​XI IOTA PHI NEWS

Submitted by Debbie Reardon, Xi Iota Phi 

Xi Iota Phi has been busy having fun which always includes food, supporting our favorite charities and learning about our member’s favorite childhood games. 

Linda started our game quest with history and stories of pick-up sticks and hop scotch.  Both childhood games are low tech and most could remember playing these.  Next up was Debbie Woods with her favorite games of Candy Land and Scrabble.  Scrabble came about during the Great Depression.  It combined cards, dice and board game into one.  Candy Land was designed in 1948 by Eleanor Abbott a retired school teacher recovering from polio in a hospital room.  Lisa talked about Atari and the hours of fun her and her friends had playing this game. Karen LaJaunie‘s favorites were Parcheesi and Rummy.  She even had a Parcheesi board her grandfather had made.  Chris’s favorite games were Odd Ogg, Ker-Pluck and Operation.  She still has these games and plays them with her grandchildren. Our December meeting we shared our favorite childhood Christmas memory or tradition.

We have also had a lot of fun with our socials.  In September we went to the 100 Disney Exhibit at Union Station and out to lunch.  This exhibit was fantastic and we learned how many different movies and shows that were attributed to Disney – they are not all cartoons and children movies.  In October, we were invited to the Blue Springs City Council Preferential Tea at Sandy’s Restaurant.  The decorations were fantastic, food delicious and a very heartfelt celebration of Barbara Gondran, who passed away earlier this year.  She was the true meaning of a Beta Sigma Phi Sister.  November we were busy supporting the Cancer Action event which ended with a wonderful fashion show and finding out who won the auction items.  We also took time out to have a movie night to watch “Where the Crawdad Sings”.  (Again food was involved.)

We finished off 2024 with our December meeting.  We all brought snacks to share, exchanged secret sister gifts, and small gifts to all members and guest.  We were very happy that Linda Ebert and Kim Meyers could join us for this fun-filled event.   We will continue learning about member’s favorite games, celebrate Valentine Queen Karen Blau and more fun socials in 2025.
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