position of associate executive director for leadership and development, slightly reoriented during the recent reorganization of the International Office, is essentially the position left open when George Kersey Jr. was named executive director in 1999. Sandy Weith was named associate executive director for administration and operations in January 2000.

Fogarty has been a familiar face at the PDK International Office for nearly two decades, having served in a number of offices on the board of directors, culminating in his term as president from 1997 to 1999. Fogarty currently is director of special education for the Eastern Suffolk BOCES in New York.

During his presidential term Fogarty's theme was "Making a Difference." He plans to carry forward the same spirit into his new leadership and development role for Phi Delta Kappa.

"It will be a pleasure to work with the International staff," Fogarty said. "There are a number of challenges to meet, and I am sure we can meet them."

Thomas Ulmet Joins Publications Staff

Thomas Ulmet is the new assistant editor for Phi Delta Kappa International's Special Publications department. Special Publications is primarily a program of the PDK Educational Foundation and serves as the principal book publishing division of Phi Delta Kappa.

The position of assistant editor was developed during the reorganization of the International Office, which created the Service Area for Publications and Research. As assistant editor, Ulmet will have editing and production responsibilities for fastbacks, books and monographs, NN&Q, and other publications.

Ulmet, a native of Bloomington, is a 2000 graduate of Indiana University's School of Journalism, where he was associate editor for the journalism school's weekly newsletter. Ulmet and his fiancée are planning an outdoor wedding in Brown County State Park for this September.

Future Educators of America Continues to Grow

Since PDK began supporting the Future Educators of America (FEA) in 1994, interest in the program has continued to grow. There now are more than 1,200 FEA clubs in the United States, and requests for information on starting a club continue to arrive at PDK daily.

In May, Ray Tolleson, the interim director of the Department of Defense Education Activity, sent a memorandum encouraging each Department of Defense high school to establish an FEA club. And the National Indian School Boards Association has requested enough materials to start FEA clubs in more than a hundred of their schools.

The FEA program provides opportunities for middle school and high school students to explore careers in education. Not only do students gain a realistic understanding of the nature of education and the role of the teacher, but schools and communities benefit as well. For example, districts that sponsor FEA clubs create new service and leadership opportunities for their students. Districts also get the chance to shape their own future by shaping the future of the education profession.

The PDK International Office serves as the national office for the FEA program. PDK provides materials that help interested educators to start an FEA chapter and organizes an annual conference that brings together more than a thousand students from across the country to meet with well-known educators, to learn about teaching, and just to have fun.

Shari Bradley, who directs PDK's FEA effort, explained that PDK can provide interested educators with a list of FEA clubs in their area and also will help them start an FEA club in their own school. Among the materials provided by PDK are an organizational manual and a videotape. The organizational manual includes everything a new advisor needs to start an FEA chapter. The 15-minute videotape provides information promoting the FEA effort, as well as information about PDK's Summer Camp for Prospective Educators.

The latest addition to this support is an exciting new partnership between FEA and HighWired.com, which will allow FEA chapters to become part of a growing network. HighWired.com has designed a special website-building tool exclusively for the use of FEA chapters. Each FEA chapter can develop a website, which can serve as a powerful link to other FEA chapters and to the FEA office at PDK. A special demonstration can be viewed at www.highwired.com/welcomeFEA.

The annual FEA conferences are held in collaboration with the Association of Teacher Educators. In addition, these conferences receive valuable assistance from PDK chapters. For example, the conference in Orlando, Florida, last February was supported by the Osceola County, Central Florida, Greater Orlando, and East Central Florida chapters.

This year's conference will meet in New Orleans on February 16 to 18. Participants will be able to choose from about 30 workshops and to engage in a variety of competitions.

Bradley reported that one indicator of the increase in FEA clubs has been the attendance at the annual conferences. "When we held our first FEA conference in Detroit six years ago, there were 203 students attending," she explained. "At last year's conference in Orlando, we had more than 1,000 participants, and we are expecting even more at the New Orleans conference in February."

