P.E.O. Record
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How did your chapter celebrate Founders' Day?
Chapter GA hosted the annual Founder's Day meeting in Dodge City. Four chapters were greeted by a room full of yellow and white. On the head table were pictures of each of the founders in yellow frames surrounded by white and yellow flowers. The program was a change from the usual. We played a P.E.O. version of Jeopardy with four categories: Founders, Projects, Chapters and Miscellaneous.
With "Alexia Trebeka" giving the answers, a representative from each of the four chapters could buzz in using our buzzer boards. Answers ranged from trivia about each of the Founders to awards, grants, scholarships, local chapters and members, to important dates and items synonymous with P.E.O.
The audience was asked to cheer on their chapter representative and whispered hints to help with the correct "questions" were not only allowed but encouraged.
It proved to be both an educational and enjoyable experience for all present. Everyone was actively engaged in the game and information being shared.
Amid tables decorated with silhouettes of the Founders and candy packet favors wrapped in yellow mesh and decorated with yellow flowers, P.E.O. members from Chapter CD, Farmington Hills, Michigan enjoyed lunch and fellowship on Founders' Day. One of the meeting highlights was a humorous skit written by Mary Ann Krueger, and performed by her and her mother, Sally Oltman.
The scenario featured a conversation between the two, prior to a P.E.O. meeting. The daughter was reluctant to attend. The mother began telling her about the lives of the founding women. The daughter interjected how different P.E.O. would be had it begun in the present day. A woman might be a high-profile corporate lawyer and all the members would text message one another, rather than keep records with more traditional pen and paper.
Instead of members wearing a star pin, everyone would sport a tattoo of a star. This comment brought about many laughs. The discussion then continued, and the daughter finally decided she should attend the meeting.
The entire afternoon was a true testament to the power of both education and entertainment, and to the wit and creativity of P.E.O. members of all ages.
In celebration of our chapter's 50th anniversary, this year's program honored not only P.E.O.'s seven Founders, but also the chapter's presidents, thereby honoring the chapter. It was developed by Chapter AB initiate of five years, Gina Shahade.
She invited eight of AB's past presidents and our current leader to tell a little about the chapter during her term as president.
Each one relished recalling her experience in a positive and meaningful way. In doing so, it brought back memories of programs, project recipients, initiations, fundraising through garage sales, selling scarves and hosting Reciprocity, our monthly “breakfast club” at a local diner, BIL parties, the care we showed individual sisters in tough times and the many funny occurrences. This year our focus was as the New Jersey chapter for the Pilot Program.
It was a time of remembering for some, a time of learning more about the chapter for some and a marvelous way to celebrate.
Gina concluded the program by quoting from Past President of International Chapter, Wilma Leonard Turner, in her article, “The Moving Hand” from the Sept.-Oct. 2009 issue of The P.E.O. Record, “My dear sisters, we have been handed a glorious past. We must now create a worthy history, beginning in our own chapters. The future of P.E.O. is in our hands!”
Our chapter celebrated Founders' Day with our Glendale Reciprocity. After a torrential rain storm the clouds cleared for a beautiful morning to welcome us to Founders' Day. More than 200 hundred sisters made reservations for lunch. Sisters welcomed us into the room decorated with red, white and pink napkins and flower centerpieces. The theme was "Be My P.E.O. Valentine."
Susan Tucker, a graduate of Cottey College, told us about Cottey and the educational opportunities she experienced. We also had the privilege to have Barbara Andes, Past President of International Chapter, give us an empowering message about keeping the women helping women vision alive. Sixteen chapters reported on their new members and their 50 year members. Judy Ritchie, CJ, Glendale, California, chairman, had a fantastic committee to help make this a day to remember our Founders. It was a special time to celebrate our past, present and future.
