Arkansas Extension Homemakers
Council, Inc.

News from the President • Note of Appreciation • District Rallies • Project Books • Officer Training • State Meeting • Officer Elections • Donations • Name Tags and Logo Pins • Phone Card Project • Deadlines and Dates to Remember
 

News from the President

Thanks to all for making the District Rallies so good! Special thanks to our District Directors: Janice Majors, Delta District; Glenda Anderson, Ozark District; and Phyllis Pipkin, Ouachita District. Each rally was attended well and without you it wouldn't be possible!

Our next statewide meeting will be leadership and officer training, March 15, 2006. It will be held at the 4-H Center in Ferndale, and you will get the registration information after the first of the year.

Just a reminder that the Arkansas Children's Hospital has their Christmas wish list on line. It would be good to see if your County or club could help to brighten a patient's Christmas a little.

Thanks again for all you do.

Note of Appreciation

It is difficult to find words to appropriately express my sincere appreciation for all of the cards, notes, gifts and prayers that I’ve received from Extension Homemakers across the state.  I’ve saved every card and treasure every gift.  Your kindness and generosity have given me hope, inspiration, and a renewed sense of the importance of friendship.  Many of you have shared “breast cancer survivor” stories with me and that has truly strengthened my faith and positive outlook for the future.  Please know that each and every one of you is very special to me and I shall never forget all of your kind words and deeds.  Thank you so much for supporting me during this difficult time.

Lynn Russell
State Leader – Family and Consumer Sciences

District Rallies Big Success

A total of 514 attended the three district rallies conducted during the month of October. The theme “Taking care of you, The EHC volunteer” proved to be a great program focus for the volunteers.

Ozark District Rally

Yvonne James and Mary Steele Smith, District Associate Directors with Glenda Anderson, District Director at Ozark Registration Table.

You will see from the many pictures on our website that the excitement of the program really began on October 18 with the Ozark Rally. Arkansas Tech University’s Chambers Cafeteria was the perfect setting for the 200 who attended the rally from every County in the Ozark District. Yell County had the largest attendance with 25 registered, and this was the largest attendance of any County at all three district rallies. Way to go Yell County! Glenda Anderson, Ozark AEHC District Director, and the Pope County members did an outstanding job with the decorations. Jeri Vangilder did a neat stretcher for the group and Council President Carla Reed welcomed us to Pope County. Yvonne James, Associate District Director, did a  presentation on “Taking Care of Your Thoughts,” Yvonne gave us 9 ways to take control of our thoughts. These were: do not cling to the past, surround yourself with people you like, be grateful for material possessions, be honest, find your talents and use them, be careful and don’t panic, be enthusiastic, be constant in prayer and be a dreamer.

Dr. Tamara Walkingstick, Extension Forester, challenged the group with a presentation on taking care of your timberland. Over 25 people signed up for information on classes to help people manage their timberland better.

Sharon Reynolds, Associate District Director, presented membership awards to the following counties: Washington County for the most AEHC members in the district, followed by Benton County, Van Buren County for the most new AEHC members in the district and Washington County for the most volunteer hours in the district. Madison and Conway Counties followed Van Buren County with new members and Baxter and Johnson Counties followed Washington County in volunteer hours.

A section of the program was devoted to taking care of the organization. President Mary Ann Shepherd gave an update on the plans for the state meeting and mentioned dates to remember. Marietta Gutierrez, past president, discussed the 2006 officer election.

Arthurine Harrison, Program Developer with the Division of Volunteerism, gave a presentation on the importance of the volunteer. The mentoring program of the Division of Volunteerism was discussed and counties were encouraged to apply for the mentoring program grants.

After lunch the group was entertained with a skit to encourage attendance and cooperation for the NVON meeting which will be in Hot Spring in July of 2006.

Roll call was made by Mary Steele Smith, Associate District Director, and 84 phone cards were distributed to counties where hurricane victims were still being housed. A big hit for the day was the drawing for door prizes which were beautiful fall arrangements brought by each of the counties. Pope County also gave door prizes of fall scarecrows and fall arrangements.