Eleven national organizations are cooperating with PDK in promoting FEA. Those organizations are: American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, American Federation of Teachers, Association of Teacher Educators, Council of Chief State School Officers, National Alliance of Black School Educators, National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Education Association, National Middle School Association, National School Boards Association, and the National PTA.

For more information about the FEA club, check the PDK website under "Student Services" or contact the PDK International Office.

Fastbacks Still Going Strong

The well-known fastback series, initiated 28 years ago, continues to provide timely and succinct treatments of current topics in education. These "sophisticated primers," as they are often characterized, have remained highly popular over the years. In fact, more than 8 million copies have been disseminated to date.

This fall six chapters are connecting with the fastback program as sponsors: Evansville Indiana, Rochester New York, Suffolk County, Ohio State University, Northern Illinois University, and Shreveport-Bossier City Louisiana. To sponsor a fastback, a chapter (or group of chapters) makes a $500 contribution to the Phi Delta Kappa Educational Foundation. In return, the chapter's name is printed in the chosen fastback, the chapter receives 150 copies of the sponsored title, and the chapter may invite the author to make a presentation at a chapter meeting, with the author's travel expenses and honorarium paid by the Educational Foundation.

Eight fastbacks are published each fall and spring. Sponsorships are available for the spring 2001 series. For additional information, contact Donovan R. Walling, Director of Publications and Research, at the International Office.

The fastbacks published in 2000 and 2001 are designated as part of the PDK/Bessie Gabbard Initiative on Leadership in Education to celebrate the start of a new century. Each fastback cover features a historic school scene; the photographs were obtained from the Cleveland Public Library Photograph Collection and date from the first half of the 20th century. (See Book Notes for information about the fall 2000 authors.)

In addition to their value as personal professional reading, many titles in the series are used as resources for inservice training and in college and university classes. These handy monographs are a great buy at $3 per copy (only $2.25 for members), and volume discounts are available.

Individuals and institutions also can purchase the annual series of 16 titles in advance by placing a standing order. The standing order price is $24, a 50% savings over the individual list price for all 16 titles. Buyers may call Susan Wehrly at the International Office to place a credit card order. Purchase orders also are accepted from institutions.

District Conferences Meet in Fall

The nine PDK districts hold their conferences in October and November. Each chapter is required to send at least one delegate to a district conference, and all Kappans are welcome to attend.

The schedule and sites for the 2000 district conferences are:

• District I: October 26-29, The Grove Hotel, Boise, Idaho.
• District II: October 20-23, Viking Serenade, Los Angeles, California.
• District III: October 27-29, Dallas-Fort Worth Metro-Plex Area Holiday Inn, Irving, Texas.
• District IV: October 27-29, Embassy Suites, Omaha, Nebraska.
• District V: October 19-22, Pheasant Run Resort, St. Charles, Illinois.
• District VI: October 26-29, Island's Marriott Long Island, Hauppauge, New York.
• District VII: November 2-5, Savannah Marriott, Savannah, Georgia.
• District VIII: October 13-15, Hyatt Charlotte at South Park, Charlotte, North Carolina.
• District IX: November 10-12, Manila, the Philippines.

PDK Resource Connection by Donovan R. Walling, Director of Publications and Research

Fostering Collegial Conversations

Educators lament the inherent isolation of the classroom or the administrative office that often limits intellectual conversations with colleagues. PDK chapters and individual Kappans are ideally positioned to foster such conversations, using resources available from Phi Delta Kappa. Following are a few ideas:

• Center a chapter meeting on a conversation about a thought-provoking book or fastback, a new Hot Topics volume, or a timely video. Excellent conversation starters abound, from books such as Can Democracy Be Taught? and What Schools Are For to videos such as Facing Inclusion and Beyond the ADD Myth.
• Use a chapter meeting to help launch one or more reading/study groups, and encourage members to lead such groups in their schools. Fastback 406 Teacher Study Groups for Professional Development is a useful resource.
• Organize a community forum. Enlarge the conversation about education by inviting community thought-leaders and school stakeholders into the discussion. PDK's Center for Professional Development and Services can provide complete information about conducting a forum on the public schools, based on experiences over several years with similar forums across the nation.
• Conduct an opinion survey on education. Newly revised, the PACE: Polling Attitudes of Community on Education materials are PDK's tool for conducting local public opinion surveys. Findings can be used to enhance community involvement in education. PACE is based on the well-known annual PDK/Gallup Poll of the Public's Attitudes Toward the Public Schools.

