Chapter Original A hold December meeting

Chapter Original A of the P.E.O. Sisterhood met on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at Sunnybrook Club House.

Hostesses were Linda Proctor, Carolyn Brenizer and Sara Kremer. Thirty-two members were in attendance. Two guests were present, including Joan Thompson from former chapter GT, of Winfield, and Judy Wilson, from Chapter AT, of Bemidji, Minn. Becky Rauenbuehler was welcomed as a new member and Joan Thompson was welcomed as a newly transferred member.

As an update on the Educational Loan Fund, Dolores Wilson and Rosemary Peck prepared information, which Wilson presented to the membership in the form of ?Trivial Pursuit Elf Style?. The Educational Loan Fund is one of the six International philanthropic projects of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. It was started in 1907 as a memorial fund of $800. Over $162 million have been loaned out since its inception. The fund allows women to use the money to assist in attaining their higher education goals.

At the conclusion of the trivial pursuit contest, Wilson dressed as an elf, and presented elf prizes to top scorers and Keebler elf cookies to all Trivial Pursuit participants.

The business meeting was conducted by president Deb Sinclair. Reports of recent See?s candy sales and Younker Coupon books sales were given.

The P.E.O. Trustees Foundation Board awarded a monetary check to Iowa Wesleyan University in honor of the three Mt. Pleasant chapters. This is to assist in funding the care and maintenance of the P.E.O. Memory Rooms, located in Old Main.

As part of the chapter?s participation in the Parcel of Sisterly Affection program, a card was circulated for Sara O?Dor, who is a P.E.O. Scholar recipient attending Northwestern University. A gift will also be sent. Christmas cards were circulated for members unable to attend meetings.

Prior to the business meeting, Mary Kamm read the story ?The Night Before Christmas? using the Pennsylvania Dutch version of the story by Chet Williamson. She read the story using a German dialect and attired in costume. Kamm explained that in the Pennsylvania Dutch version, the Santa Claus character is replaced by the Belsnickel, a crotchety, thin, cantankerous old man, who rides in on a plow pulled by cows and steers.