June 2020 Table of Contents

1 A Daisy Dream: P.E.O.’s Bright Future 5 Chapter U Receives Heartwarming Gifts 2 Finding Covid-19 News from International 6 Chapter V During the Pandemic 3 Chapters May Approve Applicants Virtually 7 P.E.O. Angels Among Us 3 AD/UT “Front Porch Brigade” 7 Greetings from Chapter AM 4 Time to Choose a Connection with Sisters 4 Stay Connected

8 2020 Convention Marketplace goes Virtual 9 Scholarship Application Due Dates 9 Upcoming Events Questions? Suggestions?

Daisy Dream about P.E.O.’s Bright Future By Cynthia Schofield, Y, President, Utah State Chapter The times are unusual, the process was unique, but the installation of Utah State Officers proceeded, although we missed the sweet physical presence of our sisters from throughout Utah. A few family members, BILs, and Past State Presidents of Utah joined us remotely. Our International Visitor Dr. Laurie Collins, chairman of the P.E.O. Scholar Awards Board of Trustees, attended via Zoom. At the request of the Utah State Board, Stephanie Halton, U, PSP installed the following state officers: Robyn Thornton, Q, secretary; Kat Lee, P, treasurer; Alice Stephenson, V, organizer; Nancy Labahn, B, vice president; Cynthia Schofield, Y, president. I shared these few words:

“Even though we cannot gather as we planned, the installation of the new Utah State Board proceeds with the help of modern video technology. As unusual as we might think the times are, it should be noted that the Wisconsin Grand Chapter became part of Supreme Chapter of P.E.O. in 1917 and Michigan State Chapter was organized and joined Supreme Chapter in 1919. At the time, the world was devastated by an influenza pandemic, the worst of which lasted roughly from March 1917 to April 1918. P.E.O. has a history of making it through difficult times –

Utah P.E.O. Sister to Sister News - June 2020 | Return to Table of Contents | Page 1 of 9

 

pandemics and wars, to name a few – P.E.O. will survive these times, as well. We are resilient, loving, and strong with a mission to educate women. We will survive and we will thrive!

“In the summer of 2016, just a few months after being installed as Utah State Board secretary, I attended a Chapter Y fundraiser and silent auction in Liberty Park. There were many fine items for bid, but a lovely stained-glass piece kept beckoning me. The glass itself was fashioned by Len Johnson, BIL of Jennie Johnson, Y; Dave Peifer, BIL of Kathy Alderson, Y, created the stand. I was intrigued by it and just knew I had to have it! The glass holds a special place on my kitchen windowsill overlooking the Salt Lake Valley, with a view of Antelope Island. When I am working at my kitchen table on various Utah State Board projects, I contemplate this beautiful piece. It has provided inspiration and solace, depending on what was needed at the time. I gaze at it, “daisy-dreaming” about P.E.O.’s bright future, enjoying the cheery light – even on dreary, snowy days. Naturally, the state theme for 2020-2021 is: “A Daisy Dream: P.E.O.’s Bright Future.” I am grateful for the combined efforts of Nancy Webster, Z and Lisa Anderson, D for creating a logo that captures and distills this year’s theme.

“Stephanie Halton took us on “A Joyful Journey” – didn’t we have a blast!? However, circumstances beyond our control have brought us to a place of contemplation – we dream of a bright future for P.E.O., and for our world. Last year, Stephanie taught us the “silly walk”, but current health concerns prohibit “silly walking” for now. The times call for us to be creative as we maintain contact with our sisters. Our bonds of sisterhood are even more significant in times of strife and difficulty. I hope you will share many stories this year of the creative ways that sisters have maintained loving contact with each other. May we all grow closer for the love and affection we have for each other no matter the physical distance. I pray we may link arms again for the silly walk very soon. Meanwhile, “Daisy Dream” about “P.E.O.’s Bright Future” and let those dreams sustain and inspire you!”

Find COVID-19 News on International Site By Cynthia Schofeld, Y, President, Utah State Chapter

Do you want to find out how to vote for a philanthropy candidate during "quarantine"? How do we conduct that meeting? To check the details, sign onto International's website with the username and password (ask a sister if you forgot). The first screen that pops up has "News from P.E.O. International" on the right. There, you'll find all of International's COVID-19 announcements in descending order by date, including links to forms. You've got this!

Utah P.E.O. Sister to Sister News - June 2020 | Return to Table of Contents | Page 2 of 9

 

 

Chapters May Approve Applicants Virtually By Nancy Labahn, B, Vice President, Utah State Chapter Although International Chapter is not allowing local chapters to meet in person until August 1, chapters may meet via video conferencing to approve scholarship applicants. Please be aware that we must at all times protect our applicant’s personal and private information. Blank applications may be emailed to applicants but completed applications must be sent via snail mail to the committee chairmen. The 2020-2021 Utah State Standing Committees and Appointments List contains the phone numbers of the committee chairs which are available on the members side of the Utah State website (peoutah.org). Please call the chair for her home address and mail the completed application to her via the United States Postal Service. Thank you for all you do under these challenging circumstances to continue our work of helping women reach for the stars!