Too often the comment is heard: "But I'm too busy!" -- too busy to plan, too busy to attend. But too busy to learn? Of course not. Pertinent, intellectual conversations -- call them study groups, community meetings, public dialogues -- are powerful vehicles for both individual and group learning and for building community support for education. Phi Delta Kappa can provide the resources that chapter leaders and individual Kappans need for this important endeavor. Check out the current catalog or visit the PDK website: www.pdkintl.org.

3rd Legislative Council Site Chosen

Louisville, Kentucky, will be the site of the 3rd Legislative Council, which is set for 31 October to 4 November 2001. Before deciding on Louisville, the board of directors considered several potential sites, including Bloomington, Indiana, which played host to the 2nd Legislative Council, and Indianapolis, which was the site of the first council.

During October and November this year the nine district conferences will be developing legislation and considering other matters to be taken up at the legislative council. Delegates also will elect their district representatives and area coordinators and will nominate candidates for PDK International President and Vice President.

A complete list of district conference dates and sites is on page 6.

Staff Appointments Announced

Shari Bradley's appointment as director of the Center for Professional Development and Services was confirmed by the board of directors at their July meeting. Bradley most recently has led the development of the Future Educators of America program and worked with student-oriented activities. She joined the PDK staff in 1986.

The board confirmed Carol Langdon as program director for the Center for Evaluation, Development, and Research. Langdon had served as acting director of CEDR since Willard Duckett retired in October 1999. Langdon, who holds a doctorate in instructional systems technology from Indiana University, has been a member of the CEDR staff since 1993.

David M. Ruetschlin was named managing editor for Special Publications. Ruetschlin had served as staff associate in Special Publications since 1983.

Foundation News by Scott Hutchinson, Development Officer

Tired of trying to figure out the latest version of the Schedule D tax form? Transferring stocks to the PDK Educational Foundation can help you avoid that task and may provide a tax advantage as well. A number of Kappans have found that they can avoid the capital gains tax on stocks that have risen in value since their purchase and still can take the charitable contributions deduction at the appreciated value of those stocks. However, Kappans should discuss this with their accountant or tax planner because an individual's income and other deductions can affect this deduction.

For Kappans who are considering such stock transfers, the transfers are relatively easy to do. If the stocks are in a brokerage fund, they can be transferred directly to the Foundation by the broker. The donor should first contact the PDK International Office to let us know that the transfer will be made. The International staff will provide the donor with an account number and the names of two representatives at Huntington National Bank, which serves as the Foundation's trustee. Information about completing the transfer will be provided for each individual case.

For tax purposes, Huntington National Bank will place a gift value on the stock using the average of the high and low prices on the day the stocks are received. The PDK Educational Foundation also bases its acknowledgement of your gift on that figure.

If the stocks are not in a brokerage account, the procedure is only a bit more complex. Donors of such stock certificates should call the Foundation development officer at the International Office for the particular method to be used.

While this all sounds very complicated, it really is not. And for some Kappans, the tax benefits can be substantial. So if you have had some luck in the stock market, transferring some stock to the Foundation may be a way to make a contribution that helps you on your tax bill. And such stock transfers are truly appreciated.

Chapters Celebrate 75th, 50th, and 25th Anniversaries

The University of Northern Colorado Chapter, installed on 23 April 1926, and the Chicago Illinois Chapter, installed on 4 May 1926, are celebrating their 75th anniversaries this year.

Six chapters are celebrating their 50th anniversaries during the 2000-2001 year. Those chapters and their installation dates are: Long Island New York (30 October 1950), Tulare-Kings County California (27 December 1950), Southern Oregon (3 March 1951), University of Connecticut (17 March 1951), University of the Pacific (25 May 1951), and Bradley University/Heart of Illinois (16 June 1951).

