of Beta Sigma Phi
TORCH STAFF
Torch@betasigmaphi.org Editor - Laurey Lummus
Graphic Designer - Eric Burgess Assistant Editor - Betsy Thomas
BETA SIGMA PHI INTERNATIONAL
Address: 1800 West 91st Place
Kansas City MO 64114-0500
Phone:
816-444-6800
(8:30 am - 5:00 pm CST M-F)
Fax: 816-333-6206
Insurance Only: 800-235-2806
Long Term Care Insurance: 888-290-7207
Gifts Only: 800-821-3989 DIVISION CHAIRMEN
Karla MacRae karlam@betasigmaphi.org
- Canada, GA, Greece, HI, IL, IN, MN, NM, Norway, Scotland, WA, WY, & Russia
Vivian Iddings viviani@betasigmaphi.org - AK, AZ, CT, DC, DE, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, MT, NH, NJ, NV, NY, PA, Puerto Rico, Germany, RI, VA, VT, & WV
Laura Ross Wingfield laura@betasig-maphi.org - On-Line Chapters & Conventions
Cynthia Meadows cynthiam@betasig-maphi.org - AL, AR, CO, NC, TN, OH, OK, SC, TX, Belgium, & Zimbabwe
Cindy Vance cindyv@betasigmaphi.org
- Austria, Australia, CA, England, Finland, FL, ID, IA, LA, Mexico, NE, ND, OR, Saudi Arabia, SD, UT, & WI E-MAIL ADDRESSES Torch Department -Torch@betasigmaphi.org Membership/Rushing Department - Rushing-FriendlyVenture@betasigmaphi.org Gift Department -Gifts@betasigmaphi.org Home Page -http://www.betasigmaphi.org Beta Journal -http://www.betajournal.com
Beta Sigma Phi is an international women’s friendship network. It also provides educational programs to its members and opportunities for service to others. We are women of all ages, interests, and educational and economic backgrounds, and are the largest organization of our kind in the world. For Beta Sigma Phi
membership information call:
March/April 2011 Volume 129 - Issue 2 Dear Sisters,
It is once again time to display the winning yearbooks, and as always the yearbooks were incredibly hard to judge. Seriously, every year the yearbooks are better than the year before. Judg-ing them is like tryJudg-ing to choose between two thoroughbred horses, or two of your favorite desserts – it’s impossible! Founder’s Day is also right around the corner. It is hard to believe we will be celebrating 80 years of sisterhood. It seems that I have only had time to blink since our 75th. Time goes marching on – too bad my left knee sometimes does not go along with the plan.
We have fun stuff in store for this big anniversary, check out the details on page 5. Be sure and read it carefully, because yes, your chapter may become the next YouTube star. Look out, Justin Bieber. Get with your chapter and make a zany fun video, and then send it to us. Sounds like a blast, right? We think so too.
This will be the first Founder’s Day without the three Ross men at the helm. Bill left us in 2009, and then this past March, we lost Jack, who was my boss and one of the kindest men I ever had the pleasure to meet. Some time after his fa-ther Walter W. Ross passed away in 1969, Jack wrote a beauti-ful paean to his dad, titled “I Wish You Had Known Him.” In it he extolled his father’s virtues, which were considerable. Reading it again lately, I thought how appropriate it would be to write the same ode to Jack. To tell of how gracious a man he was, how he always listened to people’s issues with compassion and sound advice, how he so loved the outdoors, and how he taught his daughter Laura to carry on with the great legacy that is Beta Sigma Phi. Yes, someone should re-ally write the same sort of tribute to Jack as he wrote to his father. And someday, I believe I will do just that.
Have a happy Founder’s Day and may spring bring you joy. Sincerely,
THE TORCH OF BETA SIGMA PHI (ISSN 0888-8930). Official Publication of Beta Sigma Phi, 1800 West 91st Place, Kansas City, Missouri 64114-0500. Periodical postage paid at Kansas City.
TORCH TRADITIONS
6
Rushing
11
What Beta Sigma Phi Means to Me
4
Conventions, New Chapters,
Friendly Ventures
24
Chatter
30
Gift Selections
FEATURE STORIES
5
80th Anniversary News! Fun!
Contests! Sweepstakes Drawings!
8
2010-2011 Yearbook Contest Winners
Find out which chapters topped the cream of the crop.
12
Upon A Mystery Trip
Alabama Xi Xi, Alexander City takes us along on one
of their legendary mystery trips.
15
Our IHM Earlene Fowler has
written another tantalizing yarn
Two lucky members will receive signed copies. Read for details.
16
Programs a La Carte
18
Beta Sigma Phi Programs
Fun from Diotima to Dolls to Facebook.
21
We Salute our Founding
Remembering the values we were founded upon, with a poem from Jack Ross reflecting on these ideals.
On the Cover
Using artistic components from more than 80 years ago, artist Eric Burgess created this stunning depiction of a vintage Torch cover.
Alabama (Mobile) June 10-12
Arizona (Scottsdale) September 30-2
British Columbia (Courtenay) Conclave May 6-7
British Columbia (Oliver) Area Conclave May 28
British Columbia (Prince George) May 6-8
British Columbia (Vancouver) NW Regional June 24-26
California (Redding) May 12-15
Carolinas Cruise (Charleston, SC) May 25-30
Colorado (Colorado Springs) June 24-26
Florida (Jacksonville) May 13-15
Georgia (Macon) June 3-5
Indiana (Terre Haute) October 22-24
Iowa (Dubuque) June 10-12
Kentucky (Frankfort) June 10-12
Louisiana (Houma) April 10
Michigan (Frankenmuth) October 21-23
Mississippi (Greenville) September 23-25
Missouri (Independence) October 14-16
New Mexico (Las Cruces) June 3-5
New York (Albany) September 16-18
Nova Scotia (Halifax) October 28-30
Ohio (Toledo) May 20-22
Oklahoma (Oklahoma City) June 24-26
South Dakota (Pierre) September 23-25
Tennessee (Manchester) June 3-5
Texas (Austin) June 24-26
East Texas Area (Frisco) October 14-15
Virginia (Williamsburg) October 28-30
Washington (Arlington) Conclave March 26
West Virginia (Beckley) October 21-23
Wisconsin (Sturgeon Bay) October 28-30
Wyoming (Sundance) September 16-18
Conventions
2011
New Friendly
Venture Chapters
Florida Alpha Delta Pi, Orange Park
By: Crystal Phillips and Laureate Zeta Alpha
Louisiana Alpha Omega, Ville Platte
By: Aimee Brignac and Lambda Epsilon
Louisiana Alpha Sigma, Ville Platte
By: Aimee Brignac and Lambda Epsilon
Welcome These
New Chapters
Illinois Xi Nu Kappa, Morris Kentucky Laureate Chi, Louisville
Ohio Beta Psi Master, Troy Ontario Delta Alpha Master, Barrie Texas Laureate Iota Sigma, Glen Rose
That Means: Fun! Contests! Sweepstakes Drawing!
We have planned lots of fun stuff to celebrate the 80th year of the
founding of Beta Sigma Phi. Below are some of the exciting things you
can participate in as a member.
We will be sponsoring a new email address just for 80th anniversary material. The new address is www.80BSP@betasigmaphi.org.
YouTube Postings – Celebrating 80 years of friendship. Create a DVD that highlights the excitement that is Beta Sigma Phi, and send it to us at International. Let’s bring our sisterhood to the masses who view YouTube daily. The one that most accurately depicts the fun and neat things we do in our chapters will be placed on YouTube, along with an extra surprise.
Please follow these instructions, posted by YouTube.
