WICHITA FALLS–One of the state’s longest active volunteer organizations working to strengthen family life in Texas, the Texas Association for Family and Community Education (TAFCE), will assemble here Sept. 9-11 at the Multi-Purpose Events Center for its annual convention.
Family and Community Education Clubs, originally known as Extension Homemaker Clubs, began around 1912 with appointment of the first women agents of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, the off-campus arm of the Texas A&M University. Their goal was to help homemakers improve their skills in nutrition, food preparation and preservation, parenting, budgeting, leadership and community service.
The state association was formed in 1926 by club members attending the annual Farmers Short Course at the A&M campus in College Station. Today it has clubs in more than 200 counties and some 12,000 members.
More than 1,000 of those members are expected for the conference here, said Virginia Helton of Parker County, director of the host Rolling Plains District of TAFCE. The conference theme is “Enriching Lives Through FCE.”
The conference will open at 10:45 a.m. Sept. 9. It will include a trade show, cultural arts exhibit, sharing section, and tours. Life skills seminars will include Attractions for the Mature Woman, Face Readers, and How Time Flies: Maintaining Your Independence. Other workshops will include fiber art. Past members of the TAFCE board will have an alumnae dinner at 4:30 p.m. A general session and reception will begin at 7 p.m.
Sessions Sept. 10 will begin with a workshop for delegates at 8 a.m., followed by a general session at 10 a.m. Luncheon will feature humorist Jeanne Chambers, author of the book, “Life Is Too Short to be Ordinary.” Afternoon seminars will include parliamentary procedure, leader training and skills in listening and communication. Delegates will dine by districts before a 7 p.m. general session and district parties.
The third day, Sept. 11, will feature sharing sessions, educational seminars, a general session and business session. The conference will conclude with installation of officers and special recognitions at a 7:30 p.m. banquet
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