Having been initiated into P.E.O. Chapter B, Iowa, in 1964, I have deep roots there and go back every summer. Imagine my delight when, at a Texas Convention, I was invited by Elizabeth Garrels to tour Iowa Wesleyan with her. While there, I purchased the DVD “P.E.O. Begins with Iowa Wesleyan College” and showed it for our Founders' Day program. The DVD gave an overview of the Founders' lives as well as memorabilia and the building where our sisterhood actually began. Early pictures bring a smile to your face while telling the story in 23 minutes, making it a time appropriate program. Everyone agreed it was excellent and informative. We had three new initiates that morning who were excited to learn about our beginnings.
For our chapter Founders' Day program Linda Clugston created this lovely poem. She gave some information on the actual organizing of the first chapter, and then read this poem. The extra copies were sent to sisters not able to come to many meetings.
Founders were the start of this
In 1869;
Tonight we focus on those girls –
Young folks with values fine.
Outstanding and original,
These girls had strength and grit;
Diverse, they were, but loyal too –
Their group was tightly knit.
“Unfit for school,” said men of girls –
“Their brains are much too small”;
But finally reason entered in –
Their brains weren't small at all!
Numbering just seven –
With goals that would transform –
The Founders quickly drew up plans
They met there in the dorm.
Devoted friends, they formed a group –
Its mission was to serve;
To show themselves on campus
Required spunk and nerve!
Each Founder played a vital role
With talents tried and true;
A woman-only club they formed
‘Twas clearly something new!
Results were soon in evidence
Much good the club had done;
The early group could not have known
The work had just begun.
Service is the hallmark –
Both now and long ago;
It's all been most worthwhile –
It gave us P.E.O.
We celebrated Founders' Day by opening a time capsule prepared at the turn of the millennium during the first meeting of 2000. Inside were photos of the sisters who attended the meeting, a copy of our chapter program book, a P.E.O. Record magazine and personal profiles of the members. We enjoyed some good laughs as we passed around the pictures of a group of much younger women! Then we split into two teams who received points for correctly answering questions such as the year our chapter was organized, the first president and identifying each member in the time capsule by clues in her profile.
We had our new sisters think of ideas on how to celebrate Founder's Day. They thought of a few games. One was Pictionary, where one person had to draw a picture while the other sisters had to guess it. The other game was reading about and describing one of the Founders and placing a flower into a vase.
I wrote this poem for use in a Founders' Day program given on January 23, 2010 at the Rockledge Country Club in Rockledge, Florida. The program was about the P.E.O emblem, its history and meaning to our sisterhood.
OUR STAR
INSPIRING EMBLEM, OUR P.E.O. STAR
HOW PACKED WITH MESSAGES YOU ARE!
YOUR GOLD, IT GLISTENS, SHINING SO BRIGHT
GUIDING THE WONDERER WITH YOUR BLESSED LIGHT.
YOUR RAYS REACH OUT FOR ALL TO SEE
REMINDING US OF WHAT WE CAN BE:
LOVING, FAITHFUL, PURE, JUST AND TRUE,
LIVING OUR LIVES REFLECTING ON YOU.
THE LESSONS YOU TEACH HELP US TO KNOW
THE VIRTUES OF BEING A P.E.O.
Celia Potekhen, BC, Lynchburg, Virginia, came to our Founders' Day meeting in Chatham, Virginia, to share her program about the seven Founders of P.E.O. She used paper dolls to tell the stories of these seven wonderful women. Celia made the paper dolls and painted the dresses and the background props herself. The dresses were typical for the period in which they lived and the P.E.O. aprons resembled those worn by the Founders. After the program, we all had a light luncheon followed by our meeting.
Forty-four members from Elko, Nevada, Chapters A and AD, joined together in honor of P.E.O.'s Founders. The Founders were portrayed by seven members who wore old fashioned hats. The highlight of the evening was our guest, Kathy Cobb of Ely Chapter C, great-granddaughter of Founder Hattie Briggs. Following the program, the members enjoyed fellowship and a special cake for the occasion.
