Sisters in Every Way

F-81

SISTERS IN EVERY WAY! P.E.O. FOUNDERS’ DAY

SIMILARITY SURVEY AND PROGRAM

Revised by Alice Anderson, CC 2002, updated 2004

(Original was written in 1991 simply as a survey)

Note:Please print pictures of the founders (Program F1) from the State Website or contact the State Recording Secretary for the Founders’ pictures that go with this program.

PARTICIPANTS: Leader (P.E.O. sign around neck) and Seven Founders (with 1 through 7 and corresponding initials and names as found in the survey and on the enlarged colored picture of each Founder)

PROCESS:

Founders and Leader hand out the “SIMILARITY SURVEY” and pencils to each guest
Leader gives directions to the guests and to Founders for each of three parts:

PART I: Fill out survey

Do you wonder if you have something specifically in common with any one of the seven Founders? Nancy Hoium, Past-President International Chapter, writes in the Jan-Feb, 2002 RECORD, “Happy 133rd birthday to all of us! As our chapters celebrate the anniversary of the founding of our Sisterhood, we marvel at the accomplishments that were sparked by seven young women. Those seven young women were very progressive women in 1869, and each possessed elements of unusual strength of character which continue to inspire us.” Agree or disagree with the following statements and see if you do have something in common with the character of our famous Founders.
Fill in the circle under “YOU” if you agree with the statement.
Leave the circle blank under “YOU” if you disagree with the statement.
Leave all the other columns blank at this time.

PART II: Comparison of Founders to “YOU”.

Now that you have completed the “YOU” column let us take a look at the seven Founders as they might have agreed or disagreed with each of the same statements you have reviewed.
As the appropriate Founder or Founders move forward for each of the statements and describe themselves, you fill in the appropriate Founder’s Circle if your “YOU” circle is also colored in for that statement.
Example: #1. People often notice my Irish ancestry. You have colored in the “YOU” circle and since 3-ES is the Founder who was Irish you would also color in 3-ES as you would have heard from the Founder and seen on the Founder’s sign.
Founders begin. (Founder/Founders step forward and read the statement and the notation relating to you)

PART III: Similarity Count

Now count the number of circles under each Founder to determine which Founder/Founders with whom you shared the most.
Record these total numbers at the end of the survey in the appropriate column
It would be nice to take the time to have each of “YOU” share. Instead raise your hands if you have the most in common with a Founder (or Founders) as I reintroduce each Founder and thank your chapter sisters for their fine "Founders’” Day performance. Each hand raised will be a hand clasped in theirs for them and for the remembrance of the original Founders.
Number 1-FRE-Franc Roads Elliott; Number 2-MAS-Mary Allen Stafford; Number 3-ES-Ella Stewart; Number 4-HBB-Hattie Briggs Bousquet; Number 5-ABB-Alice Bird Babb; Number 6-AVC-Alice Virginia Coffin; Number 7-SPP-Suela (Su-ee’-la) Pearson Penfield
Now clasp each other’s hands in remembrance of our special Founders!
We are all similar to each other. We are all chosen P.E.O.s. Sisters in every way!

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Leader’s sign – Make 8 white petals; attach to 10 inch square yellow posterboard piece. Copy 1869 P.E.O. on to yellow paper and make a circle aroundit to put in the middle of the petaled flower. Laminate and attach ribbon to thesquare to tie around the neck.

Founders’ signs – Copy the colored pictures and attach the 1-‘initialed’ Founderssigns and place at the top of the colored pictures. Laminate the signs and attach ribbon to each for tying around the neck of the seven Founder actresses.

FOUNDERS’ SCRIPT (Part II)

AND ANSWER KEY TO FOUNDERS’ STATEMENTS

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ANSWERS (to be read when all have completed the Similarity Survey): ,As the Founders read through the questions and you discover which Founders match up with each statement, darken the appropriate circle or circles under the initials of each ONLY IF YOU have darkened the circle for that statement yourself. Later you will total the darkened circles you have under each Founder’s name to see with whom you shared the most.