Nineteen chapters are celebrating their 25th anniversaries. They are: Montachussett (13 September 1975), Mid Cities/UTA (15 September 1975), Deep East Texas (16 September 1975), Southeast Arkansas (17 September 1975), Three Rivers Arkansas (18 September 1975), Broward County Florida (20 September 1975), Big Springs of the Ozarks (22 September 1975), Arkansas Delta-Ridge (23 September 1975), Middle Tennessee (24 September 1975), Bluefield Virginia (25 September 1975), Greater Juneau Alaska (25 September 1975), Pocono (26 September 1975), Suffolk County (28 September 1975), London Ontario Canada (4 October 1975), Andrews University (5 October 1975), Acadia University (6 October 1975), National College of Education (10 October 1975), Red Cedar Area Wisconsin (22 February 1976), and Scottsdale Arizona (4 March 1976).

These chapters may take advantage of special program resources offered to chapters celebrating their diamond, golden, or silver anniversaries. Some of these resources include a board or staff person or a fastback author for chapters celebrating their 25th anniversary, a distinguished lecturer for chapters celebrating their 50th or 75th anniversary, and complimentary Kappan subscriptions. Chapters also get a special discount on chapter orders of PDK jewelry and accessories during their anniversary year.

BOOKNOTES

TORSTEN HUSÉN BIO RELEASED · Comparative education pioneer, Swedish educator Torsten Husén is the subject of a new biography that was released last spring. Written by Norwegian educator Arild Tjeldvoll, this book was sponsored by the Sweden Tercentenary Bank Foundation. The hardcover edition sells for $49, with a member discount price of $38. The trade paperback edition is priced at $24; the member price is $18.

SMALLER CLASS SIZE OR VOUCHERS? · Alex Molnar tackles the issues in Vouchers, Class Size Reduction, and Student Achievement, published in June. This thoughtful, well-researched treatment is available in a trade paperback. The list price is $12; the member discount price is $9.

PROFILES OF LEADERS IN EDUCATION IS FIRST OF TWO · This anthology of profiles written by Mark Goldberg features leading figures in education, ranging from educators and researchers, such as Reuven Feuerstein, Stephen Jay Gould, and Shirley Brice Heath, to politicians such as New York Mayor Rudolf Giuliani. Nineteen profiles in all are drawn from the pages of Educational Leadership and the Phi Delta Kappan for this outstanding collection. Profiles lists for $22; the member discount price is $16.50. (See the companion book, Readings on Leadership in Education. Both have been published to mark the PDK/Bessie Gabbard Initiative on Leadership in Education.)

READINGS ON LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION IS THE SECOND · This collection of essays is drawn from the archives of Phi Delta Kappa. The featured writers include E. Grady Bogue, Michael Fullan, M. Donald Thomas, William E. Webster, and others. The volume is published to honor retired PDK Executive Director Ronald Joekel. Readings lists for $22; the member discount price is $16.50. (See the companion book, Profiles of Leaders in Education.)

FASTBACKS TO FEATURE WELL-KNOWN AUTHORS · A special series of fastbacks has been developed to mark the 2000-2001 transition year of the century, in keeping with the PDK/Bessie Gabbard Initiative on Leadership in Education. Among the authors are some well-known writers and educators: Gene Maeroff, Robert Sternberg, Daniel Duke, Denis Doyle, William Reese, Don Hoernschemeyer, Laurie Fendrich, and Dora Bailey and Ronald Helms. Look for this special series in October at the regular prices: $3/copy; $2.25/copy for members. A discount schedule is available for volume purchases.

PLACE A STANDING ORDER FOR FASTBACKS · Did you know that you can place a standing order for the fastbacks? Simply call 1-800-766-1156 and ask to speak to Susan Wehrly. She will gladly enter your credit card order for the next 16 fastbacks to be published. The annual standing order price is only $24. That's a savings of 50% off the single-copy list price for the same 16 titles.

LEARN ABOUT FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN, YEAR-ROUND SCHOOLS · Full-Day Kindergarten: Exploring the Research, by James Elicker, and Year-Round Schooling: Reviewing What We Know, by Carolyn M. Shields and Steven Lynn Oberg, are the latest in the new series, From Inquiry to Practice, published by the Center for Evaluation, Development, and Research (CEDR). These brief research summaries are timely and up-to-date. Each volume in the series lists for $6.50; the member discount price is $5. The previous volume in this series is Evolving Legal Standards Pertaining to Sexual Harassment: Administrator's Guide, by Martha McCarthy.

