Beta Sigma Phi March meeting

Preceptor Omicron Epsilon chapter Beta Sigma Phi met on March 10 at the Country Place Village. Jennifer Utzman was hostess. President Marcella Harkrider presided calling the meeting to order and leading members in the Opening Ritual.

Secretary Jennie Daigle read the minutes of the last meeting and Treasurer Yvonne Kennedy discussed club finances. Several interesting and important events on the Beta Sigma Phi calendar will take place in March and April. The first Lady Banquet will be held at the First Baptist Church on March 28 and Founder's Day will be celebrated on April 21. Details concerning these were discussed.

In chapter news, Service Chairman Dimples Burns reported a collection of $30 for Helping Hands. Opal Stewart moved the chapter bi-laws be amended allowing the meeting date to be changed to the second Tuesday of each month. Annette Morgan said she will be the hostess for the April meeting and invited members to her new lake house for that event.

Debra Albertson was introduced to give the program. Her subject was Easter Traditions. Miss Albertson began by explaining that Easter got its name from the Goddess of Spring called Eostre who was honored as the bringer of spring. At that time it was thought that the sun died in winter and was born again in spring when days would lengthen and the sun's power would return.

The Easter bunny has it origin in pre-Christian fertility lore. The rabbit and hare were the most fertile animals known and they served as symbols of new life during the Spring season. The custom and tradition of using eggs have been associated with Easter for centuries. For thousands of years, people thought of eggs as symbols of new life. Long ago people gave gifts of eggs carved from wood or precious stone. Some cultures believed the Earth itself hatched from a huge egg. So that is why the egg was shosen as the symbol of the Resurrection.

Those attending were, Jennifer Utzman, Pudge Griffin, Vivian Patton, Annette Morgan, Marcella Harkrider, Yvonne Kennedy, Peggy Campbell, Barbara Mabery, Dimples Burns, Janis Slayter, Roberta Boggs, Debra Albertson, Opal Stewart, Deana Covin, and Marion Dovel.