BSP Torch

Transcription

BSP Torch

The
November
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TORCH STAFF
Torch@betasigmaphi.org
Editor - Seann McAnally
Graphic Designer - Eric Burgess
Assistant Editor - Betsy Thomas
BETA SIGMA PHI INTERNATIONAL
Address: 1800 West 91st Place
Kansas City MO 64114-0500
816-444-6800
Phone:
(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
Laura Ross Wingfield laura@betasigmaphi.org - On-Line Chapters & Conventions
Vivian Iddings - (Director of Service)
viviani@betasigmaphi.org - AK, AZ, CT, DC, DE,
KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MS, MT, NH, NJ, NV, NY, PA,
Puerto Rico, Germany, RI, VA, VT, & WV
Karla MacRae karlam@betasigmaphi.org Canada, GA, Greece, HI, IL, IN, KS, MN, NM, Norway, Scotland, WA, WY, & Russia
Cynthia Meadows cynthiam@betasigmaphi.org - AL, AR, CO, MO, 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
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:
1-888-BETA-2B1(238-2221)
November 2015
Volume 134 - Issue 6
Letter From The Editor
Our sister Mickey Hughey of Georgia passed recently. She joined sorority in 1954. For many years, Mickey wasn’t an active member because
she was a shut-in, with limited mobility. Her son, Jan Hughey, recently contacted International. He was put in touch with Karla McRae, division chairman. Jan told Karla he’d just gone through nine years’ worth of cards to his
mother from Beta Sigma Phi members.
“She obviously treasured each card sent to her,” Jan told Karla.
As Thanksgiving approaches in the U.S., we’re bombarded with reminders to be thankful, to practice gratitude. We tend to take what we have
for granted, and focus on what we want or think we need. Here I am, lamenting my hard luck about not being able to instantly put vinyl siding on
my house, and Mickey found pleasure in a simple card, sent out of love.
What a humbling and inspiring thought to keep in mind as we scramble after
material comfort.
The best way to be thankful for what you have is to give. Pay it forward.
How long do you think it took for those members who sent Mickey a card to
write a quick note, put a stamp on the envelope, and drop it in the mailbox?
Probably not much time at all. A few minutes of warm feeling and effort on
your part can mean a lifetime of gratitude for someone else.
The writer/researcher Brene Brown has a great quote about gratitude:
“I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness—it’s right in
front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.”
I think I get what she means. I’m sure Mickey Hughey did. I had a moment of extraordinary happiness just a few days ago, and it was sparked
by gratitude for everything in my life. This past weekend I was driving home
from a Saturday night game club I belong to. As I turned onto the boulevard
that leads from the highway to my neighborhood, I was overcome with a
warm feeling. At first I thought it was nostalgia—after all, the radio was playing a song from my childhood. I had a flashback of my bedroom from the
house I grew up in, and a strong wave of happiness. This memory of the
past, sweet as it was, segued into a vision of myself walking into my current
house—I’d be there in just a few minutes. The thought that I actually had
a house, and a wife, and some food in the fridge, and a favorite television
show ready-to-go on the DVR, hit me with a very physical sensation. Almost
like the giddy feeling of being in love or riding a roller coaster. I realized
that what I was feeling was gratitude. I was—and am—thankful that I have
what I have. Sure, I wouldn’t mind having some more. We all have our
guilty pleasures. I wouldn’t mind tracking down a mint condition LP of Eddie
Floyd’s 1967 “Knock on Wood” from Stax Records. But I can live without it.
Especially because I’ve got so much in my life already. And all the old LPs I
do have, as much as I love them, are just things. It’s the people that make
my life worth living—my family and friends.
Professionally, I also have a lot to be thankful for, especially that I work
with such a great group of people. I know I can speak for not only the Torch
staff, but all of International, in saying that we sincerely appreciate every
single one of our members. We love to receive your emails, your phone
calls, and your in-person visits. We’re thankful for every submission you
send to The Torch, even if we can’t use them all. So thank you, Beta Sigma
Phis—thank you from the bottom of my heart.
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Above & Beyond
Married children of New Mexico sorority sisters have a high-flying romance—and they’re taking their family along for the ride!
Conventions
This year’s convention season has wrapped up—join us on pages 12 and 13 for a peak at some of the fun your sisters around the country have been having.
News You Can Use
Torch Editor Seann McAnally spent 20 years in the newspaper business. Here, he gives you some tips about how to get newspaper coverage of your chapter’s activities.
Sisterhood and Service
Since the beginning, Beta Sigma Phis have gone above and beyond the educational and social aspects of sorority to help those in need.
Dying for a Living
Washington sister Dee Reynolds spent a career in Hollywood as a stuntwoman and body double for Carrie Fisher, Sally Field and more.
On the Cover
A different kind of torch on a hot air balloon! This photo was taken by Marisa Trillanes,
the teenage granddaughter of Carol Trillanes of New Mexico Alpha Master, Albuquerque, on her very first flight. Read more about this high-flying family on page 10.
TOP PHOTO!
This action shot from Virginia Laureate Rho, Richmond, shows sisters in action packaging more than
25,000 meals in one afternoon! We like “messy” photos with strong composition and a sense of action.
TORCH TRADITIONS
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Conventions, New Chapters, Friendly Ventures
Rushing

Chatter
International Award of Distinction
Gifts
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.
Canada Post Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #1548255. Published 7 times a year by Beta Sigma Phi International. Member subscription price $14.00 per year. Non-member subscription price $14.00 per year. Individual copies $2.50. Printed in U.S.A. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Torch of Beta Sigma Phi, PO Box 8500, Kansas City MO 64114-0500.
November 2015 The Torch 3
Conventions
2015
Wisconsin (Sturgeon Bay)
Nov 6-8
Conventions
2016
Alabama (Birmingham)
June 10-12
British Columbia (Penticton) ConclaveMay 28
California (Bakersfield)
May 12-15
Carolinas (Raleigh, NC)
April 22-24
Colorado (Loveland)
June 24-26
Florida (Orlando)
May 13-15
Iowa (Cedar Rapids)
June 17-19
Louisiana (New Orleans)
October 16
Montana (Helena)
June 10-12
New York (Buffalo)
Sept 23-25
Newfoundland (Grand Falls-Windsor) June 3-5
Ohio (Central Ohio Council)
May 20-22
Ontario (London)
June 3-5
Oregon (Corvallis)
July 8-10
Texas (Galveston)
June 10-12
Virginia (Tysons Corner)
Oct 14-16
West Virginia (Parkersburg)
Oct 7-9
Welcome These
New Chapters
Alberta Gamma Tau, Calgary
Alberta Torchbearer Delta, Calgary
Delaware Xi Phi, Oceanview
Florida Gamma Phi Master, Melbourne
Florida Torchbearer Lambda, Sarasota
Illinois Preceptor Eta Delta, Carbondale
Kansas Alpha Phi Master, Topeka
Kansas Laureate Gamma Nu, Olathe
Louisiana Mu Master, Gonzales
Ohio Laureate Epsilon Xi, Brunswick
Oklahoma Torchbearer Delta, Enid
Oklahoma Torchbearer Gamma, Oklahoma City
Ontario Preceptor Zeta Theta, St. Catharines
Ontario Torchbearer Nu, North Bay
Tennessee Torchbearer Alpha, Nashville
Texas Laureate Iota Phi, Euless
Texas Zeta Beta Master, Richardson
Virginia Preceptor Gamma Omega, Fairfax
Virginia Torchbearer Gamma, Richmond
West Virginia Torchbearer Eta, Wheeling
New Friendly
Venture Chapters
North Carolina Kappa Upsilon, Forest City
By: Taylor Wilson and Xi Delta Omega
4
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If You Don’t Like Poetry...
...You Don’t Know Jack
The Torch Department is proud to announce
the latest in our series of large print books:
Collected Poems by Jack Ross.
K
ansas City poet Bill Peck said of
Jack’s poems, “...these are warm,
tightly written reflections on life, love
and happiness. Jack is one of the great undiscovered poets of the American Midwest. He
had the gift of expressing old-fashioned values
in a way that doesn’t feel old-fashioned at all.
This stuff is as fresh today as when he wrote it.”
Jack’s more outgoing brother Bill is perhaps better known to members. Jack was quiet, dignified,
and poured most of this soul into his family, work,
and art. To read these poems is to get a chance
to know a man who for many of us was the spiritual
guiding light of sorority.
Jack’s poems touch on the topics that were most important to him: love for his family and friends, his profound Christian faith, Arabian horses, the American
Southwest, Beta Sigma Phi itself, and the Christmas
season he loved so much.
Collected Poems by Jack Ross features the entire content of his 1964 book Poems by Jack Ross, as well as several dozen more culled from
the pages of The Torch from the 1950s to the 2000s. In addition, the book features
some never-before-seen poems recently rediscovered by Jack’s daughter, Laura Ross
Wingfield.
This handsome volume is hardbound, with a brilliant red dust jacket, and high-quality
acid-free paper, produced and edited by staff of The Torch. At only $16, it’s a great
value and it would make a touching and lovely present for the sorority sister or poetry
lover on your Christmas list.
Don’t call International to order this book! We do not stock this volume in-house. It is
a print-on-demand product, which enables us to produce the book at low cost and
pass the savings on to our members.You can order it directly from www.lulu.com at the
following address:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/jack-ross/jack-ross-collected-poems/hardcover/product22358991.html
If that’s a bit too long for you, you can search “Collected Poems by Jack Ross” on Lulu,
or follow the links on our Torch Facebook Group page.
