Last Friday, I was to have been in Des Moines, Iowa. I had been invited to the unveiling of a sculpture on the lawn of the P.E.O. Executive Office at 3700 Grand Avenue. When the invitation arrived, I began making plans for a trip to Iowa with the husband and dogs. From Des Moines we would head to Kansas for a quick visit with our daughter and her husband (and my favorite granddog). Alas, plans changed and I had to be somewhere else taking care of someone I love dearly. I was where I needed to be.
I missed seeing friends who were gathered there, especially Kylie Smith, a Kappa Kappa Gamma who is the Ohio State Chapter President. She has my cell number and sent me a number of texts which made my day. Coincidentally, Sue Baker, President of the International Chapter of P.E.O., is also a Kappa Kappa Gamma.
Encircle is the name of the work by Tom Stancliffe. According to the plaque near the sculpture:
This abstract piece was designed with elements that represent our Sisterhood – encompassing the past, present and future of our mission. Eight open concentric circles are nested together to create one unified structure and are etched with the words Faith, Love, Purity, Justice and Truth – the P.E.O. virtues. Seven of the rings were designed to represent each one of our seven Founders, the eighth blue ring symbolizes each individual P.E.O. and her importance to and impact on the Sisterhood. The circular pieces are intentional unclosed to indicate P.E.O.’s openness to the future as we pursue our mission of education women all over the world.
The unveiling of the sculpture last Friday.
Founders Walk
Daisy bench
Encircle
Kylie Towers Smith, Ohio State Chapter President, Kappa Kappa Gamma alumna, and a proud graduate of Simpson College, which just down the road a piece in Indianola, Iowa. (Photos courtesy of Ohio State Chapter of P.E.O.)
The clock is ticking on pre-orders of We Who Are Sisters, the book commemorating 150 years of P.E.O. There is a 20% discount for books ordered by July 31. Quantities of the book are limited and now is the time to order.
I wrote the section on “The Builders.” They are the women who did the heavy lifting in the creation of the organization, but who rarely get any credit for their efforts. Most P.E.O.s do not know their names.
Read more about the connection of Kappa Kappa Gamma and P.E.O.
