The Voice - December 2024

Volume 97 - Issue 6| December 2024

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!

Let’s celebrate together and give the gift of TIME with each other during this December celebration season. This special gift that you give to someone special in your life doesn’t have to cost much money but it’s worth a lifetime of memories.

Here are a few suggestions of what you might give when you’re sharing your gift of time with someone special during this season…

Share time reading a poem or a passage from a special book with someone special with a cup of hot chocolate or hot cinnamon tea.

Take the time to write that someone that you love or that person who means something special to you a note or a letter and give it to them.

Take some time to go on a walk in the Conservatory or an Art Gallery on the free day and see the floral arrangements or gallery art pieces.

Listen to your favorite December music on YouTube and sing some of those songs together spending time remembering the words to those songs with a group of DKG sisters, friends, or family members.

Watch the snowflakes fall as you sit with someone special by a fireplace as you share time teaching a hobby or craft.

So… remember during the month of December give someone special your present of your

Until next time let’s continue to…

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

Melodie

Alpha Omega Chapter donated toys and gifts for the Warren Family Mission’s Christmas event for children at their November meeting. Pictured are Denise Gatta and Sue Pappas, Co-Presidents; Brianne Gayhart of Hannah’s House; OSO State President Melodie McGee; and Tom Kiepper of the Warren Family Mission.

Darlene Rose Mary Ruzieka

Shirley Stocz

Beta Chi

Sharon Ward

Delta Chi

Nancy K. McAlexander

Alpha Upsilon

Elizabeth Collins

Chi

Mary Lou Custer

Alpha Mu

Beta Kappa Chapter members met at the Shelby County Historical Society to help make 400 gingerbread houses for the Historical Society's Christmas of Yesteryear on December 7, 2024. Pictured are Regina Hunsucker, Becky Turner-Michael, Tilda Phlipot, Historical Society Director; Melissa Bowers, Barri Jill Grandey, Nancy Russell, and Janet Nufrio.

Check Out the

Collegial Exchange

Be sure to check out the most recent issue of the Collegial Exchange as two of our OSO sisters have their photograph and artwork used in this issue. Congratulations to Melissa Hackett whose art work appears on page 36 and to Cathy Tenney whose photograph appears on page 13. The photograph and artwork had been selected for inclusion in the DKG 2024 Spring Fine Arts Gallery.

Learn how DKG supports educational projects around the world with passion and purpose in the new issue of Collegial Exchange!

Collegial Exchange

Membership is a Mystery

The membership initiative for the second year of the biennium is REACH. The strategies we implement in reaching the three distinct categories of membership are important for success. There are similarities and differences when reaching out to new members, recruiting previous members and retaining current members. Those similarities and differences should be viewed as a mystery to investigate.

Membership is a mystery. Ponder that statement. Why is it that certain chapters thrive, others merrily coast along, some struggle to keep going, and then specific chapters collapse? Ohio State Organization (OSO) currently has 67 Chapters which means there are 67 mysteries to be unraveled.

Each chapter is encouraged to thoroughly investigate what is and what is not occurring within the three categories of membership. This must be done first at the chapter level. Why? Because each chapter knows firsthand what regularly goes on within their ranks. Each chapter must go deeper by researching what has been successful in the past that enabled gains to be made. Would the strategies done in the past be effective in the present? If not, what other strategies could be implemented? Conduct research into why the chapter has fallen short in gaining new members. Is the chapter repeating unsuccessful strategies hoping to get different results? Discover new strategies that have the potential to be successful in those endeavors. Each chapter must be aware of their own strengths so they can capitalize on them. At the same time chapters must minimize their limitations. Having a realistic view of membership at the chapter level will go a substantial way in unraveling the mystery.

The second way to assist chapters in investigating more thoroughly their membership mystery is to explore the Delta Kappa Gamma website (dkg.org). The DKG website has entire sections devoted to membership. Follow these five simple steps to access the website:

Sign in using your DKG member number as the username and enter your password.
Click on the symbol that looks like short three horizontal lines. This is a dropdown symbol which will have eight categories.
Click on “Resources” which is the second category listed.
You will see two major areas which are “Media Resources” and “DKG Officer Resources.”
Click the “Membership” tab.

Clicking on the “Membership” tab will swing you over to “Membership Resources.” This has an incredible amount of membership resources. There are articles, videos, documents, forms and other information that any DKG member can access. It will be worth your while to learn more about what the website has to offer.

Remember to view membership as a mystery. Each chapter is a mystery to be investigated. The first part of the investigation will be conducted at the chapter level with current members providing insights and backstories. The second part of the investigation will be exploring the DKG website and the valuable resources available to assist and broaden your views. Embrace the mystery and be pleasantly surprised at what you will unravel about membership.

Energetically,

Dr. Molly Helmlinger, Beta Kappa

OSO First Vice President

OSO Membership Chair

Gold Key Chapters for 2023-2024

Congratulations to the following chapters who will be recognized and receive their Gold Key certificate at the 2025 OSO State Convention.

Kappa

Nu Rho

Omicron

Tau

Zeta

Alpha Chi

Alpha Delta

Alpha Nu

Alpha Psi

Alpha Xi

Beta Delta

Beta Era

Beta Kappa

Beta Psi

Beta Rho

Beta Upsilon

Beta Zeta

Gamma Iota

Gamma Nu

Gamma Phi

Gamma Pi

Gamma Sigma

Gamma Theta

Gamma Xi

Delta Chi

Delta Kappa

Delta Mu

Delta Phi

Gold Key Honor Chapter

Alpha Chi

Gamma Sigma Chapter gathered at the library to cut fabric in preparation for the Blankets for Children service project. Blankets will be donated to Perry County Children Services to be given to kids as a warm hug during a very difficult time in their lives.

