The suggested legal name for the single entity is Omicron Delta Kappa Society and Educational Foundation, Inc. Members will still be initiated into Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society. Additional information regarding the reasons for O∆K‘s proposed governance transition and links to related documents are below.
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- This model establishes a single governing board to comprehensively address fiduciary requirements for the entire organization (membership as well as fundraising).
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- Three collegiate members and three faculty/staff members will continue to be included as members of the board. These three-year term positions will be elected by the circle delegates and circle advisors in a competitive process (there will be at least two candidates for each of these positions on the board). Elections will take place in conjunction with the national leadership conference which will be held on an annual basis beginning in 2020. Information pertaining to the election of collegiate members of the board may be found here. Information regarding the election of the faculty/staff trustees may be found here. Information about the proposed composition of the single board may be found here.
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- By having only one legal entity, there will ultimately be approximately $25,000 in annual savings (single audit, one filing fee, one set of state charity registrations, separating convention from governance, etc.).
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- Research indicates that this more efficient model of governance will assist O∆K in recruiting trustees and donors with greater capacity to support the organization. The roles and responsibilities for at-large trustees may be found here.
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- This model places the authority of making governance decisions (changes in documents such as the articles of incorporation and bylaws) with the board rather than with the convention and its representation of the circles through the delegates. By not having to address such matters in plenary sessions at the national conference, there will be more time available for leadership development and circle programming. The current Articles of Incorporation for the Omicron Delta Kappa Society and Omicron Delta Kappa Foundation are online. The current National Constitution, Society Bylaws, and Foundation Bylaws are on the web. The proposed Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Amended and Restated National Bylaws (only bylaws are required by law; a constitution is not required) were approved in a joint meeting of the Omicron Delta Kappa Society Board of Directors and the Omicron Delta Kappa Foundation Board of Trustees on January 12, 2019.
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- The requirements related to membership and circle standards and other operational matters will be included the official Omicron Delta Kappa Handbook that will be vetted by the Mission Committee of the board and discussed annually with the participants during the annual national conference. In addition to the governing committees of the board (Finance, Development, Governance/Trusteeship, Mission, Executive), there will be operational committees of the organization to address membership and circle standards, national awards, equity and inclusion initiatives, leadership development programming, volunteer engagement, and the annual national conference.
