Gathering for Lunch, Program, Chapter Meeting

 
Background Left, Circling Around to the Right: Cindy Weber, Jill Hyde, Host Deborah Raessler, (Group at Dining Room Table in background), Marguerite Lipton, Jan Smith, Joyce Kozeliski -- (Photo taken by Belinda Alkula)

End of Table (left), Circling L-R (Background to Foreground): Tanya Lynn, Host Sarah Raessler (in red, obscured), Maggie McDonnell, Kathie Burson, Annie Gaddy, Linda Petroff, Mary Jean Cardinale, Annette Oakley, Mary Kay Durbin -- (Photo taken by Belinda Alkula)

L-R: Annette Oakley, Marguerite Lipton, Mary Jean Cardinale, Cindy Weber

(Photo taken by Belinda Alkula)

L-R (Background, Circling Around to Foreground): Joyce Kozeliski (describing her ornament), Tanya Lynn (in purple, obscured), Annie Gaddy, Jill Hyde, Jan Smith, Kathie Burson, Mary Kay Durbin, Host Deborah Raessler -- (Photo taken by Belinda Alkula)

Deborah and Sarah Raessler invited us into their lovely home for today's gathering, where we were warmly received and treated to a myriad of delectable homemade cookies, treats, and libations!

It was wonderful to see the Raessler's holiday decorations on full display! Their Christmas tree was adorned with beautiful ornaments, each with a special story as to why it was treasured and honored with a dedicated place on the tree.

Deborah Raessler orchestrated a wonderful program! Mary Kay Durbin and Deborah played the piano in the living room, as we sang Christmas carols. (Each sister had been asked to take an ornament from her Christmas tree to the gathering, where she would be invited to share why it was special to her.) As we heard each sister share memories connected to her treasured ornament, we could feel our bond of sisterhood strengthening. 

The chapter meeting was chock full of exciting news, as always. We so appreciate our officers' imaginative, creative leadership! Exciting things are planned for 2024! 

Our P.E.O. Chapter JI continues to be Just Incredible! 💗

Holiday Luncheon

 

Foreground (L-R): Maggie McDonnell, Sarah Raessler, Cindy Schreiber Huxley, Marguerite Lipton, Vicky Hughes, Cindy Weber

Background (L-R): Annie Gaddy, Kathie Burson, Jill Hyde, Geneva Fisher, Tanya Lynn, Jan Smith, Wendy Ahrendt, Mary Kay Durbin, Linda Petroff, Belinda Alkula, Joyce Kozeliski, Annette Oakley, Deborah Raessler, Debbie Yates

(Photo taken by BIL Phil Smith)

The Chapter Officers Table

Foreground (L-R): Kathie Burson, Joyce Kozeliski, Geneva Fisher

Background (L-R): Tanya Lynn, Annette Oakley, Jill Hyde, Jan Smith

(Photo taken by Deborah Raessler)

 

L-R: Vicky Hughes, Cindy Weber, Marguerite Lipton, Belinda Alkula, Debbie Yates

(Photo taken by Tanya Lynn)

L-R: Wendy Ahrendt, Mary Kay Durbin, Linda Petroff, Maggie McDonnell, Sarah Raessler, Cindy Schreiber Huxley

(Photo taken by Tanya Lynn)

L-R: Jan Smith, Wendy Ahrendt, Joyce Kozeliski, Deborah Raessler

(Photo taken by Annette Oakley)

Foreground (L-R): Deborah Raessler, Annie Gaddy, Wendy Ahrendt, Mary Kay Durbin

Background (L-R): Annette Oakley, Kathie Burson, Joyce Kozeliski, Geneva Fisher, Jill Hyde, Jan Smith

(Photo taken by Tanya Lynn)

Today, we gathered at the lovely home of Jan and Phil Smith. We really appreciate their gracious generosity in opening their home for chapter gatherings! The members of our chapter's Communications Committee provided a delicious luncheon. 

We enjoyed good food, good conversation, and a spirited "gift-exchange" game (involving each sister choosing whether to keep the one she unwrapped or steal someone else's $20 gift). A fun time was had by all in attendance!

Donations to Sister Carmen Community Center

 

Jill Hyde's SUV Loaded with 461 Pounds of Donations from Our Sisters!

(Picture Taken by Belinda Alkula)

Sister Carmen Community Center Staff/Volunteers Welcome Donations!

(Picture Taken by Jill Hyde)

From Jill Hyde: WOW, that was fun -- I dropped off 461 pounds of donations for the Sister Carmen Community Center! I can't tell you how many times I heard, "this is awesome; wow, what a fantastic donation; and THANK YOU!"

