News and Views. South Carolina Family and Community Leaders. Spring Central Coastal Foothills. Dedication, Education and Service

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1 South Carolina Family and Community Leaders News and Views Dedication, Education and Service Spring Central Coastal Foothills STATE CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS (L to R), Linda Finley, SCFCL VP for PR presents State Leadership Award to Lillian McCumber (Greenville). (L to R) State Education Award, Orangeburg (Lucia Shuler) and 2nd Place, Lexington (Dale Morrow). (L to R) Highest Percentage Membership Increased - 2nd Place, Orangeburg (Lucia Shuler), State Award Winner, Laurens (Linda Finley) and 3rd Place, Dillon (Lelia Smith). (L to R) 2nd Place, Lexington (Dale Morrow), State Publicity Award, Orangeburg (Lucia Shuler) and 3rd Place, Laurens (Linda Finley). FEATURES IN THIS ISSUE State Meeting Highlights Central News...3 Coastal News...4 Foothills News...4 NVON Bus Trip...5 FCL Yards & Neighborhoods...6 MAD, Making a Difference...6 Nancy s Notes...7 Words from the President...7 SCFCL Officers...8 News and Views is a publication of the South Carolina Family and Community Leaders and is published semi-annually. For questions contact Editor, Pat Breznay, 6 Valhalla Court, Columbia, SC (803) , pbreznay@sc.rr.com page Spring News and Views

2 2008 STATE CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS President s Awards - Gold Certificate, Pickens (Margaret Nations), Horry (???), Bamberg (Josephine Caldwell), Bronze Certificate, Colleton (Martha Mazyck), Silver Certificate, Calhoun, (Nancy Harrison), Silver Certificate, Richland (Pat Breznay), Bronze Certificate, Barnwell, (Christine Patrick), Gold Certificate, Lexington, (Dale Morrow), Gold Certificate, Orangeburg (Lucia Shuler), Gold Certificate, Hampton (Evelyn Griner), Bronze Certificate, Anderson (not shown) Handbook Awards - Gold Certificate, Allendale (Christine Patrick), Bamberg (Josephine Caldwell), Silver Certificate, Lexington (Dale Morrow), 1st Place, Richland (Pat Breznay), Gold Certificate, Myrtis Rainwater (Union), Gold Certificate, Sumter (Debbie Calcutt), Williamsburg (Ethel Brown), Chester (Shirley Shuler), Laurens (Linda Finley) BUFF SWICEGOOD TRAVEL STUDY AWARD WINNER Marilyn Peters will be attending a conference promoting her work/study on the Slow Food Movement which encourages people to eat at home and use their local farmers markets. VOTED TOP CONFERENCE HERITAGE SKILLS 1st- Bessie Wilson (Sumter), Ceramics 2nd- Catherine Smith (Union), Machine Sewing 3rd- Betty Shuler (Orangeburg), Hand Needlework Highest Member Increased - First Place, Chester (Shirley Shuler), 3rd Place, Barnwell (Christine Patrick), Bamberg (Josephine Caldwell), Miriam White (Charleston), First Place, Calhoun (Nancy Harrison) IN LOVING MEMORY AIKEN SALLY DICKS DORCHESTER BETTY BENERT CAROL LUERSEN KERSHAW ZULA FLETCHER LAURENS COUNTY BOBBIE CHANDLER LEXINGTON COUNTY HORACE BURKETT CARO FRICK ELOISE CORLEY FREDA REID NED FUNDERBURK ROSELYN SEASE YORK MABELLE BEAMGUARD 2009 Spring News and Views page 2

