Volume XLVI - October 2011

Prepared by Dr. James Delahanty
December 31, 2010

The new OKU website went on line in April, 2010.  In addition to a more up-to-date look, the website provides all previous information in a user friendly format as well as a few new features including a "secretary login" component. All chapter secretaries have been issued a username, temporary password and a user manual to familiarize them with the use of the website.

As our bylaws require each component chapter secretary to provide an annual report, an electronic form is available on our website under the “secretary login” which allows a component chapter secretary to submit an annual chapter report electronically. Twenty-six (26) component chapters submitted an electronic report. A copy of each report is forwarded to me as well as to the central office in Nebraska. (Article X, Section 11. “Each component chapter shall submit an annual report to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Supreme Chapter at least 30 days before the annual meeting of the Supreme Chapter. This report shall include the names and addresses of newly elected members; names of deceased component members, and other items of general interest to the Society.") Over half of the component chapters are in violation of the bylaws.

In addition, all Kramer Award certificates are now ordered electronically via the website. As no fee is involved in this award, when the chapter secretary completes the form it is electronically submitted directly to the central office in Nebraska saving the component chapters the time and expense of mailing.

Another feature of the website is the electronic updating of our membership database. The form that the component chapter secretary uses to order membership insignia automatically uploads this information into the membership database. Again, this form is available under the "secretary login" component of the website. This function will not only save the Supreme Chapter the cost of the man hours previously involved in annually uploading this information by hand into the database but also helps maintain the accuracy of the records. A fail safe has been built into this feature in that the information is first posted into a queue and is not released into the database until I have had a chance to review it. A feature is available to manually load and correct individual records as the need arise.

The 2010-2011 edition of the “Bulletin” was placed on line in October, 2010. The “Bulletin” is published electronically to apprise the membership of the activities of OKU, both nationally and locally. All component chapters are invited to send information to be included on the “Component Chapter Activities” page. Nine (9) chapters sent pictures and other items of interest. 

The website is kept as current and accurate as possible so that members can turn to the website for information. A list of all component chapter secretary-treasurers (with their mailing address, e-mail address and telephone numbers) is updated as I receive the electronic chapter reports. In addition a meeting notice is placed online informing chapter delegates of the date, time and place of our annual business meeting, as well as a copy of minutes of last year’s business is available for download by the chapter delegates.

Finally, a notice was posted on the website to the proposed changes to our bylaws and the proposed changes were available for download thereby satisfying Article X!V, Section 3 which states in part “...at least sixty (60) days before the said annual or special meeting, copies of the proposed amendment and an explanation of its purpose shall be delivered by the Secretary-Treasurer of the Supreme Chapter to the Secretary-Treasurer of each component chapter, and to each active member of the Supreme Chapter....”