We accept most video file formats, including .wmv, .mov, .mpg, or .avi. If your video meets these minimum re-quirements and still won’t upload, there may be a problem with the video compression you’re using. We recom-mend the MPEG4 format at 640x480 resolution with MP3 audio.
Recommended settings:
Resizing your video to these specifications before uploading will help your videos look better on YouTube. • MPEG4 (Divx, Xvid) format
• 640x480 resolution (* most updated recommendation)
• MP3 audio
• 30 frames per second
Videos uploaded through YouTube’s Single File Uploader have to be under the 100MB file size limit. The longer the video is, the more compression will be required to fit it into that size. For that reason, most videos on You-Tube are under five minutes long and there is a 10-minute length limit for all videos.
You can compress your video using movie editors, like Windows MovieMaker or Apple iMovie. Programs like these allow you to edit your videos, add soundtracks, and compress file sizes.
If you choose to use the YouTube Uploader, your video can be up to 1GB in size.
Digital and Analog Camcorders
If you already have a digital camcorder (one that captures in Digital8, MiniDV, HDV, or any of the DVD formats), then you’re ready to start shooting your masterpiece. Your camcorder will need some kind of direct connection to your computer, either to the USB or FireWire ports or by inserting the DVD you’ve recorded. Once you’ve downloaded the video from the camera, you can upload it to YouTube or bring it into an editing program to play with it some more.
If you have an analog camcorder (one that uses VHS, VHS-C, SVHS-C, 8mm, or Hi8 tape), you can still get your videos onto YouTube. It will require an extra step and some additional equipment, though, since these camcord-ers are not usually equipped with computer connections. You will need to digitize the video with a converter box, which will convert the analog signal from the camcorder to a digital signal that the computer can under-stand. After the video has been digitized, you can manipulate it further or
upload it.
Write a letter about Beta Sigma Phi and/or our 80th Anniversary. Send it to TV shows, such as “The Oprah Winfrey Show” or the OWN Network, national newspapers and magazines,
your local newspapers, etc... Please send us a copy. It can be sent by regular mail, email or fax. We will be glad to send you any information on Beta Sigma Phi that you may need. This event is for a sweep stakes drawing and the lucky names drawn will receive a Beta Sigma Phi
80th Anniversary History Package, which consists of our limited-edition 75th Anniversary
Rushing
International recently welcomed a new Friendly Venture in Muskegon, Michigan. Michigan Eta Zeta, Muskegon was or-ganized by Mary Osburn and Susan Osburn. real-life sisters. Yet the family ties don’t stop there. Both their mother Betty Os-burn, and another sister Bonnie Hekkema, are also pledges.
Mary and Susan started the chapter with six new pledges and have grown to eleven chap-ter members since last summer. They have been busy with chapter activities and events since their formation.
The Friendly Venture Cash Bonus Award they earned was used to support a ways & means event where they sold yellow rose pens, hair clips, and Beta Sigma Phi tote bags. This sale was a lot of fun for every-one, netting a nice sum for the chapter treasury.
“We have truly enjoyed setting the goal to Friendly Venture the chapter and it has been very exciting since day one.”
First, think of rush parties as Friendship
Gather-ings. It will make the members feel less self-con-scious or pressured if they think of the parties as simple “Friendship Gatherings.” Forget that you are rushing. Just set your goal at having a good time meeting new women and seeing that your guests have a good time.
Second, the main purpose of the party is to get acquainted. The event is to let the prospective
member know how much she will enjoy your friendship. So each member and guest must be given a way to get to know one another. Planned activities are important because they give everyone a reason to move about and mingle.
It’s too easy for everyone to come and sit in one spot for the whole evening, especially if a guest is a bit shy or feels like a stranger compared to
Michigan Eta Zeta,
Muskegon
Michigan Eta Zeta, Muskegon’s Fall Ban-quet. Who is the girl on the table?
Halloween meeting of Michigan Eta Zeta, Muskegon.
Identifying the need of younger ladies who may need sorority as much as us older gals led to a group spearheaded by my chapter this summer.
The doors were wide open and the invitation was issued to the women of Barrie. A little advertising, a great article in the news-paper and lots of word of mouth created the right atmosphere. The rushing party had almost 50 attendees and from that party two new chapters were formed in Barrie.
The first one was a Ritual of Jewel Extreme Makeover of On-tario Theta Epsilon, Barrie when the current
members progressed and formed Ontario Xi Gamma Xi, Barrie. They replaced themselves with 10 pledges.
The makeover chapter was formed with four pledg-es and five returning or transferring members. We celebrated at the Barrie, City Council Pref-erential Tea this year with a Pledge Ritual for 15 women.
Sorority is alive and well in the city of
Barrie, Ontario.
Submitted and written by Colleen Lorimer, member of
Ontario Preceptor Epsilon Rho, Barrie.
the chapter members. Plan activities to give her a reason to move about and talk with every-one. Members will appreciate it too because sometimes they feel self-conscious in approach-ing prospective members.
This time is to let the prospective member know that she will enjoy your chapter activities and having new friends. So the current members must show that they, themselves, enjoy all the chapter activities including rushing. The en-thusiasm the members show at this time will determine the success of your rush party. What woman doesn’t want to be a part of a great group of women who enjoy each other’s com-pany and friendship?
Special Tips
Friendship Gatherings (rush parties) should be in-expensive, keep refreshments simple to prepare and serve. You can’t enjoy your guests if you are busy in the kitchen.
Don’t mention rushing on your invitation or in front of your guests at the first gathering. When you do that, the invited guests may think you want them to join that night - and you both don’t know that – yet.
You can choose a theme for the event to be included on your invitations. Remember, the simpler the gathering, the better and they tend to have the best results for overall attendance. Plan in advance to share the date for your next gathering - usually in two weeks. At the next gathering you will play another mixer game before you introduce Beta Sigma Phi to your guests. You should also be prepared to extend the invitation to join by having the Membership Applications ready to hand out.
Whatever you decide to do for your friendship gathering be sure to keep it lighthearted for everyone involved. Name tags are a must and a small remembrance gift for all prospective members in attendance is a nice way to end the gathering.
YEARBOOKS
2010-2011
FIR
ST
PL
ACE
The 2010- 2011 yearbook contest sported some of the
best yearbooks we have ever had the pleasure of
perus-ing. Creativity was in full force and although the theme
for the books was the same, they still all managed to be
unique. It is evident that our chapters are seeking “New
Paths to Friendship,” and if these yearbooks are any
indication, their journeys are quite fruitful.
First Place
Preceptor, Laureate and Master
The yearbook committee provided their Iowa Laureate Alpha Iota,
Iowa City sisters with a yearbook that is near perfection.
Through-out the book the theme is displayed in various ways with delight-ful artwork showing how these members are indeed finding new
paths to friendship. Everything in the book is so succinct, from the ways and means activities to the service projects – time, place and duties involved are all very well explained. Sprinkled throughout the book are heartfelt poems, some famous, such as “The Road Not Taken,” by Robert Frost, while others are not. Yet they all tie into the theme beautifully. And the socials, they sound like so much fun, we are really looking for a way to join this happening group. Kudos on such a brilliant
year-book.
First Place
Ritual of Jewels and Exemplar
The first place yearbook in this division was from South
Carolina Xi Alpha Omega, Charleston. The simplicity of
reading this yearbook was part of its appeal, every section was very carefully laid out and thoughtful, with an eye for giv-ing members all the information needed in an accurate man-ner. This yearbook seems to come alive as the pages transi-tion from one neat category to the next. This chapter has great activities and meaningful service projects planned for the year, and the programs all sound very interesting, including their extra Programs on the Shelf. This Exemplar chapter always makes sure that no stone is left unturned, making for lots of organized fun! The near-perfect score for this entry is well-deserved.
