WICHITA FALLS — Service to their communities brought recognition to clubs and individuals at the annual convention of the Texas Association for Family and Community Education Clubs here recently.
The association, one of the state’s longest active volunteer organizations working to strengthen family life in Texas, also elected officers.
Originally known as Extension Homemaker Clubs, the organization began around 1912 when the first women agents of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service were appointed. An off-campus arm of the Texas A&M University, the Extension Service worked with the clubs to help homemakers improve their skills in homemaking and parenting, and in leadership and community service. The state association was formed in 1926 and now has 9,540 members in 693 clubs.
The 653 members attending the convention ranged in age from 26 to 91. Educational seminars dealt with consumer fraud, building character in children, grandparents raising their grandchildren, leadership training and health and well-being. They will use this training to train others when they return to their clubs.
Elected to lead the association in the coming year were Carol Davig, Victoria, president; Gerry Zummer, Carbon, president-elect; Phyllis McMakin, Whitehouse, vice president for public policy, and Lajuanna Thames, Canyon, vice president for programs.
Also, Judy Bahr, Santa Fe, secretary, Bernice Feipp, treasurer; Hazle (cq) Crawley, Amarillo, parliamentarian; Winona Baugh, Lorena, newsletter editor, and Ruth Taylor, Nederland, alumni committee chairman.
FCE clubs across the state reported more than 600 community service projects, donated more than $169,000 and contributed more than 150,000 hours of service. Included was work with adult and youth literacy programs, volunteer fire departments, meals on wheels, women’s crisis centers, adult day care programs, 4-H, community libraries, schools, hospitals and the Red Cross.
Members who have at least 500 hours of community service validated by their club chairperson receive certificates of recognition from the state association. At the convention, certificates were presented to 23 members with a documented total of 26,456 hours of service.
In each of the 12 districts of the Extension Service, one county was recognized for outstanding community involvement. Counties earning this honor were: Deaf Smith, Swisher, Parker, Rains, Harrison, Midland, Runnels, Eastland, Brazoria, Guadalupe, Colorado, and Atascosa.
Counties earning honors in each district for their educational programs were: Randall, Hale, Parker, Bowie, San Augustine, Midland, Runnels, Bell, Galveston, Caldwell, Washington, Willacy.
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