6
Honorary Member in the Spotlight: Paula Miller
Idaho businesswoman Paula Miller was named, pledged, and welcomed warmly into Beta Sigma Phi as Boise City Council’s “Honorary
Member” at this year’s Founder’s Day event.
“The council is profoundly honored to have Paula as an honorary sister,” said Virginia Newhall of Idaho Laureate Alpha Beta, Boise.
“Paula was also very touched by our selection.”
One look at Paula’s resume makes it clear why she stands out. She
has owned two businesses, most recently an art and art restoration
shop, and was chosen as the “Woman of the Year” in 2013 by the
Chamber of Commerce of the city of Meridian, Idaho. More impressive, Paula makes time to volunteer to help other women business
owners.
She has also founded a nonprofit organization to support breast
cancer patients—the Mad Hatter’s Hat & Wig Donation Project collects scarves, hats, and wigs for women fighting breast cancer.
Every year, Paula supports a cause near and dear to sorority—she
walks in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure to honor her sister.
Paula’s sister led the campaign to bring Race for the Cure to Boise,
and she herself lost her life to breast cancer.
“Paula is filled with pride as she sees the Race grow each year, with
thousands now participating,” Virginia said. “She feels it is a celebration of her sister’s life and a way to give hope to current patients.”
Paula has also served as President of the National Association of Women Business Owners, Boise Chapter. She said she feels that women
are now taken more seriously in business because they have experience and are more vocal.
“Throughout her years in business and through
her personal experiences, such as losing her
sister, Paula says that she’s learned that relationships and giving back are what really
matter in life,” Virginia said.
Beta Sigma Phi sisters in the Boise City
Council are very proud of Paula and her accomplishments, are moved by Paula’s life
journey, and are actively involved with her
mission to support the fight against breast
cancer.
Rushing
Starting off right!
The newly formed California Torchbearer Sigma,
Bakersfield chapter held a June rushing party as
their first social event. Two weeks prior to the party,
they sent out five invitations and asked each lady to
bring a guest. For a personal touch, they also contacted
them by phone.
What a wonderful surprise when they had seven prospective members accept their party invitation! They
kept it simple but nice with a lace tablecloth, two yellow
candles, yellow roses and served light refreshments.
They wanted them to feel the friendship and loveliness
that is Beta Sigma Phi.
l-r Janice Scheible, President Bobbi Rayl, Coresponding Secretary Irene Sanders, Treasurer
& Extension Officer, Vice President Jackie Williams, and Recording Secretary Rayna McGill.
Chapter Vice President Jackie Williams introduced
them to Beta Sigma Phi and each member shared a
little history about themselves. It turns out that they
are all interested in various crafts and are also animal lovers! It was a nice time of
sharing and getting to know one another while they learned about Beta Sigma Phi.
Each prospective member was provided with two brochures Torchbearer Sigma obtained from International and they let them know they would be in touch with them
soon. In fact they are being invited to the next chapter gathering.
New Friendly
Venture Chapter
The new formed chapter of Florida Kappa Alpha, North Fort Myers is located in the gated
community of Herons Glen and is the seventh
Beta Sigma Phi chapter to form in the area. The
chapter’s Ritual of Jewels Ceremony was held on
April 14th, 2015 inducting 20 new pledges, reinstating two others with another two transferring
into the chapter for a total of 24 women. They also
joined the Central Southwest Area Council.
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On Cloud Nine
In November 2014 Elaine Shute, along with Gwen Rienti, set out to form a Friendly Venture chapter, California Delta Xi Theta, Oceanside. Through some
rough winds and stormy weather they were able to obtain new members. The last two ladies were so enthusiastic about joining, they were all on “cloud nine!”
And Then There
Were Three More
British Columbia Beta Xi Master, Williams Lake had three prospective members
join their chapter following a rush party in
March. Welcome to Bonnie Wilson, Ivy Stanley
and Adele Hamilton! This wonderful addition
brings Beta Xi Master to 16 active members.
Cheeseburger in Paradise
On June 2, 2015, West Virginia Alpha Lambda Master, Charleston hosted
Charleston’s newest chapter, Friendly Venture chapter West Virginia Epsilon Zeta,
Charleston, which was formed in April of 2015. They were hosted for a ‘Cheeseburger in Paradise’ themed cookout to welcome them to the sisterhood. One of the
Alpha Lambda Master sisters, Karen Figgatt, hosted the
social at her beautiful home where everyone enjoyed delicious food, a warm fire pit and endless laughter. They
opened with the Beta Sigma Phi Grace, led by Alpha
Lambda Master President, Rhonda Ashworth, and got to
know each other with an ice breaker, they threw around
a beach ball that had different categories written on it
and whichever category the right thumb landed on, was
what the sister who caught it had to talk about. It was
an evening of bonding and the Epsilon Zeta sisters look
forward to getting to know the Alpha Lambda Master
sisters more and meeting other sisters in the area.
Epsilon Zeta sisters would like to thank Alpha Lambda Master for hosting
them at such a wonderful event that they will all remember as they continue
to grow as a chapter and as sisters in Beta Sigma Phi!
Above &
Married children of sorority sisters
have a high-flying romance
By Seann McAnally
Torch Editor
U
rban legend has it that Roswell, New
Mexico, is the site of close encounters
with unidentified flying objects. Perhaps
something of that legend crept into young Carol Trillanes, who was born in Roswell. Today she’s a member
of New Mexico Alpha Master, Albuquerque, and she’s in
the habit of flying high.
In fact, her daughter-in-law Elisa Trillanes will compete
next year in balloon events in Japan, Dubai, and Lithuania. Elisa was introduced to the sport by her husband
Mark, Carol’s son. Together, they’ve flown in Switzerland,
Belgium, France, Germany, Taiwan, Brazil, Mexico—and of course the United
States.
Best yet, their balloon is crewed with
family members—both blood-related
and Beta Sigma Phi sisters.
“Hot air ballooning has been a wonderful experience for our entire family and
one that we love to share with everyone,” Carol said.
Carol joined Beta Sigma Phi in Roswell in 1963, but soon
moved to Albuquerque and joined a Nu Phi Mu chapter. One of her earliest friends in sorority was Elizabeth
Talbert—that’s Beth to her friends. Today Beth is a member of New Mexico Precpetor Alpha, Albuquerque. Carol
and Beth shared good times and several degrees over
the years, and today are both still active members.
Little did they know they’d eventually share three grandchildren!
Early on, Carol’s son Mark was a big help to the chapter, and they made him an Envoy when he was only 13
years old.
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“He was always available to help all of our
members whenever
they needed him,”
Carol said.
Mark got the hot air
ballooning bug when
he went for his first ride at 8 years old. He later became
an accomplished pilot, active in rallies all across the
United States. In 1999, he began searching for new
members for his balloon crew. He began contacting
interested parties over the internet, including one women who seemed enthusiastic and promising. However,
things hadn’t progressed to the point where they knew
one another’s names, just their screen names.
Meanwhile, Beth’s daughter Elisa was
a member of her chapter from 19972009. A few months after Mark made
contact online with his prospective
balloon crew member, Carol’s chapter was entertaining Beth’s chapter
at a social function. An icebreaker
game led to a conversation between
Carol’s husband and Elisa.
“She said she worked for a distributor and did demonstrations of beer and wine,” Carol explained. “My husband
said that our son Mark had been talking to a young lady
that worked doing the same thing.”
Yes—turns out Elisa, Beth’s daughter, just happened to
be that girl.
“My husband picked up the phone and called my son,”
Carol said. “That’s how Mark and Elisa met. This was late
September, and they were married in March, 2000. So
my Beta Sigma Phi sister’s daughter married my Beta
Sigma Phi son.”
Carol said it’s hard to believe Mark and Elisa didn’t meet
through their mothers.
Beyond
Elisa and the crew that flew in national competition.
“As far as we can remember, they never met growing
up,” Carol said. “Hot air ballooning and Beta Sigma Phi
are what finally brought them together.”
Now, Mark and Elisa share the love of hot air ballooning.
Mark taught Elisa how to fly and she became a pilot
in 2015. Elisa immediately began to look for ballooning
competitions.
“As she jokingly says, she is slightly more competitive
than Mark,” Carol said.
Elisa immediately started flying in competitive events
and qualified to fly in the 2015 U.S. Nationals in Longview,
Texas. She finished fourth out of 60 pilots, and was one of
only four female pilots. She’s on track to qualify for the
Women’s World Championships in Lithuania in 2016.
Mark and Elisa are both registered pilots for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the largest balloon
event in the world. It takes place every October. The
event began in 1972 and commonly features as many
as 1,000 balloons. The couple also volunteers with the local balloon club (AAAA) and the local balloon competition club (Topgun). Their main focus right now, however,
is preparing Elisa and the crew for even more competitive events.
Now the grandchildren Carol and Beth share are part of
the crew, as well. Mark and Elisa’s daughter Marisa, at
age 13, is the crew’s on-board navigator, using a laptop
to keep the balloon on course. Her little brother Anthony, at age 10, helps with the ground crew, getting the
balloon ready to fly. The oldest son, Daniel, age 19, was
a steadfast member of the crew until recently, when he
joined another crew called the United States Marines.
“All three children have been on the balloon field since
they were born,” Carol said.
And who else is part of the crew? You guessed it—longtime sorority sisters Carol and Beth.
“We travel to all local and many out-of-state events with
them,” Carol said.
Sisters who attended the Beta Sigma Phi 2015 New Mexico State Convention got to see Elisa and her crew in
action. She put on an amazing forum.