YEARBOOKS
2010-2011
FIR
ST
PL
ACE
SE
CO
ND PL
ACE
SE
CO
ND PL
ACE
Second PlaceRitual of Jewels and Exemplar
This unusual second place yearbook welcomes the reader with a greeting/warning, letting you know that you are crossing into another zone – the Gamma Rho zone! The Georgia Gamma Rho, Warner Robins zone, to be exact. While fulfilling every category with the complete details, they still manage to populate the pages with pop and surreal art, much of it awe-inspiring. Helpful news and information is also provided about the
Central Georgia Area Council, to which this chapter
belongs. Their programs are original and interesting with topics such as “ What to Feed a Picky Eater.” The in-viting tone of this yearbook accomplishes quite a feat - like tempting the reader to contemplate moving to Warner Robins, just so you can join this chapter!
Second Place
Preceptor, Laureate and Master
California Preceptor Beta Kappa, Alhambra takes second
prize for their exciting and vivid yearbook. Prominent through-out are colorful hibiscus and other neat flowers as the chap-ter members “Seek New Paths to Friendship” by having “A
Little Bit of Paradise – Food, Fun and Frolic.” Knowing that these are three of the words that are staples to any Beta Sigma Phi member, the book continues to delight from be-ginning to end. The photos that accompany each month’s
activities are breathtaking, and all plans for the year look like they have been planned in advance down to the last detail. Even a day at Disneyland is featured. This is a marvelous book from a chapter that looks like they really
know how to enjoy food, fun and frolic!
H
ON
OR
AB
LE ME
NTI
ON
H
ON
OR
AB
LE ME
NTI
ON
Honorable MentionPreceptor, Laureate and Master
This year’s choice for honorable mention was the colorful yearbook done by Texas Delta Lambda, Houston. Lush with gorgeous illustrations, the book also emphasizes this year’s theme. It has a complete directory of everyone in their local Council, so no one should have to search for any of their Beta Sigma Phi sister’s numbers! The program section has exciting and detailed programs, centering around the theme of “New Paths to Friendship” (Through the Art of Cooking.) To go along with that thought, the book includes delicious recipes. Some of the gastronomic delights include Crab Bisque, Smoked Salmon Spread and of course,
choco-late. Their sweet offering is Chocolate Pots De Creme! But moreover, this lovingly crafted book emphasizes the
friendship that is at the core of sorority.
Honorable Mention
Ritual of Jewels and Exemplar
This is a lovely yearbook, with artwork that is simply spectacular! Submitted by Mississippi Xi, Jackson, the book tells members every thing they need to know for the entire sorority year. Stuffed with details concern-ing activities, both service projects and socials are in-stant ‘Save the Date’ affairs. The attribute colors, which are present throughout the book, create a fluidity that’s fun to follow. The pages are bright and draw the eye to the information about the sisters, whom you really get to know by the conclusion of this exemplary offering.
“My sister in Beta Sigma
Phi gave me the shirt off
her back. Actually it was a
gorgeous hand knit sweater
that I kept admiring
dur-ing one of our sorority
meetings. There it was the
next day, in my hands, for
me to keep and wear and
enjoy.
I was introduced to this
generous sister, Winn Coe–
Cleeland five years ago when
I reactivated my membership after
a long absence. Prior to my first
meeting she was described to me
as a very special person in the
chap-ter. And that she is, for at 85 she is
still as active as ever – walking for
groceries and errands, visiting with
shut-ins, never missing a meeting.
Her hands are always busy making
little quilts or sewing baby outfits
to give to a woman’s shelter. Winn’s
specialty is handmade teddy bears,
each with an outfit to suit it’s own
personality. She also knits caps and
scarves and luckily for me, a lovely
sweater of which I am the proud
owner.
She is indeed a VERY devoted
so-rority sister. She has nonstop
en-ergy, not even a short bout with a
recent illness has held her back. I
know it would mean a lot to her to
have a little something in the Torch
about how special she is to me and
to the other ladies in our group.
What can I say, thank you, Winn. I
hope that one day I can grow into
the type of sister like you have
be-come to all of us. And in years to
come, when I wear my warm
sweat-er I will give it a little hug when yet
another admirer comments on my
lovely treasure. And I’ll tell them
that a very special lady gave me the
shirt off her back.”
What Beta Sigma Phi Means to Me
The Shirt off her Back
By Virginia Panko
Ontario Laureate Beta Theta, St Catherines
A
labama Xi Xi, Alexander Cityis delighted to be traveling a New Path to Friendship now that they head out every year on their annual Mystery Trip. Having long thought about the idea of taking a trip together, the sisters took the plunge a few years back. Now, every third week-end in July, the sisters of Xi Xi depart their homes, to travel someplace unex-pected, and of course, mysterious. “The idea was launched four years ago by a discussion among several of us about how much fun it would be to go on a trip together,” says Xi Xi member Fran Tyler. “As the idea developed from hypothetical to reality, a suggestion was made that a couple of members plan it and not let any-one else know where they were going. The Xi Xi Mystery Trip was born!
The first year the members ventured to Mentone, Alabama where they stayed in the former home of Willie Nelson. “Members were given one clue a week for several weeks to pique their curiosity. They were also told what to pack and a few items were put on the list to throw us off track,” says
Fran. She tells how the the sisters played a ver-sion of “The Amazing Race,” to elicit clues, which added a whole new level of suspense. Everyone was quite surprised when they arrived and had a fantastic weekend playing games, visiting Desoto Falls, antiquing, eating great food and getting to know one another better.
They had such a great time on the trip that it has since become an annual event. The committee lets the members know in early fall how much money they will need to pay for that year’s trip so
that they can give money monthly, making it much easier to budget. This money is depos-ited into a separate account. This allows them to spread out the cost of the trip over several months.
On the second trip, they ventured to Charles-ton, South Carolina and stayed in a lovely home near downtown, where they could walk to all the must-see places. After taking a carriage ride of the city, the group visited downtown shops and some even went on a ghost tour of the city. “One day we all split up and several members toured Fort Sumter, one group visited the aquarium and the last group
Upon a Mystery Trip
Mentone, Alabama
Upon a Mystery Trip
visited a beautiful plantation home and grounds,” says Fran. She adds that they definitely enjoyed a wonderful sampling of the Charleston cuisine at several of the local restaurants.
Their third trip was to Guntersville, Alabama, where they rented a home on Lake Guntersville. The lake is 69,000 acres located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. After freshening up, the group then traveled to a local dinner theater where they were very impressed with the talent. “The next day we spent the day relaxing,” says Fran. “The trip committee planned all the meals of the day and we thoroughly enjoyed our time on the lake.”
The latest trip was to Ellijay, Georgia. Ellijay is a city in Gilmer County, Georgia, which is in the north central part of the state. It lies where two rivers, the Ellijay and Catecay come together to form the Coosawattee River. The city holds an annual Apple Festival in October and is known as the ‘Apple Capital of Georgia’. After visiting the festival, the sisters visited an apple house and were able to taste some wonderful apple cider and shop for local apples and other goodies. That night they settled in to watch the movie - “Mam-ma Mia.” One member wrote,”My favorite mem-ory of all was when we watched “Mamma Mia”
and then formed a conga line dancing around the room with our boas that the trip committee had given us. I love that we really get out of our com-fort zone and let our hair down.”