3 Central District Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Chesterfield*, Darlington*, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster*, Lee, Lexington, Marlboro, Orangeburg, Richland, and Sumter CALHOUN COUNTY The Calhoun County FCL members of the Quilting Club and the Moving Club are standing tall, working hard and moving in stride. We had nine members attend the spring and fall District meetings. Our driver, which we adopted, enjoyed the trips as much as we did. Our member Effie M. Rivers won the Fall District Meeting Door Prize. All the members attending the meeting enjoyed the happiness of the winning as much as Effie Rivers did. All during the year the Quilting Club made and sewed items for the Calhoun County Convalescence Home. Our project was the making of caddy s for the wheel chair, the bed and the arm chair. Members of the Quilting Club enjoy going to the home each month. We take from seven to fourteen caddy bags per month. These bags are for the ones who have a birthday in that month. This is our second year doing this type of project. Last year the Quilting Club did the wheel chair and bed lap quilts. The Moving Club stayed focused on the education lessons. The lessons presented were geared toward the senior citizen and the community. Each lesson was presented by a community leader. I especially like the lesson on Reverse Mortgage, Is it for me? and the Summer Fruits and Veggies. Farm fresh fruits have many magical tricks. The fruits can be made to be eaten raw or cooked, can be preserved or frozen. You can let your imagination run and run and run. Well, it is almost that time again to select a new project for the Quilting and the Moving Club and to make selections of new lessons for the new year, AIKEN COUNTY SUMTER COUNTY (Above) Sumter County FCL clubs were involved in many different projects in Individual clubs worked with various charities, including those who provide clothing, food and help with heating bills. They provided nursing homes with seasonal decorations, personal items, magazines, lap robes and visits with residents. They participated in community projects ranging from senior activities to our local county fair. They worked with youth at 4H Cooking School and sewing classes. In September we hosted the Central District Fall Meeting at the Sandhill Research and Education Center lake house. Members made grapevine wreaths to decorate the tables and give as door prizes. We also began working on attracting new members to our clubs. In November, we held our first annual FCL membership tea. Three clubs participated and their guests enjoyed delicious tea party foods and got to sample various teas. One new member joined that day and several more have expressed interest. We have scheduled our next tea for April and hope to have all of our clubs inviting guests and prospective members. (Left, Aiken County FCL members) At the recent meeting of the Aiken County Family and Community Leaders donations were collected for Helping Hands of Aiken. The organization houses foster kids in group homes. The donations were of health and cleaning products which were very much appreciated by Keisha Low, representative from the Helping Hands organization. Mrs. Low joined the group for their Spring Council Meeting and spoke on behalf of the Helping Hands organization. page Spring News and Views

4 Coastal District Beaufort, Berkeley*, Charleston, Clarendon, Colleton, Dillon, Dorchester, Florence*, Georgetown*, Hampton, Horry, Jasper*, Marion*, and Williamsburg DORCHESTER COUNTY Our FCL clubs enjoyed the lessons presented throughout the year. Making A Family Tree gave us the opportunity to learn more about our members of our families. Several family trees were prepared and illustrated to the group. Renare Fulton headed the Givhans Club with this lesson. She spent a lot of time helping members prepare their trees. Do You Know Who You Are Sleeping With? was an eye opener and awareness to know what's lurking in your bedroom. Other programs were discussed, Is It Done Yet?, Talk Is Cheap, but Not Easy, See the Future! Your Vision as You Age, Sensational Fruits and Vegetables, Is a Reverse Mortgage Right for You?, Brain Blitz and Washing Fruits and Vegetables for Safety & Quality. A guest speaker from the Fire Department visited the Summerville Club. Members went out in the community and raked yards for the elderly in the month of November. Money was donated to the Meals on Wheels program. Several members continue visiting the nursing home and offering their service. Monetary donation were given to eleven people in the community. A member in one of the clubs remodeled an elderly woman s home. Members collected items for the Foster Care program. Our club members attended the Spring and Fall Coun- Foothills District Miriam White, Dorchester County President displays items donated to Callen Lacey Emergency Shelter from the Givhans FCL Club. cil meetings held at the Clark's Restaurant in Santee. Dorchester County was also represented at the state convention in Clemson, SC. One of our members, Victoria DeLee (82yrs.) participated in the Cooper River Bridge Run/Walk for the first time and came in 5th place in her age group. We were saddened from the loss of two members from the Summerville club, Betty Benert and Carol Luersen. As we continue to grow older in age and younger in heart, we will continue to strive to do our best to help others. Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee*, Chester, Edgefield*, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick*, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union and York GREENWOOD COUNTY Greenwood County Family and Community Leaders have been busy in The Executive Board voted to sponsor the NVON National project MAD for This project was an overwhelming success. There are 43 children in Foster care in Greenwood County. Greenwood County FCL supplied 43 plastic containers with toothbrushes, tooth paste, combs, brushes, coloring books, colors, sham- poo, conditioners, a small stuffed toy and a small comfort quilt in each container. The Piecemakers Quilt Club quilted the quilts and two dentists gave the dental supplies and a local motel supplied the hair materials. All the stuffed toys were given by all of the eight FCL Clubs in Greenwood County. The value of the project was over $2, and 100 hours work. We received good media coverage that lets people know what FCL does to impact the quality of life in Greenwood County Spring News and Views page 4

