There's going to be a big birthday party pretty soon. I'm sure that you got the invitation. They were sent out a long time ago. There will be a visitor from outer space and visitors from the local folks and a choir that is absolutely out of this world *(1) and, if we stick around long enough, a really dramatic light display. *(2) This is surely an occasion that you will be unable to ever forget.

     Thinking about this, many questions come to mind. What kind of present should I bring? What the heck should I wear? Will any of my friends be there? Will this child or his mother know who I am?

     Well, some of the answers could be: Perhaps I could bring a friend who has never met the honored guest. I know that I cannot bring those first gifts, if I could even find them. I really doubt that what I wear will even be noticed, because he really does not care what's on the outside, its what's inside that he is interested in, so I had better work on that. Whether or not he and his mother know me or if I'll know anyone there depends on how often I have been to his house. A couple of things I know we can do before the party, is to get his house in order, make beautiful decorations and get the invitations out to as many who have not gotten one as soon as possible.

*1 Luke 2:8

*2 Matthew 2:9

An Advent reflection by Harold Miller,

A member of St. Thomas San Antonio, TX. 

Submitted by,

Missy Denney

First Vice President

The council and the staff wish everyone a Merry Christmas

and a Blessed New Year!!!

• The Rev. Major Sarah Shirley, who recently served as a Chaplain while stationed in Afghanistan, will reflect on the two great commandments in light of her own spiritual journey.
• Speaker Roger Grenier will accompany his biblical teaching with stories and song.  
• Christian drama performances by "The Friends of the Groom" will bring life to scripture and challenge us to grow.
• The Glory Bound Singers will celebrate their 20th anniversary of making a joyful noise unto the Lord, and will lead us in worship.  
• Jr. DOKs will fellowship and serve together.  
• International guests will share news of DOKs in other countries.
• Workshops will focus us on the theme in new ways to seek Jesus and share His love.
• Retail and Mission Exhibitors galore! A gallery of banners! 
• Fabulous, updated Hotels with a more intimate feel and loaded with Sisters praising God--and a staff that does too! 

• Sr. DOK and all adult guests: $385.00
• Jr. DOK: $250.00
• Banquet Only Guests: $ 50.00
• Marriott East Hotel Suites/Rooms: $99.00/night + fees = $115.00 approximately
• La Quinta Hotel Rooms: $74.00/night + fees = $ 90.00 approximately

     At the first meeting of the 2009-2012 Council, I declared a moratorium on discussion of bylaws. The lengthy debates at the 2009 Triennial had exhausted all of us. I announced that only after we all had a chance to recover would we even think about proposing bylaw amendments for the next Triennial. Similarly, the Finance Chair announced that her committee would not propose any increase in dues at the next Triennial, given the disastrous state of the economy.

     By 2011, we had enough perspective to revisit the bylaws. In August the Executive Board decided to reintroduce nine amendments that never reached the floor at the last Triennial. The nine selected include three amendments regarding Junior Daughters; three amendments regarding death and reinstatement; a revision of the lifetime dues amendment; an amendment defining a partial term on National Council; and an amendment regarding advisors. Daughters had discussed all of these in preparation for the 2009 Triennial. In October the whole Council made some changes, but agreed that these were useful and non-controversial amendments that the Council would recommend to the 2012 delegates.

     At the same time, issues were presented that prompted the Council to recommend some new amendments. One would make a Daughter who has served two terms as province president and then is elected at Triennial eligible to be chosen as president. Another moves the due date for Council nominations to January 15. Yet a third amendment would allow a chapter to apply for dues relief for members who are 85 years or older. Often chapters or family members take over dues payments for members whose health is deteriorating or whose finances are strained. This provision would allow us to continue to recognize our elders as members of the Order when they enter nursing homes, yet alleviate a financial issue for chapters. It would result in a relatively minor loss of income at the national, province, and assembly levels.

    At press time, the Council was still reviewing a set of proposed amendments that would make the Treasurer's position a paid, part-time, off-Council role, held by a professionally qualified individual who could visit the national office regularly.  Managing the Order's money from a distance gets more challenging every triennium, even when highly qualified Daughters hold the position. In addition, we lose continuity when the treasurer changes from one triennium to the next. The finance chair and her committee would still oversee budgets, reports, policies, etc., but the burden we currently place on our treasurers would be alleviated. If the Council decides to recommend these additional amendments, they will be mailed to you in the Royal Cross in February. 

     The text of the recommended bylaw changes may be viewed at the following link: Bylaw recommendations. They will be mailed to you in February as part of the next Royal Cross, but if you know a delegate who does not receive Cross+Links, please share these documents with her.

     Which DOK provincial assembly do you belong to? Do you know how to get in touch with your province president and other officers? The name of the newsletter, or the URL of the website? To find the answers to such questions, you can e-mail your province president--the link is in the right hand column of this newsletter. Are you planning to attend a provincial assembly or retreat in 2012? In case you are out of touch with your province, here is a review of what provincial assemblies do for Daughters of the King!

     The DOK provincial assemblies are composed of chapters and diocesan assemblies in eight regions of the United States. Each provincial assembly elects a president and at least three other officers, who serve as an executive committee; others may be appointed as needed, such as a Junior Daughters Chair, a Funds Chair, a Daughters At Large Chair, or a Historian. (Bylaws regarding officers and other issues vary from province to province, but must be in keeping with the national bylaws.) The diocesan assembly presidents, along with the elected and appointed officers, make up the board of directors of the provincial assembly. They are usually assisted by a chaplain and an advisor.

     The province president automatically becomes a member of the National Council for three years.  Her seat on Council permits her to share the work and concerns of her province with other provinces and with the whole Council.  She also conveys to her constituency good ideas other provinces offer, and background and rationale for decisions reached on the national level. When she sees that several chapters could form an assembly, she may take the initiative to help them do that.  If a particular assembly seems to be stagnant or troubled, she may meet with key leaders to help them move forward. She will call board meetings and provincial assemblies, as well as promoting service programs, outreach and retreats. When a chapter has a question their diocesan assembly president cannot answer, the province president may know what is needed or provide the right contact elsewhere. Daughters need to pray seriously when they prepare to elect a province president--her leadership is truly significant.

     The map below shows the eight plus one provinces of the Episcopal Church.  The eight Episcopal provinces in the US correspond geographically to the eight provincial assemblies of the National Daughters of the King.  The Episcopal Church also administers a ninth province that consists of Columbia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Puerto Rico and Venezuela.  It administers churches in Haiti, the Virgin Islands and the Convocation of Europe as part of Province II.  The Daughters of the King do not have a Province 9, and treat Daughters in countries that are not among the 50 states as international units that may form their own national assemblies. 

     Currently, in addition to the United States, four countries have national assemblies, and we hope others will follow.  Daughters in Brazil, Malawi, the Dominican Republic and Haiti all have their own national assembly and officers.  We will have a chance to hear from them at Triennial!

Metro Griffith & Grace Sears

Province IV President & National President 

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