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Totem Talk Winter
2015 volume 12
editor [email protected]
DKG International promotes professional and
personal growth of Women Educators and Excellence in
Education.
This Totem Talk will give you some interesting reading with highlights from Orrie Babiuk ,
our president 2014-2015
check out our excellent
website constantly updated by Phyllis
Stich.
It was great to have her show us how many hits the web site gets on a day or in a month.
http://dkgbc.weebly.com
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I have a feeling we need to start some type of competition between our chapters to see how
many members actually also take the time to check out our international website at
www.dkg.org to find out interesting new ideas and connect with others in our 17 countries.
Of course the exciting planning we all need to do now is to figure out
if we are driving or flying to the Northwest Regional held in Regina from July 29th
to Aug.1st. Registration will be on line soon.
Please note that we will have three of our B.C. women present at the Regional
in Regina. Louise Paulson and Diane Smith will talk about the Canadian
Harambee Education Society…a charity that sponsors high school girls in
East Africa. Lorrie William’s talk is entitled “From Classroom to Council”.
Teachers make excellent politicians. Learn how to enter the political arena
and be successful.
But first we all need to make time to attend another wonderful Spring
Symposium in New Westminster on April 25th in the library of the NW
Secondary School. The AGM will start at 9:00 A.M. Coffee Break with guests
arriving at 10:30 and then …wait for it…Faces of Art…get ready to be
inspired. More to follow in a flyer . Lorrie Williams is our chair, Sharon
Spencer our registrar. Each chapter has some responsibilities…check with
your president.
****We have had word that DKG folk from Washington are planning on
attending, so let’s show them a great B.C. Welcome****
Message from our President Orrie Babiuk
Welcome to 2015.
It seems like we were welcoming in the new millennium and here it is 2015.
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Things have certainly changed in the last 15 years. We now have Facebook,
Linkedin, iPods, iPhones, Kobo, Kindle computer banking, online shopping
email and the list goes on. With email comes an abundance of jokes, bills, ads,
news from family/friends/groups and more ads. One email I just received was
about amazing facts. “In the span of 66 years we went from taking flight to
landing on the moon.” “Humans will create more information in the the form
of data in the next two days than was created in all history up until the year
2003” and even “Crayola has changed a lot over the years. The number of
colors doubles every 28 years. “ we are definitely seeing many changes in our
lifetime in a relatively short period of time.
Dr. Schmid’s theme for her biennium is “85 Years and Beyond:
Advancing Key Women for Life”. As our Society is 85 years young we too
need to continue to face many challenges and changes in order to sustain our
society. Change is not always easy but at some point we all have to make
changes in our lives. Hopefully, we will know what changes are needed in our
chapters to maintain our current membership and to attract beginning
educators, those who have been in education for a decade or two, and those
about to retire. We want members that value our society, feel valued, and want
to contribute to activities, events, and programs that help benefit their chapter
and community. As Dr.Schmid wrote in her article “ The new 3M’s of
membership engagement: membership must be meaningful, motivational ,
and memorable.”
We have a challenge in this biennium to continue to create a variety of
inspiring programs, find projects that motivate us to take an active part in our
chapters, and promote fellowship. We need to learn more about our Society’s
past and how to move it into the future so that we can then look back at our
memorable moments.
~submitted by Orrie Babiuk
Members wanted to know where does our money go?
How is Your $40 Interna2onal Fee Spent at Headquarters?* Page 3
1. Member Services -­‐ category) $12.00 (Go to DKG.org – 9 pages of items for this 2. MarkeBng -­‐ $00.40 3. Forums -­‐ Forums) $00.40 (U.S., Canadian, European, Central American 4. Society Materials -­‐ $00.80 (Brochures etc.) 5. Staff Benefits -­‐ pension) $03.20 (Salaries, Worker’s comp., medical/dental, 6. Technology -­‐ $01.60 (web sites, soZware, hardware) 7. Commi\ee Members -­‐ $01.20 (defray costs for commi\ee members) 8. Conferences/ConvenBons -­‐ offered) $02.40 (A<end and you’ll be blown away what is 9. Society Leadership -­‐ $02.80 (Defray cost of development & personal costs) 10. PublicaBons -­‐ $05.20 (bi-­‐monthly DKG News; 2 printed Prof. journals) 11. Society OperaBng Expenses -­‐ $03.60 (building etc.; legal expenses; general business) 12. Permanent Fund -­‐ $02.00 (required by law) 13. Budget Reserve -­‐ $03.20 (for large-­‐item budgetary expenses) 14. ConBngency for Society Work -­‐ $01.20 (reserve fund) TOTAL $40.00 * Based on 2013 figures. If you look at numbers 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, which are direct benefits to members (yes, you too can chose to be nominated to an internaBonal commi\ee or parBcipate in receiving leadership training) you will see that of the $40 per member we pay to internaBonal, 62% is of direct benefit to members. Only 38% of our money is used to maintain the Society. We have a very small paid work-­‐force; we own our own building. All leadership posiBons are completed on a volunteer basis—albeit, out of pocket expenses are covered. Hope this answers your quesBons. If you need more informaBon regarding fees please don’t hesitate to contact me. Karin Breuer, BriBsh Columbia DKG Treasurer Page 4
British Columbia DKG Educational Fund submitted by Ellen K.
