Article and Photos by Shirin McArthur
The fellowship hall at First Presbyterian Church in Silver City rang with the patter of auctioneer Danna Stout and the laughter of over one hundred bidders who gathered for a Saturday afternoon of food, fellowship, and friendly competition. Saturday's event included the purse auction, a silent auction and the sale of additional purses and San Saba Pecans.
P.E.O. Purse Auction 101015
P.E.O Purse Auction 101015
Nancy Champlin talks about P.E.O. scholarships
P.E.O Purse Auction 101015
P.E.O. member Mary Ihlefeld holds up a purse for bidders to see
P.E.O Purse Auction 101015
Auctioneer Danna Stout engages the bidders with her humor
P.E.O Purse Auction 101015
P.E.O. scholarship recipient Alexis Rico holds up a purse for bidding
P.E.O Purse Auction 101015
P.E.O. grant recipient Amanda Pryor shows off a purse for bidding
P.E.O Purse Auction 101015
Purse Auction Chair Carol Barrington also elicits laughter from the crowd
P.E.O Purse Auction 101015
Sherelle Wilkerson examines some of the silent auction items-?`^
P.E.O Purse Auction 101015
P.E.O. member Kari Lane shows off a purse as Danna Stout encourages bidders to aim higher
This was the fourth annual Purses for Every Occasion Auction with Silent Auction and Delectable Sweets and Tasty Treats. Past auctions have raised at least $6,500 every year to help endow a scholarship fund in honor of Nancy Champlin, past New Mexico State Chapter President of P.E.O. (which stands for Philanthropic Education Organization). There are two Chapters of P.E.O., Chapters AG and BR, in Grant County and they take turns hosting this annual fundraising extravaganza.
Danna Stout is a professional auctioneer with Matney Auctions of Deming who volunteers her services for each year's event. She looks forward to the purse auction because purses are much more fun to auction than farm equipment and tools. She had the hall echoing with laughter as she described the assets of each purse and constantly reminded hesitant bidders that they wouldn't get a second chance to take home such a unique or classy item.
Each purse was carried through the hall so that bidders could take a closer look, although no one was allowed to open the purses, which had been stuffed with surprises by Chapter AG, P.E.O. members. Some purses were modeled by P.E.O. members, while others were shown around by scholarship and grant recipients.
Alexis Rico, the first recipient of the Nancy Champlin P.E.O. Foundation Scholarship, was grateful for the chance to show off some purses and get a closer look at how P.E.O. had raised her scholarship funds. The 2015 valedictorian at Cobre High School, Rico is a writer and first-year journalism major at New Mexico State University (NMSU). As a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority, she gives back to the community by helping students in Las Cruces learn to read.
P.E.O. gives grants and loans as well as scholarships. Amanda Pryor, the recipient of a P.E.O. P.C.E. (P.E.O. Continuing Education) Grant, is studying nursing at Western New Mexico University (WNMU). Formerly from Alaska, Pryor appreciates the purse auction as a non-traditional fundraiser that is about more than just writing checks. A member P.E.O. Chapter BR, she values the mentorship aspects of P.E.O. and that women are helping women to pursue their educational goals.
Other recent local recipients of P.E.O. funds have included Milagre Coates (who is studying at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology), Ashley Gilpin (NMSU), Emily Streams (University of New Mexico), Yaneli Morales (UNM), Serina Pack (WNMU), Sinea Runnells (NMSU) and Emily Stone (Bob Jones University).
All purses, surprises, silent auction items and food were donated by local businesses, authors, artists, individuals and Chapter AG members. Any young women in Grant County interested in applying for a scholarship can contact Mary Cowan at 575-538-2626.
Chapter AG is still selling San Saba Pecans for $10 per pound to fund local scholarships. Pecans can be purchased by contacting Bonni Jo Rogers at 575-574-2002, Greta Oberg at 575-538-3919, or other Chapter AG members.