Membership: Where there is Family, there is Love

Where There is Family, There is Love.

Membership Categories Meet the Needs of Sisters

By Betty Jo Evers, International Vice President for Membership

Membership in Alpha Delta Kappa is somewhat like being adopted by a family who has so much love to give that they want to share it by increasing their family. Joining Alpha Delta Kappa’s community and the “Circle of Love” is an honor extended to educators committed to excellence in education, diversity and inclusion, altruism and world understanding.

Our “family” consists of eleven categories of membership to meet the specific needs of all our members. These categories make up our A∆K family to form the Circle of Love that binds us together as an organization dedicated to the teaching profession. • Active member: abides by the protocol of her chapter, attends meetings, pays financial obligations, supports chapter activities, accepts leadership responsibilities, wears the A∆K badge, and maintains high moral and professional standards. • Active on Leave: a special status granted by the chapter to a member who for some unusual circumstance(s) can no longer participate in chapter meetings or activities. It is granted for a year and is renewable. Active on Leave members are responsible for all financial obligations. • Retired member: an educator who no longer works in the field of education but who is still interested in education. She has the same responsibilities as an active member including being responsible for all financial obligations. • Sustaining member: an active member who has moved from the chapter location and is not affiliated with another chapter. She can hold elected office and meets the financial obligations as an active member. • Life member: complies with all responsibilities as an active member, except she pays no annual International dues. • Honorary member (chapter and S/P/N): shall not be under contract with a school district nor engaged in the educational profession. This title is conferred upon a person who has made outstanding contributions to the field of education, the sciences, the humanities, or the arts on the local or

S/P/N level. The chapter pays her annual dues. • ITE Honorary member: shall have received the A∆K ITE

Scholarship; makes a contribution to the chapter and her sponsors; helps publicize A∆K in other parts of the world; has no financial obligations. • Limited member: a member who has become permanently incapable of fulfilling her obligations and responsibilities as an active member. She is exempted from all financial obligations. Headquarters approves this change in membership status. • Service member: a member of Headquarters’ staff for at least three years. Approved and invited by the International Executive Board to receive this status. She has no voting privileges and pays no dues. In addition to these nine categories of membership, there are five Collegiate Clubs (A∆KCC) on university campuses: Ball State University, Colorado State University, University of Arizona, Indiana State University, and Arizona

State University. These clubs are for students studying in the college of education. They learn about A∆K, leadership skills, community involvement, altruistic endeavors, as well as information regarding their chosen field of education. They are mentored by members and an A∆K chapter.

Finally, we couldn’t operate as effectively without the support from our Alpha Delta Kappa Association (A∆KA) members. These are men who help on all levels of our organization: chapter, S/P/N, region, and International. They are an organized group who meet during conferences and conventions for business and social events and support our altruistic projects.

The bond that links our Circle of Love is not one of blood, but of respect and the joy of coming together for common purposes, common goals and for friendship. This bond is strong and lasts forever. As Agnes Shipman Robertson often reminded us, “Once an Alpha Delta Kappa, always an Alpha Delta Kappa.”

Television personality Joanna Gaines tells us, “Time together as a family is a gift.” Welcome to our Alpha Delta Kappa “family” as we “Share the Love.”