The Voice - August 2025

Volume 98 - Issue 2| August 2025

Cathy Tenney, Editor

Future-Focused Vision

The time has come for the Ohio State Organization (OHSO) to look ahead. It’s not enough to maintain our efforts and uphold traditions. We live in a fast-paced, ever-changing world. To remain impactful and relevant, we must target both immediate and long-term challenges within the organization. Key women educators like us need to move forward intentionally with a bold, future-focused vision.

We have already begun implementing this vision with the biennial theme of FOCUS. Using FOCUS as our framework will help us develop a collaborative four-year strategic plan for Ohio. This plan will address three main challenges: (1) leadership development and succession, (2) revitalizing membership through support, retention, and recruitment, and (3) strengthening connections at the state, chapter, and membership levels. It will include goals, initiatives, and objectives aligned with these three key challenges. The plan will incorporate both qualitative and quantitative assessments and will be reviewed and updated regularly to maintain accountability.

The Ohio State Organization (OHSO) is eager to move forward and build on our proud traditions. As members of Delta Kappa Gamma International Society, we recognize the importance of staying current and forward-thinking. With our biennial theme of FOCUS, we aim to create a collaborative, four-year strategic plan that promotes leadership, strengthens our membership, and enhances connections throughout our organization. This will establish a solid foundation for OHSO to grow confidently and succeed.

The things you say, the things you don't say, the things you do, or the things you don't do are always sending a loud message to those around you. What kind of message are you sending? Is it a true reflection of who you are?

~Lindsey Reitzsch

Energetically,

Dr. Molly Helmlinger, Beta Kappa

OHSO State President

Congratulations to the 29 chapters that brought in new members last year! You are all to be congratulated. Keep it up!

Special recognition goes to Gamma Theta with 11 new members and then to Alpha Gamma and Alpha Xi with 8 new members, followed by Beta Chi and Delta Chi with 6 new members each. Way to go! We can’t wait to hear how you did it.

Carol Alex

Alpha Omega Chapter

Sandra S Sowash

Alpha Delta Chapter

Bessie M Angles

Alpha Gamma Chapter

Maxine Marie Kistler

Delta Psi Chapter

Death of a Member

The Membership Committee is reviving the practice of sending a note of sympathy to the family or friend of deceased members. We need your help!

Chapter presidents, please send a copy of Form 6, Report of the Death of a Member, to membership@dkgohio.org. The Ohio State Organization wants the family or friend to know that the life and membership of their loved one was valued. Thank you for helping us honor the life of your member.

Meier Bauer, Gamma Phi

OHSO Recording Secretary

OHSO Membership Chair

OSO Changing to OHSO

We are changing only our abbreviation of Ohio State Organization from OSO to OHSO. You are probably wondering why change! OSO could also be Oregon or Oklahoma. OHSO helps to eliminate the confusion and readily identifies us as Ohio.

Beta Kappa Chapter Members Honored

Connie Schneider and Evonne Schnippel longtime educators and friends were inducted into the Botkins Wall of Honor in June. The Wall of Honor is designed to recognize notable Botkins alumni and other community members who have brought honor to the Botkins School District, or who have made a significant contribution to the district.

Dr. Julie Willoughby, Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Urbana City Schools was selected as the 2025 OAMESA Outstanding Central Office Administrator. Dr. Willoughby was recognized during the OAESA Professional Conference in June. Along with the recognition Urbana City Schools received a $500 award which will be divided among the three principals' accounts to benefit students at each school.

Alpha Mu Chapter celebrated its 85th birthday. Surprise Birthday gifts were given to all sisters who attended. Alpha Mu sisters are displaying their mittens, which were supplied by Barbara Pritts, with the loose change they collected. The loose change was then donated to ADSOEF.

Attention ALL OHSO Members

(All Chapter Officers and All Members)

On August 11th, the OHSO FOCUS Team (state officers) will host a second Town Hall meeting. The discussion will focus on the 2025-2026 Gold Key. All OHSO members are encouraged to attend. The C in FOCUS is Connections through Communications.

Information will be shared regarding the requirements for earning the Gold Key. You will have an opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions. Please take an hour to join us via Zoom on August 11th at 6:30 p.m. Remember to register using the link below. A confirmation email with the meeting link will be sent to your email.

