Only Takes a Spark. ... Dear Sisters,

 

     Another convention is in the books, and we embark upon a new year! I am so proud and humbled to be your State President this year. I chose the theme, "It Only Takes a Spark," primarily for one reason - Membership! This year, let's vow to ask ourselves the hardest question: How can we get new members? After all, that was the single most-asked question on all my Organizer visits. I think we all have come up with good reasons why it's difficult: aging populations don't socialize with younger people, young people are not "joiners" anymore, young women are too busy, chapters meet in the daytime so working women cannot join, we've already asked our friends/ families, etc ....

 

     But here is what I know - people join organizations to make a difference. If they feel like their time is wasted, they quit. People also join things that are vibrant. Exciting. Is your chapter vibrant and exciting, to the point where others who are looking in, secretly want to be asked to join? I just had that very conversation last night. My friends, one P.E.O. chapter sis, and one non-P.E.O. coworker. We were telling stories which led to questions about the work we do about scholarships, and I could tell- there was a flicker of interest there. If you are not having these experiences – why not?

 

     Maybe you've lost the spark in your chapter. It's okay - it's easy to get it back! As you are planning your chapter's programming, how about a program that reconnects you as sisters and helps you to remember that your sisters are amazing, fun, vibrant women with something vital to share? There are some get-to-know-you type programs you can get off the international website. I can share with you one of the games I made up to use with my chapter. Or, you could use one of those icebreaker-type questionnaires that leads to deeper connecting conversations. Above all –try to remember why you loved these particular women in your chapter! Turn your thinking around to naming positive attributes of your sisters. Imagine every chapter sister writing a positive anonymous note about another sis, dropping it into a container, and you read them at the end of the meeting? Imagine how uplifting this could be to someone who really needs some encouragement that day ...

 

     How about taking a look at your recent STAR applicants -- successful and not - what about their Moms? Aunts? What about inviting your PCE grant recipient, or your ELF loan recipient? Never assume someone is "too busy" to join - ask them and let them decide if they are too busy. Don't close the door before you crack it open a bit. How about taking the biggest risk of all- go find someone you think would be a good member, and meet them for lunch or coffee and tell them about P.E.O.? It's not that tough, IF you believe in what this organization does, and you really want to share your chapter with other women. And hey - you can always help start a new chapter as well! You can be a sister "on loan," helping the new chapter onto its feet, and then go back to your old chapter. And if you know of a woman in an area that does not have a chapter in it, you can always submit her name and info via the International website right on the home page in the "Introduce a Woman" box. Be sure to tell the state board you did it - we may know of others in that area already!

 

     Membership increases is the fastest way to ensure we do not run out of funds to operate in the state. Our membership is dropping every year due to chapter eternal, transfers and inactives. Let's focus on getting some new life into our sisterhood in WV! That's why membership is our first-listed goal. In the next Dai.ry Chain, I'll be telling you about our other goals as well, but I wanted to focus on this one first. I'm really excited about our state goals and plans for next year's Convention at the Doubletree in Huntington! If you were at Convention, you heard me speak about motivation vs. action. Picture a box of matches. It has all the potential to spark and to catch fire, but it lacks the one thing- someone needs to activate the spark! Then that box of matches will light a big fire that spreads P.E.O. light and love all around- can you be that spark of creation?

 

 

With all P.E.O. Love, Linda

P.S. I'm sorry if this sounds too aspirational- just call me a P.E.O. Pollyanna!

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