“She brought her whole balloon and crew into the hotel for the program,” Carol said. “The children passed
out balloon fabric, bumper stickers, and balloon cards
while Elisa gave her presentation...I must say, as a proud
mom, it was one of the best programs we have had at
a convention!”
As Elisa, Mark, the kids, and their proud Beta Sigma Phi
progenitors—that is, Carol and Beth—prepare for another season of competition, it’s a good reminder that
sorority can help us find friends and fly high in more ways
than one.
As we wrap up convention season, let’s take a look at some of the conventions of late Summer and early Fall. Remember—you don’t have to
have a special guest from International for your convention, conclave
or special day to be featured in The Torch—send us some details and
some photos and we’ll do our best to include them!
Chairs: Marylou Walker of New York Alpha, Niagara Falls and Laurie Marshanke of New York Preceptor Beta
Sigma, Niagara Falls
International Guest: Laura Ross Wingfield
Sisters sparkled at the 2015 New York State Convention in Niagara Falls, Sept. 25-27. The theme was “Sparkling Niagara.”
Friday night was a magical time, as sisters made their best
attempt at wearing “something magical” and were entertained after dinner by a top-notch illusionist. Saturday morning began with a lovely breakfast buffet and open seating.
Laura Ross Wingfield, executive director of International, held
a question-and-answer forum in the Hospitality Room. There
were other incredible forums to choose from: “Tragic Stories
of Niagara Falls,” a psychic medium, and a demonstration of
Native American beadwork. The afternoon was time for tours!
The Maid of the Mist boat tour, the Lewiston Harvetst Fest, the
Fatima Shrone, the Historic Riviera Theater and the Culinary Institute of Niagara Falls were all options for the lucky attendees.
Saturday night, sisters were instructed to “sparkle,” just like the famous falls. Decked out in their finest bling,
sisters enjoyed a wonderful dinner and put their sparkles to use on the dance floor with an amazing band.
Sunday was the traditional bidding process over brunch—Buffalo will host next year’s convention. All in all, it
was a wonderful time near one of the nation’s premiere natural attractions.
Chairs: Ragen Johnson of Virginia Xi, Yorktown, and Karen Nifenger of Virginia Preceptor Gamma Chi, Williamsburg.
International Guest: Cynthia Meadows
“Sisters Just Want to Have Fun” turned out to be an appropriate
theme for the 2015 Virginia State Convention in Williamsburg, October 2-4. Friday began with a “de-stress” hospitality room, a light
meal, and time to drop off yearbooks and scrapbooks for display.
Sisters dressed in the style of the decade they joined sorority and
danced the night away to an incredible DJ. Saturday was a fun
morning with five different forums for sisters to choose from. Cynthia Meadows, division chairman from International, said she had
a great time at a question-and-answer forum she conducted. Sisters also enjoyed a “Pajama Jama Rama” brunch in their Pjs. Toys
For Tots was the convention service project, and two Marines privileged the sisters with a visit and a talk about the importance of the
program. The sisters filled four large boxes with toys and provided
some $1,000 in cash donations. Saturday afternoon was devoted
to free time and “retail therapy” as sisters enjoyed local shopping
and sights. That evening, at a “Girls Night Out” dinner, a Frank Sinatra tribute artist serenaded the ladies. A
“Girls Just Want to Have Fun and Win Cash and Prizes” game show followed, and it was full to the brim with
participating sisters. A movie wrapped up the night. Sunday began with a “Rise and Shine” breakfast, with
bids for next year (Tyson’s Corner). Cynthia said a weekend full of rain couldn’t dampen spirits. “It is very
true,” she said, “sister’s do ‘just want to have fun’ when they get together!”
12
Chairs: Mary Ann Hamlin and Cyndi Laster of Missouri Epsilon
Epsilon, Cape Girardeau
International Guests: Laura Ross Wingfield
and Betsy Thomas
Sisters from across the state gathered in lovely and historic Cape Girardeau for the 2015 Missouri State Convention, October 9-11. The
theme? “A Musical Movie Dream in 2015,” and convention organizers did a great job making every event tie into the theme, with a
different movie musical for each event. Friday night, for example,
was “Grease,” and sisters, appropriately enough, donned their best
poodle skirts or Pink Ladies gear to dance the night away with DJ
“Diamond Eric.” The next morning, the sun dawned on the “South
Pacific,” and sisters wore tropical attire and enjoyed the stylings of the Southeast Missouri State Steel Drum
Band. A presentation from Heroes Way let sisters know all about the convention service project. After traditional Saturday free time (that is, shopping, eating and socializing), sisters got dolled up in their best disco
gear for “Saturday Night Fever.” A cash bar fueled a night of dancing with Shades of Soul, a musical group.
Laura Ross Wingfield, executive director of International, spoke during the intermission. She also introduced
another special guest—Betsy Thomas, president of International Alpha and assistant editor of The Torch,
who was enjoying her very first convention! Sunday morning, “Mary Poppins” stopped by; sisters enjoyed a
medley of Mary Poppins tunes and were inspired by a phenomenal gospel singer. After a moving closing
ceremony, sisters said farewell until next year, when many will gather at the 2016 International Convention
in Kansas City.
Chairs: Linda Loeser and Angelyn Yates of Alabama
Laureate Alpha, Huntsville
Alabama sisters became cowgirls for a weekend at the 2015 Alabama State Convention in Huntsville, June 12-14. The theme was
“How The West Was Fun,” and rootin’ tootin’ fun was on the menu
each day with a celebration of sisterhood and all things western!
Here are the fine members of Alabama Preceptor Alpha Xi, Wetumpka, enjoying a photo opportunity with the legendary John
Wayne...well, a cardboard standee of him, anyway. International
wasn’t at this convention, so thanks to Preceptor Alpha Xi’s Glenda
Cardwell for the submission and photo!
When it became clear that there would be no 2015 Mississippi Convention, Delilah Williams of Mississippi
Gamma Matser, Columbus, stepped up an organized a special one-day convention: “A Day of Beta Sigma
Phi Friendship,” held in lovely Columbus, right in the center of the state. Delilah personally secured a meeting facility, and with the help of her Columbus sisters, registrations began. Delilah sent out emails to Beta Sigma Phi sisters all over Mississippi, and the response was immediate. Charimen for awards, decorations, door
prizes and the memorial service were appointed, with the mantra of “keep it simple” in mind throughout
the planning. On the Saturday of the event, 50 members met for fellowship, a box lunch and Beta Sigma Phi traditions. Sonya Lee of Mississippi
Xi, Jackson, was announced as State Woman of the Year. Doris Campbell, also of Mississippi Xi, Jackson, received the International Award of
Distinction. A special memorial service was held for five departed sisters:
Beth Patterson of Mississippi Xi Alpha, Jackson; Myra Chapman of Mississippi Delta Master, McComb; Juanice Evans of Mississippi Epsilon Eta,
Meridian; Erika Chobotor of Mississippi Gamma Master, Columbus; and
Polly Edwards of Mississippi Preceptor Epsilon, Jackson. The sisters managed to hold a State Meeting, too! There were many positive comments,
and small individual chapters found they could handle an event this size.
A big thank you to Delilah Williams for her dedication! International wasn’t
at this mini-convention, so thanks to Linda Sobley of Mississippi Gamma
Master, Columbus, for the write-up and photo.
A Change
of Pace
By Betsy Thomas
Asst. Torch editor
A
t Beta Sigma Phi International headquarters,
many employees wear many different hats. Melissa Whited is one such employee. Though her
business card just says Treasurer, she is also Controller, CFO,
HR Director, and more. Melissa came to International in 2003
and joined International Alpha in April of 2004. Though Melissa
is currently a member-at-large she is a very active member of
the International staff. As an individual, Melissa is also a wearer
of many different hats. She is a music lover, adores anything
chocolate, especially M&Ms, she’s a Disney fanatic and an
avid runner who also makes time to change things up in her
busy schedule.
In 2013 Melissa really changed things up by adding marathon
runner to her list of activities and has become an avid marathon junkie! Her very first marathon was the Gobbler Grind in
Kansas City, Missouri. She has now participated in a total of
9 marathons, 21 half marathons, one 50K and 25 other races
mostly made up of 10Ks and a couple of 5Ks.
Among those marathons one particularly fun marathon she
participated in was the Walt Disney World Marathon Dopey
Challenge in January 2015. The Dopey Challenge is four consecutive days consisting of a 5K, 10k, Half Marathon and Full
Marathon. This ultimate endurance challenge is a total of 48.6
miles through all four Walt Disney World Theme Parks with stops
along the way for photo ops with beloved Disney characters.
One of the most popular and well known marathons Melissa
has participated in was the Boston Marathon. “Boston is the
runner’s mecca,” said Melissa. She ran the Boston Marathon in
April of this year. The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon. The challenge of the Boston Marathon is not
just that of the race itself but of getting in the race. You have
to qualify to run Boston and the fastest qualifiers are accepted
first. Then registration is open to all who met their qualifying
time, but again, only the fastest of these qualifiers are granted
entry as space allows. Qualifying time depends on the age
and gender of the runner. In order to qualify you have to run
a qualifier marathon. For Melissa, she had to run in three hours
and 55 minutes or faster to qualify, she did it in 3.54.14.
When it came time to run Boston, she was ready. The crowd
was electric with around 500,000 spectators. “It was special”
she said. She completed the race in 3.47.56! To commemorate the occasion, Melissa’s daughter Lauren decked out a
pair of Toms for her with the highlights of her Boston Marathon
run. Melissa will be running Boston again in 2016 as she has
already qualified, taking one of 40,000 spots available and will
be running with friends who also got in on the race. Her whole
family plans to be there to watch and to cheer her on.
