September 29, 30 and October 1, 2011
The members of the 340 P.E.O. chapters in Missouri want to welcome delegates and visitors to the 70th Convention of International Chapter to be held on September 29, 30, and October 1, 2011, and SHOW-YOU Saint Louis, the Gateway to the West.
A City of Firsts
Many things had their start in Saint Louis. In 1873 the first kindergarten in the U.S. was started by Susan Blow;and in 1877 the Women’s Suffrage Club was organized—the first of its kind in this country. The first Olympic Games held in the United States were in Saint Louis in conjunction with the 1904 World’s Fair. The song, “Meet Me in St. Louis” was composed for the 1904 World’s Fair where 20 million fairgoers tasted for the first time such culinary classics as hamburgers, hotdogs, iced tea, ice cream in cones and Dr. Pepper.
P.E.O. also had a first at the 1904 World’s Fair. Chapter O, Saint Louis, organized a “P.E.O. Day” and after all expenses were paid, a surplus of $656.88 was given to the treasurer of Supreme Grand Chapter. The 1907 convention voted to use that money to establish a revolving loan fund for women students in need of financial assistance. They named the new fund the Educational Loan Fund and our first philanthropy was born.
What to Wear
Mabel Doud, president of Supreme Chapter, said when referring to attire for the 1935 Yellowstone convention, “You will find much clothing of the same vintage as your own, so do not stay away for any such reason.” This is
good advice. Fall weather is nearly ideal in Missouri; you can expect temperatures to range from the upper 60s to the lower 80s, however, humidity is often high. The America’s Center convention complex and hotels are located within blocks of each other, but there will be some walking so wear comfortable shoes and bring a sweater and an umbrella.
Things to Do
You won’t walk far if you want to purchase a convention souvenir from Under the Arch, the Missouri P.E.O. sales shop, located in the convention center. Other opportunities to shop will be available during organized tours to the fashionable Central West End, Lafayette Square or the Galleria.
Many other tours are also available. Visit Forest Park, the site of the 1904 World’s Fair. The park now contains some of the region’s best cultural attractions. At the Saint Louis Zoo, visit the Jungle of Apes, cool off in the icy Penguin House or get up close to a hippo at River’s Edge. See the Science Center with its OMNIMAX Theater and planetarium.
Sign up to take a dinner cruise on a Mississippi River paddle wheeler or visit the Missouri Botanical Garden with its Children’s Garden tree house, Missouri cave and pioneer village. Tour Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, visit the In-Bev Anheuser-Busch Brewery or get a bird’s eye view of the city from the top of the iconic Gateway Arch.
Plan to extend your visit after the close of convention with a tour of Cottey College, which will include breakfast with President Dr. Judy Rogers, or let the immediate past president of International Chapter, Elizabeth Garrels, lead you on a tour of the birthplace of P.E.O. in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
Visitors to Missouri are often surprised that residents (even P.E.O.s) cannot agree on whether the name of our state is pronounced Missour-EE or Missour-AH, but we do agree that the SHOW-ME state will SHOW-YOU a wonderful time in Saint Louis on September 29, 30, and October 1, 2011.
