A Word or Two from the Board…

Greetings with Gratitude!



During this holiday season, we reflect on all the goodness in our lives and in the world. We are blessed with warm homes, bountiful food, safety, meaningful work, education, and the love of family and friends. 

All of YOU are blessings to ADSOEF through your donations, prayers, time and hard work on committees, and promoting us to your chapter members. We all are enhancing excellence in education and supporting current and future educators as they persevere in challenging times with dedication and passion for their students and for learning.

Thanks to Diana Kirkpatrick’s research, the history of the Biennial Seminar Part 1 was published in the November issue. Part 2 continues here, a timeline showing all the dates, themes, and locations of the Biennial Seminar, and is the last installment of this interesting journey down memory lane. Thank you to Diana and enjoy reading!

Keep reading for updates from the Fundraising, Educational Services, Scholarship, and Donor Relations Committees. There is exciting news about funds raised and grants and scholarships awarded. This wraps up an exceptionally successful year in 2025, and we look forward to making a great impact in 2026! 

With thankfulness,

Chris Snoddy

The ADSOEF Board of Directors

NEWS YOU CAN USE FROM THE FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!  You have provided a brighter future for all educators and students. Due to your generosity, the total amount donated from July 1 to November 30, 2025, is $27,149.29!! The Fall Appeal, including National Philanthropy Day and Giving Tuesday, brought in about $5,000.00.

Unbelievably, 2025 is coming to a rapid end. Donations to ADSOEF are tax deductible, but to meet the deadline, donations must be received by December 31, 2025. Your gifts help fund the many grants, scholarships, and fellowships ADSOEF provides for educators.

Assisting one educator impacts more than that person. You are providing the teacher with a new paint brush to color their students’ world in ways that take their learning to new heights. Donating to ADSOEF makes the Colors of Hope a reality. 

These Colors of Hope scholarships are available to teachers who are pursuing graduate studies. Applicants must currently be active DKG members. Please go to the adsoef.org website and look at the White, Grimes, Blanton and Woodward applications. Applications are due by February 1, 2026.

The Foundation also supports aspiring teachers. The Esther H. Strickland Student Teaching Grant supports students nearing completion of their education degree. Think of this as Colors of Hope: primary colors edition. The student must attend a state supported university and will be student teaching during the 2026-2027 school year. Applications are due by February 1, 2026, for the next school year. If you know of someone getting ready to do their student teaching, please encourage them to go to adsoef.org for more information. 

Charlene Greene, Delta Mu

Annie Zahradnik, Gamma Theta

Holly Buente, Gamma Pi, Co-Chairman  

Barb Zirke, Alpha Psi, Co-Chairman        

Three Educational Project Grants Approved!

The Educational Services Committee has been busy in November reviewing and discussing three exciting new grant applications.  The ADSOEF Directors voted to approve these projects at their November 17, 2025, Board meeting.  

The first Individual/Classroom/Community Project was submitted by Mary Ann Hopple, Alpha Lambda, and is titled Downstairs Discovery: Expanding the Reach of OVMod.  Mary Ann is the Program Director at the Ohio Valley Museum of Discovery in Athens. She is planning to purchase digital microscopes, a safe chomp saw for cardboard cutting, and Hexbots that will help upper elementary and older children discover things about their world. This will expand the reach of the existing permanent exhibits on the main floor of the museum. 

The next two Individual/Classroom/Community Projects were submitted by Dr. Lois Harkins, Alpha Lambda. She is partnering with Ohio University Ph.D. Student, Samuel Amanyo, on GHANA + OHIO: Educational and Athletic Supplies for Schools in Ghana.  With these awards, they will purchase and deliver classroom supplies for a school is Ghana, Africa, and sports equipment and jerseys for four other schools in the Eastern Region of Ghana.  These mission trips are occurring from December 7, 2025, through January 7, 2026. 

We wish these educators and their partners the best of luck as they go forward with the help of all the generous donors to ADSOEF.  Stay tuned to this space for photos and reports from these projects in 2026!

