In the past, a "Dues Packet" was sent to every senior and Junior Daughters chapter.  The packets were a way that Chapter Presidents and Junior Directresses could collect annual dues from their members and mail them to the National Office. These packets were very time-consuming to put together and costly to mail.  With the implementation of our new membership software, the "Dues Packets" process was replaced with "Individual Dues Invoices." 

In early July the Fiscal Year 2015 invoices were created and emailed to every senior Daughter with a valid email address in their record. This month we are mailing printed "Statements of Invoices" to members for whom we do not have a valid email address. Junior Daughters will still continue to pay their dues through their Directresses, who will receive a Junior Chapter List in the coming weeks.

The primary way for members to pay their annual dues is to pay online.  Once a member receives the invoice, she should sign into the member portal on our new website and pay online.  Members will be given an opportunity to update their personal contact information while making their payment.  This is the most efficient and cost effective way for the Order to receive and process payments.  

Members may still pay their dues by mail by completing an Individual Dues Payment Form (found on the website under Resources) and sending it to the National Office along with a check or credit card payment information.

Chapter presidents/treasurers are no longer required to collect individual dues or to send a single dues payment for their chapter to the National Office.  

When we first switched from individual Daughters paying their own dues to chapter presidents/treasurers collecting them, there were glitches. We worked through. Any change is difficult, and we realize this new system has not come without a few glitches.  We are very much aware of the problems that have occurred and are working hard to resolve these problems in collaboration with the new membership software company.

Please bear with us as we strive to make our dues collection process easy for you and as streamlined as possible for our National Office staff. While chapter presidents no longer directly collect the Order's dues, they do have knowledge of this new dues payment process. If you have any questions regarding this new process, please contact your chapter president for her assistance. If the two of you still have questions, the staff will be happy to assist you; please contact them at 770-517-8552 or dok1885@doknational.org.

Annemarie Delgado
National Treasurer

I am delighted to be returning to Council and even more delighted to continue in service as the Master's Fund Chair and the Spiritual Formation Chair. A Daughter since 1996, I attend Trinity Episcopal Church in Baytown, Texas, where, among other things, I serve as the Junior Daughters Directress of the chapter I helped found in 2000. I have been a Glory Bound Singer since 2001 and an active Cursillista since 1983. Once a widow, I have been married for 23 years to Rogers Thomson, a Hospice Chaplain, and have raised seven adopted children and one granddaughter, while owning a small private school and child care center where I teach the two- to five-year old children. With God's help, I have battled leukemia, heart disease and Hurricanes Alicia and Ike, and even managed to cross the finish line of the Houston Half Marathon in 2007, but at 68 I do hope He does not need for me to do that again! My goals for both Chair positions this Triennium are to seek God's plan for better fulfilling the mission of the Order through the grant process and through helping all who seek to fulfill their individual goals in spiritual formation.

Patsy Thomson
Spiritual Formation Chair

A few of the newly elected National Council have introduced themselves to you in this issue of Cross+Links.  You will read about others in future issues.  Following is a complete list of the National Council 2015-2018 and their assignments.  To view their pictures and contact information, click on the blue links below:

Susan O'Brien	National President
Lindy Kirk	First Vice President, International Chair, Finance Co-Chair, Trademark Chair
Chesley Vohden	Second Vice President, Triennial Chair, Self Denial Fund Chair
Susan Keith	Secretary, Bylaws Co-Chair
Annemarie Delgado	Treasurer, Literature Co-Chair, Communications Oversight Chair Committees: Strategic Planning, International, Triennial, National Enrichment
Christine Budzowski	National Enrichment Chair
Pam Runyon	Advisor

Jen Mariano	Strategic Planning Chair, Literature Co-Chair; Committee:  Communications Oversight
Grace Sears	Archives Chair Committee: Cross+Links

 

Amid the beautiful mountains of Heber Valley, the venue for Triennial 2015, Daughters conducted the business of the Order in two separate sessions.  The 263 delegates to Triennial (among the 532 registered attendees) heard reports, elected a new National Council, and discussed and voted on recommended changes to the Order's Bylaws.  Delegates were also asked to vote on a resolution.  This report highlights some of the actions taken during the Triennial 2015 Business Meeting.  

