Program Name: Similarity Survey-Find Which Founders Are Similar to You

Program Name: Similarity Survey-Find which founders are similar to you

Program Number: F-70

General Instructions for Program-Giver

As stated in the “Initial Instructions,” this survey is designed to help members find out what traits, interests and loves they share with our founders. Although all the information you need, including word-for-word directions, is included in this package, your presentation will probably be smoother if you read a couple of articles about the founders beforehand. The PEO Record is a great place to look. I encourage you to ad-lib whenever possible!

Begin by handing out the Similarity Survey to everyone present, and go over the “Initial Instructions.” Allow them time to complete the survey.

When everyone is finished, read the “Instructions for the Second Step” and continue by reading each question, indicating which founder’s circle should be darkened (if a member had darkened the first circle), and reading the brief bit of info explaining the answer. Do this for all the questions.

Finally, read the “Instructions for the third step,” reminding members to add all the totals from both sides of their surveys. A number of 4 or above for any founder indicates a strong similarity; 6 or above is remarkable! At this point, you can simply leave each with the personal knowledge of their similarities, or encourage them to share the information. If time permits you may want to go around the room and find out with whom each member shared the most, or have a few women voluntarily discuss their results. Do try to encourage them to “get to know” their most-similar founder even better.

Founder’s Day Program

SIMILARITY SURVEY

This informal questionnaire is meant to help you determine with which PEO founders you have the most in common. If you agree with each statement, color in the first circle beside it. If you disagree leave the circle blank. You will be given further instructions later concerning the other columns.

FRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

1. People often notice my Irish ancestry.0000 0000

2. My surroundings are very important

to me and I appreciate aesthetic appeal.0000 0000

3. If someone asks me to do a job,

I perform willingly, especially for a PEO.00000000

4. In my PEO group I’m among the

youngest.00000000

5. I often embrace new ideas even when

most people think I’m nuts.00000000

6. My religion takes a very active role

in my life, so I’m often busy helping

others or working for my church.00000000

7. I’m generally a quiet person, more

likely to smile than to start a

conversation.00000000

8. I have a close family member in

the clergy.00000000

9. I enjoy creating and designing with

my hands, especially needlework.00000000

10. Many people associate me with

the job of recording secretary,

which I’ve held.00000000

11. Parliamentary procedure is very

appealing to me and I like well-run

meetings.00000000

12. My PEO pin is now missing, or has

been in the past, for longer than

a year.00000000

13. I enjoy making music, and sing or

play an instrument.00000000

SIMILARITY SURVEY-2

FRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

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

full of family and friends.00000000

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

both professionally and for personal

use.00000000

16. I love to dance.00000000

17. I enjoy teaching and take a personal

interest in my students’ lives.00000000

18. I’m strongly in favor of women’s rights.00000000

19. I make friends easily and find

something to enjoy in most people.00000000

20. My ancestry is a source of great

pride to me and my family.00000000

21. I’m often so quiet about my private

life that even close friends don’t know

what I’m planning.00000000

22. I enjoy the chance to perform and

entertain others.00000000

23. People often say I have a great

sense of humor.00000000

24. My home and family are the center

of my existence. 00000000

25. I never feel fully dressed without

my earrings.00000000

26. People often tell me I’m ahead of

my time.00000000

27. I’m a Southerner at heart.00000000

28. Many people associate me with the

office of chapter president.00000000

29. I believe in setting my goals as

high as the stars.00000000

30. To me living up to PEO means

working hard to be our best and to

do our best for others.00000000

Founder’s Day Program

SIMILARITY SURVEY

ANSWER SHEET

INITIAL INSTRUCTIONS (to be read after survey blanks are handed out):

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SECOND STEP (to be read when all have completed step one):

As we read through the questions together and 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 for yourself. Later you will total the darkened circles you have under each founder’s name to see with whom you shared the most.

FRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

1. People often notice my Irish ancestry.0000000

In the first PEO Record of 1991, May Brooks Snider, who knew several of the founders personally, says about Ella Stewart, “She was of Irish descent and had that keen Irish wit so fascinating to all of us.”

2. My surroundings are very important to me FRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

and I appreciate aesthetic appeal.0 0 0 0000

Franc Roads Elliot was once an art supervisor for the public schools of Aurora, Illinois and designed and created the first model school room. Her novel idea, which is commonplace today, included well-lighted and ventilated rooms with finished walls and floors, as well as pictures hanging on the walls. She felt surroundings were an important element in students’ development.

3. If someone asks me to do a job, I perform FRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

willingly, especially for PEO.0000000

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

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

FRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

4. In my PEO group, I’m among the youngest. 00 0 0 0 0 0

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

SIMILARITY SURVEY ANSWER SHEET-2

5. I often embrace new ideas even when FRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

most people think I’m nuts.0 0 0 0 0 0 0

6. My religion takes a very active role in

my life, so I’m often busy helping others FRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

or working for my church.000 0 0 0 0

If you answered in the affirmative to this statement you have a lot in common with Mary Allen Stafford and Ella Stewart. 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. Ella Stewart had a strong background in religion as the daughter of a Methodist minister. She considered it her duty to serve others and instilled in her students the same values with which she lived.