AD/UT Launches ‘Front Porch Brigade’ By Jane Paterson, Chapter AD President

Chapter AD/UT got their "Front Porch Brigade" started today with a visit to Jayne Wilkins and chapter sisters Jane Bebb and Billy Maxwell. So many of our chapter sisters are at high risk due to age or underlying conditions and it has been very hard on them to self isolate. Now, with the better weather, we can meet on their front porch or the driveway and have a small social - at a distance! These three sisters literally are next door neighbors. The visiting sister brings her own chair, lunch or a cold drink and stays 6 feet away. The picture shows me picking up Jayne Wilkins to go next door.

Utah P.E.O. Sister to Sister News - June 2020 | Return to Table of Contents | Page 3 of 9

 

 

Time to Choose a Connection with Sisters By Brenda Boren, M, PSP, State Membership Committee Chair You may have heard it said that membership is the responsibility of each sister. This has never been truer than it is right now. You may not have signed up to be on your chapter’s membership committee but unusual times call for unusual measures, even in P.E.O.! As we continue to be unable to meet in person, the work that we do now as individual sisters will ensure a bright future for our sisterhood. Through the leadership of our International Membership Committee, here are a couple ways to show a loving concern for each sister:

● Start a card chain. Mail an uplifting note to one sister and ask her to keep the chain going.

● Simply call the next sister in your yearbook and have a phone chat to brighten her day and see if there is a need that you can fill. Call until you get someone and ask her to call the next one in the book.

Remember, it doesn’t matter how you choose to make a connection with your sisters. What matters is that you make that connection! It seems most appropriate at this time to share the words of 2015-2017 International Chapter president, Beth Ledbetter:

"If we are to be good stewards of what we have been given – the opportunity to be a part of this very meaningful, worthwhile organization that does so much to promote the welfare of women in all walks of life – we must be busy doing what we can do, not being deterred by what we can't do." Chapter Y Determines to ‘Stay Connected’ By Mary Alderson, Y Our chapter President Sharon Webb's theme this year is “Stay Connected,” and are we ever! The women of Chapter Y have avidly taken to cyberspace. We communicate frequently by email. We have had several “not-meetings” over Zoom, had a book club meeting over Zoom and plan more virtual get-togethers to “Stay Connected” in the time to come. Some of us are able to get out more and “Stay Connected” to those at home by waving and talking from the street. We have also waved and talked at a distance on walks. We are thrilled that our own Cynthia Schofield has been installed as State President. Barb Jenkins and Marianne Bojanowski became new Golden Girls. Because we could not celebrate with them in person but wanted to “Stay Connected.” The chapter sent flowers to these three women who make us so proud.

Utah P.E.O. Sister to Sister News - June 2020 | Return to Table of Contents | Page 4 of 9

  Chapter U Shares Heartwarming Gifts By Stephanie Halton, U, PSP The sisters of Chapter U in Logan were delighted by a surprise gift to start the year. Their 2020-2021 yearbooks were tucked into a daisy bag full of treats! A poem introduced the items: Here’s a little gift To keep you adrift A mask for your face To help keep you safe A scrubby to clean While in quarantine Some positive words To keep spirits upwards Daisies to bloom And share on Zoom The yearbook and gifts were a welcome boost during this time of social distancing. One sister described them as “the perfect pick-me-up” and another said the “thoughtfulness of each item brightened my day.” The surprise was the brainchild of a caring and talented sister who wishes to remain anonymous. Chapter U thanks her for the creative idea to connect the chapter in an uplifting way!

Clockwise: Handmade face covering, daisy seed packet, Chapter U yearbook, poem, collection of uplifting thoughts, and crocheted dish scrubber.

Utah P.E.O. Sister to Sister News - June 2020 | Return to Table of Contents | Page 5 of 9

 Chapter V Finds New Ways to Stay in Touch By Alice Rathofer, Chapter V President Chapter V members have been keeping in touch with each other via our phone tree and a few other means of connection. The phone tree committee has been contacting each of our sisters on a regular basis to make sure everyone is in good health both physically and mentally. The great news is that everyone is doing well and keeping occupied in various ways. One of our members decided to email every member of Chapter V in alphabetical order. So we are all receiving emails from this sister. Another sister is sending cards to each of her sisters. We do have one sister who is awaiting hip replacement surgery and has been delayed until … no one knows. We are doing a card shower for her to keep her spirits up and to let her know we are all thinking about her. I did task our phone tree committee with finding out if everyone has the computer and equipment for a Zoom social and if sisters are interested is this as a way to get together. It looks like we do not have the equipment or interest from enough members to launch this kind of technological social. So we will continue to use the phone to keep in touch. As the new president of Chapter V, I have been contacting each of our sister members with a phone call. All of our non-resident members have been included, of course, and those with email addresses have been added to our email updates. We are all keeping busy and finding things to do with family while keeping our personal distance. Chapter V wishes every P.E.O. sister good health and we look forward to being together with real hugs soon.

