HOT SPRINGS — Flag etiquette and supporting local soldiers were among the outstanding record book projects recognized recently during the annual meeting of the Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council.
The Cleveland County Extension Homemakers Council and four Extension Homemakers Clubs in the county were among the 75 local clubs and county councils honored during the awards ceremony held at the Hot Springs Convention Center.
The 5,000-member state council is a volunteer organization associated with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. During 2011, the members contributed 478,846 hours of volunteer service statewide for an estimated value of more than $10 million.
The state council is also celebrating the 100th anniversary of Extension Homemakers/Home Demonstration work in Arkansas.
Those honored from Cleveland County and their projects are:
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Cleveland County Extension Homemakers Council – Flag Etiquette: In presenting the Flag Etiquette Program, the county council was able to educate Extension Homemakers, residents of Cleveland County and other organizations in the proper way of flag protocol. They have instilled an interest and a renewed pride in the Flag of the United States of America and the country. Many others have become interested in the program and showing their patriotism. Sixty volunteers gave 200 hours for this project.
Friendship – The Masters Table: The Masters Table is a place where the homeless in Hot Spring and nearby communities can come for help. The Rison club made seven trips to Hot Springs with full truck loads of goods for the house. The Masters Table is feeding up to 500 people each Saturday and afterward giving them items such as blankets, clothing and shoes for men and women. Six volunteers gave 90 hours and contributed $600.
New Home – Safe Investing and How to Avoid Problems in Investing: The club invited Zoe Rossi from the Arkansas Securities Department and Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Little Rock Branch, and Billy Brit to present a program for them and the community. Ten members volunteered 55 hours for the project.
Rison – Baby Burp Pads and More: The program enabled the club to help with providing baby items to young mothers and mothers-to-be in the community and surrounding areas. Two workshops were held to complete this project. Twelve members volunteered 56 hours and made in-kind contributions.
“Y” – Support Our Local Soldiers: Two local residents in the military were deployed to Afghanistan. James Miller’s mother and Jesse Hogue’s grandmother are members of Extension Homemakers. Club members collected items for care packages that included candy, sunflower seeds, jerky and other food items. Miller had asked for playing cards, and Hogue requested a soccer ball. The packages were completed with back issues of the county newspaper and mailed. Both men are back in the U.S. safe and sound. All 14 members took part in the project with 28 volunteer hours and $250.
Information about Extension Homemakers is available by visiting the website at arextensionhomemakers.org or calling a county Extension office.
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The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.