For most of my life, I have been surrounded by P.E.O.s. My first encounter with a P.E.O. turned into a marriage now over forty years strong, with our two daughters also becoming P.E.O.s. I count my mother; mother-in-law; sister; sister-in-law; and friends among those “P.E.O. Sisters.” About that marriage and daughters: all three are graduates of Cottey College
When my wife learned she had the opportunity to attend International Convention in St. Louis , she encouraged me to attend with her. Encouragement in a forty-year marriage takes many forms – her words of encouragement were along the lines of, “I know what you are about to say, but I think you will be pleasantly surprised.” Like a chess player out-maneuvered from the first move by a master, I knew I would soon be in St. Louis . As she had attended a previous International Convention I asked how many BILs might be there. She said, “More than you would think.” When I asked how many P.E.O.s would be attending the answer was, “About 5,000.” My retort along the lines of “Not good odds it seems,” went unanswered.
Prior to my trip to St. Louis I knew that P.E.O. was an organization of, by and for women. P.E.O. owned a college for women in Nevada , Missouri I had visited multiple times. Its chapters held monthly meetings, with various programs scheduled in advance; and they found ways of raising money for grants and loans to women. I assumed scholarships were for Cottey, although I was aware P.E.O. awarded other scholarships as well. Having frequently seen appetizer-sized food prepared before meetings and having given a program at one, I also knew that P.E.O. was quite social.
We live in a society filled with numbers and statistics where just about everything is measured against something else. There were impressive numbers coming out of International Convention – not for bragging rights, but to affirm the effectiveness of the vision. I never knew that through the years P.E.O. chapters had raised over $210 million to assist eligible women nationally and internationally to further their education – with remarkable results.
A few of the recipients spoke at Convention. Their remarks were elegantly and passionately delivered, obviously heartfelt and, in some cases, heartbreaking. Each told her story of how P.E.O. had helped by either directly enabling or setting nascent steps to eventual and successful career paths. Raising and awarding $210 million in grants and loans for women, plus the support of Cottey College, is an impressive figure by which P.E.O. could be judged. However, it is not the millions that should be measured – but the improved quality of life those millions have brought, to the recipients, and more importantly, to all of us directly and indirectly. Such is the quiet and understated impact of P.E.O.
I now regard P.E.O. as pre-St. Louis and post-St. Louis. I came away from that International Convention more than pleasantly surprised. I was truly moved by P.E.O.s’ depth of vision and the passion with which its resolve is driven. There is no need to wish that P.E.O. continues on its present path because I know that its superb leadership and organization make its forward momentum unstoppable. However, I do wish that every BIL has the opportunity to attend International Convention. I think most will find as I did that it is a life-affirming experience. As well, it will reinforce the important support we BILs can provide to those monthly chapter meetings that are the building blocks of a powerful force helping to effectively shape the lives of deserving women everywhere.
