Chapter P of P.E.O. hits the century mark

Posted 9/3/26

Powell’s Chapter P of P.E.O. celebrated its 100th anniversary with a birthday party luncheon at the Yellowstone Building on the Northwest College campus May 16, 2026.

It’s been quite a ride …

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Chapter P of P.E.O. hits the century mark

Powell’s Chapter P of P.E.O. Sisterhood celebrated its 100th anniversary with a birthday party on May 16, 2026. Active members of Chapter P include (up the stairs, from left) Ava Tobin, Marcia Wysocki, Mindy Christensen, Lee Griffith, Teresa Caldwell, Shelly Graham; (back row, from left) Mary Ann Wurzel, Kathy Mason, Kay Dooley, LeAnne Kindred, Sandi Finn, Sheri Core, Coleen Metzler, Cathy Campbell; (middle row, from left) Julie Fulton, Donna Doornbos, Tari McAdam, Carolyn Danko, Karen Parker, Mary Reynolds, Mary Hillman, Norene Streicher, Marc Robirds; (seated, from left) Pat Gehrman, Peggy Snyder, Lacey Wilson, Cecil Alice Johnstone, Pam Miller, JoyAnn Bessler. Not pictured: Cassidy Acton, Cindy Blevins, Cynthia Fulton, Diane Hefenieder, Priscilla Jeziorski, Carlolyn Karhu, Lindsay Kindred, Sandra Kitchen, Katy Lytle, Carol McCauley, Ann McClain, Jill Metzler, Barbara Pearson, Bev Peterson, Cammy Rowley, Bobbie Stutzman, Jennifer Walsh, Shelby Wetzel, Tabitha Winninger, Dianne Wolff.

Courtesy photo

A silver tea service was displayed in memory of Amy Kreuger Erwin, first president of Chapter P and later state P.E.O. president in 1948-49.

Courtesy photo

Posted Thursday, September 3, 2026 8:15 am

Powell’s Chapter P of P.E.O. celebrated its 100th anniversary with a birthday party luncheon at the Yellowstone Building on the Northwest College campus May 16, 2026.

It’s been quite a ride since the chapter was founded in the early years of Powell life. Charter date for Chapter P was May 13, 1926 when Powell was only 17 years old.

Fifteen women were in Powell’s initial group of what is one of the oldest women’s organizations in America. The first chapter of P.E.O. was organized in 1869 at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.

Chapter P has three 50-year members, Coleen Metzler, Marc Robirds and Cecil Alice Johnstone.

Four members of Chapter P have served as state P.E.O. presidents. They are Cecil Alice Johnstone, Joyce Bloom, Esther Brumage and Amy Kreuger Erwin, who was also the first president of Chapter P.

P.E.O.’s mission is to provide scholarships, grants and loans for women’s education. Lee Griffith is chair of Chapter P scholarship committees. Her contact number is 307-272-5970.