Author: Amanda Dame
Planning Unit: Hopkins County CES
Major Program: Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
Plan of Work: Empowering Community Leaders
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
The Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA) is a volunteer organization that works to improve the quality of life for families and communities through leadership development, volunteer service, and education. Volunteers and leadership are a key aspect to any Extension Service. The McLean County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences serves as advisor to the members, giving them support, encouragement and tools to accomplish their goals. McLean County Family and Consumer Sciences agent has been working over the past three years to develop and support leaders within the Extension community. The FCS agent has provided yearly leadership workshops to Homemaker Leaders and officers to assist with developing and improving leadership skills.
As a result of these training's new leaders have taken volunteer roles within the organization and community as well as current volunteers improving their leadership skills. Over the past three years the McLean County Homemaker Organization leaders have strengthened and expanded. Since 2017, a representative from McLean County Extension Homemakers has held an area chairmen position. Furthermore, the McLean County Homemaker organization has gained one new club. This addition brought the county back to four local homemaker clubs after losing a group in 2018. Another great showcase of leadership from McLean County Homemakers is the new addition of a Master Clothing Volunteers in McLean County. After the McLean County Homemaker completes her final training she will be the second homemaker from McLean County to provide educational programs in the Green River Area. Furthermore, a group of McLean County Homemakers taught two break out sessions at the 2019 State Homemaker Meeting. This group’s proposal for two additional sessions at the 2020 State Extension Homemaker meeting had been accepted before it was cancelled due to COVID 19.
Over the past several years the McLean County Homemakers noticed a decline in their exhibits and overall presence at the local county fair. Due to uncontrollable circumstances the Open Home/Homemaker exhibit was relocated to the Extension Office which is off site of the local park where the County Fair is held. To increase the presence of McLean County Homemakers at the County Fair the Homemaker Council Members decided to partner with the local 4-H Council on providing concessions during the County Fair. After, the local County Fair the Homemakers had successfully increased their presence at the fair as well as creating a partnership with the 4-H Council. The McLean County Homemaker Council group was able to use the funds brought in from this partnership to fund their scholarship program for the year.
Lastly, as mentioned above, one additional homemaker club had been added over the past year. The president and founder of the club was chosen to participate in the first ever statewide Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association Leadership Academy. Her display of leadership and drive to serve on a local, area, and state level has strengthened tremendously over the past three years.
As the McLean County Homemakers leaders continue to strengthen so will the entire McLean County Homemaker Group.
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