I am honored to have been elected as your NYSO DKG President 2025-2027 to represent the 1450 members and 42 chapters. Thank you to all who have attended the 75th NYSO DKG Convention and those who have worked tirelessly to prepare for this week.

Special recognition to Lucinda Hart, DKG International Executive Director, President Jennifer Lee-Alden and the NYSO Executive Committee, NYSO Past Presidents, Capital Area Council, Convention Chair Karen Jones and Executive Secretary Elisa Keating for all the planning and my Alpha Nu Chapter members. I also want to thank Past Presidents Karen Crumley, Joan Slagle and Sue Kenoyer who have constantly offered assistance and mentoring during my time as a state officer. I need to also acknowledge my family, especially my husband, John, for his support as I enter this new stage of DKG leadership.

In my First Vice-President Report this morning, I mentioned, I am constantly drawn to a quote by Ursula K. LeGuin throughout my educational and professional career - “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end” (Ursula K. LeGuin). Education is a journey, and all segments of the journey are essential even if there is no end. Membership in DKG is a journey, however, it is cyclical, there is no end. We are always supporting educators.

The mission of DKG International is to “promote professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education”. As I look forward to a biennium as NYSO President, I reflect on the mission and seek to increase educational opportunities for members and highlight DKG in our communities and schools. “Journey to discover the treasures of DKG” is the theme I will stress as we continue to work to provide connections for all our members - collegiate, early career educators, active teachers, retirees, honorary, and those who have come to our organization through other professional educational careers.

Sometimes we need reminders of our DKG journey so we can emphasize the treasures of DKG to our members and potential members. Our organization is so much more than a line on a resume. We are here to be “leaders, educators and conceptual thinkers” and to transfer those principles to new and young members as they continue the DKG journey.

Thank you again for trusting in me to lead this organization over the next two years. I look forward to working with all of you and your chapters.