The BC DKG Educational Fund (formerly called the “Patricia Wilks Scholarship” in honour of a well-­‐respected Burnaby primary teacher who also served as the DKG provincial president from 1967 – 1969) was set up at the April 2013 AGM to replace the Patricia Wilks Scholarship and to reQlect the broader terms of use for members.
1. What does the award fund? The BC DKG Educational Fund supports participation in professional development activities related to career, leadership, volunteer work and the work of our society (for example, members who become treasurers, web masters or editors may want to get training). The Educational Fund Committee reserves the right to evaluate the professional development activity for which a member is requesting funding. The professional development activity must support the purposes of DKG. 2. Who may apply?
a) Membership for at least one year in our society is a requirement. b) Any member who has previously received funding may apply again. However, the Educational Fund Committee will consider length of time between applications, the amount of the funding previously received and could give preference to new applicants.
3. Who may not apply? Applicants who have or will be receiving funding for their professional development activity at the chapter, provincial or international level of DKG will not be eligible to apply. 4. How do I apply?
a) Write a letter describing the professional development activity (conference, workshop, seminar or course), name the sponsoring organization, state the cost, the location and include the beginning and ending dates of the course or activity. b) Submit your letter by email to both the President and Educational Services Chair of the BC Executive. Upon receipt an email conQirmation will be sent as proof of receipt. c) Application must be received prior to the start of the professional development activity. Page 5
d) Application must be received by June 1st of each calendar year. Applications received after June 1st will be considered in the following calendar year. NotiQication of acceptance or non-­‐acceptance will be made before June 30th. 5. Amount of the Award
a) The BC DKG Educational Fund is funded through the non-­‐designated investment fund which was created and is sustained by $0.80 of each member’s annual dues as well as the interest accrued in the fund. b) The Educational Fund Committee will have a maximum of $500 for the 2014 – 2015 Qiscal year as approved at the 2014 A.G.M. The Educational Fund Committee will review the amounts set, in consultation with the Qinance committee, annually. c) The amount received by any member would be dependent on the number of applicants that year and shall not exceed the amount approved by the members at the annual general meeting. 6. How will the award be received? Successful applicants will receive the award upon veriQication of participation. Copies of receipts and/or certiQicate of completion will be sent to the Treasurer of the BC Executive.
And Here is information about our funds for students
attending on the Mainland.
The Kathleen Collins EducaBon FoundaBon is a registered charity of the BriBsh Columbia Delta Kappa Gamma Society in Canada (RegistraBon #11924 0174 RR0001) and can be located on the Canadian website for registered chariBes. At this Bme we offer two $500 bursaries annually to one woman registered at Langara College and one in Douglas College BriBsh Columbia. The student may be registered in any program, show excellent potenBal for compleBng the program and demonstrate financial need. That we may increase the amount of the bursaries given to students we are once again creaBng awareness of the FoundaBon to solicit donaBons. If educaBon is one of the chariBes that you support, we encourage you to consider making the Kathleen Collins EducaBon FoundaBon one of those chariBes. An official receipt for Income Tax purposes for $20 or more will be mailed to you. Cheques are Page 6
made out to BC DKG. Please write “ The Kathleen Collins EducaBon FoundaBon” in the memo blank on the cheque. Karin Breuer, BC DKG Treasurer Do you recall these? Well, this year we will have four raffle baskets again with dona2ons going to our Canadian Project in Nepal. So come and be generous at the Spring Symposium on April 25,2015. Sarasota, Florida, -­‐ Sun, Sand—-­‐and Dragon BoaBng! Here you can see happy Orrie in her third InternaBonal Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission ParBcipatory Dragon Boat FesBval…1st in Australia, 2007, 2nd in Petersborough ,Ontario, 2010 and this third one in Florida. Page 7
