Chapter F, PEO has had a busy autumn with interesting programs, a successful nut sale and welcoming new members.

Suzanne Madison presented a program about Clinton County during the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918. Using articles from the Wilmington Journal she was able to share with members Clinton County’s response to ailment that was the Spanish Flu.

In an effort to not alarm local citizens, the flu was usually referred to as a throat problem. As more citizens were struck with the flu, schools, businesses and church services were all cancelled until the danger was over. Any large gathering was cancelled during late September, October and in to November of 1918.

Those who were healthy filled in for those who were sick to provide necessary services, in one case the local barber was seen delivering the mail for letter carrier who was ill. By mid-December of 1918 Clinton County has made it through the epidemic, but not without many families losing one or more members.

In October, Dr. Ruth Hayes shared with Chapter F interesting occurrences from one of her medical mission trips on the blue boat on the Amazon River.

Traveling with a medical mission group organized by Dr. Keith Holten the group went down the Amazon on a blue boat stopping at small villages along way to provide much needed medical services. One the clinic time was over, the mission team was back on the boat to journey to their next village clinic.

Another successful nut sale is about to conclude. For those who have ordered nuts they should be delivered soon. For those who still wish to get some nuts Chapter F will have a booth at the Holly Berry Fair Nov. 10 at Cape May. The proceeds from the annual sale go to PEO state and national scholarship funds and to Cottey College a small liberal arts college for women in Missouri that is owned and supported by PEO.

Chapter F ended October by welcoming two new members to the chapter.