Santa Cruz Sentinel from Santa Cruz, California • Page 21

i fcv -'I IT i 20-Santa Cruz Sentinel Sunday, March 18, 1979 Omega Nu Memories 1937-38 saw a large, active group of Santa Cruz Sigma Alpha of Omega Nu. Front row: Jane Brown, Beverly Troyer, Paula Coats, Mila Howe, Marion Jones, Kay Dillon, Miriam Knight, Mary Kinzie, Marian Younger and Dorothy Dale Dickinson. Standing: Phair Morrissey, Margaret Van Houten, Dorothy Sinclair, Mary Pond, Carol Stevens, Margaret Williams, Dorothy Johnson, Alta Macaulay, Vivian Rice, Mary Williams, Betty Bly, Alice Garrett, Dorothy Williams and Ester Bunny. Mrs. Ray Macaulay looks over an old Omega Nu yearbook from her collection.

The local sorority dates from 1903, has spent thousands of dollars on local charities since its inception. This year marks the 75th birthday of Sigma Alpha, the Santa Cruz Chapter of Omega Nu. The year-long observances will conclude with the Diamond Jubilee Follies on March 24 at Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. This will be the sixth such production in Santa Cruz all money raised is devoted to charity right here in the county. Personal events are financed by dues and individual assessments of members.

Back in April of 1903, Omega Nu began in Santa Cruz as a high school sorority and as the fourth Omega Nu Chapter in California. Six charter members started the whole thing: Pearl Dalton, Eva Judah, Hettie Peters. Lucile Moffitt and "The two Gaffett sisters" according to old records kept by Mrs. Ray Macaulay, longtime member. During the early years, Omega Nu took an active part in Santa Cruz High affairs and its framed charter hung in the school principal's office.

Sigma Alpha, although a small group of girls, gave money even then to support the school paper. The Trident. But the first real charity fund-raisers came after the earthquake of 1906 which destroyed a good part of San Francisco. Members, who had been planning a gala dinner, gave it up and sent the money to the relief fund for earthquake refugees instead. That same year, a Santa Cruz girl, Ruby Lewis (Mrs.

Maynard Linscott) was elected grand president and the one social event of the year was a stylish luncheon at the famed Sea Beach Hotel on Beach Hill. By 1907, an anti-fraternity law was being discussed and the future of high school sororities began to look dim. However, the group survived the rumors and by 1910, Lura Williams (Mrs. Ambrose Cowden Sr.) was elected grand president. Two years later the anti-fraternity rumor became a fact.

The anti-frat law was aimed at secret societies but it also hit the bona fide organizations which were doing much good charity. Omega Nu continued, due to its worthwhile projects and also to the recognition of its worth by the entire Santa Cruz community. However, in 1922 the local chapter became dormant not due to the anti-frat law, but due to the arrival of small sons and daughters to its members who had grown up and married by that time! By 1930, inactive members heard a rumor that a group of girls not formerly associated with Omega Nu was thinking of reorganizing the local chapter. "That did it!" says Alta Macaulay. "Nine of us who had been active in it when it went dormant, decided we had better do something about re-activating it ourselves." The nine who "saved" Omega Nu for a whole new life in the community were Thelma Lilly (Mrs.

Alfred Phillips); Marion Knight (Mrs. Bob Jones); Beryl LeBaron (Mrs. Phil Bliss); Jean Williamson (Mrs. Delos Wilder); Ethel Wilder (Mrs. George Cooper); Vivian Martin (Mrs.

E.W. Rice); Callista Martin (Mrs. C.G. Dake); Gladys Kaplansky (Mrs. Gerald Bartlett) and Alta Kratzenstein (Mrs.

Ray Macaulay). By 1937 the Grand Conclave was held at the Casa del Rey Hotel and Margaret "Sis" Williams was elected grand president. Santa Cruz has always provided top leadership. Skipping to 1952, Mrs. Ernest Dillon was elected grand president and in the following year, Sigma Alpha celebrated its 50th anniversary with a Golden Tea and fashion show.

The Flower Ball followed in 1951 as a new event; and by 1955 nearly $3000 a year was being raised for eye and dental work for needy children. In 1956 the famed Omega Nu Rummage Sale was born as a once-a-year fund-raiser instead of several smaller sales. Charity projects were expanded to take in scholarships, and camperships for the mentally retarded and crippled children, in addition to the eye and dental work which continued. Each year saw the amount of money In 1978 more than $15,500 was distributed by Omega Nu for eye and dental cases, scholarships, the Soecial Olympics, American Field Service, La Fonda Children's Center, Grey Bears, Santa Cruz Learning Center, High Field Farm and the County Symphony. Most of the funds come from the gigantic rummage sale, the Follies, and dinner parties for 500.

