07/23/2012
Legendary Ladies Forum- 2012 AR BSP Convention
#1: Among the suggestions from International in regard to the forum section of a Convention, is one that says that we should try to keep the theme pertinent to sorority. The forum presentation that you are about to see is the result of us wanting to follow that suggestion but we also wanted to avoid the more common lecture, outside speaker, or the interactive exchange achieved by dividing up the room & asking you to discuss the usual topics that we have pondered so many times before. No, we wanted something different, something special for over 80 years of memories, & something worthy of your attention. & we wanted to bring attention to some very special women, let’s call them “Legendary Ladies” who have paved the sometimes obscured road for us.
So, it’s time.
………….It’s time to have you burst with pride,
……..…. it’s time to maybe shed a tear when you realize how wonderful you are,
………… & it is time to throw humility to the wind, for we think you will find this worthy of your attention - IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU!!
#2: So…you belong to the world’s largest women’s friendship network. Who knew that in the midst of the world’s greatest financial panic & economic depression that one man & a small group of women could see a need & figure out how to create an organization that would become that one thing – just for you? That one thing that strengthens you, empowers you & centers you. BSP has given to you & you in turn have given to others. Since 1931 – DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’VE DONE?
#3: Through your programs you have gained a wealth of knowledge, through your sharing of laughter & heartache you have gained understanding & compassion. And through your commitment to be of use & service in this world despite its imperfections – you have gained the ability to give a taste of perfection to those in need. YOU DID THAT!
#1: Learning has been made fun. Who do you know that has heard of Camp Quality & knows what an extraordinary organization it is? Who knows about that very special item that one of your sisters holds near & dear to her heart? Who knows what plants to eat when stranded in the wilderness or how to efficiently pack for a six week holiday in a bag the size of a briefcase? You do, because one of your sisters had a program to do & thought this would be useful & interesting information. YOU DID THAT!
#2: By 1939 BSP was 1,000 members strong. The war years were tough on the women who were left behind all over the country. The United States went to war in 1942 & BSP’s set to work volunteering for the Red Cross, helping in hospitals, taking positions in the workforce & joining up to serve overseas & at home. BSP’s also sold more than $22 million in war bonds. & yet, at the same time, the first international city council was established in Niagara Falls, Ontario & Niagara Falls, New York. In the middle of the war, 26 U.S. army nurses organized Alpha chapter, North Africa…YOU DID THAT!
#3: Yes, our sorority continued to grow & establish all over the world. In 1951 one of our international sisters was involved in a tragic car accident & had an immediate financial need. Hence the International Loan Fund began with contributions from individual members. This fund continues to provide help to sisters in need around the world. YOU DID THAT!
BSP made Girlstown, USA the first project to receive funding from the International Endowment Fund in 1953 & to this day it is the longest continuing project, having received more than half a million dollars. YOU DID THAT!
#1: In 1956, a Legendary Lady, former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, was inducted as an Honorary Member of BSP. She supported the formation of the United Nations. President Harry Truman called her the "First Lady of the World" in tribute to her human rights achievements. SHE DID THAT!
#2: The Legacy Daughters enrollment plan was established in 1957 with the enrollment of Walter W. Ross’ three granddaughters: Linda, Judy & Laura. For some years the legacy daughter scholarship was awarded to one legacy daughter. YOU DID THAT!
#3: With the passing of our founder, Walter W. Ross in June, 1969 at age 69, the Walter W. Ross Memorial Scholarship is established & countless youth who are close to us to receive tuition assistance. With the passing of Dorothy Ross in 1980, the fund is renamed The Dorothy & Walter Ross Memorial Fund. To date more than a quarter of a million dollars has been awarded. YOU DID THAT!
#1: You can be proud of the significant amount of money & time that you have donated to some of the worlds most worthy causes. Research work is being done in cancer, kidney disease, heart disease & just about every other disease known to man. Dr. Florence Siebert, a leader in cancer research, was inducted as an Honorary Member of BSP in 1966.
