USA > Virginia > Frederick County > Frederick County > Our heritage : history of the Frederick County, Virginia, Extension Homemakers 1916-1976 > Part 10
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Eleven Frederick County EHC members were among the more than 400 members of the VEHC who attended the Fall Conference October 21-23 at the National 4-H Center in Washington, D.C. It was the largest Fall Conference in the history of the state-wide or- ganization. EHC members from Frederick County who attended the 3-day Conference were: Naomi Thomas, Mary Lou Koontz. Ruby Shiley and Cora Schlim. Present for one day of the Conference were: Betty Bauserman, Courtney Bragg, Zelda. Brown, Lynn Lunsford, Ruth Orth, Mildred Shryock, Bertha Venskoske and Edna Mae Whittaker.
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Highlighting the 3-day meeting, which focused on Cultural Arts, was the unveiling of the VEHC Bicentennial Tapestry, a com- bined effort of the Council members around the State. The tapes- try, begun in January under the direction of Mrs. Maynard Han- son of Arlington and Mrs. Edward Gregory of Newport News, State Cultural Arts and Citizenship Chairmen, respectively, was pre- sented to the Extension Division of V.P.I., Blacksburg, for the Com- monwealth of Virginia. W. E. Skelton, Dean of Extension at V.P.I .;
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accepted the tapestry. Dean Skelton, in his acceptance remarks, praised the tapestry as an example of Virginia's love of freedom and individual productivity. He said the tapestry would receive maximum visibility during the Bicentennial observance for citizens to understand Virginia's heritage. The tapestry is more than 8 feet high and 13 feet wide, weighs nearly 50 pounds, contains 104 twelve-inch needlepoint squares depicting historical and geograph- ical themes, and took more than 22,000 hours to complete.
Frederick County's contribution to the tapestry was created by Miss Mildred Shryock from a drawing of one of Daniel Morgan's riflemen in a tree shooting a Redcoat on the ground below.
The 3-day program included a tour of the Nation's Capital, with stops at the Kennedy Center and Washington Cathedral. Four workshops offered were: Creative Writing, Tracing A Family's Heritage, Creating Tomorrow's Heirlooms, and Appreciating the Bicentennial Through Dance.
Highlighting the last session of the Conference was a talk by Rev. Ernest E. Emurian, pastor of Cherrydale United Methodist Church in Arlington, a noted author of patriotic hymns and songs. He related the history of several compositions and asked the dele- gates to join him in singing many of them.
The topic of a program presented at the Lord Fairfax Com- munity College on September 25 by Dr. Bruce Prouty, Professor, Dept. of Accounting at VPI & SU, was "Planning An Estate." He discussed laws about real and personal property, the consequences of joint ownership, inheritance and gift taxes, and said that every person who does not have an estate plan will be provided with one according to state law; every one, young or old, rich or poor, who owns property can benefit from estate planning. The program was sponsored jointly with the Extension Office as a public service. The next day he discussed "Pricing Your Crafts," at the War Me- morial Building. He suggested guidelines for marketing handcrafts and said a good pricing formula is 3 times the cost of materials; that one should not price the item out of the market; and don't try to sell your mistakes.
The EHC annual Bazaar was held November 8 at the War Memorial Building. Each club had 2 tables loaded with handcrafted articles including dolls and doll clothes, stuffed toys, crocheted and knitted articles, hand-painted pictures and articles, plant and dried flowers, Christmas decorations, and many home accessories, all of high quality workmanship.
There was also a White Elephant Table of "bargains" and a Children's Table of things priced so children could afford to buy them. A Sweet Shop had many kinds of breads, cakes, cookies, pies, jams, jellies, pickles, etc. The noontime a la carte lunch offered country ham sandwiches, hot dogs, barbeques, potato salad, bean salad, pie, coffee, tea, Coke, Tab. Between 2000 and 3000 persons
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attended. Net proceeds of the Bazaar are used for Scholarships and other County EHC projects.
