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Volume 98 - Issue 4| October 2025
Cathy Tenney, Editor
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Unity Uplifts Us
The U in FOCUS stands for Unity Uplifts Us. There is a power that cannot be measured, a force that cannot be stopped, and a light that cannot be dimmed. That positive power, undeniable force, and brillant light are women standing together in unity. It is each of us who has a mindset of creating a community of belonging. That sense of belonging is where we lift one another as individuals, chapters, and a state organization. Imagine what OHSO can become if every woman chooses to uplift each other—where every voice is valued, every triumph is shared, and every challenge is faced together. This is not a pie-in-the-sky dream but a future we can build upon. Let us focus on implementing processes that will help us do that now.
As members of OHSO, we have faced challenges and experienced division. However, we now have an opportunity to build a stronger and more inspiring future for OHSO. Unity does not eliminate differences; it transforms them into sources of wisdom and understanding. It increases our strength, deepens our courage to tackle the tough challenges ahead, and amplifies the good we are accomplishing now in our chapters and at the state level.
When women unite, remarkable things happen. History proves this when genuine connections are made, barriers are broken, and opportunities increase. A single voice can be powerful, but when women raise their voices together, they create an echo that resonates globally. That is the power of unity: bold, undeniable, unstoppable. OHSO needs a stronger connection to DKG. We achieve this through each of our sixty-six chapters and our state organization, emphasizing the vision of DKG: Leading women educators impacting education worldwide with passion and purpose. It aligns with DKG's mission: fostering the professional and personal growth of women educators and promoting excellence in education.
Individually, we are one drop. Together we are an ocean. ~ Ryunosuke Satoro
Energetically,
Dr. Molly Helmlinger, Beta Kappa
OHSO State President
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Virginia Koch
Past State President
1987-1989
It is with heavy hearts that we share with the Ohio State Organization members that OHSO Past State President Virginia Koch passed away late Monday evening.
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Zeta Chapter
Pi Chapter
Tau Chapter
Chi Chapter
Alpha Delta Chapter
Alpha Eta Chapter
Alpha Iota Chapter
Alpha Nu Chapter
Alpha Psi Chapter
Beta Zeta Chapter
Beta Kappa Chapter
Beta Nu Chapter
Beta Rho Chapter
Beta Upsilon Chapter
Beta Chi Chapter
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Gamma Eta Chapter
Gamma Theta Chapter
Gamma Iota Chapter
Gamma Nu Chapter
Gamma Xi Chapter
Gamma Pi Chapter
Gamma Upsilon Chapter
Gamma Phi Chapter
Delta Theta Chapter
Delta Kappa Chapter
Delta Mu Chapter
Delta Upsilon Chapter
Delta Phi Chapter
Delta Chi Chapter
Gold Key Honor
Omicron Chapter
Alpha Upsilon Chapter
Gold Key Honorable Mention
Nu Rho Chapter
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Special Featured Visionary Network: Roses of Hope
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Join us every Monday in October for our featured Visionary Network group, Roses of Hope. Roses of Hope is a safe ongoing network for DKG members who are breast cancer survivors or currently fighting breast cancer.
This group will provide encouragement, resources, awareness, and tools for sharing one's personal journey while fostering a sisterhood of hope.
Meetings: October 6, 13, 20, 27 @ 8:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)
Here is the linnk to take part https://www.dkg.org/VisionaryNetwork
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GOLD KEY REMINDER
As some of you may already know, the 2025-2026 Gold Key Planning Sheet has been posted on the OHSO website at dkgohio.org. Please use this as your guide for what is needed for Gold Key. We have also posted the two power point presentations for Gold Key (one is a short version and the other a more detailed version).
Also, Chapter Yearbooks are due by November 1, 2025. They should be sent electronically to goldkey@dkgohio.org.
