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Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association: Looking back, looking ahead
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By MARLA TONCRAY, News Editor
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For 75 years, the Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association, a volunteer organization, has worked to improve the quality of life for families and communities through leadership development, volunteer service and education.
Working as an integral part of the KEHA for the past 70 years have been members of the Mason County Homemakers Association.
As each organization celebrates its respective anniversary date, reflecting upon the past and looking to the future seems appropriate.
A brief history of KEHA as provided by the Debra Cotterill and Angie Mitchell of the Mason County Extension Office, highlights the organizations achievements and mission.
KEHA was developed in cooperation with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. Across the state County Extension Agents for Family and Consumer Sciences work closely with KEHA members and clubs to provide educational programming and coordinate community activities.
-- 1914 the first Extension Home Demonstration agents were employed and the first Home Demonstration clubs organized.
-- 1925 the first county homemakers organizations were established.
-- 1932 Kentucky Federation of Homemakers was established to; unify efforts of Kentucky homemakers, strengthen their voice, enhance leadership development and broaden member's horizons
-- 1936 Kentucky Federal of Homemakers joined the Associated Country Women of the World.
-- 1977 a Barren County homemaker teamed with a University of Kentucky physician to establish the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.
-- 1980 the KEHA presented a needlepoint tapestry to the Commonwealth of Kentucky; the tapestry is on display near the Capitol Rotunda.
-- 1985 launched the Family Community Leadership Program to provide advanced leadership training for members.
-- 2007-2008 celebrates the 75th Anniversary of KEHA and the 75th Annual State Meeting.
Since its inception, KEHA has grown and adapted to ever changing times and needs of the communities and families it serves.
Below is an overview of what KEHA is about today.
-- Membership totals more than 19,00.
-- Programs educate members and general public about topics including: parenting and grand parenting, consumer fraud, emergency preparedness, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, food safety, nutrition, historic preservation, recycling and waste reduction, indoor air quality, literacy, estate planning and home safety.
-- Members annually report 400,000 to 450,000 volunteer hours with a value of more than $6 million dollars to the Commonwealth.
-- Donations through KEHA to the University of Kentucky Ovarian Cancer Research Fund now average more than $40,000 annually and totaled $901,000 in 2007.
-- The Pennies for Friendship program provides funding support for Associated Country Women of the World projects and an international exchange program for KEHA members.
-- KEHA continues to work cooperatively with the University of Kentucky School of Human Environment Sciences and Family and Consumer Sciences Extension to improve the quality of life for Kentucky families.
Locally, the first Mason County annual meeting was held Jan. 10, 1938, with Moransburg Club hosting a tea at the Women's Club room. Charter members of the Mason County Homemakers were Mrs. John Pabst, Mrs. Scott True, Mrs. Harry Lee, Mrs. Elmer Rhodes, Mrs. Irvine Stamper, Mrs. John Boyd, Miss Kathryn Arnold, Miss Naomi McCann, Mrs. Albert Thomas, Mrs. Vernon Huber, Mrs. John Moran, Mrs. Robert Stevens, Mrs. Lovell Easybuck, Mrs. G.C. Wiggins, Mrs. Lydia Henderson, Mrs. Walter Osborne, Miss Betty Rees, Mrs. Carl Osborne, Mrs. Alvin Frame and Mrs. E.T. Moyer.
Mrs. Emma Osborne served as the first county president from 1936 to 1938; the organization's current president is Mrs. Carol Sapp, serving from 2007-2008.
Mason County Family and Consumer Service Agents have been Miss Doris Van Winkle 1937-1944, Mrs. Launa Littrell 1944-1945, Miss Nell Jo Click 1945-1947, Mrs. Sidney Lane 1947-1949, Miss Jean Conway 1950-1952, Mrs. Margaret Ponder 1953, Miss Ann Lutes 1954-1958, Mrs. Minerva Murphy 1959-1960, Mrs. Lillian Hixson Rice 1960-1995, Mrs. Debra Cotterill 1996-present. |
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