#3: What you do for the world of course is of great benefit to all – but what about closer to home? What about the everyday stuff? Listen to these true stories…………..
#1: Her son was only three months old & very ill. His kidneys were in failure, he was on dialysis in the intensive care unit with round the clock nursing care. She couldn’t leave him. She just sat by the crib in a sort of daze. At some point, the nurse came up to her & said “there is a friend of yours outside, she’s brought you a bite to eat. Would you like to go out & visit for a while?” She said “I don’t think so, I don’t feel like eating. They’re finding me a place to sleep tonight so when that’s arranged I’ll go check in & grab something then.” With that, the nurse went out & spoke to her friend – & she went back to watching & praying. Three hours later, the nurse came in & said “There’s a room for you at Easter Seal House just a few doors away, but you do need to go check in – oh & by the way, your friend is still here. She said she had a book to read & we weren’t to bother you, but she wanted to wait.” Three hours she had waited. Her friend was a sorority sister – not even from her chapter. She walked with her to Easter Seal House. She had been so kind, so thoughtful, so giving of her time & the mother was so very grateful for her. Both of them were overwhelmed when they entered Easter Seal House & read the sign over the door: “This house furnished by BSP”. & she said, “Somehow I just know everything is going to be alright”. And it was. YOU DID THAT!
#2: Another true story……….It took me awhile to figure this sorority thing out. My mother had been “in” forever, so why couldn’t I get the same sense of satisfaction & friendship that she enjoyed? One day one of her friends asked me why I took a leave. I told her that I understood how much sorority meant to my mom & to all the members of her chapter, but I just didn’t feel that my chapter gave me the same fulfillment. She said “Instead of looking for something from the others, why don’t you offer your friendship without expectation, without judgment & just enjoy the gift of giving?” I looked at her & nearly said something not so polite, but something stopped me & I just said I’d think about it. And I did. I went back to sorority at the next Beginning Day – with no expectations but many intentions. I learned how to be a better friend by listening, by helping, by caring & by sharing. My mom & her wise friend are no longer with us, but I’m so grateful for the legacy they left. And every year I truly understand the gift of BSP. YOU DID THAT!
#3: And this story from a local BSP sister…..My sisters & I have attended many AR
BSP State Conventions & have been involved in putting them on in Hot Springs. The first one I attended was in Fayetteville sometime in the mid 70's. I was so impressed with the amount of women who attended & met so many women who were BSP. At that time everyone dressed really nice & there were yellow roses at our plates & nice favors at each function. I was very interested in the scrapbook & yearbook contests. I thought the awards were a real exciting part of it all. I remember the first time I saw the candle lit closing ritual & the song we sang. I was overwhelmed with the fellowship of my other sisters. It was all so organized & I wanted to be a part of it. I couldn’t wait until the next time when I could attend the BSP State Convention. I think it is important to honor our Women of the Year. They are usually selected as women who have either worked very hard on chapter responsibilities or have given of themselves unselfishly throughout the year. When I began as a BSP they were called Girls of the Year. As time went by we changed it to Women of the Year. But I think we are still girls at heart. We are only as young as we feel! Until recently, my husband & I always went together. He really enjoyed accompanying me…..I miss him terribly.
#1: Another local sister tells us: I have helped celebrate 8 weddings, 18 births, (to members & their children) many, many birthdays, anniversaries & funerals, happy times, sad times & in-between. But no matter how far away my BSP sisters are, I know that I can depend on them if needed in time of happiness or sadness. YOU DO THAT!!!
#2: And you do it every day……………The times you have sat with a grieving sister,
……………………the food you’ve provided, the driving, the care & support,
……………………the need for which seems to increase every year
………………….. Why is that?
#3: Well, sister, we….all of us…..we’re getting older & we all have different challenges to face. But as sorority gets older, who is going take on its challenges?
#2: When it comes to the things that you know our Sorority needs, how many times have you heard or said: “been there, done that” or “I’ve done my bit” or “It can’t be our turn again”?
