A Word or Two from the Board of Directors

Your Board of Directors and ADSOEF committees are busy at work organizing for the 2024-2025 year.  This marks our eighth year of existence in funding activities that support professional and personal growth of educators in Ohio and promote educational excellence for Ohio students. 

• We, the Board of Directors, are currently completing the task of recruiting and securing volunteer members for various Foundation committee positions.  To date, we have 37 individuals (5 are new recruits) who volunteer their time to do and accomplish the necessary work of ADSOEF, which in turn benefits our Ohio State Organization educators and Ohio’s students and educators alike. 
• The Finance Committee and the ADSOEF Treasurer are conducting the annual ADSOEF audit for the 2023-2024 fiscal year and will be reporting the audit results at a future Board of Directors meeting.
• The Fundraising Committee has spent the summer months preparing for the 2024-2025 Fundraising Campaign Roll Out at the Fall OSO Executive Board Meeting on September 14, 2024.  
• Ohio educators are beginning to gear up for the upcoming school year.  Our 2023-24 Esther H. Strickland Grant recipients are no different and are busy gearing up for their student teaching experiences too!  We wish them well. Be sure to read, in this issue, the experiences of Meghan Hudepohl as she describes her spring student teacher adventures.  
• Our 2023-24 A. Margaret Boyd Fellowship Grant recipient, Mukadas Tashieva, Kyrgyzstan, received an internship opportunity this summer at the FHI360 in Washington DC.  Be sure to read, in this publication, her letter of appreciation for her American educational journey.
• It’s August already (…where does the time go?) and you know what that signifies…summer breaks are swiftly coming to an end. It is our whole-hearted wish for all teachers, administrators, substitutes, tutors and students alike to have and enjoy a very productive and successful 2024-2025 school year!
• We welcome, invite, and encourage all to add your voice, your energy, your enthusiasm, your passion, your commitment to ADSOEF.  We encourage your continued participation, appreciate your input, and truly value your ongoing and growing support of this Foundation.  To contact us go to adsoef.org.

Eagerly looking forward to serving our membership in 2024-2025.

The ADSOEF Board of Directors

Thank you!

We, the ADSOEF Board of Directors appreciate, beyond measure, the ADSOEF/OSO members who have already agreed (very graciously we may add) to serve as committee members or committee chairs.  The Board is indeed grateful for the positive responses received and the willingness of the membership to serve the Foundation.  Look below at who your ADSOEF leaders are for 2024-25.

ALPHA DELTA STATE OHIO EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION COMMITTEES

2024-2025

DONOR RELATIONS COMMITTEE

Linda Reeves, Alpha Delta, Chairman

Barbara Smith, Zeta

Sue Samoviski, Chi

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES COMMITTEE

Chris Snoddy, Alpha Lambda, Chairman

Lona Bowman, Delta Kappa

Karen Dunn, Alpha Psi

JoAnn Krock,  Zeta

M. Kathryn McClendon, Zeta

Candace Haudenschild, Alpha Psi

*Michele Maniskas, Alpha Xi

* Serves as liaison for both OSO and ADSOEF

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Sue Loader, Alpha Psi, Chairman

Dr. Lois Harkins, Alpha Lambda, Treasurer

Molly Tharp-Allen, Alpha Psi

Patty Truex, Beta Rho

Hannah Fairbanks, Gamma Theta

FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE

Linda Diltz, Beta Rho, Co-chairman

Barb Zirke, Alpha Psi, Co-chairman

Holly Buente, Gamma Pi,

Joan Avery, Chi

Nancy Russell, Beta Kappa

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

Dr. Norma Kirby, Alpha Delta, Chairman

Sue Loader, Alpha Psi

Sandy Royer, Delta Kappa

Tammy Schroeder, Beta Eta

Joyce Jones-Weinkam, Gamma Xi

MARKETING COMMITTEE

Brenda Armstrong, OSO State Member, Chairman

Beth Bronkar, Alpha Psi

Cathy Tenney, Beta Kappa

*Katie Gantz, Gamma Phi

*Serves as liaison for both OSO and ADSOEF

NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Tammy Schroeder, Beta Eta  Chairman

Debby Canter, Delta Epsilon

Nancy Waters, Alpha Psi

Hannah Fairbanks, Gamma Theta

LIAISON TO OSO SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE*

Marilyn Slusser, Delta Kappa, Chairman

The OSO Scholarship Committee Members:

Nicole Burley

Sue Loader

Judith McClanahan

*OHIO STATE ORGANIZATION LIAISON TO THE ADSOEF BOARD

OSO President Melodie McGee

*Is an ex-officio member, without vote, and the OSO liaison to the ADSOEF Board

*ADSOEF Board Chairman

Diana L. Kirkpatrick, Alpha Delta, Chairman, 

*Is an ex-officio member of these committees except for the Nominating Committee.

Educational Services Leadership Grant

Report from Cathy Tenney

My 2024 DKG International Convention Experience

The Educational Services Committee congratulates Cathy Tenney on finishing a successful Leadership Grant! She was awarded $1,000.00 to attend the DKG International Convention in July of 2024. She will use this learning experience and networking opportunity to improve the marketing and communication of her chapter, OSO, and ADSOEF.  Read about her experience below!

