Volume 97 - Issue 1| July 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!

It’s that time of year again, we’re in the month of July! Soon we will be celebrating the Fourth of July!. The Red, White and Blue items are surfacing everywhere. Soon you will begin to hear and see rounds and rounds of colorful bright fireworks, blazing, whistling and crackling, with radiant beauty, cascading across the darkened skies. We enjoy the parades, picnics, family get togethers, concerts, and speeches that are given during this special historical celebration.

While we are celebrating our freedoms, let’s pause and remember those in other countries who are experiencing war and other conflicts. Many have lost their loved ones, their homes, all their belongings, and they are without food and clothing too!

We should all be thankful for the freedoms that we still possess and embrace in our country. Remember to appreciate those who made and are still making sacrifices that we might have those freedoms too. God bless America and be thankful for our home sweet home!

Melodies’ Meaningful Memoirs…

Also, during the month of July we will be attending The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International Convention in National Harbor, MD, July 9-13, 2024. I will be representing all the members in our OSO chapters as your OSO President when I vote for proposed amendments during the convention.

All of the proposed amendments that we will be voting on can be found in the March/April issue of the DKG News or click on the link on the next line: https://www.dkg.org/DKGSI/Publications/proposed_amendments.aspx which will take you to the proposed amendments that will be discussed and eventually voted on at the business potion of the International Convention. Since I am representing all the members of the OSO chapters with my vote, I would welcome hearing from you by email about the different proposed amendments that you believe I should vote for or against on. I welcome and look forward to reading your thoughts about the proposed amendments before July 6, so that I can be totally prepared with discussions/observations from our OSO chapter members as I leave to cast OUR votes. My email address is president@dkgohio.org

I’ll see you when I return from the DKG International Convention with the results!

May each of You Have a Bouquet of Red Roses in your lives every day…

Melodie

Did You Come to the DKG OSO Chapter Officers Leadership Training Seminars?

On June 11^th in-person and on June 13^th, 2024, through Zoom we went on an exploration to seek and discover information about the roles and responsibilities of chapter officers serving in the Delta Kappa Gamma. Our OSO Admin Team presenters prepared and or reviewed information to OSO chapter presidents, vice presidents treasurers, secretaries, editors, and parliamentarians for new or continuous roles as OSO chapter officers! I enjoyed sharing/presenting information with the OSO chapter presidents with an interactive presentation about the Presidential Quest of a Chapter President. I shared 5 tools with information that would help her during the presidential biennium journey. Those who were in attendance who were other OSO officers at the Chapter Officers Leadership Training Seminar heard information and strategies about their offices too! There were over 100 people who participated in the 2024 OSO Chapters Officers Leadership Training Seminars to prepare for their new or continuing offices. Congratulations to all the DKG OSO Chapter Officers for the 2024-2026 biennium.

Thank you to all the members of our Admin Team who presented and served in many additional roles to help create a successful and memorable OSO Chapter Officers Leadership Training Seminars.

Parliamentary Question Answered

At the in-person Leadership Conference on June 11, part of my presentation was on conducting a meeting. I talked about the role of the president/chair of the meeting and explained that she would vote only if her vote would change the outcome: settling a tie (10-10) or creating a tie so the motion is lost. There was a question raised about what to do if there are co-presidents. The question caught me off guard and I did not sufficiently answer it. Of course, my mind kicked in once the meeting ended.

If you have co-presidents, only one of them will be conducting the meeting at the time a motion is proposed (moved), discussed and voted on. This procedure should not be passed back and forth between the presidents. The president/chair conducting the meeting for that motion will be the one in the position not to vote. She can decide if she wants her vote to change the outcome of the vote so that it passes or is lost. If she feels strongly about it, she will cast a vote. If not, she will let the results remain.

The co-president who is not conducting the meeting may vote as any other member since she is not in the chair position for that matter of business.

Joyce Jones Weinkam, Gamma Xi

OSO Parliamentarian

Beta Alpha Chapter Officers Installed

Beta Alpha Chapter installation of 2024-2026 officers. First row: Beth James, President; Cathy Greenleaf, First Vice President; Mary Deel, Second Vice President; Marty Roderick, Secretary and Vickie Powell, past Co-President. Second row: Lois Carter, Membership Co-Chair; Jane Ann Slagle, Membership Co-Chair; Helenlu Morgan, Treasurer and Debbie Rhodes, Parliamentarian.

Delta Chi Chapter new officers for 2024-2025: Darla Smith, President; Rudy Edwards, First Vice President; Tori Herrera, Second Vice President; Stacie Ishmael, Recording Secretary and Janet Davidson, Treasurer.

Barbara Carter

Alpha Mu

Jane Alice Engle

Alpha Eta

Beta Zeta

Kelly R. Hug

Jill R. Evans

Alpha Gamma

Brenda Southworth

Patricia Stilner

Pamela Beck

(Reinstated)

Beta Rho

Tina Jones

Lisa Johnson

Joanna Strawser

Catherine Johnson

The Legacy You Leave is the Life You Lead!

Every member of OSO-DKG is a leader. Why? Leadership is a way of living. The legacy you leave is the life you lead. It is the moments of our lives that shape us. Create and pursue moments that will lift and propel us to greater heights. How am I going to live today to create my legacy? The trajectory of your life is discovered in how proactive you are in your daily routine and habits. It is not waiting around, aimlessly wandering and reacting.

