About Beta Eta

Before becoming the Beta Eta chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, the original sisters were apart of another music organization called Theta Mu Kappa which was organized in 1946. The formal initiation of it members into Sigma Alpha Iota was on March 25, 1948. The chapter installation was on the following afternoon on March 26. The first class of Beta Eta’s included:
 
Helen Bergsma, Barbara Brown, Patricia Dewey, Geraldine Dimmick, Carolyn George, Ruth Gudy, Marilyn Hammond, Marilyn Heidenreich, Geraldine French, Mary Krust, Adele Kumpel, Phyllis Marlaney, Beverly McCabe, Mary Ellen Pas, Edna Smith, Lillian Sundquist, Marilyn VanWagner, and Mary Ellen Ward.
 
The pledging service and formal initiation, March 25, 1948, were held in the Arcadia Brook Faculty Lounges. Mrs. Gertrude Wood, National Treasurer, and Mrs. Edna Rait Hutton, National Editor, officiated both services. Beta Eta members, national officers, patronesses, sponsors, and guests celebrated with a dinner and the first Beta Eta Musicale. After the officers workshop on Saturday, March 26, a business luncheon was held in the Van Gogh room of Walwood Hall. Beta Eta’s first formal business meeting was conducted by Mrs. Wood and Mrs. Hutton in the West Room the same afternoon. 
 
Throughout our Beta Eta history, we’ve initiated over 700 sisters and we’ve had over 430 business meetings and over 150 musicals. We’ve earned a rose petal award and twelve collegiate chapter awards.