SORORITY MEETS NEEDS OF RURAL AREA Young women in the Rideau area are very fortunate indeed to have the opportunity to be part of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority and share with their sisters the world over, the benefits of its friendships. This district was not always so fortunate and it was only four years ago that a member moved to this area and missing the assocâ€" iation of fellow members, introduced the idea of organizing a branch chapter here. The Gananoque Chapter was only too happy to be a sponsor and so the Ontario Eta Tau Chapter was born with members currently from Westport, Portland, Elgin, Newboro and Morton. Although this young chapter is still small in numbers, they carry out a very active schedule both in service work and in a cultural program. At a recent meeting the following exec- utive was chosen for the coming year - President-Barbara Purdy; Vice-President Marie Sharpe; Recording Secretary -Marl- ene Dobson; Corresponding Secretary â€" Barbara Bakker; Treasurer - Ann Appleyard; Extension Officer â€" Ruth Pedherney. Although the main objective of the Chap- ter is not its service work, they have been responsible for a great deal of 'behind the scenes' help in needy causes. Instâ€" ances where Eta Tau have loaned a help- ing hand this year were Kingston Theraâ€" peutic Nursery; Westport Co-Op Nursery; a young boy's dental work; Rideau District High School Gym Club; Toronto Sick Child- ren's Hospital; the International Endowment Fund and aid for several families who suf- fered loss from fire. The Chapter has earned money for these in a variety of ways, and experienced great benefit as members worked together in harmony and complete co-operation. They have held a garage sale, a lunch booth at the Rideau Crafts Christmas market and produced the Annual Fashion Show. Ways and Means conv- enor Sylvia Herlehy speaks in Glowing terms of the way everyone volunteers for jobs that need to be done and never is one person left to do all the work. Judy Pattinson, as she convenes the service aspect, is well pleased with the way in which the Chapter has been able to be of assistance so many times right in the local community. But it is not all serious fund raising and service work. The cultural and social fields are not neglected and a learnâ€" ing process is combined with fun events to round out a worthwhile overall experience. Among out of town trips, two were especially enjoyable - attending the performance of ’3 "Oliver" at the Grand Theater in Kingston and the Ice Show in Ottawa. Parties at members' homes have been really enjoyable, covering both outdoor and indoor activities. The meeting programs have covered subjects to appeal to everyone and included Yoga, History, Drama, Sculpture, Poetry, Health Films, Music, Art, Politics, Economics and Ecology. This is the 46th anniversary of Beta Sigma Phi and celebrations will take place in the 25 countries in which the organizations 250,000 members in over 12,000 chapters exist. Their keynote is friendship and although distance, a different language or life style may separate them, still this bond of friendship exists. Internationally, the chapters have created several special funds - the International Loan Fund through which members help one another; the Inter- national Endowment Fund which has donated over one million dollars to cancer research; cystic fibrosis; homes for underprivileged children and many other causes; the Exemplar Fund which helps to support Literacy Vil- lage in India and a college scholarship fund for members and their sons or daughters. The local Eta Tau Chapter attended the Found- ers Day dinner in Smiths Falls recently and a number hope to attend the Ontario conven- tion in Ottawa in June. Eta Tau members benefit as they give and receive in the name of friendship and gain as they meet biâ€"monthly under the Beta Sigma Phi Motto, Life, Learning and Friendship. oceer G/ï¬ce Services BOX 26 LYNDH URST, ONT. PHONE â€" 928â€"284! full sets of books for smuH businesses payroil â€" secretarial 0000000009909000OQOOQOOOOOOOOOOOOOQOQO00000.0000'00‘ §\\\\\\\\§\§\\\\\\\\0\\\\\$\\\\Q\\\\\\\\\\§\\\\\\\\& 000000000000000060OI00000000OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO0.00| . ‘