Preceptor Pi Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi held its first meeting of the new sorority year on Sept. 6. Members met first at the USD 428 Central Kitchen on Broadway for a program arranged by Janis Link. Food Service Director Karl Sprague gave a tour of the kitchen and explained the operation including planning, preparing and transporting meals to the schools.
 Following the program, members met at Janice Walker’s home. Co-hostess was Linda Jerke. President Janis Link led the meeting. Susan Brown presented a letter she had received from Colorado Springs Chapter Delta Epsilon Master thanking Preceptor Pi for contributing to the chapter’s African orphanage project. With the money provided by Preceptor Pi, the Colorado chapter had purchased clothing for children in the orphanage.
Janice Walker, service chair, reported her committee had met to plan the chapter’s service projects for the year. This year, Preceptor Pi will give monetary donations to the Makinna Ann Hope Foundation and Kans for Kids. For monthly service projects, the plan is for members to  bring items for the Daniel R. Trickey Life Giving Center in September; bring items for bingo prizes for Cherry Village in October; bring food for the Food Bank in November; then start over in January with gifts for the Life Giving Center, Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center and Food Bank.
Jeri Brozek, ways and means chair, reported the chapter will assist with a wedding rehearsal dinner in September. Members working will be Karen Reif, Jeri Brozek, Janice Walker and Brenda Black. Susan Brown volunteered to be an alternate.
 

The Chapter met again on Sept. 20 at the home of Susan Brown. Co-hostess was Jeanne Schmitt.
Brown introduced Evelyn Essmiller as guest speaker. She and her husband, Bob, serve as co-presidents of the board for the Community Food Bank of Barton County. Essmiller said the Food Bank was established in 1984 as a ministry of the Barton County Association of Churches. It is a separate entity from the association with a tax-exempt status and is operated by a 14-member board of directors and 30-50 volunteers. Barton County residents and transients who find themselves in a crisis situation are eligible to apply for assistance from the Food Bank. If they meet requirements, they can receive assistance three times in a 12-month period with two weeks between visits.
The Food Bank depends on donations of food and other items from churches and organizations in the community. Two major food drives for the Food Bank are conducted by the Boy Scouts and the U.S. Postal Service each year. Located at 3007 10th Street, the Food Bank is open from 1 to 3 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Preceptor Pi president Janis Link led the chapter meeting. Susan Brown presented a note and photo from Mickey Shumaker of Colorado Springs Chapter Delta Epsilon Master. The photo was of the clothing and flip flops purchased for the African Orphanage Project with money provided by Preceptor Pi. In a Beta Brief, Judy Krebaum told about the new Mizpah Roll developed by Beta Sigma Phi International to honor deceased members.
Janice Walker, service chair, thanked members for their contributions of items for the Daniel R. Trickey Life Giving Center, including toilet tissue, paper towels, trash bags, feminine hygiene products, combs/brushes for hair, hand soap, diapers, and women’s and children’s clothing. For the chapter’s October service project, members will bring items for Cherry Village bingo prizes, which could be hand lotions, fingernail polish, after shave, body soaps, etc.
Jeri Brozek, ways and means chair, reported five members assisted with a wedding rehearsal dinner as a fund-raising project for the chapter. Susan Brown, social chair, reported the chapter’s first social will be a Barbecue and Bunko on Saturday, Sept. 23. Members and their spouses/guests were to meet at 6:30 p.m. at Cindy Meitler’s home for a barbecue.
The next meeting of Preceptor Pi will be at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at the 10th Street Pizza Hut. Jeri Brozek will be the hostess and co-hostess. Judy Krebaum will present the program.