During the meeting...

Meeting Links

• Opening Message
  Agenda, and Updates
  from the President
• Officer Reports
  and Business DISCUSSION
• VOTE HERE
  Election of Officers
  and
  Literacy Project School Selection
• The Journal Project
  Time to turn this dream into action!

Program Links

• Literacy Project, 2006
  Nominations now closed. Three libraries have been nominated and will appear on the ballot.
• The ARTS in Education
  A Discussion Program with
  Dr. Janice Lake Betts

Welcome!

June 12, 2006: UPDATE:

The meeting is expanding...

Please note the budget proposal has been posted and is ready for discussion. Also, the officers have been discussing the long-dreamed-of journal project, and it is shaping up! Read about it and share your thoughts. ALSO, our program on the Arts in Education with Dr. Janice Lake Betts is now open! Use the link buttons at left.

June 10, 2006: UPDATE from the President:

• About the scholarship (from my discussion with International)—we may have an endowment scholarship, in which a minimum of $10,000.00 is given to PDK International's bank, and they release the interest each year to be used as a scholarship. This continues forever. However, most chapters have a scholarship set up on their own, which we are doing. The usual amount given is $500 to $1,000. Intl. does not suggest we give less as less than $500 does not go very far. They feel it is better to give 2 scholarships of $500 rather than one of $1000 in order to share the wealth and joy, yet still give a substantial award. They have great experience in scholarship presentations. This agrees with Arthur's comments on the discussion page.
• Arthur has decided to stay on for one more year as Treasurer, which is greatly appreciated as we work to complete the scholarship project.
• Barbara Hopkins-Cox would like an editor elect to come on board to learn the newsletter position. She will remain on this year as Newsletter Editor and train an editor elect. This is a great opportunity to learn the ropes from a master editor. Contact me at president@waldenpdk.org. If more than one applies, we will vote.
• Carol Van De Pol regretfully will not remain as Foundations Representative. Her mother died of cancer and her step daughter was killed in a car wreck, both within a month. This position is open and will be voted upon.
• The Literacy Project has received two nominations. We know that some of you are just joining the meeting, and we would like to allow more of you the opportunity to win this award grant for your school. We will continue to accept nominations through Thursday, June 15.

Stay tuned for more updates!

June 4 , 2006

It seems so long ago that we chatted together last! I'm glad to be back together again. Here is the agenda so far, as I see it. This may grow, but I want to get started. I have called Intl. this AM, again, & have gone through all of last year's messages so that I can see all loose ends which need to be tied up. So, here we go! Please discuss these business items using the comment board on the Officer Reports/Business Discussion page (link at left).

New Business:

1. We have been honored by being recognized by Joseph Cofield of Intl. for our work and support of Katrina victims as noted on the Chapter Liaison website of PDK.
2. Amy Kemp, Membership Director of PDK, or her designee can present a program to summer attendees at Bloomington. This always raises the number of our new members.
3. It's time to select a new school library to receive our 2006 "Literacy Project" award. Any member is elegible to nominate a school library. Take a look at the simple information needed to make a nomination (link at left), and then return and nominate your favorite needy school library by June 4th.
4. Elections. Here are the candidates who have stepped forward so far:
   
   1. * President—open
   2. * VP Membership—Jarek Janio
      (Thanks so much for your continuing & capable leadership, Jarek.)
   3. * Treasurer—open
      (Arthur has said he will remain for another term if nobody else steps up, but it will have to be his last term. Correct me if I am wrong on this, Arthur. You're perfectly wonderful!)
   4. * Foundation Representative—??
      (Haven't heard from Carol yet. If she doesn't reply quite soon, I guess we will have to open this up to the general membership. You are always so willing and so patient, Carol. Thanks for all you have done.)

   *The above are required by Intl. The rest are required by our bylaws.

   5. Communications Director—Gay Wiseman with Greg Williams as "Webmaster-in-training"
      (Yay, Gay is grateful to find someone willing and able to help!)
   6. Programs Director - Jennifer Pullman
      (Thanks, Jen. You are always so ready & so capable!)
   7. Newsletter Editor - Barbara Hopkins-Cox ??
      Unsure if Barb wants to run for Pres, or continue her fantastic work as newsletter editor. I'd hate to try to follow her footsteps in that job. You've done so very well, Barb.)
   8. Secretary—Andre Elliott will accept again, or ??
      Andre, do you want to leave it open at first & step up if nobody replies? You are absolutely invaluable to this chapter, and always so willing to help anywhere needed. Thanks!)
   9. ListServe Manager - Theran Mugleston
      (I believe you agreed to do this again, Theran. Please correct me if this is not so. You are indeed a jewel to this chapter, always patiently there - please know that you are greatly appreciated. You may leave it open & step in if needed, too.)
   10. Historian - open
       (This is an optional position)
   11. Advisor 1 - Dr. Marilyn Simon
       (Thanks so very much for your wonderful guidance and gentle presence through thick & thin, dear lady of the light of knowledge. You are an ever present beacon to us.)
   12. Advisor 2 - optional
       (This has been Charles Smith, past president. He has truly been a mainstay, but from my email check, we have only heard from him twice in the past year, and he did not write in at our last meeting when we were discussing which positions would be open and which people request to stay. He is the president of the Atlanta, GA, branch of the NAACP & Political Action Coordinator as well as a photographer, consultant, & motivational speaker. I do believe this busy man's plate is full. If you get this, Charles, do say hello from time to time. You have been wonderful, and now you are spreading your strengths & knowledge all over! Good luck, and best wishes!)

Old Business:

1. We have a wonderful new link on PDF Intel's website.(http://www.pdkintl.org) Go to Site Map, top right corner; then go to About PDK, left column, and under that Find Chapter. By Florida there is our chapter name, right on top. Click & it brings up our name, our home web page, and a way to email the pres for more info.) Way to go International!! It's a nice job which we have wanted for a long time. I called to thank them.
2. Publishing for members—This has been Jarek's dream, and it may come true. His report shows a way. Jarek has kept on top of this!
3. New Email Addresses—any move towards this yet? It is not critical & nobody should feel pushed - just checking.
4. Calling Members—I can help on this later, but right now my plate is so full it's all over my tray! I know others are in the same situation. This is not critical.
5. Scholarship—This is the area I am so pleased that Arthur is willing to stick with. Connie McCoy (Intl) is to call me back Mon. or Tues. I also note that Joe Pescatrice's chapter has just created a scholarship, so we may be able to get help from him, too. Arthur said we need a minimum balance of $2500.00 in the bank just to get free checking, let alone have $ to give to a scholarship, so we need to limit some of our generosity in other areas and start saving more for this. (Arthur, there must be another bank that asks less for a minimum free balance - would you please look into this? Thanks!) Upon checking, we have completed paying all charitable giving to which we committed ourselves over the past years. We are clear now to focus on a scholarship.
6. Budget—An outside audit needs to be done for the books by Intl. rules. Gay, do we make a new budget before or after this process?

As always, thank you for being here! You are appreciated!

Thank you!
Marion