Members of a local sisterhood are celebrating a special anniversary this month.
Chapter B of the PEO sisterhood (Philanthropic Educational Organization) was established in New Westminster in June 1913.
"We are celebrating our 100th anniversary. It came to New Westminster in 1913," said Betty Harrington, a four-time president of the local group. "It was the second chapter."
Maude Welsh was the first president of Chapter B, serving from 1913 to 1916. Many locals will know her family home, as it's the location of La Rustica restaurant on Sixth Street.
Chapter B is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a strawberry tea at the Vancouver Golf Club on June 23.
"It's a sisterhood," Harrington said. "It's a philanthropic and educational organization."
The group holds an annual fundraising fashion show, with most of the funds going to the international PEO that gives out scholarships.
"Our chapter has 34 members," Harrington noted. "We meet once a month, year-round."
According to a press release from Chapter B, the PEO sisterhood has given nearly $225 million in financial assistance to almost 90,000 women. The sisterhood also owns Cottey College, a two-year liberal arts college in Nevada, Missouri.
Hiruth Mwandemere, who graduated from Douglas College with a bachelor's degree in psychiatric nursing in March 2013, received a $2,200 bursary from the PEO, as recommended by New Westminster Chapter B.
She is one of 38 students who have received bursaries recommended by Chapter B since 1999.
The PEO Sisterhood was founded in January 1869 at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
With nearly 6,000 local chapters in the United States and Canada and almost 250,000 initiated members, the group is an international philanthropic and educational organization that promotes increased educational opportunities for women.
For more information on the organization's scholarships, contact Roxanne Paterson at 604515-9590 or visit peointer national.org.
New Westminster float wins award
The Hyack Festival has done it again.
New Westminster's float has returned from the Strawberry Festival evening parade in Marysville with yet another award.
The float received the Strawberry Festival's 2013 President's award at the June 15 event.
According to the Hyack Festival Association, a crowd of more than 100,000 lined the streets of Marysville for the parade.
As New Westminster's float passed by, children were dancing and singing along with the float, which is accompanied by music blasting tunes including Celebration, Canadian Girl, Beautiful Boy, Boot Scootin' Boogie and Gangnam Style.
Joining Miss New Westminster's Amanda Zacharuk and ambassadors Devine Calanog, Carlie Henssler, Cynthia Tan, Fiona Senyk and Tiana Bosnjak were past president Ken Williams (1989) and Terri Rodger (2003), as well as 2013 president and first lady, Gavin and Jacke Palmer.
In addition to the Strawberry Festival, the float picked up awards at other parades in the Pacific Northwest. In the coming weeks, the float will be in parades in Port Moody, Steveston and Vancouver.
Keep Monday at the Movies alive
The Arts Council of New Westminster is relying on pass sales to ensure the Last Monday at the Movies series survives.
The arts council is now selling season's passes for the September 2013 to June 2014 season at an early bird price of $60.
Movies are presented on the last Monday of each month at Massey Theatre.
The final film of the 2012/2013 season, Quartet, was shown this past Monday.
For more information, call 604-525-3244 or visit www.artscouncilnew west.org or email info@ artscouncilnewwest.org.
