Robert Rules of Order

							Course 101 Preacceptance

P.E.O. COUNSEL FOR MEMBERSHIP

This information is also available in the printed Counsel for Membership booklet, available in the president’s supplies.
WHAT IS P.E.O.?
   P.E.O. is a philanthropic
    educational organization with
    50 state, provincial and district
    chapters in the United States
    and Canada,
   Nearly 250,000 members
    belong to 6,000 chapters.
   P.E.O. has awarded more than        P.E.O. Executive Office
                                          Des Moines, Iowa
    $200 million in financial
    assistance.
   Cottey College has graduated
    more than 8,000 women.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
   “P.E.O. is a philanthropic
    organization where women
    celebrate the advancement
    of women, educate women
    through scholarships,
    grants, loans and
    stewardship of Cottey
    College, and motivate each
                                    Old Main
    other to achieve their        Cottey College
                                 Nevada, Missouri
    highest aspirations.”
WHO ARE P.E.O. MEMBERS?
   P.E.O. members are
    women of all ages
    (18+), races and
    religions.
   Members share a
    passion for providing
    educational financial
    assistance for women,
    developing close
    friendships, and state a   We call each other sisters to illustrate the love and support we
                               give to each other.
    personal belief in God.
OUR HISTORY
   The P.E.O. Sisterhood was organized in 1869 in Mt. Pleasant,
    Iowa by seven young women on the campus of Iowa Wesleyan
    University.




                      Franc Roads              Suela Pearrson                  Mary Allen




           Hattie Briggs            Ella Stewart                Alice Coffin            Alice Bird
OUR HISTORY
   The Founders’ original
    purpose was to begin a
    friendship society.
   The organization
    expanded quickly into
    communities outside the
    college campus and to
    women of all ages.


                              Old Main on the campus of Iowa Wesleyan, circa 1904.
WHEN DO P.E.O. MEMBERS MEET?
   Chapters schedule 15
    regular meetings each
    year; one to three of
    these may be social
    meetings.
   Chapters may schedule
    extra meetings,
    luncheons, or other
    activities anytime
    according to the
    chapter’s wishes or as   Two sisters have fun “putting around” during a casual summer get-
    determined by their      together for their chapter.

    bylaws.
CONVENTIONS
   The P.E.O. International
    Chapter convenes a
    biennial convention in a
    selected city in odd
    numbered years.
   Each state, provincial
    and district chapter
    holds an annual
    convention usually
                               Two delegates pose beside the welcome sign at the 2009
    during one or two days     Convention of International Chapter.

    in April, May or June.
WHAT DO P.E.O. SISTERS DO WHEN THEY’RE
TOGETHER?
   The P.E.O. Sisterhood is
    based on the principles of
    friendship and loyalty.
   Business meetings use
    Robert’s Rules of Order)
    and are conducted
    consistently throughout the
    Sisterhood.


                                  The president reads from the President’s
                                  Book. The chapter’s recording secretary sits
                                  with her to record the minutes.
WHAT DO P.E.O. SISTERS DO WHEN THEY’RE
TOGETHER?
   Programs and
    activities take place
    before and after
    meetings.
   These programs and
    activities vary
    according to each
    chapter’s
    preferences.
                            Chapter members consult a map before embarking on a hike during an
                            early spring social activity.
MEMBERSHIP LASTS A LIFETIME

   P.E.O. membership is intended
    to last a lifetime. Membership
    eligibility extends from chapter
    to chapter.
   Members pay annual dues and
    are asked to attend chapter
    meetings regularly.
   In addition, members may be
    asked to present a program,        Hostesses serve ice cream at a multi-chapter ice
    serve as an officer or             cream social.

    committee member, or serve
    as hostess for a meeting.
WHY DO P.E.O. SISTERS DO WHAT THEY DO?

   The P.E.O. Sisterhood
    benefits women
    worldwide through six
    International projects.
   Members have the
    opportunity to develop
    leadership skills while
    forming close
    friendships with women    The Projects Program at the 2009 Convention of International
    in their chapter.         Chapter featured speeches from five inspirational women. From the
                              left: Eileen Timmins, ELF recipient; Kyla Wall, second year Cottey
                              student; Katherine Block, PSA recipient; Crystal Johnson, PCE
                              recipient; Limbikani Kamiongera, IPS recipient.
P.E.O. SUPPORTS SIX PHILANTHROPIES


Educational Loan Fund      International Peace Scholarship Fund




Program for Continuing Education        P.E.O. Scholar Award




      P.E.O. Star Scholarship           Cottey College.
MEMBERSHIP IS BY INVITATION
   You have been invited to
    become a member by
    the entire chapter.
   Please take some time
    to consider the
    information that has
    been shared.
   Feel free to call any
    chapter members that
    you know to ask            The P.E.O. Record (our organization’s magazine), the P.E.O.
    questions that have not    Constitution, and the local chapter’s yearbook will give you a
                               closer look at the life of a P.E.O.
    been answered.
ACCEPTING THE INVITATION

                    Accepting the invitation to
                     become a P.E.O. must be in
                     written form, including an
                     affirmation of belief in God,
                     and be mailed to the
                     corresponding secretary along
                     with a $35 initiation fee.
                    Prospective members are
                     encouraged to respond to the
                     invitation soon, although you
                     may have as long as six
                     chapter meeting months to
                     reply.
INITIATION INFORMATION
   Each new member enters the
    Sisterhood by participating in
    an initiation ceremony.
   The ceremony is a unique
    experience and holds great
    meaning for current members
    as well as the initiate.
   It is a special time of
    celebration as we welcome a
    new sister into the warmth and
    friendliness of chapter life.
                                     P.E.O. friendships extend across the
                                     generations.
CEREMONY OF INITIATION
   During the ceremony, chapter officers are dressed in white.
   You will be asked to take vows with a hand on the Bible.
   A lot of information is given during initiation and it may seem
    to go by very fast.
   The president, chapter mentor or membership committee
    will schedule a meeting to discuss the information included
    in initiation as well as other important chapter information.
INITIATION IS ONLY THE BEGINNING…
   New members will
    continue to be guided by
    their sisters in learning
    about P.E.O. traditions and
    customs.
   Each new member will
    receive a personal copy of
    the P.E.O. Constitution and
    a membership pin.
   Initiates are encouraged to
    read more about P.E.O.        New members are guided by their sisters in learning about
    philanthropic projects and    P.E.O. traditions and customs.

    join the search for
    qualified recipients.
THANK YOU!
   Thank you for letting us tell more about the P.E.O. Sisterhood.
   You can read more about P.E.O. online at
    www.peointernational.org.
   Do you have any questions?