Geranium sale raises funds to help women reach academic goals

COEUR d'ALENE — Petals of radiant red, popping pink, vivid violet and pleasant peach were seen in the early Friday morning sunlight on the lawn of a home near Fernan Lake.

Members of the Chapter AG Philanthropic Educational Organization carried trays of flowers and carefully organized pots as they prepared for about 2,500 small pots and about 220 hanging baskets to go out into the community following a successful spring sale.

“It’s just word of mouth and people that keep continuing to purchase through us,” P.E.O. member Linda Scheideler said with a smile. “Of course, we also spend a lot on our own, too. Who doesn’t like flowers, right?”

Founded more than 155 years ago, the P.E.O. Sisterhood is a philanthropic nonprofit dedicated to promoting educational and personal growth opportunities for women. P.E.O. in Idaho began in 1904.

The Coeur d'Alene area is home to four chapters of P.E.O. Chapter AG, which has about 100 members, conducts an annual geranium sale to provide about $6,000 a year in local scholarships and $4,000 a year to P.E.O. International projects. One of the international causes is the organization's International Peace Scholarship, which assists international women students who wish to pursue graduate study in the U.S. and Canada. 

Scheideler, who has been a member for a year and a half, said she joined P.E.O. after ending previous volunteer work she did for 20 years.

"I was looking for something new and one of the gals that’s a member — actually three of them — invited me to join, so I was like, ‘Awesome!’” she said. "I love supporting women. We need more of that community."

Chapter AG's geranium sale has helped raise funds for at least two decades. It started when a member from Colorado moved to Kellogg and shared the idea, which spread to the AG Chapter, which also hosts a Christmas silent auction fundraiser around the holidays.

Although the money supports scholarships for women on their academic journeys, AG Chapter President Betsy Martin said the scholarships don't have to be for college education.

“It can also be training in something that will make their lives better," she said.

The P.E.O. sisters are always reminded of the need for women to continue their education, whether it’s meeting a woman working in a nail salon with dreams of doing more with her life or a server who is struggling to make ends meet. They are always looking for women to support, Martin said.

Past President Ann Schumacher said women have transitioned through the many years P.E.O. has been in existence.

“When we originally started, women didn’t have those opportunities to get an education," she said. "That was kind of the start, and it’s evolved. Do women have more opportunities now? Yes, but our organization and our traditions continue.” 

Visit peointernational.org to learn about the international organization and peoidaho.org for information about the Idaho state chapter.

    Teresa Baillie, a past P.E.O. Idaho State Chapter president, helps unload hundreds of geranium plants Friday morning.
  

Pots of radiant red geraniums are spread across a Coeur d'Alene lawn Friday morning as members of the Chapter AG P.E.O. prepare the flowers for distribution.