The EHC sponsored Cookie Fair was held at the Market Street United Methodist Church, December 4, with nearly 50 persons bringing 100 cookies to exchange. Mrs. Mikel Kinser of Stephens City had served as chairman of the Fair since its beginning four years ago. After sampling some of the cookies, a light lunch was served. Those attending are mailed recipe sheets of the various recipes brought for exchange. The ladies said it was an easy way to collect a variety of homemade cookies.
EHC members gave more than 500,000 hours of their time in volunteer work for numerous civic and charitable organizations and projects during the year. They judged at Fairs in Frederick, Shenandoah and Warren counties. They made lap robes and scuffs for Nursing Homes and the Veterans Hospital, gave books to the Laubach Reading program and to libraries, gave party favors and bingo prizes to Nursing Homes, helped 8 burned-out families and a Vietnamese refugee family of 3 adults and a baby, contributed to CARE, CROP, HOPE, UNICEF, Foreign Missions, Pennies for Friendship, $400 to the Youth Fair Association, $75 to the Win- chester Recreation Park, $30 to the 4-H Pig Scramble at the Fair. Members chartered a bus to go to the Fairfax County EHC Achieve- ment Day May 16 and to the Frederick, Maryland, Craft Fair June 7. They held a Christmas Crafts workshop October 23 at the War Memorial Building for an exchange of ideas of Christmas gifts and decorations. They had picnics and Christmas parties. Three new Clubs had been organized in Frederick County which made a total of 18 Clubs with a membership of 395 members.
1976
Frederick County EHC started the new year with a Planning Meeting January 30. Programs of work were planned around sug- .. gestions from club members and committee chairmen. By-Laws for the Frederick County EHC Council, written in 1975, were amended and adopted at the meeting.
The Frederick County EHC Citizenship Program was built around our Bicentennial Celebration with the following themes: 1975 - Roots of our Heritage; 1976 - Preserving our Heritage; 1977 - Building on our Heritage. The 1975 program covered the Bill of Rights, Bill of Duties, Youth's Bill of Rights, Symbols, Slo- gans, Songs, Our Constitution, American's Creed, Our State Virginia, Power of One Vote, Citizenship Quiz, and Our Flag. This year covered the following: Build Me A Son, America's Clock, Energy Conservation, Patriotism, I Am the Nation, Pledge of Alleg- iance and Its Story and the Freedom Pledge, Bicentennial Quiz, Remember This, I Am An American and U.S.A. - My Country, Ten Commandments For Teenagers, Seven Deadly Sins and Be Thankful, and the Gettysburg Address and Christmas Is. These
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were presented as monthly programs. In 1977 we will build on our Heritage by studying government on all levels.
The first EHC project for 1976 was the making of Our Flag, made entirely by Extension Homemakers. The flag is 13 feet by 29 feet and was used for the first time as a backdrop for the finale of the Winchester Memorial Hospital Auxiliary's "Hooray for Holly- wood" Follies of 1976. Since then, it has been used more than 20 times, at schools, Festivals, churches, Bicentennial and Citizenship programs.
The second EHC project was making smocks for the Win- chester Memorial Hospital's "Sunshine Gift Shop" which opened March 1. Frederick County Extension Homemakers made the smocks from the cutting-out to the finished garments, donating their time and labor. The smocks are worn by the volunteers who help in the Gift Shop.
We helped celebrate George Washington's Birthday by serv- ing a huge 6-foot by 9-foot Birthday Cake, and coffee, free, at a celebration sponsored by the Ward Plaza Retail Merchant's Assoc- iation.
The next project was helping the Frederick County Fair As- sociation in their Paper Drive as part of the "Spruce Up, Virginia - Company's Coming" Campaign and the Winchester-Frederick County Chamber of Commerce's "War on Waste" program.
Our Scholarship Committee awarded a $200 Scholarship to Betsy Geddes, a graduate from James Wood High School, to be used at the college of her choice.
