Weekly update: a Convention-al weekend

 No quilts in today's post.   I'll have a report for that department on Wednesday.

The 122nd convention of the Illinois State Chapter of P.E.O. was held at the Westin hotel in Lombard this weekend.  

I didn't attend last year. It was so good to return and be in the company of P.E.O. sisters from around the state. (504 of them, per the credentials report.)

Two days before the convention I got a call from the 
state organizer (board-level officer) saying that the chair of the International Peace Scholarship was ill and could not attend.  Because I was the nominee for IPS chair for the 2025-28 term could I staff the IPS table in the Projects Room?   The absent chair's chapter president would bring everything for the display.  Of course I'd help out.   The first thing that came to mind was "table cloth and candy," and I packed both.   

Just call me Elsbeth

 (Ordinarily the outgoing chair and I would have had a transition meeting during convention. I would bring all the display stuff home in any event.)  

Friday evening: dinner on our own. Three sisters from chapters near mine and I went to the restaurant in the hotel and enjoyed getting to know one another.

Linda arrived a little later. She's president of my chapter and we were roommates.  We did not plan to coordinate our attire.  (My t-shirt has the names of P.E.O.'s seven founders.)

Cynthia belongs to our chapter partner in our fundraising project. She's holding one of the vinyl yearbook covers that we sell.  It was great to meet her in person.

Sharon and I met through United Methodist Women and then in the P.E.O. Zoom book group.   Her chapter was responsible for Friday afternoon/evening hospitality (a gathering place during otherwise unscheduled time).   

Blaze a Trail was carried out with hiking-theme templates for chapter highlights.  I made our boot with fabric (of course) and rick rack. 

The ceremonies and business got underway Saturday morning.  

P.E.O. was founded as a collegiate society in 1869. It is now a philanthropic educational organization. 

 P.E.O. has provided more than $435 million to more than 125,000 women through the Educational Loan Foundation (low-cost, generous terms), International Peace Scholarships (graduate study in the U.S and Canada for women from other countries), Program for Continuing Education ($4,000 grants), P.E.O. Scholar Awards (doctoral-level), and the STAR scholarship (first year of college).  P.E.O. also owns Cottey College for women.   

Illinois P.E.O. projects are the Lulu Corkhill Williams Friendship Fund (emergency financial assistance) and the Home Fund (housing assistance for women over 65).   I've served on both the Lulu and Home Fund committees.

In 2024-25 Illinois chapters gave $738,829 to the Projects!

The Honors Luncheon on Saturday celebrates anniversaries.   There was a 125-year chapter, six 100-year, five 75-year, and two 50-year.  Three 80-year members were recogized, though they did not attend (they're at least 98 years old).

50-year members were honored.  Top:  my chapter with our Golden Girl Dede (wearing a crown).  Bottom left:  Norma is in my mother's chapter. They were close friends.  Bottom right: Anne is a former member of our chapter and her biological sisters are both in our chapter. (They live out of state so Linda and I are posing in their place.)

After lunch I was at my post at the International Peace Scholarship table.   Note  the tablecloth and the basket with chocolates.  

I fielded questions as best as I could, considering that I haven't had official training yet.  

I wasn't able to attend the workshops that I understand were excellent.

Linda and I hosted a pre-banquet reception in our room for the delegates and visitors from our county round table.  (See the Elsbeth tote bags above.)   It was deemed a success.

The Projects Banquet highlighted our philanthropies.  Chapters were recognized for their contributions.    Recipients of the Cottey scholarship, STAR, and ELF spoke. 

The Sunday morning session brought some business (discussion and voting on bylaws amendments), closing remarks by the 2024-25 president, installation of officers, and the announcement of the 2025-26 theme.

 Fran, the new president, has been a dear friend of mine since 1986.  I was surprised and touched to see my handwriting on the big screen.

The theme honors Lulu Corkhill Williams. Lulu was not one of the seven founders but she was initiated just weeks after P.E.O. began.   As a builder she established new chapters and the Illinois State Chapter.   

Fran's book about Lulu was introduced at the convention.  She gave me a personalized copy. 
 

The 60-mile drive home was a lot quicker on Sunday afternoon compared to the drive down on Friday.  It was a refreshing, inspiring time.