We look forward to seeing you on August 11th.

Karen Dombrowski, Alpha Nu

OHSO Second Vice President

OHSO Gold Key Coordinator

OHSO Town Hall Registration

Ohio State Organization Executive Board Meeting

Action Taken

Diana Haskell, OHSO Treasurer shared a report providing a Statement of Financial Activity and Position for July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025, which can be viewed by clicking here.

Finance Committee Chairperson Cathy Adams presented the Finance Committee Report, beginning with the Proposed 2025-2026 Available Fund Budget which can be view by clicking here.

Michele Koenig, Gamma Chapter President, moved to adopt the OSO 2025- 2026 Available Fund Budget as prepared and presented by the Finance Committee. The motion was approved.

Finance Chairperson Adams continued her report, addressing the benefits of a newly designed and secured OSO website.

Michele Koenig, Gamma Chapter President, moved to hire a professional website designer to create the visual layout and member site navigation of a new, secured, OSO website as presented by the Ohio State Organization Finance Committee. The Available Fund Reserve, up to $15,000, will be appropriated for this technology upgrade. The motion was approved.

Membership and Expansion Committee

As we have begun a new biennium, the Membership and Expansion Committee is sharing with you our commitment to honor our members, keep existing members, recruit new members, move toward expansion of new chapters, and explore how to make our membership and meetings relevant to members. If you would like to be part of this adventure, please let the committee know by sending a message to membership@dkgohio.org. The nucleus of this committee has been formed, but we welcome additional members and new ideas.

Membership sessions are being offered at the State Leadership Training and the DKG International Conference in New Orleans. Your OHSO state officers will be attending these various sessions. Time has been built into the schedule for the State Membership Chairmen to work together, as well as the OHSO officers. We will share our plans and ideas with Ohio DKG members throughout the year. Please accept the challenge of addressing our membership concerns and being open to ideas and plans that are shared with you. This can be an exciting time for the Ohio State Organization and all its members.

Meier Bauer, Gamma Phi

OHSO Recording Secretary

OHSO Membership Chair

Delta Upsilon Chapter continued our journey as lifelong learners, ten of our members took a field trip to Lavender Trails in Orville to find out about reclaiming land and the many uses of lavender. We were able to cut lavender and purchase some locally made products, including lavender honey.

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 a 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:

(Eastern Time)

Tuesday, August 5th @ 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, September 2nd @ 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday, October 7th @ 6:30 p.m.

Alpha Psi Chapter members assisted parents of Muskingum County students in filling out applications for the Tools For School program at Eastside Community Ministry. These applications will ensure that the students will receive a backpack filled with school supplies for their grade and school year.

Delta Phi and Alpha Psi Chapters met for a summer field trip to Roscoe Village in Coshocton. We enjoyed lunch and chat time at the Indian Bear Cork and Coffee.

Zeta Chapter

Glenda Beres

PI Chapter

Penny Wright

Alpha Xi Chapter

Jenny Frey

Alpha Psi Chapter

Sarah McGee

Alpha Omega Chapter

Carrie Copeland

Francesca Gomez

Isabella Mijavec

Alexandra Stephens

Megan Zetterquist

Beta Eta Chapter

Karen Schroeder

Beta Kappa Chapter

Sara Sybert

Beta Chi Chapter

Ava Bloom

Bonnie Everitt

Amy Mark

Rebecca Seiple

Gamma Nu Chapter

Tiffany Williams

Gamma Xi Chapter

Terri Anderson

Karen Cottrell

Gamma Pi Chapter

Diana Vrabel

Gamma Sigma Chapter

Charity Smith

Delta Theta Chapter

Carolyn McIntire

Carol Merritt

Delta Upsilon Chapter

Jennifer Schaeffer

Delta Psi Chapter

Barbara Kuhlman

Delta Mu Chapter members and friends had an informative tour of OSU’s Shoe. We are ready for the football season to start

ALPHA PHI CHAPTER visited Great Council State Park, near the site of the historic Shawnee Village of Old Chillicothe, known as Oldtown. The park focuses on the history of the Shawnee people in Ohio and their interactions with early European settlers. Pictured are Robin Prewitt on the left, Bryanne Peck, and Denise Shaneyfelt sitting in the back.