By Annabeth Miller, SMT Editor
BLOOMFIELD - For Robyn Chism, Beta Club is an active verb.
Chism, a senior at Bloomfield High School, has been an active member of Beta Club since her days in junior high school. She started in Junior Beta, and as a senior she is now president of the BHS Beta Club. Along the way she has been involved in the many Beta Club community service projects, been to multiple conventions and meetings, been an officer and carried her responsibilities with enthusiasm and dedication.
In short, Robyn Chism is a leader. A dedicated, enthusiastic, responsible leader.
And Robyn Chism is the recipient of the John W. Harris Leadership Award, the highest award presented by the National Beta Club.
According to Bloomfield Beta Club Advisor Ann Bye, the John W. Harris Leadership award is given to just 25 Beta Club members nationwide each year, and the recipients are those Beta members who exemplify the very best of Beta.
Beta has five basic components – character, achievement, service, leadership and social involvement. The motto of the National Beta Club is “DUCAMUS ALIIS SERVIENDO” – Let Us Lead By Serving Others.
Chism exemplifies the goals of Beta and the motto – and much more. Bye has high praise for the Bloomfield senior.
“She leads, she supports, she encourages,” Bye said. “It is rare to find someone of Robyn’s caliber – even in Beta Club!”
Robyn is the daughter of Rob and Michelle. The senior is thinking of working toward a college degree in physical therapy and a career of helping others. She played Wildcat Volleyball, and
But for now, there is Beta. There’s helping with the Bloomfield Christmas celebration this weekend, Beta Club service projects and leading the club as they prepare for Beta convention in the spring. She’ll be there – leading, supporting, encouraging.
The John W. Harris Leadership Award is given to 25 Senior Betas and 25 Junior Betas in the nation each year. This prestigious award is the highest award presented by The National Beta Club. Only one student may be nominated from each school. Criteria include initiative, dependability, faithfulness, helpfulness, leadership, resourcefulness, self direction, honest, justice, industriousness, humility and reliability.
The award is named for founder of National Beta, John W. Harris from Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Robyn will receive the award this March at the Missouri Beta Convention in Branson.
Links Of Interest
A Dexter teen recently fullfilled part of her duties as a statewide officer of the nation's oldest, largest, patriotic youth organization.
Kendra Stevenson is the State Curator for the Missouri State Society Children of the American Revolution. She recently traveled to Boonville to fulfill her duties as State Curator. One of Kendra’s responsibilities as State Curator is to choose age appropriate ornaments for members to make during the State Workshop in August that reflect the theme of the State President. This year’s project is titled “Make a Splash in Missouri Streams”.
Children made ornaments of fish and canoes. On Saturday, Nov. 19, Kendra decorated the Children’s Tree at Rosalyn Heights in Boonville.
Roslyn Heights is owned by the Missouri State Society, Daughters of the American Revolution. Roslyn Heights provides centrally located facilities for members of the state DAR organization.
The historic home is a popular tour site in the historic Central Missouri region, especially during the Christmas Open House. DAR Chapters from across the state decorate trees that fill all three stories of this beautiful home. The Children’s Tree is located in the Children’s Museum on the 3rd floor of the home.
Roselyn Heights in listed on the National Register of Historic Places, one of 400 sites in Boonville listed on the National Register.
Stevenson is a sophomore at Dexter High School and is the daughter of Keith and Kay Stevenson of Dexter.
As the day of Thanksgiving comes to a close, it's nice to reflect on all the nice comments and well wishes that pour from the pages of Facebook. With an overwhelming 800 million active users, Facebook has become a community where many people share activities of the day as well as kind wishes to their many Facebook friends. You too can become a "Friend" to someone on Facebook at www.facebook.com.
Our hope is that your day was blessed with family, friends and great food. We truly live in a country that offers us many reasons to be thankful.
It has become Dexter's hometown version of the great "Black Friday" specials.
Weber's Ben Franklin will be a beehive of activity Friday and Saturday, as the after-Thanksgiving shoppers will stream into the Dexter store for great bargains.
Storeowner Joe Weber says they have been holding Black Friday specials for "at least 15 years" and they are prepared for Friday's big day. Christmas trees and wreaths, decorations and more are stocked and ready for the holiday season.
