Hot Springs City Council of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority will honor its 2014-15 chapter Valentine queens at the Annual Charity Valentine Banquet to be held Feb. 7 at the Arlington Resort Hotel and Spa. Cocktails will be served at 6:30 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. The proceeds from this event will be going to Change Point in Hot Springs in April at the Hot Springs City Council Founder's Day Banquet. The public is welcome, but advance reservations are a must. Those who want to attend, please contact Linda Needham at 760-4891 to obtain tickets which are $50 per person. Reservations must be in by Sunday.
Each year, the chapters choose one of their own as their sweetheart who, due to her friendly and hard-working nature, embodies the ideal of the sorority. Hot Springs currently has four chapters. Each queen is honored by her chapter at the Valentine Banquet.
Beta Sigma Phi encourages women of all ages to participate in social events and service activities. It is dedicated to helping women fulfill their lives by making new friends, helping in the community or just finding time for themselves. Anyone interested in joining or learning more about the organization can call Needham, Preceptor Epsilon Chapter.
The Valentine queens to be honored this year are: Arlean Rogers, Laureate Mu; Gina Mayberry, Preceptor Epsilon; Kelly Ward, Theta Pi; and Mary Elliott, Xi Beta Chi.
Arlean Rogers, Laureate Mu, has been a member of Beta Sigma Sorority for 48 years. She pledged in 1966 and progressed through all levels to the Masters Level. She's held all offices in different chapters and has served as treasurer in this chapter for the past 10 years.
The chapter is small, but members have kept together for a long time, and value Rogers' knowledge of BSP. She has served as city council president three times and treasurer. She served as a co-chair for the State Convention in 2002, and as the gift wrap treasurer when the City Council had the booth at the mall for several years. She has served on all committees in the chapter and City Council over the years.
Rogers has four children, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. She is active in First United Methodist Church, The Caring Place (a respite for Alzheimer's and dementia patients, through the church), a circle leader for a UMW group for more than 15 years, as well as an officer for the district UMW. Rogers is a charter member of Spa Chapter of Order of Eastern Star and a past grand officer of Arkansas.
Gina Mayberry, Preceptor Epsilon Chapter, is the newest member of the chapter joining in 2014. She is chairman of the Social Committee. Members look forward to her eagerness to serve the chapter and the community.
Mayberry is a graduate of Lake Hamilton and Arkansas Tech University. She and her husband, Rick, are the owners of Rick's Backhoe and Dozier Service and Vicker's Tank Co. They have been blessed with twin daughters, Stephanie and Samantha, and one granddaughter, Kynlee Anne. The Mayberry's are longtime members of First Baptist Church. Her interests are spending time with family and friends.
Kelly Ward, Theta Pi Chapter, has shown leadership as a recent addition to the chapter. She moved to Hot Springs in April 2013 with her husband of 10 years, Mike Ward, and their five dogs. They are the proprietors of the Prospect Place Bed and Breakfast in historic downtown Hot Springs.
Ward holds the Ritual of Jewels degree in Beta Sigma Phi and serves on the Ways and Means Committee. Her contributions and efforts raising money on this committee have helped fuel the chapters efforts to donate money to local worthy causes such as CASA of Garland County, Mercy Breast Care Center and Camp Quality.
In addition to her work with Theta Pi Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, Ward has continued her work with at-risk dogs as one of the founders of Pugs and Kisses Pug Rescue of Central Arkansas. Ward holds a B.S. in Science that qualifies her for her full-time work as a registered health information administrator and a credentialed coding specialist. She is a member of ARHIMA and AHIMA. Ward passes on her professional knowledge as a part-time instructor at NPCC. She is an asset to her fellow members in Theta Pi Chapter and a loyal friend to all who are lucky enough to know her.
Mary Elliott, Xi Beta Chi, has been in Beta Sigma Phi since 1992 and served every office. She is the office manager for Gregg Orr Toyota and Orr Cadillac of Hot Springs.
She and her husband, Jim, just celebrated their 15-year anniversary. They have four children: Jaime Elliott, a fireman for the city of Hot Springs; Jessica Boswell, an internal auditor for Bank of the Ozark; Kaelyn Elder, director of radiology at Levi Hospital; and Justin Rowland, a junior at SAU in Magnolia. They are members of First Free Will Baptist Church. Elliott's hobbies are spending time with her family and friends.
Society on 01/31/2015