A Bit About Ourselves
Why I Joined Online Kappa
Brenda -
I joined Online Kappa, because I read an article about online chapters in the Torch. I work full time in a town an hour from my home town. My land chapter only meets in the evening, and because time is so restricted for me, I miss many of the meetings. Therefore, I miss that fellowship connection with women friends. Online Kappa was an answer for me. I can "attend" meetings at my convenience, and read the email fellowships with my online friends during the day, again at my convenience (translation: whenever I can squeeze it in.)
Some might think it is wierd to have "virtual" friends. However, because of the phone calls and snail cards as well as emails, there is a real connection which has got me through some interesting times of late. I love Online Kappa and would recommend it to anyone.
My hobbies are scrapbooking and quilting.
Karen -
I joined Online Kappa after researching on the International Website. I was curious about what online chapters do and checked out numerous websites of the different chapters and Kappa was the one that appealed to me the most. I was looking for something to "supplement" my land chapter. I had just recently moved to a new state and didn't know anyone here. I'm the baby in my land chapter and these ladies have been together for 10-30 years so friendships, bonds and traditions had already been well established. I was feeling a bit left out and out of place so I was searching for something to fill the void.
What I've found with this chapter is more than a "void filler". I've found true friends, people that are always there when I need them. I've learned more about Beta Sigma Phi from my few months with Online Kappa than I have in the three years I've been with a land chapter. Sometimes it's hard for me to wrap my brain around virtual socials and things like that but it's been a very fun adventure. It's also been great meeting sisters from all over the country and sharing with them. It's nice to hear about other places and to see pictures from everyone's various trips. If anyone were to ask me if I thought they should join an online chapter I'd have to say "Most Definitely, join ours!!"
My hobbies are reading, cooking, scrapbooking, cross stitch and gardening.
Carrie -
"Carrie lives in Gold Hill, Oregon, on the banks of the Rogue River - one of our country's greatest fishing spots! She's married to Dan, and they have seven children in their blended family, with seventeen grandchildren and one great-grandchild! Happily, the kids just visit - none are living at home anymore!
Carrie was encouraged to join Beta Sigma Phi many years ago when she was a nursing student. It provided the extra friendship she was looking for, having just relocated from the northeast to the south.
She is one of two remaining charter members of On Line Kappa, and joined this chapter because there were no Beta Sigma Phi chapters near her new home in Texas .
On Line Kappa has given her long-time friendships through the eight years of her membership in the chapter, and she looks forward daily to hearing from her sisters in this amazing on line group."
Bonnie -
Greetings Friends, Although my name has tones of being Spanish and French, I claim my ancestral heritage to be Norwegian. I was born in Wisconsin. Family moves and military moves have taken me east coast to west coast and back east again. Home base is Salisbury, MD and our retirement home is
The Villages, FL. My daughter and son are happy and successful in their lives. My name is Gramma B to three beautiful little girls. My career is nursing of many experiences. My hobby is hand crafts of crochet and knit. My collectible is nursing figurines and related memorabilia. My volunteer service is Women Supporting Women and breast cancer awareness. My Beta Sigma Phi membership spans 30 years.
In closing - - life is good and I have many moments of blessings and bliss.
Erica -
My name is Erica. I am married to my college sweetheart, Cory. We have one son, and we are expecting our second child in the summer of 2008. We live in Pennsylvania, near where we grew up. I became a member of the Online Kappa chapter in the spring of 2003. I had started a Friendly Venture while in graduate school in Massachusetts (November 2002), and I was looking for a way to connect with more experienced Beta Sigma Phi sisters. I quickly discovered that the OLK members were a wonderful resource as my little chapter grew. Eventually, my husband and I moved back to PA, and I continued to enjoy OLK. When my son was born, the sisters threw me an "online baby shower." I was so touched!
Doris -
I have been in Beta Sigma Phi since 1969 & wanted to meet other sisters across the world . The online chapter idea was a great way to accomplish this. I have thoroughly enjoyed being a memember of OLK & feel every bit as close to the members as I do to the ones in my land chapter.
I live in a rural area near Dayton, Oh on 8 acres. My husband & I have 4 sons, 2 daughters-in-law & 2 granddaughters.