Our members helped publicize and worked with the Cancer Society during their free Pap Smear Clinic and the "Kick the Hab- it" program for smokers. Mrs. Mary Lou Koontz served as County Chairman for the Heart Fund Drive. Mrs. Rhoda Maddox and Mrs. . Rachel Owings served on the Bicentennial Committee. All are EHC .members. Two EHC members serve as representatives on the Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging: Sarah Shryock is representa- tive for Frederick County, and Cora Schlim is representative for the City of Winchester. They are, also, members of the Executive Board of the Agency, and Sarah is Secretary of the Board of Di- rectors. All serve as volunteers. Miss Ruby Shiley volunteers her time as coordinator of volunteers to help at Marigold House, an outlet for hand-crafts, and net proceeds go to benefit the North- western Workshop for Handicapped persons. Many EHC members volunteer for this project. Our members have helped judge at Fairs in several counties; served as Docents at Belle Grove, as hostess at Abram's Delight (both are Historical Homes); served as volun- teers at Nursing Homes and Hospitals; helped the Cancer Society, Red Cross, Rescue Squad and other charitable institutions with their projects. Our Extension Homemakers practice the principles of our Creed and strive to foster the highest ideals of home, church,
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school and public life, through study, service and sharing. Many EHC members observed the World Day of Prayer on March 5.
Our EH Clubs conducted a survey to determine interest in a Farm Market. The Farm Market was organized, and opened in July. It was so successful they decided to hold market days twice a week during the marketing season. Besides garden produce, canned foods, baked goods, craft items, flowers and foliage, etc., a new sideline was introduced by Mrs. Byron Van Stronder, EHC member, a diabetic, who made and sold dietetic baked goods, jams, jellies, pickles, relishes, catsup, etc.
Our EHC sponsored an 18th Century Costume Contest as a highlight of "Sunday in the Park," May 2nd, the closing event of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival. There were 24 contestants. One of our members, Mrs. Dorothy Russell of the South Frederick Club, placed first in the contest with her home-made authentic costume. We had an exhibit of home-made quilts, also, with 33 quilts entered in the exhibit. There were 30 different designs. More than 3000 people viewed the exhibit.
A special project was our EHC Arts and Crafts Festival on the Mall, May 22, in downtown Winchester. Each one of our 18 Clubs had an exhibit and demonstrated a craft. It was the first show of its kind in Frederick County Extension History. Our Flag was dis- played across the face of the Frederick County Office Building. The winners of our "Birthday Wishes" contest were given their awards at a ceremony on the Mall. The contest had been conducted in the Frederick County Schools with emphasis on the "Wishes" rather than greetings as we wanted the students to give deep thought to what they "wished" for their country's future. Forty-eight entries were received. The prize-winning entries were sent to President Gerald Ford on June 2nd so they would reach him before July 4th, our Nation's Birthday. The winners received cash prizes. More than 1500 attended the Festival; which was planned in observance of NEHC Week, but delayed due to conflict with the Apple Blossom Festival.
Our EHC members exhibited and demonstrated Arts and Crafts on the Mall again on July 5th as part of the Bicentennial Celebration, and had a stall at the Belle Grove Farm Craft Days, July 10-11, and demonstrated bargello and decoupage. Many of our Extension Homemakers participated in various activities of the Winchester-Frederick County Bicentennial events July 2-5.
Seventy of our Frederick County EHC members attended the District IX meeting May 12 at Leesburg. The theme "Yesteryear's Woman" was highlighted by a fashion show and by period dresses worn by club members. The fashion show was narrated by Mrs. John Davis. Models from Frederick County were: Mrs. Rachel Owings, Mrs. Catherine Hammack and Mrs. Zelda Brown.
