Address 2002 South 13th Street

Duncan, Oklahoma 73533

Phone 580-255-0510

Email brenda.gandy@okstate.edu

Website http:www.oces.okstate.edu/stephens

In this issue Congrats!. ......................2 Council Meeting ............3 Resource Mgmt .............3 Leader Training. .............3 Thanks!. ........................4

Extension Educator FCS/4-H/CED Stephens County

CONGRATULATIONS to those who have achieved distinguished “mile markers” in our Stephens County OHCE membership. We have two 60-year members who were going to be recognized at the 2020 State Meeting. Their stories are below.

Sheila’s Story “My mother-in-law enlisted me to take money for the Velma Home Demonstration Club’s food booth at the District Fair in 1959. Following that, the members encouraged me to join the organization. I found myself in leadership roles at a fairly young age. I served as County President from 1965-67 (while my husband farmed and helped raise 2 girls; then we had a son in 1969). I served as President again in 2009-10. I have also served as County Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.

In the early 70s, I served as State Citizenship Chairman representing the State at the national meeting and winning first at national on Citizenship report. Other positions I held at State level were Southwest District Representative, Vice President and State President 1978-80. There were approximately 22,000 members at that time.

In the 1980s, Oklahoma began the Family Community Leadership Program and I became State Vice President. I represented Oklahoma at National FCL meetings. We held workshops in the State to encourage members to be leaders in their organizations and beyond. One of our participants became mayor of her town.

I served as Chairman of the Meals Committee for the 1995 National Convention held in Tulsa. I continue to be active on the county and state levels.

Through the 60-plus years, the name of our organization has changed multiple times; but our purpose of education for ourselves and others has not changed. OSU Extension educators continue to mentor our organization and give us research-based education in every area of life. I can truly say that being involved in the organization helped me to become the homemaker, mother, teacher, leader and person I am.”

Barbara’s Story “My grandmothers and my mother belonged to Extension Homemakers groups. When I married, I also joined. Most all of us had 2 or 3 small children and we met in our homes twice a month. It was a time we spruced up our homes and fixed our favorite desserts. We enjoyed visiting and catching-up with everyone – no phones, no tvs – and no cell phones!.....Continued on next page.

May/June 2020

STRENGTHENING OKLAHOMA FAMILIES Family and Consumer Science News

Barbara Hartley

Sheila Ely

2

I would encourage you to follow Leslye Owen OHCE President on Facebook. She has been going LIVE on Friday evenings at 7pm.

Dates July 12th Sunday fun night will be 4 make and take crafts. Each craft will be in a separate room and 25 people will be in each room. At end of time each class will rotate to the next. Crafts night is limited to 100 people. The cost is $20.00. $5.00 a craft. You can't pick and choose. You will have to pay for all 4 crafts.

If we are not able to hold the meeting in July the hotel will allow us to change the rooms to the October 4th up dates. room rates were increased by $10.00 and to help offset this cost the registration for the meeting was low-ered to $110.00.

State Conference Registration will be online on our web page in May. We will let you know as soon as it is up and running.

There will more information in the newsletter in May. Remember it maybe a little late.

Barbara Hartley’s special story….. Continued from page one

In the fall time, we were always getting ready for the Fair. Our group would sometimes charter a bus to the State Fair for a day. I remember I usually got a length of fabric for my birthday (in September) and made myself a new dress to wear. After our trip to the State Fair, we were a tired group of women but full of new ideas to keep us busy thru the next year.

Times goes by and I am still active with our Oak College group. Our kids are grown up. We were blessed with 2 daughters and a son who died at age 17 with cancer. We’ve had happy times and sad times, but life goes on and I now have 4 grandchildren.”

Catherine Hurst Brenda Gandy-Jones

Marjorie Edwards

Kristen Clinkenbeard Dixie Gildon

Jackie Harris Neva Kitsmiller

Brenda Weaver

Joyce Haddox Jane Mitchell

Pam Rhamy

We have special memories of members who have passed

away this year. All names will be provided to the State

Membership Chair for the Vespers Service at the 2021

State OHCE meeting.

