Volume 97 - Issue 10| April 2025

Cathy Tenney, Editor

A Message From OSO President Melodie McGee

Greetings…It’s a beautiful day today in our OSO Delta Kappa Gamma Society neighborhood!

It’s almost time for our 2025 OSO Convention where all our chapters will come to celebrate our 87th birthday together. Let’s go back briefly in time and see some of the events that were happening 87 years ago!

The first jazz concert held at Carnegie Hall performed by Benny Goodman and his band
A radio broadcast of H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds, narrated by Orson Welles, allegedly caused mass panic
DuPont announces its new synthetic polyamide fiber will be called nylon
The March of Dimes established to fight polio
Frances Moulton is elected as the first female president of a US national bank
American singer Ella Fitzgerald records A-Tisket, A-Tasket with Chick Webb and his orchestra

According to information in The Business Insider:·

Minimum wage was 25 cents; a loaf of bread 09 cents; 3 pounds of butter $1.00; a dozen eggs 15 cents; a pound of bacon 32 cents; 10 pounds of potatoes 21 cents; a gallon of milk 21 cents; ground coffee 39 cents a pound; a new car $860.00; a gallon of gas 10 cents and a postage stamp 03 cents.
Tuition to Harvard University per year was $420.00

During this wonderful time of celebration, let’s reflect on our experiences that we’ve shared over this biennium together as we reflect on the words of this poem…

Remember to slowly sprinkle words of wisdom and kindness on your OSO

members as you go along your way,

When you accomplish the goals together that your chapter has chosen to achieve.

Let’s keep our OSO roots planted in impacting education around the world,

that is rich with professional values and nourished in personal growth opportunities.

Inward we sometimes feel overwhelmed with the

pruning pains of our chapter struggles and developments…

Outward we share our floral blooms of successes that we’ve gained….

Then we go along our OSO journey of life together

overflowing with ripples of stories and memories,

Filled with the ‘spirit of unity’ we press to strive onward…

and continue ‘moving forward’ like our OSO

founders working to encourage others as we go…

Happy 87th Birthday, OSO!

Looking forward to seeing you at our 2025 OSO Convention on the evening of April 4th and all-day April 5th at Deer Creek State Park Lodge & Conference Center!

Until next time…

May each of you have a bouquet of red roses in your lives every day…

Melodie

Inside International

DKG Ohio members are encouraged to participate in the monthly Inside International Meetings via Zoom. Join the meeting for half an hour to enjoy conversation with International leaders and staff. Directors and elected leaders will be available to answer questions and welcome comments. As the links to these meetings are available, Ohio members will be notified via Constant Contact.

Upcoming Inside International Dates:

Tuesday, April 1st at 6:30 p.m. Eastern

Tuesday, May 6th at 1:30 p.m. Eastern

Tuesday, June 3rd at 6:30 p.m. Eastern

Deborah Baskin

Alpha Nu

Patricia A. Lewis

Alpha Phi

Legislative News

Happy Spring! This month we will look at our state level of education advocacy and how we can empower ourselves to speak up for our students, teachers and staff. I hope you enjoy the reading!

Sharon Scheidegger, Beta Delta

Legislative Liaison U.N. & U.S. Forum

April Legislative News

Beta Kappa Chapter hosted members of the Beta Upsilon Chapter at their joint chapter meeting in March where they learned the history behind Montessori schools and St. Philomena Montessori School from Principal Carrie Winhoven which is located in McCartyville.

The 2025 OSO State Convention is Happening!

It’s finally time to set your GPS for Deer Creek State Park Lodge at 22300 State Park Road 20, Mt. Sterling, Ohio 43143 for our State Convention!

Remember the registration table opens at 3:00 p.m. while the Lodge's room registration opens at 4:00 p.m. President Melodie McGee will welcome all of us as well as our International Representative Sy Franco Stern at Friday’s Opening Session. The fun continues at the reception and a fireside sing-along. Saturday means Delta Kappa Gamma business and the important election of our 2025 – 2027 state officers. A special Celebration of Life is planned by our Membership Committee. At the Birthday Luncheon we will honor our chapter presidents, hear updates from ADSOEF and commemorate the 87th year of our founding here in Ohio by Dr. Annie Webb Blanton.

See you on Friday, April 4th or early Saturday April 5th at Deer Creek State Park Lodge!