7. I’m generally a quiet person, moreFRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

likely to smile than to start a conversation. 00 0 0 0 0 0

This, of course, was Hattie Briggs Bousquet, whose sunny smile warmed the hearts of her PEO sisters.

FRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

8. I have a close family member in the clergy. 00 0 0 0 0 0

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

9. I enjoy creating and designing with FRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

my hands, especially needlework. 0 0 0 0 0 0

The lovely hands of Suela Pearson Penfield were apparently encouraged during her pampered childhood toward needlework, which was considered an acceptable diversion for the most genteel of women. Her creative talents show up beautifully in the golden badge she made as an award for the Iowa Wesleyan Cadet Corps. This award is now on display in the PEO Memorial Room at Mt.Pleasant.

10. Many people associate me with the jobFRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

of recording secretary, which I’ve held. 00 0 0 0 0 0

Ella Stewart was the first secretary of PEO.

11. Parliamentary procedure is veryFRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

appealing to me and I like well-run 00 0 0 0 0 0

meetings.

This was Mary Allen Stafford, who is reported to have been always “rising to a point of order” in meetings. Wonder how long she’d survive one of ours?

SIMILIARITY SURVEY ANSWER SHEET-3

12. My PEO pin is now missing, or has beenFRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

in the past, for longer than a year. 00 0 0 0 0 0

Mary Allen Stafford, again, who lost her pin in 1882 while visiting in Washington, Iowa. She replaced it with a new one which she wore for more than forty years. In 1924 she returned to Washington as the honored guest of a garden party. Much to her surprise she was presented with her pin, which had been found in a flower box by a PEO who had recently moved into the home Mary had visited in 1882. Incredible but true!

13. I enjoy making music, singing or playingFRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

an instrument. 00 0 0 0 0 0

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

14. I’ve remained single, and have a life FRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

full of family and friends. 00 0 0 0 0 0

Both Ella Stewart and Alice Virginia Coffin remained single.

15. I enjoy writing and do a lot of it, bothFRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

professionally and for personal use. 00 0 0 0 0 0

Alice Bird Babb wrote for magazines and other publications, as well as authoring our PEO vows and editing the PEO Record.

FRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

16. I love to dance. 00 0 0 0 0 0

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

17. I enjoy teaching and take a personalFRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

interest in my students’ lives. 00 0 0 0 0 0

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

FRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

18. I’m strongly in favor of women’s rights. 00 0 0 0 0 0

Franc Rhoads Elliott, of course. Women like her got us the vote.

19. I make friends easily and find somethingFRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

to enjoy in most people. 00 0 0 0 0 0

Mary Allen Stafford was a lively, extroverted woman who made many contacts for the first PEO group—a one-person public relations service!

SIMILARITY SURVEY ANSWER SHEET-4

20. My ancestry is a source of greatFRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

pride to me. 00 0 0 0 0 0

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

21. I’m often so quiet about my private

life that even close friends don’tFRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

know what I’m planning. 00 0 0 0 0 0

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

22. Ienjoy the chance to performFRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

and entertain others. 00 0 0 0 0 0

Suella Pearson Penfield often kept audiences enthralled at Iowa Wesleyan functions with her beautiful voice.

23. People often say I have a greatFRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

sense of humor. 00 0 0 0 0 0

Mary Allen Stafford (our public relations specialist, remember) who was so lively and vivacious that it was suggested to her husband the minister that she would probably not make a good minister’s wife!

24. My home and family are theFRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

center of my existence. 00 0 0 0 0 0

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

25. I never feel fully dressed withoutFRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

earrings. 00 0 0 0 0 0

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

26. People often tell me I’mFRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

ahead of my time. 00 0 0 0 0 0

None other than Franc Rhoads Elliott.

FRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

27. I’m a Southerner at heart. 00 0 0 0 0 0

Alice Virginia Coffin, born in Kentucky.

SIMILARITY SURVEY ANSWER SHEET-5

28. Many people associate me withFRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

the office of chapter president. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Do you remember who served as the first president? Alice Bird Babb!

29. I believe in setting my goalsFRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

as high as the stars. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Alice Virginia Coffin chose the star as our emblem to reflect her own personal belief that lofty goals were always to one’s benefit.

30. To me living up to PEO means

working hard to do our bestFRE MAS ES HBB ABB AVC SPP

for others. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

This was the belief often stated by Alice Bird Babb, and one which seems to sum up the lives of our PEO founders.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE THIRD STEP:

Please take a minute now to count the total number of circles you have darkened under each founder’s name and write the number near that founder’s initials. With which founders do you have the most in common? Try to learn more about their lives and see if you really were kindred spirits.

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In addition to the article in the PEO Record mentioned above, information was gathered from programs written by Renna N. Whitford, Chapter Q, Marinette, Wisconsin and Lee York and Dorothy L. Anderson, Chapter T, River Falls, Wisconsin. This survey was written by Yvette Jones-Lombardo, Chapter CW, Madison, Wisconsin 1991.