Delta District Rally

On October 20 the Delta District Rally met at the Brinkley Convention center, 150 people registered for the rally. Janice Majors , District Director and Associate District Directors Dorothy Rowland and Glenda Griffin did an outstanding job with refreshments that they made for the group of 150. Katherine Carter, Monroe County EHC President, welcomed the group to Monroe County. Kyle Cunningham, Extension Forestry Instructor, presented a power point presentation on “Taking Care of Your Timberland”. Over 25 volunteers signed up for information on the educational classes to be conducted in the near future. Mary Ann Shepherd gave an update on the organization.

Judy Riley, Delta District Associate Director for Extension, presented membership awards to the following counties: District winner of the most new Clubs with counties that contributed being: Arkansas, Clay, Cross, Lonoke, Phillips and White. The county with the most EHC members in the district was White County, followed by Craighead County, White County also got the award for the most new AEHC members in the district, followed by Arkansas County. Poinsett County received the award for the most AEHC volunteer hours with 13,982, followed by White and Clay Counties. Marietta Gutierrez reminded the group of the election of officers for 2006 and Ann Bowers, Vice President, gave an update on the education program emphasis. Donna Francis, FCS agent from Drew County gave a funny relaxer for the group. Nicole Perkins, Recognition Specialist with the Division of Volunteerism, spoke to the group about the importance of volunteers. Nicole was very entertaining and the group enjoyed her remarks.

Following lunch the Pauline Myrick and Loretta Johnston, past AEHC presidents, presented an entertaining skit inviting the group to the 2006 NVON meeting in July at Hot Springs. The group was encouraged to cooperate and help make this meeting a success.

The roll call was given by Glenda Griffin and phone cards brought by the counties for the hurricane victims were distributed to counties. The Associate District Directors conduced the door prize drawing for 25 beautiful fall centerpieces.

Ouachita District Rally

The Ouachita District Rally was conducted October 25 at the Youth Building on the Clark County fairgrounds in Arkadelphia. Phyllis Pipkin, District Director, welcomed the 164 people to the meeting after Garland County served healthy refreshments. Everyone was pleased to receive a nice set of the recipes. Phyllis had made attractive felt pumpkins for all who attended, as well as goodie bags that were distributed to help take care of the volunteers. Kathy Bauer, Clark County President, welcomed the group to Clark County. Terrie Jacobs, Associate District Director, told the group how to "Take Care of Your thoughts." Caroll Guffey, Natural Resources Program Associate, presented an interesting program on “Taking Care of your Timberland." Over 50 people signed up to receive information on classes to be taught on this subject of timber management. Mary Ann Shepherd updated the group on the organization, and Alberta James, Associate District Director for U of A, Cooperative Extension Service, presented membership awards to the following counties: Pulaski County for the largest membership in the district and the state, Garland County for the most new club members and clubs organized in the past year and Pike County for the most volunteer hours . Counties recognized for organizing new clubs the past year were: Grant and Sevier Counties. Marietta Gutierrez, Past State President, discussed the election of officers in 2006 and several people indicated they will run for state offices. Ann Bowers, AEHC Vice President reviewed the educational emphasis for 2005-2007. Lisa Gilmore, FCS agent in Garland County did an exercise routine with the group and called attention to the Healthy Arkansas Bulletin that each person received at the meeting. Betty F. Oliver, AEHC/FCS Volunteer Coordinator, presented the program on "Taking Care of You."

Three counties assisted with the program by telling about their mentoring program that is a cooperative effort between EHC and the Division of Volunteerism. Presenters were Lavena Dillard from Montgomery County, Phyllis Pipkin from Garland County and Karen Fox from Cleveland County.

The Clark County EH Council catered the lunch and following the lunch the NVON skit was presented by Loretta Johnston and Pauline Myrick, Past State Presidents. Assisting Loretta and Pauline were EHC members from various counties in the district.

Ann Nix , Associate District Director of AEHC called the roll and phone cards were distributed to counties for hurricane evacuees. Since all counties did not need phone cards, the group voted to send the remaining cards to the soldiers in Iraq. Phyllis Pipkin will send the cards. Terrie Jacobs and Ann Nix conducted the drawing for the beautiful fall centerpieces. The meeting was adjourned with the reading of the AEHC creed.

Please take a few moments to check out the District Rally pages on the website for photos and handouts that were given out at the meetings.