During the first session of business Saturday morning, Annemarie Delgado, National Treasurer, presented her report with Lindy Kirk, Finance Chair, reporting on the Order's investments.  (Audits by fiscal year are available on the Order's webpage for more information).  Phyllis Easley, Nominations Chair, introduced 15 nominees; each nominee answered the following question:  How can the Order vibrantly live into its mission in a 21st-century world, and how will you use your gifts to make this happen?  Four nominations were made from the floor, and each of these four nominees also answered the above question.  Election of National Council was conducted during the second business session.  See the Order's website for the names and contact information of Council 2015-2018 members.

During the second business session, Jen Mariano, First Vice President and Bylaws Committee member, moved the proposed changes to Bylaws to the floor for action by delegates.  The first Bylaw to be addressed was the proposed amendment to Article VII. Section B.  This amendment proposed a method by which Daughters at Large would be represented at the Triennial convention, the governing body of the Order.  Each province would select a Daughter at Large as its delegate to represent Daughters at Large at the Triennial Convention.  This amendment passed.  Province Boards will need to revise their bylaws (with guidance from National Council) to detail how these Daughter at Large delegates will be chosen.  The second Bylaw to be addressed was the proposed amendment to Article VI, Section 2, D. 5 calling for an annual audit by a Certified Public Accountant of all financial records to coincide with the end of the fiscal year.  This amendment also passed.  This amendment requires no action be taken other than by officers of the Executive Board and the National Office staff.  The final proposed change to the Bylaws to be addressed was the proposed amendment to Article III, Section 6, Paragraph H. regarding Dues Relief.  The amendment included in its language the consequences of approval of an application for Dues Relief.  A friendly amendment to this proposed amendment, putting the language in positive wording but not changing the impact of the amendment, was offered and accepted.  After much discussion, the delegates voted not to approve this amendment.  Therefore, dues relief for Daughters age 85 and older remains in effect as written and approved in the 2012 Bylaws. The Bylaws as of 2015 are currently available on the Order's website.  

Jen Mariano also presented a resolution for action to be taken by the delegates:  (Be it resolved) that the names of those persons honored by a donation to one of the other three Funds of the Order would also be recorded in the Book of Remembrance, Honor, and Thanksgiving.  This resolution passed.  Previously, the only time the name of a person honored by a donation would be entered into the Book of Remembrance would be if the donation was to the Endowment Fund.  Now, if a donation is made in someone's name to the Endowment Fund, Self Denial Fund, Master's Fund, or Alpha Fund, his or her name will be entered into the Book of Remembrance, Honor, and Thanksgiving.  (These names are also published in The Royal Cross once a year.)

Before presenting the proposed Bylaws amendments for action by the delegates, Jen Mariano reminded them to be positive, polite and respectful.  All the business sessions were conducted with those attitudes in mind and the work of the Order was completed without a jarring note to disturb the spiritual mood of Triennial 2015.

Respectfully reported by

Susan O'Brien

National Secretary, 2012-2015

Labor Day: What does that mean?

The first Monday of September OR the day a woman gives birth to a child?

Is it the day of the year everyone labors the hardest (as some isolated children living on a farm a long way from town were taught) OR the day set aside by President  Grover Cleveland in 1894 as a federal holiday?

The day that officially ends "summer" with fellowship with family and friends who take a break from their everyday labors OR the day where your work as a policeman, fireman or ambulance worker, as on-duty military personnel, nurse, or doctor, as a sales clerk, waitress, or gas station attendant continues?

The Bible has this to say:

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work..." Exodus 20:8-10

"....Moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor--it is the gift of God." Ecclesiastes 3:13

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men."   Colossians 3:23

Being a Christian is hard work and we are all workers together. As Daughters of the King, as members of the Army of Christ, we have no days off and yet we must find a way to "keep a Sabbath Day" in order to be able to continue to be effective in the work He has given us to do.

Whether we approach Labor Day 2015 as a holiday from work, a continuation of work, the end of nine months of pregnancy, or the day we work the hardest, let us remember we are all "in labor" every day to produce beautiful children of God, beginning with ourselves, and, that no matter our job or vocation, God wants to use our work to not only bless others, but to grow each of us closer to Him.

At noon this Labor Day, September 7, 2015, let us join one another in spirit and pray these prayers from The Book of Common Prayer: The Collect for Labor Day found above and the following prayer:

Heavenly Father, we remember before you those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Guide the people of this land so to use our public and private wealth that all may find suitable and fulfilling employment, and receive just payment for their labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

**For additional thoughts, you might like to check out:

Peggie C. Bohanon:   http://peggiesplace.com/words18.htm

Joanne: http://lacedwithgrace.com/happy-labor-day/