Members of Stroud’s Beta Sigma Phi chapter kicked off its new year with plans to continue regular meetings with social distancing. Business meetings will be held at the American Legion building on the second and fourth Mondays, September through May.
Members were welcomed back from the summer adjournment at the annual Beginning day meeting to kick off the new sorority year.
Linda Stephens, President, led the meeting with Davina McGee hosting on her patio. The new sorority theme, Sisters by Choice, was observed and the hostess prepackaged snacks and drinks.
New officers and committees assumed duties with many activities tabled or postponed due to the pandemic The Christmas color book project for the Stroud Christmas parade will not be done due to the closing of the publishing company.
Plans are to resume the project next year with a new company.
Kim Johnson distributed Yearbooks she had prepared and members celebrating birthdays or anniversaries during the month were recognized.
Pam Clement, on behalf of the Scrapbook Committee, presented past President Mary Jackson with a scrapbook, a memento of her year leading the chapter.
Last year’s officers were given pins signifying their office and Mary Jackson was presented with the President’s pin.
The service committee reported a busy fall with meals taken to members who were in hospital, those quarantined with Covid, and for the death of Pam Hunt’s husband, Kelly, who had supported the chapter’s activities and given much support over the years
Davina McGee led the program for the evening and along with her husband, Aaron, who joined via zoom, shared their journey with organizations and families that are dedicated to the task of finding Vietnam War MIA’s and POW’s who have never been located in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
Through their dedication to locating family member, Donald J. Hall, his remains were found and returned to Oklahoma with full military burial and honors.
The evening concluded with a secret sister gift exchange. Door prize was won by Davina McGee.
The first September business meeting was hosted by Sue Helms with Pam Hunt, VP, presiding. The hostess served fruit, snacks and drinks and presented the program on the history of “Aprons”, noting how we remember grandma wearing her apron, using it for many things other than protecting her clothing…carrying hot dishes, gathering eggs, carrying apples, and wiping tears or cleaning faces. She displayed her collection of aprons and gave each member an apron to take home along with a hand sanitizer.
The door prize was won by Mary Jackson. Others present were Michelle Doherty, Darlene Lau, Cindy Mason, Rachel Shields, Linda Waller, Pam Hunt, Chris Hodge, Sandy Jones.
Attending were Kim Johnson, Pam Hunt, Sandra Jones, Pam Clement, Cindy Mason, Linda Stephens, Darlene Lau, Sue Helms, Davina McGee, Linda Waller, Terry Jane Crofford, Rachel Shields, Chris Hodge, Terry Crofford, Linda Stephens and Michelle Doherty.