Report Airs May 6 on “CBS Sunday Morning With Charles Osgood”

For the past 16 years, various towns in Nebraska have hosted a very special event: The Annual Betty Convention. The Betty Club, of which there are several state chapters, is made up of a group of women for whom the only requirement for membership is a shared first name — or nickname, as in the case of at least one “Elizabeth” who belongs to the Nebraska group.

CBS News Correspondent Lee Cowan visits the convention and discovers that, although one of the most popular baby names in America during the 1920's and 30's, “Betty” has fallen out of favor in recent decades. At this year’s convention, for example, there are far more Bettys in their 80s than in their 50s.

Cowan also gets a lesson from 88-year-old Betty Kopetka, on of the oldest Bettys at the convention.

An excerpt of the conversation is below:

COWAN: When someone said you were “a real Betty” that was a compliment, right?

KOPETKA: Yeah, right. It really was.

COWAN: What did it mean back in the ‘20s and ‘30s?

KOPETKA: You’re hot!

Cowan’s report will broadcast Sunday, May 6, on the CBS SUNDAY MORNING WITH CHARLES OSGOOD (9:00-10:30 AM, ET) on the CBS Television Network. Rand Morrison is the Executive Producer.

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Press Contact:

Eric Swanson   212-975-8849  SwansonEr@cbsnews.com