There is a direct link between self-awareness and self-leadership. Are you aware of your uniqueness? Of the billions of people that have come before you and the ones yet to be born, embrace the realization there will never be another you. That realization should give you goosebumps. Be awed by it. Be humbled by it. Be thankful for it. Self-awareness means taking stock of who I am, what I do, and where my inner compass is leading. Nothing in life has meaning except the meaning you give it. Put your ear to your heart and listen. Listen to the well of wisdom deep within you.

Authentic leadership springs from within and not from outside in. Cultivate reflection and understanding. Your uniqueness is anchored by non-negotiable values and principles. There is soil to be tilled, seeds to be planted, weeds to be pulled, and values and principles to take root so that a bountiful garden in the soul can be grown. It requires continual attention, care and nurturing.

Leadership requires you to have both a bird’s eye view and a worm’s eye view. A bird’s eye view means seeing from wide perspectives, expanding boundaries, and understanding the big picture. A worm’s eye view means seeing from narrow perspectives, restricted boundaries, and understanding the individual pieces. The depth and breadth of your legacy will be significantly impacted by your ability to always encompass both views.

Opportunities abound all around us. Create your own opportunities by staying alert. Look out for opportunities that are in front, in back, and beside you. Opportunities that are taken result in building momentum and enhance life. Opportunities that are ignored or missed stifle it.

What will your OSO-DKG legacy be? It will depend upon what you decide your commitment and responsibilities will be at each level. It may be that you take a more active role at the chapter level. Or, you have consistently been a chapter officer and now want to be more involved at the state level. If so, pursue becoming a member of one of the state committees. Get elected as a state officer, but realize it is a huge time commitment and leadership responsibility. Remember, becoming more involved at any level is a leap of faith. Take an enormous leap if you want to build a robust and resonant legacy.

Energetically,

Dr. Molly Helmlinger

OSO Second Vice-President and EEC Chair

DKG Ohio Membership and Chapter Update

Active Members	2,254
Collegiate Members	5
Reserve Members	302
Total Membership	2,561
Ohio Chapters	68

It is with deep regret that Beta and Delta Lambda Chapters requested to be dissolved on April 6 by the Ohio Executive Board.

Statement of Financial Activity

Revenue	$47,226.00
Expenses	$29.112.00
Epsilon Alpha Expenses*	$ 424.00
Net Income	$17,690.00

Statement of Financial Position

Assets	$246,265.00
Board Designated*	$ 1,076.00
Total Assets	$247,341.00
Liabilities	$ 942.00
Total Equity	$246,399.00

Diana Haskell, Gamma Phi

OSO Treasurer

OSO Chapter Outings

Beta Psi Chapter outing to Cox Arboretum Metro Park. It was a lovely morning for a docent-led walk or tram ride to learn about the park's history and the different sections of trees and plants throughout the park. L to R: Donna Fedon, Claudia Stephens, Jean Plunkett, Jane Cook, Janet Hess, April Holten, Laurie Hawkins, Kathy Walker, Sandy Roe.

Gamma Xi Chapter continued their tradition of an outing to end the year by visiting the Wright Brothers home in Dayton, followed by lunch at the Cafe in Carillion Park. After lunch some members continued their day with a visit to the park.

Beta Alpha Chapter held their chapter planning meeting for 2024-2025 at the Twisted Vine Winery in Gallia County near Patriot, Ohio.

Is it too soon?

Too soon for what? You may be asking.

The Ohio State Organization Nominations Committee members have the answers to both questions! It is not too soon to think about and consider applying for an OSO leadership position. At the 2025 OSO Convention, the election will be conducted for the following positions.

President

First Vice President

Second Vice President

Recording Secretary

Corresponding Secretary

Nominating Committee Representative, Area I Northeast

Nominating Committee Representative, Area II Southeast

Nominating Committee Representative, Area III Northwest

Nominating Committee Representative, Area IV Southwest

Nominating Committee Representative, Area V Central

All job descriptions for the offices listed above are in the International Constitution. You can find the link to the Constitution on the OSO website at dkgohio.org. The term of each office is two years, July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2027.

Serving OSO will give you the opportunity to

build lasting interpersonal relationships,
participate with leaders sharing a common interest and common goals,
make connections with other OSO sisters, and
reap both tangible and intangible benefits.

For more election information, check subsequent issues of The Voice or contact any of the 2023-2025 Nominations Committee members.

Shirley Moore, Chairman, Gamma Nu

Karen Dunn, Alpha Psi

Dr. Norma Kirby, Alpha Delta

Cynthy Kleman, Beta Eta

Marilyn Kretschman, Gamma Iota

Alpha Phi Chapter members had a “Show ’N’ Tell” for their meeting at MCL Cafeteria. Linda Parker, secretary, shared her collection of hedge hogs.

School is Out for Summer!!

Hopefully those representing us continue to work hard through the summer session before their break in August. My newsletter this month is an update on what has transpired during the first half of 2024 along with some state of Ohio Education news. I hope you find something in the newsletter that energizes your curiosity. Enjoy your summer and I hope to see some of you in July in National Harbor!

June Newsletter - Google Slides

Sharon Scheidegger, Beta Delta

Legislative Liaison UN & US Forum