But ahead of you lie days & years to use for greater & greater achievement. For the sake of our Sorority we cannot rest on our laurels and expect the future to take care of itself.
Move back while humming the dirge & allow #1 to take the center stage…
#1: We were saddened to learn last week of the death of one of our community’s most valuable members:
SOMEONE ELSE
Someone Else’s passing creates a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. Someone Else has been with us for many years & for every one of those years, Someone Else did far more than a normal person’s share of the work. Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results. Whenever there was a job to do, one name was on everyone’s list: “Let Someone Else do it”, or “Someone Else can work with that group”. It was common knowledge that Someone Else was always the one the organization called upon to support a particular project, everyone just assumed the Someone Else would provide what was needed. Someone Else was a wonderful person – sometimes appearing superhuman, but one person can only do so much. But the truth is ……………everyone expected too much of Someone Else. Now Someone Else is gone. & we wonder what we are going to do?? Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but WHO is going to follow it? WHO is going to do the things Someone Else did?…………………….When you have a chance to participate in our organization’s activities REMEMBER – we can’t depend on Someone Else any more.
#1: Since 1931 BSP’s have known what to do, you’ve known what you want & you know how to achieve your goals………And with memories ……….OF OVER 80 YEARS
We celebrate the courage of the sisters who have gone before us, with those who will carry our sorority into the future. We are thankful for their Vision, & look for the enthusiasm to carry on with assurance that we will do our work for others, knowing that in Humility, Fellowship, Loyalty & Service, the love of self is forgotten. We will stay true to our obligation & in so doing will enjoy the love & friendship of our fellow beings.
#2: WOW, that’s a tall order! We’re all going to work a little harder at being even better BSP’s by volunteering more, doing something to up the profile of sorority, help build the membership, support BSP special events, have a casserole ready in the freezer in case somebody needs it, have the check book ready in case somebody needs it, register for every convention, be available to drive, deliver, babysit or whatever it takes to help a sister &
......................... (SAM cuts in)
#3: Whoa!! Whoa!!! Whoa!!!!
Well……………. wouldn’t that be nice if we could do all those things. But in reality, maybe what we need to do can be all wrapped up in just one action. There really is only one thing we need to do – tell everyone you know or meet that BSP is for them, or for the women in their lives…………..& we do that by being BSP’s best commercial – Give your best to your sorority - only good will follow. But perhaps before we leave this room everyone here needs to know this …………………...…………………………………………………………………………
#1: Remember the theme for this forum is “Legendary Ladies”…..
Because of such Legendary Ladies as First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt,
…….....Actress Rosalind Russell,
…….....Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver,
…….....First Lady & Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton,.………Actress & First Lady Nancy Reagan,……….Sarah Ophelia Cannon, aka Minnie Pearl,
………..Former head of the American Red Cross Elizabeth Dole,
………..Actress Debbie Reynolds
………all of whom just happen to be Honorary BSPs, because of Legendary Ladies like these,
YOU CAN BE WHAT EVER YOU WANT TO BE!
#2: Because of other Legendary Ladies who have paved the road for us, such as
…………the first woman elected to the U. S. Senate, Arkansas’ own Hattie Wyatt Caraway,
…………Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean
………. ..Rosa Parks who inspired the historical boycott of Montgomery Alabama’s city busses,
…………Sally Ride, the first American woman in space,
…………Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman appointed to the U. S. Supreme Court
…………Madelyn Albright, the first female U.S. Secretary of State
…………Oprah Winfrey, talk show host, actress, producer & an influential woman
YOU CAN DO WHAT EVER YOU WANT TO DO!!!
#3: Now go out into that sometimes dark, always challenging world & do what you do best, carry the Torch & shine its light to reach your goals & for those who follow us.
& remember………………….
ALL:
YOU ARE A LEGENDARY LADY BECAUSE YOU ARE A BSP!
Revised by Hot Springs Iota Delta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi. Original script from BSP members from Vancouver, British Columbia.