OSO Convention 2025

124 . . .123 . . .122 . . . Yep, we are still counting the days until our OSO convention on April 4 and 5, 2025. You know every member is invited to attend, right? Some chapter members are already planning their weekend together. It’s a chapter tradition. They know they always leave earlier than necessary to make the trip. They plan to stop along the way for some casual shopping and, of course, lunch. This year’s convention takes place in central Ohio’s Deer Creek State Park located in Madison County. We will be celebrating the 87th anniversary of the founding of Alpha Delta State, now known as OSO. The convention officially starts on Friday evening with the opening session followed by the reception. It’s a great time to greet old friends and get acquainted with new friends. The Executive Board Meeting and General Session will take place on Saturday morning followed by the inspirational Celebration of Life. Later our chapter presidents will be honored during the Birthday Luncheon where we will also install the state officers for 2025-2027.

Yes, President McGee has some big plans for our state convention, and she sincerely hopes that you will want to be there to help her celebrate her biennium and the 87th year of the Ohio State Organization of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. Look for the registration form and the Deer Creek Lodge reservation information in the January issue of The Voice. Until then, start making your plans with your chapter members to be part of the April 4th and 5th OSO state convention! We will keep counting . . .121 . . .120 . . .119 . . .118 . . .

Sandy Royer, Convention Coordinator and Beth Archer, her sidekick.

Gamma Xi Chapter heard from Mandisa Williams Interim Director of Dove House, a women’s shelter with the YWCA in Butler County, who explained their services. Pictured below are Lyn Garr, MS, Director of Empowerment and Advocacy for Dove House; Gamma Xi members Maureen Schwab, Ellen Denney, Lisa Smallwood, Kathy Lach and Mandisa Williams, Interim Director of Dove House

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 published, Ohio members will be notified via Constant Contact.

Upcoming Inside International Dates:

Tuesday, December 3, 2024 @ 6:30 p.m. Eastern

Tuesday, January 7, 2025 @ 1:30 p.m. Eastern

Tuesday, February 4, 2025 @ 6:30 p.m. Eastern

Alpha Phi Chapter gathered at the Clinton County Historical Society in Wilmington for their yearly auction of home baked goodies, Christmas items and home decor. We also celebrated with Maxene McClellan, who celebrated her 95th birthday on Veterans’ Day. Maxene has been an OSO DKG member since 1962. Seated (L to R) are Denise Shaneyfelt, Maxene McClellan, Carole Haines, Linda Beaver. Standing (L to R) are Linda Rinehart, Linda Nier, Anna Cates, Rhea Young, Karen Shonkwiler, Robin Prewitt, Jyl Dwyer, Bryanne Peck, Sally Valdiviez and Douglas Middleton, the auctioneer.

Legislative News

The winds of change are blowing, and January 20th will see the change happen that will lead us for the next four years. What will this change bring us?

Thank you and have a great holiday season!!

Sharon Sheidegger, Beta Delta

Sharon's Legislative Newsletter

Season's Greetings DKG Sisters

A new year and a new biennium are approaching. Celebrate this momentous event by keeping DKG strong. Apply to become a 2025-2027 OSO state officer or area representative on the Nominating Committee.

President
First Vice President
Second Vice President
Corresponding Secretary
Recording Secretary
Area Representative to the Nominating Committee

Sharing your leadership, talent and creativity is a wonderful way to give back to DKG and to help Ohio communities. The application link is at the end of this article. The application deadline is January 2, 2025. Happy Holidays!

Shirley Moore, Chairman, Gamma Nu

Karen Dunn, Alpha Psi

Dr. Norma Kirby, Alpha Delta

Cynthy Kleman, Beta Eta

Marilyn Kretschman, Gamma Iota

OSO State Officer Application

Gamma Theta Chapter held an Initiation luncheon where the following eight women became members of t our chapter: Gretchen Baptie, Angela Smith, Theresa Solar, Gabriela Peters, Erin Nusker, Michelle Wyatt, Melissa Schultz and Sherri Marsek. Diane Ingels, Pam Richmann, Suzanne Jackson and Roberta Kaleb were also recognized for their 40 plus years as members of Delta Kappa Gamma.

Alpha Delta

Guyana K. Black

Gamma Iota

Sarah W. Reinhard

Terttu A. Revolinsky

Delta Chi

Lois Dennis

Shelby Elder

Gamma Theta

Gretchen Baptie

Sherri Mercsak

Erin Nusker

Gabriela Peters

Melissa Schultz

Angela Smith

Theresa Solar

Michelle Wyant

Reinstated Members

Delta Kappa

Tina Durnell-Smith

Alpha Gamma

Nancy Tanner

DKG Ohio Membership and Chapter Update

Active Members	2,143
Collegiate Members	5
Reserve Members	289
Total Membership	2,437
Ohio Chapters	67

Statement of Financial Activity

Revenue	$30,783.00
Unrealized Revenue	$11,250.00*
Total Revenue	$42.033.00
Expenses	$ 17,650.00
Net Income	$24,383.00

*investment interest & dividends + change in market value - management expenses

Statement of Financial Position

Current Assets	$ 34,557.00
Investments Assets	$229,676.00
Total Assets	$264,233.00
Credit Card Liability	$ .00
Total Equity	$264,233.00

Diana Haskell, Gamma Phi

OSO Treasurer

Tau Chapter presented Mr. Beading Principal of Scranton Elementary School with 17 Burger King $15.00 gift cards, totaling $255.00 for their “Caught Being Good” program. This program rewards students for completing their homework and for kindness to other students.