Natchez — “Relaxing on the River” will be the theme for the Xi Alpha Phi Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Natchez State Convention which is being held in Natchez at the Natchez Grand Hotel this week.

Sorority members and guests will be arriving today and Friday from all parts of Mississippi as well as Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee. Schedules have been arranged which will allow extra free time for attendees to shop, tour and see all the local sites.

Convention chairpersons are Dana Dent and Cathy Roboski. Roboski is a former state sorority woman of the year which is the highest yearly award that a member is eligible to receive. Dent recenty received an Order of the Rose award.The state woman of the year award will be presented at the convention. Judges for awards are from chapters in Arkansas. Local chapter member Jeanette Webb won the award in 2008 and will present the 2009 awards.

Friday evening festivities will feature an entertainment group from Lafayette, La. Saturday’s activities include a presentation by local professional story teller Joan McLemore who will entertain the group by telling stories about the south.On Saturday evening humor speaker Wanda Barbour Dent of Tupelo will give her “Laughter Rerally is the Best Medicine” talk.

In addition to Roboski and Dent other Xi Alpha Phi members who have made a myriad of contributions to the success of the convention are Beth Webb, Mary Lee Denton, Jean S. Simonton, Shirley Wilson, Gwyn Bacto, Linda Cox, Carole Cotten, Jeanette Webb, Paula White, Ann Flewllig, Janet Gray adn Maria Smilo.