Our main hobby is historical reenacting of the 18 & 19 centuries. I do hearth cooking & historical clothing. I have a beautiful miniature house that was given to me by Bob's stepmother & I am trying to get if furnished by making a lot of the furniture.
Barbara -
I am married to Duane, and this month Jan. 2008, we will be married
55 years. He is also an Envoy BSP Member of Online Kappa (OLK).
We lived in Fla. 40 years and finally moved back home to Ohio.I have been a member of Beta Sigma Phi for 35 years, and I have been in the Online Kappa Chapter for about 3 years. I became interested in the online chapter as some of my sisters in the land chapter were entering the assisted living way of life; I wondered about the possibilities if they could stay in touch with their sisters when they no longer could come out in the evenings to a meeting and it might be a way for them to keep their perfect attendance if they so desired. I found myself enjoying my Virtual Sisters very much. With my sisters in the land chapter becoming fewer and fewer attending meetings due to age and health issues, including me, I realized the online chapter is what I want to be a part of, as it does fill a need for me. I can attend a meeting and not have to worry about being out late at night or worry about the weather and still be in touch with some wonderful sisters all over the country. Anyone interested in the Online Chapters come visit us at our meetings and join our chapter, we are a wonderful group of sisters.I recommend it very much.
My hobbies are Bridge, Quilting, reading and still trying to learn the computer.
Nancy -
Hi, I am Nancy, currently the President of OLK. I welcome visitors to our site and hope you will be interested in knowing more about us. We have been an Online Chapter since 2000. We got in early with the other Online chapters so we have had many bugs to work out and work through. But we are an active and caring group and we have made considerable progress since our starting date. We have just 2 of the original members still active in this chapter.
I am in an Online chapter because there is not a Land Chapter to join in this area. I did join one when I first arrived but it was foundering and finally failed. Since I didn't know the gals very well, I wasn't able to keep it going. I moved to my present location 4 years ago from Memphis, TN where I was an active member in a Land chapter.
My hobbies and interests include tatting, knitting, cross stitching and reading. I also work in my garden when it is not too hot or too cold. I belong to the local hospital Auxillary, the garden club and the Red Hat Ladies. I dislike house work, but hey, it has to be done so I work at it. (lol)
Kristine -
Olathe, Kansas (a suburb of Kansas City)
married with two children
I joined OLK for two reasons: I wanted the flexibility of an online chapter, since my schedule revolves around my children and night meetings are virtually impossible. An online chapter gives me that. I chose OLK, because I liked you all best! :)
Dean Ann -
Why I joined OLK: I joined Online Kappa because we do not have a land chapter here in Lake Village, Arkansas and I wanted to be connected to my Beta Sigma Phi sisters. Nancy, who lives down the road, encouraged me to join, so I did. I am so grateful to her for telling me about OLK and have made some wonderful friendships with you girls. I truly love this chapter and the sisters in it. My hobbies are scrapbooking, reading, crosstitching, gardening, and canning.
Summer Memories: I have some wonderful summer memories growing up. Every year we would go to our grandparents' farm in Vernon, Florida (in the northwest panhandle part). Both my parents are from Florida - Mom, from Vernon and Dad was from Sebring (in the southern central part). Sebring is where they have a lot of car races. We would leave Corpus Christi, TX about 3 am on a Saturday and drive to Vernon (a 21-hour drive) and arrive at my grandparents' home around 11 pm that night. Mom grew up on the farm. It was a real working farm with cows, pigs, horses, chickens and grandmother had all the makings for a garden. Like Brenda, I can remember sitting on the front porch swing with my mother, grandmother, aunts and neighbors down the road, shelling peas and snapping butterbeans until our fingers were green and sore. And listening to them talk about everything! My brother, sister, and I would love to play in their clay dirt road in front of the house and lane by the big old oak, until the road was paved and then we were really sad. Vernon is only about 35 miles from Panama City Beach, so we would always make a special trip and spend a whole day at the beach. We always got real excited about going to the beach! Also, my grandparents' had wild blueberries behind the pastures and they always had blacks come in and pick them and they they would pay them for whatever amount they had picked. One year, I can remember very well, there was such a long line of them waiting to turn their blueberries in and get paid and while they were waiting, they would sing such beautiful negro spirituals. It was so powerful and they were so good singing those songs! I think that was probably around 1957 or so. Those were the good ole days!