Beta Sigma Phi Cyber Council

Sharing Reports - March/April - 2015

On Line Delta

Cyber Council Sharing Report from OnLine Delta—March 2015 President Report "May all our lives be blessed with the strength and courage to deal in the best  positive way with the adversities we may encounter this year.  May we also  recognise all the magic moments that happen for us each and every day and take the time to enjoy and appreciate them.  Good health and lots of joy and laughter  … the best medicine.

Programs
January Program visited the story of a member's uncle who had woven hand-loomed  linens in Scotland.  We were asked about whether we would purchase a hand-loomed  linen that would take an hour or more to iron and to share a story of any linen heirlooms  that we owned.
     The February Program explored  complications, exceptions,  and issues that we have  experienced while traveling, especially to foreign countries.  We were asked about complaints, complications, comical experiences and unusual foods we may have eaten. The comical experiences we shared were all quite entertaining.
     The March Program was very thought provoking.  We were asked how we would protect  our family tree or other belongings that meant a great deal to us and did we have a plan  for an emergency evacuation due to nature (fire, floods, earthquakes) or other imminent  catastrophes.  Fire has been a reality in the life of more than one of our members' lives.  A plan was given to help with evacuation in the case of fire.  Another member who has traveled extensivelyalso shared her plan for safe-guarding important information.  We  were asked if we would evacuate our premises or stay and defend them.

Service
In January,  Service was in honor of our recently deceased Sister, Lee.  A memorial poem  called "The Dash" was given.  An excerpt:  "….He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning ……. to the end."…For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive on earth, and now only those who loved her, know what the little line is  worth."
      February was about GLUTEN and if it could be making you sick.  consensus was that celiac disease causes intolerance to glutens not diet.  A group of carbohydrates called FODMAP may cause symptoms similar to gluten  intolerance and by lessening the intake of these particular carbs one can  increase energy and wellness.  Good FODMAP carbs are whole grains such as quinoa and brown rice.

Membership
Through the hard work of our VP Lucille we have added 5 new members to our roster. The Pledge Ritual will be given sometime in March yet to be determined. In February five online Rituals were given to our members ,being enhanced by phone calls as the rituals were given.  One Torchbearer and four Master Degrees  were given in recognition of all BSP jewels that we strive for during our participation in our membership.

Socials
In February we gathered in Toronto Canada at the Windsor Arms Hotel for a SHOE DIVA SOCIAL  that encompassed a tea party, a luncheon that featured shoe quotes, trivia shoe questions, insane shoe photos and accessories, shoe tree legends with the the highlight  being a visit to the Bata Shoe Museum.  We arrived and departed on magic carpets that  allowed us to enjoy the Shoe Social despite the bitter cold and  snowy conditions. In fact  we had several snow built persons to greet us in front of the hotel providing a photo  opportunity to capture our group of Sister photos.

Book Club
In our January report our Chair told about Mark Zuckerberg's "Year of Books Initiative Challenge" to read a book every other week.  His first February Book is “Gang Leader For A Day" by Sudhir Venkatesh about the author's time  and experience living with a southside  gang in Chicago.
Our book review in February was  "Sycamore Row" by John Grisham published in 2013. It was a sequel to the 1989 "A Time to Kill."  We return to the famous courthouse in Clanton, MS, as Jake Brigance once again finds himself embroiled in a controversial trial that will expose old racial tensions and force the peoples of Ford County to confront its tortured history. This discussion brought up the many other lawyer and court trial novels that Grisham  has written and other legal thrillers, some being transformed into movies.

Koffee Klatch 
February KK was on the subject of journaling.  We were asked if we keep a journal or any other  way to catalog the memorable events in our lives such as scrapbooking or photo albums or  keeping the stories handed down by our ancestors.  Websites were given to us to obtain  questionnaires for genealogy, life journaling and even self-publish our  own family histories.

