35 Attend Beta Sigma Phi Founders Day

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA["Give us grateful hearts, O Lord,

For food, for health, and friends;

Be thou our guide in all that we do

And keep us to the end. Amen."

They are the Beta Sigma Phi words of grace read by Xi Kappa Theta member Wendy Hopkins as sorority chapter members from across Du Quoin gathered at Red Hawk Country Club Thursday night for the annual Founders Day dinner.

The Founders Day theme is "Rekindle the Torch of Friendship."

Special recognition was given to four Beta Sigma Phi members who collectively have 258 years of membership in the nation's largest women's civic organization.

They include Eileen Sheehan (69 years) and Rose Dirler (66 years) of Illinois Zeta Masters; Ruby Hartje (63 years) of Illinois Alpha Tau Masters; and Mary Lou Morris (60 years) of Xi Eta Gamma.

Golden Circle honorees included: Dorothy Gallmeister (56 years) of Illinois Zeta Masters; Norma Martin (57 years) and Sis Eichhorn (52 years) of Illinois Alpha Tau Masters; Dorothy Alongi (57 years), Marie Rice (54 years), Betty Alongi (54 years) and Jaci Williams (53 years) of Xi Eta Gamma.

Silver Circle honorees included: Illinois Alpha Tau Masters--Cleota Dearing (49 years), Betty Elders (44 years), Gladys Coleman (48 years), Helen Stanhouse (41 years), Verna Bastien (40 years), Dorothy Collins (28 years) and Shirley Tanner (38 years).

Preceptor Alpha Eta--Toni Haner (42 years), Kathy Smith (42 years), Linda Sherman (40 years), Joyce Deaton (36 years), Shelley House (36 years), Joyce Schimpf (36 years), Linda Searby (35 years), Barb Brock (34 years), April Kremer (34 years), Mary Riggio (34 years), Mary Riggio (34 years), Johanna Tolbert (34 years), Barbara Croessman (34 years), Nora Fann (34 years), Sharon Childs (27 years), Priscilla Craig (27 years), Rose Alongi (26 years) and Donna Secrist (25 years).

Zi Eta Gamma--Ruth Pierce (49 years), Pat Ciganovich (45 years), Joyce Elledge (37 years), Wanda Rednour (37 years), Kitty Scarlett (38 years), Doris Harris (32 years) and Dixie Travelstead (28 years).

Xi Iota Epsilon--Judi Erwin (42 years), Lillian Rains (42 years), Janet Crews (40 years), June Hester (39 years), Marlene Kellerman (39 years), Sharon Petry (37 years), Bobbi Ingram (36 years), Martha Poiter (34 years), Sharon Dollus (38 years) and Marcia Frederick (33 years).

Xi Alpha Xi--Robin Juhl (30 years), Carolyn Crews (31 years) and Betty Brayfield (28 years).

This year's city council officers were president Sharon Childs, treasurer Robin Juhl and co-secretaries Mary Lou Morris and Betty Alongi.

Girls of the Year included: Della Keene of Illinois Alpha Tau Masters; Toni Haner and Donna Secrist of Preceptor Alpha Eta; Carolyn Crews of Xi Alpha Xi; Betty Alongi of Xi Eta Gamma; Marsha Frederick of Xi Iota Epsilon; and Jill Asbury of Xi Kappa Theta.

Perfect attendance recognition was given to: Preceptor Alpha Eta--Barb Brock, Joyce Schimpf, Priscilla Craig, April Kremer, Sharon Childs, Joyce Deaton, Judy Kaufman, Nora Fann, Toni Haner and Rose Alongi; Illinois Alpha Tau Masters--Betty Elders, Gladys Coleman, Ruby Hartje, Norma Martin and Verna Bastien; Xi Alpha Xi--Bettie Brayfield and Robin Juhl; Xi Eta Gamma--Mary Lou Morris; Xi Iota Epsilon--Lillian Rains (42 years), June Hester and Janet Crews; Xi Kappa Theta--Wendy Hopkins, Jill Asbury, Mary Smith, Billie Jo Green, Lynne Jones, Judie Hastings.

Robin Juhl read the Founder's Day Pledge and Barb Brock gave the message from International.