From President Annette Oakley: 

Dear JI Sisters, who are not only Just Incredible, but very generous,  

Thank you, Jill Hyde, Joyce Kozeliski, and Jan Smith, for coming up with the Turkey Trot Thanksgiving food/supplies donation idea for Sister Carmen.  

Jill shared her business card with the director and a volunteer (returning to school) who might just qualify for the ELF.

Chapter Meeting Today

Meeting at Maggie McDonnell's Home

(Photo Taken by Belinda Alkula)

President Annette Oakley -- Leading the Meeting

(Photo Taken by Belinda Alkula)

Kathie Burson, Co-chair, Growth Committee -- Reporting Our Chapter Just Became a Partner in Peace Match, Along with 5 Other P.E.O. Chapters, to Support and Encourage a PhD Candidate in Nursing at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst

 (Photo Taken by Belinda Alkula)

Introducing Khadijat Adeleye from Nigeria

International Peace Scholarship (IPS) Fund Recipient -- Award Year: 2023

Probable Date of Graduation: 09/01/2027

Partners in Peace (PIP) Chapter: P.E.O. Chapter JI

Recording Secretary Geneva Fisher -- 

Reading Proclamation of How Just Incredible Our Operations Committee Members Are!

(Photo Taken by Belinda Alkula)

Today's Chapter Program -- Recapping Information Shared at Recent Fundraising Workshop

 

L-R: Joyce Kozeliski and Jan Smith, Co-chairs, Chapter Operations Committee

Adding Recaps on Daisy Petals During Today's Chapter Gathering

(Photo Taken by Belinda Alkula)

Photo Taken by Jan Smith

Recaps from Fundraising Workshop, November 4, 2023

Create – Don’t Fix

Baby Steps to Mountain (Our Goal)

Find Our “Thing”

(Have a) Collective Vision

Research How to Educate (About Our Goal)

Elevator Speech (Refine It)

Program Recurring Fundraising Events

(Have a) Year-long Plan

Involve Women-owned Businesses

Fundraising Fatigue (Be Aware)

Back-to-school Fundraiser (Annual Fund-raising Event)

Ask People (Women and Men)

Think “Outside the Box” (e.g., Painting Birdhouses/Rocks Fundraiser)

Fundraising Event of the Year: Lunch and Speaker's Workshop on Fundraising (Part 1)

Photo taken by BIL Charles Alkula.

Photo taken by BIL Charles Alkula.

L-R: Jan Smith, Carol Evans (Our Speaker), Sarah Raessler, Annie Gaddy (hidden), Marguerite Lipton (Photo taken by Belinda Alkula.)

Photo taken by Belinda Alkula.

L-R: Joyce Kozeliski, Jan Smith, Jill Hyde, Carol Evans (Our Speaker)

(Photo taken by Belinda Alkula.)

L-R: Annette Oakley, Marguerite Lipton, Jill Hyde, Annie Gaddy, Maggie McDonnell

(Photo taken by Belinda Alkula.)

Yesterday, we gathered at the lovely home of Jan and Phil Smith. The operations committee members provided a scrumptious lunch. Sisters dined around the Smith's wonderful round table. Four BILs dined in the other dining room. After lunch, everyone was so excited to begin Carol's workshop on how to effectively fundraise!

Fundraising Event of the Year: Lunch and Speaker's Workshop on Fundraising (Part 2)

(L-R) Jan Smith, Carol Evans, Joyce Kozeliski

Jan and Joyce are co-chairs of the operations committee.

This fundraising event was held at Jan and Phil Smith's home.

Carol is a lifelong friend of Jan Smith.

(Photo taken by Jill Hyde.)

(Photo taken by BIL Charles Alkula.)

(Photo taken by BIL Charles Alkula.)

BIL Phil Smith is a big/tall help to Carol during her presentation.

(Photo taken by Jill Hyde.)

Animated conversation during the workshop.

 

L-R: Carol Evans and Sarah Raessler

Carol holding a copy of Sarah's book that she gave to Carol.

(Photo taken by Jill Hyde.)

From Annette Oakley, President, P.E.O. Chapter JI (Lafayette/Colorado)

Yesterday was such a great time at Jan’s! Sharing each other’s company, enjoying a lovely luncheon, meeting Carol & the topper was learning some great ideas as we move forward in fundraising efforts.

The spirit of P.E.O. was alive & bubbling over with lots of energy. Yes, we’ve got this!

Lovely in P.E.O.,

Annette