Karen Dombrowski, Alpha Nu
OHSO Second Vice President
Gold Key Coordinator
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Shirley Milton
Psi Chapter
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Spam Alert
Recently an email was received by some from OHSO State President but not from an actual OHSO email account. Everyone needs to check the email address of any suspicious email they receive. When in doubt, never respond to the email. If it is from an unknown email address do not open it and delete it immediately.
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Sandy Procaccio
Gamma Lambda
Sandy Procaccio, president of DKG Gamma Lambda Chapter and also president of the Hartville Lions Club, was awarded a Lions Club Melvin Jones Fellowship. The Melvin Jones Fellowship is the highest honor bestowed by Lions Club International recognizing individuals for a sustained commitment to community service. The Fellowship is named in recognition of the founder of Lions Clubs. Lions Club members work to offer support in these nine areas: vision, hunger, diabetes, childhood cancer, environment, youth, disaster relief, humanitarian efforts, and mental health and well-being.
| | | | Delta Delta Chapter at their September 2025 meeting gathered for a group picture. | |
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Membership Matters
It’’s definitely fall - football season, marching bands, raking leaves - and time for the memories of homecoming. As you celebrate fall, consider your chapter having a homecoming welcome for previous members. Reach out to them to come have a very welcoming and good time with you - a feeling of connection and belonging. Consider their needs and interests as you invite them to join you in promoting the professional and personal growth of educators and excellence in education.
We can do it!
Meier Bauer, Gamma Phi
OHSO Recording Secretary
OHSO Membership Chair
| | | | Omega Chapter hosted a brunch buffet for their September meeting. Pictured moving through the buffet line are Janet Duns, Marlene Napalo and Deborah Hofstetter. Pictured in the picture on the right are Helen Thomas, Pam Wurster, and Denise Molesch. | |
Cornetet Individual Professional Development Award
If you are an employed educator wanting support to participate in a conference, seminar, on line course, lecturer series, etc., consider applying for a Cornetet Individual Professional Development Award before the activity occurs. This is available to both DKG members and non-members. The award is available twice a year with application deadlines of November 1 and May 1.
To read more about this award and to obtain the application, sign in to DKG.org, go to DKGIEF, Funds. Be thorough in filling out the application and good luck!
| | | | Beta Kappa Chapter members created thank you and thinking of you cards at their September meeting. Member Marily Schweitzer shared with the members how to create the cards and provided all the necessary supplies needed. | |
Membership Data for 2025 - 2026
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Members | Collegiate Paid Members | Reserve Paid Members | Total Paid Members | Ohio Chapters
| | 2009 | 7 | 254 | 2,270 | 66 | | | DKG Ohio Financial Update for July 1 - August 31, 2025 | | Statement of Financial Activity | | | Revenue | $32,982.00 | | Expenses | $17,751.00 | | Net Income | $15,231.00 | | | Statement of Financial Position | | | Checking/Savings | $ 38,150.00 | | Available Fund Reserve* | $ 15,000.00 | | Investments | $246,413.00 | | Total Assets | $299,563.00 | | Credit Card Liabilities | $ 765.00 | | Total Equity | $298,798.00 | | | *Available Fund Reserve is an Executive Board Directed fund for technology-related upgrades and licenses. Constitution Article IV, Section F, 2, f, (3). p. C-5. | |
DKG Purpose Five
DKG Purpose 5: to endow awards to aid members in pursuing personal and professional growth and to provide grants to non-member educators;
Award data from 2024-2025:
- Eleven (11) Ohio Chapters embraced this Society Purpose by distributing 23 awards to chapter members totaling $4,538. Congratulations to the members receiving these awards!
- Thirty-three (33) Chapters provided grants to 135 non-members totaling $49,067. Chapters are very generous and supportive of current and future educators.
Are you wondering why the number and amount of non-member awards are so much greater than the number and amounts awarded to chapter members? We will continue to explore the data next month.