Chapter CA, Polson, Montana, chose the theme, “Diamonds and Denim” for our 2010 Founders' Day Program. Our invitations to nearby chapters encouraged sisters to wear their denim and “diamonds”! Everyone enthusiastically arrived, dressed in variations of denim and adorned with gorgeous, vintage rhinestone jewelry that even included a tiara! Denim-looking tablecloths splashed with big, white marguerites dressed the long tables. Vases wrapped in denim, holding bouquets of lovely marguerites, sat beside rose bowls filled with shiny crystals, representing the “diamonds”. More crystals were scattered around the vases, which sat on mirrored tiles. Excited guests found their places, indicated by denim place cards. The P.E.O. Grace was given, preceding the meal of barbequed beef, buns, coleslaw and baked beans, topped off with a delicious apple cobbler. Fundraising items of nuts, candy, marguerite note cards and painted brooms, were beautifully displayed, sold and raffled.
Our next event continued with a “Diamonds and Denim” skit, portraying our seven Founders. Each Founder was individually described as having qualities of either a diamond: brilliance, value, sparkle, uniqueness and rarity… or denim: resistance, strength, durability and longevity…..or both! As each “Founder” stepped forward and their story was read, we listened for their “diamond and denim” qualities. It was a stimulating way to reflect on the value, rarity and strength these seven Founders portrayed and the beloved legacy they established for our wonderful sisterhood.
Our grand finale was a reflection of five musical selections performed by two talented sisters. The music was either from our Founders' era or appropriate for the theme. We were initially treated to a beautiful flute solo with piano accompaniment, “Intermezzo Sinfoncia,” from the opera Cavalleria Rusticana, written in 1896. Next was a piano duet of “Silver Threads among the Gold,” the love ballad that has stirred the hearts of many. Then last three were sing-alongs: the iconic “Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend,” “Clementine,” the humorous American Folk Ballad, and finally the classic, “Sisters, Sisters!”
Our program was a smashing success and so well-received by all in attendance, including our Montana State President Jean Barragan! What a thrill to honor our seven Founders and recognize each one having their own rare gifts and attributes, as they continue to light the pathway of P.E.O. today.
Our chapter presented the Founders' Day program to Eastside Reciprocity, Washington State Chapter, on Saturday, February 27. The program evolved from a presentation by one of our members. It was titled, “The Hustle and Bustle of P.E.O.” The first segment consisted of information regarding our seven Founders, complete with authentic white aprons and fashionable small hats. The second part of the program, “the surprise,” revealed what was worn under ladies' dresses in that era. One of our members was attired in an outfit of the times, and three dress forms were clothed in undergarments from that period. In closing we left our sisters with the thought, “As we get dressed each day with our fasteners and hooks, think about P.E.O. and its wonderful support system which is a part of us every day!”
Chapter JX, Arlington Heights, Illinois, celebrated Founders' Day with a "Birthday Party" for P.E.O.
Speakers for the late morning program were our seven Founders appearing in the form of one of our chapter members. The point behind each speaker's presentation was to propose the idea that many of the personal characteristics and ability traits that were present in our Founders are apparent in our membership today, thus providing us with continued success in our endeavors.
At the conclusion of this program we all joined in a rousing round of "Happy Birthday to P.E.O." followed by a wish for continued strength and dedication to our ideals! After blowing out the candles we gathered for cake, coffee, conversation and an opportunity to meet a prospective new member!
Cutline from left to right: Carol Crigger, Jane Gibson, Pat Winstanley, Donna Stoll, Cindy Cole, Anneli Crawford, Lois ButlerMy chapter, VM, Morro Bay, California, had a great time planning and re-enacting a living history for Founders' Day. We hosted a luncheon for our San Luis Obispo, California, Reciprocity Bureau in January. Seven of us dressed in 19th Century outfits, complete with authentic looking aprons stitched by our sisters. Each "Founder" hosted her own table and when it came time for the program, we spoke in the first person about what had happened in our lives later—after leaving our beloved sisters and Iowa Wesleyan.
For table decorations chapter members brought vintage memorabilia, including lovely hats, gloves, hankies, purses and costume jewelry passed down by mothers and grandmothers. Our Ways & Means Committee sold bean soups and original photo note cards for P.E.O. projects.