(Founders step forward when it’s their statement. The highlighted one reads.)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

YOU FRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

3-Ella Stewart

1. People often notice my Irish ancestry.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

In the first P.E.O. RECORD of 1891, May Brooks Snider, who knew several of the Founders personally, says about me, Ella Stewart, “She was of Irish descent and had that keen Irish wit so fascinating to all of us.”

1-Frank Roads Elliott

My surroundings are very important to me and I appreciate aesthetic appeal.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

I, Franc Roads Elliott was once an art supervisor for the public schools of Aurora, Illinois and designed and created the first model school room. They say my ideas are commonplace to you today, including well-lighted and ventilated rooms with finished walls and floors, as well as pictures hanging on the walls. I felt surroundings were an important element in students’ development.

4-Hattie Briggs Bousquet & 5-Alice Bird Babb

If someone asks me to do a job, I perform willingly, especially for P.E.O.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

This is the one question for which we hope you will not insist on confidentiality. Would all who agreed with this statement raise your hands, please? Thank you, you will be remembered the next time we need volunteers!

Among the Founders Alice Bird Babb and I, Hattie Briggs Bousquet stand out as two who were always ready to serve. In fact, Alice began as the first P.E.O. president, which proves she was certainly ready to take on anything.

1-Franc Roads Elliott

In my P.E.O. group I’m among the youngest.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

I, Franc Roads Elliott, held this position in the original P.E.O. group, which may or may not explain why I also was the most outspoken and anxious to embrace the new ideas mentioned in the next question. I worked side by side with women’s rights workers such as Julia Ward Howe and Susan B. Anthony.

1-Franc Roads Elliott

I often embrace new ideas even when most people think I’m nuts.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

I’m Franc Roads Elliott.

2-Mary Allen Stafford3-Ella Stewart

My religion takes a very active role in my life; so I’m often busy helping others or working for my church.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

If you answered in the affirmative to this statement you have a lot in common with me, Ella Stewart, and our sister Mary Allen Stafford. As a minister’s wife Mary held the perfect position for the practice of her faith. She saw Christianity as a practical solution for life’s problems and worked hard to help others. I had a strong background in religion as the daughter of a Methodist minister. I considered it my duty to serve others and instill in my students the same values with which I lived.

4-Hattie Briggs Bousquet

I’m generally a quiet person, more likely to smile than to start a conversation.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Of course, it’s me, Hattie Briggs Bousquet. They said my sunny smile warmed the hearts of my sisters.

2-Mary Allen Stafford, 3-Ella Stewart & 4-Hattie Briggs Bousquet

I have a close family member in the clergy.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

If you agreed with this statement you are joined by Mary Allen Stafford who married a Methodist minister. Ella Stewart and I, Hattie Briggs Bousquet, both had Methodist ministers as fathers.

7-Suela Pearson Penfield

I enjoy creating and designing with my hands, especially needlework.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

They say my lovely hands were apparently encouraged during my pampered childhood toward needlework, which was considered an acceptable diversion for the most genteel of women. I used my creative talents in a golden badge I made as an award for the Iowa Wesleyan Cadet Corps. This award is now on display in the P.E.O. Memorial Room at Mt.Pleasant.

3-Ella Stewart

Many people associate me with the job of recording secretary, which I’ve held.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

I was the first secretary of P.E.O.

2-Mary Allen Stafford

Parliamentary procedure is very appealing to me and I like well-run meetings.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

This was me they said, Mary Allen Stafford, always “rising to a point of order” in meetings. I wonder how long I’d survive in one of yours.

2-Mary Allen Stafford

My P.E.O. pin is now missing, or has been in the past, for longer than a year.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Me again! I lost my pin in 1882 while visiting in Washington, Iowa. I replaced it with a new one, which I wore for more than forty years. In 1924 I returned to Washington as the honored guest of a garden party. Much to my surprise I was presented with my pin, which had been found in a flower box by a P.E.O. who had recently moved into the home I had visited in 1882. I’ve heard a few pin stories, but this one is incredible! Right?

