Convention Booth Info - ELF (Educational Loan Fund)

We celebrate this “Perpetual Legacy of Love” since 1907. ELF is proud to be a part of the P.E.O. Philanthropic Circle: Learn, Give, Sponsor and Initiate!

 

Established in 1907, ELF is the oldest project and makes loans available to qualified women who desire higher education and need financial assistance. 

 

LEARN: ELF is a revolving loan fund dependent upon the financial support of P.E.O.s. Members that give donations to ELF allow the fund to grow and to assist an ever-increasing number of qualified women.

 

GIVE: In May of 1908, the first loan, in the amount of $300, was granted to Edna Pickering, who was attending Iowa State Normal School in Cedar Falls, Iowa. By 1919, fifty years after the founding of P.E.O., the fund totaled $111,800. Since its inception, ELF has loaned $229.5 million to over 49,500 women.

 

SPONSOR: All applicants for the Educational Loan Fund must be recommended by a local chapter. Local chapters make all the difference in sharing the news that ELF loans change lives and well-informed chapter members are more likely to connect with prospective ELF candidates. 

 

INITIATE: We are proud of our recipients and are thrilled when we can initiate them into our Sisterhood.

We celebrate Cherokee Charlesworth, recipient of financial aid awarded to her by the P.E.O. Educational Loan Fund (ELF). Our P.E.O. Chapter JI sponsored her for this award in 2018.

Convention Blog Post for Today

Connecting, Engaging, Learning, Being Well and HAVING FUN

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021/ PEOCONVENTION

A busy day of Convention started bright at early at 8 this morning! Attendees had a chance to ease into the day gently as Lee Papa led an introduction to mindfulness and meditation. Following this, sisters had the opportunity to join a Zoom conversation in the Connections Café moderated by Jennifer Chittenden, P.E.O.’s director of membership. She led the group in a lively discussion about ways to find, and keep, active members of the Sisterhood. Another Connections Café session in the afternoon was a great place to share ideas for chapter activities.

At 9:00, we got to see a message from P.E.O. International President Brenda J. Atchison, who enthusiastically welcomed us to the 75th Convention of International Chapter. Brenda was excited to let everyone know that all of the sessions from this convention will be made available for streaming and download once the event is over–these videos make great chapter programs! Your schedule might not allow you to attend every session or workshop you like, so this will also be a great opportunity to catch up later. Brenda highlighted three fun activities she encourages everyone to do ...

To read rest of this posting on the Convention of International Chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood's blog, click here.

Keynote Speaker Talks About 100 Days Without Fear

Fear prevents us from living life to the full. In Michelle Poler's keynote address, she talks about her experience facing 100 fears.

Click here to view her 15-minute TED talk: 100 days without fear.

A Sister posed this question: "After today, we have 100 days left in 2021. Anyone else inspired to do a 100-day Challenge after the keynote tonight at CIC?"

Virtual Photo Booth During Convention!

It was fun to take pictures at the virtual "Photo Booth" and then post them to Facebook!

Video Tour - P.E.O. Heritage Museum

Discover P.E.O. history during this tour of the Heritage Museum located at the P.E.O. Executive Office in Des Moines, Iowa.

Click here to watch the 14-minute video.

Convention – Connections Café Conversation

Conversation Topic: Connecting & Engaging with Younger Members

Maybe reframe definition of “young woman” to one who is 10 years younger than you.

For younger members, try to do inexpensive socials that are no cost or low cost.

Avoids lots of planning and RSVPs.

Ideas for Socials:

Go to a coffee shop, with P.E.O. Sisters and their friends.

Find local farmers’ market and invite folks to meet there.

Go on a hike -- meet in the parking lot.

Bridge, movie, and lunch groups (open to all, including guests, of course).

Get to know chapters in your area ... tap into other chapters' socials ... visit them.

Wine tasting.

Flash Socials:

Have a happy hour at a bar every 5th Monday. Invite guests to meet there.

Have a 4th Wednesday lunch. No RSVP -- just meet at restaurant!

Fifth Friday lunches, birthday lunch/coffees once a month, impromptu get togethers.  

 

Creative meeting times

-   Our chapter is half day and half evening

-   We meet half a year in evenings and half a year on Saturday mornings.

-   One chapter meets Saturday afternoons in the winter (Calgary…cold winters).

-   One chapter meets during the summer; Saturday morning meetings in winter.

-   The easy way to try other meeting times is just do a 'trial' period with a vote, then if it works change the bylaws the next year.

-   We are primarily an evening chapter but have incorporated Saturday morning meetings.

-   One chapter has three different meeting times. Early morning for those that get to work between 9 & 10, mid-day for stay-at-home moms and older women and finally early evening for working women who get away around 5. Every meeting has different members present but they are all active!

Make sure your meetings are an hour or less.

My chapter motto is “Come as you are; come when you can.”

We have modified in person meetings with small individually wrapped snacks as opposed to full spread of “goodies.” We have NO dress code except it is important to at least dress respectfully.

Our motto is come as you are. On Saturday mornings that could be PJs, yoga pants, and shorts in the summer.  We even had a Pajama party at one meeting! 

Women you could invite for a social:

Scholarship candidates for last 10 years.

Mothers of STAR candidates.

Candidates for scholarships who might need an ELF loan for grad school.

Candidates’ mothers—especially STAR Nominees.

We match a new member with a mentor so there's always someone she can call on. Easier to keep the connection through the rougher times, and then the new members are more likely to come back.

A group of 4 sisters who mentors our newest member. We call ourselves her posse!

One chapter puts sisters’ employers and their professions in their yearbooks (great for connecting and networking for future jobs).

Today's Blog Post - At Int'l. Convention

This convention has its own blog! Click here to read today's blog post about the "Daisy Dash!" The featured pictures are so much fun to see!

Daisy Dash 2021 -- Convention attendees who signed up for the 3rd biannual Daisy Dash received a special T-shirt and were invited to walk, run, bike or sashay away the Zoom fatigue any time during the week!