GWC Epsilon Sigma Omicron

Purpose

ESO – Epsilon Sigma Omicron

An Honorary Educational Society of GFWC

Epsilon Sigma Omicron (ESO) is an honorary educational society supported by the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) and open to all members. Founded in 1928, ESO provides a structured reading program designed to encourage lifelong learning, self-improvement, and fellowship through books. The North Carolina Alpha Eta Chapter of ESO was begun in 1961. To become a member, you simply read! ESO is one of the benefits of belonging to a GFWC federated club.

The ESO motto is “Enlighten Your Own Pathway.” Members can participate individually or in reading groups, exploring a wide variety of categories such as history, fiction, science, arts, biography, poetry, travel, women’s studies, and even North Carolina writers.

Through reading and brief reports*, members progress through achievement levels—Member, Star, Torch, Century, and beyond—earning recognition as they expand their knowledge. The program is self-paced, flexible, and enriching, offering women a way to connect education with community service while nurturing personal growth.

Whether you’re building a home library, joining a discussion group, or simply reading on your own, ESO is a wonderful opportunity to grow, learn, and share with others.

*As of April 2026, the brief reports are no longer required - only recording the Title, Author, and Genre Category is required.

What we've done

Since launching our ESO chapter in October 2025, our program within the Garner Woman's Club has continued to grow and thrive. We are proud to have welcomed 12 members into our ESO ranks so far, with two members already reaching “Member” status.

Our ESO participants can engage in the program in multiple ways. Members are encouraged to read independently while logging and reporting their personal reading accomplishments, and many also participate in our ESO Book Club. Every 2–3 months, our Book Club collectively selects a book to read and gathers at a local coffee shop for a fun and thoughtful discussion. To enhance the experience, discussion questions are created for each book selection to guide members while reading and help facilitate meaningful conversation during meetings.

For information about our previous book selections and supplemental reading materials, members can explore the corresponding tabs throughout the website.

In addition to our Book Club, we recently launched the GWC ESO Book Bingo Challenge to encourage members to read even more throughout the year. This interactive challenge includes a fun raffle-entry component that rewards participation and exploration of new genres and authors. Be sure to visit the Book Bingo section of the website for additional details and ways to participate!

The Book Club Picks

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