Schaumburg-area friends surprised on transatlantic cruise
Seasoned travelers know that even precisely planned vacations can be subject to surprises. And that is what happened to Dawn Amos and Judie Truelsen on a recent transatlantic cruise of the Regal Princess.
When the Schaumburg-area friends decided to board the Regal Princess for its repositioning voyage from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to Southampton, England, they anticipated enjoying a one-of-a-kind vacation.
"It was wonderful and relaxing, with many days at sea," reported Amos, who said the cruise lasted 14 days, with stops in the Azores Islands; Brest, France; Rotterdam, The Netherlands; and Brussels/Bruges, Belgium.
The ship provided a variety of activities for the 3,200 passengers, including enrichment lectures on upcoming ports-of-call, musical entertainment, games, and production shows in the evening.
"All of these activities were published in a daily activities bulletin," said Amos.
"Judie and I noticed that a number of groups announced meet-ups in the bulletin," said Amos, who is president of the Schaumburg chapter of P.E.O., a nonprofit philanthropic and educational organization that supports women. Truelsen is the chapter's treasurer.
"We wondered if there were any other P.E.O.s on board. We decided to request a P.E.O. Sisterhood gathering."
The cruise director obliged their request and gave the group a time and meeting room. And to their pleasant surprise, four P.E.O.s from four other chapters (and three other states) showed up.
They were:
• Cecile Creely, from Chapter FL in Palm Harbor, Fla. Creely and Amos discovered that not only do they share some of the same chapter responsibilities, they discovered they are originally from the same county outside of Pittsburgh, Pa.
• Mary Hancock from Chapter GG in Katy, Texas. Another coincidence: Hancock grew up in Mount Prospect, Il., a town near Schaumburg.
• Sue Miller from Chapter GU in Plano, Texas. Miller is chairperson of her chapter's ELF (Educational Loan Fund). While on board the cruise, she learned that the individual her chapter helped sponsor had been awarded a $20,000 loan.
• Peggy Santos from Chapter BF in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. Santos has held almost every office in her chapter. Although she lives in Idaho, she also has ties to the Midwest: Her mother was initiated into an Indiana chapter.
The six P.E.O. sisters had such a good time that they agreed to meet again before the voyage ended. Amos and Creely will also get together at the Convention of International Chapters in September in Pittsburgh.
The P.E.O. sisterhood of more than a half million women has been celebrating women helping women for more than 150 years. Since its inception in 1869, the nonprofit organization has helped more than 119,000 women pursue educational goals by providing more than $398 million in grants, scholarships, awards and loans. The organization also owns and supports Cottey College in Nevada, MO. In addition to its educational philanthropies, P.E.O. provides a framework of support and community for all members.
More information about P.E.O. can be found at www.peointernational.org.