OSO Convention 2025 at a Glance (Tentative)

Friday, April 4

3:00 - 8:00 p.m. The convention registration table will be in the lobby of the Lodge. Hotel check-in begins at 4:00 p.m.

5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Rafters Restaurant overlooking the beautiful Deer Creek Lake is open for dinner

7:00 p.m. Opening Session in the ballroom with the inspirational presentation of flags, greetings from President Melodie McGee and DKG International representative Sy Franco Stern, plus updates on International news.

8:00 p.m. Reception, also located in the ballroom, with fun getting to know-you activities and dessert!

Saturday, April 5

Breakfast is on your own. Rafters is open from 8:00 to 10:30 a.m. or bring something from home.

7:30 a.m. Convention registration table opens.

9:00 a.m. Spring Executive Board Meeting - All members are welcome. Voting by Executive Board members only, includes chapter presidents.

10:15 a.m. General Session for all members.

11:10 a.m. Celebration of Life Service

12:15 p.m. Parade of Presidents; 87th Birthday Luncheon; Installation of 2025 - 2027 State Officers

Lifelong Learning sessions continue most Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7:00-8:00 p.m. Our editor sends out the list of topics. You decide which ones to attend and register in advance. A confirmation email is sent to you with login details to use the night of the Zoom meeting. Save the email and mark your calendar to assure you can attend.

Convention Lifelong Learning Session

If you come early to Convention on Friday, April 4 you’re in for a treat! Starting at 3:00 p.m. Past State President Debby Canter will lead members on the Storybook Trail at Deer Creek State Park. Meet her at the starting point of the trail. Dress for the weather so you can walk and learn while you enjoy nature! In person is the best way to experience this optional short adventure. Please register so Debby knows to expect you.

Registration Link for Storybook Trail

Open Positions

OSO Executive Committee - Corresponding Secretary

Nominating Committee Representatives for Areas I, II, and V

Since there were no applications submitted for the 2025-2027 Nominating Committee from Areas I, II, and V nominations will need to be made from the floor at the Spring Executive Board Meeting at the Ohio State Organization Convention.

Join Us in Ohio’s Amish Country, June 11-12, 2025,

for Two Days of Fun-Filled Learning!!

*Registration Fee is $120.00, which includes the cost of theater tickets for Elvis Forever ($40.00); the day-long bus tour of the Amish Community around Millersburg/Berlin, Ohio; the Behalt Museum fee, and the luncheon meal at an authentic Amish home ($80.00). ADSOEF will provide the bus, as well as the gratuities for the tour guide and bus driver.

*Please register early as registration (complete with payment) is limited to the first 55 participants. Electronic registration ends

May 1 and there will be no refunds after May 15.

*Everyone is responsible for securing their own hotel accommodations. See important information below.

*Your 2025 Biennial Seminar Registration can be achieved by using: (1) the link with payment by PayPal/Credit Card; or (2) the link with payment by personal check Links are located at the bottom of this page.

*Dinners for Wednesday and Thursday evenings will be at your own expense and at venues of your own choosing.

*FYI…Many Amish venues or establishments accept cash only. Come prepared!

2025 Biennial Seminar Registration with PayPal/Credit Card Payment Link

2025 Biennial Seminar Registration with Payment by Personal Check Link

Biennial Seminar Itinerary

Encore Hotel & Hall + Amish Country Theater

RESERVATION INFORMATION

Encore Hotel & Hall + Amish Country Theater

4365 State Route 39

Millersburg, Ohio 44654

Call: 888-988-2414

Group Name: Delta Kappa Gamma OSO

Group Code: b528407

All reservations must be confirmed by credit card. (Discover, American Express, Mastercard)

Check in: after 3:00 p.m. Check out: by 11:00 a.m.

Complimentary buffet breakfast is served daily from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

ROOM RATES: To take advantage of the DKG Room Block, room reservations must be made by May 1, 2025. The cut-off date for reserving rooms in the Room Block is 5:00 p.m. local time at Encore Hotel & Amish Theater on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Be sure to mention the Group Name and Group Code when making your room reservation! After that date, it is at the hotel’s discretion whether to accept additional reservations, which will be subject to prevailing rates and availability.

The room rates for June 11 and June 12 are as follows:

*Deluxe Guest Room – the room rate is $129.00 each night ($146.00 with applicable state and local taxes or occupancy taxes included).

*Two Queen Suite room rate is $149.00 each night ($160.00 with applicable state and local taxes or occupancy taxes included).