Just a week after Boston she learned that she qualified for London in 2017 and she is seriously thinking about going for it!
14
When asked why she starting running marathons
she responded, “I needed
a change of pace in my
workout schedule.” Melissa
was a cycle instructor for 8
years at her local YMCA.
Her cycling classes were in
the evenings after her day
job. Before that she taught
elliptical for about 15 years.
It was a win win situation,
she taught and the
Y paid her membership, the perfect trade
off. But, she wanted to
change things up a bit and so
she got into running marathons, truly
a real change of pace!
With all the running and marathons Melissa does, one might
think that she has always been a runner, perhaps even ran
track back in high school or college. Melissa responded to
this question with a resounding “No...not at all!” “I use to say I
would never run,” explains Melissa. In fact, she use to say she
would never run a marathon either. Never say Never!
For Melissa, running is her “me time.” She enjoys running as
well as the running community. “I have met a lot of people”
through running, says Melissa. She met her running partner, Bill
Stogsdill of Lee Summit, during the Dopey Run. Running with a
partner, especially in a marathon, is great motivation just having someone there to keep you going. “My time has improved
a lot” she said, and it helps “having someone there to egg you
on.” “I run a mile a minute faster running with him.” She and Bill
spend as much time running together as possible, many times
talking the whole time, but always pushing each other to pick
up the pace.
Melissa finds the inner strength to run these marathons by
pushing herself. “It’s a mind game, you just fight through it.”
Of course, it doesn’t hurt that she is always pushing herself towards a goal, beating her last time. “I would like to run a 3.40,”
she said, it is her own personal goal right now. Here’s to meeting that goal with another change of pace!
V
eterans
Each November,
likes to focus in on some men and women who
surely deserve our thanks and respect: the veterans of our armed forces. Do
you have veterans in your chapter? Have you honored or supported veterans with service projects? Let us know at torch@betasigmaphi.org, or mail
us at 1800 W. 91st Place, Kansas City MO 64114.
Honoring Our Own
Beta Sigma Phis have a tradition of honoring our veterans. Most of the
time, this means sending care packages to soldiers in harm’s way, or ensuring that the veterans of previous conflicts are not forgotten. But among
the ranks of Beta Sigma Phi we’ve got veterans of our own! Take California Preceptor Lambda Mu, China Lake, for example. That chapter
boasts not one, not two, but three veterans who are also active sisters.
Lu Ann Capazzi served in the US Navy in the late 1960s. She was
trained in Maryland, then was stationed in Brunswick, Georgia for Air
Controlman school. “I met a handsome sailor and got married during that
Seen here from left to right are
training,” Lu Ann recalls, “and after a year of marriage became pregnant
Lu Ann, Teri, and Louise.
and was discharged. There were no maternity uniforms at that time!”
Teri Morrow was active in the US Navy from 1973 to 1977, stationed in Florida, San Diego, Los Altamos, and Long Beach,
California. She also served in the Navy reserves from 1977 to 1979 at the Marine Corps Air Station in Mirimar.
Louise Farmer enlisted in the US Navy at age 30, and was trained in aviation maintenance. Two years later she received
orders to deploy to Christ Church, New Zealand, and then a real adventure: she was stationed to McMurdo Station (“The Ice”
in military jargon) on the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica! She was deployed twice to Antarctica, the second time for four months
at the National Science Foundation (what they call “Winter Duty”). She was lucky enough to be with her husband the second
time, who was a civilian contractor at the base. She even got to visit the South Pole!
Heroes, We’ve Got You Covered
Iowa Preceptor Delta Tau, Winterset, held a garage sale to raise funds for the Quilts
of Valor and Wounded Warrior projects. The proceeds from the sale were used to make three
Quilts of Valor and for a generous donation to the Wounded Warrior program.
One of those quilts was presented to Carl Anderson, a local World War II veteran, on
Christmas. Anderson returned home from the war to his wife and son on Christmas Eve
more than 69 years ago. What an awesome Christmas present, then and now! On hand for
the presentation were his very proud family and members of the chapter.
Wreaths Across America
Newport News, Virginia, isn’t far from the Arlington National Cemetery, one
of the most prestigious resting places for our brave servicemen and women.
Virginia Alpha Kappa Master, Newport News, recently participated in
the annual Christmas wreath program at Arlington. Wreaths Across America
accepts donations throughout the year, with the laudable goal of ensuring
our heroes’ monuments and final resting places are honored with the holiday
spirit each year. Here we see the ladies of Alpha Kappa Master with their
beautiful contribution.
How To Get Newspaper Coverage
When it comes to growing
sorority, making sure your community knows about it is half the
battle. There are lots of ways to do this, but one of
the easiest and most effective ways is to use your
local newspapers. This is especially true in smaller
towns or smaller weekly papers in large towns.
irst of all, download the Press Kit from our web site, or
call me and I’ll send you one. The kit has lots of prewritten press releases, from general information to
specific events like Founder’s Day or Conventions. The hard
work has been done for you. All you need to do are add
details.
Much of what follows might seem cynical. I don’t mean to
sound that way. But I spent 20 years in the newspaper business and I know how to get a reporter’s attention. It’s always
the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. Our Press Kit has
more traditional tips, and they do work. Consider this article,
however, an “insider’s guide” or a “cheat sheet.” I can’t
guarantee these tips will work, but they certainly won’t hurt.
• Remember that almost all newspapers have a free
“Community Events” listing. Submit that information the way
they ask you to, and leave it alone, unless you want a story
written about you. It’s good to send in several community
calendar events before you try to get coverage in the form
of a feature story. That way it’s not the first time they’ve
heard of you.
• Target smaller weeklies. Sure, go for the New York Times
or Washington Post if you like. But your best chances for coverage are in the small-town weeklies. Even suburbs of big
cities usually have a few weekly newspapers. Be the bigger fish in the smaller pond. Work your way up. All that talk
you’ve heard about the newspaper industry being in trouble
mostly applies to major dailies that carry national advertising. Weekly papers generally rely on, and work with, local
“mom and pop” businesses, and readers often feel that the
small weeklies represent them better than the major dailies.
Small papers have low overhead and small staffs. They’re
not hurting as much as the biggies are.
• Your chances of getting coverage are actually better
after an event, not before it. Once it happens, it’s news. If
they think you’re trying to drum up attendance in advance,
they’re likely to try to sell you advertising (more on that below). Write up some bullet points about the event, and don’t
overdo it. I call it a “Dragnet” list—just the facts! Better yet,
make sure you’ve got several good photos to use. No posed
shots! For example, an editor will like a photo of the winner of
a raffle holding her prize a lot less than a photo of the prize
actually being handed off, or the raffle cage spinning, or
whatever.
•This next bit is the most important: don’t mail or email the
press release. Visit the newspaper in person and ask for a
reporter by name. Pick someone who writes lifestyle-type
16 November 2015 The Torch
stories. Try to pick a woman, as they’ll be more likely to care.
Don’t be afraid of a little flattery. Don’t lie, but if you’ve read
and enjoy their writing, let them know. “I really loved that
story you did on the lady who makes her own perfume.” That
sort of thing. It’s not manipulative if it’s true, and it will make
the reporter more well-disposed to you. Like almost any other area of life, nothing is more effective than face-to-face
communication, and if you try to care about and support
others, they’ll be more likely to do the same.
• Invite female members of the newspaper staff to rushing
parties or as a guest to a social, and don’t ask for a story
about it. Not only in this a nice thing to do, it can pay off
in the long run. The same goes for ladies on the town’s city
council, chamber of commerce, and so on. In return, show
up to community and neighborhood forums and introduce
yourself as being “with Beta Sigma Phi.” This won’t pay off
with immediate news articles, but it will mean the folks who
like to think of themselves as the “movers and shakers” in
your community know who you are. And you never know,
you might get a new sister out of it.
• Don’t buy advertising. If you have an event coming up,
and you seek coverage for it, it’s likely someone from the
newspaper will try to sell you some ad space. Don’t buy it.
Ads that run once are not effective unless they’re at least
half a page. That’s probably too expensive.
• Don’t give up! If the newspaper doesn’t cover your
event, don’t get your feelings hurt. It doesn’t mean they
don’t care, necessarily, or that they don’t think it’s newsworthy. There are a thousand reasons why something might not
run. If the newspaper sells an ad to a local business, you can
bet your bippy they’ll cut your story and run the ad instead.
Keep at it! The more the newspaper staff gets to know you,
the more likely they are to cover your events in the future.
Keep up communication with them. That’s the key. Eventually, you’ll get that story.
• Use me as a resource. Call me and let me know your details—I’ll call your local newspaper and mention that you’ve
sent a press release and I wanted to make sure they received
it. When the newspaper gets a call from out-of-state, they
realize your chapter is part of a worldwide organization and
there’s a little more “oomph” behind it. It takes two or three
minutes for me to make that call and I’m happy to do it. Just
let me know. That being said, if I end up making 50 calls a
day I might have to back out of that promise!
• Finally, a bit of advice that might sound a little cynical or
manipulative: have the chapter buy a large box of donuts,
show up on a Monday at the newspaper, and give them the
donuts. Say you appreciate all the hard work they’re doing
for the community. Include a little note with your chapter
name and the Beta Sigma Phi name. Don’t ask them for anything else. But chances are, when you do want some coverage, those reporters are going to remember those donuts!
Good luck, and remember: don’t give up! Those reporters
don’t want to work any harder than necessary to fill space.
If you can fill it for them, with well-written press releases and
awesome photos, they’ll probably be more appreciative of
you than you are of them.