Mrs. Naomi Thomas of Winchester, Pres. Dist. IX, conducted
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the meeting. Mrs. Jean Beard, Pres. VEHC, spoke about goals and achievements of EHC members. Other State officers present were: Mrs. Barbara Hanson of Arlington, Cultural Arts Chr., and Mrs. Mary Gregory of Newport News, Citizenship Chr. Mrs. Paulette Eaton, Shenandoah County EHC Pres., explained the Pennies for Friendship and International Understanding project and received contributions from the six counties in District IX - Clarke, Fred- erick, Loudoun, Page, Shenandoah and Warren - totaling more than $500. Mrs. Cora Schlim of Winchester, Dist. IX Old Dominion Echoes Subscription Chr., announced the winners of the ODE sub- scription contest and awarded 5 prizes, copies of the NEHC Trea- sure Trails in U.S.A. book, to Shenandoah County for the most sub- scriptions in the County and to two Clubs whose members subscrib- ed 100% (the Fort Valley Senior Club and the Strasburg Junior Club), to the Farmwell Ashburn Club in Loudoun County and to the Albin Club in Frederick County for having the most subscrip- tions in a Club in a County.
Mrs. Frances Unger of Winchester, Dist. IX Past Pres., install- ed the following officers for the coming year: Pres. Mrs. S. Roger Koontz of Winchester; Vice-Pres. Mrs. John E. Davis of Front Royal; Secretary Mrs. Robert Uphoff of Mt. Jackson; and Treasurer Mrs. Joseph Cave of Luray.
The Bicentennial Tapestry, made by EHC members, was dis- played at the meeting and Mrs. Mary Gregory gave a slide presenta- tion and explained the significance of each of the 104 squares. Ap- proximately 400 members and guests were in attendance at the meeting.
Eighteen Frederick County EHC members attended the Family Resources Conference and annual Business Meeting of VEHC July 20-22, at VPI & SU, in Blacksburg. The theme was "Shaping the Future For American Families." The workshops offered were: The Dilemma of Danger; Your Housing Environment; 1976-2076: Strengthening the Family Is Our Responsibility; Health: It's Price- less, Don't Lose It; Family Management 1976-86; The Human En- ergy Crisis - Food; Living the Rest of Your Life; Today's Stress - Tomorrow's Hope or Despair. Each person had a choice of 3 work- shops to attend.
At the business session, Mrs. Naomi Thomas of Winchester was named State Safety Chairman. Frederick County was awarded a first place for their Citizenship program, a second place for their Health program, a second for their Family Life program, and a sec- ond for their Public Information. Betty Bauserman of Winchester, a Past State Health Chr., served on the Nominating Committee.
The Family Life program stressed the Retirement Years. Many EHC members worked at the workshops on "Successful Aging - Whose Business?" on March 19, and many other EHC members at- tended the workshops. Dr. Margaret Mead noted Anthropologist and author, conducted meetings at the Handley High School, Shen-
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andoah College, and the Braddock Street Methodist Church. Other speakers were: Dr. Barbara Anne Chandler, Education Specialist in the Div. of Adult Education at HEW; and John A. Price, Jr., Di- rector of the Office of Aging for the Office of Human Development in HEW. The message presented was that Elderly Power is too good to waste, and all generations need each other.
On April 8, an all-day Seminar on "Living in the Retirement Years" was held at the War Memorial Building in Winchester. Dr. Muriel Brown, Chairman of the Task Force on Aging, National Council of Family Relations, examined the "Myths and Realities of Aging;" Miss Ann Jones, Nutrition Consultant with the Rich- mond Health Dept., talked about Nutrition for Older People as it relates to their health; Jack Kenyon, Director of the programs for ACTION, Older American Volunteer Programs, discussed oppor- tunities for Older Americans. Rev. Conrad Christianson, Pres. of Social Service Council, spoke on the services and organizations a- vailable in our area, to older persons. Mr. Philip Bettendorf of the Social Security Office, spoke on "Retirement and Social Security." Miss Ethel Grubbs, Family Resources Extension Specialist at VPI & SU, wrapped up the Seminar with her talk on "Planning to Live the Rest of Your Life." The Seminar was under the leadership of Mrs. Pauline Baccary, EH Agent. EHC members served a lunch at noon.