EHC Project Books Due December 1

EHC project books should be submitted to the State Extension Office postmarked no later than December 1. See section F (pages F2-F6) in the handbook for more information. The handbook is on the EHC website. If you have questions, please contact Betty Oliver at 501-671-2033 or email boliver@uaex.edu. Awards will be presented at the state meeting in June. You have worked hard on your projects. Why not take time to receive recognition.

Officer Training

AEHC Officer Training will be held on March 15, 2006, at the C.A. Vines 4-H Center. Counties may choose to arrive on May 14. Dinner will be served. FCS Agents will receive details after January 1, 2006.

2006 AEHC State Meeting

The Planning Committee met on November 4, and selected class topics for the How To, Education, and Subject Matter Classes for the 2006 meeting to be held in Hot Springs on June 6-8, 2006. “Enriching Homes and Communities” is the theme. We still need additional suggestions for the Creative Skills Classes. If you have suggestions, please send them to Betty Oliver at boliver@uaex.edu.

New AEHC Officers to be Elected

New Officers for AEHC will be elected at the June meeting in Hot Springs. The following officers will be elected: President-Elect, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Nominations for Officers must be sent to the Immediate Past President, Marietta Gutierrez, 1312 Winnebago, North Little Rock, AR 72116 by May 15. Please refer to pages D9-D13 of the handbook for details and forms to complete.

Donations

We are trying to keep a better record of the donations made to Arkansas Children's Hospital, UAMS Cancer Research Center, and UAMS Neonatal Nursery. From now on, please send a copy of the AEHC Donation Record form along with the items that you donate. If you give your items to Betty Oliver to deliver, please attach the form to the donation. If you deliver items to any of these organizations yourself, please attach the form to the donation, and send Betty Oliver a copy at PO Box 391, Little Rock, AR 72203 or boliver@uaex.edu. Remember that magazines are not needed as donations.

Arkansas AEHC Name Tags and Logo Pins and Drops

Some members have asked how to purchase the name tags that are red and white and in the shape of Arkansas. The cost is $5.50 each, and County Council Presidents accept the names and money. The council president completes form G-7 (located in the AEHC handbook), typed or printed, and sends three copies of G-7 and a check made out to AEHC to their respective AEHC District Director for the total amount for the County.

Delta District Director
Janice Majors, 138 East Jackson, Monticello, AR 71655, 870-367-3324, jmajors0116@sbcglobal.net

Ouachita District Director
Phyllis Pipkin, 108 Boulder Rd, Royal, AR 71968, 501-760-2872, Sephpipkin@aol.com

Ozark District Director
Glenda Anderson, 130 Art Lane, Russellville, AR 72802, 479-967-4390, grannyglenda@arkansas.net

For Logo Pins and drops you may email Betty Oliver or Brenda Duggins your order. The pins and officer drops are $3.00 each.

Searcy County EH Community Service Project

Searcy County EHC is partnering with AEHC in a Hurricane Relief phone card project. Residents from the southern United States that have been relocated to Searcy County will be receiving phone cards donated by Extension Homemakers Clubs.

This is a community service program being conducted by all EH clubs in Arkansas. Searcy County is working with Charmaine Metzlaff, Searcy County Emergency Services Coordinator, to deliver these phone cards to families located in Searcy County.

If you have families in your area, you may wish to assist them during this holiday season. Special thanks to Sherry Sutterfield and Lene’ Sutterfield for arranging the presentation on November 2 at the Chapel of the Ozarks in Leslie.

Diane Grinder, President of the Searcy County EH Council, is continuing to identify other families who live in Searcy County for the phone card project.

Phillips County EH Community Service Project

Mayor Johnny Weaver receives phone cards for Hurricane victims relocated to Phillips County from Delta Blues Extension Homemakers Club contact person Wanda Snyder and County Extension Agent-Family and Consumer Sciences Keith Cleek. Phillips County has 89 hurricane evacuees still residing in Phillips County.

2005
December 1 - Project Books due to State Office

Dates to Remember
2006
March 15 - County Council Officer Training, CA Vines 4-H Center
June 6, 7, 8 - State Meeting, Hot Springs Convention Center
July 18, 19, 20 - NVON Meeting, Hot Springs Convention Center
October 17 - Ozark District Presidents Day
October 20 - Delta District Presidents Day
October 24 - Ouachita Presidents Day