First, I want to thank all of you for electing me to serve you as President. And I emphasize SERVE because that is what your Board is elected to do––serve the state and ALL of its Sisters and potential sisters.

 

I’d like to tell you a story. When I was about 10 years old my family vacationed on Cape Hatteras. One afternoon while walking on the beach I found a starfish washed up on the sand. Thinking it would die out of the water,  I picked it up by one of arms and, after curiously examining it, threw it as far as I could out into the surf. Unfortunately, the arm came off in my hand. I thought I had killed the beautiful creature so I started crying hysterically. When my parents caught up with me they wanted to know what was wrong. After explaining what had happened, my father explained that are so many wonderful things to know and imagine in this world and that the starfish growing a new arm was just one of them! When we returned home, he gave me a book by Loren Eisley, The Immense Journey. In 1946 Eiseley, a naturalist and anthropologist, published his essays about the wonders of nature and man and how using our imagination and natural curiosity has led to great achievements and discoveries. The book, and my parents, inspired me and I’ve kept a copy of it close all these years.

 

So, what has this got to do with P.E.O.?

 

• Imagine a world in which women join together to help each other through good times AND difficult times.

• Imagine a world in which ALL women who want an education can get one at little or no cost and can receive both financial and emotional support from thousands.

• Imagine a world in which women extend a hand to help other women achieve whatever they can imagine!

• Imagine a world that encourages its young women to participate, share ideas, and join with like-minded women to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world.

• Imagine a world in which women of all races and religions come together to promote justice for all, faith in a greater good, in truth, and in love.

• Imagine yourself as a role model, mentor, and sister who thoughtfully and generously considers everything you say and do.

 

When I joined the Board, Barb Daly’s theme was Harmony in Our Hearts. Then Jane Johnson asked us to Believe, Belong, and Become; Kathy Reese started us on a Journey of the P.E.O. Heart; and Linda Cowan-Youssef challenged us to BE the SPARK! Please join me over the next year in making our world a better place by exercising our imagination and being a shining example of what loving sisters can do!

 

WE ARE P.E.O. We can turn our imagination into reality together.

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