The Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association convened in Bowling Green, Kentucky May 9-12, 2011 for their 78th State Meeting. More than 600 attendees from across the state took part in the four-day meeting which celebrated "Homemakers-Rockin' to the Beat."
Annually, the state meeting provides a time for celebration, recognition, learning and fun. This year was no exception. A new ‘learning session on the move' provided KEHA members with the opportunity to tour the Center for Courageous Kids in nearby Scottsville, Kentucky. Members who participated were inspired by the facility and the work with seriously ill and disabled children. KEHA members conducted a special fundraising challenge and presented representatives from the Center with more than $4,000 in addition to sports equipment, personal hygiene items, and other items noted on the Center's wish list.
KEHA continued the tradition of providing support for the University of Kentucky Ovarian Cancer Research and Screening Program. This year, a check totaling $48,857.09 was presented to Dr. Edward Pavlik. This marked KEHA's 34th year of involvement with this program and the members remain committed to the partnership.
The International Program continues to support the Kentucky Academy, a kindergarten in the village of Adjeikrom in Ghana, Africa. A check for $6,000 was presented this year, and the funds will support additional improvements to the classroom facility and dining pavilion.
Members dedicated to volunteer service were honored for giving their time. Individual homemaker members reported more than 648,500 volunteer service hours this year. When you value that service at the $17.37 per hour value* associated with volunteer time in Kentucky, individual KEHA members provided service totaling more than $11,264,445. Awards were also presented for a variety of educational programs and contests.
Three new members of the Kentucky Master Farm Homemaker Guild were introduced during the KEHA State Meeting. New members are selected based on their outstanding standards of farm living, positive family relationships, community involvement, and leadership skills. Five years membership in KEHA is required for nomination, and a percentage of the family income must be derived from farming. Inductees this year included Jane Cooper from Ballard County, Nancy Loyall from Green County and Judith Rowland from Monroe County.
Keynote speaker Byron Crawford challenged KEHA members to tell the story of the good work of the organization. KEHA is a membership organization dedicated to volunteer service, and the achievements realized each year are noteworthy. To learn more, visit http://www.keha.org/.
* http://www.independentsector.org/volunteer_time