Holyoke PEO celebrates 100 years of service, sisterhood

Driven by tradition, service and fun, Holyoke P.E.O. Chapter BM celebrated its 100-year anniversary Thursday, May 26, at First Christian Church in Holyoke.

More than 50 people gathered to commemorate a century of community dedication and support.

“Our Centennial Daisy Garden” was chosen as the theme for the anniversary event, as the daisy is the organization’s flower. Kimberlee Bennett successfully chaired the celebration, which she had been planning in her mind for two years, as a tribute to all members — present and past.

Chapter president Sandy Triplette quoted from the Marguerite Memories book published for the Colorado State P.E.O. 100th anniversary in 2003. “‘Much of the spirit of P.E.O. seems to be symbolized by the hardiness of the daisy,’ which we have chosen to decorate with to celebrate our 100 years in P.E.O.”

Packages of Shasta Daisy seeds were beautifully crafted into favors for each attendee by Lynn and Rachel Schneider.

Bennett had shared the 100th anniversary information on several P.E.O. platforms, noting the chapter hoped to receive 100 cards for 100 years. The local group was elated to receive 197 cards that were hanging on the west wall to enhance the decorations.

Tears and laughs were enjoyed as Bennett and Brenda Brandt reviewed tidbits of information from the chapter’s 100 years of history, thanks in part to Triplette’s diligence in highlighting the full century of minutes.

Five scrapbooks from 1922-2022 were on display in the church foyer, and those attending enjoyed reviewing them. Additionally, Bennett had prepared a scrapbook page, front and back, for each and every sister. The photo pages were an awesome gift and a great source of enjoyment at Thursday’s celebration.

Photo booth opportunities complete with daisy sunglasses, yellow and white hats, and 100-year memorabilia were provided as another fun aspect of the evening’s entertainment. Numerous door prizes, coordinated by Bennett and Pat Wiebers, made for more fun for the chapter members and their guests.

John Schneider represented the spouses of P.E.O. members by encouraging everyone to write a memory of Chapter BM on the cards provided. He also gave the invocation.

Current 50-year members are Vera Beal, Judy Schliep, Judy Beavers, Pam Vieselmeyer, Karen Trumper, Susie Cox and Susanne Drescher. Their dedication to the chapter was acknowledged.

Special guests from Colorado State Chapter included president Kendy Cusick-Rindone, treasurer Patty Fry and secretary Kathy Pirie, as well as past state presidents Janet Kingsbury from Chapter BV in Julesburg and Shari Fox, Bennett’s cousin.

Other guests were three members from Chapter BX in Haxtun, as well as Bennett’s parents, Gene and Carolyn Lutz from Cañon City.

Fox and Bennett joined forces for a hilarious initiation of spouses of new Chapter BM members.

Birthday cake, baked and decorated by Drescher, was served to conclude the celebration of chapter BM’s 100 years.

Chapter BM organized in 1922

Thirteen ladies of Holyoke’s Art and Needle Club organized Chapter BM on May 25, 1922, with their inspiration based on P.E.O.’s objects and aims of general improvement and the organization’s educational influence.

Anna Starbuck, a former P.E.O. member in Hebron, Nebraska, moved to Holyoke with her husband and brought the idea. Fellow Art and Needle Club member Beda Scheunemann also knew about P.E.O. from acquaintances in Nebraska, so the two women persuaded fellow club members to become a part of the P.E.O. sisterhood.

Since 1922, the chapter has seen 177 members on its rolls, with a current enrollment of 42.

In its fourth year, Chapter BM’s “Holyoke Follies” sponsored a home talent play called “The Womanless Marriage.” It played two evenings to a packed house of 300 each night. The chapter netted $153.50, of which $100 was given to the library, and a tradition of supporting worthy causes was begun.

In 1949, the hospital auxiliary organized, and Chapter BM sent a representative until the group disbanded in 1997.

In the early years, in addition to the hospital and library, local chapter projects included funding for cemetery improvements, high school band uniforms, Clubmobile Unit, Phillips County Committee on Reapportionment, nursing home bingo prizes and Phillips County Historical Society.

Chapter BM has supported the local preschool, music parents association, “Save the Peerless” theater fundraising, 4-H program, food pantries, reading program at the elementary school, Thanksgiving baskets for the needy, adopt-a-family for Christmas, tornado and fire victims, and many more.

Monetary donations for families struggling with hardships and health issues have been targeted by the chapter throughout its history.

Chapter BM is well known for its annual rummage sales.This traditional fundraiser/service venture started in the fall of 1925 and continued through 2015.

Since 2016, the chapter has provided meals for three to four local golf tournaments each summer as its major fundraiser.

With education at the heart of its purpose, Chapter BM has awarded a local scholarship to a deserving high school graduate since 1969, amounting to $24,000. This includes several additional scholarships funded by families in memory of a departed sister or family member.

The chapter has successfully sponsored 13 women for P.E.O. project scholarship funds for a total of $51,100. Ten of these were awarded as Educational Loan Funds, two from the Program for Continuing Education and just last year a STAR scholarship was awarded.

In addition to the ELF, PCE and STAR scholarship projects, the chapter has faithfully supported other state and international projects in its 100-year history.

Other current projects are the International Peace Scholarship, Scholar Awards, Cottey College in Missouri, Colorado Marguerite Fund, Colorado P.E.O. Chapter House, Colorado Cottey Scholarship Fund and Colorado State Scholarship Fund.

Chapter BM supported the efforts of World War II. The chapter gave money to the Red Cross to buy cod liver oil for children of war workers, as many wives were working in war plants. Members also knit sweaters and socks for the “boys in the service.”

Additionally, the chapter made scrapbooks, sent cards and letters, purchased war bonds, and gave to the United Victory Fund, Welfare Fund, Salvation Army, Red Cross for soldier kits, National War Relief Drive and National Clothing Drive.

The chapter purchased a membership to the American Society for the Control of Cancer in 1942, and donated to the March of Dimes, polio fund, hospital fund and local hospital physical therapy fund.

Fifty-eight boxes of clothing were collected for Vietnam refugees in a project spearheaded by chapter members in 1968, and the chapter helped pay shipping costs. A valentine card drive was also organized for those in Desert Storm in 1991.

Locally, the chapter provided snacks for Relay For Life, manned a food booth at Holyoke’s 125th anniversary celebration, held bake sales and has sponsored a Create-a-Book Cover contest for youth at the county fair for more than 20 years.

With their support for education, service to the community and fellowship among sisters, members of Chapter BM look forward to continuing to make a difference as they head into their second century.