Preceptor Pi Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi met April 19 at the home of Lois Johnson with Susan Coulson serving as co-hostess. President Brenda Black led the meeting.
Linda Jerke introduced Mary Hester, Director of Learning Resources at Barton Community College, who spoke about new equipment that is available in the college’s Cohen Center for Kansas History. A publication scanner lets people save their family histories from books and other documents before they are lost to deterioration. A new microfilm reader allows much easier access to items than previous microfilm machines have offered.  In addition, a new e-reader is available in Barton’s library for those who have problems with reading.
Access to these resources is free for everyone in the college’s seven-county service area, Hester said. The equipment in the Cohen Center has been provided by the Barton Community College Foundation primarily through donations from Dr. Mary Cohen, Leawood, who with her husband, Bart, donated their extensive collection of Kansas history books to the college and funded the construction of the Cohen Center in the college’s Learning Resource Center in 2005.
Judy Krebaum presented the Beta Brief continuing with details about Diotima, who is mentioned in Beta Sigma Phi rituals. She was known as the Wise Woman of Mantinea, a city in ancient Greece. Her name means “honored by God,” and she was held in high regard by Socrates, the teacher of Plato. She is mentioned in Plato’s “Symposium,” quite an honor for a woman in ancient times.
Service chair Susan Brown reported she had received an email from a representative of the Colorado Springs chapter telling about the Colorado chapter’s project to help children in Ghana, Africa. Members decided to send money to the Colorado Springs chapter to purchase flip-flops, which are needed by the children of Ghana.
Social chair Karen Reif reported plans for the chapter’s Birthday Dinner set for May 17 at Sweet Traditions in Rozel.
The next meeting of Preceptor Pi will be at 7 p.m. May 10 at the home of Judy Krebaum. She also will be co-hostess. Janice Walker will present the program.