Rates are for a single or double occupancy per room. Additional charges of $10.00 per guest per night for triple or quad occupancy.

Cancellations - Guests must call in and cancel 72 hours prior to their stay.

JUST IMAGINE the MEMBERSHIP

Just imagine if each of us committed to making membership a top priority. Membership is the key to unlocking the door to Ohio State Organization’s future success. Following are suggestions regarding membership.

M - Me. Have you noticed the words membership and member both begin with the letters m and e which spells me. Each me is important to the vitality of OSO and the specific chapter. We increase our membership one me at a time.

E - Empowerment. Think in terms of wattage for empowerment. The higher the wattage, the more empowered you are with yourself. It is impossible to empower others if you do not feel empowered yourself. We need to seek out things in our daily lives that limit us and try to minimize the negative impact. Only then can we begin to shine brighter.

M - Memorable. Each of us has a finite amount of time and energy to devote to outside organizations. Personal responsibilities, family commitments and professional careers take priority. With such limited time, we must ensure our chapter meetings and activities are memorable. That is a tall order.

B - Bounty. Believe in the boundless bounty of DKG and each of our members. Each sister must be valued and appreciated. There are so many opportunities to be explored at the chapter, state, and international levels. We need to recognize the bounty right in front of us and partake of it.

E – Engagement. Each of us decides our level of engagement in DKG. We want to strive for engagement by every member within her comfort zone. What does that look like? Specific action steps need to be taken so we have more members engaged.

R – Recruitment, retention, and reinstatement. We need to recruit new members, retain the members we currently have, and reinstate the previous ones. It must be a top priority in our chapters and at the state level.

S – Scholarships. Numerous scholarships are available to qualified members. Check the DKG and ADSOEF websites for the specifics.

H – Hospitality. Just how hospitable are we to one another? I have experienced the gambit in six different chapters. Some have been welcoming and wonderful. Others had cliques and were unwelcoming. There were chapters where I looked forward to the fellowship. There were others where I saw it as a professional obligation to be tolerated. What type of hospitality is experienced in your chapter?

I – International. I find DKG fascinating because we interact with other women throughout the world.

P – Purposes. We need to embrace the seven purposes of DKG. Understand what the purposes are and make connections at the chapter and state levels.

Think what amazing synergy we could create if each member applied the concepts of empowerment, bounty, engagement, hospitality, and DKG purposes into our chapters and at the state level. Just imagine the membership!

Dr. Molly Helmlinger, Beta Kappa

OSO First Vice-President

Membership Chair

Beta Eta

Karen Shredder

Gamma Theta

Gretchen Baptie

Sherri Mercsak

Michelle Wyant

Beta Eta Chapter inducted Karen Schroeder, recently retired from Miller City-New Cleveland Schools at their March meeting. Pictured left to right are Deb Company, Helen Doboze. Karen Schroeder, Mary Recker and Angie Miesle.

Gamma Theta Chapter welcomed three new members at their recent meeting. Pictured are Gretchen Baptie, Michelle Wyant and Sherri Mercsak.

Building the Next DKG International Slate

of Nominees Begins With YOU

Your invitation to DKG highlighted your leadership potential. Are you ready to apply for an elected position at the international level, or can you encourage another member to do so? The International Nominating Committee (INC) will begin accepting applications in the summer of 2025. The deadline for applying is September 15, 2025. The time to plan and recruit is now! As a DKG member, you can take steps to move our organization into #SecondCenturyDKG. Leadership is crucial for the growth of our organization, so please give careful consideration to this important task.

All qualifications and recommendations for applicants for each position are listed in the International Standing Rules(ISR) 8.103. These are theonly qualifications the INC will consider when evaluating applications. Act now! Assess your interests and skills alongside the qualifications listed in ISR 8.103.

Ignore commonly assumed misconceptions.

Applicants do not need to have. . .

Earned a doctorate
Attended Leadership Management Seminar (Ignite)
Attended a given number of international conferences/conventions
Held a certain number of specific state positions
Been a member for a minimum number of years

The duties and responsibilities of the elected INC members are detailed in the Constitution Article VIII Section B.8.b.

INC members MAY NOT...

Recruit applicants
Assist applicants in any way with the application process
Discuss an application with anyone other than another INC member
Support or advocate for a nominee in any manner

Guidelines and applications will be posted on the DKG website in May 2025. Additionally, the International Nominating Committee will present at two Inside International sessions to review the application process.

Mark your calendars for one or both sessions:

~ Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time

~ Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time