The summation of these trips has elicited a unani-mous feeling of closeness among the chapter
sisters. Perhaps this member’s state-ment most aptly describes the experi-ence - “ It’s a time for us to relax with our friends, play games, eat and laugh, laugh, laugh. Before we started these trips our group was not near as close as we have become. Ever since the first trip we now have such a close bond that we have much better attendance at every-thing we do because we just enjoy be-ing together so much! We now share so many funny memories and special times that have drawn our hearts together in a way that monthly meetings and socials cannot. I really love my mystery-trip
Ellijay, Georgia
Beta Sigma Phi In the News
Good work, sisters! Due to your diligence in reporting Beta Sigma Phi
news to your community media outlets, we have been featured recently
in publications. Keep up the great efforts. Here are a few examples of
the free publicity (the best and most effective kind) we have received.
Another Point of View
Louisiana Alpha, Houmawas featured in Point of Vue magazine, which serves the southern Louisiana area. The story’s title is “Life, Learning and Friendship.” In the arti-cle, Louisiana Alpha, Houma member Stacey Parfait ex-plained her reasons for joining Beta Sigma Phi. “I wanted a chance to give back to the com-munity along with a chance to meet other women with similar interests.” In addition to work-ing, parenting and attending college, Stacey was looking for a way to give back to the community when she learned about the chapter in Houma.
Another Alpha member interviewed, Gia Holekamp, says, “My favorite part of Beta Sigma Phi is that I am able to form a sisterly bond with great women and we are able to work together to make a positive change in our community.” New pledge Delisa LeBoeuf comments, “I decided to pledge to cre-ate a relationship with a great group of women that are out-side of my normal routine.”
Photos courtesy of Point of Vue magazine.
Wanted
This small ad was placed in a local newspaper which serves the region known as On Top of The World, Florida. “I placed the ad in our paper,” writes Ida Nall. “I’m a member-at-large, and enjoy hearing from my sisters in Florida ... Michigan and Georgia.” The ad really payed off. Ida reminisced with many sisters who visited her home for coffee and doughnuts before she relocated to Georgia, where soon she will be welcomed into the loving arms of a local chapter.
Beta Sigma Phi In the News
Focus on Scugog
These Ontario Gamma Master Omicron, Port Perry memebers (l-r) are Fran Sluggett, Gail Williamson, Bunny Rowland and Donna Donnelly. These four women were among the founding members of Beta Sigma Phi in the Port Perry/Uxbridge area. They were featured in a story in a local magazine titled, “Focus
on Scugog,” which is the area in which they live. The
sisters all progressed from Ontario Laureate Gamma
Chi, Port Perry. As they told the interviewer, “We
have been working diligently, through doing this in-terview and other projects, to heighten the awareness of Beta Sigma Phi in our community.”
The chapter has many efforts underway to attract new members. This article highlights the many posi-tive benefits of being part of our great friendship or-ganization.
Getting to Know You
Members of Minnesota Xi Beta Epsilon,
Mar-shall were interviewed in their local newspaper,
The Independent. “We were honored to see that this
article was featured on the front page of the news-paper,” writes Xi Beta Epsilon member Kay Pon-stein. “ After this article was distributed, our sis-ters of Xi Beta Epsilon spoke with many women that asked questions about our organization.”
Let’s continue to make big strides in getting our name out there. Please call the Torch department at 816-444-6800 or email us at torch@betasigmaphi.
Correction:
December 2010/January 2011
Torch
, page 25Queensland Epsilon, Brisbane held their
an-nual charity day at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. More than 150 guests were treated to a delicious three
course luncheon, a fabulous fash-ion parade and a special guest speaker. “With an overwhelming response to our
call for donations, we were able to hold more than 40 raffles with all proceeds from the day being donated to Youngcare, the Asbestos Related Dis-ease Support Society and breast cancer research,” writes Epsilon member Cindy Sinclair.
The photo that corresponded to the Brisbane story was identified as members from California
Laure-ate Iota Omega, Lake Isabella. Here is the photo
and story – together at last.
New Book Drawing
International Honorary member Earlene Fowler has just published a new book, “Spider Web.” Re-views are very positive and
many readers have com-mented this may be her best book to date. If you are in-terested in winning a signed copy of the book, send your name and address in care of the Torch to our Interna-tional address or our email at torch@betasigmaphi.org. There will be two signed copies available to win.
Deadline for entries is May 7, 2011. The winners will be announced on our website.
CAREER
101 Career and Marriage: Planning
for Success
102 Learning: Career Preparation 104 Career Rewards: Attitudes, Planning
and Achievement for Career Rewards
106 Life Management: Building a
Successful Support System
108 Career and Life Planning: Marketing
Yourself and Your Skills for the Job Market
110 Effectively Asserting Yourself 114 Entrepreneurship 116 Starting Your Own Home-Based
Business
121 You and Your Environment: What Your
Efforts can Accomplish
122 Getting Toxins Out of Your Home 124 You and Your Environment: Organic
Gardening and Growing a Safe Garden
126 Environmental Benefits of Recycling
HOME
204 Rewards Harvested from Family Life 207 Art In Our Houses: Uses of Art
Elements In the Home
208 Home Planning: The House -
Architecture to Finance
214 Walls: Decorative Treatment 215 Textiles: Practical and Decorative
Uses In the Home
217 Better Lighting: Lighting for Function
and Design
218 Pictures and Mirrors: Their Uses In
Decoration
219 Accessories In the Home: Reflections
of Ourselves
222 Outdoor Living: Garden and Lawn
Decoration and Use
223 Apartment: Decorating and Furninshing
for Comfort
224 Protecting Your Home: Security
Through Knowledge and Planning
226 Rearranging Rooms for More Warmth and Style 228 Feng Shui (pronounced Fung Shway):
The Ancient Art of Placement for Health and Healing
231 Gazing Balls 232 All About Pickles
HEALTH
301 Diet: Generalities of Healthful Diet 303 Medicine: Exploring Your Interests 306 Getting The Best Of
Stress
307 Nutrition (for women
only!) 310 Pick Up Your Stamina 311 Walking 322 Healthy Homestyle: Soup
327 Healthy Homestyle: Desserts 329 Healthy Homestyle: Vegetables You
Want to Eat
331 Wines For All Times 334 Acupuncture 335 Water Aerobics
340 Breast Cancer: Myths and Realities 343 Women and Heart Disease 344 Living With Diabetes 345 Candle Comforts
346 Rest and Relaxation Soiree
HUMAN RELATIONS
400 Friendship: Finding, Developing,
Maintaining
402 Service: The Need To Serve and
Its Rewards
403 Everyone A Teacher: Teaching As
A By-Product of Communications
409 A Good Example: Study of A Role
Model For Morals and Customs
413 Sign Language Basics 419 My Sister, My Friend
421 Natural Remedies: Menopause 422 Natural Remedies: Preventing Osteoporosis 424 Natural Remedies: Preventing Cancer 426 Natrual Remedies: Keeping Your
Memory Sharp
428 Natural Remedies: Wrinkles 431 Natural Remedies: Backaches 432 Natural Remedies: Allergies
435 Facebook - Finding New Path To Friendship
PERSONAL GROWTH
501 Perception Of Beauty: Discovering
The Why Of Beauty
505 Mental Enrichment: Modern Methods
For Fuller Lives
509 Getting Established: Security Through
Understanding and Planning
512 Private Speech: What Our Speech
Shows Us To Be
514 Winning: How To Be A Winner In Life 519 Happiness: What It Takes To Be Happy 523 Your Personal Score: Relationship Of
What You Are and What You Expect Of Yourself
524 Perspective On Self: By Looking At
A Modern Woman
525 Perspective On Self: Looking At A
Modern Man
529 Communicating Effectively To Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem 531 Resolving Conflicts So Everyone Wins 546 Living History
547 The Way We Were 548 Women Alone 549 Alpha Females
THE ARTS
601 Literature - Poetry: Enjoying Poetry
and Lyrics
604 Drama - Theatre: Television, Stage
and Theatre For Fun
606 Popular Music: For Your Dancing
and Listening Pleasure
607 Creative Expression: Communications,
Fine Arts, Crafts As Forms Of Expression
608 The Art Of Photography 613 Antiques 620 Armchair Traveler: Sydney, Australia 621 Armchair Traveler: San Francisco 622 Armchair Traveler: Rome