OLD Website
A second In Memorium page and tribute was added to our website in honor of Lee.  A member has made a collage of yellow roses with our members names attached to the yellow rose photo that they chose as a memorial memory to Lee and will be included on our website when totally finished. Take a looke at our beautiful OLD website here: http://onlinedelta.weebly.com

Your Sister In OLD,
Submitted by,
Evelyn—Cyber Council Representative  2014-2015

On Line Kappa

Good morning sisters and happy belated birthday greetings to Madonna! Online Kappa just began their monthly meeting for March.  In our February meeting we voted for our chapter sweetheart who was Coco, congratulations!  We also decided our service project would be to donate to Relay for Life in memory of Andrew the son on one of our members, Nancy.  Andrew died not long ago after a tough battle with lung cancer.  Our program for the February meeting was the geography and history of the Rogue Valley in Oregon-Carrie our presenter, lives there along with her daughter Coco.  It sounds like a beautiful and very interesting place.  Nancy then took us on a wonderful social to Cabo San Lucas via cruise ship, needless to say it was a great time. Our group keeps in touch frequently especially with the winter weather issues across the country.  It is great to have sisters to talk to when your are snowed or iced in; some live in warmer climates so we stay warm through them.

Have a great day sisters, happy International Women's Day!

Mary
Online Kappa Cyber Council Rep

On Line Psi


On Line Psi Sharing Report January and February 2015

  January saw the beginning of a new calendar year and we began that year with a bang.  On Line Psi had a great Super Bowl party hosted by Lib with each member taking sides with a few side trips to the puppy Bowl and of course great comments on the commercials.  It is always a celebration when sisters get together.  The book review done by Kathy was different and interesting to hear about the author and her accomplishments including directing the television show "Bones."  Jean had a great program and reminded us that Sorority sisters stick together through the great times and the bad times too.  The best was the return of a sister who we had not heard from for a long time.  She had a severe stroke but is on the mend.  Typing slowly but she is able to attend meetings.  Welcome back, you were missed.

  February was a time of celebration.  We crowned our new queen, Lib.  We know she will represent us well with her true Beta Sigma Phi heart.  Carole lead us through a great book discussion on a book about heart ache and a person's true fighting spirit.  It was based during the World War and a man's struggle to survive.  Marcia had the program.  The program are great stories of how sisters came to be Beta Sigma Phis and why.  Some of us came from different ways, but we still blend together so well.  Some stumbled upon the group while others had mothers who were Beta Sigma Phis. 

  Beta hugs,
Kathy, President

On Line Beta

ONLINE BETA Sharing Report

  Our sisters have been busy discussing International Convention in 2016.  Their rooms are booked and registration paid.  I won’t be attending but the online gatherings are always so enjoyable. Our new Valentine Queen is Robin and she is from Canada.  She teams up with her friend Diana to give us our great socials.  In February we had a long weekend in Vegas and it wore us out But what fun we had.  We walked the strip, went to the dam, one sister lost her hat, it was windy.  We ate at Paris Paris and had Margarita’s at Margarita Ville.  Naturally some of us played the slots and drank wine.

  Julia gave us fabulous recipes for the month and for crafts she took a wood heart drill holes in the heart put ribbon through holes to hang on door.  She cover the heart in pink pomp oms. Very easy and the picture showed how nice it look on the door.

  Our program was presented by Gail and was “knowing your family story”. She gave us pointers on questions to ask and keep in a journal.  Some examples of questions were your family favorite jokes and pranks,  best advice for living, what you recall about your first date, things I would have not thought of.  Very interesting program and the wonderful ideas would save other family members and generations some research by having documented things on you, and your family.

  In February Karen received her Torchbearer degree.  This was done simultaneously with her former land chapter via Skype and via email in OLB.  Her chapter sisters in Montana set up the ritual table with candles and rose, that was where Karen was and the ritual was read via Skype by Dianne in Pennsylvania and Madonna in Virginia heard it on skype and forwarded the email version to OLB. The emails went out at the same time as the part that was read on skype.  It was awesome!

  Our nominating committee has been busy getting a new slate for next year.

  Hugs,
Madonna

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Revised March 23, 2015