4-Hattie Briggs Bousquet & 7 Suela Pearson Penfield

I enjoy making music, singing or playing an instrument.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Join Hattie Briggs Bousquet on the organ and myself, Suela Pearson Penfield with vocals in a rousing rendition of the Opening Ode!

3-Ella Stewart & 6-Alice Virginia Coffin

I’ve remained single, and have a life full of family and friends.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Both Ella Stewart and I, Alice Virginia Coffin, remained single.

5-Alice Bird Babb

I enjoy writing and do a lot of it, both professionally and for personal use.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

I, Alice Bird Babb, wrote for magazines and other publications, as well as authoring our P.E.O. vows and editing The P.E.O. RECORD.

2-Mary Allen Stafford & 6-Alice Virginia Coffin

I love to dance.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Alice Virginia Coffin, and I, Mary Allen Stafford, enjoyed dancing; but her strict Methodist upbringing frowned on it. She reconciled the problem by becoming an Episcopalian as an adult.

1-Franc Roads Elliott, 3-Ella Stewart, 5-Alice Bird Babb & 6-Alice Virginia Coffin

I enjoy teaching and take a personal interest in my students’ lives.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Among the Founders who were teachers are Franc Roads Elliott, Alice Bird Babb, Alice Virginia Coffin, and myself, Ella Stewart. We were all warm and caring teachers, but perhaps Alice Virginia Coffin put more of herself into her teaching than any of the rest of us. She often provided for the personal needs of her students and sewed many graduation dresses for girls who would otherwise have had none.

1-Franc Roads Elliott

I’m strongly in favor of women’s rights.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

That’s me, Franc Roads Elliott, of course. Women like me got you the right to vote.

2-Mary Allen Stafford7-Suela Pearson Penfield

I make friends easily and find something to enjoy in most people.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Mary Allen Stafford and I, Suela Pearson Penfield, were lively extroverted women who made many contacts for the first P.E.O. group. Mary Allen was a one-person public relations service.

6-Alice Virginia Coffin & 7-Suela Person Penfield

My ancestry is a source of great pride to my family and me.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Alice Virginia Coffin had ancestors who came over on the Mayflower and I, Suela Pearson Penfield was a member of Daughters of the American Revolution. I was a relative of President William McKinley.

4-Hattie Briggs Bousquet

I’m often so quiet about my private life that even close friends don’t know what I’m planning.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Can you guess to whom this refers? Me, Hattie Briggs Bousquet. Remember my father was a minister, so one Sunday he announced that after the services he would be performing a special function. When the service was over my husband-to-be and I walked forward to be married, much to the surprise of even my closest friends.

7-Suela Pearson Penfield

I enjoy the chance to perform and entertain others.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Yes, it’s me, Suela Pearson Penfield. I often kept my audiences enthralled at Iowa Wesleyan functions with my beautiful voice.

2-Mary Allen Stafford

People often say I have a great sense of humor.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Remember, I’m the Public Relations Specialist, Mary Allen Stafford, who was so lively and vivacious that it was suggested to my husband the minister that I would probably not make a good minister’s wife.

2-Mary Allen Stafford, 4-Hattie Briggs Bousquet & 5-Alice Bird Babb

My home and family are the center of my existence.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Perhaps this is why Mary made a good minister’s wife, but it was certainly not an uncommon sentiment during this time. Both Hattie Briggs Bousquet and I, Alice Bird Babb, shared this feeling.

3-Ella Stewart

I never feel fully dressed without earrings.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

An odd little bit of trivia passed down about me, Ella Stewart.

1-Franc Roads Elliott

People often tell me I’m ahead of my time.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

You guessed it! It’s me, Franc Roads Elliott.

6-Alice Virginia Coffin

I’m a Southerner at heart.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Born in Kentucky, who else but me, Alice Virginia Coffin.

5-Alice Bird Babb

Many people associate me with the office of chapter president.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Do you remember who served as first president? That’s right, me….Alice Bird Babb.

