The professional and personal characteristics of the men and women in Phi Delta Kappa who hold the top elected positions in local chapters were compared, and the perceptions of these leaders of the impact of allowing women to be members of Phi Delta Kappa were assessed. A 43-item questionnaire was developed and mailed to 1,340 chapter presidents and vice-presidents, and 894 responses were received. Of this group approximately 70 percent were male, and 30 percent were female. Statistically significant differences in most of the personal data of males and females who hold the top elected offices in local chapters indicate that: (1) more of the females are single than are the males; (2) nearly one-third of the females had no children, as compared to only about one-tenth of the males; (3) while the ages of males and females are comparable, males have more years of experience than females; (4) males tend to hold a higher academic degree than females; and (5) in correspondence to their areas of specialization, more males hold administrative positions than females, while more females than males are teachers. Both males and females felt that they were elected to their positions because of colleague confidence in their leadership abilities. A very slightly higher percentage of females are actively involved in research, while a slightly higher percentage of males have published at least one article in the last two years. Most respondents indicated that they felt that the organization should be coeducational, rather than its previously all male membership. (SW)