Tussie-Mussie Fundraiser
P.E.O. sisters of Chapter F, Lewisburg, West Virginia, gathered around tables filled with paper doilies, satin ribbons, red rosebuds, baby’s breath and lemon leaves to make Tussie-Mussie bouquets. A Tussie- Mussie is an old Victorian art dating back to Queen Victoria with a grouping of f lowers skirted in a doily and tied with a ribbon. The chapter advertised the bouquets and took orders. In one day, they delivered 324 Tussie-Mussies and raised over $1,100 for P.E.O. projects!
Chapter F, Lewisburg, West Virginia
Le Gourmet de Normandie
Chapter FS of Sterling, Colorado, recently enjoyed a unique fundraising evening. Ann Prestwich and her BIL Larry just returned from two years of living in Le Havre, Normandy, France, and they offered to prepare a seven-course meal for the chapter. Members were charged for the meal and BILS were invited. Everyone “dressed for dinner.”
Members were asked to volunteer to host a table, bringing table cloths and table service, so that each table was elegantly different. The volunteer hostesses attended an informational meeting, dealing with French customs and dining traditions, such as the use of bread to clean the plate and that forearms should be placed on the edge of the table, not in the lap, during the meal.
Ann prepared the exquisite French food with a little help from chapter members. Larry, who teaches art at a local junior college, made large ink 
sketches of picturesque buildings they had seen in France. The sketches adorned the walls of the dining room and the front of the menu. Two FS members teamed up with Larry to sing favorite songs in French.
The excellent meal, from l’aperitif to l’entrée to la soupe to le plat principal (main course) to la salade to les fromages (cheeses) and le dessert, was served in the manner of unhurried French dining, with a pause between courses for diners to enjoy the blending of flavors and to rise and visit with guests from other tables.
The delightful meal filled the entire evening, and is one that chapter members will remember for a long time to come.
From Physical to Fiscal: A Healthy Fundraiser
When Sarah Thompson joined Chapter CL, Binghamton, New York, she brought a breath of fresh air to the group. Her youthful demeanor and her innovative ideas energize the chapter, and when she offered to
contribute her expertise as a certified health and fitness specialist for a fundraising idea, every sister expressed her enthusiasm. Sarah led a low-impact exercise class designed to increase strength and balance 
without too much stress—especially appealing to those of a “certain age,” but also beneficial for all ages. The classes were open to everyone in the community at $35 for an hour, once a week for six weeks. The chapter members, BILs and friends wanting to increase their physical agility were quick to fill the class. The chapter earned $700 for P.E.O. projects!
Sarah Thompson
Food Demonstration Raises Money for P.E.O. Projects
Members of Chapter DD, Aurora, Illinois, held a successful fundraiser this spring. Phyllis Kramer, talented chef on staff at Robert Morris University Culinary School, gave a food demonstration entitled “Delicious Delights and Desserts.” Phyllis demonstrated appetizers and desserts that allow a hostess to relax and have fun with friends and family, especially during the summer months. She also presented many helpful ideas and tips for the hostess.
Cold cucumber soup, sausage cupcakes with mashed potato frosting, chicken bites with orange sesame glaze and zesty salmon cakes with salsa were among the appetizers demonstrated. Chocolate ganache cups served in small votive cups and topped with seasonal fruit were a hit for dessert. All recipes were easy to prepare and delicious! Attendees sampled the demonstrated recipes at lunch and received a recipe booklet to take home.
The event raised $1,500 for P.E.O. philanthropies.
Phyllis Kramer and other members of
Chapter DD, Illinois
Spreading the Word about P.E.O.
Chapter T, Albany, Georgia, introduced Southwest Georgia to P.E.O. at the Southwest Georgia Exchange Club Fair. With the theme “Women 
Helping Women Reach for the Stars,” the P.E.O. exhibit was the $500 blue ribbon winner.
Utilizing icons and information from The P.E.O. Record and other sources, the exhibit featured P.E.O.’s scholarships, awards and history. It also provided the website to acquire more information.
The blue ribbon winning exhibit, “Women Helping Women Reach for the Stars” entered by
Chapter T, Albany, Georgia, at the Southwest Georgia Exchange Club Fair.
P.E.O. Chapter DY Finds Sweet Success
In June 2010, P.E.O. Chapter DY, Troy, Ohio, participated in the annual Troy Strawberry Festival by serving hand-dipped ice cream, and earned a net profit of $1,000 for P.E.O. philanthropies. The festival is a long-time tradition forresidents of Troy, Ohio. The theme of this year’s festival was “Volunteers Change the World.”
Margaret Dillow organized the volunteer schedule and made strawberry aprons for volunteers to wear. Sisters and several BILs volunteered to make decorations and split the shifts during the two-day festival. Volunteers served strawberry ice cream and sundaes. At the end of the festival, the chapter received the “Chairman’s Award” for its efforts.
Volunteers felt rewarded—supporting P.E.O. sister Sabra Johnson (Chairperson for the Troy Strawberry Festival), raising money to support 
P.E.O. projects, generating publicity in the community for P.E.O. and its philanthropic work, working side by side with P.E.O. sisters and growing an even stronger bond within the chapter.
Jenny Zapadka, Sara Wiggershaus, Kay Kaebnick, Camille Green, Nancy Eppleston
Heritage Tour
Chapter GV, Wichita, Kansas, sponsored a Heritage Tour for 26 Wichita P.E.O.s April 20-22, 2010.
Starting in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, sisters were treated to dinner by Chapter NZ. The next morning International President Elizabeth Garrels guided the group on a special tour of Iowa Wesleyan College and told the story of our Founders and how P.E.O. all began. Following a driving tour of Mount Pleasant, the group went to Des Moines to tour the P.E.O. Headquarters where lunch was served by Chapter GX, and tour guides introduced the Wichita P.E.O.s to the workings of the various offices and staff serving the Sisterhood. A tour of Salisbury House and Gardens completed the day.
Early the next morning the group drove to Winterset where they were led by another P.E.O. on a tour of the Bridges of Madison County, John Wayne’s birthplace and the Madison County Historical Complex where lunch was served by Chapter AG. Returning home to Wichita that evening, members were proud to know they supported three Iowa chapters and met new sisters across the state.
All proceeds of the tour were presented to Dr. Judy Rogers at a reception in Wichita on June 11 before the Kansas State Convention. 
First row: International President Elizabeth Garrels Second row, from the left: Kaye Abbott, Sondra Gordon, Nianne Mohlstrom, Jan Messman, Carol Brown, Georgia Chandler, Lillian Mayer, Jean Wellshear, Emma Lou Atherley Third row: Madgie Hinners, Olive Moehring, Mary Lou Blum, Doris Nyberg, Marilyn McKee, Joan Crowns, Ruth Lance, Donna Berner Fourth row: Irene Storrer, Dorothy Gordon, Janis Merideth, Joan Buenten, Kay Harrison, Gayle Fisher, Dorothy Bronson, Sally Hayes, Marcia Newton