The dragon Boat fesBval was held on Oct.24-­‐26m 2014, with over 100 breast cancer teams from around the world. On Friday aZernoon, 2500 breast cancer paddlers a\ended the opening ceremony all wering idenBcal pink shirts. Dr. Susan love, a highly respected authority on breast cancer, was the keynote speaker who gave an upliZing speech about her plans to have “an army of women like us to help eradicate breast cancer”. On Saturday aZer our races, we went to a new residenBal area, Lakewood Ranch, where all the teams paraded through the main art of town. Families and supporters lined the streets and we all had great fun. We had our last two races on Sunday and then watched the last race where the top eight crews competed in the final A Division Race. AZer that race, the Sandy Smith Global Race took place with ten mixed crews. Each team chose tow members from their crews to take part. The race is in honor of Sandy Smith , nab early member of Abreast in A Boat, who was instrumental in helping women form teams from around the world. Following the race, was the Flower Ceremony, honoring those women currently undergoing breast cancer treatments, those who have survived and those women who are no longer with us. All paddlers and guest were given a pink carnaBon. Following a minute of silence, to remember those we have lost, the flowers were tossed into the water. At the closing ceremony, Dr. Don McKenzie , was the guest speaker. Twenty years ago, Dr. McKenzie, a physician and exercise physiology professor at U.B.C., challenged the prevailing medical thinking that women, who were treated for breast cancer should avoid rigorous upper body exercise. His research study involved 24 breast cancer survivors who were taught paddling techniques. aZer their first dragon boat fesBval they were hooked ad found they were Page 8
healthier, more fit and had a floaBng support group. Word quickly travelled in the breast cancer world as one can see by the size of the Sarasota Rega\a. ~submitted by Orrie Babiuk
Woman of Wisdom and Passion
Please check out the criteria for this nomination on our website.
Nominate someone you know for this award and forward the nomination to Orrie
Babiuk by March. Make sure you ask the woman you nominate if she agrees to
have her name stand.
A Kenyan Journey
I spent the month of December emerging into
Kenyan culture with Margaret(the first CHES
girl and her daughter Lorrie as my guides.A
visit to an African village and a visit to CHES
House were two highlights of the journey.
Margaret, Lorrie and I travelled together to visit Lorrie's Grandma who lives in a
traditional African village in the outskirts of Katamega Town. Her grandma is a vibrant 83
year old woman who works and lives on her son's farm. Despite a life filled with toil and
poverty she still maintains a delightful sense of humour. We were welcomed into her
home with a dance and a prayer. A hen was killed and cooked for dinner in honour of
our visit, an African tradition of hospitality. It was also an act of generosity as there is
often not enough food to feed there family.
Margaret supports her family in times of need and pays the school fees of an orphaned
child who lives with her mother. Daily life in the village is hard for women, many trips are
required to the river to fetch water for cooking, cleaning, washing the clothes and for
bathing. All household chores are considered women's work and done only by women.
The village is populated by many small farms, the farm usually consists of a cow dung
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hut bleached yellow by the hot sun, a cow or two tethered to the fence, often obtained
through a daughter's dowery paid for in cows. Their fields are planted in maize, that is
made into four. Water is mixed with the flour to make a traditional African bread.
Despite this serene and peaceful countryside violence often erupts against children and
women whose victims have no recourse. African women tend to be strong and resilient.
Education is their hope for a safe and free future. It is a way to escape the cycle of
poverty. The wonderful women of the village included me in their lives, shared their
stories and made me a part of their family. I am forever changed by this experience.
CHES House is located in Katamega Town a few kms. from the village. At CHES House
I received a warm welcome from Rebecca (the office manager and former CHES
girl )from Helen and Linda CHES agents from Nelson.They were in the midst of
interviewing the girls for scholarships. For the next couple of days I also helped to
interview the girls. Each girl had a heart wrenching story to tell. If only there were 200
scholarships available instead of 50.
Margaret retold her story. Harambee began with Lorrie Williams compassionate
response to a determined little girl named Margaret in desperate circumstances. Lorrie
was Margaret's teacher. Lorrie not only paid her school fees, she arranged to have
Margaret board at the school saving her from hiking to and from school. It changed
Margaret's life. Margaret is now an Instructor of Nurses at the Nairobi National Hospital.
CHES House has grown from educating one girl to over 750 girls in Kenya and
Tanzania. How beautiful! I hope to find a way to help it grow as well. ~submitted by Diane Smith DKG Burnaby Chapter.
Spring Symposium …April 25th
Regina NWR…July28th to Aug.1st
Check out the photos of Burnaby Chapter below.
If you have time write to your editor at
[email protected]
Thank you, Lennor Stieda
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What a great chapter with so much enjoyment and learning in Burnaby.
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