Kathleen Rosser, 7-11-2019

Dena Berniece Leu, 10-31-2019

Lois Kramer, 11-1-2019

Annie Mae Jones, 12-30-2019

Betty Jane Eby, 1-13-2020

Honor Vaughn, 4-12-2020

Georgia (Dolly) Anne Mershon O’Hare, 4-17-2020

County Winners: 1st Place, Healthy Living, Jane Mitchell, “Physical and Mental Health” 2nd Place, Cultural Enrichment, Vicki Malone, “Covers” 3rd Place, Leadership Development, Sheila Ely, “Master Volunteer Training”

Local Winners: 2nd Place, Rose Cox, Leadership Development, “4-H Achievement Banquet” 2nd Place, Barbara Cox, Cultural Enrichment, “Old Duncan Cemetery Tour”

Donnita Hall Sharon Hobson

3

Our projects will carry over to the fall Council meeting. You can email or messenger your ideas to Brenda Weaver. We had planned to bring our recycled items for a show and tell at our June 30 Coun-cil Meeting. The idea is to inspire others to think of ways to reuse or repurpose items that otherwise might be headed for the trash. There is a category for such in the fair.

HELPFUL HINTS: We would like to compile a list of unusual uses for normal items that you use to make life easier. It can also be things you do to preserve your food longer. Mail or email your list and we will have them compiled for hand out at our next meeting and as hand outs for the fair.

From your clean out during this Corona Quarantine, you should have lots of items you no longer want. Save them for our Silent Auction that we will have during our fall Council Meeting.

Sheet Pan Meals June 9th,9:30 am Heritage Room

Stephens County Fairgrounds Conference Center.

“Sheet Pan Meals” are the easiest one-pan meal you can make. The prep is minimal, the cleanup is breeze, and the versatility is limitless. Pick your favorite protein, a couple of veggies, and a boost of flavor, then toss it all together on a single pan for a complete dinner.

Leader training is reserved for lesson leaders only at his time due to Covid 19 only 2 members per club will be ad-mitted. Social Distancing is required. Host and participants should wear face coverings, with participants expected to provide their PPE.

Committee members met on Friday May 29, 2020 to determine our plan for reopening County wide OHCE Activities and events. Members voted to cancel the June 30

th Council meeting and

workshop. It was determined that they were still uncomfortable meeting in a large group of 50 at this time. It would be high risk for members due to age and the typical length of the meeting.

Please continue to follow social distancing guidelines and limit your exposure. Member health is what is of importance at this time. Small groups should use caution in planning and conducting local meetings.

Plans are to present recognition of Membership Milestones and award winning reports in the October Council Meeting. October Council meeting will be held in the Territory Hall and will be hosted by Sunshine.

Oklahoma Home & Community Educa-

tion, Inc. is a local and state wide

partner with Cooperative Extension

which brings the best knowledge from

OSU to its members. Join a local OHCE

group and enjoy programs that help

make Oklahomans be their best.

www.OHCE.okstate.edu

Family & Consumer Sciences helps com-

munities, families, youth and individuals

address issues of health, wealth and well-

being through research-based Extension

education and programs that are proven

to work.

Oklahoma State University, as an equal opportunity employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. Oklahoma State University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate based on race, religion, age, sex, color, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, or veteran status with regard to employment, educational programs and activities, and/or admissions. For more information, visit https:///eeo.okstate.edu.

This publication, issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by the Vice President of the Division of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, was printed at no cost to the taxpayers of Oklaho-ma. This publication is printed and issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by the Vice President of the Division of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources and has been prepared and distributed at a cost of $2.25 for 75 copies.

Stephens County Extension Office 2002 South 13th

Duncan, Oklahoma 73533

Thank you to those that responded to the survey in last month’s newsletter. For those that called in, you will get a small token of my appreciation. Those that responded are: Susan Andrews Donnita Hall Tonie Bess Linda Heilman Barbara Cox Barbara Leverett Rose Cox Bob Leverett Sheila Ely Charlotte Loughrey Dixie Gildon Vicki Malone Kay Gray Patsy Powers Joyce Haddox Brenda Weaver