623 Armchair Traveler: Athens, Greece
Programs a La Carte
993 What Person Has Had The Most Influence In Your Life?
994 If You Could Live In Any Period Of History, Which Would You Choose? 996 When I Was In High School, People
Thought I Was.... 998 The History Of Thanksgiving And
Harvest Celebrations Around The World 999 Lipstick - From The Dark Ages To The
21st Century
BETA SIGMA PHI
1000 Rushing 1001 Friendly Venture 1026 ABC’s Of Organizing Clutter
1028 Our Chapter Remembers Our Years In Beta Sigma Phi.
1029 The Flat Walter Project 1031 Beta Sigma Phi Jeopardy
1032 Diotima of Mantinea
THE ARTS
624 Armchair Traveler: London 626 Armchair Traveler: Paris 627 Armchair Traveler: New York 628 Armchair Traveler: Jerusalem 629 Armchair Traveler: Hong Kong 632 Packing For Travel Like A Pro 634 Name This Baby-Boomer Tune 635 Paper Making
636 Photo Christmas Ornament
THE WORLD AROUND US
703 Religion: Generality and Effect 706 History: Effect On and By Women 710 Estate Planning: Planning for
Retirement and Beyond
716 The World Around Us: India and
Southwestern Asia
717 The World Around Us: Eastern Europe 728 The World Around Us: Canada
732 How Well Do You Know Your Own City? 733 Herbs 736 Chocolate 738 Wildflowers 748 Your “Significant Other” and You -
Game 750 The Golden Age - Retiring in Style 751 From Spouse To Single - On Your
Own Again 752 Make Your Money Work For You 754 Finding Bucks For Your New Business -
SBA Loans 757 Genealogy
759 Gateway to the World 764 Cats! 765 Dog-Gone Good!: Woman’s Best Friend 769 Staying Cool Under Pressure 772 Local Government: Stand Up
and Be Counted
776 A History Of The U.S. Flag 777 Preventing Identity Theft
778 Understanding a Little about Blindness 779 Tingting’s T-Shirts
780 A Taste of Italy
781 Send Me A Postcard
LEISURE
801 Hobbies: Sharing Your Interests
803 Introduction To Personal Computers 806 Memory Quilts 811 A Journal Of Self-Discovery Through
Writing: Recording Thoughts and Ideas 820 Learning The Beta Sigma Phi Attributes:
Red Is For Courage
821 Learning The Beta Sigma Phi Attributes:
Yellow Is For Vision
822 Learning The Beta Sigma Phi Attributes:
823 Learning The Beta Sigma Phi Attributes:
Green Is For Fellowship
824 Learning The Beta Sigma Phi Attributes:
Orange Is For Loyalty
825 Learning The Beta Sigma Phi Attributes:
Violet Is For Service
828 Starting Your Own Book Club
829 Dolls, Dolls, Dolls
ORIGINAL OUTLINES
900 An Original Outline: Crafts
901 An Original Outline: Current Events 902 An Original Outline: Women’s Concerns 903 “We Are Shaped and Fashioned By
What We Love.” 985 Harvest Festivals
989 Christmas 992 The Coffee Expert: Drink Up! -
Delicious Coffee Recipes
P r o g r a m O r d e r F o r m
•
Circle the numbers of the programs you want on this order form.•
Please select no more than 18 programs.•
Only one order form per chapter.•
The chapter’s program chairperson retains a copy of your order. Chapter NameChapter Number Program Chairperson Member Number Address
City, State, & Zip Code
101 102 104 106 108 110 114 116 121 122 124 126 204 207 208 214 215 217 218 219 222 223 224 226 228 231 232 233 301 303 306 307 310 311 322 327 329 331 334 335 340 343 344 345 346 400 402 403 409 413 419 421 422 424 426 428 431 432 435 501 505 509 512 514 519 523 524 525 529 531 546 547 548 549 601 604 606 607 608 613 620 621 622 623 624 626 627 628 629 632 634 635 636 703 706 710 716 717 728 732 733 736 738 748 750 751 752 754 757 759 764 765 769 772 776 777 778 779 780 781 801 803 806 811 820 821 822 823 824 825 828 829 900 901 902 903 985 989 992 993 994 996 998 999 1000 1001 1026 1028 1029 1031 1032
Return to: Beta Sigma Phi International PO Box 8500
Programs
D
iotima is one of ourstron-gest links to our Rituals. She also remains a mystery. Unlike her fellow Greek phi-losophers, Diotima’s name is not a common one. Eager to know more about this profound influence on sorority, Charmaine Barberito member of Louisiana Preceptor Beta Al-pha, Metairie went searching for answers and presented an enlightening program on “Diotima of Mantinea.”
The complete program can be ordered through the Programs A La Carte form on page 17.
#1032 Diotoma of Mantinea
Looking through the Rituals you will find that Diotima was quoted in the Pledge Ritual, the Ritual of Jewels, the Exemplar Ritual and the Preceptor Ritual.
Diotima, which means “honored by God,” was held in high regard by Socrates, the teacher of Plato. She is mentioned in Plato’s “Symposium” which was quite an honor for a woman in ancient times. She is known as “Diotima, the Wise Woman of Mantinea”. Mantinea was a city in ancient Greece. Di-otima is credited with teaching Socrates “the philosophy of love” and he brought her concept to The Symposium. He repeats her teaching with its linking of love and beauty with the human soul ascending a ladder of the human perfection in love until one en-counters “beauty” itself.
In Plato’s day, a symposium was actually a wine-drinking gathering. They were strictly speaking, stag affairs. To present a woman’s teaching was most unusual. The Symposium can also be read as a pure rhetorical debate.
There were seven men who participated in discussing the meaning of love. At the sym-posium’s end, views were understood (and reconciled to the formulation of Diotima) that true love is a desire for immortalization and for perpetual possession of the Good and Beautiful. Socrates delivered her thesis. Socrates writes that he learned from Diotima that it is far better for men and boys to give birth to ideas than to give birth to children. And secondly, that physical love is second to spiritual love, because the goal of spiritual love is to give birth to ideas. Ultimately love helps us to ascend to knowledge of the di-vine.
Even today in contemporary religious cer-emonies, in popular song lyrics, in wedding vows, anywhere one encounters the notion for a truly undying and eternal love, the words of Diotima, Socrates and the other
figures of The Symposium are still being
heard. Some have thought that Di-otima was a fictional creation. However, Plato’s dialogues were found to cor-respond to real people living in ancient Athens and Plato did not use
false names, indicat-ing that Diotima is a historical rather than fictional figure.
In the name of enjoyment, Debbie Weisberg of California Preceptor Beta Kappa, Alhambra chose a theme for this year of “A Little Bit of Paradise--Fun, Food and Frolic” and the chapter has been sharing their fa-vorite foods, recipes, places to frolic, and sharing each of their ideas of the definition of paradise. One member, who is an avid gardener and grows multiple kinds of herbs for cooking, brought about 20 different herbs for the chapter to smell, touch and taste for her program. “We also shared ‘guilty pleasures’ at another program, one member brought some of her makeup and shared the
of chocolate, music, Disney collectibles and other versions of paradise pleasures,” writes member Kathi Edstrom. “For the kick-off for the holidays, I shared tips and the history of gingerbread in booklets for each of us, then we created gingerbread ornaments to take home.”
The new program theme helps the chapter to think, enjoy, reminisce, and share their favorite places and things. “We always look forward to coming to each meeting to partici-pate in the program as well as an informative meeting.”
