Society and welfare
In Dalia many committees have been set up to deal with the various concerns of the members, the production branches, and the kibbutz itself. Special attention is paid to supplying decent services for the members. Kibbutz administration is concentrated in the office building at the entrance to the kibbutz. Several makes and models of cars are available for work use and individual needs. Many members, mainly the young ones, are studying in academic courses. In the area of consumption, needs are supplied through the kibbutz supermarket, grocery store, clothing shop, shoe shop and other additional services. Also available are sewing facilities and fabrics, the laundry, and maintenance for housing. Members receive credit and bank cards for shopping outside the kibbutz. Consumption sectors in the kibbutz are computerized, so that magnetic cards are also used for internal shopping. Most of the members' houses are quite comfortable and large enough to suit their needs. The children, soon after finishing high school, have their own independent apartments. High-school students also live in their own houses, not only during short holidays, but also long ones. Since the transition to the "Lina Mishpachtit" system, the children sleep with their parents under one roof, and those members who had the right to do so, received improved accommodation according to their needs. The dining-hall is fine, large, but rather old ..... The intention of the kibbutz to build a new dining-hall was not carried out because of the economic crisis which hit the country and the kibbutzim at the beginning of the 1980's. The great investment in the transition to the "Lina Mishipachtit" system also contributed to the difficulty. In spite of this, a new kitchen was built and most of the old furniture was replaced. After discussion, it was decided to assure personal pensions to the members. Additional health services for members include; a clinic, physiotherapy, dialysis, daily transport to hospitals and clinics, ambulance services, a dental clinic, alternative medical care, and 24-hour nursing. Hadarei Holim, a medical care center in Dalia, gives patients and convalescents an opportunity to rest, and easy access to treatment. "Zoharit", "Ardit", and two workshops, "Sapir" and "Margalit" were established so that older members could continue their work ethic under medical supervision. This allows them to work as much as they want to and are capable of. Special attention is paid to the welfare of the older members in all aspects of their life. The carpenter's shop, the blacksmith's shop, the electricity and building departments, the garden and plant nursery services, are also concerned with members' welfare. For many years the kibbutz has offered shelter to young volunteers from all over the world who come to Israel for a limited time to learn about kibbutz life. With the wave of immigration from the countries of the former Soviet Union, many immigrants stayed in Dalia in the framework of "The First Home in the Homeland". Fortunately, Kibbutz Dalia has a solid social structure which includes all age groups, from the founders to the newest applicants for membership. Kibbutz Dalia is considered to be liberal towards its members - understanding the personal needs of members, their wants, and their wishes. Members cherish their kibbutz, their own home, just as those who have left Dalia remember it with love and longing.
Kibbutz Dalia invests a great deal in the education and training of its educators both economically and socially, believing that man is the most important "commodity". The children's houses for all age groups have plenty of space and are well equipped. Surrounding the educational unit, there are occupational assistance systems for advice, guidance, and to offer the children opportunity to acquire skills for their future. Recently, big changes have begun in the education system, not only in Dalia but also in the whole kibbutz movement. The elementary school "Omarim", unification of all the classes of the kibbutzim in the region (1995), the "Lina Mishpachtit", family sleeping arrangement (1988), adaptation of matriculation tests in educational institutes (1987), the most recent being transfer of the clothing allowance for children to their parents. The children stay at home until they finish elementary school and go to the youth group in the educational institute "Harei Efraim" where kibbutz children in this region are educated. Kibbutz Dalia has always been a warm foster home for children from outside, for youth groups, for core groups for new settlements not only from Israel but also from the diaspora. Many of them have stayed on as members.
Kibbutz Dalia has created an invaluable cultural legacy over the years. Dance Festivals, as already mentioned, created a venue for national and international folk-dancing attended by thousands of dancers and large audiences. Dance Festivals were held in Dalia in 1944, 1947, 1951, 1958, and 1968. There is an active creative life in Dalia in the fields of research, music, painting, sculpture, dancing, and literature. Public buildings, apartments, and the gardens of the kibbutz are decorated with art-work by the members themselves. Many are involved in hobbies, arts, crafts, and workshops all over the kibbutz. Every year many kibbutz members study in adult courses for supplementary education organized by the Megiddo Regional Council. There are clubs for all ages in the kibbutz. The most significant of these is the Founders' Club which has been operating since the 1950s in the pleasant Culture Center. A large sports hall is full of activity for most of the day, and children and members of all ages fill the hall with games, courses, and other activities. In Dalia there are several active sport groups, including an outstanding table-tennis team, occupying the top rank in national leagues. The kibbutz has a large library with a study room and a computer facility. Kibbutz Dalia was one of the first to give a special secular aspect to the national holidays. For example, The Passover Story, "Hagadat Hapessach", was written even in the early years of the kibbutz. Several books about Dalia have been written: "Dalia on its 40th Anniversary", "Dalia - Legend of the Place" for the 50th anniversary, and " Dalia from Then to Now" for the 53rd anniversary. A home recording named "How to Make a Kibbutz" was also distributed for the 40th anniversary.
Members and candidates 486 Non-resident members on holiday or missions abroad 45 Soldiers (candidates) 27 Children (including high school students) 234 Volunteers and new immigrants 41 Members' parents and others 37 Total population 870
| age | number |
| 20-30 | 128 |
| 30-40 | 66 |
| 40-50 | 113 |
| 50-60 | 85 |
| 60-70 | 59 |
| 70-80 | 29 |
| 80+ | 59 |
Members according to country of origin
Israel 224 Romania 43 Hungary 33 Germany 25 The (former) Soviet Union 15 Poland 12 Argentina 10 England 5 Austria, Czechoslovkia 4 Colombia, Egypt 3 Brazil, Bulgaria, Holland, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Morocco, Switzerland, Uruguai, U.S., Yugoslavia 2 Afghanistan, Algeria, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, France, India, Japan, Jordan 1