Sue Samoviski, Chi

Educational Services Committee Chairman

Nature Center for Discovery and Learning Outdoor Classroom

Last summer, Nancy Nerny, Delta Kappa, was awarded a $500.00 grant on behalf of Julie Berro for an Individual/Classroom/Community Project to create a nature center and purchase supplies for discovery learning for K-3 students at Kemp Elementary School.

A very excited, Julie Berro writes: It is with great pleasure and much appreciation that I provide you with this update on how the nature center is going. Here are the exciting bullet points for my project. 

• The bird houses are up. 
• The large, raised garden has been built and was very exciting for the children to water and watch.
• The paint was used to create a street for the students.
• Large blocks have been placed to make large sunken sunflowers.
• The bird feeder is in place, and we have had a lot of action there.
• The large utility cart has been purchased and is full of the requested items for exploration. This is placed outside of my classroom each day for all primary grade students to use. 
• We have been observing and writing about the many insects that we have placed in our bug containers.
•  We have used some of the paint to make wind chimes in the trees with recycled soup cans.

This grant is going to trigger so much excitement, learning and magic for these children.  It’s just so amazing and wonderful – thank you, thank you, thank you to ADSOEF!

Sue Samoviski, Chi

Educational Services Committee Chairman

The Biennial Seminar…a History Lesson Part 2

1988 - The first Golden Anniversary Biennial Seminar, Holistic Health and the Professional Educator was held at the Hilton Inn North in Worthington coordinated by Doris Rhea Coy (Gamma Nu), Virginia Koch (Beta Lambda) State President.

1990 - The Language of Laughter was held at the Lenox Inn Columbus, coordinated by Donna Wolford (Gamma Mu), Florence Grine (Alpha Sigma), State President.

1992 - Creating A More Effective YOU – Personally, Socially, Professionally was held at the Lenox Inn, Columbus, coordinated by Millie Holzer and Louisa Strock (Beta Zeta), Florence Woodward (Alpha Alpha, Gamma Iota), State President.

1994 - Rising to New Heights in a Diverse Society was held at the Lenox Inn, Columbus, coordinated by Marilyn Slusser (Delta Kappa), Marian Kurner (Omicron), State President.

1997 - Making the Most of Yourself was held at the Atwood Lake Resort and Conference Center near Delroy, coordinated by Rose Seck (Alpha Mu), Dr. Ruth Brooks (Gamma Nu), State President.

1999 - A Kaleidoscope of Culture was held in Youngstown, coordinated by Dolores Snyder (Gamma Pi), Millie Holzer (Beta Zeta), State President.

2001 - A Patchwork of Life’s Little Pleasures was held at Archbold’s Sauder Village, coordinated by Charlotte Shrider (Beta Zeta), Donna L. Brandon (Beta Beta), State President.

2003 - Nature, Nostalgia and Nasturtiums was held in Mansfield, coordinated by Sandra Sutherland (Zeta), Marilyn Slusser, (Delta Kappa), State President.

2005 - A Palette of Promises was held at the Mazza Museum of University of Findlay and Findlay Inn, coordinated by Pat Zook (Beta Theta), Donna Myers (Kappa), State President.

2007 - A Timeless Adventure was held at Walnut Creek’s Carlisle Village Inn, coordinated by Linda Porteus (Beta Omega), Barbara J. Smith (Zeta), State President.

2009 - Rockin’ on the River-Cincinnati Center Stage was held at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, coordinated by Marlene Vorheer (Beta Nu), Mary Jane Kaufman (Delta Chi), State President.

2011 - Hidden Treasures was held in Marietta, coordinated by Pam Toon, Beth Archer (Alpha Psi) State President.

2013 - First Capital was held in Chillicothe, Ohio, coordinated by co-chairs Diana McFadden and Cathy Adams (Alpha Gamma), Dr. Norma Kirby (Alpha Delta), State President.