6-Alice Virginia Coffin

I believe in setting my goals as high as the stars.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

I, Alice Virginia Coffin, chose the star as our emblem to reflect my own personal belief that lofty goals are always to one’s benefit.

5-Alice Bird Babb

To me living up to P.E.O. means working hard to be my best and to do my best for others.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

This was a belief often stated by me, Alice Bird Babb, and it’s one which seems to sum up the lives of all of us, the seven Founders.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

TOTAL MATCHED CIRCLES: ______

(TO “YOU”!)

FOUNDER NAME CODE:

1-Franc Roads Elliott

2-Mary Allen Stafford

3-Ella Stewart

4-Hattie Briggs Bousquet

5-Alice Bird Babb

6-Alice Virginia Coffin

7-Suela Pearson Penfield

FOUNDERS’ DAY SIMILARITY SURVEY

Do you wonder if you have something in common with the seven Founders of P.E.O.? Agree or disagree with the following statements and see if you do have something in common with any one of the Founders. Fill in the circle under “YOU” if you agree with the statement. Leave the circle blank if you disagree with the statement. (Leave all the other columns blank at this time.)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

YOU FRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

People often notice my Irish ancestry. O O O O O O O O

2. My surroundings are very important to me

and I appreciate aesthetic appeal. O O O O O O O O

3. If someone asks me to do a job, I perform

willingly, especially for P.E.O. O O O O O O O O

4. In my P.E.O. group I’m among the youngest. O O O O O O O O

5. I often embrace new ideas even when

most people think I’m nuts. O O O O O O O O

6. My religion takes a very active role in my

life; so I’m often busy helping others or

working for my church. O O O O O O O O

7. I’m generally a quiet person, more likely

to smile than to start a conversation. O O O O O O O O

8. I have a close family member in the clergy. O O O O O O O O

9. I enjoy creating and designing with my

hands, especially needlework. O O O O O O O O

10. Many people associate me with the job of

recording secretary, which I’ve held. O O O O O O O O

11. Parliamentary procedure is very appealing

to me and I like well-run meetings. O O O O O O O O

12. My P.E.O. pin is now missing, or has been

in the past, for longer than a year. O O O O O O O O

13. I enjoy making music, singing or playing

an instrument O O O O O O O O

14. I’ve remained single, and have a life full

of family and friends. O O O O O O O O

15. I enjoy writing and do a lot of it, both

professionally and for personal use. O O O O O O O O

16. I love to dance. O O O O O O O O

17. I enjoy teaching and take a personal

interest in my students’ lives. O O O O O O O O

18. I’m strongly in favor of women’s rights. O O O O O O O O

19. I make friends easily and find something

to enjoy in most people. O O O O O O O O

20. My ancestry is a source of great pride

to my family and me. O O O O O O O O

21. I’m often so quiet about my private life

that even close friends don’t know what

I’m planning O O O O O O O O

22. I enjoy the chance to perform and

entertain others. O O O O O O O O

23. People often say I have a great sense

of humor. O O O O O O O O

24. My home and family are the center of

my existence. O O O O O O O O

25. I never feel fully dressed without

earrings. O O O O O O O O

26. People often tell me I’m ahead of my

time. O O O O O O O O

27. I’m a Southerner at heart. O O O O O O O O

28. Many people associate me with the

office of chapter president. O O O O O O O O

29. I believe in setting my goals as high

as the stars. O O O O O O O O

To me living up to P.E.O. means

working hard to be my best and to do

my best for others. O O O O O O O O

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

TOTAL MATCHED CIRCLES (TO ‘”YOU”): ______

FOUNDER NAME CODE:

1-Franc Roads Elliott

2-Mary Allen Stafford

3-Ella Stewart

4-Hattie Briggs Bousquet

5-Alice Bird Babb

6-Alice Virginia Coffin

7-Suela Pearson Penfield

1869

P.E.O.

1 – FRE

2 – MAS

3– E S

4– H B B

5 – A B B

6– A V C

7 – S P P