During this process we felt more connected to the impressive young women who founded our sisterhood. Founders' Day was not only a great learning experience—it was lots of fun as well!
Our chapter hosted the Founder's Day luncheon this year for all of the chapters in the Rio Grande Valley. Our sister, Lisa K. Morrow, portrayed Marie Rose Penfield, the daughter of Founder Marie Suela Pearson-Penfield in an enchanting bedtime story skit.
A Founders' Day celebration, including members of Chapters AO, J and E was scheduled to be held on February 13, 2010 with Chapter AO as hostess but due to inclement weather it was necessary to postpone the occasion for a later date. A luncheon at The Victorian Rose Tea Room is planned and a program entitled “A Musical Tribute to Our Founders” will be presented by Chapter AO.
Our Founders' Day program committee, chaired by Juby Whittenburg, selected old familiar songs, rewrote the lyrics as a tribute to the Founders and created a sing-a-long. The AO singers: Joanne Campbell, Carolyn Major, Suzi Edwards, Christine Puckett and Susan Booth will harmonize and lead the guests in songs dedicated to the Founders. Susan Booth will also accompany on the keyboard. We expect it to be a fun afternoon.
Ruth Hempel discovered a program entitled “Pots of Love” on the P.E.O. website. Ruth and her husband own a floral shop in Rhinelander so all of the props for the program were readily available. Each of the seven Founders was compared to a flower or plant that matched her personality. It was such a treat to see these colorful plants in the middle of our cold Wisconsin winter.
When the tides roll in, God showers us with a variety of sea shells. Not one sea shell is alike. Just as each snowflake is different, so are sea shells. The Lightning Conch is the only conch that opens on the left, and they are hard to find, but when you do, you have found a treasure! Such are the treasures we have found in Chapters AM and W this year.
These mother and daughter chapters have joined together for three years in celebration of Founders' Day and this year we honored our own Gloria Otley, New Jersey past state president, who also led the creation of Chapter AM in 2007. She has been a P.E.O. for 50 years and was given a surprise “Golden Star Ceremony” by our South Carolina State President Barbara Adams, Y, North Augusta. Gloria wore a delightful grass skirt and crown to her luau, befitting Barbara's theme “Dancing to our P.E.O. Stars”! Both chapters then surprised Barbara with an IPS Designated Award in appreciation for her leadership beginning as our Organizer in 2007. As an additional treat, South Carolina immediate Past State President Eleanor Huey, W, joined us for the festivities featuring a delicious luncheon by served by her chapter. Gloria then presented an original program focusing on our seven Founders and their legacy of seven projects, including SCEF, which showed her creativity and abiding love of P.E.O., including bingo proceeds going to the project of choice by each of the three winners.
So, as you can see, our tides have rolled in to Chapters W and AM and given us some seashells that are like no other on the face of the earth. They exhibit all the qualities of Faith; Purity; Justice; Truth, and Love…Together Chapters W and AM make up a WhAM year for 2010!
This year one of our newer members, Jessica Sety, presented our Founders' Day program. Jessica has a theatre background and she researched the Seven Founding Women of P.E.O. She wrote a five page play about their lives, setting the stage with news items from the year. She picked her actresses, quickly, from the attendees at the meeting and had each read their part. She had the co-hostess get involved by making the "Butterscotch", the caramels from the "Butterscotch Party" which was no easy feat because the cooking instructions had to be figured out. It was absolutely awesome and worthy of an Oscar. It is so fun to see talented people put forth the skills that they have in creating something we will all remember better than any other Founders' Day program we've had. After it was all over and the applause quiet Jessica said that in doing this she now "gets" P.E.O. She understands what amazing women those Seven young ladies were and we understand also.
Next question:
What community events/activities has your chapter participated in to get the word out about P.E.O.?
Deadline is July 1, 2010. Answers will be printed in the September-October 2010 issue or on the website. Respond by mail to the address on the inside front cover or by email to bfrazier@peodsm.org.