FIRST BOARD MEETING, NOVEMBER 4, 1990SAMOSET RESORT

BY VICKIE HARLOW, RECORDING SECRETARY

The first meeting of the executive board of Northeast District Chapter, P.E.O. Sisterhood,convened at 11:50 a.m. Sunday, November 4, 1990. In attendance: Shirley Hall,president; Mary Lee Harris, first vice president; Mary Beth Smith, second vice president;Doreen Burbank, organizer; Janet Wentworth, corresponding secretary; Grace Layman,treasurer; Vickie Harlow, recording secretary.

NEXT MEETINGDiscussion was held to determine a date for this board to meet for the purpose of settingpolicies and getting better acquainted. By general consent we agreed on Monday, March18, 1991. Arrival date will be March 17 and departure March 19. Mary Lee Harris, 87Hilltop Place, New London, NH, will host and arrange any necessary housing.

BOARD EXPENSESExpenses of individual board members was discussed. Expenses may be met byadvancing funds or re-imbursement. The discussion will be continued at the March 18,1991 meeting.

1992 CONVENTIONMary Beth requested opinions as to dates for the 1992 convention to be held in RhodeIsland. The board discussed the feasibility of convening on a Friday with adjournment bynoon Saturday. Hostess chapters are considering using a local college campus for theconvention. Reservation of the campus must be made soon. Janet expressed a desire tohave convention sometime after April 15, as that is the deadline for the correspondingsecretary to file reports.

ADVICE FROM INTERNATIONAL CHAPTERJean Boswell, International Chapter organizer, was recognized in order to impart thefollowing information:• EVERYTIllNG needs to go to Shirley (president) for approval before being filed or

mailed.• Confidentiality must be maintained. Anything that goes on in a board meeting does

not go beyond the four walls.• When the board makes a decision, make it unified.• Each board member has her own identifiable job. Each should take care of her own

job and not try to take care of the job of anyone else. Executive board meetings mustbe held before and after convention. Another should be held approximately mid-year.Additional meetings can be scheduled at our convenience.

NEDCFORUMThe NEDC Forum was discussed. Doreen will continue as editor. The format will be

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changed in order that the president's letter might be emphasized. It was requested thatShirley's letter also contain a reminder to chapters that all donations to the P.E.O.projects must now be sent to the NEDC treasurer. She then forwards all donations toDesMoines with designation of monies to specific projects.

FINANCESThe newsletter will be financed through NED Chapter expenses. Each chapter presidentin the district will receive a copy of The Forum. Individuals wanting to be included in thecirculation should send six dollars ($6.00) for a two year subscription.

TREASURER REPORTGrace reported the results of a preliminary review of monetary gifts to NEDC (including$1,500.00 from International Chapter) showed a total of $3,074.00.

The meeting adjourned at 12.25 p.m.

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Even after convocation, many cards of good wishes for our district came from other statesand individuals. The common words in all were, "through this unification will comemuch love, friendship and energy. The joy of our sisterhood is the joy of friendship,fellowship, and learning that we share at state convention. Now you will have that sameopportunity."

The following five months we seven worked hard and did confer by phone and mail tosupport one another. But remember, we were not well acquainted and each had enoughwork just figuring out her own job. There being no predecessors, our guide was JeanBoswell, whose cheerful voice at the other end of the phone was ready to answer ourmany questions. The courtesy and helpfulness of the staff at the executive office in DesMoines was outstanding.

International officers told me I would become very attached to the Big Book. How true!I could see the whole history of a chapter just by studying the membership roster. Localchapter officers were tremendous in their help and willingness to get procedures right.Many were liking a district board because they could ask questions they thought were tootrivial in the past. We worked weekly at our jobs and daily much of the time. I wasenjoying learning the "why" for all the P.E.O. paperwork. Seeing the larger scope wasdefinitely general improvement on my part. I was having a wonderful experience meetingso many of the membership by phone and mail.

The end of February brought annual report time for local chapter treasurers andcorresponding secretaries. The result was not good. Too many reports from the samechapter were incorrect. Reports were late. Many did not meet the March 1 deadline.Since we were not having a convention, there was no crisis, but we would have mucheducating to do before the next year. Executive office in Des Moines informed us thatthrough all the years they would continually prod chapters for the release of annualreports. Treasurer Grace Layman and I were now understanding what Wilma Turner ofInternational Chapter meant when she said, "You will become joined at the hip beforethis is over."