5 Leave Clinton, S.C. - 9 AM Saturday, July 11, Bus will load at the Howard Johnson s (exit #52-Highway 56). We have permission to leave cars here. Travel to Nashville, TN. where we will stay overnight and enjoy dinner and entertainment at the Grand Ole Opry. Leave 9 AM Sunday morning to continue on to Belleville, Illinois, arriving at Our Lady of the Snows about 2 PM - where we will unload luggage, check into our rooms and freshen up. Delegates to the Conference will stay at the hotel since they have a dinner with the NVON Board and other state delegates that evening. The rest of us will board the bus to go to St. Louis to tour the waterfront on a Riverboat and go up in the St. Louis Arch.of course, we will eat some of that famous St. Louis Bar-B-Q. The conference begins Monday morning with a complimentary deluxe breakfast before leaving for the special NVON Tour (this is an extra $40 if you choose this tour). There are crafts workshops Monday morning while the tour is going on. Workshop fees are paid at the workshop. I have talked with Bud s Christian Tours and he has penciled us on his schedule for the trip. He has given me a tentative cost for the bus but since diesel fuel is even more expensive than gasoline, he cannot give me a firm price and we must pay a deposit to hold the dates. Fees are based on getting the bus and having at least 30 people. The Conference will end with the Banquet Wednesday evening. We will board the bus at 9 AM Thursday morning to return home, by way of Renfroe Valley, KY, where we will stay overnight and enjoy an evening of entertainment. We will leave there Friday morning about 9 AM, stopping along the way for lunch and arriving back in Clinton about 3 PM Friday, July 17th. Tentative cost will be no more than $850. This includes the $110 Registration for the NVON Conference, overnight in hotels going and coming from the Conference and 4 nights in the hotel at the conference, side tours and all meals while travel- ing. Lunches and dinners during the conference are included in the Registra- tion Fee. For those of you who have traveled with us before, you know that from the time you board the bus until you return back home, everything is included in the one fee. You may want to bring some money for souvenirs of your trip. If you have questions, please call me at home (864) or on my cell phone (864) Send your check for $210 attached to your completed NVON Registration form as soon as possible to the address below. (This is the $110 NVON Registration fee, and $100 to hold your seat on the bus.) Balance is due before the end of June. Be sure to indicate who your roommate will be so we will book you into the hotels together. VISIT THE NVON WEBSITE FOR REGISTRATION AND COMPLETE CONFERENCE INFORMATION South Carolina Master Farm Homemakers Guild The SCMFHG met October 30, 2008 in Clemson during the State FCL meeting with eight members present. The plans for the National MFHG meeting in 2011 were discussed along with the new state membership application. The SCMFHG annual meeting will be held March 19, 2009, at the Hollywood Ruritan building in Saluda, SC. The National president, Loy Walker, will be the special guest. There will also be induction of new members. Please note that SCMFHG President Marilyn Easter has a new home telephone number page Spring News and Views

6 The objective of the State SCFCL Yards and Neighborhoods project is to educate and promote good environmental practices by homeowners and communities. Objective one is to create and maintain attractive lancscapes, to enhance our communities and to protect South Carolina s natural envoronment. Objective two is to become familiar with the nime principles that can create and maintain beautiful lawns and gardens. Below are nine major principles: 1. Rich Plant Right Place 4. Recycle 7. Reduce storm water runoff 2. Water efficiently 5. Fertilize appropriately 8. Attract wildlife 3. Mulch 6. Control yard pests responsibly 9. Protect the waterfront The natural beauty of South Carolina is an important aspect of our daily life. Having attractive yards and communities is beneficial for the residents and for our visitors. The demand on our water for irrigation continues to increase thereby increasing runoff. Runoff from our yards may carry fertilizer and pesticides into our ponds, rivers, lakes and bays, harming fish and wildlife. Recycling our yard waste reduces materials going into landfills. I hope each county has a FCLYN project chair. A report is due to me as soon as your project is complete or by December 5, 2009 in order for the data to be collated and a SC report sent to NVON Project in Common, Chair. Doris S. Taylor, State Project Chair 1103 East Jerry Road, Laurens, SC (864) A CYN booklet can be found at Clemson s website ( SCFCL project report forms: As chairperson for our NVON Project, MAD "Making a Difference for Children in Foster Care" I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and everyone of you for what you have done and are doing for the children. At the State Conference in Clemson October 31stseveral counties shared some things that they are doing, such as sending birthday gifts for the child/children and goodie bags to the other children in the facility, creating a story time and reading stories to them, sometimes dressed as one of the characters, helping with homework, paying for school pictures or being mentors. Asking dentists for toothpaste and tooth brushes, asking hotels/motels for soaps and shampoos. Whatever you are doing, please know that you are making a difference in the lives of the children. Perhaps one day these children, as adults, will be motivated to help others because of what we in SCFCL did for them. Greetings and a Happy New Year to You I also learned at the conference that some counties do not have a facility. The children are removed from their homes and placed with a foster care family. In that case I suggest that you contact the Dept. of Social Services in your county and ask the director how you can help the children wherever they have been placed. I believe that many of you are doing wonderful things for the children, however, I have not received completed forms from some of the counties advising of what you've done. Please have a designated person fill out the form on the website, and each time you donate something to the facility, to a foster care home, or directly to DSS for the children please send a copy to me. I will forward the forms to Ms. Harned in Kentucky. My address is Willie Mae Lewis 403 Fraser Dr. Beaufort, S. C Spring News and Views page 6