Armed with the special coupon, shoppers will be able to take advantage of Ben Franklin’s extensive line of holiday decorations, crafts and gifts. Two special coupons are featured on the ShowMe Times. One coupon is for 25 percent off any regular item on Friday and Saturday. The second coupon if for 50 percent off any regular items, and is good only from 7 a.m. until 9 a.m. on Friday morning.
Weber’s Ben Franklin has been a Dexter tradition for over 100 years. The store began in 1909 with Edward Weber, Joe’s grandfather. His father, Ernest assumed management in the 1920s, and Joe continues the family tradition.
Weber’s is located at 31 East Stoddard, at the corner of Stoddard and Locust streets. Holiday store hours are 8 a.m until 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Weber and store manager Donna West will open the doors at 7 a.m. this Friday for shoppers.
Shoppers may print the special COUPON from the ShowMe Times to take advantage of the great deals at Weber’s Ben Franklin this Friday and Saturday.
By Annabeth Miller, SMT Editor
CAPE GIRARDEAU - Meagan Brehmer has been around animals all her life. In fact, this fall she ended a successful career as a 4H showman at the Stoddard County Fair where she has proudy shown her animals since she was a young girl.
But now, as a student at Southeast Missouri State University, Brehmer has embarked on a new adventure as a member of the university’s Equestrian Team. At least a couple of times each week her friends on Facebook have been treated to her stories about working with the horses, the team, and her successes at shows this fall.
The Southeast Equestrian Team include nine young women from all walks of life and various riding skill levels.
The team rides English – a form of riding that is seen throughout the world. English style uses a flat English saddle western saddles. Generally, English riders do not wear spurs, and wear a shirt with some of tie, jodhpurs, equestrian helmet and a jacket. Riding includes classical dressage to jumping and racing. English riding is an equestrian discipline with many different styles, however, at the most basic level, most versions require riders to use both hands on the reins, rather than just one hand, as is seen in western.
The SEMO teams works out of Fox Run Staples and the coach is SuAnne Remley. Remley studied equestrian science at William Woods University in Fulton, the first college or university in the country to offer a four-year degree in Equestrian Science.
Brehmer and the team recently returned from a show hosted by Northern Illinois University at Fox Creek Staples near Chicago. And Dexter’s Brehmer came home from her first major equestrian show sporting the ribbons for her efforts. Brehmer competed in the Walk/Trot Equatation division. To save costs, the host staples provides the horses, and riders draw for their ride during the show.
“I pulled a small bay pony named Haley the first day, and a small elderly black pony named Ebony on the second,” the feisty Brehmer said. “Our competitions are two days, with a new judge each day. I usually draw ponies rather than horses because of my small size. On Friday I placed first in my division! On Saturday I placed fifth out of nine riders. I made a pretty big mistake that I didn’t realize until halfway though-woops!”
Riding horses is nothing new for farm-girl Brehmer, but the style is different.
“I had never ridden English before I attended SEMO, I had plenty of Western riding experience however,” she commented. She is so smitten with the riding experience that she has a goal – a big goal.
I’m currently shopping around for my own English horse to board in Cape and to take to barn shows with Fox Run,” she says. “I participate in competitions outside of the collegiate level ones as well. It’s my dream to be an Olympic rider-but, we will see about that! Most Olympians are in their 50's!!”
The young women on the team might come from different backgrounds, but Brehmer says they have become close friends.
“I love all the girls on my team, we are one huge family. Sadly our team gets little support from the college. We pay for everything out of pocket,” she said.
Fox Run Stables hosts our team. The lovely barn owner, Tricia LaFoe, provides the horses and arenas for us to practice in. She is a blessing to us!”
This fall Bremer received third place in Walk/Trot Equitation at a show Illinois State University in Bloomington, forth in fith in the same division at a show at Southern Illinois University in Carbonday. In schooling shows this fall she has placed third in Walk/Trot/Canter Equitation and fifth in Crossrails class in Madanda, Ill.
Southeast Missouri State Equestrian Team will be hosting its first show on March 10 and 11 at Fox Run Stables in Cape Girardeau.
“We encourage anyone interested in attending SEMO or anyone who loves horses to attend,” Brehmer said.
Photo Above: The Southeast Missouri State University Equestrian Team. Team member Meagan Breahmer of Dexter is third from the right, next to Coach SuAnne Remley. (photos provided)