2015 - Soaring to New Horizons was held in Dayton, coordinated by Johanna Ramsey (Delta Kappa) and Marilyn Slusser (Delta Kappa). Activities included visiting the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, touring Hawthorn Hill, the home of Orville Wright and his sister Cathernie, and enjoying a 19th century Victorian afternoon tea.  Stephen Wright, great nephew of Orville and Wilbur Wright, was a dinner speaker,  Emily Williams (Gamma Nu), State President.

2017 - We Bloom and Soar in Cleveland was coordinated by Tammy Schroeder (Beta Eta), Patricia Cermak (Gamma Rho), State President

2019 - It’s So Cincinnati! was held in the Queen City, coordinated by Betsy Foreman, Meier Bauer (Gamma Phi) State President.

2021 - Due to the worldwide pandemic, Believe::Belong::Build Biennial Seminar was held virtually. Lelia Kubesch, 2020 Ohio Teacher of the Year, led three evening Zoom sessions for state members. Coordinated by Cindy Lawyer (Alpha Psi), Diana L. Kirkpatrick (Alpha Delta) State President.



2023 - History in the Hills was held at various locations in the scenic backdrop of Jackson and Gallia counties, with the main base being the Hampton Inn, Gallipolis, coordinated by Debby Canter (Delta Epsilon) State President.

2025 - Behind the Scenes of Amish Life was held in various locations in Millersburg and Berlin, with the main base being the Encore Hotel and Hall, coordinated by Cindy Lawyer (Alpha Psi), Melodie McGee (Gamma Nu) State President.

Linda Diltz, Beta Rho

Michele Maniskas, Alpha Xi

Diana Kirkpatrick, Alpha Delta, Chairman

Dear ADSOEF

I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the committee that allowed me the opportunity to receive the Esther H. Strickland Student Teaching Grant. I had the most amazing experience during my time at Wilson Middle School. 

The Esther H. Strickland Student Teaching Grant benefited me in a variety of ways throughout the course of the semester. For example, I have had the opportunity to invest in professional teaching attire. Prior to student teaching, I had never had a job where I needed to dress professionally. So, I was exposed to a lot of different examples and was able to provide this for myself. 

I was also able to invest money into many items throughout the course of the semester. Thanks to the grant, I was afforded the opportunity to invest in supplies and materials needed for a successful experience. We did a unit over the first book in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. My host teacher and I had to invest in new books for each of our students to be able to have a copy of their own and follow along independently. Following the unit, we held a House Cup to tie into prior knowledge and to have a bit of fun with the students. 

The students that I had during my student teaching experience were also very treat/reward driven. So, I would frequently bring in items for the students as prizes for doing their best. 

In addition to my phenomenal student teaching experience, I have been hired in the school district where I student taught, to teach in the exact room that I student taught in. To say that I am thrilled is an understatement. Finally, I would like to thank the committee that provided me with the Esther H. Strickland Student Teaching Grant. I am so very grateful to have been given this opportunity. 

Sincerely

Makenzie Claypool

Marilyn Slusser, Delta Kappa

ADSOEF Scholarship Committee Liaison

Into the Future. . .Important Dates to Remember!

NO DECEMBER BOD MEETING

December 15, 2025

ADSOEF Marketing Committee Meeting @ 7:00 p.m.

December 22, 2025

ADSOEF Personnel Committee Meeting @ 11:00 a.m.

December 29, 2025

ADSOEF Biennial Seminar Committee Meeting @ 11:00 a.m.

January 5, 2026

ADSOEF Governance Committee Meeting @ 6:30 p.m.

January 7, 2026

ADSOEF Fundraising Committee Meeting @ 4:30 p.m.

January 13, 2026

ADSOEF Finance Committee Meeting @ 7:00 p.m.

January 14, 2026

ADSOEF Nominating Committee Meeting @ 7:00 p.m.

January 19, 2026

ADSOEF Board of Directors Meeting @ 7:00 p.m.