7 WORDS FROM THE SCFCL PRESIDENT As springtime approaches, we will be reminded of the vibrant colors of the flowers that surround us. We will also begin to hear the joyful songs of the birds, and recognize the beauty of our surroundings. I ask for your help, during my term as SCFCL President, in making our organization one of the most vibrant groups known for helping communities and families. By involving ourselves in our current projects, people will recognize the beauty of what we do. This year will be filled with many opportunities for all members to actively participate. I challenge all counties to set goals to increase club membership, take an active part in state projects and activities, and use our educational lessons to transfer a wealth of information. I look forward to visiting with you at your district meetings and other gatherings throughout the year. I would like to thank all of you for your prayers, calls, visits, and other acts of kindness extended to me and my family after the sudden death of my dear husband. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers. I am available if you need to contact me: 40 Buckberry Lane Winnsboro, SC (803) NANCY S NOTES I am writing this during the time of year when people suffer from S.A.D. Seasonal Affective Disorder. The days are short, the temperature is cold, and we do not get enough sunlight to bolster our mood. So instead of being S.A.D., why don t you get M.A.D. and Make A Difference in the life of a foster child? This is the second year of this Project in Common with NVON. It is time to get out and shine some of the SCFCL light to brighten the days of these children. If you are still unhappy and depressed, make sure you attend your club s education lesson, Blues, Blahs, and Bouncing Back! This is also the time of year when many gardeners are pouring over their seed catalogues and making plans for beautiful lawns. This second year of the FCL Yards and Neighborhoods project provides many opportunities for you, your club, and your county organization to encourage the creation of attractive landscapes and to protect South Carolina s natural environment. Please don t forget to send in reports to document your efforts for these two projects. I can hear some of you saying, we just do not have enough members to participate in some of these projects. Please use this year s Finding New Members and Cultural Exchange education lessons as tools to help you recruit new members. All of the other education lessons will be wonderful incentives to keep those new members interested and involved. Topics covering youth and family issues, environment and heath, nutrition and food safety, and community development are in the lesson packet that was distributed at the District Meetings in September. Let s all do everything we can to be happy and healthy in 2009! Nancy M. Porter, Ph.D. SCFCL State Advisor page Spring News and Views

8 2009 SCFCL Officers President Josie Gaston (803) Vice-President for Program Helen Spiller (864) Vice President for Public Relations Linda Finley (864) Secretary Betty Shuler (803) Treasurer Bobbie Earle (864) SCFCL P O Box 264 Laurens, SC Non-Profit Organization U S Postage PAID Columbia, SC Permit No Board Members Historian Eloise Robertson (843) eloiselrobertson@yahoo.com SCFCL Website: Central District Director Holly Scott (803) (no ) Central Program Coordinator Debbie Calcutt (803) (no ) Coastal District Director Willie Mae Lewis (843) minlick@islc.net Coastal Program Coordinator Sallie Stephens (843) sallieb@lowcountry.com Foothills District Director Margaret Nations (864) (no ) Foothills Program Coordinator Jean Westbrook (864) redbarn@truvista.net State Advisor Dr. Nancy Porter (864) nporter@clemson.edu Those counties wishing to contribute articles to the fall News and Views must have their articles to their District Director (listed below) by June 15 Central Coastal Foothills Holly Scott Willie Mae Lewis Margaret Nations 2230 Chappell Street 403 Fraser Drive 231 Sunrise Road Columbia, SC Beaufort, SC Central, SC (no ) minlick@islc.net (no ) Bamberg Beaufort Anderson Calhoun Colleton Chester Darlington* Florence* Edgefield* Kershaw Horry Greenville Lexington Marion* Laurens Marlboro Williamsburg Newberry Orangeburg Richland * Counties who are not active Fall News and Views Oconee Spartanburg York SCFCL is affiliated with Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW), Country Women s Council USA (CWC) and National Volunteer Outreach Network (NVON) and in partnership with Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service 2009 Spring News and Views page 8