MARGARET KOCH BATHTUBS I TIL! lEGLAZED LIKE NEW! SAVE MONEY Done in Your Home ASK ABOUT OUR GUARANTEE Decorator Colors FO INfOKMATION CALL! PACIFIC PERMA CERAM 475-5058 From 1921 Yearbook: top row, Miriam Martin, Dorothy Firestein; center row, Marion Knight, Beryl LeBaron Bliss and Jean Williamson Wilder; bottom row, Wilma Nicholson and Geneva McCormick. From Yearbook of 1920: top row, Ruth Kerns, Ethel Wilder and Callista Martin; center row: Geneva McCormick, Jean Williamson Wilder; bottom row, Vivian Martin Rice, Thelma Lilly Phillips and Miriam Martin. ft. 4l' Show Girls Galore! Broadway Rockettes include: Linda McPherson, Janet Lockwood, Patti McPherson, Vicky Freitas, Jan Alexander, Loretta Polsdorfer, Mickey Watkins and Margaret Hovey. Show girls are Shannon Seigle, Cherry Nittler, Marilyn Gross, Sandi Miller, Margie Reber, Rilma Ray, Valerie Martini and Harriet Mainis.

Charleston dancers are Ida Mungai, John Bettiol, Judy Levin, Sam Nigh, Joanne Pearce, Cal Watkins, Mary Jo May and Lee Courtwright. Sparkling talents of various kinds often are concealed beneath the title "Mrs." And this seems to be true of many members of Omega Nu. However, these last few weeks have seen these wives and mothers dusting off their talents and rehearsing as Rock-ettes and show girls for the forthcoming Follies. Among them are the following Shine Rockettes: Danna D'Anza, Kathy Marini, Mary Haake, Lou Stoloff, Judy Zwerling, Suzanne Schofield, Kathy Clark and Katie Kaupert. EASTER SHOW Spring Shipment of LADIES HUSH PUPPIES Midcounty Center Luncheon Has Arrived! Sm Them Today At Wed.

Thurs. Mar. 21 22 12 to 4 Everything to help you plan your Easter gifts and decorations. A luncheon is planned for Friday, March 23, at noon at Midcounty Senior Center, 829 Bay Avenue, Capitola, but tickets will not be available at the door the day of the event, it was announced. Tickets at $3 each are available at the front desk at the center.

The luncheon will be catered by the Ladies Luncheon League. AND MORE! on fashionable Spring Fabrics 1 GAUZE GAUZE GAUZE Cool Comfortable Wi 100 Cotton 55 KODELPolyester45 Cotton I I 41 45" Machine washable I I Yard jjf I 'r'i," i REGULARLY $1.98 A YARD 7" IIOPSilG HOTS i SOLIDS Itf A very stylish fabric. 1 fl Mj 100 Cotton 50 Polyester50 Cotton Blends ut 0 If Machine washable 44" Wide Vard REGULARLY $2.98 A YARD 4" KETTLE CLOTH PITS For springtime tops, dresses skirts. 50 Polyester50 Cotton I Vf A REGULARLY $2.49 A YARD I ff Machine wash Tumble dry I 1 44" Wide yard MATCHING SOLIDS 25 OFF If OUR ENTIRE STOCK OH Sill INCLUDES OF FINE QUALITY Trrmn wiss scissors WiSS Scissors THE FABRIC STORE WITH STYLE! A always first quality fabrics notions A'' I 1855 41 ST AVENUE CAPITOLA MALL HOURS: 10-9; SATS. 10-6; SUNDAYS NOON-5 PHONE 476-5648 sooua SHOES 4620 SOQUEL DRIVE SOQUEL PH.

476-6680 Opn Mod. 10-7i30 p.m. Friday! 10 to Save Voir Special Purchase! IMPORTED Wood rabbit hutch Germany BRAZILIAN TILE 6" 6" or 8" 8" GLAZED FLOOR TILES ARTISTIC MOSAICS n.85a DECORATED WALL CERAMICS Ft $1.95 Your Choice! Tools, Materials and Instruction Available Lunch at Tampico (in our Barn) or at Courtyard next door, then enjoy all our delightful things. 2601 MAIN ST. SOQUEL mm FREE LOCAL DELIVERY ON ORDERS OF 50 SQ.

FT. OR MORE! 1720 COMMERCIAL WAY Ph. 475-7870 A SANTA CRUZ New Store Hours: 8-5; Sats. 9-4 jass A iiAiriiiiiffti.