When sisters of Virginia Xi Delta Gamma, Manassas were looking for ideas for pro-grams, member Sandra Iames had a wonder-ful thought,” relates Xi Delta Gamma member Valerie Burke. It would be a great idea for San-dra’s mother, Gerda Proctor, to present a program about her extensive doll col-lection. “Gerda has shared her collec-tion with many groups over the years and has always enjoyed hosting us in her lovely home.” The program was soon presented, with Gerda show-ing chapter members rare and antique dolls, explaining how they were made and where they originated. She also shared the dolls that she had as a child, as well as some dolls that she has re-stored. “It was a fascinating pro-gram and all the members enjoyed getting to hold the exquisite dolls and look at the accessories Gerda has collected for her collection,” says Valerie.
#829 Dolls, Dolls, Dolls
Programs on the shelf:
Facebook is a social network service and website launched in February 2004. To say that it’s
growth has been unsurpassed would be an understatement. Facebook now has more than 600 million users. Users may complete a profile, add other users as friends and exchange mes-sages. Even better, for those in search of new and lasting friendships, Beta Sigma Phi abounds on Facebook. To help you navigate the easiest way to find out about Beta Sigma Phi when you are on Facebook, our own online pioneer, Lisa Perfetti of Online Beta, has done extensive research on the phenomenon and has written a wonderful program entitled “What New Paths Can Lead Us To New Friendships.” Lisa also talks about how we can really connect not only with Facebook but with the Beta Bulletin Board.
What Paths Can Lead Us to New Friendships? By Lisa Perfetti of Online Beta
One path to the connection is the social network called, Facebook. Facebook is free to use. I have over 711 BSP Sisters, who are friends with me on Facebook. Some BSP groups even have their own Facebook Group Pages. Facebook has several hundred (if not several thousand) BSP Sisters as members on it at this time.
Why not give Facebook a try? You will be surprised how many new friendships you can develop in just a short time. You can go to the Facebook website at: www.facebook.com to get started. You just need to enter the information that is asked for. Yet there are a few safety issues to keep in mind when using Facebook or any other social network. Please do be careful not to say when your house is unoccupied and other personal information. Please also be sure to set some of your privacy settings to “only friends” or “just me”. Here are just some ideals on how to find other BSP’s on Facebook:
· Check for your current BSP’s sisters either by name or by their email addresses, to see if they are on Facebook or not, then you can send a Facebook “friend request” to BSP’s that are on Facebook all ready;
· You can establish new Facebook BSP friends via names and/or emails you obtain at
conventions, concaves, etc. and then ask them to “friend” you by sending them a “friend request” on Facebook;
· You can ask other BSP’s on Facebook to tell their BSP group members to “friend you”;
· You can search Facebook BSP pages by entering the words, “Beta Sigma Phi” and/or “BSP” in the Facebook search box, at the top of the screen. There are many BSP Facebook
Pages and BSP Facebook Group Pages that are currently on all ready.
Another path to new friendships is the Beta Bulletin Board, our very own social network. It is free to use for BSP members. If you haven’t registered yet, you can go the the Beta Bulletin Board at:
www.bspinternational.org/bulletin_board/index.php. I suggest you give it a try. The BSP Bulletin Board contains loads of information, ideas and requests too. Start by going to: www.betasigmaphi. org. Then, click on the words “Members Only”. Next, click on the words “Beta Bulletin Board”. After you “log in”, click on the words “Sister Chat”.
The “Beta Bulletin Board” never ceases to amaze me. So many BSP Sisters place information on it. Plus, Laura Ross Wingfield and Lola Ruby also provide information and answers to questions, which makes the BSP Bulletin Board a wonderful source of connecting to other BSP Sisters and gaining knowledge as well!
We Salute
Our Founding
Founder’s Day is once again approaching, a time where we celebrate when our special organization came to be. The thought that marked the beginning of this beacon to Life, Learning and Friendship remains a stirring narrative, no matter how many times it is told. One man, a humble book salesman named Walter W. Ross, had one dream in his sights – to form an organization for women to fellow-ship and become enriched in a multitude of ways.
The real testament to this novel idea of Mr Ross’s, and in equal measure, the path he took to take it, is that he built the structure so thoroughly, with such diligent and caring charter members, that there was no question it would flourish. In the spirit of our founder, this strong foundation became even more so with every added chapter, every added state and every added country.
Our first charter member, Helen Klover Pepper, passed on this summer at the age of 96. Helen had been a spe-cial guest at many Beta Sigma Phi events. She spoke at various Founder’s Day events and conventions, and was always the star of the show with her keen memory and refined demeanor. She was the perfect ambassador for Beta Sigma Phi, and she embraced that role. She will for-ever be missed and it is our fortune that she aligned so seamlessly with our sorority.
In his 1948 Founder’s Day speech, Walter W. Ross, who al-ways loved a story, told his favorite one – the story of Beta Sigma Phi. Although our organization was only 17 years old, it had already become a story of success.
The following are the last lines of this speech, spoken as only he could, “And here the story must stop, for there is no end. The rest of the tale can only be told as the yet unwritten chapters unfold. As page after glorious page is turned by the hand of time. And were it possible to foretell the conclusion, I am sure it would be one of happily ever after.”
If the resulting 63 years are any indication, Mr. Ross, as usual, was right.
Happy 80th Birthday, Beta Sigma Phi.
38
Shadows lengthen in the evening light,
And mounting years but little mercy show
To those who make the passing years a fight,
But lightly rest upon the ones who grow.
A shadow cast in nineteen-thirty-one
Has stretched across the intervening years.
Not for an instant has it blocked the Sun.
It marks for us the path away from fear.
The shadow, essence of a vital man,
A covenant, sincere belief, a vow.
We hold these close and true as best we can
To make the shadow real and live the vow.
Let years of time their course in beauty run.
Hold fast the man, the shadow and the Sun.
Written by Jack Ross
April, 1969
Wichita, Kansas members proudly celebrate their 75th anniversary in Beta Sigma Phi. The first chap-ter, Kansas Alpha Phi, Wichita was established in April, 1939. Congratulations, sisters on this wonder-ful accomplishment.
Our Chapters Celebrate Founder’s Day
– the Beta Sigma
Phi Way!
Members of Laureate Iota Omega and Preceptor Xi Eta
of Lake Isabella, California celebrated Founder’s Day
quite creatively. Laureate Iota Omega had secretly arranged to give the members a real taste of adventure by holding the event in an airport hanger. Invitees were instructed to wear travel clothing and admitted only with an official boarding pass. After going through security, they were graciously served their inflight dinner by an attendant. Chairmen Vick-ie Lipke and Charlotte Zagon of Laureate Iota Omega were dressed appropriately as airline captains, and the hanger was decorated with travel signs and posters.
“Everyone was given a passport at the beginning of the year and an identifying sticker to attach after each program,” writes Laureate Iota Omega member Janet Ridenour. A grand year was had by all celebrating the sorority year.”
South Carolina Preceptor Alpha Delta, Seneca chose to honor two
members who received special recognition this year during their Founder’s Day’s festivities. Sally Boggs, RNC and Martha Huey RN, were both re-cently awarded top honors for their dedicated nursing service. The chapter was thrilled to laud these two members who have made such a positive difference in the lives of others. “Both Sally and Martha have been valu-able members of our chapter and are great examples of Beta Sigma Phi members,” writes Preceptor Alpha Delta member Janice Grousd.