Diana Haskell, Gamma Phi
OHSO Treasurer
| | | | Alpha Sigma Chapter President Deb Mihalik presented OHSO President Dr. Molly Helmlinger's FOCUS theme for the 2025-2027 biennium. Alpha Sigma also held its Basket, Bake or Bring silent auction at their September meeting to raise money for their various projects. | |
Inside International
DKG Ohio members are encouraged to participate in the monthly Inside International Meetings via Zoom. Join the meeting for an hour to enjoy a conversation with International leaders and staff. Directors and elected leaders will be available to answer questions and welcome comments. The link to the meetings is available on the DKG International website.
Upcoming Inside International Dates
(Eastern Time)
Tuesday, October 7th @ 6:30 p.m. hosted by Membership & Expansion, topic on Collegiate Membership
Tuesday, November 4th @ 1:30 p.m. hosted by iMIS Due Structure Task Force
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Alpha Eta Chapter
A. Kaye Wells
Beta Rho Chapter
Allison N. Jones
Delta Theta Chapter
Barbara Johnstone
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Educational Excellence Committee
What is an Educational Excellence Committee? Wait, do we have an Educational Excellence Committee? Are we supposed to have one? It is determined by each chapter whether they have an Educational Excellence Committee. I will be writing more on the committee each month in The Voice.
The Educational Excellence Committee is one that helps to support all other areas of the chapter from membership to programming and to legislation, just to name a few. The EEC committee is charged with the task of bringing to the chapter the information for supporting the partnerships and ideas from DKG International and their state leadership. Several of the areas include Supporting Early Educators, The G.I.R.L.S. program, Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Cityarts, Girl Scouts, Legislation, Fine Arts, Professional Development, promoting projects of the chapter and more.
Stay tuned to The Voice as I spotlight a component of the Educational Excellence Committee each month to help us all gain the knowledge of what the committee does. We will all grow together. As a prelude, be thinking about just what project your chapter does each year that deserves the EEC spotlight!
Happy Fall!
Sharon Scheidegger, Beta Delta
OHSO First Vice President
OHSO Educational Excellence Chair
Legislative Advocate & Liaison to the U.S. Forum
| | | | Beta Zeta Chapter members filled over 80 bags with school supplies and snacks for new teachers in our four county area as a welcome to teaching at their September meeting. The Educational Excellence Committee who spearheaded this project are Beth Bechtol, Sue Hammer, Laura Renollet and Jan Strauss. Not pictured committee co-chairs Kathleen Neidhart and Jackie Bair. | |
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Important Upcoming Dates to Remember
October 7, 2025
Inside International
Collegiate Membership
6:30 p.m. via Zoom
October 11, 2025
Treasurers Talk
11 a.m. via Zoom
Link found on the Events, Virtual Events tab on dkg.org
October 14, 2025
Inside Connections with Membership & Expansion
Link found on the Events, Virtual Events tab on dkg.org
October 15, 2025
Centennial Membership Challenge Begins
October 22, 2025
U.S. Forum Discussion: Department of Education
6 p.m. via Zoom
Register at Registration Link
October 23, 2025
Inside Impact (Educational Excellence)
1:30 p.m via Zoom
Link found on the Events, Virtual Events tab on dkg.org
October 23, 2025
Chapter President's Connections
with Dr. Molly Helmlinger
6:30 p.m. via Zoom
November 1, 2025
Chapter Yearbooks Are Due
Email it to goldkey@dkgohio.org
November 1, 2025
Cornetet Individual Professional Development Award Application Deadline
Cornetet_Individual_Award.aspx
November 4, 2025
Inside International
1:30 p.m. via Zoom
November 19, 2025
Chapter President's Connections
with Dr. Molly Helmlinger
6:30 p.m. via Zoom
December 2, 2025
Inside International
6:30 p.m. via Zoom
December 18, 2025
Chapter President's Connections
with Dr. Molly Helmlinger
6:30 p.m. via Zoom
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Ohio State Organization Related Links | | | | Delta Kappa Gamma promotes professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education. | | | | |
