Europe is Creating a Buzz 



The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International ~ For Key Women Educators ~ June 2009 


Women educators have a 
choice as to how they will spend their 
time. ..G is in competition with the 
demands of a job, responsibilities for 
the home and family, as well as other 
professional, civic, religious and social 
organizations. It is crucial that chapter 
meetings, projects and activities not 
only attract key women educators and 
address their needs and interests, but 
are also worth their time and effort. 

Member countries in Europe 
are responding positively to this 
challenge by providing interesting and 
innovative chapter meetings. Riitta 
Liisa Arpiainen, Zeta Chapter, 
Tampere, Finland, and a member of 
the International Communications 
Committee says, “We must do things 
differently to attract today’s busy, multitasking 
woman educator. June’s Tip of 
the Month gives examples of activities 
that have proven successful in Sweden 
and Finland.” 

Marianne Skardeus of 
Sweden, a member of the Board of 
Trustees of The Delta Kappa Gamma 
Society International, Educational 
Foundation, has five suggestions. 

1. Give away a prize or 
award. This makes headlines 
in local papers. Send a tip or 
press release in advance. 
2. Recognize member achievements 
such as a higher degree, promotion, or 
award and send an article to a paper or 
magazine. 
3. Members who write or edit books 
should donate copies to the library. 
Inform the press of the presentation. 
4. Local media outlets 
need to know when there is a change 
of officers at the chapter or state level. 
They publicize service projects or 
innovative practices. Send photos. 
5. Prepare press releases for members 
who serve at the state, regional and 
international level. 
Liisa Peltomaa, serves as 
membership chair for Gamma Chapter 
in Turku, Finland and has several hints 
for recruiting new members and keeping 
experienced ones. 

1. Someone in the chapter, or a small 
committee, should be responsible for 
assuring at least 2-3 new members are 
recommended every year. 
2. Members should recommend for 
membership, colleagues, former 
students and educators working in 
neighboring schools or other institutions. 
3. Chapters should have up-to-date 
brochures listing their goals, activities, 
projects, membership fees and other 
pertinent information. 
4.Include in the invitation to prospective 
members, the chapter brochure, a list of 
individuals to contact, and other important 
information about the Society. 

5.Organize theatre trips. Sell tickets to 
friends, mainly educators, and on the 
way, tell them about your chapter and 

8. Acknowledge members’ birthdays 
and other achievements with a card. 
People love belonging to a group of 
friends. 


9. Provide time occasionally for 
members to share about themselves, 
their work and hobbies. 
10. Keep your members well informed. 
Don’t assume they know 
what is going on in the chapter or the 
Society. Communicate frequently and 
in different ways. 
11.Make sure all members have 
responsibilities and tasks to perform. 
Everyone wants to feel needed, 
useful and important. 


Zeta Chapter, Tampere, 
Finland shares the following tip: 
Choose some interesting 
books for members to read. 
At chapter meetings 
give brief overviews 
of the books and 
encourage others 
to read them. 
You will have 
interesting discussions. 
invite them to visit a meeting. 

6.Advertise chapter meetings and other 
events in the “free” column in the local 
paper. After the event, you have many 
prospects to consider for membership. 

7. Use a handwritten note to stay in 
touch with members who may not have 
read their email or attended in a while. 
Check on your members who are 
absent. They will appreciate it. 
During the pre-conference 
training sessions at the five 
regional conferences, state 
organization presidents, editors 
and webmasters will receive more 
tips for use in Creating a Buzz. 
Workshops, such as Basic 
Electronic Communication 101, 
Create a Buzz by Using Latest 
Electronic Means, Website Design, 
and others, will also be offered. 
Let’s advance the Society by 
increasing our visibility!