Traveling to a lovely tea room that served as an excellent stand-in for Buckstand-ingham Palace, Alabama Xi Beta Chi, Wetumpka sisters had tea and scones in the fabulous flower garden. A deli-cious lunch of quiche, salad, finger sandwiches and an array of tasty desserts were fit for a queen. Table decorations of yellow roses and candles set the mood for these ladies, donned in their finery, including hats. Xi Beta Chi member Ran Wilson supplied each member with white gloves and a beautiful jewel ring to truly complete the feeling of royalty.
Following the meal, the Founder’s Day awards program got un-derway, complete with a proclamation from Alabama Governor Bob Riley.
XXXX XXXX Name Address City, State, Zip Code
IT IS RENEWAL TIME!
During Florida Preceptor Iota Mu, Port St. Lucie member Annette Corrado’s search for answers after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, she noticed that the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation was sponsoring a quilt project. “I thought it would be a great way to promote awareness for my family and friends. I asked my sister if she would help me make the panel and then brought the idea to my chapter sis-ters in Beta Sigma Phi,” says Annette. “They were more than happy to support me in this project, and I wish to use our long standing friendship in Beta Sigma Phi to show what we are about. The colors in our panel symbolize different attributes and the theme, “Life, Learning, and Friendship.”
Virginia Xi Delta Gamma, Manassas members (right) re-cently made fleece lap blankets as a service project. The blan-kets were donated to residents of a home for seniors. The staff and residents were very appreciative of the sisters’ handiwork. Louisiana Laureate Alpha Gamma, Baton Rouge
spearheaded the planting of a tree at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on April 9, 2009, in memory of International’s Bill Ross, who passed away in January, 2009. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana City Coun-cil, comprised of 14 chapters, contributed money to purchase the tree.
Chatter
Chatter
The two chapters of Bates-ville, Indiana joined together to honor a Beta Sigma Phi sister at the city’s annual Chamber of Commerce celebration. Indiana Theta Nu, Batesville mem-ber Lou Voegele (holding yellow
roses) was honored for serving as a distinguished volunteer for many years. “Lou is one of our charter members. Her endless devotion to the community and her dedication to her volunteer work makes her sisters very proud,” writes her Theta Nu sister Val Stutler.
Virginia Xi Delta Gamma, Ma-nassas member Sandra Iames works on cutting the fringe on a blanket.
Members of Alaska Laureate Eta, Mat-su Valley gave of their time when they volun-teered at the first Project Homeless Connect for Mat-Su Valley. Organizations and volunteers teamed to bring as many needy residents as pos-sible together in one place on one day to provide services. “The major focus of our involvement centered on serving a hot meal to hungry senior citizens, homeless families and other residents in need,” writes Laureate Eta member Savanah Hargraves. “Some people shared that this was the first full meal they have had in a long time. Without exception, the residents expressed thanks and appreciation for being provided a delicious meal.”
Montana Delta Master, Kal-ispell, whose members have an average of 470 years of member-ship in Beta Sigma Phi wrote to tell us about their sisters and how they enjoy one another’s company. “Our sorority sisters are like fam-ily and we really care about them and their families,” says Delta Master member Rena Naumann. The chapter has always enjoyed the diversity of their programs, and are inspired by their original-ity and creativoriginal-ity. There are plenty of celebrations that are held each year in the area, such as a summer potluck and celebrating Founder’s
Day and Beginning Day with the other Kalispell chapters, Rho, Xi Eta, and Preceptor Epsilon. The chapters host the members of Montana Kappa Master,Whitefish, Montana at a luncheon each year and enjoy their
hospital-Texas Xi Pi, Seguin is very proud of member Amy Dahlke, and wants sisters to share in her accomplishments. Amy started making jewelry after she decided to adopt a girl from China and was in need of extra funds. She named her jewel-ry company Mei-Mei’s Designs, because Mei-Mei means little sister in Chinese. Since starting as an evening hobby after her day job as a teacher, Amy has now grown her business to full-time with multiple employees. The blessed punctua-tion mark to this story is that she was finally able to adopt her little girl from China. Amy’s jewelry was recently featured in a national magazine in an article highlighting convertible couture. “We are all very proud of Amy and just wanted to
share our excitement for her accomplishments,” writes Amy’s chapter sister Lisa Scott.
June Ahrendt of Texas Sigma Master, Ste-phenville is a very proud great grandmother – of quadruplets. That’s right, four little bundles. The quads, who are now three, are the apple of everyone’s eye. And coincidentally, these are not the first quads that have been born in this small Texas town. Twenty years ago another set of four was born – to Debbie Thompson, herself a Beta Sigma Phi member.
Rhonda Pollero sold her first romantic suspense, “Legal Tender,” in 1993. With more than five million copies in print and translated into seven-teen different languages, her books are distribut-ed worldwide. Pollero has penndistribut-ed more than 30 novels; won numerous awards and nominations; landed on best-seller lists including USA Today, Waldenbooks and the Ingram’s Top 50 List. She has received numerous Romantic Times Magazine Reviewer’s Choice Awards, an Affair de Coeur Contemporary Series Award; and two Career Achievement Awards for Romantic Suspense. In June 1995, Pollero developed the wildly popu-lar “Rose Tattoo” series for Harlequin Intrigue TM. These novels “...offer the best of her unique ability to seamlessly blend romance and mys-tery.” Romantic Times goes on to say she “is a master of the romantic suspense genre.”
Af-fair de Coeur says that her “humor and dialogue sparkle.”
In 2000, Pollero developed a second series for Harlequin Intrigue TM, “The Landry Brothers.” This seven book series has received both critical acclaim and established her as one of Intrigue’s top-selling authors. In addition to writing for Harlequin, 2005 saw the release of her first title from Ballantine, “Killer Christmas,” excerpted in the December 2005 issue of Cosmopolitan
Maga-zine.
2007 saw the launch of the Finley Anderson Tan-ner mystery series with the debut hardcover title “Knock Off.” Garnering both popular and critical acclaim, including a starred review from Kirkus, Kensington Books released “Knock ‘em Dead,” in March 2008. Pollero then moved to Simon and Schuster’s Pocket imprint where she is continu-ing the series. Finley Anderson Tanner has gone worldwide as well, with editions in Russian, Dutch, French and several other translations.
Pollero is a sought-after lecturer and workshop presenter as well as a much-requested media guest. She has been featured in The New York
Times and The Washington Post, among others and makes frequent appearances on both radio and television. She founded The Writers Work-shop at Anne Arundel College in Maryland and was the lead instructor in their craft and genre writing courses for three years. She is considered an expert in why women read and write crime fic-tion as well as an excellent authority on plotting and structuring the novel.
Pollero is a member of The Author’s Guild, Mys-tery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, Romance Writers of America, and Florida Romance Writers, Inc. She resides in South Florida with her family. You may contact the author directly at Rhonda@ phondapollero.com, or visit her on the web at www.rhondapollero.com or www.KelseyRoberts. net.
Introducing our Newest
International Honorary Member
Rhonda Pollero
Sponsored by: Online Beta
“Ann Hufford is the original founder of the Charlevoix chapters of Beta Sigma Phi. Without her dedication over the past 47 years, Kappa Sigma, Xi Epsilon and the
Al-pha Sigma Master chapters would not exist,” according
to Michigan Kappa Sigma, Charlevoix members. In 1962, as a young wife and mother of three, Ann was advised by a friend to get involved in a worthwhile ac-tivity outside of her family, to broaden her horizon, be a help to her community and enrich her life. Taking her advice to heart, Ann pledged Beta Sigma Phi and has been involved for 47 years.
Ann has been the example for every new Beta Sigma Phi in Charlevoix and has lived up to and exceeded all expectations. She has been and still is a spearhead and
champion of all things Beta Sigma Phi. But her grand passion is the Beta Sigma Phi State Convention. She is an eager participant every year, and has been both a chairman and co-chairman several times. At the conven-tions, Ann makes many close friendships, one of the main purposes of Beta Sigma Phi.
