Life, Learning & Friendship
Area Sorority Gives Back to Community
Grace Phillips
Ashland Beacon
The Kentucky MU Master Sorority will hold its annual rummage sale, Saturday, March 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is the 24th year for the sale and it will be held at Ashland First United Methodist Church Activity Center located at 1811 Carter Avenue, Ashland. All proceeds of the sale will go back into the community for service projects.
The sorority is a part of the organization Beta Sigma Phi which means Life, Learning, & Friendship. Established by Walter Ross in 1931 in Abilene Kansas, for the social, cultural and civic enrichment of its members, the organization is now international with over 200,000 members in the United States, Canada and 30 other countries around the world.
According to Brenda Phelps, chapter adviser, membership is by invitation only. “We meet twice a month to conduct chapter business. However, it is not just business only at the meetings. We have refreshments and then a time to visit with one another. It’s a time we can catch up on each other's families and lives. Lifelong friends are made at these meetings. We have members right now that have been a part of our group for 53 years.”
The sorority is very involved in supporting the various needs of our community. In order to accomplish this goal, they do fundraising events such as the annual rummage sale. The organizations that receive donations vary each year. Some of those that have benefited in the past include: Two Hearts Pregnancy Center, area food pantries, Safe Harbor, The Angel Tree, school patrol trips, AARF, suitcases for NECCO’s foster kids, backpacks for students, CARES Jingle Bell Ball, The Neighborhood, sweatshirts and food for Blazer High School. The group also visits nursing homes, spending time with the residents. They have also volunteered for many area organizations in the past, donating their time rather than money.
Susie Murphy shared, “We have lots of goodies for the sale. I will be bringing some items for quilters to check out. We have way too many items to mention but there will be something for everyone’s interest. Make sure you get there at 9 a.m. sharp for the best selection.” If anyone would like to donate items to the sale, Murphy said to please call and they will gladly pick them up. You can call 606.922.2288 before Friday, March 8 for pickup…you might even get a hug.
Most chapters today have older members who have been in the sorority for 50 to 60 years. Forever friends have been formed during those years…the kind of friends who you can always count on and will always stand with each other. As with life, time moves on, members age and health now affects many in the group. Phelp concluded by saying, “We may not be able to accomplish everything we have done in the past, but we will continue our purpose of helping those in need in every way possible.”