Nu Eta at one of its finer moments!
You may ask yourself, how did these ten totally different women in the middle of nowhere come together to form a Beta Sigma Phi chapter?
Nu Eta Chapter History
It all started back in 2001. Alison and Emily, two Tau Beta Sigma sisters  had also been toying with the idea of having a social/service sorority that they both could belong to. They had contacted Gamma Sigma Sigma which didnt fit their needs, and a local - Tau Lambda Sigma, which almost became a reality, but then chose not to expand. Over the summer Alison's family ran into financial problems and she had to ask for alumna status from Phi Sigma Sigma, her social. During this hard time she drew up plans and ritual for a social/service organization: Kappa Pi. In the fall of 2002 Emily and Alison met to discuss Kappa Pi. Alison began to talk to people on GreekChat and the discovered Beta Sigma Phi. There were many women trying to start Beta Sigma Phi Friendly Ventures (colonies) on the Beta boards. The thing that caught Alison's attention was the fact that a woman can be active in Beta Sigma Phi for her lifetime and not have to become alumna. In October 2002 Alison was granted her alumna status from Phi Sigma Sigma.

On October 25th 2002, Alison sent her first of MANY emails to International and recieved a quick reply from Amber. After this interaction, she approached Emily with the idea of starting a chapter. After they got more knowledgeable about what they needed for Beta, Alison and Emily talked to Sara Y. about joining them in their quest. The girls then met on November 4th and 6th at Michelle's Cafe in downtown Clarion to discuss Beta Sigma Phi. Alison, Emily and Sara Y. were excited about planning rush. They listed over 20 names of women that would be ideal sisters. Letters were typed out and handed to the women on a personal basis on November 7th (BSP Memory: driving in Emily's van around town finding places that didnt exist). We recieved some good responses and also some bad. Most women felt that they didnt have the time required for Beta.

November 12th 2002, we recieved our Friendly Venture packet and seven of us quickly filled out our pledge forms. During this time, one member left us and another joined, keeping our number at ten. On November 15th we elected an executive board, the same that is running the sorority now.

On November 20th we had our second interest meeting at the Ritazza cafe in the Gemmell Student Center. (BSP Memory: Who knew Ritazza was closed on Fridays?!) We were persistant and added four new members to our family. The Clarion Friendly Venture also now had a website. The Clarion family was now (in order of joining) Alison, Emily, Sara Y., Tiffany, Jess, Lisa, Sarah B., Toni, Sarah H. and Ashley.

December 2, 2002. The Nu Eta chapter of Beta Sigma Phi (#14298) was established at International.

We recieved our new chapter "box", which has become the ritual "box", in the beginning of December. Over Christmas break Alison and Emily kept in constant communication - even though they lived three hours apart and had horribly conflicting work schedules. Alison eagerly read through both "Invitation to Life" and "The Book of Beta Sigma Phi" and through the Pinning Ritual and installation... no, she didnt read any further because she was not at the proper degree to read anything else! :) Emily also heard the Pinning Ritual over the phone and decided it was BEAUTIFUL!

The first pinning was on January 19th 2003 at the Marwickl-Boyd fine arts building in the back hallway. Sisters pinned: Alisonm Emily, Sarah B., Jess, Toni and Sara Y. (BSP Memory: Fanning the flame, This is a nice grey cabanet, McDonalds, Gold ribbons?) The second pinning was on February 23rd 2003 at Emily's apartment for Ashley and Sarah H.. (BSP Memory: Emily's dinner, Waterfalls). The third pinning was held on February 25th 2003 at Emily's apartment for Tiffany. (BSP Memory: Emily's nachos, Ash's mom in a cup).

More history will be added as it is made!

We would like to thank all of the sisters and interested members on Greek Chat for their continued support of Nu Eta!
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