Beta Sigma Phi was founded in 1931 in Kansas by Walter W. Ross. He thought women needed more in their lives than work, responsibility and hardship. His efforts created the Beta Sigma Phi sorority, a non-political, non-sectarian social and cultural organization. The name is taken from the first letters of the Greek words meaning “life”, “learning”, and “friendship”. In 2005 Beta Sigma Phi had a total membership of over 250,000 in 12,500 chapters in 32 countries throughout the world. The yellow rose and the candle are the symbols of the society.
The first Beta Sigma Phi chapter in Moose Jaw was the Beta Chapter, formed in 1939 by Bessie Nixon. Membership in Beta Sigma Phi is by invitation. In Moose Jaw there are seven chapters each representing different degrees. Each degree is obtained after a set length of time in Beta Sigma Phi and every member can transfer to chapters of her degree in different cities. Each chapter meets twice monthly for a short business meeting followed by a cultural program. The chapters in Moose Jaw are served by a Beta Sigma Phi City Council that is responsible for coordinating and planning activities or projects involving the city’s 7 chapters, and designed to help promote inter-chapter harmony. It consists of the president and one or two representatives from each chapter. It sponsors some of the sorority’s social events such as the Christmas dance, Founders Day banquet, rituals and the fall tea.
Although it is not a service club, each chapter takes on some projects. They have contributed to the community by helping with projects such as the Cancer Society Drive, Heart Fund Campaign, Cancer Daffodil sale, blood donor clinics, Moose Jaw Festival of Dance and the Moose Jaw Music Festival. They have contributed financially to the Moose Jaw Transition House, Times-Herald/Salvation Army Christmas Fund, CHAB Christmas Fund, Telemirale, Food Bank, Union Hospital, Providence Place and other worthy causes. The chapters raise funds through activities such as working the gates for the annual fair and holding steak nights.