Featured Program
This issue’s featured program is about family rewards. Here are some tips
from Betsy Thomas, assistant editor of The Torch and president of the
International Alpha chapter, to help with harvesting those rewards!
PROGRAM 204: Family: Rewards
Harvested From Family Life
Resources...
Program Intro:
What is a family? Family is defined in various ways and is continually evolving over time. With the ever-changing meaning of
family comes the ever-changing meaning of family life and the rewards that are harvested from family life. What are the rewards
harvested from family life? Within the family unit certain material
and non-material needs must be met to ensure the continuity of the
family line. Security, comfort, happiness, money, property, food,
clothing, education, love, respect, health, friendship and emotional
security. These are the rewards or benefits received from family
life. But how much is enough to sustain the unit and how much is
too much? What are the responsibilities of each member within the
unit? And how does the unit save for the future? All of these factors can change depending on the structure of the family unit which
may also effect just how those rewards are harvested.
Program Overview:
Program material looks at both the material and non-material harvested from family life. The first question posed is, how much is
enough? In times of harvest the procedure is to reap what you sow,
meaning everything you sow. In this essence, leaving anything
in the field is wasteful. What is being questioned is whether this
should also be the case in life, but then what about everyone else,
do they get nothing? The program continues by looking at the responsibilities of each member within the family and how what is
harvested is shared among the family members. Next saving for
the future is addressed. What can you save, how should the savings
be handled and what about the present, is there a balance to harvesting and saving? Then comes the question of non-material wealth
such as love and respect. How do we reap these rewards within the
family, can those rewards be stored up and saved for later and how
does each member share in these rewards? Finally, a look at the
meaning of family. What kind of family is best suited to produce a
great harvest, what type of rewards does today’s family reap and is
family life itself a reward? These are all questions addressed in this
program outline.
To access the program, visit www.betasigmaphi.org and click on
the “Already a Member!” tab. Go to the “More Members Only” tab,
then select “Program Outlines” and log in with your member number and email address. Then “Select Program” by choosing program
number 204 and click on the PDF to view and print. If, like many
sisters, you’re not computer-savvy, you can ask a member of your
chapter to help out. If all else fails, call The Torch at 816-444-6800
and we’ll mail you a hard copy of the program.
http://health.howstuffworks.com/pregnancy-and-parenting/
understanding-family-structures-and-dynamics-ga.htm – check
out this great article, “Understanding Family Structures and Dynamics” by Michael Meyerhoff, EDD. This article gives an extensive look at the various family structures plus a look at birth
order, spacing of children and only children. Pay special attention
to the section on Forging the Family Unit which takes a look at how
families can increase closeness and reap family rewards. The article goes on and on about family structures, single parents, blended
families and more.
The Cycle of the Gift: Family Wealth and Wisdom, by James
E. Hughes Jr., Susan E. Massenzio & Keith Whitaker (2012,
Bloomberg Press). This book addresses that question of how much
is enough? The book focuses on who does a lot of the giving within
the family, the balance of giving while maintaining some control
and giving some freedom, as well as a look at the various types
of giving from money to values and rituals. Available on Amazon
in hardcover, both new and used. Also available for download on
kindle.
Family: The Compact Among Generations, by James E. Hughes
Jr. (2007, Bloomberg Press). This book offers a view of what
makes families flourish and fail. The basis for family governance is
laid out and advice given that addresses what to do as well as how
to think about the issues of family governance, growth and stability. Plus it looks at the challenge of nurturing the happiness of each
member within the family. Also available on Amazon.
Quick Tips...
Take action and include a personal touch to your program with
these great tips.
Prepping for the Harvest – prime your program with harvest decorations. Pull out your shovels, some gloves and other harvesting
tools. These added touches will create the proper setting for discussing the harvesting of rewards from family life.
Sow the Harvest – dig deep as you explore the rewards that are
sowed from family life. Have some discussion time about family
roles and responsibilities. Think about the different roles within
the family and how those roles have changed. Think about family
structures and the various different types of family structures from
the nuclear family to blended families and more. Encourage members to draw from their own family life as children and then later as
adults and make note of any similarities and differences.
Reap the Harvest – uproot the heart of family life by discussing the
types of rewards they received and how those rewards were shared
and even saved for the future. Again have members draw from their
own family life experiences.
S
isterhood
Beta Sigma Phi does so much good with its
charitable efforts that it’s easy to forget our
sorority isn’t primarily a service organization. When Walter W. Ross first envisioned
Beta Sigma Phi, his concern was for the cultural and social enrichment of its members.
But almost as soon as chapters were founded, they discovered ways to join together
to help those in need. Today, Beta Sigma
Phi helps in big ways through our Endowment Fund and other such funds, but we
also help in small ways—in our own communities, backyards, and families. Here
are some ways your sisters dug deep into
their hearts to help those less fortunate.
sales sustains a woman in a safe house for a month! “All
members are proud of what we were able to accomplish,
and that we could use our blessings to shed the light of
our torch throughout the world,” said chapter member
Theresa Pierson.
Suicide Prevention
Virginia Preceptor Gamma Psi, Manassas, raised
some $855 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). The chapter also participated in the AFSP
Raising Funds for
Women At Risk
The members of New York Kappa Pi, Sanborn, in
May hosted a Spring Banquet with two area chapters
(New York Iota Master, Medina and New York
Kappa Iota, Medina). The two Medina groups have
held banquets semi-annually for several yaers, and the
newer Kappa Pi chapter recently joined in. It’s a wonderful way to build relationships with sisters by enjoying
good food and fellowship. This year, though, the groups
also teamed up for a good cause. Kappa Pi’s vice president, Valerie Brittin, headed a fundraiser for WAR (Women At Risk) International, an organization designed to
empower rescued and at-risk women around the world by
buying their handcrafted jewelry and other accessories.
Together with the eager shoppers of the Medina chapters, Kappa Pi raised some $540 for WAR. Every $250 in
18
Out of the Darkness Walk in Manassas. The team was the
ninth-largest fundraiser for the walk. Along with hundreds
of people, four chapter sisters and their family members
participated in the 3.5 mile walk: Valerie Burke, Kim Howard, Nancy Schneider and Suzanna Seaberg. “Everyone in
our chapter was somehow touched by suicide, and some
of us more than once,” Kim said. “Mental health is still a
taboo subject in our culture. We wanted to chisel away at
that and walk to honor the memory of family and friends
who are no longer alive. Every life matters and every dollar
counts.”
They Spell Love
“F-L-E-E-C-E”
The members of Texas Zi Lambda Rho, Friendswood,
wanted a hands-on service project for the sorority year.
After learning about the need for fleece blankets for the
chronically ill patients at Houston Methodist St. John’s
Hospital, they made and donated several blankets. The
sisters found it so rewarding, they intend to continue the
practice as a regular service project. “Participating in the
project afforded us more time to work and play at the same
time,” said Penelope Linton of Xi Lambda Rho. “But more
importantly, we were making something that local patients
could use to keep warm and cozy. It was very gratifying to
A
And Service
Painting With Love
Florida Delta Kappa, Fort Myers, is a chapter that
knows how to get things done—home makeovers being one
of them. The chapter worked with Habitat for Humanity
of Charlotte County, Florida, painting a home that will go
to a deserving family. This is the fifth year the chapter
know that our blankets would be well received and that
patients knew that someone cared for them.” Better yet,
after the blankets were made, they were embroidered wih
the hospital name and Beta Sigma Phi. Here we see some
of the chapter members with hospital CEO and project
manager, Tamara Coy.
Underwear for Romania
Think about your needs—not your wants, but your needs.
Chances are, “underwear” isn’t at the top of that list.
But think about it—how uncomfortable would it be to go
has helped, either raising walls or painting, as a service
project with Habitat for Humanity. Pictured here is the
gang who helped build the house, including Jill Hooks and
Terri Lillio (both members for more than 25 years), Laurie
Mansfield, and Beth Watson. Laurie’s son Willie stepped
up to the plate as well.
Put It On My Tab...
without? It’s these sorts of “little things” we often take
for granted. Some children in Romania, however, aren’t
so lucky. Georgia Preceptor Beta Alpha, Cataulo,
heard about a local charitable group collecting underwear
and other vital toiletries for children in Romania. The
chapter got busy! Some members purchased new underwear for the kids, while others donated money. The underwear and other supplies were delivered over the summer. This love and care will let the kids in Romania know
they’ve got friends in Beta Sigma Phi.
It seems Peggy Baird and Joyce Parrett of Alabama Zi
Beta Beta, Birmingham, have gathered five big cardboard boxes of tabs from canned
food, soft drinks, and veggies.
They did it for a reason—can
tabs can mean big money to
worthy causes. In this case,
the sisters donated the
tabs to Ronald McDonald
House. The charity provides housing for families
to stay with children who
are undergoing medical
treatment far from home.
“I just wanted everyone
to know, please save the
tabs from everything,”
says Nancy Jochimsen of
Zi Beta Beta.
continued on p.28
Washington sister performed stunts in Star Wars,
Smokey and the Bandit, Silverado, and more
When Doriné Reynolds of
Washington Xi Delta Zeta, Spokane (known to her sisters as
“Dee”) was about 13 years
old, her brother set her hair
on fire. Little did she know it
was a sign of things to come.
Later, Dee would land a job as a
Hollywood stunt performer, and
would spend 33 years “dying”
for a living.
That hair-fire was no laughing matter. Raised by a Pentacostal preacher, Dee was discouraged from cutting her
hair at all. By the time she was 13 it was down to her
ankles. To wash it, she had to lean over a sink and pile it
all in. Her brother, who had a bad habit of playing with
a cigarette lighter, was messing around as she washed
her hair. He got too close, and whoom! With singed hair,
Dee was given her first haircut, Pentacostal or not.