My journey to the 2024 DKG International Convention began last summer when I attended the 2023 DKG International Conference in Detroit with Joan Bostelman, Debby Canter, and Joyce Jones-Weinkam. After attending various breakout sessions and hearing from outstanding speakers, I was hooked! I knew then I had to attend the 2024 DKG International Convention in National Harbor, Maryland.  The four of us immediately began making plans to attend the International Convention together.  

Ohio was represented by ten OSO members at the 2024 DKG International Convention which provided an opportunity for us to forge new friendships within our group as well as with other Convention attendees. It was a great learning experience for me as well as eye opening on how DKG members from around the globe came together sharing how they are tackling the challenges that many chapters are facing.  I had the opportunity to attend not only general sessions but also various breakout sessions on the importance of communications with our members and others, how to market of DKG to non-members to grow our membership and making DKG relevant for all our members.

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A Letter from

Mukadas Tashieva

Dear Esteemed DKG Community

I am Mukadas Tashieva, a Fulbright Scholar who came to the United States with my family with the goal of opening doors of opportunity for children with disabilities in Kyrgyzstan. My dream is rooted in the belief that America will help me discover new methods to teach and create better educational opportunities for children with special needs. In this letter, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation for your continuous support in my educational journey at Kent State University through the Fulbright Foreign Students Program. Additionally, as a storytelling letter, I wish to share my first-year experiences—highlighting the challenges faced and successes achieved on my path to realizing the American dream for students with disabilities. I will also share significant moments from my study and family life over the past year.

Excitement about America Made Us Brave

Reflecting back on our initial travel to the U.S., I agree with Mrs. Marilyn Slusser’s words, “Mukadas, you are brave,” when she called to discuss the amazing opportunity and great support from DKG. I was too excited at the time to fully appreciate her words, but now I understand. Our journey was marked by bravery—four days and 22 hours of flight from our mountainous country with four children and my husband. Entering a new country without knowing anyone or having a specific place to stay was a bold step, driven by the belief that our lives would change for the better.

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We are Buz-z-zing with Excitement!

A new year has started for ADSOEF, and the Fundraising Committee is busily working on a new theme, logo, and goal.  The committee is still in awe of the $19,144.38 our DKG/OSO members so generously donated over the past year.  Thank You! Thank You!  Thank You!  We hope to keep that momentum going as we move forward.  With that in mind, the 2024-2025 Fundraising Campaign will be rolled out at the Fall OSO Executive Board Meeting on September 14, 2024. 

If you are one of those faithful donors who is excited about supporting the grants, fellowships, classroom/community programs, and scholarships of ADSOEF, please don’t hesitate to jump start this year’s giving.  Summer is the perfect time to recognize or remember someone special by donating to one of the ADSOEF funds.  Remember, to be successful in growing the future of education, we must be “Forward moving ever!”

The ADSOEF Fundraising Committee

Joan Avery, Chi          

Holly Buente, Gamma Pi        

Nancy Russell, Beta Kappa

Linda Diltz, Beta Rho, Co-chairman               

Barb Zirke, Alpha Psi, Co-chairman

Meghan Hudedpohl’s Student Teaching Experience



Hello everyone! My name is Meghan Hudepohl, and I was honored to be the recipient of an Esther H. Strickland Student Teaching Grant. The grant was a huge support to me in the completion of my third-grade student teaching placement at Clifton Area Neighborhood School in Cincinnati, Ohio.

My time in this field placement grew me not only as a teacher, but as a person. I developed great relationships with my class, and it was incredible to watch their growth throughout the school year. One student I worked with one-on-one nearly every day improved her reading score by two grade levels by the conclusion of the school year, and seeing the pride she had in herself is what solidified my love for this profession.

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Capture it . . .for the ADSOEF Foundation Matters

When your chapter plans a fundraising project for the foundation (ADSOEF), remember to snap a photo so we can feature and celebrate your successful idea/s in our Foundation Matters newsletter.  Or (option #2), if your chapter decides to donate, monetary or otherwise, take a snapshot of members with the item being donated.  Be sure to provide your chapter’s name, identify the individuals in the photo, and give a brief description of the event.  Send photo, with information, to us in an email.

 ****Label your email: Capture it… for ADSOEF and send the email with the photo and information to:  Editor Cathy Tenney at editor@dkgohio.org        

Into the Future…Important Dates to Remember!

August 19, 2024 – 7:00 PM

ADSOEF Board of Directors Meeting

September 14, 2024

OSO Fall Executive Board Meeting

9:30 AM to 2:30 PM

Quest Conference Center

9200 Worthington Rd. Suite 400

Westerville, Ohio

September 15, 2024

Foundation Matters arrives in your mailbox

September 16, 2024 – 7:00 PM

ADSOEF Board of Directors Meeting

October 8, 2024 – 6:30 PM

Fundraising Committee Meeting

October 15, 2024

Foundation Matters arrives in your email

October 21, 2024 – 7:00 PM

ADSOEF Board of Directors Meeting

November 6, 2024 – 6:30 PM

Fundraising Committee Meeting

November 15, 2024

Foundation Matter arrives in your email

November 18, 2024 – 7:00 PM

ADSOEF Board of Directors Meeting