“As I look back at the last 39 years of Beta Sigma Phi in Charlevoix, to all the many projects we worked and helped to fund as Beta Sigma Phi members, I see Ann Hufford in the center of it all, as a leader, a friend and an inspiration to all to give the best that is in us to our soror-ity,” says Olean Kay Ball member of Michigan Alpha
Sigma Master, Charlevoix.
“Ann is a very loyal sister of our chapter here in our area. Any questions she has the answer. Very supportive and encouraging to all of our local chapters. Great sense of humor and good natured. True to the Good, the True, and the Beautiful,” according to Michigan Xi Epsilon
Gamma, Charlevoix member Susan J. Gale.
“All the members of Michigan Alpha Sigma Master,
Charlevoix feel Ann is very deserving of this honor. Her
dedication and loyalty has been unrelenting. She is all that Beta Sigma Phi stands for. Ann has been an excel-lent member, sister and friend to all,” write the members of Michigan Alpha Sigma Master, Charlevoix.
Anna
(Ann)
Hufford
Michigan Alpha Sigma
Master, Charlevoix
Member Since 1962
International Award of Distinction
Meet one of the newest recipients of the International Award of Distinction
(IAD), the highest honor that Beta Sigma Phi bestows on active members.
Anna has shown her enthusiasm for all things Beta Sigma Phi.
“Donna Finch was President of City Council 1992-1993. What a wonderful experience I had that year. Donna is such a warm and caring lady and it was my honor to be on her board that year. I also have worked on many council events with her and she makes everyone around her feel like family. Donna is one of those members who is always there for her sisters. Donna deserves this Award of Distinc-tion because she has all the qualities that make up members of Beta Sigma Phi. It has been and always will be, my honor to know such a wonderful lady,” writes a member of
Arizona Preceptor Gamma Alpha, Scottsdale.
“During the course of our lifetime, we rarely meet a person who immediately leaves a delightful lasting impression on any of us. Donna is one of those special people. She is
only a phone call away and always willing to help in any endeavor. Her kindness and understanding is greatly ap-preciated,” writes Carrie Bogert of Arizona Xi Gamma
Sigma, Scottsdale.
Her knowledge of and commitment to Beta Sigma Phi is surpassed by no one. Even with these exceeding qualities, her sorority sisters say there is never a hint of pretentious-ness on her part. Her friends add that her good-natured en-couragement is welcomed and that she comes away seem-ing to have gained as much pleasure as she gave to any project, task or assistance to others.
Donna worked with great enthusiasm on the 2008 State Convention held in Scottsdale, Arizona. She has been quite active in Xi Alpha Theta, just as she was with Alpha
Phi. With her experience in food preparation and
plan-ning, Donna has been of great service when she super-vised chefs for Beta Sigma Phi events, such as the 2008 conventions and events such as Founder’s Day.
She is a regular attendee of the Scottsdale, Arizona City
Council functions and has proved to be an asset to any
Council committee on which she has served.
“There is no job, small or large enough, that she can’t handle. She has not missed a convention, and always is involved in the winning skit. If a problem comes up the first person to be called is Donna Finch. She is a problem solver. Donna is a true Beta Sigma Phi and an exemplary member true to the meaning Life, Learning and Friend-ship,” writes Barbara Rothan member of Arizona
Laure-ate Alpha Zeta, Scottsdale.
DonnaFinch
Arizona Laureate Alpha, Scottsdale
Member since 1968
International Award of Distinction
Meet one of the newest recipients of the International Award of Distinction
(IAD), the highest honor that Beta Sigma Phi bestows on active members.
Donna has shown her enthusiasm for all things Beta Sigma Phi.
“Margaret certainly exemplifies what it means to be a true sister of Beta Sigma Phi. This organization has ally been important to her. Margaret is still happy to re-cite the Greek alphabet, and does so if any hint is given that someone would be interested in her recitation. Mar-garet held every office multiple times and served on each committee in a willing manner. Ways and Means has been her special project for more than four decades.” Her sense of humor and willingness to participate in business aspects and social functions of our chapter are legendary,” says Nebraska Preceptor Alpha Lambda,
Nebraska City member Gail Wurtele.
Margaret has received the JayCee’s “Distinguished Ser-vice Award,” the Chamber of Commerce “Outstanding Community Service Award,” and was honored by the local hospital for 30 years of dedicated service which
years; served as president of her high school alumni as-sociation for the past 19 years; and she and her husband ran their family’s furniture store from 1967 to 1999. She bowled for 50+ years, and also enjoys bridge, travel, and singing with our women’s barbershop chorus and church choir.
Margaret herself writes of joyous memories of her 60 years in Beta Sigma Phi, “Our director, Jo Davis, was the first hostess and presented our first cultural program. We learned how to properly set a formal dining table. We were very young and eager to learn the good, the true, and the beautiful. Jo was a music teacher and she had the idea to form a Beta Sigma Phi vocal trio, and she accompanied us on the piano. We sang at many area events for several years, letting our audiences be more aware of Beta Sigma Phi. Through the years we pro-gressed from Alpha Omega, to the Exemplar chapter
Xi Alpha Iota, and then to Preceptor Alpha Lambda.
I am now the only active charter member, and I have been active all sixty years!”
“Great leader and promoter of Beta Sigma Phi. She ac-tively participates in chapter functions and joint chap-ter functions within Nebraska City. She’s an excellent example of a Beta Sigma Phi member,” according to Linda Willson of Nebraska Preceptor Beta Gamma,
Margaret
Brawner
Nebraska Preceptor Alpha
Lambda, Nebraska City
Member since 1948
International Award of Distinction
Meet one of the newest recipients of the International Award of Distinction
(IAD), the highest honor that Beta Sigma Phi bestows on active members.
Margaret has shown her enthusiasm for all things Beta Sigma Phi.
30
TORCH
Gift items for March/April 201
1
TORCH
30
License Plate Frame. Fits
around standard license plate. Frame has gold Greek letters on black background, and bottom has “Got Friends?”
No.1220 [2oz]...$4.00
Shoulder / Fanny Pack. (7.5”wide x 9.5”tall)
With pen and cellphone holder.
No.1411 [10oz]...$10.75
Superstar Pin. This gold
plated superstar pin is a perfect gift for the sister who goes above and beyond.
No. 806 [.1oz]...$5.00
Lamp Pin. Gold plated
convention lamp pin.
No. 805 [.1oz]...$4.00
Sunglass Clip. Clips to your
visor and holds your sunglasses safely within reach.
No.1490 [1oz]...$4.00
Flip Flop Pendant Gold.
No. 966 [.8oz]....$13.00
Gold
Flip Flop Pendant Silver.
No. 967 [.8oz]....$13.00
Silver
Yellow Plastic Bag. (9.5 wide x 14.75 tall)
“Beta Sigma Phi” in black.
No.1509 [.9oz]....$0.40ea.
Wallet Necklace. Security is
guaranteed with this handy nylon wallet, attached to an adjustable silken cord. Includes two zippered enclosures and a plastic pocket. Which allows your money, passports, or other valuables to be safely and comfortably hidden from view. A must for travel.
No.1181 [2oz]...$5.50
Folding Mirror.
3 1/4” x 2 1/4” pocket mirror is white with black “Beta Sigma Phi” and rose; it’s a compact, so your mirror can’t get scratched or broken.
No.1433 [1.2oz]...$2.50
Decorative Rose Trivet. The
image of a pure yellow rose & our Greek letters are transferred onto a 6”x6” ceramic tile. It has pads attached to the bottom for placing on a table.
No.1195 [8oz]...$10.00
Purple