Her dad’s strict religion, however, didn’t prevent him
from letting Dee take the opportunity to follow her Hollywood dreams. When the family moved from their hometown of Spokane, Washington, to sunny southern California, Dee began visiting her aunt’s horse ranch. There,
she learned to ride, train, and love horses. Her cousin
also took her to a few Hollywood parties, where she
made her first contacts in the business.
Of course, the fact that Dee’s cousin was actress Carrie Fisher and her aunt the famed singer/actress Debbie
Reynolds didn’t hurt. Dee was shy, so Debbie encouraged the more outgoing Carrie to take Dee on social
outings.
“Debbie always prodded her to include me,” Dee recalled.
At one of those parties, Dee met legendary stuntman
20
Jody “Red” McQueen, who claimed to be a long-lost
brother of Steve McQueen.
“He said, ‘I need someone about your size,’” she said.
“He decided to recruit me.”
McQueen’s stunt team was performing a series of reenactments of famous stunts at circuses and rodeos.
“They wanted to do an Annie Oakley performance
with trick riding,” Dee said. “I’d been around horses
since I was a baby.”
So she began doing trick-riding in the show, with her
father’s blessing—although Dee said he didn’t really
know the extent of what she was doing.
“He didn’t mind me working with horses,” she said. But
he didn’t realize McQueen was teaching Dee how to
become a full-fledged stuntwoman.
Her trail by fire—or air, rather—came when a local
studio needed shots of skydivers for an upcoming film.
McQueen’s team obligingly loaded into an airplane.
Dee went along. She didn’t intend to jump—just to pull
chords for the jumpers. Safety requirements, however,
meant she had to wear a parachute.
“I just went along to learn,” she said. “Jody was the last
out of the plane. When I released his chord he reached
up and pulled mine, and pulled me out of the plane
with him, without training of any kind.”
This act of tomfoolery was one he quickly regretted.
“I think he thought he was going to die for it,” Dee said.
“Because I wouldn’t let go!”
Eventually, the two separated after McQueen yelled
some hasty instructions. Dee could see the giant “X” in
the desert where she was supposed to land—but she decided to pay McQueen back for his dangerous prank.
“I figured out how to control the directions,” she said,
“and not far away was a lake. It was hot! I headed for
the lake—then they had to come find me!”
Dee landed in the water and was quickly retrieved
by some recreational boaters. By the time McQueen’s
team finally tracked her down, Dee was waterskiing
with her new friends.
“I learned I love skydiving!” she said.
When she was 18, she began doing more dangerous
stunts. McQueen’s company specialized in “canned”
stunts. Movie studios often film stunts without any idea
of what film they’ll eventually appear in. Sometimes,
directors save money and time by using one of these
pre-filmed stunts that generally match the location and
actors they’re using.
“A stunt team will do a series of stunts, and shoot them
over and over and over, from lots of different angles,
with actors in various outfits,” she said.
Dee soon found out she had a talent for falling out of
windows and jumping off of buildings.
“When I was learning, we’d start on the second floor,
learning how to land. Then I moved to the third floor,
and the fourth floor...and eventually the 10th floor. We
couldn’t go any higher, but it often seems much, much
higher on film.”
She said learning how to land on the airbag wasn’t
the tough part.
“The main thing is to learn how not to get scared!” Dee
laughed. Nevertheless, she wasn’t taking any chances.
“I prayed every time,” she said.
Another of Dee’s specialties was being dragged by
horses—apparently.
“A lot of people don’t realize how they do that,” she
said.
No trick photography is involved. The stunt actor actually lays in a wheeled, hammock-like device. It’s painted
a color that is utterly invisible to cameras.
“You wedge your feet against the wheels, and the
hammock twists and turns,” she said. “You can’t see
the wheels, and it looks like you’re being dragged, even
though you’re laying on a hammock.”
The first time Dee pulled off this stunt, McQueen—who
she described as “sort of” her boyfriend by this time—
arrived late. “It looks so real, even in person, he chased
down the horse and started yelling at it,” she recalls.
Her romantic flirtation with McQueen didn’t last, but
the two remain close friends to this day. Each year, he
calls and asks her to marry him and she says no—a tradition they’ve kept up since the early 1970s.
In addition to stunt work of various sorts, Dee also
found work as a body double for shorter-than-average
brunette actresses. Luckily for her, she was already close
to one: her cousin Carrie Fisher.
In the 1977 sci-fi classic Star Wars, there’s a scene
where the heroes escape death by plunging down a
chute into junk-filled water, only to learn they’ve landed
in a trash compactor. In the close-ups, you’ll see Carrie.
But in the long shots, the struggling Princess Leia is actually Dee.
“Carrie didn’t like to get wet,” she said. “But it wasn’t
any different from stepping into a swimming pool. All of
that junk was actually made of styrofoam.”
The other actors chose to leap into the water themselves, so Dee got to splash around with Mark Hammill,
Harrison Ford and Peter Mayhew in his Chewbacca suit.
Dee also doubled for Carrie in various other long-distance shots of running, swinging on ropes, and the like.
Dee said the Star Wars experience was her most highprofile work. Other high points include a famous scene
in the action-comedy Smokey and the Bandit. When
actress Sally Field emerges from the top of Burt Reynold’s hot rod to take off her wedding dress, that’s not
Sally—it’s Dee.
“It wasn’t a very dangerous stunt, because the car
was stationary, jiggling on a machine, and the scenery
was passing by on a screen,” Dee said. “But Sally got
frustrated because she kept accidentally ripping the
wedding dress.”
With wedding dresses cheaper than film, the director
decided to bring in Dee to speed things along. Luckily,
she didn’t need to be modest: both she and Sally wore
flesh-colored bodysuits beneath the wedding dress.
Dee performed countless other stunts and more body
double work over the years, well into the 1980s when she
was the chief stuntwoman on the set of the Kevin Klein
western Silverado.
But career wasn’t everything to Dee. She loved horses,
and, during the 30 years of her Hollywood life, she operated a horse ranch in Shelton, Washington. She specialized in the breeding, raising, and training of horses.
She also used her spare time and Hollywood paychecks
to further her education: Dee has bachelors degrees
in Art, Architecture, Accounting, and Electronics. She’s
also a certified teacher of American sign language (her
grandparents were deaf, so she learned early).
Dee also found time to raise three natural-born children. That would have been challenging enough to
most mothers. But Dee loved kids so much she fostered
28 children over the years, and adopted six of them. Two
of them she personally rescued from an abusive situation, and when they were returned to their distant bioContinued on page 23
Sisters Honored
for Service
When the community, state, and nation take notice of the good
work done by Beta Sigma Phis, we want to know about it! Have
you or a sister been honored for service to your community?
Let us know! Send us an email at torch@betasigmaphi.org.
Indiana Sister Honored with
Golden Hoosier Award
Betty Blakely of Indiana Gamma Master, Whiteland, was honored
by the State of Indiana with the 2015 Golden Hoosier Award. This is the
highest honor bestowed on a senior citizen by the state of Indiana.
The Golden Hoosier Award is a collaboration between the office of the
Lieutenant Governor and the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Aging. The award aims to acknowledge seniors for
a lifetime of service to their communities.
“I was one of nineteen honored and I was able to take five guests who
were delighted to meet the Lt. Governor and see the Indiana Statehouse,” Betty said. A big part of the award, said the Lt. Governor, was
Betty’s 70-plus years in Beta Sigma Phi.
“This was unexpected, but quite an honor,” Betty said.
Here we see Betty (center) with Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann and Dr.
John Wernert of Indiana Family and Social Services. Way to go, Betty!
Wyoming Sister Honored for
Lifetime
Achievement
Teri Stevens of Wyoming Lambda Master, Cheyenne, was recently honored by no less than the President
of the United States. A luncheon at the Regional Medical
Center of Cheyenne honored some 120 local volunteers.
Teri was awarded a pin for more than 4,000 hours of community service! In addition, she also got a special message
from President Obama with the Lifetime Achievement
Award. The letter reads, in part: “with grateful recognition
the Corporation for National and Community Service and
the office of the President of the United States honors
Teri Stevens with the President’s Lifetime Achievement
Award for the lifelong commitment to building a stronger
nation through volunteer service.”
“We are very proud of our sister!” said Sandra Dunn of Lambda Master.
22 November 2015 The Torch
What Beta Sigma Phi
Means to Everyone
By Cheryl High of California Preceptor Gamma Sigma, San Fernando
“It’s only just...” Have you heard those three words
preface an opinion as to why we should not do something, or to drop a tradition? It’s “only just” the five
of us, why bother standing during our Opening Ritual? Or, we’re “only just” three chapters now, why do
we continue having a Valentine Queen?
We never know the value our traditions and rituals
hold to someone, until we discontinue them. Our
members are looking for new ways to become relevant, to attract new members and to retain those we
have. In those efforts, we shouldn’t confuse using
newer social media avenues with abandoning traditional long-standing practices because they take time
or lack visible, immediate value.
This year, our City Council elected one of our “senior” sorority members as the Friendship Award Recipient. She is a lovely lady who deserved the award
and just happened to have a cancer with a negative
prognosis. Her election as chapter Valentine Queen
and Friendship Award Recipient have meant the
world to this woman. She has basked in the attention
and glowed in the support of her sisters throughout
her treatments. Both helped shape a positive mental attitude. She has just received the news that her
cancer is shrinking and that although it can never be
“cured,” it can be controlled. I can’t help but think
what would have happened had we discontinued our
traditions because “it’s only just us.”
