By BARBARA BARBIERI
A 100th anniversary celebration for the Bluffton Alpha Eta chapter of Psi Iota Xi was held Sunday at the Hunt Club with the group’s National President Rhonda Crisenbery of Fort Wayne as their special guest.
Member Jenny Bultemeier welcomed the guests and former member Billy Kreigh gave a brief look at what women in general and the Alpha Eta members had accomplished over the 100 years. Currently, the group has 11 members. Last year their fund-raising, including the sale of the Cheese Balls, allowed them to donate $9,750 back to community projects. The groups included: Bridge of Hope Gala, YMCA, Family Centered Services, Wells County Public Library and Wells County Historical
Society.
Among the information shared was the following: On Oct. 29, 1923, Alpha Eta, the Bluffton chapter of Psi Iota Xi, was organized as the 19th chapter in the Indiana.
Co-presidents were Ella Caylor and Zoe Malcolm. Other charter members included: Irene Huyette Wiley, recording secretary; Mary Siford, treasurer; Alta Jan Woodruff Carson, corresponding secretary; Mary Stine Shaffer, Edna Farling, Florence Fishbaugh Davenport, Mary Templin, Dolly Hamilton, Dorothy Rippe, Madge Spray Siford and Elizabeth Stodgill.
In 1924-25 the co-presidents were Mary Shaffer and Irene Wiley and in 1925 Dolly Hamilton was the president.
In 1932, the members were concerned about the need for a place for supervised swimming. In June of 1933, a committee headed by Malcolm reported she had found a place three-quarters of a mile from Bluffton that included a quarry. They arranged to purchase the 7.3 acres of land and the Psi Ote Pool came into being.
Admission was 10 cents and a season pass was priced at $3. Members volunteered their time to run the concession stand. Early life guards at the pool included Paul Koenig, Ernie Prough and Earl Captain.
The pool area was upgraded for the 1959 opening date. Members of the pool committee in 1970, when the pool was leased to the Bluffton Park Board for $100 for the year, were Mary Gallivan, Janet Wolfcale, Martha Smekens, Mary Alice Jackson and Nancy Heister. Bluffton High School teacher Raymond Roberson was hired as the manager.
Fundraisers over the years have included the selling of cookbooks, presenting style shows, playing bingo, rummage sales, book reviews, concerts, sponsored movies, Christmas House Tours and, of course, the famous Cheese Balls.
In addition the group has awarded scholarships to graduating high school student furthering their studies in language, arts, music or Speech and Hearing.
In 1946, the group jointly sponsored the Hoosier Art Salon Exhibit in Bluffton with the Beta Phi chapter of Tri Kappa. The exhibit was held in the former Thoma Furniture Store on Main St. and attracted over 1500 visitors.
In 1983, the group celebrated their 60th anniversary with a tea held at the First United Methodist Church. Nancy Wagner was their president and two past national presidents, Mary Gallman (1953) and Mary Ann Reed (1950) were honored.
Members attending that event included: Maro Bender, Naomi Ulmer, Mary Alice Jackson, Vera Hedges, Ethel Bunker, Martha Smekens, Martha Mugg, Karen Nash, Laura Sawyer, Margaret Grove, Barb Dickson, Janet Heller, Claudia Smith, Jane Smekens, Irene Park, Virgil Renolett, Alyce Ann Baler, Naomi Larmore, Sue McDonald, Helen Troyer, Margaret Grove, Mary Alice Fritz and Joan Garrett.
From 1923 to 1975, the following women have been president of the group beginning with co-presidents Ella Caylor and Zoe Malcolm: Mary Shaffer and Irene Wiley, Dolly Hamilton, Billie Knoff, Goldie Goodin, Pearl Snyder, Hazel Hartman, Mabelle Stogdill, Ruth Squire, Helen Roff, Dorothy Edwards, Bernice Houser, Mildred Weilemann, Mary McBride, Ruth Young, Helen Sutton, Grace Buckner Knapp, Claudia Smith, Justine Tanageman, Mary Tyndall Gallman, Virgil Renollet, Dorothea Flaningham, Mary Gallivan, Dorothy Huffman, Barbara Fritz, Vera Hedges, Naomi Ulmer, Irene Park, Helen Decker, Esther Roe, Mary Alice Fritz, Maro Bender, Ruth Sellers, Helen Troyer, Martha Mugg, Jane McKenzie, Marie Yoder, Janet Wolfcale, Phyllis Biberstine, Jeanne McCord, Ann Biddle Osborn, Martha Smekens, Karen Smekens, Helen Vice, Laura Sawyer and Henrietta Caylor.
From 1976 to the present, the presidents have included: Margaret Leonard, Juanita Parker, Jane Smekens Waters, Karen Nash, Vivan Hans, Anna Slater, Nancy Wagner, Diana Smith, Peg Oman, Marjorie Haines, Laura Sawyer, Fritzie Nodine, Nancy Morrissey Leitz, Sue Schwyn, Connie Connett, Dawn Allison, Paula Marquart, Julie Holte, Debbie Elkins, Donna Emshwiller, Jane Geimer, Sue Cale, Rhonda Ryan, Jenny Peterson, Layne Fisher, Liz Moser, Jennifer Bultemeier, and Melinda Gilgen (2020-2023).
In addition to Kreigh’s history lesson the group’s National President Crisenbery explained what an asset the group is to the area as over the past year they have gifted $9,750 to community programs.
The afternoon also included refreshments and concluded with Bingo.
Psi Iota Xi—Nationally
Psi Iota Xi was founded on September 18, 1897 by a group of five high school girls and their three teachers in Central High School in Muncie, Indiana and was the first Greek letter organization of its kinds in Indiana.
Alpha chapter’s purpose was for its member to find self-direction and personal growth while seeking to enrich the lives of others by furthering philanthropic enterprises. One of the teachers composed the ritual that endures today and one of the girls designed the diamond shaped pin, chose old gold and turquoise blue for the colors with the while carnation as the flower (later changed to a yellow rose). The Helicon became the official publication.
Beta chapter was formed in Evansville in 1900 and by 1910 there were 10 chapters.
For three quarters of a century the group has given money to Riley Hospital and since 1938 have supported a variety of Speech Pathology and Audiology projects. Since 1940 they have been Hoosier Salon patrons and have awarded a Jury Prize of Distinction.
Psi Iota Xi has chapters in the states of Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and Kentucky and are divided into six districts.
barb@news-banner.com