HOT TOPIC TARGETS INCLUSION · The newest entry in the Hot Topics series of research article collections is Assessing Inclusion: Strategies for Success, by Maike Philipsen. Like the many other titles in this long-running series, this comb-bound, lay-flat volume is priced at $30. The member discount price is $25. A multiple-copy discount also is available.

Washington Newsletter Goes Electronic

The Phi Delta Kappa Washington Newsletter, which previously appeared in each issue of News, Notes, and Quotes, will now be published online. Interested readers soon will be able to find a more timely version of this newsletter on the PDK website: www.pdkintl.org.

According to Sandy Weith, associate executive director for administration and operations at the International Office, the staff of the Washington-based Center on Education Policy will continue to produce the Washington Newsletter three times each academic year -- roughly September, November, and March/April -- but the production deadlines now will be coordinated with the congressional calendar. This should avoid the prior problem of publishing "old news," which occurred because the printed newsletter had to conform to the NN&Q publication schedule. A limited number of printed copies of the Washington Newsletter still will be available separate from NN&Q.

John F. (Jack) Jennings and Diane Stark Rentner, who write the Washington Newsletter, are carrying forward an activity that has been informing Kappans about the goings on in the federal legislature since the opening of the 102nd Congress nearly 10 years ago. Their hope is that a new, more timely, electronic version of the newsletter will better serve Kappans' information needs.

The Center on Education Policy, the national, independent advocate for public education, is supported by Phi Delta Kappa International and such foundations as the Pew Charitable Trusts, the George Gund Foundation, the Joyce Foundation, and the Spencer Foundation. The center's website is at www.ctredpol.org.

Membership Forum by Billie Spellman, Director of Membership

Q: I am now retired and would like to send my Kappan journal to my former school library. Can this be done?

A: Yes. The Phi Delta Kappan may be sent to a designee. You may do this by calling our Member Records Department or by declaring a designee on your membership renewal form. Many of our retired members have generously made this choice.

Q: I have not received any meeting notices or newsletters from my chapter. What is happening?

A: As a member, you should be receiving meeting announcements and newsletters from your chapter on a regular basis. However, local chapter leadership depends on volunteer members. Where there is strong leadership, the chapter thrives. If lack of leadership is an issue, perhaps an opportunity has been presented to you and others to step forward to assume the leadership roles that will preserve the welfare of the chapter.

You might want to speak to a chapter representative to get more information about the situation. Call the International Office to get the name of a contact person for the chapter.

Q: I did not receive a membership pin when I was initiated. How can I get a pin?

A: A membership pin may be purchased from the International Office. Simply call our Order Department. You must be a good-standing member at the time the order is placed.

Q: I have not received any copies of the Kappan. Please advise.

A: A search of our records indicated "no good address." This means that your address has changed and we do not have your current address on file. Unfortunately, this happens all too frequently. We urge all members to keep us current. Address changes can be reported by phone, fax, or e-mail.

Q: As a life member, why must I "recertify" my membership every year?

A: Our Constitution and Bylaws state that life and emeritus members must "annually certify the continuation of their membership in Phi Delta Kappa." The purpose of this mandate is to validate the accuracy of addresses and to give life and emeritus members an opportunity to waive receipt of publications. This constitutional mandate cannot be disregarded. Any change to this mandate would have to be presented to the Legislative Council for approval.

The recertification form currently is being redesigned. We value our life and emeritus members and hope that that the new form will be more positive and less intrusive.

Have a question about membership? Send it to Billie Spellman at the Phi Delta Kappa International Office.

News, Notes, and Quotes is published three times a year by Phi Delta Kappa International, P.O. Box 789, Bloomington, IN 47402-0789.

NN&Q Staff
David M. Ruetschlin, Editor
Thomas Ulmet, Assistant Editor
Debbie Webb, Graphic Designer
Terri Hampton, Secretary