When you examine your chapter practices, definitely
find ways to improve them, but do not strip out their
heart, or worse, eliminate them just because “it’s
only just us.” You never know what a tradition means
to someone. I cannot recal the source, but someone
once said, “Rituals and Traditions give us depth and
meaning. They are what makes us Beta Sigma Phi.
Without them, we are just another social club.”
The next time a discussion begins with
“it’s only just us...” be very careful
where you go with that!
logical father, the girls told
the California court they
wanted Dee to adopt
them instead.
Dee fell into a deep
depression, however,
after her husband
died in a car accident. To make matters
worse, she was diagnosed with cancer.
“I was told to get my
life in order, because I didn’t have long to live,” she
said. “It was like running into a brick wall at 100 miles
per hour. My life ground to a halt.”
Earlier, Dee had sold her horse ranch and returned
to Spokane to take care of her ailing parents. When
they passed, and with her children living far away in
other states, Dee felt a crushing sense of loneliness as
she dealt with her disease.
“I felt a real lack of support,” she said.
One day she felt she simply must get out of the
house. She wandered through a local fall festival in
downtown Spokane. To say she felt “blue” would be
an understatement.
“I was so deeply depressed that I felt like anything
would have been better than the life I was living,” she
said.
A couple of ladies with a stack of yellow-and-black
fliers noticed Dee seemed glum, and out of the blue,
approached her. The fliers were about Beta Sigma
Phi.
“I didn’t even know they had sororities after college,” Dee said. “It sounded interesting, and they invited me to a meeting. I got to know them and they
invited me to join. I thought, ‘I really like these people.’”
Dee says it’s no exaggeration to say that sorority
saved her life.
“When I first joined, it was the best thing that could
have happened,” she said. “It made me realize I
didn’t have to be depressed. Now I fill my life with my
children, my grandchildren, my family and sorority.”
Dee has served as an officer in several positions, and
after serving on the committee for the 2015 Northwest
Regional Convention, is going to give herself a break
from leadership duties this year.
Today, Dee’s focus is on family and friends, but she
still finds time to unleash her creative spark, designing,
making and selling one-of-a-kind jewelry. She also
travels to Wisconsin periodically to help care for her
daughter-in-law, who is ill.
And Dee no longer fears the reaper. When she was
diagnosed with cancer, she was told she had only a
few months to live. That was 11 years ago. She firmly
believes in the healing power of positive thought.
“Sorority turned me around,” she said. “It
made me grateful to be alive.”
Each participant placed money in the “kitty” to play.
But the resulting total didn’t go to the winner, as is
usually done. Instead, the full amount was donated
to Mitchell. The chapter wanted to support a project
dear to his heart: the Juvenile Diabetes Association.
The chapter is always inspired by Mitchell’s daily involvement in his own care. Having fun with friends
and supporting a worthwhile project equaled a lovely evening. The chapter looks forward to more game
nights and many more donations!
- Submitted by Abby Phillips
Here are some snippets our sisters from
around the country (and beyond!) wanted
to share. To submit your “Chatter” please
send it to torch@betasigmaphi.org, or send
regular mail to Beta Sigma Phi, ATTN: Torch,
1800 W. 91st Place, Kansas City, MO 64114. • Road Trip! When South Carolina Laureate Rho,
• The Benefits of Game Night: November is National Diabetes Month, so it’s a good time to share
this story. Pictured here is Mitchel Kurz, grandson of
Judy Kurz of Oklahoma Preceptor Delta, Ada. Mitchell
has juvenile diabetes, and the sisters wanted to do
something to honor him. For their monthly social activity, the chapter visited Ada’s famed Oak Hills Country Club and dined on delicious meal choices. Then,
they retired to the club’s lounge room for a rousing
game of Bunco. After introducing the dice game to
those who’d never played, a fun-filled evening began as members tried to progress from table to table
and game to game, looking for that perfect score
and with it the very loud, enthusiastic yell of “Bunco!”
Greenville member Terri Rydzewski moved to Georgia and joined Georgia Phi Master, Lawrenceville, she
wanted her two chapters to meet. The social chairs
in each chapter worked out the details to meet in
Greenville for brunch, and as a result, each chapter
was well represented. As a get-acquainted game,
members took M&M candies from a bowl. However many candies they held represented how many
facts they had to share about themselves. They all
had so much in common, it just proves Beta Sigma
Phis can transfer from chapter to chapter and state
to state, blending right in with their new sorority sisters.
Although Laureate Rho “lost” Terri to Georgia, they
gained new friends. Another get-together is in the
works for later this year.
- Submitted by Linda Buchanan
• Getting to Know the Neighbors...Here’s a
fun note from Texas Laureate Eta Beta, Hilltop Lakes.
“The sorority sisters went on our Fall Bonus Social to the
small neighboring town on Normangee. We decided
to help support the businesses of our neighbors by visiting the local County Feed Store, the Country Cafe
and the local Normangee Flower Shop. We saw some
great metal sculptures at the feed store, had some
24
generorsity in sharing their best practices for service,
social and chapter activities. It was perfect timing,
as our chapter was just planning our new year. Another huge bonus was that we had some thoughtful
conversations about what might compel members
to come to the convention in Corvallis. What a goldmine of ideas! When it was time to say goodbye to
our guests, we presented them with a swag bag full
of homemade strawberry jam, chocolate treats, and
a convention reminder. We can’t wait to see them at
convention in 2016!
- Submitted by Sue Abbott
good eats at the cafe, and wound up watching a
flower-arranging demonstration at the flower shop. It
was a wonderful time of friendship and sharing some
good laughs.” Sounds like what sorority socials are all
about!
- Submitted by Thelma Hughes
• Sisters in Sisters, Oregon: Here’s a great bit
of chatter from Oregon Xi Gamma Xi, Corvallis. “Did
you know there is a town called Sisters in Oregon?
What better place for a weekend getaway with our
Beta Sigma Phi chapter? Our social committee found
a right-sized rental house just perfect for our large
group getaway in scenic central Oregon, flanked by
beautiful views of the high desert, Cascade Mountains and forests. We confess, we spent most of the
long weekend indoors. The couches were so comfy
and the conversations were, as always, warm and
full of life’s details. And of course there was lots of
laughter and discussion of topics ladies experiencing the same things at the same time could relate to.
This getaway was particularly special. Inspired by the
“Expand Your Family Tree” theme, we invited other
chapters to come join us for a “Sisters Plus Sisters in Sisters” open house. Happily, members from Bend and
Redmond stopped by and what a great time we had
getting to know one another! Besides savory treats
and goodies, we shared laughter. But the best part of
the visit wasn’t getting to know new sisters. It was their
• The Privilege of Transfer...The Torch staff
received a nice note from Diana Bush of California
Preceptor Mu Omicron, Garden Grove, and thought
we’d share it: “I would like to share this for those who
have never had to transfer to another part of their
state or a different state—remember that you will find
instant friends and sisters wherever you go! In 1994 I
was transferred by my job with the Navy from Northern California (Concord) to Southern California (Seal
Beach). I told all my relatives and co-workers that I
would be OK, since my daughter and I would have
instant friends and sisters in Beta Sigma Phi when we
arrived. As we attended California conventions, we
were able to renew our friendships with sisters that
we left behind. I say that is truly a “small world” in
Beta Sigma Phi! I was able to attend the winter Olympics in Salt Lake City with my chapter sister Charlene
Belshaw, and we attended a sorority tea given by
the City Council there. In walked a sister I knew from
Walnut Creek, California! We were happily surprised.
Now flash forward to 2014. I moved from Southern
California to Tucson, Arizona, and attended a social
with a chapter I planned on joining. I walked in to the
restaurant, not knowing who I was looking for, until I
heard someone say, “Diana Bush, what are you doing here?” It was Charlene Belshaw, and she was part
of the new chapter I was joining. She lives part time in
Carson City, Nevada and the rest of the year in Tucson. Each chapter that I’ve had the honor of transferring into has enriched my circle of sisters, and I say
how wonderful that we can transfer when we have
to move, and have those instant new friends.”
-Submitted by Diana Bush
• more than just burgers: Here’s a note from
our sisters in El Cajon, California: “Our chapter, California Delta Chi Master, El Cajon, had the privilege
to have our April meeting at the Ronald McDonald
House in San Diego. Before our meeting, we got to go
on a tour of the house. The Ronald McDonald House
of San Diego proivdes the necessities of life to families
who have hospitalized children. This year the house
provided more than 1500 families with lodging. The
average stay is 15 days. More than 200 siblings will attend the on-site school and more than 150,000 meals
to those families are served free of charge. They call it
“The House That Love Built.” Members of our chapter
were really fascinated by the tour. Our member Janice Miles works at the house and was our tour guide.
We also invited guests to attend.”
- Submitted by Pam Badder
• Book Club! At a recent social event, the membes of Idaho Alpha Master, Boise, gathered for a light
supper and a book review of The Necklace, wirtten by
Cheryl Jarvis. The discussion was led by Pam Heuman
and Cheryl Kruse. The book itself is about a real-life social experiment that transformed the lives of 13 women, as they all shared a $37,000
diamond necklace. The story reminded Alpha Master members
of their sorority closeness in gathering together, solving problems,
having fun, and bonding in sisterhood. One chapter member is following up with the actual women
who were part of the story to see
where they are today. Members
of the chapter each read the
book before the meetings, and
each was asked to bring a favorite necklace. Some
members brought antiques that were more than 100
years old. The personal stories members told about
their own necklaces were fascinating.