Utah P.E.O. Sister to Sister News - June 2020 | Return to Table of Contents | Page 6 of 9

 Utah P.E.O. Angels Recognized in ‘Record’ By Cynthia Schofield, Y, President, Utah State Chapter

Check out page 2 of the May-June issue of the P.E.O. Record. Utah's own Chapter AM and then Chapter President Debbie Dunn were lauded for service to a member of Chapter DK-JH, San Diego, CA who was hospitalized due to an auto accident near St. George in 2019. We are so proud of Debbie and Chapter AM for being recognized as "P.E.O. Angels"!

Chapter AM Saw Beyond Pandemic

Our first meeting of the new P.E.O. year was scheduled for Thursday, March 5 so we had the good fortune to be able to install our new officers for the coming year before the COVID-19 virus became so serious.

We voluntarily canceled our next scheduled meeting, but our committees became active right away. Our chaplain graciously offered to email us a daily devotion ranging from scripture and poetry to cartoons which we all enjoy and greatly appreciate. Our committees were finalized and went to work as needed.

Philanthropy committee had met even before the shutdown. All committees were finalized and went to work as needed: confirmed a full year’s program list, updated and published our new directory, and made plans for two major fundraising events and several social activities. This week we held two practice sessions on Zoom and have scheduled Zoom gatherings for the next three months. Each will be held twice during the first week of May, June, and July. The first month will be a time of catching up with each other.

In June our program will be “Sharing a Treasure” at which we will have a “show and tell” time and be able to see the items on camera. July will be an interactive program with the topic “Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Right to Vote.” Each of these programs will be led by the member who proposed the topic and all of our programs will fit into our theme of “A New Decade for New Dreams.” Our best wishes to all our sister chapters for a good year in spite of this necessary shutdown. Be safe!

Utah P.E.O. Sister to Sister News - June 2020 | Return to Table of Contents | Page 7 of 9

 2020 Convention Marketplace Goes Virtual

By Anna Barton, Z, Chairman, 2020 Utah State Convention Convention

The 2020 P.E.O.Convention Marketplace is online and open for business! While we didn't have an opportunity to see you all at the convention this year, we gathered some wonderful items for the marketplace, and we still want to make them available for you! Please come browse our great finds and make sure you read the "things to know before you shop" on the website before you buy. You can find our shop by going to the link on the Utah State Chapter website, or by following the link below: https://utah-state-chapter-peo-sisterhood.square.site/ If you have any questions or problems while on the site, please feel free to contact us at 2020.peo.utah.marketplace@gmail.com

● Microwavable bowl holders made of 100 percent cotton. Use them to microwave your bowls full of soup and then take the bowl out of the oven using the tabs – no need for potholders! Also keeps your bowls of ice cream from freezing your hands.

● 100 percent silk scarves individually tie dyed in shades of teal and green.

● Cotton glass coasters – soak up condensation while saving your wood surfaces.

● The Best of Cottey Cooking cookbooks.

● Daisy T-shirts in pale yellow or pink with poppies

Utah P.E.O. Sister to Sister News - June 2020 | Return to Table of Contents | Page 8 of 9

 

 

 

● Click here for P.E.O. International ● Click here for Utah P.E.O. Sisterhood

Scholarship Application Due Dates: Ongoing

● Helen Abbott Fund Scholarship* ● Carole S. Putnam Scholarship* ● P.E.O. Project for Continuing Education (PCE)* ● P.E.O. Educational Loan Fund (ELF)*

*Chapter vote to support a scholarship candidate must have been made according to P.E.O. International's memo of April 20, 2020 available at peoutah.org or on the members only side at peointernational.org.

Upcoming Events:  

No upcoming events are currently scheduled. Articles are DUE for the July/August Issue of Sister to Sister News by Monday, July 20. Contact Newsletter Lead Editor Jackie Nicole at peoutah.news@gmail.com with any questions.

Questions? Suggestions? Please let the editors know if you have any questions or suggestions for future topics, events, or articles. If you are submitting information about a chapter fundraiser, please indicate that you have approval from the state board to circularize. Newsletter dates and submission deadlines are found on the calendar at www.peoutah.org. The Utah State Board approves submitted content. Reach the Utah P.E.O. Sister to Sister News editor at peoutah.news@gmail.com.

Utah P.E.O. Sister to Sister News - June 2020 | Return to Table of Contents | Page 9 of 9