Are there any PEO sisters here?

[blur256]

Just curious. Just joined and I love it! Especially my chapter which is very progressive!!

[MLAA]

1. I havent heard of this org. Tell us more about it 🙂

[blur256]

2. It is a philanthropic education organization

Just a lot of women who give scholarships to women in need. We give to women in need all over the world. Some are from here and had to put theirs degrees on hold for whatever reason to those from abroad trying to come to this country to better themselves.

[MLAA]

4. Sounds wonderful, good for you for joining it!

[blur256]

7. Not being that person

But they have chapters all over!! Our dues are $50 for the year and our chapter just sent bylaws to national to make sure no one is alienated because of who they are. My wife and I wouldn't belong if they were crappy. That is a for sure.

[Ms. Toad]

3. This, alone, would keep me from spending much time even exploring memberships

P.E.O. stands for Philanthropic Educational Organization.

The original meaning of the letters, as established by the P.E.O. Founders, is reserved for members only

.

https://www.peointernational.org/frequently-asked-questions

I'm not much fond of secret societies.

ETA: Ugghhh.

Getting to Know You
Before receiving an invitation to join, a woman is sponsored by three members in a local chapter. The sponsorship and invitation process includes getting to know the prospective members well, and explaining P.E.O.’s purposes that come with personal commitment and responsibilities.

If a woman is invited to join a local chapter, she may then make her decision based on what she has learned about the local chapter and the international scope of P.E.O.

https://www.peointernational.org/membership-peo

Practices like these are typically used to exclude "undesirables."

(I know nothing about the organization - which may well do wonderful work - but the means by which the work is done/organization is run tell me it is not one I want to be associated with.)

[blur256]

5. Thanks for your reply!

I was also weary, but my wife asked me to become a member. She already was a member. I seriously mean it when the "secret" part isn't that secret. I was in a sorority in college and it was WAY more secretive. It's more or less a camaraderie with the goal of helping women. That's it. Nothing nefarious. I found out before I joined that my aunt belonged which I actually think is very cool.

[Ms. Toad]

6. It's not just the secrecy,

It is the membership by invitation only - which is one of the primary ways of continuing segregation (whether by gender, race, country of origin, etc.) of society.

As I said - it may do wonderful things, and the people in it may love it. But I'm not not willing to even consider being part of a social organization in which membership is dependent on the whim of being invited by those already initiated.

Funny you should mention sororities, as a comparison. I intentionally chose a college that did not have sororities, for similar reasons.

[blur256]

9. Our chapter

Just actually initiated by law changes to make sure everyone is included. It's not perfect, but we are doing our best to make it for every woman that's wants to do good for other women. Wifey and I are on board with changing all of this for the better. Wifey is the chaplain and said we should make everyone feel welcome! Love that woman

[Hortensis]

8. $304M+ awarded to over 102,000 women from

from the organization's six educational philanthropies, first chapter formed in 1869 arising out of earlier decades of educational ministries of the Methodist Church.

It sounds like a fine organization, blur256. Stable, membership by invitation, and dedicated to its mission. I wonder if Hillary Clinton is a sister.

[blur256]

10. Me too!

It really is fantastic. Would love it if she was!

[Hortensis]

11. :) Enjoy, and congrats!

This one is not going to disappoint by failing standards in challenging times and require you to withdraw. Love to hear more as time goes on.

[blur256]

12. Will do!

Women need all the help they can get these days I'm really glad I can help that cause. So thank you.

[regnaD kciN]

13. My late mother was one of the district leaders...

...when we lived in both Southern California and New England.

[blur256]

14. Awesome!

[elfin]

15. My Mom LOVED it

She did not have the chance to go to college, and was very bright. It gave her status in the community along with learning, and the chance to do academic research to share a topic in depth with the chapter. It also provided an opportunity to contribute to women's college education. She grew in smarts and depth and confidence while she lived due to this.

Her great regret was that none of her daughters were interested once they discovered it required a "recommendation" and then a sorority-like installation before getting to the meat of the group education on many worthy topics and then contributing to Coty College by fund raising projects. They found they could have the same inspiration and satisfaction with other groups.

While her daughters bailed at the opportunity, they all did get a college degree and have friends who are in PEO and buy pecans each year, while politely declining invitations to join due to their ultra-egalitarian attitude to their perceived exclusionary aspect of the organization. Mom saw to it that we each got the life she had wanted and found for herself in PEO.

Have many friends in PEO, and they are all fantastic and accomplished women. And yet, I resist, but do buy lots and lots of pecans.

Whenever someone shares that they are preparing to do a "program", without mentioning why, I always ask if it is for PEO. They light up, and I I see my Mom in their faces.

[blur256]

16. My Aunt who is also peo

Went to Cotty college. She loved it as well as peo. And funny story, she sends me pecans every year for Christmas lol. I live in New England and the pecans are not a thing up here ha, but I love that is her gift to Me! Anyway, she was so excited when I joined that she sent me a card. Like I said in previous posts, it is not super secretive or selective. I did have to have three women nominate me ( which was easy because my wife is a member and I had already met everyone) but I encourage others to see if it is right for them. It's fun and engaging!