Similar to clicking on the ‘refresh’ computer screen icon, voters at our 2009 Convention chose to renew, reinvigorate and restructure vital aspects of our sisterhood! Many recommendations from last biennium’s study of survey responses were confirmed as important choices for the road map ahead. Adopted amendments impact governance, process and procedures. Members left San Diego ready to implement the future.
I urge each one of us to do our part to understand and participate in adopted changes. Accept the personal challenge to carefully know what was enacted and how it will guide you and your chapter. As these tangible changes are implemented to facilitate streamlined functionality, the intangible qualities of P.E.O. spirit will strengthen and deepen. What are the best qualities of your own chapter? How can you contribute to making your chapter stronger? What relationships do you want to develop? What do you need to help your chapter engage in moving forward? How can you personally strengthen what is most worthwhile and crucial to building P.E.O.? Please ask yourself these questions; then evaluate and prioritize your answers. Revised organizational structure is in place. Take action. Now is the time. Be who we say we are.
Our mutual vows of membership require accountability and responsibility. Focus your chapter life on being the environment where members love to come! Encourage all members to participate in the creative table, to bring their talents, skills and wealth of ideas. This emphasis may ask some to stretch beyond their comfort zone to a venue where they are “Expanding our Vision!” This loving, inter-relational atmosphere will foster the “place” where members are proud and pleased to welcome new sisters. Be that place of promise.
P.E.O.’s gift to each of us is a great inheritance, a compilation of each era’s response to meet the cross-generational needs of its women. Women of all ages today want exactly what we are at our finest: an interconnected support system. Our “system” offers opportunities to learn and lead, develop skills, help others, invest our time productively and indeed make a positive difference in our world.
From this crossroads convention, P.E.O. is poised to lean into the wind. With excitement, energy and enthusiasm, our sisterhood is positioned forward to share the strong, vital values of the shining star in the years ahead.
A significant membership initiative began October 1 with the employment of a coordinator for membership development and the launch of the strategic regional membership plan staffed by four dedicated volunteers, all experienced past state presidents. Please meet these five sisters on page 4. They will be offering options to state/provincial/district leadership regarding membership resources, tools and materials, as well as data-based recommendations to grow best practices.
In this season of gratitude and celebration, the executive board extends prayers to God for hope and peace throughout our countries and the world. We ask God to expand our P.E.O. vision with purposeful meaning; to enlighten our horizons to serve and nurture others the very best we can. May this new year before us be full of possibilities! Celebrate!
Forward!
