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OFFICERS
President:
Gay Wiseman
gwiseman@mindspring.com
VP of Membership:
Andre Elliott
aelliott@WaldenU.EDU
Vice President of Programs:
Marion Carpenter
flwrldy@ipa.net
Treasurer:
Dr. Arthur Ogden
emagogden@yahoo.com)
Foundation Representative:
Susanne Beier
sueb@nep.net)
Research Representative:
Andre Elliott
aelliott@WaldenU.EDU
Secretary: vacant
Webmaster: vacant
Historian: vacant
ADVISORS:
Dr. Marilyn Simon
msimon@waldenu.edu;
Dr. Charles Smith
csmith2@waldenu.edu
To reach the executive
board:
offpdk@waldenu.edu
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Upcoming Meetings
The next chapter meeting will be February 21 – 29 at http://waldenpdk.org — click to the Meeting Center. This will be a joint meeting with the Tokyo Japan chapter (and maybe others). We will have a guest presenter, Peg Lowmiller, who will lead us in a discussion concerning violence in elementary schools. The program discussion will be presented in three parts. Check in during the first weekend for the introductory material, and then come back to the site again during the week for what promises to unfold into an informative and valuable discussion.
In addition to the program, nominations for a slate of officers 2004-2005 will be made, and we will continue an important discussion of revisions to our chapter bylaws, focusing specifically on officer duties and responsibilities as well as the election process. At this time, more careful study of the new International constitution is needed to ensure compliance. Once the chapter reviews and comments on proposed suggestions, the executive board will finalize a proposed revision, consult International for compatibility with the new constitution, and bring the resulting rewritten bylaws before the membership for a vote at the April or May meeting. Marion Carpenter had some good ideas to consider regarding officer positions that she posted to the bylaws revision page. Check it out at http://waldenpdk.org/meetings/genmtg_12_03/revise_bylaws.php.
Add your comments to the thread.
Subsequent meetings scheduled:
April 17-25
- Officer elections and vote on chapter bylaws revision
- 1st review of 04-05 budget proposal
- Las Vegas conference internet access planning
- Begin 2004 Literacy Project--solicit nominations of school libraries.
May 29-June 6
- 04-05 budget approval vote
- Installation of new officers for the 04-05 year
- Planning for representation at the Walden summer session
- 2004 Literacy Project--vote and award of grant to winning library.
Bill Garry was the prize winner of the December meeting. Congratulations, Bill!
NEWS
- Our chapter held its last chapter meeting in December welcoming in the New Year with an on-line party.
- Meetings are now conducted at our website. You may access the site of the Walden University Cyberspace Chapter #1586 of Phi Delta Kappa at: http://waldenpdk.org
- We received an update on our school library gift program. The message read:
"I just received the Amazon gift certificate for additional books to be purchased for our school library, and wanted to once again thank our generous Walden PDK members for this true manifestation of positive change in public education.
The books already received have contributed immeasurably to the quality of our students' school year so far (their own reactions will be forwarded to you by the school year's end). These bright, eager students come from poverty-level families with very little to nurture them culturally... The impact of receiving the Literacy Project award has been amazingly far-reaching for these book-starved children.
And now, in time for the holidays-- more great news for them!! We are in the midst of the grueling process of moving to a new building mid-year. The newest additions (soon to be chosen) will compliment the core batch and arrive just in time to be a part of the brand-new school.
With grateful hearts and the best-ever holiday wishes to each Walden Cyberspace member, we thank you.
Jennifer Pullman, along with Erica Chapman (our school librarian)"
- We received the following report from Andre about the conference he and Gay attended; I can see why we should all be excited! Here is Andre’s report:
"Gay and I enjoyed representing you at the No School Left Behind Conference in St. Louis. We were in excellent company among educators from across the U.S.A. and around the world. The meticulously chosen conference theme, 50+ topical sessions, workshops, keynote addresses and St. Louis inspired, informed, and invigorated all. Visit our web site www.waldenpdk.org to look up Gay's award worthy pictorial report of the conference. (Find it by going to the Meeting Center, and following the link to the December03-January04 meeting archive, and then look for th link in the left hand column.) Allow me to extend her efforts by highlighting other dimensions of the conference.
The Instructional Matrix
Two ladies and a gentleman from Mississippi State University emphasized that educators must develop specific methods and materials within the specified curriculum to meet a range of learning needs for a school to not be left behind. They discussed a three dimensional model that can assist schools to develop appropriate, coherent curriculum and instruction. Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences was relevant to this session.
Leadership for Shared Decision-Making
A former school principal walked us through the stages of shared leadership using numerous examples from her personal archives. She communicated a joke about a boy who was sent to her office after sharing a unique song with his classmates. The story of this boy's visit to her office was worth the price of the conference ticket.
No Country Left Behind (NCLB)
Educators from Canada, England, Germany, Bermuda and Japan shared information about education in foreign countries. Each presenter agreed to join Walden PDK online to continue the discussion.
Inspirational Leadership
Three ladies from Tampa, Florida dressed in black, presented effective leadership as an inspirational imperative. The session was embellished with music and their "out of the woodshop" experiences for successful school reform. These ladies were so cool that I personally requested to be in a photo with them. I enjoyed networking during the NCLB conference. I had a few brief conversations with Dr. George Kersey, Jr., Executive Director of PDK. He is forever friendly, clever, and a good listener. He always offers a challenge for our chapter.
I was especially pleased to meet Donovan R. Walling, PDK's director of publications and research. I observed that his session, "Writing for Professional Publications" had a budging out the door audience. I was delighted when he consented to deliver this session to our cyberspace audience.
Dr. Chauncey Veatch, America's 2002 teacher of the year, was the closing keynote speaker in St. Louis. I first met Chauncey in Bloomington, IN during the summer of 2003. I invited him to come to Japan after hearing the story of his students' rise from a crippling environment of poverty, teen pregnancies, and drugs to national academic distinction.
Jo Ann Fujioka is president-elect of PDK International. PDK members worldwide in a one-person one-vote election recently elected her. I listened and learned much as she spoke to the audience and later to me in a personal setting. She is an advocate and trailblazer.
Walden PDK is in PDK's district seven. Gay and I met district seven leader Christian Cherau several times during the conference. I came to know that district seven is among the most illustrious is Phi Delta Kappa International. Christian Cherau is the leading reason. He is the kind of guy who practices what he preaches. He doesn't simply tell you how to do things. He rolls up his sleeves and pushes the pedal to the metal.
I presently serve as president of Tokyo Phi Delta Kappa and VP of membership in Walden's cyberspace chapter. The Tokyo chapter is in district nine. However, district nine no longer exists in the new constitution of PDK International. I met Thomas E. Smith, a school principal in England, who has been leading district nine. He has been appointed by the executive board of PDK International to explore how chapters in foreign countries can be effectively served and included in Phi Delta Kappa. I think all of you will meet Tom during our online meeting in February.
I hope to hobnob with all of you during this upcoming meeting and at the October 2004 PDK conference in Las Vegas, Nevada."
- New members, Welcome!
- As the News Letter Editor I would love to hear from all new members as well as "old" members, specifically with news items, announcements, discussions, thoughts, ideas, motivational points etc. to include in the News Letter. Please send your information to either: rjenterprises@lycos.com (Theran) or b2ad@yahoo.com (Barbara)
- Ms. Barbara Hopkins-Cox has joined us in preparing the News Letter, we certainly appreciate her willingness to help out. Welcome Barbara!
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