In the late-1940s, three small Ballard High sororities - the Patricians, the Vals and the Niads - joined together to better plan social gatherings. Sixty years later, the members are still at it.

This summer saw the celebration of the class of 1948's 60th consecutive annual luncheon. Throughout the years, ex-Beavers have traveled from as far away as Chicago, Hawaii and Australia to meet with old friends and continue the tradition.

"It's a chance to see how everyone's changed," said Joanne Bell, one of the luncheons organizers and a 1948 Ballard graduate. "Who's gotten fat, who's gotten thin, and who's gotten old."

The tradition started in 1948, when the graduating members of the PVN, the social group formed from the combining of the smaller sororities, decided to meet for dinner at the Edmond Meany Hotel, now Hotel Deca, in the University District.

Since that first meeting, the dinner has turned to lunch, and PVNs from the classes of 1946, 1947 and 1949 have been invited to join.

The 60th luncheon, this year at the 125th Street Grill, drew 30 women, up from 20 at the original event.

Joan Perry, a member of the class of 1948, said she has attended every one of the luncheons despite at one point living in Australia for eight years. She now makes the comparatively short trip from Bellingham.

Perry said the luncheons are a great opportunity to visit old friends, many of who still live in Ballard, and to catch up on each other's lives.

"We get together to talk about our children," she said. "Well, first it was our children, then it was our grandchildren. Now it's our great-grandchildren."

At the luncheons, everyone pitches in for food, flowers and decorations, and joins in on an old Ballard High School song, Perry said.

"We sit around and reminisce about things that have gone on in the past year and how lucky we are to be Ballard Beavers," she said.

Michael Harthorne can be reached at 783-1244 or michaelh@robinsonnews.com.