- Submitted by Virginia Newhall
26
• Pancakes, Anyone? Ontario Mu Eta, Brechin,
always enjoy their annual fundraiser: a pancake
breakfast! Guests enjoy pancakes, sausages, fruit
skewers, juice, coffee and tea. The tables settings at
the last breakfast were in bright spring colors, with tulips as centerpieces. Monies raised are distributed to
local charities throughout the year. Each table has a
framed printout indicating the charities that received
funds in the past year. The net profit for the last breakfast was $1108!
- Submitted by Marilyn Richardson
• Holiday Bazaar: The sisters of Indiana Theta
Nu, Batesville, have an annual Holiday Bazaar each
November. As they gear up for this year’s event,
let’s take a look at last year’s. It was the 42nd annual event, and more than 100 vendors sold everything from gift items, seasonal décor, jewelry, baked
goods, baskets, crocheted items, candles, and much
more. The chapter has 18 members, so it takes a lot
of planning, teamwork and patience to pull this off.
The chapter is thankful for friends, husbands and kids,
who lend a hand as well. All of the proceeds go to
a variety of charities in the community. Here we see
chapter members just after cleanup, happy with a
job well done!
- Submitted by Valerie Stutler
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continued from p.19
Keep the Light Alive
The Maine Lighthouse Museum is one of the nation’s premiere repositories of knowledge and artifacts about America’s lighthouses and the United States Coast Guard. But
it’s been in financial trouble for some time. Knowing that
every bit helps, the members of Main Preceptor Beta,
Rockland, made a $100 donation to the museum and
have issued a public challenge to other organizations and
individuals to donate,
regardless of where they
are from. This Maine
museum, in fact, holds
the largest collection of
lighthouse and Coast
Guard artifacts in the
entire nation.
Here we see Brenda Harrington of Preceptor Beta
(right) with museum
board members Paul Dilger and Dorothy Black.
Stop Hunger Now!
As one of its many service projects, Virginia Laureate
Rho, Richmond, helped a local church package more
than 25,000 meals in one afternoon for Stop Hunger Now.
The church raised $6,665 for the proejct, which attracted
tooth brush and tooth paste, a comb, razor, lotion, bandages, and a few cotton swabs. Over the past three years, one
chapter member has been a cook at the Soup Kitchen, and
she knows first-hand how much the clients look forward to
receiving the hygiene kits!
A Helping Hand
for Family
The members of Louisiana Preceptor Alpha Beta, New Orleans, collected $275 to help Jennifer Hanseth,
granddaughter of member Anita Sutherland.
Jennifer was hit with bad luck recently, as an electric short
in the attic of her home caused a house fire—she lost everything. Jennifer, who lives in South Carolina, told her
grandmother that when she received the funds, she was
so overcome with the generosity of the chapter that she
cried. She used the funds to replace clothing, as she had
only those she was wearing at the time of the fire and some
personal items. Jennifer sent the chapter a nice thank you
card, and her fiancee, Ralph Moore, made a lovely gift for
the chapter: a decorative, fully operational clock made of
pipe cleaners in the form of a Beta Sigma Phi trophy cup.
Surprise School Supplies
some 180 community volunteers. The Stop Hunger Now
organization provides food and lifesaving aid to the world’s
most vulnerable people, with the goal of eliminating hunger in our lifetime. After the event, the Laureate Rho members went out for pizza, thankful to be blessed with food on
their table each day.
Help With Hygiene
Over the past several years, Oregon Laureate Beta
Zeta, Lebanon, has collected and donated about 250
pounds of personal hygiene items to a local church. The
church uses these items to make helpful hygiene kits,
which are handed out at the local Soup Kitchen. This year,
the chapter decided to make the hygiene kits themselves.
The kits include a wash cloth, soap, shampoo, conditioner,
28
Alabama Eta Omega, Mobile, knows how important
education is, and how tough it can be on kids whose families can’t afford the proper supplies. With that in mind,
the chapter recently collected school supplies and donated
them to Penelope House, a local shelter for abused and
homeless women and their children. The chapter donated
pencils, pens, markers, notebooks, pencil sharpeners, paper, folders, and all kind of school supplies for children of
all ages.
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.
Joan has shown her enthusiasm for all things Beta Sigma Phi.
Joan Baird
California Laureate Alpha Kappa, Escondido
Member since 1973
Joan Baird was a grade school teacher for more than 30 years. In
that time, she helped her students grow in confidence and wisdom. She still keeps in touch with them today. Perhaps it’s that
warm, fostering spirit that makes Joan such an outstanding Beta
Sigma Phi.
Since 1973, Joan has been an active and vital member of Beta
Sigma Phi. From 1973 to 1975, she was in Psi Nu, and from
1975 to the early 1980s she was a member of Preceptor Mu Alpha, both of Escondido. She’s a founding member of her current
chapter, and is currently serving as the Vice President for the
2015-16 sorority year. She’s also held all the other possible offices in her chapter at some point.
Joan has chaired Social, Ways and Means, Service, Chapter
Yearbook, and other committees not once, but multiple times. In
the past, she’s held offices in the Hidden Valley City Council and
chaired multiple committees in the newer Hidden Valley Vista
Council. These days, she remains strong support for the council,
and believes she should allow newer members to grow into their
potential.
Many of us know how tough it is to co-chair a convention—rewarding, but tough. Joan knows that perhaps better than anyone.
In 2005, her co-chair for the California State Convention had
to resign for personal reasons. Joan carried on and chaired the
convention by herself. It was a great success.
Joan also knows how important it is to grow Beta Sigma Phi—
and she’s good at it. On two occasions when her chapter got
large enough to split, she found the original chapter short of
members. She worked with the remaining ladies to rebuild to a
strong 14-16 member chapter. She and her friend Elaine Shute
campaigned tirelessly for two years to start a chapter on a local
U.S. Marines base. Due to a lot of transfers and military restrictions, that never happened. But the seeds they planted bore fruit,
when later, a half-dozen potentials, freed of active military service, finally started a chapter.
Joan is no stranger to fund-raising for worthy causes. She was
instrumental in helping the Hidden Valley Vista Council raise
money to make a major contribution to the Mission California
Council Philanthropic Projects. She’s also the first to step up
when another chapter needs assistance with a ritual, installation,
or service project. She prefers to guide others to take roles of
responsibility, but she’ll step up to fill those roles when no one
else can or will. She’s also worked hard to provide private help
for sorority members in her area with medical needs.
Joan’s friends know she has a lovely singing voice, as well. She’s
a member of the Pacific Belles Chorus and of Sweet Adelines
Internatioanl. In her first year, she resieved a Director’s Music
Merit Award and this year, she has been selected as “Barbershopper of the Year” for her outstanding work.
“Joan inspires everyone she meets,” said her chapter sister Frances Lowe. “She reaches out to everyone. She always participates
and she constantly works hard to make the ideals of Beta Sigma
Phi present in our chapter, council and community. She works
constantly to help others.”
November 2015 TORCH
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30
1-800-821-3989
www.BetaSigmaPhi.org/gifts
Date:
Chapter Number:
THREE EASY WAYS TO ORDER GIFTS!
PHONE: 1-800-821-3989
8:30 am - 5 pm CST M-F
Chapter Name:
ONLINE
www.betasigmaphi.org/gifts
MAIL :Beta Sigma Phi Gifts
PO Box 8500 Kansas City MO 64114-0500
ITEMS ORDERED:
Qty
Item Number
Description
�
SHIP TO:
Name:
�
Address:
City:
State/Province:
Unit Price
PAYMENT METHOD:
Check or Money Order Enclosed
- Payment in U.S. Dollars Only -
Charge to My Credit Card:
� Visa � Mastercard � Discover
Credit Card Account Number:
� American Express
Expiration Date:
CVV#
Zip:
Daytime Phone:
(3-4 digit security
code on card.)
Shipping and handling is now calculated by weight. If paying
by check or money order, call the Gifts Department for
shipping and handling charges. 1-800-821-3989
For Office Use Only:
G____
Total Price
CHK
O/M____
M/O
S/H____
CSH
Other____
Signature:
(Signature required for credit card orders)
NOTICE: PLEASE CHECK ORDERS PROMPTLY. NO RETURNS OR ADJUSTMENTS AFTER 90 DAYS.
Prices are in effect from August 1, 2015 until July 31, 2016.
ADDRESS CHANGES
Please complete the information below in ink. Allow one month for processing.
Name:
Member Number:
New Address:
E-Mail Address:
City:
Phone Number: (
State/Province, Country:
)
Husband’s Name:
Name of Most Recent Chapter:
Relocating to another City?
Zip/Postal Code:
Chapter Number:
� I would like to be contacted for a new chapter affiliation.
PERIODICAL
MAIL
The Torch
of Beta Sigma Phi
(USSN 0888-8930)
P.O. Box 8500
Kansas City, MO
64114-0500
For Canada:
P.O. Box 122
Niagara Falls, ON
L2E 6S4
On the Wall
(From the Torch Facebook Group)
Legacies meet while their moms hold a meeting in the
next room. Daniela Garza (bottom), Idani Cantu (middle) and Kayla Pena (top) are three of a dozen Legacies of Texas Beta Theta Iota, Rio Grande City. Thanks
to Melissa Iris Lopez of Beta Theta Iota for the wonderful picture. You can see it, and lots more like it, on The
Torch’s Facebook page. If you’re not a member of the
Torch Facebook group, you should be! Just search Facebook for “The Torch of Beta Sigma Phi.” There you
can see all kinds of wonderful pictures and hear news
from your sisters you won’t find anywhere else.

BSP Torch

Transcription

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