Bertha Hoagland, Family Life Chr., and Cora Schlim, Citizen- ship Chr., for Frederick County EHC, attended the Seminar on Ag- ing March 10-11 at VPI & SU in Blacksburg. Cora Schlim attended the regional meeting of the National Council On Aging held at Raleigh, N.C. May 5-6, and the Conference on "Daycare for the Elderly" May 19-21 at Duke University in Durham, N.C. Reports were given on these meetings.
A taped recording of a talk "Freedom Is Everybody's Busi- ness," given by Mr. Harris T. Remley at the NEHC Conference in Orlando, Florida last year, was used in Frederick and Warren Counties. The talk, which presents "what is good about America," was played at EH Clubs, church groups, Sunday School groups, Scout groups and 4-H groups. Three copies of the recording were available free for public use: one from the Handley Public Library, one from the Extension Office and one from Mrs. Cora Schlim, County EH Citizenship Chairman.
Miss Ethel Grubbs, Extension Specialist in Family Resources at VPI & SU, presented a lesson on Leadership and Parliamentary Procedure, and Mrs. Ann Lastovica, Extension Specialist in Home Management at VPI & SU, presented a lesson on "How to Make Your Dollars Go Farther." Mrs. Charles Hammack of the Middle- town Club was the instructor for 5 weekly sewing classes to teach new sewing techniques. All lessons were held at the War Memorial Building in Winchester. Classes for the following crafts were con- ducted throughout the year: braided rugs - Betty Bauserman;
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crocheted rugs - Bertha Venskoske; latch-hooked rugs - Rosie Hott; beginners knitting - Flora Davis; advanced knitting - Evva Gumm; crocheting - Cora Schlim; creweling & embroidery - Bertha Hoagland; Monks cloth afghans - Rosie Hott; bargello - Lillie Vaughn; needlepoint - Mildred Shryock; tatting - Bertha Bowers and Mrs. George Jones; chair caning - Mable Brown; tole `painting - Betty Salyan; lace making - Edna Coryell; 2 methods of Cathedral Window quilts - Rosie Hott; rope hangers for potted plants - Zelda Brown. Mr. Richard Miller, Librarian at Handley Public Library, conducted workshops in basketry and chair seat weaving using raffia, wood splints and reels. Mrs. Pauline Baccary, EH Agent, conducted workshops on drying flowers and foliage, recycling and repairing clothing, upholstering and refinishing fur- niture, and helped Mrs. Hammack with the sewing classes. Other crafts taught and learned were: corn husk dolls, flowers and wreaths; apple dolls; corn cob dolls; tote bags from upholstery webbing and from plastic bottles; applique quilts; weaving on dish cloths; pieced quilts; quilting; yarn pillow tops; and many mis- cellaneous crafts. Mrs. Byron Van Stronder conducted special classes on decoupage at the Welltown EH Club, Scout leaders training workshop, and other groups. Many of our EHC members have taught various crafts at many workshops and for different groups.
Our EHC members collected and compiled "Home Remedies and Culinary Specialties of Yore" and "Family Traditions" as a project to preserve another part of our Heritage. EHC members took bus tours and family tours to historical places.
The 1976 NEHC Conference was held August 15-20 at Morgan- town, W. Va. Betty Bauserman, Martha Durst, Cora Schlim, Ruby Shiley, Zenith Sirbaugh and Naomi Thomas, all Frederick County EHC members, attended the whole conference; 23 other EHC mem- bers from Frederick County chartered a bus for one day to attend the workshops and the regional dinner. The Conference theme was "The Heritage Trail - Pathway to the Future." The keynote ad- dress was given by Mrs. Olive Farquharson, ACWW Pres., London, England, who talked about her "Travels for ACWW." Mrs. Far- quharson was introduced by Mrs. Martin Muchow, NEHC Advisor. There were educational workshops on Citizenship, Cultural Arts, Family Life, Health, International, Public Information and Publi- cations, and Safety. Learning sessions covered Membership De- velopment, Programs With A Purpose, Dealing With Differences, Communication Skills, Energy Dilemma, Calico and Blue Jeans, Dollars and Sense, and Personal Effectiveness. Douglas Edwards, CBS News Correspondent, New York City, addressed the closing session of the Conference on "What's Right About America."
