Weiser sorority hosts tea for First Lady of the Year

Members of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority hosted a tea on Saturday to honor a local woman who is involved in numerous civic organizations and volunteers for many events.
 Dorothy Evans was selected as First Lady of Weiser for 2019. Tradition has it that the woman selected gets to pick the time and place. The tea was held at the bright and airy Weiser Little Theater in Weiser. Members brought an assortment of homemade baked goodies.
 Sorority official Valerie Donitch, whohas been a member for 35 years, explained the process of selecting the First Lady of the Year, a tradition that has been done annually since 1978.
 Each year the chapters in the Snake River Council of Beta Sigma Phi nominate and select a woman that members believe should be recognized for her contributions to the community.  
 The nominee for First Lady of the Year cannot be a member of the sorority or have been a member of the sorority.      
 Evans was accompanied by her husband of 31 years, John, along with invited friends Cathy Hibberd and Elaine Boots. Evans was presented with a yellow rose, the sorority’s sign of friendship, and a certificate from the national organization.
 Sorority member Dolores Larsen provided the 60 or so members in attendance with details about the many community programs and events Evans is involved in and her background.
 When it was her turn to share a few words, Dorothy told the group that after she was selected as First Lady of the Year her husband sent her a dozen roses and told her she is always his first lady.
 After many years living and working in the Bay Area of California, Dorothy and John moved to Weiser in 2011. They had visited Weiser during the fiddle festival on vacation and found the community inviting and a great place to retire.
 Her working career spanned 41 years, mostly in the finance departments of companies. The last 21 years she was the assistant to the CFO of a large newspaper chain. Part of her duties was responsibility for budgeting certain departments. One of her departments had a budget larger than the entire city of Weiser’s budget.
 Dorothy said Weiser is her refuge from the bigger world and all its issues and craziness. Shortly after she first moved to Weiser, a friend asked her if Weiser had “wrapped its arms around you with love.” She said it had.
 She said she doesn’t get involved in community organizations and events for the recognition. She did, however, appreciate all the recent emails and phone calls congratulating her on receiving the honor.
 “I must admit the last couple of weeks have been fun,” she said.
 The list of community and volunteer organizations she is involved in is extensive. She is co-coordinator of Weiser’s quarterly blood drives, Lions Club secretary and incoming president, membership chair of the Weiser Architectural Preservation Committee.
 She is head of ushers for the annual fiddle contest and serves on the parade committee. She is a ticket taker and meal server at the Weiser Little Theater, reading volunteer at Pioneer School breakfast club and the list goes on.
 Weiser Mayor Diana Thomas presented Evans with a commemorative mayor’s coin as a token of appreciation.
 “You and John have become a vital part of the community in a short time,” she said.