By July, 1991, Grace and I had received many chapters' notes of thanks for "straighteningthem out". We two, with the help of all chapter officers, were beginning to see greatstrides in our record-keeping.

Our second board meeting was such fun because it was our first chance to talk face toface in five months and really get acquainted. Each member had been so buried with herown duties, it was enlightening to hear what everyone else was doing and learning. Therewere plans for five new chapters and to say that Doreen Burbank was a busy organizerwas an understatement. In April, 1991, we seven were the initiating officers for theorganization of Chapter L, Nashua, NH. Doreen had already organized G-VT, Newport.

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In June, 1991, we had an unforeseen disappointment. Mary Lee Harris would have toresign because she was moving to Florida in July. Mary Beth moved up to first vicepresident and Shirley appointed Margaret Robinson second vice president. WithMargaret I would share much laughter and many good times.

The organizer also had to begin the rotation of official chapter visits in the fall of 1991. Iwas appointed proxy to two chapters. Since organizer would be my next board office, theactual doing was now beginning to dawn on me. How could I possibly do it? Doreen haddone a fantastic job. She has become my steadfast friend and I had the luck to follow herthrough the board offices. I got great files, great research, great help.

Shirley accepted our charter at convention of International Chapter in Omaha, Nebraska,September 9-11. In Nashua M-NH was organized Oct. 6 and N-NH Oct. 20.

At this point I must insert a personal note. Jan. 14, 1992, my husband, Jim, was criticallyinjured when his car was hit head-on and from behind. His feet were crushed. After longsurgery, he spent over four months in a hospital bed in our den. He had casts on both legsand the surgeon thought Jim might not walk well at all again. After a few weeks I wassure I would resign from the board because he needed so much attention and help. It wasJim who encouraged me not to resign. So, I kept up with the paper work late at night.When I left the house for short periods, he answered all the P.E.O. phone calls, kept goodmessages and got a real morale lift from so many members around the district. He kepttelling me what nice women they are. I already knew that. To shorten a very long story,Jim did walk again with a walker for months and then a cane for three years and then hethrew that away. It was a long struggle for him, but I would not have all my wonderfulmemories with this organization if he had not prodded me to keep going.

The first NEDC convention was May 1& 2, 1992, in Portsmouth, RI. Karen Donaghaywas chairman. I had met Karen, but was not to know that she would later come to theboard and be a great resource of strength and insight, especially the year I was presidentand she was organizer. It was Shirley who was involved in convention planning. Graceand I only wanted to have the annual report tallies approved by Des Moines on time sothat we could have a convention. Chapters now realized this and did very well the secondtime around, learning from our "how to" packets.

Convention went well. Members were beginning to accept the fact that together we couldall handle our business. Barbara Nisi, E-RI, was the newly elected recording secretary. Iwould get to know her, stay in her home and we roomed together at convention ofInternational in Atlanta, GA. She was so sad to have to resign when she and Bill movedto Chicago. We would keep contact and share the heartache of the death of Bill justalmost two years later. We each had an odd feeling as a board. Shirley was missing. Thisfeeling would surface again and again as each president left. We had become a minichapter and as Doreen said, "with such closeness, we became family".

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One month after my installation as organizer, I organized Chapter 0, Plymouth, NH.Doreen had worked with this group through all their planning. I knew only one, LouisePedrick, who selected the charter list and had worked with on the Grouping Committee. Ialmost felt bad for this group who had to experience a change of organizer, but they couldnot have been more gracious to me. My experience of helping a new chapter on its waywas one of the greatest "highs" of my P.E.O.life. It was a sweltering, humid June dayand one of the charter initiates fainted during the ceremony. I was nervous at thebeginning, but soon settled in to realize that this would be a memorable day.

For all of you who have followed us, you now know that Presidents and OrganizersConference in Des Moines is a tremendous experience and friendships made there lastforever. Mary Beth and I were roommates and had the pleasure of visiting Mt. Pleasantand Iowa Wesleyan together.

I made 18 official chapter visits as organizer, all of Rhode Island and Vermont and somein Vermont. Doreen was proxy to two chapters. I traveled 3,905 miles. I was humbled bytheir acceptance, by their willingness and eagerness to share problems or privateconcerns. Remember, this was the first time they had been visited by anyone other thanan International organizer. When trust exists, we all learn a lot about each other. I wasnothing special, but P.E.O. and its training and lessons was teaching each of us officers torise to the occasion. Mary Beth was a strong, positive leader for me. I would stay in herhome for several days at a time and felt like I had known this woman always.