VEHC was awarded: First place for Bicentennial project, for Traffic Safety program and their Cultural Arts program; a first for Prince William County International program; a second for Inter- national (Cup of Coffee) program; and a third for Family Life pro-
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gram. It was announced that the Old Dominion Echoes, our VEHC Newsletter, will be combined with National Notes, NEHC news magazine, and will be called "The Homemaker," starting in 1977.
Other highlights of the Conference were: the 200-voices of the West Virginia Mt. Heritage Chorus, the Arts and Crafts Fair, the tour of the Campus and other tours, the Ice Cream Social, and the Mt. Heritage Night. The attendance at the Conference was more than 2300 persons.
Achievement Day for Frederick County EHC members was held September 10 at the War Memorial Building. Connie Robin- son, County EHC Pres., conducted the meeting. Welcome and de- votions were given by Mr. S. Roger Koontz, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. It was an inspiring devotions woven around a 1692 poem "When light shines, shadows disappear." Randy Orndorff, a winner in Frederick County's Share-the-Fun contest, sang "This Land Is My Land." Under the direction of Frances Unger, several skits were presented on "EHC Heritage - Past, Present, and Fu- ture." "The Good Old Days" by the Middletown EH Club recalled projects of past years. "A Radio Broadcast" by Stephens City EH Club was a "re-broadcast" of a program by two Homemakers on WINC on May 9, 1946. Valley Mill EH Club told about the Beauty Jamboree held in Winchester in 1955, which used HD members as models. The Albin EH Club gave an account of making tote bags for the 1969 NEHC Conference held in Blacksburg, Va. Naomi Thomas and Martha Durst reported on the NEHC and VEHC 1976 Meetings and their plans to attend the NEHC Conference in Mis- souri next year.
Reports were given on the following programs of work and projects: Arts and Crafts, Bazaar, Citizenship, Clothing, Cook- books, Cultural Arts, Family Life, Health, Public Information, and Scholarships. The new Yearbook was dedicated to Miss E. Heath Stickley of Stephens City EH Club and Mrs. Delphia DeHaven of Gainesboro EH Club. They were honored for their many years of service to their club, church and community. Dorothy Russell pre- sented her Treasurer's Report. Connie Robinson reported the Ex- hibition Schedule of Our Flag. Mary Lou Koontz installed the new officers: Carol Maben of Friendly Grove EH Club, Pres .- elect. and Pat Richardson of Albin EH Club, Vice Pres. Special guests at the meeting were: Mrs. Faith Lamphier, Clarke County Ext. Agent; Miss Agnes Shirley, retired Frederick County Ext. Agent; and Miss Margaret Flickinger, retired Home Economist, Potomac Edison.
As this History goes to the printer, October 12, 1976, some of our EHC members are planning to attend the Fall Conference October 19-21 at Virginia Beach. All of our EHC members are get- ting ready for one of their biggest projects, their annual Bazaar, to be held November 13 (1976) at the War Memorial Building in Win- chester. Each Club participating will have their own tables, filled with many kinds of hand-made crafts and novelties. There will be
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a Sweet Shop with all kinds of home-made breads, cakes, cookies, pies, jams, jellies, relishes, etc. One room will have the flowers, plants, and dried arrangements for sale. There will be a White Ele- phant table. An a la carte lunch of country ham sandwiches, hot dogs, home-made vegetable soup, baked beans, potato chips, pie, coffee, and tea will be served during the noon hours. Net proceeds from the Bazaar help finance our Scholarships and other County Council projects.
After the Bazaar, our EHC members prepare for their annual Cookie Fair, Christmas parties, and help with many charitable pro- jects for the needy, shut-ins, elderly and handicapped persons; and start planning for the new year ahead.
Thus, we bring to a close more than 60 years of Extension Homemakers History of service, education and experiences. We are looking forward, ever onward, to many wonderful years ahead.
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