Liz’s concluding remarks were preceded by a special piano duet by Sylvia Martin, past president, Oregon State Chapter and Marcia Thayer, past president, Illinois State Chapter. They played “Liebestraum” by Liszt.
Thank you, Sylvia and Marcia, for this lovely presentation of stately, grand
music. This was my special request and I appreciate your excellent performance. I wanted a classic, timeless backdrop and contextual setting for my concluding remarks because that is what P.E.O. is— timeless, classic, stately, grand. Like the music, within these descriptive adjectives are components of depth, breadth, innovation, the unexpected and the unique.
The theme for this biennium placed emphasis on expanding our P.E.O. vision.
The vision…
P.E.O., at its finest, is an oasis of value and values in a fast-paced
world of sometimes difficult and certainly challenging times. Our often distracted world needs the stable principles that P.E.O. offers. P.E.O.’s expectations confirm
worthwhile, viable standards of quality. We know P.E.O. is well made and worthy of respect. P.E.O. brings out the “best” in us.
I’m going to stop a moment and be certain we are all hearing my same focus. I’m truly speaking about P.E.O.’s timeless purpose and vision—our central heart. The issues over which there are legitimate differences of opinion are about procedural logistics, mechanics and flexibility.
What I am talking about is the far-sighted dream, the horizonal ideal. What I’m referencing is that extraordinary feeling, belief, bond that makes P.E.O. so very precious and special. Winona Evans Reeves put it well: “P.E.O. isn’t something
you join. P.E.O. is something you become.” And, I think we could add to that “something you continuously become.”
I’ve heard many sisters share thoughts like these:
- If family commitments or other issues forced necessary changes in my lifestyle, after my church commitment, P.E.O. would be the very last relationship I would give up.
- If you meet a woman and discover she is also a P.E.O. sister, that instant bond of kinship puts your new association on a completely different plane.
Have you heard similar reflectionsor would you agree?
The vision…
Founder Mary Allen Stafford said this, “It should be our purpose to not only make P.E.O. greater, and better, all the time, but womanhood and humanity, greater and better, because of P.E.O.”
Undoubtedly each one of us can state P.E.O.’s vision for a greater and better world in her own relevant terms based upon our two dynamic dimensions—our internal support system of respected friendship for one another and our external outreach with higher educational opportunities for qualified women. As individuals, each one of us must take herself she can.
We cannot calculate the value of:
- welcoming/friendly hospitality,
- nurturing/mentoring relationships among generations,
- benefits from connections that inspire and enhance learning,
- personal development opportunities,
- an emphasis on strong, meaningful virtues that never goes out of style or date.
For a brief period of time in the formative years of our early history, “hope” was under consideration to be one of the star point virtues. Frankly, I’m somewhat amazed that it wasn’t chosen. A huge meritous Hope brings out the best in everyone. We always hope to be better persons and we hope our decisions and actions bring forth improved circumstances. I always come home from a P.E.O. experience with renewed hopeful possibilities, with optimism restored and anticipation stirred.
Other incalculable intangibles that P.E.O. emulates in its visionary model are attributes of decency and kindness. In our quest for general improvement, members and chapters demonstrate to our neighborhoods and communities the significance of uprightness, civility and good humor. Demonstrating these values to the world around us indeed make P.E.O.s often stand apart. P.E.O.s must continue to invest in actions of servant leadership. We show others that membership in P.E.O., and its reinforced Objects and Aims repeated in every business meeting, is a wise choice in “quality living.” In quoting Florence Wallace, president of Supreme Chapter 1973-75, “We have such great opportunities to set examples for others by demonstrating just how much our membership means to us,and how much we want it to mean to every member.”
As you know I come from historical Mount Pleasant, Iowa. One great lesson I have learned from my officer journey is that P.E.O. is NOTa museum. Rather P.E.O. is a deepreservoir, a full pool spilling over with opportunities and possibilities for, new days. This world needs who we are and our expanding vision.
P.E.O. is yours and mine for the time we have it. We will pass it on to others and the next generations of sisters, a legacy that will last longer than all of us.
And now, I hope you can feel I’m speaking to every one of you, individually, as a sister. Thank you for the privilege to have served as your president. It has been my honor and opportunity. I remain very grateful to all my sisters. May God continue to bless you and our beloved P.E.O. sisterhood. 