I organized Chapter H, Harpswell, Maine, Feb. 6, 1993. It was 20 degrees below zerowith the wind blowing, but there was that same thrill of helping a new chapter on its way.The district now had 35 chapters with others in the planning stages.

We had a successful second convention in Burlington, VT. Everyone was trying to bevery frugal. We still recycle convention trappings. Vickie Harlow had left the boardbecause of illness and Mary Beth appointed Prue Ross, H-NH, treasurer. Carol Weingart,

I

G-VT was elected recording secretary and she was the first board member to serve in allseven offices. Carol's new chapter was where I made my first official visit as organizerand I had fun staying with her overnight and getting to know her personally. By fall of1993 Margaret Robinson appointed Karen Donaghay, C-RI, to the office of treasurerbecause Barbara and Bill Nisi moved to Illinois.

For a moment, contemplate how hectic these first two years were. Every officer had tolearn her job alone ...3 presidents had to make board appointments ...we were not yetestablished enough to have all the officers help with official chapter visits ...we worriedabout the budget and expenses because a lot of the membership was still not happy aboutthe increase in dues. By this time, some of us on the board had computers, but not e-mail.I had access to the FAX machine and copier in our company's office. Shirley is to beforever commended because she does not even type. But she had a home copier and did agreat job with all her paper work even in long hand. Her daughter and daughter-in-law

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did have computers and were great help to type her work. However, in this short twoyears more and more members of the district were accepting the need for a united effort.More members were learning the larger scope of our sisterhood.

In my president's year, 1995-96, I led the delegation to convention of IntemationalChapter in Denver, CO. Our younger daughter, Julie Wentworth, an architect in Chicago,designed a badge with input from the board. The badges were cast in pewter at theWolfeboro, NH, company owned by P.E.O. Janine Steele and husband, Bob. I purchasedthe first 20 as a gift to the district. Other members wanted to own a badge, so JeannetteRosenberger, chairman of Finance Committee, had more cast and sold them as a fundraiser.

BACK TO CONVOCATION:I was to give the welcome at luncheon at Samoset. I wrote the following remarks withoutany idea that I would playa part in our district endeavor.

"I'm Janet Wentworth. ...and along with Shirley Hall and all the Maine chapters, Iwelcome you to this unique convocation. It's ours ....we are finally here. We are over1,200 members strong.

We have strength because all these years we have been prodded, guided and given lovingcare by each of the dear sisters on the executive board of International Chapter, plus allwho preceded this group.

You have been in our homes many times and allowed us to get very close to you. We areunique because all the members of Northeast District have always been well acquaintedwith all the International officers and have taken great pride and interest as we watchedyou progress through the offices.

We will miss you. Never, can we thank you enough for all your years of hard work andtravel for Northeast District members.

But, as you cut the cord, we want you to leave us knowing that we have great confidencein ourselves and we will be just fine! "

And so, we have beenjust fine! We've had some bumps in the road. We have all tried todo our best. We have shared laughter, knowledge and foresight, but most of all,friendship. We learned to do the paper work right, then teach others, so that we may geton with what is really important.. ..general improvement. Nancy Jerdee was right!

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March, 1990

P.E.O. - RADIATE AU. LIGHI'

Dear Olapter

The Maine chapters cordially invite you to attend the Radiate All Lightsession of the North East District Conference November 2 ana 3, 1990at the Samoset Resort in Rockland, Maine.The Samoset requires, a two night minimum stay on weekends. Therefore, weset the dates in November to get the best rates. ($70.00 per double roomper night) At this time we need an estimate of the number of rooms to reserve.Please return the enclosed card by May 1 to assist us in our planning.We would also aopreciate each chapter sending a $35.00 start up contributionat this time. Checks should be made out to P.E.O., N.E.D. Conference andmailed to treasurer:

Nancy lanb135 Lakeview Dr.Rockland, ME ,04841

This year we will ~reet you at hospitality hour from 4:30 to 6 p.m. nnFriday night. We hope to have the convocation of the North l!:ast DistrictChapter on Saturday with Jean C. Boswell, Organizer. International Chapter,presiding. B.I.L. banquet is Saturday evening.More information concerning lodging, meals, B.I.L. activities will be sentto you later this spring.Your Maine P.E.O. sisters are looking forward to greeting many of you inNovember.Lovingly in P.E.O.,

~~~Shirley C. Hall, Chairman, F MaineJanet S. Wentworth. eo..Cl1airman, C Maine

DESIGN BY CAROL HARDENSROOKr~A~T~R A. NEW HAMPSHIRE